Mary too had enjoyed her evening. Although she found it difficult to credit that a gentleman as worldly as the Colonel and being the second son of an Earl would have any potentially serious interest in her, she was prepared to enjoy the experience for as long as it lasted. After all, he was excellent company and quite easy on the eye.
Jane was pleased for several reasons. She had had the opportunity to disabuse Mr Darcy of the notion that she was interested in his friend Bingley. Another reason for her pleasure was that during dinner she hadnoticed that Mary and the Colonel seemed to be getting on famously. At least she had noticed that when she was not too busy enjoying her own conversation with Mr Deveril. She had been thrilled to discover that he had returned to town and immediately sought her out… albeit with the help of Colonel Fitzwilliam. She could hardly wait until the morrow when the gentleman would call on her.
Deveril was pleased that Jane had not heard that slanderous comment by Darcy because he suspected that she would have been badly hurt by it. The only reason why Deveril had not immediately challenged Darcy was the fact that he knew the man and suspected the idiot had acted out of a misguided loyalty to his friend.
At dinner Deveril had heard Jane explain to Darcy about her interactions with Bingley and while Deveril agreed with her assessment of the puppy, he could tell that Darcy took exception to it. So, when Darcy started to spout that nonsense, he had been prepared for something of the kind. But it was time to clip Miss Bingley’s wings.
In the meantime, he could hardly wait until he could call on Jane.
~T~
It was still dark outside when Darcy woke up and sat up in bed as a thought occurred to him which he had missed earlier due to his self-pity and wallowing in guilt.
That conversation which he had had over dinner with Miss Elizabeth had been thoroughly enjoyable. If the lady was going to spend more time with him in the coming weeks to calm the rumours going around town, that time would be anything but a chore… at least for him.
The more he thought about their conversation, the more he thought that Miss Elizabeth had also enjoyed their debate if he judged correctly based on the sparkle in her eyes.
Perhaps they would both enjoy the experience. Darcy determined that he would do his best to be an affable debating partner.
Unbeknownst to him, when he lay back to return to sleep, a beatific smile graced his features.
~T~
20Revelations
In the morning, as he was having breakfast, Darcy received a visitor.
‘Richard, I am glad that you have come,’ Darcy greeted his cousin. ‘With everything that happened last night, I forgot to ask where I can find the Misses Bennet.’
‘Why do you want to visit the ladies?’ Richard asked as he filled a plate of his own before sitting down.
Darcy sighed. ‘Much as I hate to do it, I want to make certain that Miss Bennet is aware of the lies Miss Bingley could be spreading.’
‘I am planning to call on the family later. Perhaps you would like to accompany me. I could also help to translate if you should get yourself into a muddle again,’ suggested Richard around a large mouthful of food. ‘After all, we both know that you are ill-qualified to recommend yourself to strangers… and at times even acquaintances.’
Darcy shot his cousin an irritated look, but then sighed and agreed, after which they ate in silence for a minute or two until Richard said, ‘You know, the problem with Miss Bingley is that she did not actually lie. She simply reported what she saw and implied a meaning which suited her motives.’
‘And it does not help that Mr Gardiner does not appear like a staid and middle-aged uncle. You know that I wondered if the man might have been Deveril.’
‘I guessed as much, considering the looks you were giving my friend.’ Richard shook his head but suddenly grinned. ‘Perhaps there should be a law that uncles of beautiful young women must be old and decrepit.’
‘It would certainly be more convenient and stop any number of misunderstandings,’ Darcy sighed with a rueful smile.
‘But speaking of misunderstandings. When we speak to the ladies, please do not make any disparaging remarks about Deveril. I believe that he is much better suited to Miss Bennet than Bingley.’
‘But why? Bingley has been a good friend to me for years. I would like to see him happy.’
‘And to make your friend happy you would wish a lifetime of misery on Miss Bennet?’
‘Why do you believe that she would be unhappy?’
‘Darcy, think of all those women who would give anything to marry you. Why do you not marry one of them and make them happy. You know that many of them are perfectly nice women.’
‘You know very well that I do not like them, and they would make me miserable.’
‘So, it is acceptable for you to refuse to marry a woman because you do not like her, but you think Miss Bennet should marry a man whom she does not like.’
‘I find it difficult to believe that anyone could dislike Bingley.’
