Chapter 5 #2
I wonder if, hearing their objections, he will change his mind.
The notion worried her, but only briefly.
Lady Catherine had voiced her opinion of the match to him after visiting her at Longbourn, and that had not stopped him from returning.
Elizabeth did not suppose she would soon forget his first proposal, although she had laughingly told herself she was resolved to do just that upon the first anniversary of their wedding.
At present, she discovered it left her feeling uncertain—not so much in him but in the likelihood that they could have a happy future together, although she was not certain why.
It might only be because it seemed that so much had happened over the last two months.
Starting from meeting Mr Darcy again in Derbyshire, which had awakened something in her she had not known was possible.
Then, there was all the anxiety of Lydia’s elopement and eventual marriage, and she could not forget how irritated she had been during the Wickhams’ stay in Hertfordshire!
Those days had felt long indeed. Mr Darcy’s earlier return when he had been silent and watchful had confused her and robbed her of sleep.
Currently, Mr Bingley’s unwillingness to look at her, let alone say more than was demanded by politeness, only made her discomfiture worse.
After eating, a scheme was devised to walk into Meryton, the day being fair.
The gentleman displayed his usual willingness to escort Elizabeth and her sisters, and as Mrs Bennet made no objections, they soon set out.
Mary attempted to speak to her, but soon gave up, accusing her of being, ‘too dull today’.
She asked if Elizabeth had a headache, and when she said no, said, “Then I shall leave you to your thoughts.”
Thereafter, Mary chatted with Kitty, while Jane and Mr Bingley were lost in themselves, as usual.
For her own part, Elizabeth attempted to distract herself by taking in the changes brought about by the autumn weather and making a note that Kitty’s coat was growing thin near the hem and would need replacing before long.
Not long after entering the market town, Kitty made a noise of surprise and said, “Who could they be? They must be guests at Haye-Park, do you not think? But Miss Goulding—”
“They are Mr Darcy’s cousins,” Elizabeth interjected, her voice flat.
She had seen them at once, and it was obvious whom her sister meant.
While strangers were not uncommon in Meryton, by their clothing alone, it was obvious that the viscount and colonel were significant persons, and that was unusual.
“Mr Darcy’s cousins?” Kitty said. “Are they staying at Netherfield? When did they arrive? How did you know who they were?”
“You might try asking one question at a time,” she said, knowing she sounded as peevish as she felt.
Fortunately, Mr Bingley chose to respond.
He gave an embarrassed sounding laugh and glanced at Elizabeth before saying, “They came yesterday. Did I forget to mention it? How stupid of me. I do not think they will be here long. Shall we go to Mr Miller’s?
” The man’s shop sold a wide variety of sundries and was a favourite amongst the Bennets.
“Are you not going to introduce us?” Kitty said. Even without looking at her, Elizabeth knew her sister was eager to meet the gentlemen, which was understandable. There was little new to occupy them in the neighbourhood of late, apart from Jane’s engagement.
“Oh, um, yes, of course,” Mr Bingley replied.
Despite preferring to overlook their presence, Elizabeth could not miss that the brothers were walking towards their party; there would be no escaping speaking to them.
Perhaps I should not wish it, she reflected.
They might have a message from Mr Darcy.
It would have made more sense for Mr Bingley to deliver it, but she did not care who told her what was happening at Netherfield presently; she just wanted—needed—to know.
And she had liked Colonel Fitzwilliam when they had met in the spring.
It was possible he would be pleased to have his cousin marry her, even if no one else in the family would be.
Miss Darcy, too, had been friendly. But had she known that her brother had a romantic interest in Elizabeth?
And, given the girl’s own past with Mr Wickham, would she object to Mr Darcy being connected to the despicable man through marriage?
Stop, Lizzy! she reprimanded, surreptitiously pinching herself.
This sort of gloomy thinking was unlike her.
Then again, she reflected, there had been occasions when her thoughts were particularly displeasing, including her earlier sentiments regarding Mr Darcy and his behaviour.
But that had been before she loved him, before her dearest wish was to become his wife.
Mr Bingley made the necessary introductions, adding, “The walk from Longbourn is pleasant, and it is an amusing way to pass the time.”
“Darcy recommended we come,” Colonel Fitzwilliam explained. “He thought we might like to get out of the house for a while.”
“And so we did,” the viscount said. “You will not mind if we join you?”
Jane assured them they were welcome to do so, and they continued on their way.
Kitty managed to capture the gentlemen’s attention for a few minutes, but when they reached the first shop they intended to visit, a change occurred that saw everyone apart from Elizabeth and the brothers enter.
She remained with them when it was apparent from the looks Colonel Fitzwilliam was giving her that they wished to talk to her.
“It must have been a terrible surprise to see our family gathered at Netherfield,” the colonel said, keeping his voice low so that their conversation remained as private as possible.
“Distressing, even, I might say, given what was said by some of the party. I trust you have not suffered excessively. I know it would reassure my cousin if I could tell him as much.”
Elizabeth gave him a brief, not entirely sincere smile, but said nothing.
“We had no notion what my aunt intended, only that she was displeased with something Darcy was about to do,” Lord Bramwell explained.
“I claim curiosity as my excuse for insisting I accompany my parents, aunt, and cousin Anne, though my brother would likely say he felt it was his duty to protect Darcy. His military training, you see?” There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that made Elizabeth think she might like him if the circumstances were different.
“Knowing Lady Catherine, I believed…saner voices might be needed,” the colonel said. “You have spent enough time in her company to understand what I mean.”
“Are you implying that you have not come to tell Mr Darcy that you do not approve of his interest in me, unlike your relations? Or is your intention only to offer…less strident arguments against his choice?” Elizabeth asked.
She took in the busy street, hoping to escape the notice of the worst gossips in her social circle.
If her mother learnt that she had stood outside the shop, speaking to two such eligible men, she would insist on knowing every word they had spoken.
Lord Bramwell laughed. “Very good, Miss Elizabeth, very good indeed. You have convinced me. Darcy must marry you.”
Her brow furrowed, Elizabeth regarded him. It seemed an odd response to her questions.
The colonel rolled his eyes. “There is a lady Bramwell is interested in marrying. Our parents, to say nothing of our aunt, are not overly fond of the potential match, which they only learnt of yesterday. His situation is not unlike yours and Darcy’s.
Our parents have chosen another lady for him and consider the one he prefers… ”
“Inferior?” Elizabeth suggested when he did not go on. “Not worthy of his position in life? Would she bring disgrace to his name?”
“What they think and what is true are worlds apart,” the viscount said, his voice holding none of the humour it had earlier.
“You might find this particularly amusing, and I only mention it since everyone else in the family now knows. The lady is Darcy’s paternal cousin, the daughter of his father’s younger brother. A Darcy is not good enough? Ha!”
After studying his brother for a long moment, the colonel turned again to Elizabeth.
“The issue, according to our parents, is that she is not titled, her fortune, while respectable, is considerably less than that of the lady they want him to marry, and my father would not strengthen his relationship with a political ally. My aunt’s arguments against the union are… somewhat less rational.”
“There is no rational objection to Rebecca Darcy,” the viscount hissed.
Colonel Fitzwilliam held up his hands in a placating manner. “I agree. I would be very pleased to have her as a sister-in-law.”
Elizabeth sighed. She had no patience for the conversation. Another time, she might find it diverting, but her thoughts and concerns were entirely directed at Mr Darcy currently. “You suppose if you support Mr Darcy’s decision to overlook your relations’ wishes and marry where he likes…?”
“He will do the same for me,” the viscount said with a nod.
“I am sure you will see my cousin soon. He was much occupied this morning—writing letters and attempting to evade my aunt. I do not expect she would allow him to escape the house easily, in any case, knowing as she does that he would find the company at Longbourn far more agreeable. But look for him tomorrow morning. I am devising a means to secure him a period of freedom. Fitzwilliam will help, and I shall even convince my mother that Darcy must be allowed to talk to you. She is the most reasonable of them, and my hopes—for both myself, and you and Darcy—lie primarily with her.”
The colonel agreed, and Elizabeth quietly thanked them. Mary joined them, followed soon after by the remainder of their party, and they continued to pass a short interval together before the two gentlemen returned to Netherfield and Mr Bingley and Jane led the way back to Longbourn.