Darcy nodded at the memory of the two stepping out of the room for a moment and of Mr. Collins taking the opportunity to all but announce their engagement.
“She did not seem pleased at the excessive attention the fool paid her whenever he was not engaged in extolling her virtues,” observed he, “or proclaiming the happiness he looked forward to experiencing on Christmas Day.”
“Agreed, but the most entertaining part of the evening was watching the parson’s impressive talent for embarrassing himself,” said Fitzwilliam, unable to suppress his laughter at Darcy’s displeasure with his description of the evening’s idiocy.
“I cannot recall ever meeting a bigger fool,” growled Darcy, the thought of a man so bereft of manners marrying a girl like Miss Elizabeth causing a pain in the pit of his stomach.
“That will never happen,” said Georgiana, until then content to eat in silence. “She told me as much last night.”
Darcy stared at his sister as the declaration ran through his mind. What did she mean? Had he not heard Miss Elizabeth’s public rejection of the man despite his unabashed confidence in the certainty of their forthcoming marriage?
And what if he had? Mrs. Bennet, whose support of the arrangement could not be plainer, was busy making plans for both the ceremony and the wedding breakfast to follow. Although Darcy did not recall hearing her father voice his approval, it must exist; after all, without his permission, how could she plan for such things as reading the banns?
Then there were the minor details of arranging for their parson to officiate, as well as ordering the necessary food. Without Mr. Bennet’s blessing, who would pay the merchants?
“What do you mean, she told you as much?” asked Darcy, determined to either set her to rights or take a chance on pursuing the woman himself.
Georgiana placed a slice of apple into her mouth and took her time chewing, a maddening habit she seemed to employ whenever he wanted a quick answer. Her smile showed the fun she was having at his expense.
“Were you planning to explain,” said he, “or is speculation all you have to add to the conversation?”
“Patience, Fitzwilliam,” responded she, “is a virtue, according to the Kympton parson.”
“He is not here, but I am and so is the colonel, so prove your claim or stay out of the discussion.”
A stab of guilt hit Darcy at his temporary loss of temper, but her information could have a significant effect on how he proceeded with his scheme to rescue Miss Elizabeth. To his relief, Georgiana did not take offence, as her eyes dropped at his scolding before lifting within a second to stare at him, her smile growing.
“Mr. Collins gave us a chance to talk in private, although I am positive it was not his choice,” said she with an amused chuckle.
“I asked after her thoughts regarding such a marriage,” continued Georgiana, “and at first, she laughed at the folly of my comment, or so I assumed. But then she told me she would rather die alone than marry a man she does not respect and could never love. I think that proves, without a shred of doubt, that she will not wed him, no matter what anyone believes.”
“Mrs. Bennet seemed confident that the marriage was inevitable,” said Darcy, recalling her less than subtle allusions to an announcement she expected to deliver within the next few days. Of course, Miss Elizabeth’s obvious anger with her mother contradicted those claims, but the woman did not appear to carewhether her daughter wanted anything to do with such a fellow or not.
Darcy laughed at the idea of Miss Elizabeth agreeing to marry such a man. He was so far beneath her in personality, intelligence, and everything else a person might compare between the two that the very idea of a union was laughable.
“She told me his presence nauseates her,” said Georgiana. She leaned forward and, as if informing fellow conspirators, whispered, “she said he turns her stomach, and she cannot stand his company.”
She sat back and folded her arms, giving Darcy a triumphant look, as if she knew that her revelation justified his desire to win Miss Elizabeth’s hand for his own.
“But how can we keep Mr. Collins from making a fool of her—and her mother from forcing a marriage to that oaf?” wondered he, speaking without meaning to.
“Are you interested in her?” asked Fitzwilliam, his manner teasing, although Darcy knew he did not pose the question in jest.
“I cannot understand her marrying him,” confessed he. “Of course, I cannot think how anyone could be foolish or desperate enough that they would spend their life with such a complete buffoon.”
“What are you prepared to do about it, then?” asked his cousin, a devilish, scheming gleam in his eyes. “And what part did you have planned for me?”
He met Fitzwilliam’s playful taunt with a mischievous grin. “I need you to occupy him so I can have some time with Miss Elizabeth.”
Fitzwilliam shook his head while the corners of his mouth turned down in the scowl Darcy knew so well. “Is that wise? She is all but engaged to Lady Catherine’s illustrious parson. Are you ready to face your aunt’s wrath if you interfere with thismatch, which the good man seems to believe heaven itself has ordained?”
“Illustrious?” asked Darcy. “Are we talking about the same person, or did I miss the presence of another at the Bennet home last night?”
Fitzwilliam glanced at Georgiana and winked. She responded with a spate of giggles, which increased until she locked her hand over her mouth to stop the noise.
“I will do what I can,” said the colonel with a chuckle, “but if I may be so bold, why not let the man ruin his own chances? From what I saw, she was ready to have him run off the property and barred from ever returning. She is a strong woman, and I doubt she suffers the fool much longer.”
Darcy shook his head. “Why put her through that humiliation when a few well-placed hints and suggestions might better serve the purpose? And why take the chance that the rumors, which her mother seems eager to encourage, are enough to force her into a marriage that has her miserable forever?”
