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“Have you any idea what it entails?”
“She said I was to place it in your hands.”
Darcy tore open the missive. His temper flared with each second he read it. He folded it when he was done.
“Do not keep me in suspense.”
Darcy handed the letter back to his cousin so he might read everything her ladyship had to say for himself. Impatient to discuss the matter, he did not wait for Richard to finish. “It seems our aunt is considering selling Hercules.”
“Is that not Grandfather’s prize-winning bay? I know he is retired from racing, but I always supposed he would remain in the Fitzwilliam family.”
“Exactly; she knows I would never countenance his being sold. She says she will offer me first right of refusal, with one stipulation: I must come to Kent and negotiate face to face.”
“Our aunt drives a hard bargain. You must know she intends that you should attend your would-be betrothed in a manner befitting a rich young heiress while you are there.”
“Richard, you know I never promised our family that I would honour their wishes that I should marry Anne.”
“I do not know that I do. Surely you have never said as much to her ladyship.”
“Well, the time has come for me to do just that.”
“Why now, after you have suffered all these years of essentially ignoring the matter?” Sudden realisation graced his countenance. Richard gaped. “Could this be the reason for your protracted stay in Bosley? Has some young filly finally captured the heart of the elusive Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Derbyshire?”
“I am quite certain I would never describe the young woman in those terms and neither should you.” Just thinking of the set-down his cousin would receive if Elizabeth knew he had described her in such terms brought a smile to Darcy’s face. “Richard, I am eager for you to meet her. She is charming, witty, and I would add one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”
“Does this paragon of virtue have a name?”
“She is Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
“Longbourn,” Richard paused. “Hertfordshire … I seem to recall our aunt’s parson speaking at length about said estate. His name is William Collins. I gather he is the heir apparent. His bride also hails from Hertfordshire. Do you suppose there is a connection?”
“No doubt there is a connection. Miss Bennet has told me that her father’s estate is entailed.”
“Well what do you know! This young lady is related to our aunt’s parson. Imagine how Lady Catherine will carry on once she learns that bit of information.”
“All of Miss Bennet’s connections are not as low as that, I assure you. She now resides here in Bosley with her aunt Lady Vanessa Barrett.”
“What are her other relations? What do you know about her father, her mother, and her siblings?”
“I confess not to have met any of them.” Judging by Caroline Bingley’s unflattering opinion, I am not certain I truly wish to. The mere memory of her was sufficient to make him cringe. “However, Miss Bennet has told me about them, just as I have discussed all of you with her.” Darcy recounted parts of Elizabeth’s account of her family to Richard: the tragic loss of her most beloved older sister, the absurdities of the younger sisters, the nervousness of the mother, and the proclivities of the father to laugh at them all in their turn while shielding himself from the ridiculousness of it all in the quiet sanctuary of his library.
“What of her father’s fortune? If his estate is entailed, how does that bode for his wife and daughters?”
“I confess to being surprised by your callous attitude, Richard, what with your being a second son.”
“Ah, yes, a second son indeed, but being the second son of an earl surely must have its advantages what with my being only a heartbeat away from the right of ascension.”
“I would hope Lord Robert is unaware of your philosophy.”
“Trust me, he knows my sentiments. Even as a mere second son, our family’s expectations as regards my alliance are high. I am expected to marry a woman with her own fortune. Let us say that Anne was not the family’s choice for you, surely your own choice of a bride can be no less, even if you are so very rich.”
“I am my own master. At the end of the day, it matters not to me what our family expects. I will choose my own bride. As for their expectations of an alliance with Anne, I will travel to Kent ahead of the race. I will settle this matter once and for all. Then I shall have no impediments whatsoever to keep me from properly declaring my intentions to Miss Bennet.”
“My God, man, what are you saying?”
“I care deeply for her. She shall be the next mistress of Pemberley—if she will have me.”
“I am sure this news will come as a surprise to our family, most particularly Lady Catherine and possibly Anne as well.”
