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ENTAILMENT REVEALED

O ver the next week, Darcy met Elizabeth early for her morning walks. However, he had to stay away from society because Fitzwilliam’s injuries needed to heal and Georgiana’s behaviour showed no signs of improvement. They used their morning walks to get to know each other better, but both of them knew that their time together was limited until Fitzwilliam healed.

“It is a dinner party at the Lucas’s tonight,” Elizabeth informed him at the end of the week. “Will you be in attendance?”

“I do not know.” Darcy frowned. “If I go tonight, then I have to take Georgiana with me. Fitzwilliam left this morning to go to London for a few days.”

“Kitty will be disappointed,” Elizabeth observed.

“I believe that he has explained the reason he has to go. He has been recalled to Horse Guards because of his fight with Wickham,” Darcy explained. “It seems that while he has put his commission up for sale, he has not entirely been discharged from the army and therefore must answer questions about the fight.”

“Is he in any serious trouble?” Elizabeth asked.

“I think it depends on the answers he gives. He may get into deeper trouble. I simply do not know,” Darcy told her.

“And has Fitzwilliam healed from his injuries? I have to confess to thinking that Kitty has had more than her fair share of your cousin’s company. I would like your company tonight.” Elizabeth bit her lip and looked out over the fields.

Darcy turned her face to look him in the eyes. “What are you not telling me?”

“You’ll think me silly,” she whispered.

“You are anything, but silly!” He declared, loudly.

Tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes. “This past week it has been noticed that you singled me out twice when we were in company and then Fitzwilliam has been singling Kitty out. We knew that he would, but despite everyone being introduced to both of you at different functions, they still don’t believe that there are two of you. They think that you have lost interest in me and despite our morning walks, I cannot give them evidence to the contrary.”

Darcy growled slightly in frustration. “Then tonight I go out! Georgiana will have to come with me and I just have to hope that she won’t embarrass the two of us.” He huffed. “She refuses to see the difference between my behaviour with you and her own. She sees our growing relationship as an excuse to behave like a common flirt and in a very loose manner. I am sorry that things have become more complicated than we intended.”

Elizabeth looked up at him. “Fitz, it became complicated before we even knew what we were doing. The moment you kissed me, it was complicated! As for your sister – she is at a difficult age where she is leaving childhood behind, but is not yet matured into the woman she will become. Lydia is at the same stage. Do not despair too much. They will both come right.” She blushed slightly. “I did.”

Darcy raised an eyebrow. “How did you come right?”

“Experience and the steady influence of my Aunt Gardiner.” Elizabeth looked across the fields again. “As you know, my character is a lively one and my mother encouraged me to push the boundaries. One gentleman getting the wrong idea about my too-open manners was enough to make me open to listening to Aunt Gardiner, who explained the danger in very graphic detail. After that, I sobered and calmed down.”

“I cannot imagine that of you! You and Jane seem to be everything ladylike and correct,” Darcy praised her.

Elizabeth shrugged, “We are now. I… well I don’t think I ever was.”

Darcy laughed. “I’m glad to hear it. I was not always as staid as I am now. Perhaps we can help each other in that regard.”

Elizabeth sighed and changed the subject. “Returning to our discussion. Is Fitzwilliam recovered? Would it be believable that you are him?”

Darcy swallowed. “I am not sure. The bruising has faded now, but I’m not sure if he has fully recovered. However, he should be by the time that he returns. Wickham didn’t do much damage.”

“Good.”

They turned and walked on for a bit, Elizabeth looping her arm through Darcy’s. However, it was not long before Darcy asked a question Elizabeth had been dreading. “Elizabeth, I have to ask. The entailment on Longbourn, is that a long-standing entailment?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “My father had hoped to father a son. When my mother gave birth to two stillborn boys between Jane’s birth and my own, my father decided to entail the estate away from the female line. My father believes that all women are silly creatures that are not capable of running an estate. Despite this, he has trained Jane, Mary, Kitty, and myself in the running of the estate. I am not sure why he has never bothered to teach Lydia.”

Darcy stopped and stared stupidly at Elizabeth. “You mean… he has deliberately impoverished his daughters.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I guess….”

Darcy ground his teeth in anger. How could a father do that to his children?! “I do not understand that. Tell me at least that you have dowries provided.”

“They are not large and consist mainly of my mother’s five thousand pounds split evenly between us,” Elizabeth answered.

Darcy shook his head. He had no need of her dowry and every penny in interest would be her pin money, but he had expected a gentleman’s daughter to have a better dowry than that. He began to plot in his head how he could increase her pin money. He would see her well. “Tell me, does Bingley still pay court to Jane?”

“I do not know. I have seen them talking together and my mother still declares that he is interested in her, but I am not sure. Sometimes I think that they are closer than ever and at others, they seem to be growing somewhat distant. Jane has not confided in me either.”

Darcy nodded. That was the way it always went with Bingley. “That is no surprise. Tell me, is Jane steady in her affections?”

“I believe she is. She is generally considered steady. Probably more so than the rest of us who are more volatile,” Elizabeth informed him.

Darcy nodded again.

“What about Mr Bingley? Is he steady?” Elizabeth demanded.

“No, I do not believe so. I have seen him in love before and just as quickly I have seen Bingley forget the young ladies,” Darcy admitted.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Poor Jane.”

The couple turned and continued their walk. Coming up to a secluded little cave, Darcy pulled Elizabeth inside. “I have been wanting to do this all week,” he declared, before leaning down and kissing her, slowly deepening their kiss. Eventually, they broke apart and soon stepped outside of the cave to continue their walk. “I am not sure I should have done that, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth turned. “Why not?”

“Because….” He growled in further frustration. “It is ungentlemanly for me to fully explain. Let me simply say that knowing that cave is here makes being restrained very difficult.”

Elizabeth giggled but said nothing. She was embarrassed. “Tell me where do you see our courtship going?” She asked suddenly.

“I am eventually going to ask you to marry me. I want to give you time to know what your answer both should and will be,” he answered truthfully. “I knew after our first kiss that marriage was my choice.”

Elizabeth’s heart thrilled. “Do you think we could love each other?” She timidly asked.

Darcy shrugged. “It is possible. I am not sure if what I feel right now is love or not. However, I am definitely on my way to being in love with you.”

“And I with you,” Elizabeth admitted.

Just then, an affronted Mrs Robinson crossed their path. “ Mr Darcy ! Or are you Colonel Fitzwilliam? Never mind. Did I not just see you on your horse but five minutes ago on your way to London?”

Darcy shook his head. “That must have been my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

“And what about the fact that you were intensely discussing the war in Spain last night with both Colonel Forster and Miss Catherine? I believe that you were discussing the hardships of army living on a woman who wished to follow the drum,” Mrs Robinson demanded. “I believe that you were all but asking her right there and then if it were necessary would she follow you wherever you went as an army wife.”

“I do not recall such, Mrs…” Darcy spluttered.

“Robinson,” Elizabeth reminded him.

“Ah yes, Mrs Robinson. Please enlighten me about exactly how I am supposed to have made overtures to Kitty? I am in love with only one Bennet lady — the one who is standing right next to me,” Darcy answered.

“I know what I saw and what I heard! I saw you in the Kings’ drawing room last night. You were standing next to the fireplace, conversing intensely with Colonel Forster,” Mrs Robinson angrily snapped.

“That was my cousin. I was at home reading and keeping my sister company,” Darcy answered.

“Cousins do not look that strongly alike! Rarely, do brothers and sisters look that much alike. I do not know what game you are playing, sir. I warn you now that we do not take kindly to being made to look like fools. We are all disgusted by your cavalier attitude to courting two women at the same time.” Mrs Robinson self-righteously proclaimed, anger and disdain lacing her voice.

Darcy removed his hat and his gloves. “Mrs Robinson, take a careful look. Do you see any indication of the recent fight my cousin had with Mr Wickham on my person? Do I appear to have any injuries on me?”

Mrs Robinson scrutinised Darcy carefully. “No, I see no indication that you were recently in a fight.”

“Rare it may be for two men to look so alike as my cousin and I do, but I promise you that there is nothing untoward going on. My cousin and I look and sound identical. There are subtle differences, that those who are very observant and those who know us very well can spot. Unfortunately, my sister and I have lost both our parents and so my cousin and I are joined in guardianship of my much younger sister. So, it is not always possible for us to both be in the same place at the same time. This frequently leads to the kinds of confusion that you have been labouring under,” Darcy told her.

Mrs Robinson shook her head. “Why do you not at least tell us which one you are, if you are that alike, Mr Darcy?”

Darcy swallowed the laugh that wanted to bubble out of him. “First, Mrs Robinson, I do not like to be addressed as Mr Darcy. It makes me feel like a little boy standing next to my father. Please call me by my first name, Fitzwilliam, which I asked the neighbourhood to do upon my arrival here. Secondly, both my cousin and I have been introduced to the neighbourhood. Is it common for you to identify yourself as Mrs Robinson? I would advise you, ma’am, that if you wish to tell the difference between us, look for the differences. It is tiresome to require a constant introduction. I assure you that were I to be making overtures of any kind to Elizabeth’s sister, her reaction would tell you that I was at best in trouble. If there were no other clue, surely the preference that my cousin and I have in women would certainly tell you which of us is in attendance.”

Mrs Robinson looked affronted. “ Mr Darcy , I am not a woman who is unobservant. I know what I saw! Excuse me, I believe that I need to go and talk to this young lady’s father! Elizabeth, I am sorry to see you so taken in by this young man.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Forgive me, Mrs Robinson, but I am not taken in. My sister Kitty and I have had the pleasure of being in the company of both Fitzwilliams. The colonel is pleasant company, but it is Fitzwilliam Darcy who I find to be the man most suited to me. I have never met anyone quite like him. Kitty, I believe, prefers the colonel’s company to Fitzwilliam’s.”

Mrs Robinson huffed and excused herself making her way to Longbourn, leaving the amused couple behind her.

* * *

E lizabeth looked around the bright drawing room of Lucas Lodge. Yet, to Elizabeth, there was a tedious nothingness that surrounded the neighbourhood. Nothing seemed to change. Not the neighbourhood and not the conversations. To Elizabeth, everything felt different, despite the constancy of her neighbours. Jane had quickly settled into a discussion with Charlotte Lucas and had virtually ignored Elizabeth the entire week meaning that Elizabeth had been without anyone to talk to, as somehow Lydia managed to keep Catherine busy. Elizabeth gave a gentle shake of the head thinking that she was being silly. Despite Darcy’s words, she knew that she was at the moment blowing things out of proportion. The truth was that already Darcy was changing her and somehow as she sat to the side watching her friends and neighbours she was seeing them in a different light and she did not like what she saw. Mrs Bennet had always been embarrassing, but she now appeared to be completely ridiculous as she sat declaring how well Jane, Catherine, and Lydia were doing at attracting their young men. However, if she spoke of Elizabeth’s courtship at all it was with derision and censure. To Mrs Bennett’s mind, not knowing the difference between the two men, Darcy had lost interest in Elizabeth and was playing with Elizabeth’s emotions. Mary sat in a corner not speaking to anyone and behaving as though she could not be bothered anymore. This Elizabeth thought odd until she saw an unknown young man approach Mary and get dismissed to bother someone else. Catherine and Lydia were chattering away in a corner, waiting for the arrival of the militia and the Netherfield party. Their neighbours were talking over the same news and gossip that had been discussed all week. Nothing changed and nothing new happened.

Someone tapped Elizabeth on the shoulder, making her jump.

“A penny for your thoughts,” came the now familiar voice of Darcy.

Elizabeth spun around in excitement. “You’re here!” She breathlessly exclaimed, before checking to make sure it was Darcy.

Darcy chuckled. “What had you so pensive?”

“Only my observations of the room,” Elizabeth admitted. “I wonder if I have truly seen them before.”

Darcy sat down on the arm of Elizabeth’s chair. “They are not so bad, Elizabeth,” Darcy told her.

Elizabeth frowned. “No, they are worse.”

Darcy raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You truly believe them to be worse?”

Elizabeth sighed. “I always knew my mother’s behaviour was inappropriate, but lately it seems as though it is the whole area. Not to mention that since your party has arrived my mother has gotten worse.”

“They are good people, Elizabeth,” Darcy admonished.

“I know they are.” She huffed. “I just cannot help wondering why you would seek me out when I am part of this endless nothingness where nothing changes.”

Darcy shook his head. “Nothing ever changes? Doesn’t our presence count as a change?”

“Yes, your presence here is a change, but look at our neighbours. Your presence here has not changed their lives at all. The conversations are all about the same things they were six months ago. Complaining about this or that. The only difference is that my family seems to be in the middle of their speculations. In the end, no matter how much they speculate, our neighbourhood will not change. When you leave, we will all go back to what we were doing and the conversation will revolve for months, even years, around the success or failure of us girls to secure our happiness and our security.” Elizabeth nodded over to Charlotte Lucas, who was still talking to Jane. “Take Charlotte, as an example, she is seven and twenty now. The last time she had even a likely love interest was five years ago. My mother and the other matrons make much about how plain Charlotte is, but it was not her plainness that made her suitor leave. I was barely out back then, but I heard him talking to his friends and acquaintances. Lady Lucas had loudly proclaimed the young man’s interest, much the same as my mother did yours. Yet, unlike you, the young man was offended. Sir William cannot afford to give his girls plentiful settlements and that along with the way my mother and Lady Lucas behaved meant that he abandoned Charlotte. Word spread like wildfire. Charlotte was left to the harsh whispers of disappointed love and the neighbourhood still talks about her disappointment and has practically marked her out as an old maid already.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Because they cannot tell you apart from Fitzwilliam, and his marked interest in Kitty, they believe that I am destined for disappointment and disgrace – despite our courtship.”

Darcy grinned and looked around the room. “Kitty looks very much as though she would like to kill me. I suspect she has not been able to get close enough to tell the difference yet.”

Elizabeth turned her head to see Catherine glowering at her. Elizabeth turned back to Darcy. “Do you remember our rule?”

“You mean that I am not to kiss Kitty and Fitzwilliam is not to kiss you?” He asked in a husky whisper.

Elizabeth swallowed. “That’s the one. Show Kitty that you are not your cousin.”

Darcy grinned. “I’m not sure I would get away with that again, Elizabeth. Your father is most unhappy with my cousin and me as is.” He reached for her hand and winking placed a kiss on the back of it. Straightening up, he asked. “Has our courtship been formally announced? I’m afraid I forgot to ask.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “And right on cue, my father has arrived.”

Mr Bennet stood in front of the couple, his arms crossed. “Mr Darcy! I do not know what your game is. I believe I told you before that you were to make your mind up between my girls. Elizabeth and Kitty assured me that there was nothing untoward going on and that they were not getting hurt, but one look at Kitty tonight and I can see that is not the case. All week long you have been coming amongst us as if you were a colonel in the army and making overtures to Kitty. Now I see you making overtures to Lizzy. The whole neighbourhood is confused – as am I! What is going on?”

“Let me clear up the confusion,” Darcy began, but they were interrupted by Mrs Forster.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam, my husband wants to know why you are not in London answering the charges he has laid against you,” Mrs Forster demanded.

Darcy sighed took off his gloves and took a deep breath. “Mrs Forster, please assure your husband that my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, left for London this morning. Mrs Robinson can attest to that fact as she confused him with me after seeing him passing through Meryton on his way to London.”

Mr Bennet glared at Darcy.

Elizabeth glanced down and there it was the proof this was her beloved and not the good colonel.

“I hope that is the truth,” she said. “I would hate for you to find out how much influence my husband truly has.” She leaned in close and whispered. “Tonight, same place, same time.”

Elizabeth heard the whisper and stepped closer to Darcy.

“I don’t know where or when that is,” Darcy snapped. He stepped away from the young woman. He glanced over her tall form. Not quite as tall as himself, Mrs Forster was taller than most of the young ladies in the room. She was also one of the youngest. Colonel Forster, however, was a good ten years older than Darcy, which meant that he was nearing forty. Darcy realised that despite how busy she would be as an officer’s wife, she was likely bored. Realising what was going on, Darcy leant close to Mrs Forster’s ear. “I have met plenty like you and witnessed the heartbreak of their partners in life. Go back to your husband and leave me alone. I am not my cousin nor am I like Lieutenant Wickham. There is an influence my family wields too. Do not test us.”

Mrs Forster laughed, almost uncontrollably. “Colonel, your threats might have frightened me at one time. However, they will have no effect now. My husband has much influence at Horse Guards, despite his only being a militia colonel. Your threats will only make things go all the worse for you.”

Darcy glared at the woman. “Madam, believe me when I say that I am not my cousin! I am not a colonel in the army nor have I ever served in the army in any capacity. My connections and influence reach high up the social ladder and far beyond Horse Guards. Right to the privy council and the King.” Darcy folded his arms across his chest. “How would you like to find that the Prince Regent should order an investigation into your deportment and that of your husband? Perhaps even going so far as to have your husband dishonourably discharged from the army?”

“You would not dare! The Prince Regent would not be interested in my husband’s affairs,” Mrs Forster declared. “He is above reproach in behaviour.”

Darcy raised an eyebrow. “As far as I understand it, the militia are the dregs of the army. The ne’er-do-wells who cannot afford a commission in the regulars and whose thoughts of duty go little further than the next ball or social function. I’m sure that it would not be difficult to find something on your husband.”

Mrs Forster huffed. “Very well. My husband will not respond well to your threats. You have been warned, Colonel.”

Darcy shook his head. “How many times must I tell you that I am Fitzwilliam Darcy and not Colonel Fitzwilliam?”

Mrs Forster gave him a withering look. “All week I have been speaking to you and you have told me that your name is Colonel Christopher Fitzwilliam, do you truly expect me to then believe that I am talking to a different man?”

Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, you have met both my cousin and myself. Can you clear it up in Mrs Forster’s mind that I am Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley and not Colonel Christopher Fitzwilliam?”

Elizabeth looked at Darcy and winked. “Well… You look and sound like Colonel Fitzwilliam, but then you also look and sound like Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. It is very difficult to tell you two apart. Even having met you both, unless you know what to look for we could be speaking to either one of you….”

Darcy rolled his eyes at Elizabeth’s antics. “Then, madam, you will have to take my word for it that I am Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

Just then Catherine came walking determinedly across the room. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, should you not be in London by now?” She demanded. “Did you not tell me that you were leaving this afternoon?”

At that, the whole room turned and looked at Elizabeth and Darcy, standing side by side.

“Kitty,” Elizabeth quietly remonstrated. “Look again.”

Catherine shook her head. “I do not need to look….” Her voice trailed away as she caught sight of Darcy’s right hand. The signet ring and mole were very visible. “Oh! I’m sorry, Fitzwilliam. I thought that Colonel Fitzwilliam had not gone to London.”

“Now do you believe me, Mrs Forster?” He asked.

“I… I do not know what to believe. You look… you sound….” Confusion wrinkled Mrs Forster’s brow.

Darcy winked at Elizabeth. “Only three women in this room know how to tell my cousin and me apart. Were I to approach the wrong one and do this.” He wrapped his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders, before leaning down and almost kissing her. “I can assure you, Mrs Forster, that I would be lucky to simply get away with a slap around the face.”

Elizabeth giggled and blushed slightly as she turned her face up and cheekily brushed her lips against his.

“Well, I never! What a disgusting display to make in public,” Lady Lucas declared, as she joined the group. “I hope, Lizzy, that you are not making such a display regularly.”

Elizabeth’s blush deepened, but she took comfort from Darcy tightening his arm around her shoulder in a show of support. “No, Lady Lucas, I am not one for such displays.”

Just then, a slow clapping caught everyone’s attention. “My saintly brother is not so saintly after all,” Georgiana declared. “Well done at getting him to unbend, Miss Bennet. Perhaps, now he will stop telling me my behaviour is inappropriate.”