Pemberley Variations 03 Without Reserve by Abigail Reynolds

Author:Abigail Reynolds [Abigail Reynolds]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
Published: 2011-05-23T03:07:29+00:00

Chapter 7

Darcy was unsurprised to discover Colonel Fitzwilliam waiting in his room for him that afternoon. It did not take any great skill in detection to discern that the usually affable Colonel was furious with him. Darcy greeted him cautiously, already bracing himself for the

lecture to come. He did not have long to wait. His cousin had clearly awaiting his opportunity. "Darcy, what in God's name is wrong with you?"

Darcy threw himself down into a chair. "You go ahead and tell me-- that will save time, don't you think?" he said wearily.

"If you think you can distract me into feeling sorry for you this time, Darcy, you are wrong! I cannot imagine what your father would say to you if he were still alive. I am hardly even sure what I am angrier with you about--trifling with a girl like Miss Bennet, humiliating her like that in front of me, or bringing Georgiana under the same roof as your mistress. Good God, Darcy, what have you been thinking? Is this why Miss Bennet no longer lives with her parents--so that she can be more conveniently available to you?" His tone was cutting. "Unfortunately, I cannot do a damned thing about you ruining Miss Bennet, but by God, I am taking Georgiana away from here!"

His cousin's words snapped Darcy out of his lethargy. "She is not my mistress, damn it!"

"I suppose next you will tell me there is nothing between the two of you. I did not leave the nursery yesterday, Darcy," said Colonel Fitzwilliam in disgust. "I know what it means when a woman tolerates behaviour like yours."

Darcy closed his eyes. A violent disagreement with his cousin, especially one in which he was so clearly in the wrong, was the last thing he needed at the moment. "I do not deny having strong feelings for Elizabeth, but it is ... complicated."

Colonel Fitzwilliam snorted. "Elizabeth, is it? And I fail to see what is so complicated about it--if you will not marry her, then leave her alone--do not ruin her life for your amusement!"

Darcy laughed bitterly. "You have this completely backwards, my friend. I want to marry her--but she will not have me."

There was a moment of silence. Finally the colonel said carefully, "I find this rather difficult to credit--first, that you would consider marrying a woman with no fortune or connections, and if you did, why in God's name would she refuse you? You are the kind of catch a girl like her grows up dreaming about! I saw how she looked at you. You will have to come up with a better excuse than that one."

"She is not most women, Richard. I will not trouble you with the sad history, but I can assure you that my fortune means nothing to her. As for why she will not marry me, she fears it would ruin me socially."

"Ruin you? Why would she think that? Raise a few eyebrows, I am sure, but no more."

"I tend to agree with you, in fact, but unfortunately she sees it otherwise.

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