Page 24

"Sorry, Aunt," he said curtly.

And he stood by the fireplace, a glass of whisky in hand. But just because he was not pacing did not mean his thoughts had settled.

He could not get her off his mind. He had never been thus afflicted. Never had a woman evaded his thoughts and feelings in such a manner. And a woman so unsuitable as well?

Well, it wasn't exactly that she was unsuitable. She was clever and witty and certainly beautiful. She carried herself with grace, and although she spoke frankly, she did not make a scene. But her family, her connections...

He groaned inwardly. There was a lot lacking there. People he would be tied to for the rest of his life. And, more importantly, people he would be tying Georgiana to, also.

Georgiana was the most important person in his life.

And he had come so close to having her reputation ruined because of his own foolish trust in a woman who could not be trusted. He would not wish her reputation to be sullied by having sisters-in-law who might lead her astray. Like, for example, Lydia and Kitty Bennet.

He glanced up and saw his cousin, the Colonel, frowning at him with a bemused look on his face.

One did not have to live close to relatives, did one?

Pemberley was a decent distance from Hertfordshire. Perhaps she would be happy to only see them on special occasions.

Gad, was he really considering this seriously?

He knew in his heart he was, for he never considered anything other than seriously.

The Colonel crossed the room and joined him at the fireplace. He raised his glass in greeting and Darcy nodded.

"What vexes you, cousin? For I do not think I have ever seen you so unsettled."

"I..." But he knew not what to say. He wasn't exactly going to admit... Well, he hadn't even admitted it to himself.

"Perhaps you have not had enough exercise. The walk to Rosings, after all, is not far. Perhaps you require a walk after dinner to settle yourself."

"In the dark?" Lady Catherine exclaimed, having overheard their conversation from her armchair. "What a ridiculous notion. Why should Darcy want to walk?"

The walk to Rosings was fine. That hadn’t been the problem…

"I’m sure I have walked enough today," He said, because he knew where his feet might lead him. And that would surely be a mistake. He did not wish to tarnish her reputation, after all.

And no one knew of their previous evening walk. No one needed to.

Darcy waited until his aunt was engaged in conversation with his cousin Anne before turning to the Colonel.

"What did you think of her?" he asked.

It was a foolish question, more likely to make his interest plainer than he would wish. But he wanted to know if he was being entirely foolish, or whether perhaps there was something about her that others could see.

Not that he wanted them to see it. He didn't like the thought of any man looking at Elizabeth in that way.

"Who? Mrs Collins?" the Colonel asked. "She seemed like a perfectly pleasant, affable sort of woman. Very patient, I'm sure. Well, she'd have to be to put up with Collins, wouldn't she? But she seemed happy enough."

Darcy nodded. It would be too obvious, would it not, if he declared that he had not been asking about Mrs Collins, but rather her friend, Miss Bennet.

But thankfully, Fitzwilliam had clearly noticed her too.

"Her sister seemed a sweet girl, exuberant in that way fifteen-year-olds are. Her friend, though – Miss Bennet, the one whom they are to displace. Well, she was rather a beauty, don't you think?"

Darcy raised an eyebrow but did not comment. He didn't wish to share his feelings, and found he was both pleased that he was not the only one who saw it and yet also resented the Colonel for having looked at her in such a manner.

"Bright too, and funny," the Colonel said, a smile playing on his lips. "Did you know that Mr Collins asked for her hand?"