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Little did Lady Catherine know but Anne de Bourgh had found a friend who would keep her confidences, even from her husband.
“You did very well today, my dear. Lady Catherine condescended to stretch the length of our visit to close to an hour. A rare honour.”
Elizabeth had left Catherine a list of things to deal with when it came to the estate. Mary left her a separate list regarding Mr. Collins misconceptions on Canon Law. The most important being that once a Living was granted it could only be taken away by a Bishop and for serious ecumenical offences. Once it was granted, a Living could not be taken back by the patron. It was an important decision because once made there was little the patron could do. Catherine’s work over the winter was to manage her husband and get him to realise he, and they, were safe.
She would never reveal it, even to her sisters, but Catherine had quickly grasped the importance of the marriage bed. She would never compare her husband to a donkey but he was able to understand certain behaviours were to be encouraged, while others left him cold and alone. Mr. Collins gave the impression that he was a foolish man. But he was not that foolish.
--
“Truly he is gone William?”
Darcy nodded.
“I will tell you the details if you wish.”
“Please.”
“He was shot, for trying to desert when the country is at war. I stood in the shadows, Richard’s influence got me access, and I watched him die. And he died badly, blubbing, soiling himself, he died like the coward he was, not like a man.”
He pulled Georgiana to him and let her sob quietly against his shoulder. Ladies were not normally told of such gruesome details, but he knew she needed to hear it.
“Thank you. I should not rejoice in the death of another but I can look up and for the first time in months not see a sword dangling above my head.”
Darcy smiled, it was just the first step but there was hope. And as he had for the last month he thought of Miss Bennet. Funnelling letters through her uncle was awkward, although not as awkward as receiving them from the gentleman. In Gardiner’s letters that gentleman recited words spoken by Miss Bennet. The first time they met it was going to be both awkward and hilarious at the same time.
“Will you be fine while I am in Kent with Richard?”
“I will be more than fine William. I am going to ask Mrs. Annesley go back over everything she has attempted to teach me since she was hired. I suspect I was not the best of students, even when paying attention, I can recall little. A two week long refresher of the last nine months will do me no harm.”
Gone was the timid monotone. Darcy could not help smiling. It was time to be a long overdue call.
--
“There is an air of satisfaction about you sir.”
“I am slightly conflicted but you are correct. It took me longer than I wished to track the rogue down. But he was in a Militia regiment and through the good offices of my uncle and cousin he was transferred to the Regulars. He was part of a replacement company heading to the Peninsula to replace dead and wounded soldiers. His sense of self-preservation was such that he immediately tried to desert. He was caught, tried and then executed by firing squad. It was others of his squad that had to perform the deed. It is a way for the Army to reinforce that there is no escape. The word will spread, Wickham an example to others.”
He was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
“And your sister?”
“A new person. You were completely right, this was hanging over her. She compared her daily situation as similar to that of Damocles.”
He stopped and looked at Elizabeth.
“I must thank you for shaking me out of my own mental torpor, at least metaphorically. Your words cleaved through me and made me realise that I was wrong. I will be able to face my father one day.”
Her smile was less exuberant but no less real, the flush to her cheeks proof of that.
“May we talk of us Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth’s heart beat faster in her chest.
“Is there an us, Mr. Darcy?”
“It is my ardent wish. You were honest in telling me all, including the fight with your parents. I may not have completed 12 tasks of mythology but I have completed the one task you set me. Surely you must realise what you mean to me. I was tired, alone in society despite being surrounded by people all the time. I am a gentleman and you are a lady. Nothing else matters. You have two choices before you. The first is do you wish me to court you?”
Elizabeth liked this forthright man.
“Yes.”
Darcy’s smile matched Elizabeth’s.
“Do you need me to court you further or may I ask you a question?”
“Ask away.”
“Miss Bennet, will you marry me?”
“Yes, one hundred times yes.”
They walked back to Gracechurch Street as normal. It took a keen eye to spot Elizabeth’s grasp being a little more possessive and Darcy’s hand on top of hers.
