“Thank you, Cousin. I am sorry my mother is giving you so much trouble.”
“You do not need to apologise, Anne. And please know that I refused to marry you not because I do not believe you worthy of being admired and loved but quite the opposite. I am certain that you deserve more than to be pushed into a marriage without proper affection and admiration.”
“I have always admired you, Fitzwilliam.”
“But not in a way to induce you into marriage, Anne. You admired me because you had not met any other gentlemen with which to make a proper comparison.”
“I admire your devotion to the family…I know how much you help Mama with our affairs. And you have visited me oftenenough, though I know you did so only because duty demanded it.”
“I shall always help you and Lady Catherine when she asks me to. And no, I did not visit you just out of duty. I would like to see you more often, to see you spending time in town or coming to visit us at Pemberley. You are as close to me as a sister, and I shall always care for you.”
“Thank you…Fitzwilliam, is it true what Mama said? That you are engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
“I am not, but I do admire Miss Elizabeth very much. We can barely be called friends at the moment, but I wish for that to change.”
“But…forgive me for intruding…I observed you and Miss Elizabeth at Rosings. She did not seem to admire you at all. She seemed to favour Geoffrey. Mama said Miss Elizabeth is a fortune hunter and will only try to trap you for your wealth.”
As she spoke, Anne turned pale from embarrassment, and so did Georgiana.
Darcy smiled at them both.
“I thank you for your concern, but it is not needed. I am certain Miss Elizabeth is not trying to trap me — quite the opposite. She was well aware of my wealth and my situation in life when she scolded me for my behaviour and some of my actions. Indeed, nobody had ever rebuked me as harshly — or deservedly.”
“What do you mean?” Georgiana asked in disbelief.
“I am not at liberty to say more, but please believe me that I tried to express my admiration to Miss Elizabeth when we were at Rosings, and she rejected my…attempts most decidedly. I am quite certain I was the last man in the world she would have tried to trap into marriage,” he concluded, unable to conceal the smile on his lips.
“But…you and Miss Elizabeth seemed to be friends at Pemberley,” Georgiana whispered.
“I took Miss Elizabeth’s reproaches to heart and tried to make amends for my past errors. I believe she has forgiven me and granted me her friendship. I have hardly spoken to her at all since we met at Pemberley.”
“Oh…I did not know…thank you for confiding in me, Cousin.”
“I hope you will confide in me too, Anne. I am truly concerned about your health. Please consider the situation fully and let me know how I may help you.”
“I shall…but if I remain in London, I cannot stay in your house…”
“You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want, but I do agree that it would not be entirely proper for us to live under the same roof. However, you cannot move into your own house either, since you need care and supervision. You could perhaps stay with the Matlocks. I am sure they would be happy to have you. And Geoffrey too.”
“I shall speak to my aunt tomorrow. I would like to sleep now if you do not mind. Fitzwilliam, if Mama comes to see me tonight, please tell her the doctor gave me some medicine and I am deeply asleep. Would you?”
“Gladly.” Darcy smiled. “But only if you promise to try and eat as the doctor said.”
“I believe we have an agreement — finally.” Anne returned the smile.
That evening, Darcy had dinner with Georgiana, and she enquired further in regard to Elizabeth, but he had nothing more to tell her. Lady Catherine came to see Anne — as they expected — but she was denied the opportunity, and she left with even greater resentment.
As much as he wanted to, Darcy did not open the subject of Lady Catherine’s visit to Longbourn as he did not expect hewould succeed in making his aunt see reason. If things with Elizabeth progressed as he hoped and prayed for, if would mean another quarrel — more violent—with his aunt. Until that moment came, the best plan would be to let Lady Catherine calm down in order for her to be able to receive the shock of the future changes she would have to accept.
