Page 5 of Dear Friend

“There are a great many things for you to deny.”

Darcy ignored him. “I want someone with whom Georgiana may be easy. Miss Ellicott has managed that remarkably well.”

“Which is not something a reference can promise.”

“No.”

Richard regarded him over the rim of his glass. “You are worried.”

“I am being careful.”

“With you, the distinction is sometimes difficult to discover.”

Darcy chose not to answer.

“She will be fifteen next summer,” Richard continued. “Whoever you choose will have considerable influence over her. And does Georgiana approve of being supplied with a stranger?”

“She understands the necessity.”

“That was not my question.”

No, it was not. Georgiana understood a great many things she did not like. “She would prefer Miss Ellicott to remain, naturally. But I will not engage anyone with whom she cannot be comfortable.”

“I know.”

Darcy reached for one of the letters before him, but Richard’s attention shifted to another lying near his elbow.

“Is that not Rosings on the address?”

Darcy followed his gaze. “Yes.”

“Then perhaps I ought not to ask.”

“You will regardless.”

“Naturally.” Richard turned his glass idly between his hands. “My mother wrote yesterday. Lady Catherine has been corresponding with my father again.”

“Concerning Anne?”

“Concerning you and Anne, which in our aunt’s estimation amounts to much the same thing.”

“There is nothing to discuss.”

“Lady Catherine disagrees. She believes another year ought not to pass without some understanding being reached.”

“An understanding already exists. I have no intention of marrying Anne.”

The Colonel considered him curiously. “Have you ever told our aunt so in precisely those words?”

“No.”

“Then you must admit you have left her some room for invention.”

“I have never courted Anne. I have never spoken to her of marriage. Whatever expectations my aunt has formed are entirely her own.”

“You know perfectly well that Lady Catherine does not require encouragement. She manufactures her own.”

“That does not oblige me to satisfy them.”