Lady Matlock scoffed at her nephew when he made the proposal in her salon the following week. “The Bennet sisters cannot be civilized in a mere fortnight, Darcy. Years without a governess, indulged in their every whim, it has created within them an impertinence I am certain I have never seen in a young lady before, save their sister Elizabeth.”
Mr. Darcy would not allow the matter to be so easily dismissed. “All the more reason you ought to take them on, Aunt Margaret. They are family now and reflect upon us all. Your failure to at least attempt to civilize them will not go unnoticed. And you may see young Richard more often and for a more agreeable time.”
Lady Matlock sipped her tea. Mr. Darcy feared he had lost the battle when she sat her cup on the table between them. “It would be wonderful to see the boy more often, for I truly cannot spend hours in that house and I have not the patience for a child of his young age. There must be rules, however. I will not be attacked by that awful Mrs. Bennet and I will not pretend to prefer Elizabeth’s company.”
Mr. Darcy bit his tongue to keep from crowing at this victory. He had not misjudged his aunt’s taste for controlling others in her circle. The lure of her grandson, and shorter more frequent visits with him, had certainly played in his favor.
He rose from his seat and moved to where she sat. Mr. Darcy bent and kissed his aunt on the cheek. “I knew you would see the sense in it, Aunt Margaret.”
Lady Matlock smiled at her nephew but her eyes were cold and Mr. Darcy did not miss that fact. Even now, he knew her mind was spinning with ideas of how she might bend the Bennets to her will or extract some payment from Elizabeth for her deceit.
“I must go, but I also wanted to thank you for your help in preparing Georgie for her season. I do not think I could have done her justice as I abhor the ceremony.”
Lady Matlock stood and walked her nephew to the door. “I had begun to doubt you believed me capable, Darcy. Since Elizabeth arrived in Town you have been quite unwilling to consider my predicament in this mess. Had Richard only listened to my direction, none of us would be attached to the Bennet family.”
Mr. Darcy did not argue for he knew to engage his aunt logically was to fail. She operated on the rules she invented and not the use of reasoning. He hoped he would not come to regret involving her more intimately with Elizabeth’s family.
He left Matlock House and glanced down the street to Fitzwilliam House. He longed to go there straight away but he had business to attend in his own study.
Richard’s son had become very important to Darcy and he thought of the boy keeping watch at the parlor window that looked out over Grosvenor Street.
He would hurry to Darcy House and complete his correspondence before making his way to Elizabeth and young Richard. When Darcy thought of Elizabeth Bennet Fitzwilliam, his heart picked up its pace.
She had watched him with admiration as he attended her son. She often touched his arm or smiled at him with genuine affection when she came to take her tea in the library with them instead of remaining in the parlor with the other ladies.
Darcy wondered again if she were falling in love with him and hoped with all his being this was true. He thought he might propose to her come the fall after Georgiana was settled upon her young man. They could hold the wedding wherever Elizabeth might wish.
His throat constricted as he made his way to Darcy House just a few doors down from Matlock House. His step was heavy and he found himself recalling the tune he and Richard often whistled when they were at the club. The one that burned down and took Andrew’s life. Another pain pierced his heart.
Darcy had not allowed himself to fully accept the deaths of his only male cousins. He often imagined Richard pushing his way past the butler at Darcy House and strolling into his library unannounced. In truth, Richard never needed to be led to Darcy’s library by servants.
Their relationship had been one of brothers rather than cousins. He swallowed hard as he rubbed at a tear lodged in his left eye.
Having the son of Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam only moments from his front door eased the ache in Darcy’s chest. He would care for the boy as long as he lived and see that he was well prepared for his title, the birthright that had come tragically to rest on his small shoulders.
Breathing deeply to regain his composure, Darcy entered his townhome and called out for Georgiana. Her maid, a sweet young lady named Lottie, rushed to the stairs and came to meet him in the entryway. “Mr. Darcy, your sister is not well. She has taken to her bed and Mrs. Greaves has sent for the family physician.”
Mr. Darcy thanked the servant and hurried upstairs to see to his sister. He hoped it was only a cold. For Mrs. Greaves, his London housekeeper, to send for assistance worried him for she was not a reactionary woman. Georgiana’s door was halfway open and he knocked gently.
“Come in,” she called, her voice trembling before a fit of coughing made it impossible for her to continue.
He hurried to her side and gently laid the back of his hand against her forehead. It was warm to the touch but there was no perspiration. Her eyes were not bright with fever and her face was only slightly paler than usual.
“Oh poppet, I am sorry you are not well. I understand Mrs. Greaves has sent for the doctor. You seemed fine when I left this morning.”
Georgiana sat up in her bed and Mr. Darcy arranged her pillows much as he had when she was younger.
“It came on quickly but I am not terribly ill. I am only abed because Lottie saw me lying on the sofa in the salon. I felt I might faint and intended to rest for just a moment. The cough came on soon after. ’Tis only a cold, but I was supposed to visit Fitzwilliam House today. Elizabeth will be disappointed.”
Mr. Darcy held her hand. “Elizabeth will understand. I meant to see Richard this afternoon but I would not leave you.”
Miss Darcy shook her head. “I am not so ill that you must sit day and night at my side in a vigil. By tomorrow, I am certain I will be better. The doctor will recommend a draught and I will read and drink my tea and broth.”
Rising and touching her forehead again, Mr. Darcy bent and kissed the top of her head. “I will wait for the doctor’s word and then if all is well, I will visit Fitzwilliam House. I have work in my study to keep me busy for the evening.”
Miss Darcy gave a weak smile to her brother. It was best that she recover soon. She wished to be well for the ball Elizabeth would have in only a fortnight. “Leave me, William, and go to your work. If there is need, I will send Lottie to bring you to my side.”
The doctor appeared at the door and Mr. Darcy went to shake his hand and give his account of his sister’s illness.
The man listened patiently before leaving Mr. Darcy in the hallway. “Send in Miss Darcy’s maid so that I might examine her and make my recommendation. Likely she has this cold that is making the rounds this spring. There is always more work than I might do this time of year.”
Mr. Darcy quit the room and sent Lottie in to attend his sister with a request. “See that the doctor comes to my study when he is done.”