“Your actions toward Colonel Fitzwilliam,” said Mr. Collins. “Perhaps you do not understand the significance of the colonel’s position in society, but you should know that members of his family will not take kindly to a young woman of little fortune or breeding distracting him away from his duty.”
Jane regarded Mr. Collins as if he were a repulsive insect. In truth, Elizabeth was proud of her, for Jane was always eager to attribute thebest motives to others.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Collins,” said Jane, a hint of firmness in her tone, “but I would ask you to mind your own concerns.”
Mr. Collins’s face darkened. “I shall not. As I am connected to the family, their concerns are mine. Lady Catherine would not appreciate this spectacle, Cousin. I might have expected this of yoursister, but I had not thoughtyouwould throw family obligation to the side.”
Several things became obvious at once. The first was that Mr. Collins resented her more than he had shown, a curiosity, as he was in the habit of displaying his opinion before all and sundry. Second, Jane and Colonel Fitzwilliam had expected Mr. Collins to approach when the colonel was away—perhaps they had not contrived it, but Elizabeth was certain they knew he would make his sentiments known. The third was that Colonel Fitzwilliam was not amused. The gentleman was making his way back to Jane’s side, and his expression told Elizabeth that Mr. Collins was in for a tongue-lashing.
“Miss Bennet,” said he as he stepped to her side, turning to face the oblivious parson, “is there some problem?”
“There is,” interjected Mr. Collins. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, I adjure you to relinquish this apparent unholy interest in my cousin. You are the scion of a noble line—your aunt will be most displeased to learn of your defection.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s eyes burned with an icy fire, while around them, conversation had dropped to the extent that one could almost hear the snow falling on the roof outside.
“You have said enough, sir,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “Not only are you unconnected to me, but we are complete strangers. Perhaps you know who I am, but that does not give you the right to dictate anything. I care little for my aunt’s opinion—Lady Catherine has much to say and little compunction about sharing it with all, but I am not beholden to my aunt. Cease importuning Miss Bennet at once.”
A curious transformation altered Mr. Collins from the stern avenger to the sniveling cretin she knew he was. His back hunched, and his shoulders drooped, and the servile timbre of his voice returned.
“But Colonel Fitzwilliam—”
“Enough!” said the colonel, his tone allowing no disagreement. “If I hear another word from you, it will go ill with you!”
Bowing and scraping, Mr. Collins fled from the colonel’s anger—for the rest of the event, he did not so much as glance at Colonel Fitzwilliam again. Though he should feel all the humiliation of beingcalled to order, Elizabeth was not certain Mr. Collins was socially aware enough to feel humiliation. Charlotte kept him close to her side, which was about all anyone could ask. Though Elizabeth could not determine if she should keep her engagement to visit Charlotte in the spring, she decided against raising the subject now. If Mr. Collins was resentful of her, it may be best to cancel. She would need to think on it before she decided.
“YOU KNOW LADY CATHERINEwill be most displeased with your attentions to Miss Bennet.”
Fitzwilliam looked up from the contemplation of his shoes. “Do you suppose I care what Lady Catherine will say?”
“No, I do not suppose it. But it is a consideration all the same.”
Leaning back against the cushions, Fitzwilliam regarded him. After the wedding, they had returned to Netherfield, though Darcy knew they both would have preferred to go to Longbourn. That Darcy wished it as much as Fitzwilliam told the story of how much he had changed, his growing certainty that his cousin had the right of it. When Darcy could marry a lively young woman such as Miss Elizabeth Bennet, how could he consider a bloodless society marriage?
“What do you suppose she will do? Fly to Hertfordshire to take me to task for not falling in with her designs? I am notyou, Darcy.”
“Which is why I maintained a little distance from Miss Elizabeth today,” agreed Darcy. “Lady Catherine will not come running to Hertfordshire to ‘talk sense into you,’ but she will not be sanguine either. At the very least, you can expect to be bombarded with letters, and she will no doubt inform your father. Do you want him to learn about your recent interest in Miss Bennet through the lens of Lady Catherine’s prejudice?”
“For that, I have no concern,” replied Fitzwilliam. “My mother knows about Miss Bennet.” Fitzwilliam grinned. “She is ecstatic because she believes it will provoke me to give up the army.”
“Will it?”
“No, but I will not share that for the moment.
“Do not look at me that way, Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam, fixing him with a mock glare. “You know my sentiments. Staying in the army until the end of the war will allow me to retire with half pay—it will assist with our future solvency.”
“Of course,” murmured Darcy.
The next day, when they visited Longbourn, Darcy took the opportunity to watch his cousin and Miss Bennet, and he could onlyconclude that an eventual union was likely. Miss Bennet was so reticent that Darcy had taken her silence for indifference, yet now that his eyes were open, there was no way to rationalize her regard for Fitzwilliam. Perhaps it had been there when Bingley had been in Fitzwilliam’s place, and Darcy had not noticed it. Whatever the truth, her current feelings were plain so long as one had the wit to see them.
As it was a fine day, the eldest Bennet sisters walked out to the back lawn with their suitors, one all but declared while the other was coming to the same conclusion. Longbourn’s chimneys expelled white smoke, stark against the clear cerulean of the sky. While it was a cool January morning, it was warm enough to spend some time out of doors, each of the couples finding private nooks on the grounds where they could remain in each other’s sight.
“You have been watching them today, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy, whose eyes had wandered to Fitzwilliam and Miss Bennet yet again, turned back to his companion. She did not appear unhappy with him, just curious, telling Darcy that she did not suspect him of disapproval.
“To own the truth, I have seen you watching them these past weeks, though more since Charlotte’s wedding. What I cannot understand is what you think about Jane and Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“Nothing at all, Miss Elizabeth,” replied Darcy. Then he offered her a soft smile. “Do you suppose my cousin would take kindly to my interference even if I wanted to meddle?”
