Observing the stiff posture and unhappy expression his cousin still bore, he shook his head.
This was too peculiar.
“Is anything the matter, Fitz?”
“The matter?” he questioned, voice stilted as he pulled himself to a fuller height. “We are at one of the grandest affairs in London, one which boasts a spectacular supper from all I have been told and with the most attractive, rich women in the Kingdom, and you ask me what is the matter?”
“That is no answer. Only evasion,” Fitzwilliam whispered as he turned his back to the crowd.
“Darcy,” his cousin moaned, “why must you press this? Neither of us will prefer my truthful answer.”
“Truthful? Tell me; we are family, there ought to be no deception.”
Expression pained, Major Richard Fitzwilliam drew him into the quietest corner of the room. “First,” he began, breath strained as he stumbled over his words, “I wish you to know this is not my view, else I would not be here.”
“Go on.”
“Aunt Catherine refused to meet you, you see, but Mother pushed and prodded, at last asking her to dine…withoutAunt knowing you and your sisters would be there. I did not know this, as Mother specifically made certain myself and my brother were not there. No one knew how the evening would proceed. Proceed?” he laughed hollowly, “Well, you know how it went far better than I, for I arrived in total ignorance of your yet being in London. Imagine my surprise later when Mother and Father told me of all that had occurred–of Aunt Catherine’s threats, if one ought to even call her ‘aunt.’ In any case, they were unwilling to break ties with you or your sisters, however…”
“However?”
Sighing he whispered, “However, they had heard the rumours themselves surrounding the… the Darcy name. Acquaintances, close friends, family, each had a view. Many that, whatever your father or grandfather may have done, does not concern you. Some, that traitorous actions corrupt all generations; that your family ought to be shunned or. Or worse. Still, my parents refuse severing ties between us. Unfortunately, to appease those persons with stronger views, public functions such as these, well, they choose… not to be seen with you. Perhaps with your sisters when they come out, if tensions have eased… but not you. Not now, in any case.” A puff of air passing harshly through his nose, he fumed, “Not now.”
“Your brother then?”
“Will continue to side with Lady Catherine.”
“And you?”
“I am here, am I not? And as I said, not everyone shares such views. We are, after all, no longer at war with America. People will come around in time, I am certain. France, Napoleon, they are what everyone thinks on. Of whom they disapprove. Another year, maybe three, and all shall be forgotten.”
“All?”
“Most.”
An empty laugh forming as he turned toward the ballroom once more, Darcy shook his head. “All of the years and lost lives from this war with Napoleon and still women wear French fashions, children are taught to speak French, and men recall the wonders of French culture and literature. Yet, of America, whose battles have long ended, they recall only the anger of those years, viewing the small nation as unrefined and inferior.” Turning toward his cousin he questioned, “Shall it always be thus, do you suppose?”
“Perhaps. Though,” his cousin smirked, “I doubt the American’s think much better of us. And that too may be some time in changing. However, if some rich, American heiress wishes to change her view of the English by marrying a mere second son, I am more than happy to oblige her.”
“Fitz,” he chuckled, “I doubt you to be serious. For all your designs for a wealthy wife, surely, you would find happiness with a woman of more modest means? You are hardly a pauper yourself, you know.”
One brow raising, Fitz contorted the rest of his face into a facetious expression of deep thought before answering, “Happiness, I would agree; still, should the lady I eventually fancy prove to be rich, I promise not to hold it against her. Or if she should happen to be beautiful. Or titled. Or witty. Or… need I go on?”
Grinning at the antics of his cousin, he allowed the concerns of Lord and Lady Matlock, Aunt Catherine, and his cousin Milton to become less prominent in his mind.
Opinions could alter. And he and his cousin had come to dance, not stand about in this stupid manner. Indeed,he mused, attention drawn toward the dancers exchanging their final positions for polite bows,a fine showing tonight could prove a catalyst toward altering the negative opinions swirling around; and that would begin by not appearing dour.
“Major,” a voice boomed, those near turning toward the stocky man striding toward Fitz and he. “How are you? It has been too long!”
“Colonel Beckman,” Fitz answered, standing to attention in spite of their being in a room kept for the express purpose of enjoyment and matchmaking. “Excellent. Yourself?”
Odd. Fitz rarely provided that sort of discongenial, off-hand answer; save when he hoped to avoid some topic, or perhaps, on rarer occasions still, when hoping to avoid someone.
“I am always well,” Colonel Beckman announced, his chest puffed out rather like a peacock. “Enjoying your time in London, I imagine. All the more as I have heard whispers of your plans to purchase a higher rank once your regiment’s Lieutenant Colonel Bilgman becomes your Colonel–in one week or two if I recall. No matter. It is the way of things. Not too many opportunities for earning the rank of colonel, however. Not many. Still, I wish you every success in the attempt.”
“Thank you,ColonelBeckman,” Fitz answered, his emphasis on the man’s rank bordering on disrespectful. “I assure you, I wish you nothing but that which you desire for myself.”
“Naturally,” Colonel Beckman said, nose lifted as if displeased by the mere presence of those before him.
