Page 62 of Resilience

“You are a terrible guardian, Darcy, and I will not allow you to influence Georgiana any further. I will take her to Matlock, and she will live under the protection of my parents.”

“Now see here!” Georgiana and Priscilla spilled through the door in outrage. “Cousin, how dare you!”

“Georgiana, how dare you eavesdrop?” Fitzwilliam chided before his sister interrupted him.

“No one needs to eavesdrop, when they are passing in the hall and a young lady can hear her own future being used in an argument.” Priscilla smoothed her gown. “It is no surprise that your ear-splitting threats made her forget herself. Be quiet if you like privacy. This is not the battlefield, Richard, you have returned to us a barbarian.”

“You should not hear this, Prissy.” Darcy was chagrined as he appraised his sister and cousin.

“But we have, and I feel obliged to speak,” replied Priscilla.

“Of course you do.” Fitzwilliam crossed the room, opened a cabinet, and proceeded to pour himself a brandy.

“Brother, everyone in the family likes Elizabeth very well.” Priscilla lifted her chin. “Mama and Papa admire her. Even Ashley enjoys her company. She suits Darcy well, and brings him out of himself.”

“Not everyone,” Richard cackled, turning around as he swirled his brandy in the bottom of his glass. “There is one member of our family who will positively detest Miss Bennet. And she is on her way north as we speak. An express arrived yesterday, stating her intention to arrive at Matlock tomorrow.”

“You cannot mean…” Priscilla trailed off in disbelief. “Even you would not stoop so low!”

“Whatever do you mean, Richard?” Georgiana gazed at her guardian in perplexity.

Richard did not hesitate. “You confided in me, Cousin. You confessed to me their illicit courtship, and your brother’s disgusting use of you as a messenger. How your attachment to this woman was encouraged without propriety, without reserve, because it served your brother’s purposes.”

“Richard!” Priscilla was scandalised.

“Cousin,” Darcy warned in rising anger.

“And I wrote to Lady Catherine to warn her of what is quite obviously a dangerous attachment.” Richard finished.

“I did not say any of it that way, Brother! I swear I did not!” Georgiana burst into tears. “I would never imply–”

“Of course you would not, Sister. Richard has taken your confidence and twisted it against you, and against me.” Darcy growled. “To make it sound vulgar and improper, but no one who is truly acquainted with Miss Bennet or with me could ever believe his vile lies. You had better not speak such slander in front of your mother, Richard. Aunt Eleanor will wash your mouth out with soap as she did when we were boys.”

“There has been nothing improper about Darcy and Elizabeth’s courtship, for I have observed it,” Priscilla informed her brother.

“What would you know about propriety?” Richard turned on his sister.

The sharp crack that sounded through the room was shockingly loud as Priscilla slapped her brother soundly across the face. Georgiana gasped, quite obviously terrified.

“And I believe that is why Priscilla and Georgie ought not have heard this.” Darcy stepped in between his two cousins and began to herd Priscilla and Georgiana to the door. “This is not a conversation for ladies, because men have dreadful tempers and say the most abominable things. Sister, Cousin, please return upstairs for the evening. I cannot stand between everyone all night. I must go to the parsonage and speak with Elizabeth. We must leave in the morning and journey to Matlock.”

When the ladies were gone, Darcy turned on his cousin in frustration. “You had no right. No right to interfere in my affairs, and no right to insult your sister. I would like to hit you myself.”

“It is your own fault for keeping secrets,” Richard admonished. “Secrets always sound scandalous. It is all of your own making, Darcy.”

“She has four sisters, Richard, all of whom were marrying one after the other, the last two on the very same day. Her father prevented us from seeing one another in town. You have met Mrs Bingley. Elizabeth wanted to be away from that woman’s interference, and not to cause more stir in the midst of the weddings of her sisters. We were hardly exchanging love letters, just happy regards to one another through my sister while Elizabeth was waiting to return to London. You have implicated my sister in scandal, which you manufactured out of nothing, over innocent greetings that Lady Jersey would not raise an eyebrow at.”

“Where are you going?” Richard asked as Darcy started to leave the room.

“Have you heard nothing I said?” Darcy stopped and regarded his cousin in astonishment. “We must go to Matlock tomorrow. Elizabeth and I were attempting to plan a short journey to Kent with Mr and Mrs Collins to meet with Lady Catherine and to ask for her blessing, and now you have made it all appear sordid! Damn you!”

“I did not realise you were planning to visit Rosings.” Richard suddenly looked uncertain of his deeds.

“Why do you think we have not chosen a date?” Darcy asked in disgust. “If I had my way, we would marry the day after the last banns are read, but Elizabeth and I both wished to give my mother-in-law the respect that is her due, and invite her to the wedding before anyone else.”

“Lady Catherine will still be furious, no matter how it was presented to her.” Richard sounded very uncertain now. “She will never be pleased unless she chose your bride herself.”

“You do not know my mother-in-law, you have not seen or visited or even written to anyone but Georgie and your mother for three years, you ought to be ashamed!” Darcy had experienced his fill of Richard for one day. “Get out of my study. Stay out of my brandy. And if you think of starting any more trouble or ruining anyone else’s happiness, just leave entirely, Richard!”