His cousin’s brows shot up at the easy admission.
“She has been nothing but honest with me from the beginning.She wishes to progress slowly so that she could come to know me and care for me.She does not wish for a marriage without affection.”
“You are in love with her.That is the opposite of without affection.”
“I know that, but I can hardly complain when she says she hopes to fall in love with me.”
Fitzwilliam nodded.“That is hard to argue with.”
“But she is not in love with me yet, and my family treating her like a milkmaid who wandered into the house will hardly encourage her.”
Fitzwilliam stifled a laugh.He knew it was not funny, not truly, but his cousin was so rarely out of sorts, it was somewhat amusing.“I will put in a good word with my parents.”
“Thank you, Fitz.”Darcy leaned back into his chair and rubbed his forehead tiredly.“Whatever happened to the lady you were so enamored of?What was her name?Miss Corning?Cartwright?”
“Emma Covington.”Fitzwilliam took a large swallow of his brandy.
“Yes, Miss Covington.Whatever happened to her?You seemed quite mad about her.”
“That was nearly two years ago, Darcy.Much has changed.”Fitzwilliam’s voice lowered and his expression darkened.
Darcy’s curiosity was piqued.“What has changed?Did the lady marry and I did not hear of it?”
“No, nothing like that.”Fitzwilliam stared at the fire, then finally turned back to face his cousin.“Her father invested unwisely.When he realized the investment was failing, he attempted to gamble his way out.”
“Oh, Fitz,” Darcy said compassionately.Financial ruin was one of the worst things that could happen to a family.He would not wish it on anyone.“Is all lost then?”
“The estate was not entailed, so they were able to sell it and recoup their losses.Her father died not a month afterward—he could not stand the shame of it.”
“I can imagine.”
“Her brother has let out the house in Town and they have been staying with Mrs.Partridge, their mother’s sister.”
“Is their mother still alive?”
“Yes, but she rarely goes out and has not been seen in some time.It is hardly surprising.”
“It was only Miss Covington and her brother, was it not?”
“Yes, thankfully.As I understand it, the sale of their home was enough to recoup some of the mother’s settlement and Miss Covington’s dowry, but nowhere near all.”
“Do you know what her dowry is now?”
“I had heard it was near ten thousand pounds, but I am not certain.”
“That is not insignificant.”
“No, but hardly enough to live on if one were to have a family.”
“It would not be easy, but with some assistance from your father, and your pay—”
“Darcy, Miss Bennet has turned you into a romantic!If we had had this conversation three months ago, you would have told me it was an unlucky turn and that I would find another lady I could tolerate enough to marry.”
Darcy looked at him with a wry grin.“I know.I have changed my tune rather spectacularly, have I not?”
Fitzwilliam chuckled.“That is a gross understatement.Father will not recognize you.”
“I hardly think that!”
