Your joyous sister,
Elizabeth
Chapter Seventy-Two
The next day, Mr. Darcy took himself to Matlock House. The moment he saw his aunt, he burst out, “How could you?”
“I knew you would figure out where she was eventually,” the Countess said, with a careless shrug.
“And in the meantime you were willing to put me through agonies of suspense and worry?”
“You deserved every one of those agonies,” she replied, sharply. “She was treated infamously by you and your mother, and it was good for you to have a taste of your own medicine.”
Mr. Darcy stared at her for a long minute before realising the futility of further discussion. He sat back on the sofa, arms folded.
Seeing that he had capitulated, she laughed at him, saying that she had very much enjoyed getting to know her new niece. “Did she tell you that I cut Caroline Bingley in public?”
“She did not, no; tell me!”
She did, and the two had a good laugh over Miss Bingley’s distress.
“I am sorry to say it, but it was well-deserved,” Mr. Darcy said, shaking his head.
“I would not have done it, had she not tried to compromise you,” the Countess assured him. “And in other news, my son Richard has been calling on Miss Bennet.”
“Really? I am surprised, although – well, I am not sure why I am surprised. My sister, Mary, has turned out to be an exceptional lady.”
“He certainly thinks so.”
“Did I hear my name?” The Colonel entered the drawing room. “I did not know you were in Town, Darcy.”
“I am newly arrived, and I suppose that you, too, will tell me that I was left in the dark about my wife’s whereabouts for my own good.”
“Not at all; it was for your wife’s own good. She both needed and deserved a break from anything Darcy.”
“I have already been berated enough by your mother, Richard; I can do without the same from you.”
“Very well; let us instead discuss Miss Bennet.”
“You do understand that in the absence of her father, I am responsible for her, do you not?”
“I hope you do not plan to tell her that, Darcy; she is now a devotee of Mary Wollstonecraft, and she doubtless understands that she is responsible for herself.”
Mr. Darcy chuckled. “No, I will not tell her that, but I want to make certain thatyouunderstand I will take my responsibility with regard to Mary Bennet seriously.”
“I expect nothing less.”
“I did not think you could afford to marry a woman who is not an heiress, though, Richard.”
The Colonel raised his eyebrows. “I think I could manage. I have a small inheritance from an aunt, and I could sell my commission. Miss Bennet strikes me as a young lady who does not require an extravagant lifestyle.”
Mr. Darcy said, “She has a dowry of five thousand pounds.”
The Colonel looked shocked. “What? I was given to understand that she had almost nothing!”
“She does not yet know, as I have only recently decided to bestow it.”
“I see. Darcy, I do not need your charity.” The Colonel frowned at his cousin.
