“My cousin. His name is Fitzwilliam. I believe I mentioned him to you some months ago.”
“Oh yes, he plays billiards.” she recalled, admitting: “Forgive me, but that is all I can remember.”
“That was all I told you. I thought he would have forgiven me by now, but…”
“Did you actually apologise?” Elizabeth blurted out.
Darcy blinked and looked sharply at her. “Pardon?”
Elizabeth refused to be intimidated by the dangerous look in his eyes. She continued boldly:
“Did you apologise? I assume you were rather factual in your letters to him - as is your way. When you were working in the next estate you wrote me letters that were extremelyinteresting buttold me nothing of your thoughts and feelings. If you wrote such a letter to Fitzwilliam, then I do not wonder that he is still angry.”
Darcy reddened. “You imagine me so inarticulate?”
“I have proof of it. I am sure that, since he is your cousin, Fitzwilliam knows that you do not write as you feel. If he loves Georgiana, then he will want to hear of her recovery.”
“My cousin is a petulant ass, Elizabeth. He is likely to throw letters from me into the fire.”
“Very well, thenIshall write to him.”
Darcy gaped at her for a moment and then grinned. Shaking his head in amusement, he looked at the roof of the carriage like it was a wondrous night sky. “You may try, my angel. I know by now that it is unwise to try to stop you meddling in my family affairs.”
“Ourfamily.” she reminded him and smiled back. “You said I would like him, and that I could beat him at billiards. I shall tell him that, and then I shall tell him how his cousin Georgiana smiles when she sits in the sunshine, and watches the birds fly by.”
Chapter 38
Three very different greetings arrived in a mud-splattered carriage at the end of April. The first, bounding out with a large smile attached, was that of Charles Bingley. He was clearly delighted to see his friend again and made quick and effusive observations about Darcy’s good health, the excellent roads on his estate, the cleverness of his plan, and the tasteful cut of his coat. Not at all put off by Darcy’s minimal replies, Bingley then turned to Elizabeth and extolled her beauty, wit and charm.
“You barely know me, sir! How can you say such things?” Elizabeth protested.
“I know you as well as a sister, madam! Miss Bennet has told me so much about you.”
With a radiant smile, Bingley hurried back to the carriage and helped Jane to descend.
Lizzie gasped aloud. She couldn’t hide her shock at seeing what her beautiful sister had become. All of Jane’s lovely, youthful glow had been crushed beneath their mother’s unrelenting pressure. Jane looked tired to the point of exhaustion. Her eyes were shadowed, her countenance dour, and her lip trembled when their eyes met.
“Oh, Jane!” Elizabeth cried, running forwards to clutch her sister in a trembling embrace. Jane looked up, choked, and then burst into tears.
“Ah.” Bingley shuffled his feet awkwardly, looking around for assistance. “I… er…”
“We have a new billiards table,” Darcy said at once, “Come in and play a game, Bingley. The servants can deal with your luggage.”
“Wait! Caroline.” Bingley squeaked, going back to the carriage to help his, now irate, sister descend.
The servants can deal with her, too.Darcy thought unkindly.
Forcing a pleasant look onto his face, he greeted the woman and welcomed her to Pemberley. She did not return his feigned good humour.
“Her family were awful, Darcy. Utterly intolerable! You owe me agreatdebt, sir.”
Miss Bingley had raised her voice for the sisters to hear her complaint. Darcy knew that she was doing it deliberately. Caroline had no compassion for anyone other than herself and, possibly, her sister.
“Where is Mrs. Hurst?” he asked.
“Oh, dear Louisa remained in London. She was invited to stay with Lady Winter: a mostrespectablefamily.”
Again, the emphasis. Again, the nasal sneer of a supremely arrogant toad. Darcy knew that it was not just the Bennets whom she looked down upon. His conduct in Meryton had made her despise him and resent the years she had wasted trying for his hand.
