“I think she was too upset to come, but she was in her cups, or very nearly, when I spoke to her in the parsonage.”
Fitzwilliam could not restrain his shoulders from shaking with laughter.“Dare I ask what the lady is like while inebriated?”
Darcy glared at him.“No, you may not.”
“Oh, that is how the land lies, is it?”
“Quite.”
“Do you have an announcement to make?”
“Not as yet.Fitz,” Darcy stood and paced away, then returned and sat again.“Miss Elizabeth suggested I ask you about your conversation earlier.She said it would help me to understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Why she began laughing when I told her I loved her.”
Fitzwilliam’s eyes bulged comically.“She what?”He spluttered.“You told her you love her?”
Darcy sighed.“Please tell me of your conversation, then I shall tell you more.”
“Very well.”Fitzwilliam told Darcy of meeting Miss Elizabeth, their conversation, her tears and the way she berated herself, and how he offered his friendship should she ever need it.When he finished, they sat staring into the fire, sipping brandy, for some minutes until Darcy broke the silence.
“Well, that certainly explains her state of mind.She mentioned speaking to Mrs.Collins as well.”
“I imagine she told her friend when she returned.They are from the same neighborhood, after all.”
“Yes, they are.”
Darcy continued to stare at the fire, absently twisting his glass back and forth until Fitzwilliam wanted to throttle him.
“Is that all you are going to say?Good God, man!You said you told the lady you love her!You cannot stop there!”
Darcy sighed.“Very well.I had intended to propose.That was my purpose in going there this evening.”
Darcy did not notice Fitzwilliam’s shock at this statement.
“She was not prepared for visitors.”
“I should imagine not!”
“We spoke, and she apologized for laughing inappropriately and listening to Wickham, and she told me to speak to you.”
“Is that all?You were gone an hour!I cannot believe that is all that happened.”
Darcy colored.“It is all that I will tell you.”
Fitzwilliam’s eyebrows arched up and he leaned back in his chair.“I see.So how did you leave it with the lovely Miss Bennet?”
“I will meet her for a walk in the morning.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Will you make your proposals?”
“I had thought I would at first, but I am less certain now.She was completely surprised by my going there.She seemed…” he could not bring himself to say that at times she had seemed to be trying to get away from him, and how on reflection, that was incredibly disturbing.“I had always thought that any woman I wished to marry would be happy to accept me.”
