“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
An angry flush overspread her ladyship’s countenance, and she gripped the arms of her chair with both hands. “Your cousin?”
He nodded. “I suspect they formed an attachment at Easter and now?—”
The wisdom of sharing this news shrivelled to a distant memory when Lady Catherine reared up from her seat and pointed a shaking finger at him. “Youhave done this! You brought her here! You allowed her, a member of your own family, to come into my home and wilfully enthral my nephew under my very nose!”
Her pique reached such a pitch as brought on a fit of coughing for which Mr Collins was immeasurably grateful, for he knew not when or, indeed, whether her wrath would otherwise have exhausted itself.
“Pray, forgive me! Had I known this would be the result of her visit I would never have allowed her to come.”
“I do not forgive you!” she croaked, hauling herself to her feet. “You have no idea what you have done. But it will not be borne—not while I live to prevent it.”
Mr Collins cowered out of her path as she hobbled furiously from the room, bellowing between coughs for her trunks to be packed. The silence left in her wake was as a vacuum, sucking the sound from his ears and the breath from his lungs. He fumbled for a hold on the back of the sofa and, by placing hand over hand, dragged himself on unsteady legs towards the door, then all but ran back to the parsonage.
The same day, London
Knightsbridge
29thMay
Darcy,
Received your note. Your father must be turning in his grave. Thank God this violent streak did not reveal itself around Georgiana. Not that I am not sorry for this other girl, but still, she is not dear to us.
Rest assured, Wickham will be found. You did well to put Jameson on the hunt. Needless to say, my boys enjoy a good chase. Have allowed a few to take up the scent. Between both our men and Forster’s, the bugger will be in irons in no time. I should not bother with the Runners. They will not touch this while the army and the militia are involved—nothing in it for them.
Not at all surprised that you have managed to assume culpability for the whole affair. I shall not waste His Majesty’s ink attempting to persuade you otherwise, though I trust you can guess my opinion.
Keep me informed. I shall do the same for you.
Fitzwilliam
Darcy put the letter aside. Regardless of his cousin’s opinion, he knew nobody would have been harmed had he only deigned to warn people of Wickham’s depravity sooner. It pained him to think Elizabeth must know this also and despise him for it.
The sound of voices in the hall brought a welcome interruption to such wretched reflections. He pushed himself out of his chair, happy for the reprieve of a visitor—and a familiar one, given the absence of a calling card. His surprise was great indeed when Lady Catherine de Bourgh swept into the room.
“I am relieved to find you at home, Nephew,” said she, enthroning herself in an armchair. “A report of an alarming nature has reached my ears. I could not rest until I had your word that it was without foundation.”
Darcy suppressed a sigh. “Good afternoon, madam.”
She blinked at him, her countenance reddening slightly. “Yes, yes, good afternoon.”
“And what is this report you would have me refute?”
“A vile rumour has spread all the way from Hertfordshire…”
The mention of that place set Darcy’s heart to racing. He ignored it. Hertfordshire was a large county, and reason would have it that not every piece of news to travel thence must pertain to Elizabeth.
“…that you are very soon to become engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet!”
Reason was overrated.
“Where have you heard this?”
“From Mr Collins. His wife’s family would have it that in Hertfordshire it is widely expected you will soon make your addresses.”
He rolled his eyes. “You have met Mrs Collins’ family. Can you truly credit any report from Sir William as being grounded in truth?”
