Page 41

Even to himself, his voice sounded a little harsher than it should; the colonel did not enquire further, and Georgiana became more interested in her food. Then the conversation turned to the weather and Lady Matlock’s forthcoming party.

Georgiana retired after dinner, claiming both she and Mrs. Annesley were tired. The colonel did not seem in any hurry to leave, and Darcy offered him a drink and a cigar.

“So, now that we are alone, I hope you will trust me enough to tell me the truth about Miss Bennet.”

Darcy choked again, spilling some brandy on himself. “What do you mean?”

“The story of Bingley and Miss Bennet. When you returned, you told me that you saved Bingley from a disadvantageous marriage to a young woman about whom there were several objections. Now you claim Bingley realised that the lady — whom my mother and your sister just met — did not return his feelings. Which is true?”

“Both,” Darcy answered after a brief hesitation. “Bingley was so enchanted with Miss Bennet that he was blinded to the truth. She is exceedingly beautiful, and he is easily charmed, as we both know. He has been in love at least five times in the last two years.”

“And?”

“And the lady seemed to receive his admiration with pleasure, but her countenance was always serene. She smiled at him in the same way she smiled at everyone else. And the mother is truly insupportable. She has no respect for decorum but does have an obsession with marrying off her daughters, who have no dowry and no connections. Mrs. Bennet presented a spectacle that was difficult to bear. And I am sure Miss Jane Bennet would have been somehow forced to accept Bingley, despite her lack of feelings for him.”

“Darcy, I must say you seem very much involved in this situation. May I ask why Bingley’s or Miss Bennet’s feelings are your concern?”

“Bingley is my friend, Geoffrey. He is a good man and deserves to be happy. It was my duty to warn him against a marriage that would not be equal in any way.”

“But she is a gentleman’s daughter, and he is the son of a tradesman. She might not have a dowry or any useful connections, but he has the money she lacks. As for happiness — its meaning is different for each of us.”

“Yes, she is a gentleman’s daughter. It is not only that she lacks money and connections…there is more that I cannot clearly explain.”

“Is there?”

Darcy felt his cousin’s intense stare, scrutinising him with obvious puzzlement.

“Darcy, there is something that worries me and must be said, even if it will anger you.”

“Then say it and be done with this subject.”

“I have known you all your life, and as good as you are at concealing your feelings from people in general, you cannot hide much from me. You certainly have a peculiar interest in this story. I feel that you put great effort into convincing Bingley that this miss would not ensure his happiness in marriage. You seem as if you deliberately separated them, and that is strange. Could it be that you also admire this Miss Bennet and do not wish to allow Bingley to have her?”

The colonel ended with a voice filled with gravity, but Darcy breathed with relief at his cousin’s wrong guess.

“Oh, this is plain stupid, Geoffrey. I have not the slightest interest in Miss Jane Bennet. It makes me laugh that you assumed I did.”

He sipped from his glass. “However, I might have put too much effort into presenting Bingley with my opinion on this matter. But I did it only in his best interest and after a thorough examination of Miss Bennet’s behaviour towards him. Especially at the Netherfield ball, when her mother spoke loudly about Bingley marrying her daughter and finding husbands for the other four sisters.”

“There are five sisters with no dowry? Poor Mrs. Bennet! I am almost sympathetic to her.” The colonel laughed. “You are quite unfair on the lady. There are many mothers with fewer daughters and far more money who are still obsessed with finding them husbands.”

“I am glad you are entertained, Geoffrey.”

“I confess I am. And relieved that my guess was wrong. Let us hope Bingley will fall in love with another pretty face soon and will forget Miss Bennet. That would prove you were right, and I know how much you like to be.”

Although accustomed to his cousin’s teasing, this time Darcy felt uncomfortable. He had told only half the truth, and if he was honest with himself, he had to admit he might have become too involved in the matter. If he had been right, he had no cause to repent. However, if he had misjudged Bingley’s feelings or Miss Jane Bennet’s, he would have to live with guilt and remorse.

“Oh, there is something you should know, Darcy. When my mother related her encounter with the Miss Bennets to me, I was surprised and amused, and I told her what I knew about Miss Bennet and Bingley. What you had previously told me, of course.”

“I wished you had not done that, Geoffrey,” Darcy replied with irritation. “It was a private conversation we shared, not public knowledge.”

“I am sorry if I overstepped. But you never told me the matter required secrecy, and when we first discussed it, it seemed of little importance. I would not have revealed it to a stranger, but I found it amusing to add to the coincidences mother kept speaking of.”

“I do not find the situation amusing in any way. I hope no reports reach Miss Bennet or Bingley and offend or hurt either of them.”

“I hope we can both trust in my mother’s privacy and wisdom.”

“I do not wish discussions of this kind in the presence of Georgiana. She is still rather sensitive when it comes to relationships.”