“I believe we have established that Mr. Darcy admires Elizabeth.”
“I thought we agreed on infatuated as a descriptor.” Sir Andrew winked. “Does she seem to be enjoying herself?”
“It is hard to tell. Elizabeth is cordial and polite to everyone, not just those she likes.”
Sir Andrew nodded. “The exact opposite of Darcy, then. She will manage him properly.”
“You act as if their marriage is a done thing.” Charlotte shook her head in disagreement. “Short of forcing her, Elizabeth will not oblige.”
“Then let us force her!” Sir Andrew grinned wickedly.
Charlotte opened her mouth but stopped before speaking. Elizabeth’s headstrong behavior had already cost her one suitor. Her friend did not know how fortunate she was to have received an offer from an eligible man. Charlotte did not know what it meant to be admired, wanted…desired.She envied Elizabeth that. Would it be so dreadful if her friend married Mr. Darcy? If the gentleman loved her, then she would already possess more in her marriage than many couples could boast. Mayhap Sir Andrew had the right of it, and love would grow with time.
“Elizabeth has always thought she knows best,” she murmured. “She does not know what it is to be…” She trailed off, remembering to whom she spoke.
“Yes, Miss Lucas?” He spoke softly, the teasing manner gone and quiet, gentle tones in their place.
“It is nothing.” She did not wish to discuss this with him. He, who had already mocked her spinster status, causing more heartache. But his words had given her much to consider.
“What are you speaking of?” Lady de Bourgh came toward them, her walking stick driving into the carpet. “You are rather secretive, sitting so removed from the rest of the company.” She eyed the pair, wisdom in her gaze, and Charlotte wondered where the lady’s thoughts were.
“Have you noticed Darcy’s preoccupation?” Sir Andrew nodded toward the pianoforte.
“Darcy?” Lady de Bourgh looked at the group by the pianoforte and frowned. “I had not noticed any great change from the last time we were in company. He is as taciturn and silent as ever.”
“We were discussing his attention to Miss Bennet.”
She cocked an eyebrow skeptically. “He has done nothing more than stare at her and fumble his words when speaking to her. His attempts during dinner were painful to witness.”
“I had not thought you noticed.Yourattention seemed engaged in battling my aunt.” Sir Andrew’s jest made his grandmother smile. She sat in the chair across from the settee and placed both hands on the head of her walking stick.
“Despite my focus on needling my daughter-in-law, I observed everyone over the course of the meal. Darcy seemed as disinclined toward conversation as ever.”
“Except with Miss Bennet.” Sir Andrew looked at her knowingly. “Mrs. Collins sat on his other side, and he barely spoke two words to her. He made an effort with Miss Bennet, however, and now he has joined her at the pianoforte.” He turned to Charlotte. “Miss Lucas has knowledge of his actions in Hertfordshire. Her report corroborates my suppositions. Darcy is infatuated with Miss Bennet.”
Lady de Bourgh’s mouth turned up slowly, and Charlotte saw Sir Andrew in her mischievous smile. “Oh, Catherine will be livid,” she said quietly.
“I am counting on it.”
Charlotte turned to look at her companion. What possible reason could he have to anger Lady Catherine?
“Will she marry Anne to another if Darcy marries elsewhere?” Lady de Bourgh voiced Charlotte’s unspoken question.
Sir Andrew grew serious. He glanced at Lady Catherine. Noting her occupation with Mr. and Mrs. Collins, he spoke quietly.
“Anne has asked for my assistance,” he confessed. He turned and observed his much younger cousin. “She believes her mother will force her to marry, be it Darcy or another man, and she has not the strength to stand up to her. When she turns five-and-twenty next month, she will gain complete control over Rosings Park. At that time, she wishes to turn over management to me. She cannot name an heir, given the stipulations of her father’s will. This is as close as she can come legally to doing so. Her mother knows I will inherit if Anne does not marry and given Lady Catherine’s antipathy to the de Bourgh family, I suppose she will do everything in her power to prevent me from doing so.”
The tenderness and concern in his voice belayed his flippant and irreverent attitude, and Charlotte caught a glimpse of a caring, compassionate gentleman beneath the teasing and obnoxious demeanor.
“If Darcy likes Miss Bennet, it is only in my—and Anne’s—favor. With Lady Catherine’s favorite choice for her daughter’s husband removed, Anne and I might be able to convince her mother to cease attempting to marry her off.”
Lady de Bourgh turned and looked at the group by the pianoforte again. “We can only hope it will be so.” Her words were quiet and sad. “Her father did not wish for his child to enter a loveless marriage. Anne knows it. Lewis dictated the letter to me himself and I gave it to her upon her twenty-first birthday.”
Charlotte had not imagined this side of the de Bourghs. Both had presented a contentious demeanor from the moment of their arrival. Privy to this conversation as she was, she now believed there to be more to Sir Andrew and Lady de Bourgh than met the eye.
Lady de Bourgh turned to Charlotte, her brusque manner returning. “You will say nothing of this to anyone outside of our little group.” She nodded at Sir Andrew. “The three of us will watch the developments between Darcy and Miss Bennet. If he proposes, we shall know how to act.”
“Miss Lucas does not believe Miss Bennet will accept.” Sir Andrew said it speculatively rather than smugly, turning his head to regard the aforementioned lady who still sat before the pianoforte.
