“Darcy.”
Silence.
“Darcy, tell me about Miss Elizabeth.”
“What?”
“Miss Elizabeth. Tell me about her.”
“I asked her for a courtship and she said that a heart filled with rage has no room for love.”
“What? Rage? I am not certain I understand you, Darcy.”
“She knows that I am angry with Georgiana.”
“Angry? With Georgiana?” The Colonel’s voice was puzzled.
Mr. Darcy turned to face his cousin. “Richard, I am…I am so furious with Georgiana that I can scarce think about it.”
Of course, he must be; I am a fool, the Colonel thought. “I had not considered that; I understand.”
“Do you?” Mr. Darcy turned to face Richard as the carriage swayed. “Do you understand? I gave her everything that I could think of. Books? Anything she wanted. Music? The best masters and a copy of any music sheet she wanted. Clothing? She has things she has never even worn. A horse? She has the most beautiful mare with the most exceptional bloodlines you can imagine. Love? Attention? I showered her with love and attention, Richard, with everything I had in me. And what does she do, the moment my back is turned?”
His voice became a cry of agony. “She runs off! And not just with anyone, no, with the worst scoundrel in all of England, making the Darcy name a laughingstock, makingmea laughingstock! What was she running away from, Richard? From the most beautiful home in northern England, from a brother who adored her, from everything and anything that anyone could possibly want? And as a result, she caused me tobe foresworn on the vow I made to my father, as he lay dying! Yes, I am enraged, and I do not know if I can trust myself to not unleash that rage when I see her.”
There was a long silence.
“I am sorry, Cousin, I should have anticipated this,” the Colonel finally said, quietly.
“How could you have done so? I did not anticipate it myself, and I did not even realise I felt that way until I spoke with Miss Elizabeth in Longbourn’s garden. I thought what I felt was sadness, misery, anguish, and I did feel that – all of it – but then beneath it all was rage.”
“You must talk with Georgiana, cousin. Tell her howyoufeel and listen to howshefeels. If you cannot let this poison out of your heart, then you have no chance with Miss Elizabeth.”
Mr. Darcy turned his face to his cousin, his face tormented. “I fear that I will lose her, Richard.”
Chapter Forty
Once Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam departed, Miss Bingley went upstairs to attend to her packing. It was a slow process, as Peggy was packing and Miss Bingley was simultaneously unpacking. Unsurprisingly, very little progress was being made.
Louisa knocked and walked in. Seeing what was occurring in her sister’s bedroom, she shook her head. “Caroline, Charles is serious.”
“I merely need to delay him and he will change his mind. He always comes ‘round, you know, Louisa.”
“I do not think he will come ‘round, as you put it, this time.”
Caroline scoffed. As if in response, there was an impatient knock on the door. “You have exactly one hour, Caroline, and then I am throwing you into the carriage. Whatever is not packed by then will be given to the maids. They doubtless deserve it, given what they have put up with from you.”
Louisa raised an eyebrow at Caroline, who immediately snarled, “Peggy! What is taking you so long? Pack faster!” Poor Peggy burst into tears, but moved to pick up everything Caroline had dumped onto the floor and returned it to the trunk.
Louisa left the room before she, too, was conscripted into helping pack. She went into her husband’s room, where Harold was snoring. She poked him awake. “Harold!”
“What?” he moaned, rolling over.
She had never known anyone to sleep as much as Harold. He awoke late, broke his fast and promptly returned to his bed for a morning nap. He also took an afternoon nap between tea and dinner.
“Caroline is leaving in an hour.”
One eye opened and peered at her. “Is this truly happening, Louisa?”
