Richard wiggled his eyebrows confidently, “One thing that we both know about her is that she is an intelligent and sharp-witted lady. She listens to reason and I think between Mrs Collins and I, well... we may have helped her... guided her towards the light.... and of course I know women better than you.” He smirked.
Darcy rolled his eyes and ignoring the last part he asked, “What do you mean, what did you say to her?”
Richard touched Darcy’s shoulder again in support, “it doesn’t matter what I said, what matters here is what you will say and I beg you Darcy do not ruin it. You may have only one shot at it. Do not waste it by telling her how low she is in comparison to you…or how you struggled with your affections in Hertfordshire and above all do not disparage her family. And for God’s sake do not even mention her connections to trade.”
Darcy flattened his lips and pretended that those very thoughts had not crossed his mind only a few hours earlier, “Of course not Richard, how stupid do you think I am?”
“Very stupid I’m afraid. I know how tongue tied you become in front of a woman, especially one who affects you as much as Miss Bennet does.”
“There has never been a woman who affects me as much as Miss Bennet does.”
“Precisely, my point exactly,” Richard chuckled.
Darcy shook his head in annoyance, “Of course I would never insult her while trying to woo her! My goodness, you must think I am a simpleton.”
“Then why did you say to her that she was not handsome enough to tempt you to dance?”
Darcy paled; he walked straight to the window and leaned heavily on the window-seal. “Did she hear that comment? Good God, what have I done?”
Richard looked confused, “of course she heard you; did you not say it to her?”
“No of course not; I said it to Bingley, who was pestering me to dance. I did not know she was near enough to hear me.”
“Well she was and she heard you loud and clear. She also said that you refused to be introduced to the members of the community that night.” Now it was Richard’s turn to look despondent, “why on earth did you agree to go to an assembly if you were in such foul mood?”
Darcy shook his head and looked ready to start drinking again, his good humour from earlier gone or completely forgotten, “I had no choice; Miss Bingley was threatening to stay behind with me if I refused to go. Then when I arrived there Bingley would not leave me alone.” He raked his hair in torment, “I was still reeling from the situation with Wickham and Georgiana.” He actually had tears in his eyes, “my mood was not just bad, it was black. Poor Elizabeth bore the brunt of it.”
“Well not all is lost yet for she did promise to listen to you today, did she not?”
“Yes,” Darcy said brightening up.
“Then make the most of it and apologise for that absurd comment as well, since it is quite obvious she is indeed handsome enough to tempt you to quite a few things.”
“She truly is. She has no idea how tempting she is.”
“Yes,” Richard said thoughtfully.
Darcy frowned and squinted his eyes at his cousin, “what do you mean by that?”
“Oh for goodness’s sake Darcy, I am a man of flesh and blood,” he exclaimed. “I am not insensible to her beauty; yet that alone does not render me a scoundrel, ready to profit from your failure and seize her the moment you turn your back.” He fixed his cousin with a stern look, “Do you trust me so little?”
“Oh Richard please forgive me. Elizabeth has turned me into an insecure fool.”
Richard sighed, “Are we not all fools in love?”
Darcy also sighed in resignation, “some of us more than others.”
Richard chuckled, “on that you are correct, but do not waste any more time here, she is waiting for you.”
Darcy shook his cousin’s hand and left the bedchamber with a lightness of step that he made no attempt to conceal.
Chapter 9
Darcy hurried through breakfast. When he finished he asked the footman to go and ask Miss Bennet if she would like to go for a walk with him.
In less than ten minutes Elizabeth appeared at the entrance dressed appropriately for a walk.
“Good morning Miss Bennet.” Darcy said softly.
