Chapter Eleven #3
“Very well. I came to Sanditon on the heels of heartbreak. My cousin, a guest of this hotel, Miss Anne de Bourgh, recently severed our engagement in order to receive the unseemly attentions of your colleague Sir Sidney Parker. I arrived at your hotel intent on winning her back. Your niece took pity on me, hence we were offered the rental of your excellent cottage, for which you both have my tremendous gratitude.”
Sir Edward smiled and encouraged Darcy to go on.
“My sister has struck up a friendship with your niece, which I hope will be an enduring one. Upon observing that Anne misconstrued my appreciation of Miss Bennet’s kindness as something more, my cousin the colonel proposed a scheme that I initially dismissed as devious and misguided.
However, when visiting Trafalgar House, he seized the chance to declare that Miss Bennet and I are courting, in order to arouse Anne’s jealousy, at which he has succeeded.
It is worth mentioning that I believe Richard also understood this would discourage the unwanted overtures of Sir Anthony Denham toward your niece. ”
“I am aware of his interest, and that it is not returned,” Sir Edward said carefully.
“His motives evade me, but I do not trust him—indeed, I do not trust him not to turn this into a precarious situation for my niece. Has she actually consented to this scheme? Ah, but of course she must think it a lark.”
“That is what she expressed to me on both occasions when I assured her that I had no expectations of her agreement.”
“I see—so she persuaded you, and not the other way around?”
“Well, actually, yes.” Darcy chuckled a bit as he considered this. What a curious creature Elizabeth Bennet was!
“I can easily believe that! My Lizzy has a mischievous streak in her, and I fear I have not done enough to discourage that dolt who is so determined to chase her.”
“If I may speak plainly, do not assume my displays of courtship will sufficiently deter him, and this ruse is only temporary. Miss Bennet has consented to this charade for but a fortnight, by which time I fervently hope that Anne will have realized that I am a better man than Sir Sidney.”
“You expect her to think the man who pursues another to be superior to the one that flatters and indulges her?” Sir Edward chuckled and shook his head. “Well, when I say it like that, it does sound like what a lady might do!”
“To put it tactfully, I hope that her jealousy might cause her to examine her own heart and find that it still belongs to me, and that she has only been temporarily overwhelmed by the novelty of superficial flattery.”
“Tactful indeed! Well, I see. And what of my Lizzy, what of her reputation once you are reunited with your faithful lady, eh?”
Darcy was chagrined that he had not considered this as he ought to have. “I will certainly do her the honor of allowing her to cry off the courtship, so that she is not damaged by it. As she herself said, once I leave Sanditon with Anne, I shall be forgotten here.”
“Oho! She said that to you, did she? Well, I must give her some credit—she knows what she is about.”
Darcy began to relax a little. He liked Sir Edward. In their previous meetings there had been an air of insurmountable melancholy about the man, but when he spoke of Elizabeth, he seemed to come to life. Apparently she had that effect on people.
“Should anything untoward—unexpected—occur, I am a gentleman of honor and I would not allow your niece to suffer any lasting speculation.” Darcy had surprised himself as much as Sir Edward with this speech.
He nodded to emphasize what he had said.
“I will not allow this to end in disaster for her, when she has been kindness itself to me, and a true friend to my sister.”
Sir Edward refilled his glass and gestured for Darcy to partake of his own brandy. “I am satisfied, Mr. Darcy, though I must inquire if you are quite certain you prefer the one who fawns over an idiot in public?”
Darcy’s stomach lurched at the cutting question.
“Anne was brought up with little exposure to society, to the evils of those who would prey upon the combination of wealth and naivety. I believe the fault lies not with her but with her mother, who has not given her the experience that might have equipped her to make such a judgment in the face of practiced charm. Furthermore, my aunt does greater damage to the situation by extolling her disapproval of Sir Sidney, which has increased his appeal as a form of rebellion after such severe restraint.”
“That is an astute assessment, if perhaps a bit too generous. But then, I was rather a dolt when I was courting my late wife, and it was fortunate for me that she was of a forgiving disposition.” Sir Edward leaned back in his leather armchair, offering Darcy a wistful smile.
“I say, as you are a captive audience and desirous of my good option, let us speak of Derbyshire, sir. It is a topic I am immensely fond of….”
Darcy remained for another half hour, and by the end of his visit was rather convinced that he and Sir Edward were nearly friends.