Bramwell grinned. “And it might amuse us. What is her name?”
How had his cousin guessed a lady was involved? Glancing at Fitzwilliam, it was plain that he, too, had suspected as much. If his aunt and uncle had also reached the same conclusion, it explained why they had not raised the subject of his marrying.I am spared that, at least. If only my own thoughts did not betray me, and I was free from dreaming of being married to Miss Elizabeth every moment I am not sufficiently occupied.
Part of him wanted to open his mouth and let loose everything he knew and felt about her, but another part of him found the whole affair rather embarrassing. How could he have let himself become so enamoured of her without learning whether she was free to return his affection? Why, dear lord, why had he not acted like the man he was and found some way to enquire as soon as he heard she might be intended for Mr Collins? Even better, he should simply have walked away, returned to town or come to Worcestershire, and remembered that he, a Darcy of Pemberley, was always supposed to marry someone very different from a country miss such as Elizabeth Bennet, no matter her many attractions.
Or the way she made my heart feel more complete than it ever has before, and the world brighter and fuller of possibilities.
At Fitzwilliam’s urging, Darcy found himself speaking. “I admit there is—was—a lady I met whom I…liked. But she is not at liberty, as I discovered less than a week before coming to Romsley. I regret that I have not better disguised—”
“Please do not say anything stupid like you wish you had kept your unhappiness hidden from us. It is not as though we are going to turn into gossips and tell the world your business. Even Bramwell is capable of keeping secrets.” Fitzwilliam said.
“I am.” Bramwell grinned like he had just won a substantial prize.
Darcy felt a scowl creeping across his face and quickly banished it. His cousin was likely still crowing about successfully concealing his intentions towards Rebecca Reed rather than laughing at Darcy.
“Even he has found it valuable to discuss his difficulties with ladies, or rather,alady. The letters I received in the autumn!” Fitzwilliam continued.
Darcy spoke before the viscount did, hoping to avoid listening to his cousins joke about Bramwell’s apparently difficult path to winning the woman he loved. “I have nothing more to say about the situation. There is no remedy, no advice you can give me. She is married to another by now. In time, I shall forget her. Are you satisfied? I beg you, let us talk about something else.”
Fortunately, his cousins were willing to accommodate his wishes. After a brief silence, Bramwell spoke of the trials and tribulations of his pursuit of Rebecca Reed. The recitation was humorous without emphasising the romance of the affair, and Bramwell refrained from reflecting on his present happiness. It was enough to engage Darcy without expecting much from him in response, and the quiet support both he and Fitzwilliam offered him was soothing.
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
To Darcy’s surprise, the remaining days at Romsley Hall were more agreeable than he imagined they would be. The Reeds were good company, his cousin Rebecca made a special effort to befriend Georgiana, and the Twelfth Night ball was not terrible, even if he spent more time remembering the last ball he had been to, and how beautiful Miss Elizabeth had looked, than he did actually dancing or talking to people.
Two days later, Darcy, Fitzwilliam, and Georgiana made their way to Pemberley. At Fitzwilliam’s instigation, they spent the next week being as active as possible, from skating to playing in the snow as they had when they or Georgiana were small children, taking out the sleigh, and more. In the evenings, after Georgiana retired, Fitzwilliam would persuade him to talk about history, the war with France, horses and dogs, and everything under the sun except women. That subject only arose on Fitzwilliam’s last evening at Pemberley.
“I might be able to join you at Rosings for Easter, but it seems unlikely. However, I shall be in town by the end of April and expect to stay until the summer. I wish it could be sooner, but my time is not my own. It is always possible I shall have a day or two here and there when I am at liberty to see you, but I cannot depend on it. Take warning, Darcy, I shall insist you go out with me, seek amusement and pretty girls to engage in light flirtation. There is no immediate cure for a broken heart, but we shall have you to rights again by autumn.”
Darcy only shrugged in reply.
“I am sorry this has happened to you. I trust you to understand me when I say I would like to meet this lady of yours. She must be exceptionally admirable to leave you in such a state,” Fitzwilliam said.
Darcy did not respond immediately. There was too much he could say, but it would reveal how affected he was, and he was unwilling to bare his soul in such a fashion, even to a dear friend. “You would like her, but I do not suppose you will ever meet.”
Soon after his cousin left the next morning, Darcy shuffled through his post, wondering what to open first, while sipping a cup of bitter coffee. Georgiana was with him, reading a letter from Rebecca. The two ladies had not spent much time together in the past, given their disparate ages, but they had discovered they had several interests in common.
Miss Elizabeth would like them both. The three of them would have been the dearest of friends. Give it up, man! You must stop inserting her into your thoughts at every possible opportunity.
He forced a piece of muffin into his mouth and decided Lady Catherine’s missive should be first. With luck, it would contain more than simple complaints. It began with an overly long description of his cousin Anne’s health, a shorter one on her own, and her opinion of Bramwell’s betrothal, which was not particularly favourable. Darcy had expected little else. Since his aunt had not played a role in setting the match, she naturally would disapprove.
I have need of your assistance, Nephew. A problem has arisen with the estate that cannot wait until your customary visit in the spring. My steward will explain it when you are here, which I trust will be as speedily as you can manage without putting yourself in any danger. You know my opinion of travel in the winter. Young people are always impatient and seldom like to listen to their older, wiser kin, but you know my advice is superior to that of others. Travelling more miles than you can in five hours a day in January, when one begins in such a county as Worcestershire or Derbyshire, is not to be risked. Anne and I shall be awaiting your arrival next week.
Give my fond regards to Georgiana and pray remind her I have not had a letter from her since the end of last year.
Lady Catherine
Darcy was not aware of his expression changing, but it evidentially did, because Georgiana said, “Is something amiss?”
“No, not at all, dear one. Lady Catherine sends her love and requests that you write to her.” He folded the paper and set it aside.
His sister paled as if the situation was one of life or death, not a matter of a few lines to her aunt. “I shall attend to it this afternoon.”
With a reassuring smile, he nodded. “I am afraid I shall be able to carry it to her myself. There is some sort of difficulty at Rosings, and our aunt has requested I go there at once. I do not know what has happened. She did not bother to explain, which I take as an indication it is not terribly serious. However, she says it cannot wait until Easter.”
Georgiana’s face fell, and he reached across the table to cover her hand with his.
“I am not overly pleased to be leaving, especially so soon after we arrived. As you know, I intended to stay at Pemberley for many more weeks before we removed to town. Unfortunately, there is no one else our aunt would be comfortable relying upon to help her.”
