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He clearly did not but would not shirk his duty, so he nodded without a word.
“Because his wife died—as happens from time to time—and your father just gave up. He gave up on his son, he gave up on his estate, he gave up on his duty, and he gave up on his daughter. She truly believes he was a coward, and I doubt you could remove the idea from her mind, should you have the poor sense to try, or even mention this conversation.”
He was clearly thinking through all I said and just filling time while he thought.
“I am not the brightest man in the world, but even I know better than that.”
I left him a moment to think, and thought it might be some time before he could either accept her viewpoint or argue persuasively against it. Such pondering was best done alone, so I thought to fire my last shot, as I was exhausted and wanted Elizabeth in Rosings before supper.
“Think on this. Elizabeth may live or she may not. Should she live, she may come back whole in mind or spirit or she may not. Should she come back whole, she may accept your addresses or she may not. None of these are under your control, and sitting here staring at her will not change the outcome. Will you at least agree to that?”
He nodded unhappily.
“Georgiana, on the other hand, is half a mile from here, in a place she is not to be moved from by you or anybody, watching her brother repeat her father’s mistakes. Is this what you want for your sister?”
He looked shocked at the idea.
“Should Elizabeth recover fully, do you really want to spend the first months of your courtship having her criticise your devotion to your duty? Do you want her to shepherd your sister through her introduction to society carrying your debts on her shoulders? Do you want to deliver her as mistress to a Pemberley that is whole, or one as neglected as Longbourn? Do you want her to consider an honourable and dutiful suitor or one more like her father.”
With that one, he was very near to either an explosion of anger or a bout of silent sulking, but I was not finished.
“With this one exception, you have been a wonderful and diligent master since your father died. Never doubt that, but you cannot relent now. I have thought of this for many days and have a suggestion.”
He calmed enough to listen, and I judged him ready for the hard part.
“It is clear that if Elizabeth recovers, you will try to make her your wife. Nobody will dissuade you from that course until there is no hope, is that not so?”
He simply nodded.
“I will offer this bargain. I have no standing, but I will offer anyway. I will refrain from hounding you about marrying for one year, and I will furthermore restrain your uncle and the rest of your relatives. They listen to me when I am reasonable. Not a word of censure shall pass my lips if you attend to all your other duties with diligence. Leave Elizabeth in my care, and I will have each of her six sisters write you a few lines every single day, and I will keep an express rider at the ready to alert you within the hour if she awakens. I want you in Kent no more than half of your time.”
He looked ready to argue, so I forestalled him.
“You must also see to your future and the security of the estate that has been in Darcy hands for centuries, and you cannot wait a year for that. Make Richard either your heir or the guardian for a future child Georgiana may have. Take him out of that madness on the continent, take him to Pemberley, and teach him to run an estate. Should Elizabeth recover, and should you wed and do as is proper, then I will buy Richard an estate, or possibly convince him to marry Anne and take Rosings, or I may help Anne split off a piece of Rosings and turn the dower house into a small manor. Should you meet your demise, Richard will have a start, and his education can be continued by his brother and father, and Pemberley will not be damaged.”
My nephew was looking shaken, but I thought I should have all the terms of the bargain down before he agreed or disagreed.
“There is one more thing, Nephew. If in one year Elizabeth is not back and willing to take your addresses, you will find a wife, and you will be happy. You may take one of her sisters if they will have you, as seems likely, or find another, but you will not spend your life pining away for something you cannot have. I will take care of your lady love for the rest of my life and ensure her care on my demise. I will take care of your sister and her sisters whenever you are not in attendance. You must do this, and you must tell Georgiana what you will do if you wish her to come into society whole and ready for the ton.”
I saw him starting to think deeply, and I doubted he could give me an answer for at least a day. I strongly suspect that, given the opportunity, he would simply lie down on the bed with Elizabeth and go to sleep, and when I left, that was well within the realm of possibility.
“I will send my footmen with a wagon for Elizabeth. You will bring her and her sisters to Rosings by supper? The sergeant and Mrs Hewes will see to the parsonage and continue caring for Mr Collins while we work out the particulars with the curate.”
He nodded in agreement, and I was satisfied.
“You will also sleep in your own room, after you have your valet make you look like a gentleman instead of a barbarian. All night, if you please. I will be with Elizabeth, armed with a club.”
I managed to force a small grin out of the boy and left the parsonage well satisfied. I left it to Fitzwilliam to tell the Bennet sisters. Soon enough, they would be under my roof, and soon after that, they would no longer fear me. Perhaps one day they would esteem me.
For the moment, I had things to do, and two girls of my own to tell the good news to. I was already expecting to tolerate a nearly fatal bout of girlish giggling.
Stupidity
Colonel Fitzwilliam
The Annals of Stupidity
A Few Thoughts on Stupidity
