Page 16

Both cousins bowed their heads, their thoughts turning to the terrible summer of 1800 when a pox epidemic had swept through Derbyshire, leaving the cemeteries full and many a family decimated, including the Darcys and de Bourghs.

Ten year old Fitzwilliam had traveled with his father to visit his uncle’s estate, leaving his mother and baby sister behind to host the de Bourghs.

Darcy remembered being eager to go as he greatly preferred his Fitzwilliam cousins to those de Bourgh relations who were soon to descend upon Pemberley.

When news of the epidemic reached them, George Darcy and his son had been forced to remain at Matlock for several weeks until the sickness had burnt itself out.

When they returned, baby Georgiana and her grandmother were the only Darcys still alive at Pemberley.

Lady Catherine had survived through sheer willpower but buried her sister, her husband and two sons, leaving only her daughter, Anne, whose constitution was permanently weakened.

The number of deaths among the household staff, tenants, and villagers in Lambton and Kympton was horrific.

The sound of boots alerted Anne and Will that their solitude was soon to be interrupted. “Ho there,” called the Colonel as he strode in. “Why are you two hiding in here? I had to ask the butler for directions when he said you were in the striped sitting room!”

Seeing that Anne appeared frightened, Richard instantly regretted his teasing manner.

“Not to worry, Anne. I am exaggerating, as always.” Trying for a lighter tone, he added, “Our King’s army spent a great deal of time teaching me to track my prey silently but with deadly accuracy.

” He waggled his eyebrows and succeeded in drawing a soft giggle from Miss de Bourgh.

“Our cousin exaggerates, as always,” commented Darcy drily. Seeing that Richard was about to repeat his demand for an explanation, he continued, “Anne and I have been discussing our mutual desire not to marry and how best to apprise Aunt Catherine of that fact.”

“Ahhhhhha. Well .” Colonel Fitzwilliam had just spent a delightful hour chatting with Mrs. Collins and, to be honest, his mind was still at the parsonage. Until his cousin’s startling announcement, that was.

Darcy, however, had noticed that Richard was dressed for dinner. Checking his watch, he stood. “I must go now and dress if I am to keep to our aunt’s schedule. Anne?”

Miss de Bourgh rose as well but shook her head. “I don’t need to change. I’ll wait for you in the red parlor, as usual.” With barely a whisper of sound, she left the room and disappeared down the hall, still muffled in her thick shawl.

After watching his cousin retreat, Darcy turned to go opposite, climbing the stairs to the suite of rooms that his aunt always assigned him.

It took Richard some minutes to sort out what had just occurred, but then he followed in Darcy’s footsteps.

If he understood correctly, there would be fireworks tonight and he needed more information if he was to avoid getting burned.

And so it was that the party gathered only a few minutes before the butler announced that dinner was served.

During the meal, Darcy was even quieter than usual.

His manner went unnoticed by their hostess as Lady Catherine was quite content to have her monologue run uninterrupted.

In truth, he felt oddly removed from the group, as though observing them all for the first time.

He was forcibly struck by his aunt’s ornate gown, jewels and turban, ridiculous for a small, family meal (although perfectly in line with the heavy decorations evidenced throughout the house).

Her references to wealth and connections as a woman’s primary virtues made him feel vaguely ill.

Darcy had not quite worked out how best to approach the subject of marriage so it was perhaps lucky that he was not the only one who wished to discuss it.

Once the meal was over and the four removed to the drawing room, Lady Catherine seated herself in her favorite chair and directed her nephew to the settee to her right, beside her daughter.

She had noticed that Darcy admired Miss Bennet and had decided that it was high time for him to marry Anne before he was trapped by some fortune hunter.

With more determination than subtlety, Lady Catherine dismissed the servants from the room and spoke exactly what was on her mind.

“Fitzwilliam.” (It was important to remind him of his obligations to his mother’s family; she would never countenance the use of such common nicknames as William, Will, or, heaven forbid, Fitz.) “It is high time that we formalize your engagement to Anne. I have been thinking that the family will be gathering at Matlock this August for my brother’s birthday; it would be an excellent venue for a wedding of this magnitude. ”

Richard made an odd noise in his throat but Lady Catherine chose to ignore it.

Darcy squared his shoulders before speaking in a calm voice; “Aunt, while I respect your wishes, I’m afraid that this one shall not come true.

Anne and I have discussed it and decided that we do not wish to marry.

” Even the portraits on the walls seemed to hold their breath in the moments before her Ladyship responded. They were not disappointed.

“Of what are you speaking? Certainly you shall marry! I have told you for years— your mother and I planned the union while you were in your cradles! From your infancy, you have been intended for each other! It was the favorite wish of your mother, as well as of hers.”

“That may be so, Aunt Catherine, but your wish does not confine me to my cousin by either duty or honor if such is not my inclination.”

“Obstinate, headstrong boy! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you? Is nothing due to me on that score?” cried the lady.

Darcy took a deep breath and counted to ten in Greek in an effort to control his rising temper.

“I do understand your concerns, Aunt, but Anne will not be left unprotected, even if she decides to never marry. All of her cousins care for her and her fortune provides her with security to live as she wishes.”

Lady Catherine surged to her feet, her face turning a florid crimson. Unfortunately, this flush highlighted the thick powder that her maid applied to mask her aging features. “Never marry!” she sputtered.

“Aunt Catherine, it seems probable that my cousin’s poor health shall prevent her from assuming the responsibilities of running a household or acting as hostess in society.”

“Anne’s health shall be perfectly well by the time she marries! And if there are duties she must refrain from, then I shall assume those responsibilities for her… just as I should have been allowed to do when my sister died!!!” Lady Catherine’s voice rose to a shriek.

Darcy felt as if he had been punched in the gut.

He knew that his father had had little contact with his aunt after Lady Anne’s death; each year Will had travelled with his Uncle Henry’s family to visit Rosings.

Now that he thought on it, his father had never accompanied the Fitzwilliams and Lady Catherine and her daughter had not visited Pemberley since the epidemic.

Even so, it had never occurred to him that there had been a conscious break between the two.

He glanced to Richard but it was clear from his cousin’s expression that he was shocked as well.

Darcy forced himself to set aside the questions raised by his aunt’s unguarded words and return to his primary point. “Aunt, I’ve attempted to be delicate but surely you understand that I must have an heir and Anne’s health makes it uncertain she could survive a pregnancy.”

By now, Lady Catherine’s fury had grown beyond all sense.

She stood and shook her walking stick inches from Darcy’s nose.

“You are just like your father—like all men! Fools! Hypocritical, weak fools! Acting all moral and noble and gentlemanly, but in the end you’re all unreliable, untrustworthy…

good for nothing, every last one of you! ”

Uncomfortable with his aunt’s aggressive posture, Darcy rose to his full height.

Faced with her nephew looming over her, Catherine took a step back and shook her head as if trying to awaken from a nightmare.

Looking around the room, she saw no support was forthcoming from either her daughter or her other nephew.

She turned back to Darcy and spat, “You have no idea what I’ve suffered! ” before sweeping from the room.