Chapter 26
As Darcy had hoped, a short time alone allowed him to decide what he would do.
He considered several alternatives, but concluded that, until the ball, the best course of action would be to avoid the subject of marriage as much as possible.
At the ball, he would speak more openly to Elizabeth about his wishes, as Fitzwilliam evidently had with Miss Strachan—and then share his intentions with his family.
He would be able to honestly say that he believed his honour—along with his affections—were engaged.
They would have to recognise that he intended to marry her, not his cousin.
The earl and countess might not be entirely pleased, but they would reconcile themselves to it and welcome her to the family.
He would remind Lady Catherine that he had never agreed to marry Anne, and even if his parents were alive and said it was their wish that he do so, no one could compel him to make her his wife.
Would it be better to tell them about Elizabeth at once?
While acknowledging it might be, he also believed it would—at best—result in his relations attempting to browbeat him into abandoning Elizabeth and his own wishes.
He hated the thought of arguing so severely with them that a breach was inevitable.
As it was, Lady Catherine might make it unavoidable.
“Once I confirm that Elizabeth anticipates us soon becoming engaged and can assure my relations she feels that way, there will be no benefit to us debating the matter.” In the unlikely event that Elizabeth said she did not return his affections, he would have a more difficult time convincing his family of his disinterest in making a match with Anne, but he would persist.
Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, the subject of Anne and him marrying arose at dinner that evening. As soon as it did, he said, “I beg you would put the notion out of your mind. I understand you see it as desirable, but—”
“And what we, your nearest relations, including your dear late Mama and Papa, want,” Lady Catherine interjected, her voice loud and stern.
Darcy swallowed his irritation and said, “But I cannot say that I have the same strong feelings.”
“Nonsense,” Lord Romsley said. “Like many young men close to becoming husbands, and soon after fathers, you are anxious about giving up your freedom.”
Addressing him, he said, “Sir, it is not that.”
He attempted to make them listen to him, while also doing his best to reassure Georgiana, who quickly grew alarmed to see her brother, aunts, and uncle debating.
Anne sat placidly, acting almost as though they were doing no more than having a pleasant chat about the weather.
Bramwell and Fitzwilliam tried to help him, but in the end, the conversation ended because the countess refused to permit it to continue, going so far as to stand and insist the ladies go to the drawing room.
When Lord Romsley said it was a good idea, and that he would talk to Darcy and ease his concerns, Lady Catherine finally agreed to leave.
But before he had to suffer through a conversation with his uncle, Darcy insisted he must take Georgiana home. She thanked him for it as they made the short carriage ride.
“I do not know why they believe they have the right to tell you what to do,” she said.
“No more do I, but you need not worry. I shall not let them direct my life.” He believed a large part of Lord and Lady Romsley’s motivation was to have one match take place as they had long anticipated, especially since they did not know he had another lady in mind.
“You will not marry Anne, will you?” Her demeanour was anxious, but eased when he shook his head.
“I cannot. I would not be happy, and I do not believe she would be either. Do you mind?” he asked, observing her closely to ensure he understood her feelings.
At once, her eyes widened and she shook her head. “I do not think you would be happy either, and I would much rather have a sister like—” She bit her lips together, he assumed to prevent a name from slipping out.
After kissing her hand, he said, “I am endeavouring to secure you the perfect sister, one who will add greatly to our family’s happiness and well-being.”
The following morning, Bramwell and Fitzwilliam called on him shortly after breakfast.
“We need to talk,” Fitzwilliam said, sounding ominous.
“Darcy, what have you done?” Bramwell added.
Darcy rubbed the middle of his forehead, hoping whatever had happened was not as serious as his cousins’ manner suggested. “Let us go into the green parlour. I shall order coffee.”
Once they were seated, him on a chair with his cousins sharing a sofa across from him, he asked, echoing Bramwell’s earlier words, “What am I supposed to have done?”
“We know you want Miss Bennet,” Fitzwilliam said.
“You do?” he interjected, his brow arching.
Bramwell rolled his eyes, and the colonel said, “Yes. It has been apparent to me for several weeks, and my brother says he has known for months. Do not deny it.”
After running a hand over his mouth, he shook his head and said, “I shall not.”
“Then why the devil have you not told our parents and Lady Catherine?” Bramwell demanded.
He insisted that he had tried to tell them he was not interested in marrying Anne, which they admitted, although Bramwell said his efforts were, “too little and too late. You ought to have done so the second they arrived in town.”
Not responding to the remark, Darcy told them what he had decided regarding how he would handle the situation, particularly informing them about Elizabeth.
“I have already secured her for the first set, and we shall have an opportunity to speak then or during the interval. If I am fortunate, we might even have a few minutes of privacy before the dancing begins.”
The brothers exchanged a glance, and Fitzwilliam, his expression sceptical, said, “You wish to ensure she understands your intentions and approves? So that you can assure our family your honour and affections are engaged even if you and Miss Bennet are not?”
“You know she will tell you what you want to hear, do you not?” Bramwell said. “As much as we can see that you like her—”
“As does Miss Strachan. Miss Darcy too, I wager,” Fitzwilliam interjected. Darcy and Bramwell both regarded him, and he shrugged. “We spoke of it.”
“Do you gossip about everyone?” Bramwell asked.
“Is it any different from you and I talking about it?”
“Enough!” Darcy insisted.
Bramwell shook his head. “As I was saying, it is obvious to anyone who spends more than five minutes with you that you and Miss Bennet are extremely fond of each other. I congratulate you, by the way. I believe she rather disliked you when we were in Ireland. I am not sure why, however.” He gestured impatiently.
“But it does not matter now. What is more important is that her opinion of you has improved greatly. She will make a fine addition to our family.”
Fitzwilliam turned to his brother. “You make it sound as though we are discussing a horse or piece of art.”
Bramwell shrugged. “Darcy knows what I mean. Do you not find it refreshing that our ladies are friends? My mother and Lady Catherine cannot abide each other. When the three of us are together, we need not worry that our wives will make snide remarks about one another, and we shall not have to listen to nearly as many complaints as the earl has. We all know how much he has suffered over the years, with my mother and aunt telling him what they despise about each other. Even this past week, both of them have attempted to make him insist the other lady behaves poorly. For myself, I believe the blame is entirely our aunt’s. My mother is a saint compared to her.”
In truth, Lady Romsley was a lovely, kind woman—even if she did have strong opinions about whom her sons and nephew should marry.
Fitzwilliam and Darcy nodded solemnly in agreement.
“To return to the reason we are here,” Bramwell said, gesturing to include the colonel.
“I believe you are making a mistake in not going directly to Grosvenor Square and announcing that you will marry Elizabeth Bennet and no other lady will do. Tell them you are not at liberty, not just that you hesitate to bind yourself to Anne.”
“I do not agree,” Darcy said. He reiterated his reasons, chiefly that it would lead to an argument that would cause a breach in the family.
“The chances of it happening are lessened if I follow my plan. I need something more than my hope that she will accept me. I must be able to tell them that Miss Bennet has every reason to anticipate receiving an offer from me, and, unlike Anne, it will not be because her mother has decided it will be so, but because I have told her I intend to.”
“Of course she will accept you!” Fitzwilliam cried. “What sensible lady would dare to refuse you?” Bramwell punched his arm, causing him to scowl.
“She will accept you because she has fallen madly in love with you,” the viscount said. “The fact that you are rich and well connected is immaterial to a lady like Miss Bennet. I knew that about her within a week of us meeting.”
They debated the question of when and how Darcy would inform Lord and Lady Romsley and Lady Catherine about Elizabeth for as long as it took them to consume the coffee and cake delivered to the room a few minutes later.
Darcy was resolved to act as he had decided was best, and eventually, the cousins agreed that, since it was his life, it was what he should do.