Page 28 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

M r. Darcy felt a good deal of pride upon hearing the banns read for Mary Bennet and Mr. Collins.

He had done Miss Elizabeth a good turn in turning Collins away from her.

Doubtless she would find someone else to marry, someone more sensible, someone more presentable, someone more suitable.

It could not be himself, of course, but surely there was someone, somewhere, who would deserve her.

He had promised to have Wickham taken to prison, and for that he needed proof of the debts he had paid for the man; those papers were in the safe in his London house.

It was not worth disturbing the servants and opening Darcy House for such a brief visit, so he thought he might stay with the Fitzwilliams.

Dear Aunt Elaine,

I have a bit of business in London; might I stay with you and Uncle, rather than troubling to open Darcy House? I imagine I will be there no more than two nights.

Your affectionate nephew,

Fitzwilliam

The next day, a return message arrived; it was presented to him on a silver salver by Mr. Graham, who bowed respectfully. Mr. Darcy managed not to smile as he read.

Fitzwilliam,

Of course, we would be delighted to see you! I will expect you tomorrow.

Aunt Elaine

He folded the note and went in search of Mr. Bingley.

“You will be gone just a few days?”

“No more than three, I imagine. I shall certainly return in time for your ball.”

“Caroline will be so very disappointed.”

“She will be even more disappointed when you tell her the fate that awaits her. I have completed my task, Bingley; it is now a point of honour that you complete yours.”

“I will, of course, Darcy.”

“Has your sister even attempted to welcome Miss Bennet into the family? Or spoken to her at all since your engagement?”

“They spoke after church yesterday,” Mr. Bingley answered, but he looked away and fidgeted as he spoke.

“And?”

“And what?”

“There is more, Bingley, clearly.”

Mr. Bingley drew a deep breath. “Caroline said that Jane alluded to something that I was meant to talk to her about.”

“Ah! Did Miss Bennet break the news?”

“No; she simply said that she had spoken out of turn.”

“Miss Bennet is ever so polite.”

“She is; it is one of her many perfections.” Mr. Bingley grinned.

Mr. Darcy managed – barely – not to roll his eyes. “Bingley, you must speak to her. If you do not, Miss Bennet will come to think that you do not intend to honour your promise to her. She might withdraw from the engagement. I note that the banns have not yet been read for the two of you.”

Mr. Bingley paled. “You are right, Darcy; I had not considered that. But you can see that I must wait until after the ball to do so.”

“Can Mrs. Hurst not complete the arrangements?”

“I do not know and do not want to run that risk.”

Mr. Darcy shrugged. “Very well; I have done all I can. I will leave tomorrow after breakfast and return in three days’ time.”

***

Mr. Darcy and Franklin arrived at Matlock House well before noon the next day.

Franklin was well-acquainted with the house and made his way to his master’s usual room, with a footman carrying a large trunk behind him.

Mr. Darcy’s protests that they would be gone only a few days had fallen on deaf ears, and Franklin had packed for any and all possible events.

Mr. Darcy was greeted in the drawing room by the Earl of Matlock, the Countess of Matlock, and – “Richard!”

“Cousin!”

The two men embraced. “I never expected to see you here, Richard!”

“I had a few days’ leave and thought to spend it with my parents, but I was delighted to learn that you would be here as well, Darcy.”

“I am very glad.” He was very glad, in truth, as he loved his cousin Richard and worried about him on the battlefield.

“I understood you to be rusticating in Hertfordshire,” Colonel Fitzwilliam observed. “What brings you to Town?”

“I have decided to put Wickham in prison.”

The Colonel laughed aloud. “That is the best news you could have given me, Darcy. What made you finally see sense?”

Before Mr. Darcy could stop himself, he said, “A young lady.” And then he immediately winced.

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam’s keen eyes saw the wince and reached a fast conclusion. “And who is this paragon who has such influence?”

“No one; she is no one at all.”

“So there is a ‘she,’ then,” Richard said.

“Well, there is, but she did not – it is not because of her – dash it, Richard, it is just the right thing to do!”

“It has been the right thing to do for some time now, cuz,” Richard drawled. “But clearly something gave you the boot in your arse.”

“Richard!” The Countess was scandalised. “This is not an army camp!”

“I apologise, Mother.” The Colonel made her an elegant bow.

“Hmmph. Let the poor boy have a cup of tea and a few sandwiches before you harangue him any further, do you hear me?”

“Yes, Mother. We will pick this up later, Darcy.”

***

After spending an hour in the Matlock drawing room, Mr. Darcy excused himself.

“Where are you off to, Darcy?” The Colonel enquired.

“I must get the debt documents from my safe.”

“I shall accompany you.”

“Must you?”

The Colonel laughed aloud. “I fear that I must.”

In Mr. Darcy’s carriage, headed for Darcy House, the Colonel wasted no time in accosting his cousin. “Let us return to the subject of the young lady.”

“What young lady?”

“Darcy, there is no point to this. You know I shall hound you until you confess all.”

Mr. Darcy cast his eyes to heaven and then said, “Fine. I shall tell you what you wish to know, and then I will beg you to stop speaking of it.”

The Colonel did not reply.

“Bingley decided to lease an estate in Hertfordshire, but he broke his leg and so was unable to sign the final papers and accept the keys. He sent me a message, begging me to act in his stead.”

“He expected you to leave Pemberley in order to act the part of his attorney?” The Colonel’s voice was appropriately surprised.

“Yes, and I will admit that I did not feel overly charitable toward him while executing his request. Nonetheless, I did so. However, as luck would have it, Franklin’s mother was ill and he stayed behind to tend to her.

I was happy enough to travel on my own, but I required rather different clothing in order to do so.

” Mr. Darcy explained how everyone had assumed that he was Mr. Bingley’s attorney or man of business, and the Colonel roared with laughter.

“So much for the high and mighty Fitzwilliam Darcy! Were you glad to see the back of him?”

“I was, truth be told, Richard. For once, there were not a dozen or more young ladies clinging to my arm.”

“And, under this disguise, you met someone?”

“I did; she is everything bright and beautiful! I cannot wed her, of course, so I must learn to be content with enjoying her company while I can.”

“Has this nonpareil a name?”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

“What will happen when your true identity becomes known?”

“It is already known, for Franklin appeared at Bingley’s house and nearly had apoplexy when he learned that I had been taken for an attorney.”

Both men laughed at this. Then the Colonel said, “Has Bingley’s leg healed?”

“It has. Not only that, but he is also now engaged to Miss Elizabeth’s elder sister.” There was pain in Mr. Darcy’s voice.

The Colonel gentled his tone. “So Mr. Bingley is free to marry as he chooses, but you are not.”

“Exactly.”

“I should like to meet your Miss Elizabeth.”

“Sadly, she is not mine, nor is she likely to be; but you are welcome to accompany me back to Netherfield.”

“I fear my mother will not be pleased, but I will join you.”

The carriage then pulled up in front of Darcy House.

Mr. Darcy was forced to go through lengthy explanations to his butler and housekeeper as to why he was staying at Matlock House when he would have been more than welcome at his own home, but he finally was able to go into his study, take the oil painting of Pemberley down from the wall, and open the safe hidden behind it.

“Here,” he said, handing a leather envelope stuffed full of receipts to his cousin.

“As many as that! Why, there must be almost a thousand pounds here!”

“More than a thousand.”

“He will be in prison for life.”

“Doubtless.”

“It is a harsh punishment, but well-deserved.”

“Truly, Richard, I should have done this long ago.”

“So what did this Miss Elizabeth say to have you reach this decision?"

“She asked me if it was rational for me to allow her friends and neighbours in Meryton to fall prey to Wickham, simply because I hoped that he would someday change.”

The Colonel whistled tunelessly. “She knows exactly how to speak to you.”

“Evidently.” Mr. Darcy sounded rueful.

“I am decided. I must meet her. Has she any money? If you will not have her, then perhaps I – good Lord, Darcy, I am not serious!”

Mr. Darcy collected himself. Had he actually lunged for his cousin? “I apologise, Richard. I am not myself, I fear.”

Or you are more yourself than ever before, his cousin thought.

***

Back at Matlock House, Mr. Darcy was informed by the Countess that they were to go to a ball that very night.

Mr. Darcy did his best to be excused from attending, citing his travel-weariness, but his aunt was not to be dissuaded.

“At least three of the ladies who are on my list will be there, Darcy; this is an excellent opportunity for you to meet them.”

He had forgotten about her list. If he were to forget Miss Elizabeth, as he knew he must, then meeting other young ladies was the ideal approach. “Very well, Aunt,” he conceded.

Going upstairs to his room, he had the dubious pleasure of informing Franklin that he was to attend a ball that night and then endure his valet’s crowing over his foresight in having packed precisely the right clothing for the event.

***

In the early hours of the next morning, Mr. Darcy, the Colonel, and the Earl and Countess entered the Matlock carriage to return home. The gentlemen were weary; the Countess was as bright-eyed as ever.

“Well, Darcy, you danced every dance. I am prodigiously proud of you!”

“I thank you for the introductions, Aunt,” her nephew replied, as was expected of him.

“And did any of the young ladies catch your eye?”

Mr. Darcy considered his evening and the many young ladies he had met.

There was Miss Araminta Blodgett, daughter of a baronet, with a dowry of thirty thousand pounds.

She had said not a word during the entire dance.

There was, on the other hand, Lady Clara Beaumont, daughter of a baron, with a dowry of twenty-five thousand pounds, who had not stopped speaking about the latest fashions.

Lady Agatha Ellsworth, daughter of an earl, with a dowry of thirty-five thousand pounds, had lectured him for twenty minutes on the pitfalls of feeding sweets to pet cats.

And he had even met the young lady who was rumoured to be the diamond of the coming season, Lady Margaret Leighton.

Lady Margaret was the second daughter of a duke, with a dowry of fifty thousand pounds.

Her appearance was flawless; she had blonde ringlets, enormous blue eyes and white skin.

She was almost – almost! – as lovely as Miss Jane Bennet.

Upon being presented to her, Mr. Darcy recalled how he had imagined Miss Bennet in a setting such as this one and causing a stir, and he smiled at the recollection.

Miss Leighton had taken the smile to be aimed at herself, and she preened, tossing her curls, opening her fan and eyeing him over it.

Mr. Darcy’s expression had sobered at once.

He invited her to dance, as he knew was expected of him, and he soon learned to regret the invitation, as her conversation consisted entirely of banal stories about her suitors and how assiduously they courted her.

Mr. Darcy recollected himself and replied to the question. “No, Aunt, I fear none of them will suit me.”

“No? Well, do not fear; I have another dozen or so in mind for you.”

Mr. Darcy closed his eyes and leaned back against the cushions.