Page 22

With a smile, Darcy said: “My family has long been prominent, though we have never held or aspired to titles.

My uncle is an earl, and the Fitzwilliam family is not the only noble connection we possess.

There are many others if one traces our lineage back far enough.

When I came to Hertfordshire, I had no notion I would find a woman to admire, and was unprepared when I found myself fascinated with you.

“While I can have the hope of a similar connection in my future wife, I have never wanted it—or perhaps it is more correct to say that I do not wish to marry with that purpose in mind. Rather, I have always wanted a meeting of minds with the woman I marry. Our reacquaintance is new enough to make it far too early to speak of it more openly, but I will have you know I am interested.”

“That is far more than I ever expected to hear from you,” said she.

“Yes, I suppose it is, but it is also the honest confession of my heart.”

Miss Bennet became playful. “Then what do you mean to do about it? I am only in Lambton for a few more days, after which I must return home. I cannot suppose you would do as Mr. Collins and propose with such celerity.”

Darcy found that levity was far easier in Miss Bennet’s company than even those of his friends celebrated for their bonhomie. “Bingley would not hesitate to offer me the use of Netherfield. If he gives up the lease altogether, I may take it up myself to allow me to pay court to you.”

“This is all so sudden and so new,” said Miss Bennet, shaking her head with wonder.

“That is why I am content to move slowly. Let us both allow enough time to adjust and learn what we wish to get in life.”

“I agree.”

They turned and walked on for a time, each lost in their thoughts.

What Miss Bennet was thinking, Darcy had no notion, but for his part, he was considering how agreeable the notion of paying her the compliment of his attentions was and how he anticipated the coming months.

It felt... right, for want of a better term, that this decision, made on the spur of the moment—though he had considered seeking her out again—was the correct one that would bring much happiness.

True, he would gain her family for his own, but the most important consideration was Miss Bennet herself.

The thought of her family returned his attention to their previous comments and piqued his curiosity again.

“You said that you refused Mr. Collins’s suit,” said Darcy. “That is quite curious, for Mr. Collins was married by the time I visited Rosings in early April.”

The grin with which she regarded him featured laughing eyes and made her beauty even more intoxicating. “Ah, but you are thinking as a typical man would think, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Collins is not a normal sort of man. The proposal I refused, he offered the very day after Mr. Bingley’s ball.”

“That is astonishing!” exclaimed Darcy. “Am I mistaken in apprehending that you had only known him for a week?”

“That is correct,” replied she. “What you do not consider is the command—as he supposed—from your aunt that he pay his respects to one of his cousin’s daughters. When he came to Hertfordshire, he was determined to return to Kent in a position to announce his engagement to Lady Catherine.”

“That is singular to be certain,” said Darcy. “Then he returned to Kent without that engagement and acted soon thereafter to rectify the deficiency.”

“It was not for a lack of trying.” Darcy could see the concealed hilarity in her eyes and on her lips.

“After I rejected him, he seemed to find Lucas Lodge most agreeable, for he spent the next few days there. We did not learn why until the day after he departed, though he returned from Lucas Lodge that evening in a most foul temper.”

“He did not,” said Darcy, understanding her meaning at once.

“I assure you that he did, Mr. Darcy,” replied she, the restrained hilarity giving way to open laughter.

“My excellent friend Charlotte, who has often spoken of her lack of interest in romance, received Mr. Collins’s assurances only three days later.

Even Charlotte could not support the notion of enduring Mr. Collins for a lifetime. ”

Darcy shook his head, unable to fathom the level of obliviousness that would lead a man to propose to two women in the space of three days. Though he had no great opinion of Mr. Collins based on the interaction of a few moments at Bingley’s ball, he had never supposed any man was that senseless.

“Was it a silly scene?”

Miss Bennet looked skyward. “Imagine the most ridiculous proposal you can fathom and then increase it by a factor of ten. The crowning bit of inanity was after I refused his proposal, as he could not believe I would reject his excellent situation. He suggested I was being coy and trying to increase his love by suspense.”

“Then it is for the best that your friend did not marry him,” said Darcy. “We will not need to associate with him now.”

“You are confident, Mr. Darcy.”

“Let us simply say that I am hopeful.”

A shaken head was her response. “Of even more interest was Mr. Collins’s offense upon returning from Lucas Lodge. He went so far as to suggest that Hertfordshire was not at all to his taste.”

“That is strange, given his inheritance is in Hertfordshire.”

“My father made the same point. You will therefore understand our astonishment when Mr. Collins not only promised to consider ending the entail but contacted my father later and joined with him to complete the deed.”

Shock could not describe Darcy’s reaction. “There is no more entail on Longbourn?”

“There is not,” said she, appearing a little smug. “Papa completed the business with Mr. Collins before Jane married.”

“What sort of a man puts aside future prosperity?” Darcy paused. “It is not even so much the prosperity as the status—he did not strike me as a man who was so dedicated to his profession as to commit to it forever when he could have so much more. Can I suppose he asked for a sum in exchange?”

“He did, though my father would not say how much. Papa secured a loan to pay Mr. Collins, but the estate is now ours.”

“And your father’s heir?”

“I am my father’s heir, Mr. Darcy, since Jane is already married.” Miss Bennet offered him a mysterious smile. “There are restrictions and certain conditions that will disinherit me should they be fulfilled.”

“Is that so?” asked Darcy, knowing she was teasing him. “And what are those?”

“If I marry, then the estate will pass to my eldest unmarried sister and so on in succession, and if we all marry, it will be put in trust for the eldest second son among my sisters. Should one of my sisters remain unmarried, she will possess the estate until her death, and then it will pass down as my father designed. Regardless, my mother will always have a home.”

“That shows your father’s wisdom,” said Darcy, understanding at once. “By structuring it that way, he ensures no man will pursue you for the estate; you will all have a home no matter what happens.”

“Exactly. If I marry, my husband will not control the estate because he will activate that clause by marrying me, passing the estate down to my next youngest unmarried sister.”

Miss Bennet fixed him with an arched eyebrow. “Does that affect your decision to pursue me?”

“Not at all, Miss Bennet.” Darcy smiled at her, showing her all the complacency he felt. “I can only applaud your father’s ingenuity. The inheritance of Longbourn is not required to allow me to offer you a good life.”

“No, Mr. Darcy,” replied Miss Bennet. “I suppose you have that facet well in hand.”