Chapter 17 #2
"Mr Bennet, be careful of Wickham. He is a scoundrel, and I believe you should keep him as far away from your daughter and your home as possible."
"Thank you for the advice," Mr Bennet replied dryly.
Matthew left in high spirits because he had obtained permission to marry his beloved Jane, but he was deeply troubled by everything that had taken place in the home of his future in-laws.
◆◆◆
Elizabeth had gone out early for a walk in the park surrounding Rosings.
She was truly impressed by the beauty of the place and could not understand how Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh preferred to remain shut up in the house all day.
She was still surprised to have met Mr Darcy the previous day.
As always, he had behaved on the very edge of politeness.
She had had to explain why she was in Kent, and he had asked how much longer she intended to stay.
Apparently, he had been just as unpleasantly surprised as she was to learn that they would have to spend some time in proximity.
‘Do not worry, Mr Darcy. I shall do everything in my power so that we will see or speak to each other as little as possible.
After all, we cannot have your fine reputation sullied by an association with such a low woman as myself,' she said in a self-deprecating but still playful tone.
She added, 'And, of course, I have always found your company to be somewhat detestable as well.
So, really, any further conversation between us would be an utter waste of time on both of our parts!
' she finished with one final charming wide-eyed smile.
At Rosings, Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had finished their breakfast but could not leave the table because their aunt continued questioning them.
"Darcy, Fitzwilliam, what are you planning to do today? It would be advisable, Darcy, for you to converse a little more with Anne. Perhaps you could take her for a walk in the garden, but only after the sun has gone down. I do not want her complexion to become tanned like that of a peasant."
"I shall pay my respects to Miss Bennet. She is the cousin of a good friend of mine. I do not know whether Darcy wishes to accompany me. I do not know whether Darcy wishes to accompany me. I believe he has already met her."
The colonel knew that his cousin was attracted to Miss Bennet. He had seen him dance with her at Lady Campbell's ball, and Georgiana had told him other things besides. He wished to test his theory and was deliberately putting his cousin to the test.
"I shall accompany you, Fitzwilliam," said Mr Darcy.
Although he wanted to add something more, he had no opportunity to do so because Lady Catherine began questioning Richard again.
"Fitzwilliam, even though you are a second son, you should not make friends with just anyone. You should always remember that you are the son of an earl."
Lady Catherine disliked the fact that her nephew associated with people from all walks of life and seemed to forget his rank and position.
"Christian Campbell, Lord Blackwood, is far from being just anyone. He is an honourable gentleman, a brave officer, and the future Earl of Westcliff. But even if he were none of those things, he would still be my friend because he is an exceptional man."
Richard knew that, once his aunt heard his friend was a member of the peerage, she would have no objection.
"How curious that such an insignificant woman as Miss Bennet should be the cousin of a man like Viscount Blackwood," Lady Catherine remarked irritably.
She disliked Elizabeth. Beside her, even her daughter Anne seemed insignificant. Anne was her daughter and a wealthy heiress; it was unfair that a poor chit like Miss Bennet should outshine her.
"I saw Miss Bennet once, at the ball held in honour of her aunt, Lady Campbell, and she did not seem insignificant at all—quite the contrary."
As Richard said this, he glanced at his cousin and noticed how uneasy he had become.
"But, to answer your question, Aunt, Lord Blackwood is the nephew of Lord Daniel Campbell, the late husband of Miss Elizabeth's aunt, Lady Campbell."
Lady Catherine was very curious to learn more about Lady Campbell, but she had no friends in London and disliked travelling to the city. As she had no other means of satisfying her curiosity, she decided to question Mr Collins.
After enduring Lady Catherine for a few more minutes, Richard and Mr Darcy went to call at the parsonage.
Elizabeth had returned from her walk and was sitting in the parlour with her friend Charlotte and Maria when the two gentlemen arrived.
Mr Darcy greeted the ladies and introduced them to his cousin.
"Mrs Collins, Miss Bennet, Miss Lucas, allow me to present my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Colonel," Charlotte said.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs Collins," the colonel replied with a polite bow before greeting the other ladies in turn.
Mr Darcy exchanged a few polite remarks with them before taking a seat. Fortunately, Mr Collins was away, so no further conversation was expected of him, and so Darcy remained quiet, observing the company.
By contrast, Colonel Fitzwilliam began talking animatedly with the ladies, who were so delighted with him that they practically forgot Mr Darcy was in the room.
"Miss Bennet, although we had not been introduced before, I already knew who you were. At Lady Westcliff's ball, you danced with my superior officer, General Sinclair, and with my good friend, Lord Blackwood."
"How unfortunate that no one introduced us.
It was so crowded that it was difficult to move about and meet new people.
I am sure, however, that we shall have the opportunity to become better acquainted in London.
I shall spend the rest of the Season with my aunt.
You must come to dine at her house one day. "
“It will be a pleasure to call on you and your aunt,” replied Richard.
Elizabeth was delighted with Colonel Fitzwilliam.
He was such a pleasant man that it was difficult to believe he was related to someone as disagreeable as Mr Darcy.
She had not failed to notice the serious, troubled expression with which he watched her as she chatted with the colonel.
Clearly, he disapproved of their growing friendship, but she did not care and continued talking with Colonel Fitzwilliam as animatedly as before.
"Miss Bennet. I shall persuade Lord Blackwood to take me with him when he calls on you in London."
The conversation continued for a few more minutes until Mr Darcy told his cousin that it was time to return to Rosings.
"Mrs Collins, thank you for receiving us. Miss Bennet, it was a pleasure to see you again," said Mr Darcy.
"If I am not being too intrusive, I should like to visit you again another day. The days at Rosings are very long, and it would be a pleasure to continue our conversation," said Richard.
"Of course, Colonel. You will always be welcome in my home," Charlotte replied, while Maria and Elizabeth smiled at the amiable Colonel.
On their way back to Rosings, Richard decided to test his cousin's patience and began to say everything he thought of Elizabeth.
"Darcy, Miss Bennet is lovely and so friendly. I have not been so impressed by a lady in a long time. Fortunately, I shall have the opportunity to get to know her better during our stay at Rosings. At least I shall have something pleasant to occupy me during this otherwise tedious visit."
Mr Darcy was furious with his cousin and could not measure his words.
"Miss Bennet has neither fortune nor connections. You cannot afford to attach yourself to a lady such as she. You must be careful not to raise expectations that you would be unable to fulfil. Besides, I do not believe she is interested in you."
Richard could not help laughing at the remark.
"It is obvious that she is not interested in me; we have only just met.
But that does not mean she could not be in the future.
Besides, I care far less about fortune or connections than you do.
If I were interested in her, I would do my utmost to make her fall in love with me.
I may not be as rich or as handsome as you, but since she is not interested in you either, I assume she is looking for a man with other qualities.
Perhaps she prefers someone friendly and amusing to someone handsome and dull. "
"And how do you know that she is not interested in me?" Mr Darcy asked, almost offended.
"It is obvious, do you not think?" Richard replied.
"Obvious?" Mr Darcy asked, annoyed.
"Yes, of course. She greeted you and then did not even look at you again. It is clear that my engaging conversation captured her attention far more than your handsome countenance."
The colonel was enjoying every moment of the conversation. He wanted to take revenge for the way his cousin had spoken about Lady Claire.
"She is a clever young lady, Fitzwilliam. If she were attracted to me, she would never show it in public. That is because she knows very well that there can never be anything between us."
Mr Darcy did not want to tell his cousin about their meeting the previous afternoon, during which they had barely been able to conceal their excitement at seeing one another again.
"You are nothing but a vain and conceited fool, Darcy.
You have no understanding of life, or of the qualities a woman like Miss Bennet might admire.
In any case, she will spend the rest of the Season in London, and I am sure that, with Lady Campbell's support, she will find a man who knows how to value her without caring about her lack of fortune or connections.
I am interested in another lady, but I should be delighted if Miss Bennet and I could become friends. "