Vol 1, Chapter 14 #2
“Darcy is no longer in Town, and he meant every word he said to both of us. Darcy never wants to be in your company ever again, Caroline! There was only one thing Darcy agreed with you about, to a certain extent. He said Miss Bennet does not love me; in fact, he went further and helped me see she never sought my company. It was all in my own head; I was seeing what I wanted to, just like you do with the Darcys.” Bingley became wistful, as he did each time he thought about the angel who had no interest in him.
“It is just as well. Do you know I saw Miss Bennet in Town working as a paid companion for the Marchioness of Holder and Viscountess Westmore? It is appropriate that you have given up on that woman!” Miss Bingley crowed triumphantly.
“I would advise you not to spread any unsubstantiated rumours, Caroline. You are already in a precarious position after your ill-conceived attempt to compromise Darcy. If you instigate rumours, it will only bring unwanted attention to you. Would you like to marry Darcy’s valet?
” Bingley tried to curb his sister—for once.
“Why did we not receive an invitation to Pemberley for Christmastide?” Miss Bingley asked, changing the subject without addressing anything her brother said.
“Unless it is for me alone, and my friend is sure you will not wheedle your way into the carriage, there will be no more invitations for either of you,” Bingley looked at each sister pointedly, “ever again.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Miss Bingley accepted that spreading a rumour would not do her any good, and self-service was the easiest way to have her agree to anything.
Mayhap it was time to consider other gentleman as marriage partners?
There was always Darcy’s cousin, the Viscount!
Sadly, her resolution to give up her chase of Mr. Darcy did not survive the night!
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
With the unscheduled ride to Meryton to deal with the miscreant and normal family obligations, Andrew Fitzwilliam had not been able to spend as much time with Jane Bennet as he would have liked. The time the couple did have together was thankfully outside of the attention of the Ton.
The most public event they had shared was a ride along Rotten Row, hours before the fashionable time.
The courting couple had been accompanied by Richard, Elizabeth, Tom, and Robert Jamison in addition to two grooms. That, coupled with the cold, made sure that even had they been seen by anyone with a penchant for gossip, no one would have given a group of six riders a second glance.
As far as Andrew was concerned, the time they did spend together reinforced his opinion that Jane was the perfect woman for him.
Although he was in no hurry to push for a betrothal, the last thing he wanted was for Jane to feel pressured.
His feelings for Jane Bennet were decidedly tender, right on the precipice of love.
They would have three weeks far away from the prying eyes of society while in Essex.
Andrew did not know the state of Jane’s feelings for him, but that she was not indifferent to him was obvious.
And as far as his cousin Darcy was concerned, he was encouraged by the letter he had just received from Pemberley.
15 December 1810
Pemberley
Andrew,
I will make my apologies to you in person when I see you, but in the meantime, all I can say is that you had the right of it! I was a horse’s arse!
When I see the Bennets again, it is my intention to beg their forgiveness for my boorish behaviour. The more I examine the way I behaved, the more I feel abhorrence at my actions.
I was becoming a male version of Aunt Cat, believing my judgement reigned supreme, regardless of how few facts I had to support my assertions. I have written to Uncle Reggie, Aunt Elaine, and Richard to express my sincere contrition, but to you I owe more than that.
As it was, none of my concerns were based in fact.
If I truly had concerns about Miss Bennet, then I should have spoken to you in private, and presented them as my opinion, not as fact!
When, or if, I am allowed into her company again, I will make my apologies directly to her.
I saw absolutely no evidence to support my proclamations, and yet I felt it my right to do so.
I allowed my over-inflated pride and belief in the infallibility of my opinions to overrule how I was taught to behave as a gentleman. As such, there are many amends that I need to make.
I clearly see the hypocrisy in my life, which was pointed out to me at Matlock House, and again by Gigi when I was honest with her. As much as it cut me to the quick when it was said to me, I truly was behaving like one of the fortune hunters that I despise.
Unlike before Ramsgate, I have not hidden anything from Gigi in a misguided attempt to protect her, and consequently my little sister has shared some sage advice with me.
I honestly believe that if Gigi can recover as she has from her near ruin in the summer, I can certainly amend my behaviour, though she has less to regret.
My little sister is an inspiration to me.
That only leaves me to beg your forgiveness, Andrew.
I stand ready to apologise as many times and to whomever I need to until everyone I have offended sees that I am sincere, but this one I wanted to express first as I have long considered you not just a cousin, but more a brother and friend.
I am working to correct the flaws in my character that led to my behaving thusly, but I ask should you find it necessary, do not hesitate to call my actions into question again.
I request that you do it soonest, so I may check myself before you must call me a horse’s arse again!
Regards,
William
Andrew appreciated the sincere and full apology contained in his cousin’s letter and believed that he was moving heaven and earth to correct his character flaws. Whatever else William could be called; liar was not one of them.
As he walked into his parents’ sitting room, he saw each of them reading their own letter. When they both completed their reading, his father looked up. “Welcome son. Is that from William, too?” the Earl pointed to the pages in Andrew’s hands.
“It is, Father; he told me he wrote to all of us separately. It is an excellent start that he has made, and I, for one, believe he will achieve his aim of improving himself,” Andrew stated, as he sat down after giving his mother a kiss on her proffered cheek.
“We agree, Son; both your mother and I remarked after our first reading that it seems like William is finally making the changes that could only enhance his own future happiness,” Lord Matlock shared. “I wondered after that meeting we had if I had been too harsh with him.”
“Given the results, I do not believe so, Reggie,” Lady Elaine squeezed her beloved husband’s hand.
She understood how hard it had been for her husband to take William to task.
They had acted as surrogate parents to the two Darcys since George Darcy had joined Lady Anne some five years ago.
Darcy, a young man of one and twenty, had been left with not only the responsibility of the Darcy estates and properties, but the guardianship of a young sister who was almost eleven at the time.
The saving grace was that George had made Richard co-guardian, so in that, at least, not everything rested on William’s broad shoulders.
“If William succeeds, he will become the man our late brother-in-law was sure he could be. Will you allow Jane to see the letter, Andrew? There is no entreaty from William not to do so is there?” Lord Matlock asked.
“There is not Father. I think when I see her later today, I will tell her about it and give her the choice if she would like to read it or not,” Andrew stated.