Page 19 of The Shades of Pemberley

“Please, Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam. “You give my aunt far too much credit. There was no engagement, but Lady Catherine has insisted for many years to anyone who will listen—and a fair few who will not—that she agreed with her sister to an engagement between Jameson Darcy and her daughter.”

“A cradle agreement?” asked Darcy, mystified. “Lady Catherine and her sister may have agreed all they liked, but if there is no contract, her assertions are nothing more than wishes.”

“You have the right of it,” said Fitzwilliam with a nod. “Morgan Darcy, my cousin’s father, put no stock in Lady Catherine’s claims and did not hesitate to contradict her ladyship if she raised the subject in his presence.”

“That could not have been palatable to Lady Catherine.”

Fitzwilliam snorted. “It appears you have taken her measure already, Darcy. Lady Catherine does not appreciate anyone gainsaying her, but my uncle was one of the few who managed it, for he was not a man to tolerate foolishness. On one occasion, he ordered her to refrain from speaking of it or return to Rosings. As it was a Christmas gathering at Pemberley, Lady Catherine had no choice but to remain silent, for he would have thrown her from the house had he felt it necessary.”

“What did his wife say on the subject?” asked Darcy.

“This occurred long after my aunt’s passing.

To the best of my knowledge, Lady Anne never spoke of the matter to anyone, least of all her son and husband.

Even if she had, Morgan Darcy believed that his son was best positioned to determine the qualifications he required in a wife.

The disagreement became so intense that they were rarely in each other’s company in the last few years of his life, and when they were, the first words from his mouth were a warning for her to hold her tongue. ”

“Then your cousin espoused the same opinion as his father?”

Fitzwilliam sipped at his drink, remembering that he held it in his hand.

“In truth, I do not know what my cousin meant to do. Darcy was taciturn to the point of being uncommunicative, keeping his thoughts to himself, not even confiding in a close cousin. In this instance, however, he intimated more than once that he had no intention of offering for Anne; that he never offered for her even though she is now five and twenty, further supports the notion that he had no intention of yielding to Lady Catherine’s demands. ”

“The lady is to be much pitied,” said Darcy. “Her fondest wish is now an impossibility. I might wonder how she will ever cope.”

That struck Fitzwilliam as hilarious. “It is possible that he said nothing to avoid a fight. In my experience, Darcy never paid attention to any young woman if he could avoid it. We spoke of marriage and his need for an heir often enough. He understood his duty, but perhaps he did not believe the uproar in the family was necessary until he found a woman he wished to marry.”

There were several drawbacks Darcy could think of to his cousin’s supposed strategy, but little reason to speak of them. What his cousin did was his business, and Darcy could not say that he was wrong.

“Then that is a difference between us,” said Darcy, “for all that several mutual acquaintances have commented on the similarities in our characters.”

Fitzwilliam’s eyes swung to Darcy. “Oh?”

“Only in that I knew I wished to marry my fiancé when she was but seventeen,” said Darcy with a shrug.

“It is beneficial to know so early the path one’s life will take, for it prevents uncertainty.

If my cousin had not suffered his misfortune, I would, even now, be enjoying married life with my beloved. ”

“Yes, I suppose you must be correct. Yet, it appears you did not know the path your life would take.”

There was little choice but to concede the point.

“One can know nothing about the future. Unless some calamity befell me, however, I have known who I would marry; as that is one of the most important decisions a man will face, I am grateful I could make it without all the hassle of making myself agreeable to ladies in society.”

“That much is true, my friend. I hope your lady will not resent me for calling you away on the eve of your wedding.”

“Not at all,” replied Darcy. “Elizabeth will be eager to make your acquaintance, and Georgiana’s too.”

“Then I will confess to the same interest.”

Fitzwilliam raised his glass and rose, while Darcy set his empty glass on the table between them.

“Perhaps it would be best to retire. One cannot withstand Lady Catherine with dull wits, so we should sleep well tonight.”

Darcy did not disagree, and he departed the study with his companion, making for his chambers.

The looming visit with Elizabeth might be a little uncomfortable with Lady Catherine in attendance, but Darcy longed to see her so much that he did not consider it for a moment.

Perhaps, if they were fortunate, they could satisfy the lady enough to induce her to depart.

Darcy suspected it was wishful thinking, but until she proved him incorrect, he would indulge in such thoughts as would make him happy.