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“I suppose what I mean to say is do you include anyone who earns a living in trade among your intimate circle?”
“One of my best friends is the beneficiary of his family’s fortune, which was earned in trade.”
“I imagine it must be a rather large fortune.”
“Indeed, it is quite considerable. What is your point?”
“My point is simple. You boast of having a friend—nay, a best friend—who happens to have inherited a fortune. I posit that were it not for said fortune, you and the gentleman would never have crossed paths.”
“As neither of us can really know that, I will not defend what may or may not have been.”
Just as it had been the day before, so it happened again that Elizabeth and Darcy, as involved in their own discourse as they were, did not notice that the colonel was quickly headed their way.
“We meet again,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, bowing before Elizabeth.
Darcy said, “I am accompanying Miss Bennet to the parsonage as I generally do during this time of day.”
Following in step with Darcy and Elizabeth, the colonel inquired, “Shall we make it a threesome?”
“Do we have a choice?” Darcy asked, his brow arched.
“Miss Bennet, what say you?”
“It sounds like a splendid idea to me, sir.”
“There, you see, Cousin. You are outnumbered two to one.” With that, the three of them continued on their way. The colonel, as amiable as ever, commanded the greater share of the conversation, leaving Elizabeth with scant opportunity to do anything other than smile and nod at the appropriate times and poor Mr. Darcy to brood and say nothing while fiercely resisting the urge to tell his verbose cousin to go away.
After the gentlemen had accompanied Elizabeth to the parsonage gate, they headed back to Rosings. The colonel asked the question that had been uppermost in his mind all afternoon. “What on Earth are you doing, old fellow?”
Darcy’s countenance clouded. “In what respect?”
“If I did not know you better, I would say that you like Miss Bennet more than you dare let on. Whatever happened to the notion that she was not handsome enough to tempt you?”
“No doubt, my feelings have changed,” Darcy replied.
“Is the young lady aware of your change of heart—that you more than tolerate her presence?” Although Darcy had not officially apologized to Elizabeth for uttering those words, he had informed his cousin that the two of them had been overheard that evening at Rosings.
Darcy wondered if he ought to be open with his cousin and tell him about his heartfelt struggles where Miss Elizabeth Bennet was concerned. Deciding against it for now, he said, “I have done more than just give her the impression that I merely tolerate her.”
“How so, if you do not mind my asking?”
“If you must know, I have made it a habit to walk with her each day. She and I regularly engage in healthy discussions about our likes and dislikes. Other than reciting poetry verses to her, what more need I do?”
“You may very well engage in such discourse with Georgiana or me, for that matter. A young woman needs to be flattered for her accomplishments, her wit, and her charm in order for one to make a truly favorable impression on her heart.”
“It is not so simple as you suggest,” Darcy argued. “A man in my position must be very guarded in his approach towards any young woman, especially one whose means are so decidedly beneath his own else he might give rise to expectations in the woman that upon closer examination he cannot uphold. As a second son, you would know nothing at all of what I speak.”
“I posit you should leave rank and privilege completely out of the equation where matters of the heart are concerned. If, on the other hand, you are merely trifling with Miss Bennet, it is far better you leave her alone.”
Darcy said nothing in response to his cousin’s admonishment. Leave Elizabeth alone. I could not do so even if I tried.
“Then, too, there is Anne,” the colonel said in view of his cousin’s silence.
“Anne?”
“I know you say you do not intend to marry her.”
“You say that as though you somehow doubt my intentions—as though such a thing was ever within the realm of possibility.”
