Page 51 of Collins Takes Charge

“Yes, you both are,” William Collins replied. “I wanted a chance to speak to Fitzwilliam before we enter the house.”

“I will stand aside so you may speak,” Darcy volunteered.

“No need; your advice may be helpful,” William allowed. “Mr Darcy, I am sure you have seen that my two youngest cousins’ behaviour is not what it should be.”

All Darcy could do was nod.

“I am worried they will be led astray by some of the officers, even if that Wickham fellow is excised from the area soon,” William stated.

“Should they not be taught better?” Darcy enquired judgementally.

When William saw Fitzwilliam make a fist and Mr Darcy quail, he placed his hand on his friend’s arm to restrain him. “Yes, they should have been taught. The truth is that their father is rather indolent and sees everything as a good joke, and their mother does not know the ways of the gentry. She did teach the two youngest how to behave, and they are doing what she imparted to them, and that, gentleman, is the problem. I want them protected first, and then I will try to work on their parents. The eldest three sisters abhor the way the youngest two behave, but without parental support, there is nothing they can do to rein them in.”

“I know of some good men who have been discharged from the army. All they have is their half pay, and they would jump at the chance to get good work,” Fitzwilliam stated. “How many men do you think?”

“Six should be enough,” William estimated.

“I do not want Wicky to see me yet, so may I write a note inside and send someone to the inn to engage an express rider?” Fitzwilliam requested. He saw Collins’s questioning look. “I call that miscreant Wickham, Wicky. He hates that appellation, which makes it all the better to use.”

“Are you sure that Miss Elizabeth is sanguine with me being in her home?” Darcy verified.

“As long as you behave as a gentleman and do not slight her again,” William responded. “She is willing to hear what you two have to say and see what you have as proof. I hope she will be able to move past her prejudices.” William Collins led the two men into the entrance hall, where Hill divested them of their outerwear. Then, he led them to the parlour where the three eldest Bennet sisters were waiting for them.

Inside the west parlour, Elizabeth was feeling almost like she was having one of Mamma’s attacks of nerves. She had been so certain of her opinion of Mr Darcy, and with a few words, Cousin Collins had thrown her firmly held beliefs on their head. He said there was proof to refute what Mr Wickham said, but that was not why she was discombobulated. It was the assertion that Mr Darcy admired her.

How could that be, as she did not even tempt him enough for him to dance with her? ‘He did ask you to dance twice, and you refused him both times,’ her annoying conscience whispered in her head. It was fact she could not refute. He had asked her at Lucas Lodge; yes, Sir William had prompted him, but he had insisted it was what he wanted. Then at Netherfield Park he had asked her to dance a reel with him. No one had prompted him there, and Miss Bingley had almost turned purple with rage when he did so. Again, Elizabeth had refused him. Was his comment about extensive reading to improve one’s mind a compliment to her? Surely not.

Any other thoughts were chased from her head when the door opened and Cousin Collins led Mr Darcy and a second man into the room. Elizabeth assumed that the other man was Mr Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. The officer was not as handsome as his cousin or Mr Collins for that matter, but neither was he homely. He was a little shorter than Mr Darcy, about the same as her cousin’s height, but he had a barrel chest and his shoulders seemed far broader than the other two men.

“Collins, will you introduce this bevy of beauties to me, please?” Fitzwilliam requested. His compliment caused all three to blush in varying degrees.

Everyone stood when the men entered the parlour.

“Fitzwilliam, I present three of my cousin’s daughters. Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Mary. Cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” William said in introduction.

Each lady curtsied when her name was mentioned, and Fitzwilliam bowed to them.

“Ladies,” Darcy greeted as he bowed, his eyes fixed on Miss Elizabeth’s.

Never had Elizabeth been so unsure of herself in the insufferable man’s presence. She did not enjoy the sensation.

“If I may be so bold, I need to send an urgent communiqué to some soldiers in London,” Fitzwilliam stated. “Would any ladies of the house object if I used the escritoire in the corner so I may write what I need?”

“Please, Colonel, do what you need to do,” Jane agreed.

While Richard wrote, Darcy fought to not do what he usually did when he was nervous, which was to stand at the window and stare out at nothing. Instead, he sat and did not miss the way Miss Elizabeth seemed to be weighing him.

Using his ring to seal the letter, Fitzwilliam then handed it to Collins, who took it to Hill with the relevant instructions. Inside of a half hour, it was on its way.

Chapter 20

With Colonel Fitzwilliam’s missive taken care of and the door from the west parlour to the hallway closed, Elizabeth looked at Mr Darcy expectantly. According to her cousin, he had requested the meeting, so now it was time for him to state his business.

Elizabeth did what she could to not prejudge Mr Darcy again, like she had at the assembly and again when Lieutenant Wickham had told her what he did. In hindsight, she thought that making such a personal disclosure to her was not proper. Now that she truly considered that night, she saw that Mr Wickham had sought her out, almost like he was determined to speak to her about Mr Darcy. And yes, there were far too many inconsistencies and pure contradictions. As much as she disliked admitting that she was wrong, she had to be open to that possibility in this case.

The Mr Darcy sitting opposite her did not look like the arrogant, proud, self-assured man she was used to seeing. He seemed worried and not a little nervous.

As soon as Richard sat next to him, Darcy took some deep breaths to centre himself. ‘Do not make a cake of yourself,’ he admonished himself silently. ‘After all, it is only your future happiness in the balance here.’