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“I…proposed to a woman and she turned me down….Something many a man has had to grapple with. Not much to tell actually.” He strove to keep his tone matter-of-fact and his voice steady.
“What?” Whatever Richard had expected, it was not that. He simply stared at Darcy. “You--?”
“Yes.” Darcy found his cousin’s shock oddly disturbing, as if it confirmed the enormity of his failure.
“I cannot believe it! All of London has been holding its breath waiting to see who you will marry. For eight years you have not favored a single woman. You have been leaving a trail of broken hearts in your wake—”
“I hardly think…”
Richard ignored his protest and barreled on. “She refused you? Who in the world would do that? Who did you propose to? A princess?”
“Believe it, there are women in England who do not care about my fortune. At least one. She refused me because she does not care for me.” She was right to do so, a voice in his head whispered.
“She does not like you? Darcy, who is this paragon who has seen through you?” Richard meant it as a light-hearted jest, but it struck Darcy to the quick. He scowled; that was exactly what Elizabeth had done.
“Does it matter?” The words came out almost as a groan. Darcy rubbed his face, realizing how tired he felt. Hopefully Richard would leave soon so he could stumble up to his bed chamber.
“Yes, because I am dying of curiosity.” Richard sat up straighter in his chair.
“I think I would rather let you perish.” Darcy no longer attempted to conceal his irritation.
“Wait, is this Miss Bennet we are discussing?”
Darcy sighed. “Yes.”
“I noticed you were in a foul mood when we departed Rosings, but I believed that was because you wanted her but thought she was beneath you.” Richard’s teasing tone had disappeared, apparently he sensed how seriously Darcy took this situation.
“It appears I am beneath her.” Darcy gave a mirthless smile.
“Come, it cannot possibly be that dire. I know she found pleasure in matching wits with you at Rosings. What reasons did she give for her refusal?”
“I am proud, arrogant, and insensitive,” Darcy ticked the points off on his fingers. “Also, her opinion of my character was shaped by conversations with our great friend George Wickham….And….I helped persuade Bingley to separate himself from her sister.”
“That was her sister you told me about?” Richard groaned. “I am afraid I conveyed that information to Miss Bennet.” He appeared genuinely contrite.
Darcy waved this concern away. “I does not matter. No doubt she would have discovered it another way.”
“These do not seem to me to be insurmountable obstacles. You can explain the truth behind your dealings with Wickham and fix the situation with Bingley. Then you only need to be nicer to her…I know that will be the hardest part.” He gave Darcy a wicked grin, his teasing nature resurrecting itself.
Darcy stood and started pacing, rather unsteadily, on the carpet before his desk. “I already refuted Wickham’s lies in a letter to her. I also confessed my sins to Bingley two weeks ago. Hopefully he will forgive me someday.”
“That was well done,” Richard nodded approvingly. “Will he return to see the sister?”
“I believe he will visit Netherfield next week.” Darcy stared bleakly at the pattern on the carpet.
“You should accompany him. Perhaps you can change Miss Elizabeth’s opinion of you.” Richard’s voice was full of hearty encouragement.
Darcy considered it for a moment; perhaps his letter had altered her view of his character, but, no, it could not possibly change enough. He shook his head in despair. “I am afraid it is a hopeless cause. She made that abundantly clear.”
“Surely there is some small reason for hope.”
“She said that she had not known me a month before she knew I was the last man in the world she could be prevailed upon to marry. I defy you to find cause for hope in that.”
Richard gave a low whistle. “That is…impressive…”
Darcy raised his eyebrows in appreciation of Richard’s reaction. “Indeed.”
Richard rubbed his chin with his palm. “Well, she is a spirited woman with decided opinions.”
