Chapter Eighty-Three
It was well past noon by the time Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy made their way downstairs. Mary and Georgiana had just begun to break their fast, so the family had ample opportunity to review the events of the previous night together.
“Georgiana,” Mr. Darcy began, mildly. “With whom were you speaking last night?”
Georgiana looked up guiltily. “Oh! Well, I did not know him –“
“Nor do I,” her brother said, calmly. “Thus my question.”
“But Uncle introduced us!” she finished triumphantly.
Elizabeth chuckled. “Well, that does put a different light on things, does it not, William? So who is he?”
“He is the Marquess of Hartington.”
Mr. Darcy’s eyes opened wide; he set his coffee cup down carefully. “The son of His Grace of Devonshire?’
“That is what Uncle said, yes. Are there more tarts?”
Mary passed the plate of tarts to Georgiana, who bit into one before continuing.
“He plays the piano a good deal, and said he hoped he might be allowed to visit, just to talk about music. I said that I thought you would have no difficulty with that, Brother, but I made no promises. Did I do anything wrong, do you think?” She looked anxious now.
Her brother hastened to reassure her. “No, nothing wrong at all. The Marquess has been away at school, and then I believe he traveled for a year. I had not heard that he was back in Town.”
“And he is evidently known to your uncle,” Elizabeth added.
“The Earl knows everyone,” Mr. Darcy said.
“Very well; is there any reason the young man cannot visit Georgiana just to discuss music?” Elizabeth asked.
“No reason at all,” Mr. Darcy said. “Appropriately –“
“Chaperoned, of course,” Georgiana finished.
“I will sit with them,” Mary offered.
“Well, I expect we will have a good many callers,” Elizabeth said. “And I also expect it will begin quite soon.”
And indeed, the words were scarcely spoken when Mr. Samuels came to inform them that Colonel Fitzwilliam was in the drawing room.
Mary dropped her fork onto her plate with a clatter, got up, ran to the door, turned and ran back into the room to drop a quick curtsey, and then ran out.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy looked at each other, wide-eyed, and then began to laugh with delight.
***
The Colonel had indeed come to call on Mary, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
She blushed deeply, invited him to sit and then carefully arranged the flowers in a vase.
Her head was spinning! Her first posy, ever, and from the Colonel, of all people!
But any awkwardness she felt was soon dispelled, as he had a good many questions about how she had enjoyed herself at the ball, who she had danced with, and so on.
The Colonel found her enthusiasm delightful. He had become too world-weary, he thought, and Miss Bennet was just the cure he needed.
It was not long before the Countess herself came to call in order to receive congratulations on the success of her ball. The Darcys had not read the social pages that morning, but the Countess had brought the clipping from The Morning Post, and read it aloud.
“The ball given by the Earl and Countess of Matlock in honour of their new niece, Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy neé Bennet, was a complete crush. Mrs. Darcy, though new to Society, was considered by all to be charming, witty, and a worthy addition to the Matlock family. She was resplendent in a full-skirted gown of gold, adorned with a glittering lace bodice. She wore the Darcy diamonds, which have not been seen since the unfortunate passing of the Earl of Matlock’s lovely sister, Anne Darcy.
Also seen was Miss Georgiana Darcy; quite properly, she danced only with family members, though none other than the Marquess of Hartington was seen sitting beside her! We look forward to the lovely Miss Darcy’s come-out, as she is certain to be one of the diamonds of the Season.”
Everyone was surprised that Georgiana had even been mentioned.
The article went on to list many of the attendees and what they had worn, but no one had any interest in that, so she stopped reading.
“In any case,” she said, looking up. “No one can deny that we have stopped the rumours about Georgiana!”
“Do you want to go to Pemberley, seeing that our mission is complete?” Elizabeth asked her husband.
“I thought we might stay a bit longer,” he said. “We have not been to a single play, nor to the museum, and not even to Hatchard’s!”
“And the Marquess said he would call – oh, Aunt, it is just so that we might play the piano together!” Georgiana added hastily, seeing her aunt’s frown.
“We certainly do not need more gossip, Georgiana, even if he is a Marquess! No, especially if he is a Marquess, for he will be watched very carefully!”
“I know, Aunt Ellen, but Mary will sit with us the whole time he is here; if he even comes, that is.”
***
The Marquess did, in fact, call on Georgiana, and more than once.
The two spent a good deal of time playing the piano together.
Mary might have felt rather left out, as she and Georgiana usually sat at the instrument together, but Colonel Fitzwilliam was in the drawing room so often that she did not feel the lack.
The Colonel’s rather constant presence did not go unnoticed by the Darcys. “Should I ask him his intentions, do you think?” Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth. “I am rather in loco parentis to her, am I not?”
“Would you insult him by asking if his intentions are honourable?” practical Elizabeth asked.
“Hmmph. Still, I feel that I should do something.”
“Just wait,” Elizabeth advised, a twinkle in her eye. “I do not think it will be much longer.”
***
And indeed, it was not, for the very next day, the Colonel made his way to Mr. Darcy’s study and asked for a few minutes of his cousin’s time.
The two sat together over brandy, with the Colonel fiddling nervously with his glass and Mr. Darcy eyeing his cousin with some amusement.
Finally, Mr. Darcy said, “Was there something in particular you wished to speak with me about, Richard?”
The Colonel squared his shoulders. “As it happens, Darcy, there is.”
“Very well,” Mr. Darcy said, obligingly. “What is it?”
The Colonel said, “I would like your permission to court Miss Bennet.”
“Indeed? And to what end?”
“To what end?! Why, to marry her, you dolt!”
“Now, now, Richard, calling me names will not advance your suit.”
The Colonel stiffened and then relaxed. “Damn you, Darcy, must you tease me at a time like this?”
“I get little enough opportunity to tease you, so I must take what I can,” Mr. Darcy replied, chuckling. “I suppose I ought to write to Mr. Bennet.”
“Please do; meanwhile, I take it that I have your consent?”
“Just so that I am clear, Richard – you would resign your commission, would you not? I do not think Mary would like to marry a man engaged in active combat.”
“Yes; in fact, I am eager to do so. I have seen more than my share of bloodshed, and would like nothing more than to raise horses on that nice little estate in Nottingham Aunt Esther left me, with Miss Mary Bennet by my side.”
“Perfect. Oh, and your mother’s opinion?”
“My mother knows that I have no more interest in the ton’s darlings than did you, and as long as marriage keeps me from the battlefield, she is happy enough.”
“Then I suppose you have my permission, unless Bennet writes back forbidding it.”
“Seems unlikely,” the Colonel said.