Indeed, he thought, Daniel may as well have married Cousin Anne; she was at least a bit more attractive than Miss Weatherington, she would inherit Rosings, and she had no dogs.
Chapter Fifty
After seeing his cousin Daniel so unhappily wed, Mr. Darcy had difficulty enjoying social events. Perhaps it was because the specter of compromise loomed before him. He did not have his cousin’s reputation, so it was unlikely that such a claim could succeed, but it was not impossible. Or perhaps it was because he had lost all hope of finding another Miss Elizabeth. In any case, the Season had lost any appeal for him; it was just as well that he was going to Kent.
Invited to Matlock House for dinner, he told his aunt and uncle that he would soon depart for Rosings.
“Decided on Anne at last, have you?” his uncle asked.
“No, not at all,” Mr. Darcy returned. “But I have been recently reminded by your sister that I am expected at Easter to meet with the steward, look over the account books, and so on.”
“Your annual journey, then,” the Countess said.
“Precisely. I do not enjoy it, but it is my duty to assist her.” Mr. Darcy thought then that hedidsound like a bit of a prig, just as his cousin Daniel had said.
“The family thanks you. But someone needs to marry Anne, you know,” the Earl said, dourly.
“Doubtless, but it shall not be me. Perhaps Richard?”
“I have suggested it, of course, but he evades the conversation. Tell you what, though, Richard will soon be on leave. If you will but delay your departure for a few days, you can take him with you on your journey. Perhaps seeing Rosings again will help him see sense. I had far rather he marry Anne and learn to manage Rosings than risk his life in foreign lands.”
“I would very much appreciate Richard’s company,” Mr. Darcy said. “As for his marrying Anne, that is entirely up to him.”
“It seems to me that any second son should appreciate the opportunity to be master of such an estate!” The Earl was clearly irritated.
Mr. Darcy, who had long thought that the Fitzwilliams could have done more for Richard, chose to direct his attention to his soup.
But the Earl would not let the subject drop. “Hey, Darcy? Would you not leap at the chance, were you a second son?”
Mr. Darcy set down his soup spoon and looked up at his uncle. “I do not think that I could tolerate years of living with Aunt Catherine; I imagine that Richard feels much the same. In France, at least, one can kill the enemy.”
The Earl stared at his nephew for a long minute, as various expressions chased one another across his face.
Mr. Darcy, red-faced, opened his mouth to apologise for such a dreadful statement, when the Earl burst out laughing. “Yes! Atleast in France, he can kill the enemy!” He repeated it several times, with greater and greater hilarity. It was some minutes before the Earl regained control of himself. “Ahem!” He cleared his throat. “Yes, you make a good point. But there is a dowry house at Rosings, you know.”
“Which Aunt Catherine would doubtless move into immediately; is that your thinking?” Mr. Darcy said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Since we are on a rather indelicate topic already, may I enquire as to whether it is not possible to grant Richard a minor estate of some sort, thereby allowing him to leave the Army? I understand that your estates are not entailed, as you recently threatened Daniel with taking them away. I have offered Richard a small estate of my own, Falconcrest, but he says he will not take charity.”
The Countess added, “Richard is far more deserving than Daniel. You have always said that you would not break apart Daniel’s inheritance, which he would then be able to pass intact down to his own progeny, but do current circumstances perhaps require a different approach?”
The Earl shook his head. “My father passed the Matlock estates down to me, complete and intact, and it is my duty to do the same. I threatened Daniel with taking it all away from him, but I was certain that it would not come to that.”
“So there is nothing available for Richard?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“You sound censorious, Darcy, but you will do the same when the time comes. Great families remain so only if the sources of wealth and consequence remain in as few hands as possible. Once we begin splitting estates up, the family’s income decreases and we begin a slow slide down the social ladder.”
“Perhaps a competence, George? I hate having Richard in harm’s way!” The Countess leaned forward to argue her point.
“We have discussed this before, Elaine. I am adamant.”
***
Three days later, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam left London for Kent.
“Tell me about the wedding, Darcy! I could not get away in time to attend, and whenever I ask my parents about it, they do a good deal of head-shaking, but not a good deal of talking. Is she truly dreadful?”
“Certainly the circumstances under which the marriage was made were dreadful, but truth to tell, Daniel rather deserved it.”
“Tell me everything!” Richard demanded. “Do not leave out any detail, no matter how insignificant!”
