“You look much happier than you did in the dining parlour,” Charlotte commented. “Did my husband discompose you with his unnecessary censure?”
“Not at all. It is just that I have much to consider, and you found me rather contemplative,” Elizabeth responded. She paused. “Charlotte, do I tend to jump to conclusions and then stubbornly cling to them?” At Charlotte’s raised eyebrows Elizabeth knew the reply without her friend saying the words.
As much as Charlotte enjoyed Eliza’s company, she never thought she would hear that particular question from her friend. Something had happened. Whatever it was, Eliza was not in the mood to confide in her. Knowing that one did not force a confidence from Eliza, Charlotte would wait until—if—her friend decided to confide in her. She saw that her friend was looking at the door and still had her walking boots on. “Are you walking out again, Eliza?”
“Yes, indeed. I wanted to walk around the park. I have not really done so since arriving here,” Elizabeth returned. It was mostly true. She left out that she would be calling at Rosings Park. “I should not be too long.”
Elizabeth struck out across the park and tapped the letter in her pocket. She knew that in order to receive answers to her questions, she would possibly have to allow Colonel Fitzwilliam to read the epistle. As luck would have it, when she reached the mansion’s front doors, Colonel Fitzwilliam was heading towards the house from the direction of the stables.
“Miss Bennet, good day to you. I trust you are feeling better than when I saw you last. My parents missed making your acquaintance yester-evening,” Fitzwilliam said jovially.
“I was sorry to miss meeting your family, Colonel.” Elizabeth paused and decided she needed to be direct. “May we speak somewhere relatively private? I have questions which are not for the ears of anyone not acquainted with the facts.”
“This is a somewhat irregular request,” Fitzwilliam stated carefully.
“I would expect that we would be chaperoned, as long as we speak unheard. There are some things your cousin conveyed to me which he said I could confirm with you and other members of your family.” Elizabeth looked around to make sure no one was close to them. “He wrote me a letter,” she whispered.
Fitzwilliam remembered the crumpled pages on his cousin’s floor, then his mysterious departure this morning. “I think it is time for you to meet my parents and brother.” It was not a suggestion.
Elizabeth followed the colonel into the house without delay. “I am very sorry to hear about your cousin, Miss de Bourgh,” Elizabeth said as they walked.
That William had obviously shared the truth about Anne was surprising. “The amount of time she has left in the mortal world is in His hands,” Fitzwilliam stated. He led her up the stairs to his parents’ suite as he knew they were in the sitting room. He believed Andy was with them as well. He gave a single knock and opened the door; his parents and brother were within. They were keeping away from Aunt Catherine and her complaints about William’s early departure.
“Richard, will you introduce the young lady to us?” Matlock requested. His eyebrows were raised in question, as were those of his wife and eldest son.
“Father, Mother, Andy, I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet to you, the lady being hosted at the parsonage who did not attend dinner yester-evening. Miss Bennet, Lord Reginald and Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale.” Fitzwilliam looked at his family members. “Miss Bennet requested to speak to me, with chaperonage, because William wrote her a letter.”
“William would never write to a lady who was not his… Young lady, has my nephew made you an offer of marriage,” Matlock demanded.
“Yes, my Lord, he did,” Elizabeth replied truthfully. “However, I refused him.”
“YouWHAT!” Matlock exclaimed.
“Do you have great connections and are in no need of his?” Hilldale asked.
“Or are you an heiress who does not need to consider wealth when she marries?” Lady Matlock added.
The only one who remained silent was Fitzwilliam. Miss Bennet’s information explained much of William’s behaviour before he made his precipitous departure. He was amused at the confusion on his family members faces.
Elizabeth should have been offended by the impertinent and intrusive questions, but she could not be. “I am not in love with your nephew, so I refused him. No, I have no connections of note, and no, I am not an heiress. My dowry is but one thousand pounds, and that is only when my mother is called home to God.” Elizabeth addressed all the questions in one.
“William proposed,” Matlock verified again.
“If by William, you mean Mr Darcy, then yes, my Lord, he did,” Elizabeth confirmed. She had wanted to speak to the colonel, not face an inquisition.
“You are aware he has stellar connections, are you not?” Matlock pressed.
“I am,” Elizabeth responded.
“And his wealth did not induce you to accept him?” Matlock enquired as he shook his head. This did not make sense to him.
“No my Lord, I am not mercenary,” Elizabeth returned.
“He came to see you when you did not attend dinner, did he not?” Lady Matlock realised.
“That is true, my Lady,” Elizabeth replied.
“Were you chaperoned?” Lady Matlock quizzed.
