“With her new friend of scarcely a week? A strange reason to leave her family.”
Darcy thought Fitzwilliam was the last person to imply anything wanting in Mrs Lanyon’s friendship, but he stayed silent on that point. “Miss Bennet could be drawn to Mrs Lanyon’s intelligence and dignity, and Mrs Lanyon must enjoy Miss Bennet’s friendly manner. You have said yourself that Mrs Lanyon does not make friends easily,” he added, stepping rather close to his cousin’s friendship with the widow.
“After what I inadvertently told Miss Bennet about your part in separating Bingley from her sister, I would not have been surprised to learn that Miss Bennet hates you.” Fitzwilliam aimed at the white ball but missed. “Would that have distressed you?”
“Yes, in general I am loathe to have houseguests who hate me.”What about houseguests who might be thieves or murderers?
“In Kent, I thought you might have found her pretty, and that lively manner of hers was an attraction too.”
“Hmm,” Darcy said as he aimed and missed also. “Perhaps.”
“I think your interest is more than a passing admiration.” Darcy said nothing.“If Miss Bennet visited Pemberley even after you nearly ruined her sister’s chance of happiness, if she extended her visit, if she really did forgive you...”
“Yes?”
“Must I speak plainly? You ought to think about what that says of her feelings for you.”
“You think that Miss Bennet admires me?” he said, turning his head to hide a smile.
“I do,” he said simply. “I would not have said so in Kent, but her manner towards you was less satirical yesterday than I had seen before. I do not think she would have stayed at Pemberley if she didnot like you. I always thought you might have admired her. You ought to seriously consider the subject.”
Darcy barked a dry laugh. “My marrying Miss Bennet has been the subject of many contemplative hours, I assure you.”
This made Fitzwilliam miss again. He looked up sharply and asked, “What did you decide?”
“I decided at Hunsford to ask her to marry me.” Fitzwilliam’s mouth gaped open. “I think it obvious what Miss Bennet decided. I would not wish that this matter should be made a parade of,” he added, pointing at his cousin.
“She refused you? Because of what you did to Bingley and her sister?”
Darcy set down the cue and ran a hand over his eyes. “Yes... no, not only because of that. My behaviour to her at the time merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable, and she was right to reject me.”
Fitzwilliam set aside his own cue and crossed his arms, giving him a stare. “It looks like itwaspardonable, given how you said she forgave you and she stayed at your house when any other woman would have left at the soonest possible hour.”
He gave a weak smile. “I have reason to hope. We have spoken about what happened at Hunsford, and she forgives me for... everything.”
His cousin gave him an expectant, wide-eyed look. “Then why have you not asked her a second time? Your family would not desire the connexion, save for Georgiana and me, but you were already willing to cast away every family obstacle on your side and overlook her family’s behaviour and connexions. What keeps you silent now?”
Darcy walked to a window that overlooked the ruined garden. “Because of this,” he said, pointing. “The storm has occupied my every waking moment this week. There is much to be done, so much to pay for, everyone else’s fears to placate. The livelihoods of hundreds of people under my protection have been threatened; it is not a responsibility I take lightly. And,” he added drily, “let us not forget Carew’s death, and the plundering in Lambton, and the unhappy possibility that one of my friends might be behind both.”
His cousin gave him a gentle look. “I know of no person who, inmy judgment, could better execute the duties of restoring Pemberley than yourself.”
“My father?—”
“Is dead,” Fitzwilliam said kindly. “Youare Mr Darcy.”
He nodded, collecting himself. He would manage this disaster, he would safeguard the well-being of everyone at Pemberley, and he would find and punish whomever was behind Carew’s death.
“You need a little respite from business, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam said.
“You sound like Balfour. Moderate exercise and books are a good restorative.”
Fitzwilliam glared. “That is not what I mean.”
“Many people’s happiness is in my guardianship, and that happiness and stability has been threatened. Until they are secure, I can hardly think on securing my own happiness.”
“Do not squander the opportunity you have. Miss Bennet is right here,” he added, pointing to the door.
“Very soon we will have a conversation, once this matter of Carew’s death is resolved and I can think clearly.”
