“She will be devastated whether Miss Bennet dies at Longbourn or Mrs Darcy dies at Netherfield’s lodge.”
His cousin shook his head. “I can see there is no dissuading you, but this is a tremendous sacrifice, however brief it might be.”
Darcy drew back at this. “Have I not always been ready to sacrifice my present personal pleasure to the future well-being of those who have the first and best claim to my regard?”
“But you are going tomarry, even if it is only for three or four months. Mrs Darcy will have that first claim, not Georgiana or anyone else; you will have to consult her tastes and her happiness.”
“Do you expect me to be a capricious or coercive husband? Miss Bennet does not.”
“No, but the arrangement could make you miserable should you have neither respect nor admiration for this woman. What if you discover some defect in her temper or character? I daresay she will discover a few things aboutyou, and there will be no love on either side to ease the strain.”
After Darcy merely shrugged, Fitzwilliam gave him a shrewd look. “You are not a man to risk his happiness even temporarily without esteem, and even a woman willing to sacrifice her final days for a friend’s comfort would not marry without some fondness. There must besomethingin the character or good qualities of each of you that has brought you together.”
She does have a warm heart and excellent understanding.Darcy shook his head, keeping the thought to himself. “Leave your poet’s ardent love out of this. It is a convenient and temporary arrangement for the good of my sister, and nothing more.”
Fitzwilliam’s eyes were alight, and he smirked at some privateamusement. “You described her as hardly pretty, at best a little clever and lively. Is that accurate?”
“She is tolerable.”
“Good Lord, Darcy! How can you marry this woman!”
“Because her respect and slight admiration for me has nothing to do with my wealth, and I can say that about no other woman. She is witty and playful, but sensible, slight and elegant, handsome enough.” He addressed a deep scratch in the table. “Very handsome, a pleasing figure. She has none of those affectations that are too often the prerogatives of beauty. Miss Bennet has very fine eyes.” Darcy looked up and saw his cousin’s expressive smile had returned. “But her nose wants character.”
“Hmm, a hideous gorgon.” Darcy refused to amuse his cousin by defending his future bride. “I am deeply opposed to this entire scheme, but I am going with you to Hertfordshire. I will be damned before I miss this.”
CHAPTER TEN
Georgiana was waiting in the hall for the first sound of the arrival of her brother and cousin. Elizabeth, pleased to see her friend have so much energy for a change, played the instrument to distract her. She was still practising when she heard a shriek of elation and knew Georgiana was with the gentlemen as soon as they entered. She completed the song to give the family a moment alone and, therefore, was only half-certain as to what she heard from the hall.
“What? I am to lose my honorific in this house? You mean you have not told?—”
“Miss Bennet is here. Allow me to introduce you.”
Mr Darcy acknowledged her with a proper bow and made her known to Colonel Fitzwilliam, a man slightly older than him. He bore little resemblance to the Darcy siblings other than height and a similar nose. He entered into conversation easily and talked pleasantly. It was long before Georgiana could recover from the agitating happiness that was formed by the last thirty minutes of expectation and the first of fruition. She was in a constant flutter between talking of her cousin to Lizzy or of Lizzy to her cousin. After another thirty minutes, Elizabeth noted how weary she looked, how she coughed harder, and how she grimaced in pain when she thought her brother was not watching.
“Come, my dear,” Elizabeth said to her quietly. “I think a short lie-down before dinner would be good for you. Shall I read to you while you fall asleep?”
“No, thank you. I know Fitzwilliam will want to speak with you, and his call at Longbourn is necessary before Tuesday. You have matters to arrange for the wedding. Will I see you on Monday?”
“Nothing could keep me from you.”
Georgiana slowly made her way out of the room, and they heard her climb the stairs one at a time. No one spoke until they heard her door close.
“I am surprised the apothecary said he thought she was looking better, Darcy.” Colonel Fitzwilliam heaved a sad sigh. “She has lost a great deal of weight.”
“How can you tell? The last time you saw her she was”—Mr Darcy cleared his throat—“still expecting her child.”
“Her clothes hang on her, and her face is drawn.”
“No one doubts she is consumptive, but Mr Lynn says it is not a desperate case yet.”
“However,” broke in Elizabeth, “Colonel Fitzwilliam’s observation confirms what we have both, perhaps, been unwilling to admit: she is emaciated, and her pallor is unmistakable.”
“I trust the doctor knows more about the progress of consumption than you do.” Mr Darcy spoke sharply and looked at her coolly, and she returned the look in equal measure.
Colonel Fitzwilliam interrupted the glaring between the bridespeople. “There is no doubt that at least Georgiana’s spirits are well. I suppose we have you to thank for that, Miss Bennet.”
She smiled at his ready politeness and thought that Mr Darcy should take note of his cousin’s good manners and practise them. She then turned to her betrothed and tried not to allow her smile to slip. “Shall we call at Longbourn?”
