Lady Matlock, finding the subject fascinating, asked, “When did he last do so?”
“Last winter, with a man named Bingley.”
Elizabeth asked, “And that is all he would say? He would not take credit for breaking the connection.”
Breton appeared shocked. “Never! He would champion caution, but no more. If such a story is floating about, I cannot account for it, unless he felt particularly strongly regarding a specific couple.”
Lady Matlock sighed with resignation. “I probably can.”
Elizabeth watched her carefully, as the lady replied, “You know my son, Richard. He is a good man and a good friend, but he tends to exaggerate. Might I suggest you heard the story from him? You had a strong reaction to his bust at my home.”
“Yes, you have caught me out. The intelligence came from the colonel.”
Breton leaned forward. “You must take anything he says and halve it. He never lies outright, but he enjoys a good story if he sees no harm in it.”
“Therewasharm in the story,” Elizabeth sighed, “but I suppose it was minor—though I believed otherwise at the time. I will ask you this once, Mr Breton. Would Mr Darcy actively try to separate a couple for any reason other than lack of affection?”
“Absolutely not. He detests matchmaking and matchbreaking. He is also seriously concerned for ladies’ reputations, as you would expect with a young ward. When men raise expectations that are not serious, he becomes incensed. Ladies’ reputations are fragile; hehatesto see them damaged. He is also, understandably, concerned with fortune hunters. If he thought a friend vulnerable, he would suggest caution, but nothing more.”
Elizabeth sat in thought for a moment, wondering if it was possible. Could the Colonel’s tendency to exaggerate, coupled with Mr Bingley’s inconstancy, leave Mr Darcy mostly faultless in Jane’s heartbreak? He had apparently been as careful aspossible to ensureElizabeth herselfharboured no unrealistic expectations. Mrs Bennetwasa proven mercenary, as she loudly proclaimed at the ball. If he urged caution to Mr Bingley, andthat mantook it upon himself to trust his sister to take leave, was that Mr Darcy’s fault?Such questions would plague her, but she wanted to get the conversation onto another topic.
“I will take you at your word. Pray continue your story.”
Everyone else at the table stared, so she repeated, “I am finished with this topic! Perhaps I should find something productive to do.”
Quite to her surprise, Mr Breton left his chair to sit on a footstool before her, meeting her eye. “Have I hurt you in some way? If so, allow me to make amends.”
Somewhat confused, Elizabeth said, “On the contrary, you may have solved a mystery, but I require time to consider it.”
“How can I reduce your discomfort, ma’am? I feel like an apothecary who has given you a foul-tasting concoction, rooting hopelessly in my bag for a sweetmeat to improve the taste.”
Elizabeth laughed quite loudly at that. “Tell me about your intended, Mr Breton.”
He laughed, jumping up to return to his original, more decorous seat. “She is not my intended. She is simply a woman who sounds very interesting.”
Elizabeth laughed. “But you said Mr Darcy is never wrong when he predicts successful romance. Lady Matlock, pray, give Mr Breton two pounds. I am certain he will need to buy a common licence the very day he meets Mr Darcy’s chosen bride.”
Everyone laughed uproariously, and Elizabeth said, “Pray continue, Mr Breton.”
Breton laughed along with everyone else. “It all came about rather oddly. Darcy was dragged to a ball one night about six weeks ago.”
“Was he bribed, beaten, or blackmailed?” Elizabeth asked.
Georgiana joined her laughter. “You seem to know my brother better than you have asserted, Lizzy.”
She ignored Georgiana and nodded at Breton to continue.
“Here it becomes confusing. Darcy never writes real names of ladies in his letters. He fears for their reputations if the letter goes astray, and he knows I will never know the ladies anyway, so names would be pointless. Regardless, there weretwohe got on the bad side of somehow. It is of course, not all that surprising, since wearetalking about Darcy, whose social ineptitude is legendary. The elder was at this ball and scheduled to dance with one of Darcy’s friends. Said friend twisted his ankle and asked the lady to accept a substitute.”
“Was he honouring this lady or punishing her?”
Georgiana said, “William is an awful dancer, or at least he must be, because he never dances with a lady unless required by politeness.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Your supposition is incorrect, Georgie. Your brother is an exemplary dancer, even if the lady he dances with has a somewhat vicious side.”
Everyone stared at her, begging her to continue, but she snapped, “That is all I have to say. Mr Breton, do you plan to finish your story before supper?”
“Well, this elder sister seemed frightfully angry with him. It was a muddle, for the substitution was enacted, but as soon as she saw him, she turned without a word, fled the ballroom, and took a hack home. She did not say a single word or look back even once.”
