“Sir Daniel was kind to Elizabeth.She seems to have won him over.”
“That is not surprising.More than anyone else in the family, he values character over connections.”
“Yes.And Lady Clara was welcoming to both Miss Bennet and Elizabeth, but I do not know if it will be enough to counteract the rudeness of her parents and brother.”
Fitzwilliam grimaced.“You have an uphill climb, that is certain.”
“Might your family receive them better, do you think?”
“I cannot say.I would normally say yes, but then I would have thought Lady Hopewell would behave better towards the lady you hope to wed.”
“I had thought so, too.”He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes against the approaching headache.“I have never been so ashamed of my family in my life.”
Fitzwilliam smiled sadly.“I am sorry, Cousin.How did you leave it with Elizabeth?”
“Begging her not to break with me.”
Fitzwilliam spluttered on his brandy.“Truly?”
Darcy levelled serious eyes at him.“I am in earnest.”
Fitzwilliam sank back into his chair.“I am sorry, Darcy.”
Darcy pinched his nose again.“As am I, Fitz.”
They drank together in silence until Darcy shook himself a little and said, “Enough of this.Let us speak of something else.Is your mother still throwing ladies at you like a cricket bowler?”
Fitzwilliam chuckled darkly.“Yes.I do wish she would stop.Harry should wed before me—he is four years older and has a house.”
“That your parents gifted him last year.I had thought it might be because he had found someone he wished to wed, but no announcement has been forthcoming.”
“No, Harry has proven even more reluctant to wed than I am.I had thought he might settle down last autumn, but the lady he was paying attention to went back to the country and he has said nothing more about it.But we have never been particularly close.I do not expect him to confide such things to me.”
“Would it be so terrible if he never wed?Timothy is married and his wife is fecund, and your father has two other younger sons to inherit if needed.It is hardly necessary for Harry to continue the line.”
“True, but you know Mother has always had a soft spot for him.She would like to see grandchildren before she is much older.”
“She has five grandchildren and another due in summer!”
“Ah, but they are not Harry’s children,” replied Fitzwilliam with a knowing smile.
Darcy rolled his eyes.“I will never understand my aunts.Your mother has Timothy and Judith’s children to dote on, yet she will not be happy until Harry has his own.Lady Clara is a perfectly good daughter, doing just as she ought, but Lady Hopewell does nothing but criticize her while letting Winters get away with anything and everything.”
“Impossible women.”
Darcy stared darkly into his brandy.“I am thinking of speaking to your mother tomorrow.”
“Oh?”
“I want to ask her to be kind to Elizabeth.If she cannot do that, I think it best if we forego introductions until we are wed.”
Fitzwilliam sat up straighter.“Truly?Mother will be furious if you hide your bride from her.”
“I will be furious if I lose the woman I love to my family’s bad manners.”
Fitzwilliam winced.“Do you really think Elizabeth would break with you over such a thing?”
“She does not love me, Fitz.”
