Chapter 7
Colonel Fitzwilliam was preoccupied as he walked thinking about his parents’ physician’s report delivered a few days past. The man had said that adding items to assist with nutrition would make Miss de Bourgh a little stronger, but it would not change the inevitable, which was her going home to God to be reunited with her father once again.
Evidently, the damage wrought by the scarlet fever had been too severe on her body, which was now, in his words, fighting a losing battle.
Those were terms Fitzwilliam could understand.
His help had given Anne some more time but no more than that.
Also, Anna had chosen to remain at Matlock House with her companion and a host of staff and servants.
The poor dear was entirely intimidated by Lady Catherine.
When the worst happened, Anna would have to come to Rosings Park to be with the family.
However, Fitzwilliam was confident his aunt would have much more to think about than importuning Anna about practicing on the pianoforte.
William was going over the estate accounts with Father and Andrew, which had precluded him from walking out as he seemed to want to do most mornings. Fitzwilliam absentmindedly headed for the groves.
Refusing to be diverted by Mr Darcy spoiling her solitary time in nature, Elizabeth had walked out as she normally did.
As much as she looked forward to her walk, hopefully sans Mr Darcy, Elizabeth was also in anticipation of dinner at Rosings Park this evening.
She was looking forward to seeing that her ideas about the noble Fitzwilliams were correct.
She could not but smile when she remembered the almost unending effusions emanating from her cousin when he received the note from Lady Catherine regarding the dinner upcoming.
He had been in a state of melancholy because he had been denied the honour of being in his patroness’s company since the earl, the countess, and the viscount arrived.
The invitation changed all of that in an instant.
Saying that Mr Collins had begun to sing paeans of praise would have been an understatement.
Seeing a male form ahead of her, Elizabeth almost huffed with exasperation that Mr Darcy was disturbing her walk again. Thankfully, she looked up and saw that rather than Mr Darcy it was his affable and entertaining cousin.
“Good morning, Miss Bennet,” Fitzwilliam greeted as he bowed.
“And to you, Colonel,” Elizabeth returned gaily with a curtsy.
This was much better than the dishonourable Mr Darcy appearing.
“We are all in anticipation of meeting your parents and brother at dinner. I trust all is well with them?” She chose not to mention her surprise they would condescend to be introduced to those so far below them as it would have been rather rude.
“Thank you for asking, my parents and brother are well, as you will see for yourself when you and the rest of the residents at the Parsonage come to Rosings Park this evening.” Fitzwilliam would have mentioned Anne’s situation, except it had been decided not to speak of it outside of their family circle.
Although Elizabeth was not sorry Mr Darcy was nowhere to be seen, she wondered how it was that Colonel Fitzwilliam was on a path in the groves. “I have never noticed you walk this way before. Is today a special occasion?”
“It is my habit, while Darcy and I are here, to make a tour of the park,” Fitzwilliam replied.
As he had not paid attention to where he was walking, he decided to give her a plausible reason.
“Today was as good as any for my tour, and I walked this way as I intended to end it with a call on those residing in the Parsonage.” He paused and then asked, “Are you going much farther?”
“I was to walk to the clearing, where the paths meet, and then take the path through the other grove to return to Mr Collins’s house.”
“Do you object to company as you walk?”
“Not in the least; you are welcome to join me.” To herself she added, ‘And you are much less objectionable company than your insufferable, hateful cousin.’
“Thank you.” Fitzwilliam offered Miss Bennet his arm, which she took.
“When do you plan to leave Kent?”
“Normally I would depart when Darcy decides to leave as I am at his disposal. Under normal circumstances, he arranges the business just as he pleases.”
Before the colonel could say more, Elizabeth interjected, “I am not surprised it is so. He seems to like to order things to suit his desires. I do not know anybody who seems to enjoy the power of doing what they like when they do, more than Mr Darcy.”
Based on the bitterness of her statement, Fitzwilliam had confirmation of his assumption that Miss Bennet did not like his cousin.
“He, like most men of power, prefers to have his own way. But then again, so do we all, regardless of our wealth. Besides, this time when we leave will be determined by my father. There is some family business we must see to before we depart.” He paused as he cogitated.
“Being rich does give Darcy a certain amount of freedom denied to many others who are poor. I know of what I speak. As a younger son I must be inured to self-denial and dependence.”
“In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of either. When have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring anything for which you had a fancy?” Elizabeth chose to address what the colonel said of himself rather than his words about his cousin.
“Those are good questions. Perhaps I have not experienced too many hardships like that, at least when not on a battlefield. When I look to my future, unless I marry well, I will want for money. Younger sons do not always have the luxury of marrying where they would prefer.”
“Unless when the woman they are attracted to is an heiress, which I think is usually the aim.”
“Many who are not the heirs have expensive habits which make them too dependent on their family’s assistance. There are not too many of my status who can afford to marry without some attention to money.”
‘Is he trying to warn me off? Does Colonel Fitzwilliam think I am looking to him as a possible husband?’ Elizabeth asked herself silently.
‘He need not worry, I do not see him in that light.’ As she thought the last, Elizabeth’s cheeks coloured a little.
She recovered quickly. “And pray tell, what is the usual price to attract an earl’s younger son?
Unless you have hope of becoming the heir, I suppose a dowry of fifty thousand pounds would suffice. ”
“Yes, that amount would be enough even for me.” He hoped Miss Bennet did not think he was warning her off. Even had she been wealthy, Fitzwilliam would never pursue her knowing that William was in love with her.
Elizabeth decided to change the subject.
“Did your cousin have you accompany him so he would have someone at his disposal? When he marries, he will have someone at his beck and call at all times.” Elizabeth almost inserted Miss de Bourgh’s name into her sentence as the bride to be, but she held herself back.
“And does he not have guardianship of his sister, who he may order about at will?”
“Darcy would never treat his sister in that way,” Fitzwilliam responded sharply. “He is not Miss Darcy’s sole guardian. His late father designated both him and me as joint guardians of my young cousin.”
From the colonel’s reaction, Elizabeth realised she had overstepped.
She knew she could not openly criticise Mr Darcy in that way again.
“You are? And do you and your cousin look after your ward well? I trust Miss Darcy does not give you much trouble? She is of an age where some young ladies can be difficult to manage. Is she another Darcy who likes to have her own way?”
“My ward is a very good girl,” Fitzwilliam responded curtly.
She did not know why, but Elizabeth had noticed her walking partner’s reaction when she had asked the last. She needed to assure him.
She did not think repeating Lieutenant Wickham’s words about Miss Darcy would be a good idea at this juncture.
“There is nothing to fear. I have never heard anything bad about her; in fact, one who is acquainted with her praised her to the skies. I believe that Miss Darcy is a great favourite of some ladies with whom I had a brief acquaintanceship, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley. Do you know your cousin’s friends? ”
Fitzwilliam relaxed when he understood that Miss Bennet had heard nothing of Ramsgate. “I hardly know the ladies. Their brother is a friend who is a pleasant gentlemanlike man. In the years I have been in the army and not as much in Bingley’s company, he and Darcy have become very close.”
A moue of distaste flicked across Elizabeth’s countenance. “Indeed, yes, Mr Darcy is very kind to Mr Bingley and takes a prodigious interest in his life.”
‘This,’ Fitzwilliam thought, ‘is a way I can show William in a better light.’ Aloud he said, “Indeed, Darcy does take great care of him! I know that Bingley is very grateful to my cousin for his friendship and assistance. From something Darcy related to me during our journey hither, I have reason to think Bingley owes him a very big debt of gratitude. He did not tell me all, but enough for me to understand that Darcy saved our mutual friend.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth bristled as she was sure she knew exactly what Colonel Fitzwilliam was about to confirm.
“It is something, I believe, that Darcy would not wish to be generally known. I think he fears it may get back to the family concerned, and it would be unpleasant for them.”
“You may depend on me keeping your confidence.”