Page 115 of Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure

Darcy could barely contain an angry response to her diatribe, but her last statement perked his interest. “She said as much?”

“The insolent chit refused to assure me that she would be reasonable. She intimated that any woman, even one of her quality, should find happiness in being your wife.”

His heartbeat quickened.

She continued, her anger growing with each recollection. “She cared not a fig that you are engaged already to your cousin Anne.”

He raised his brows. “Am I?”

“Not in a formal manner, but you comprehend the prudence of such a union.”

“I do not comprehend an engagement that I had no participation in.”

For a rare moment, Catherine was silent before saying, “You must be reasonable where she is not. You were ever the nephew I could be proud of. You have always attended your duty to your family.”

“I must also be true to my heart, or there should be no happiness for myself or any wife of mine.”

She seemed to turn to stone. “Any wife? Do you mean to say you will not honour your engagement to your cousin?”

“Madam, there is no engagement.”

“Are you partial then to this Bennet girl?”

“That is my affair.”

“I am your aunt, and with only noble concern for you as my motive. I swore to my sister—your mother—that I would look after you. It would break her heart to see you married to anyone but Anne.”

“I think my mother would wish for my happiness.”

“And you have been tricked into thinking what constitutes true happiness. I promise you will think differently when Miss Elizabeth reveals her genuine self: a petty, pretentious, defiant—”

“Enough! I assure you I am capable of determining mine own happiness. And as the hour is late, I recommend your driver take the roads before night falls.”

Catherine did not move, but the determination in her nephew’s hardened countenance was incontrovertible. Reluctantly, she took her leave to do battle another day.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

“I hope you will not replicate the stupid manner in which you stood at our first assembly here in Hertfordshire,” remarked Charles with a sidelong glance at Darcy, as the two neared Longbourn House. “You will never win a lady’s heart with such inertia.”

Realizing he had absently urged his horse into a quick canter, Darcy slowed his steed and looked at his friend in some surprise. He had not confided in Charles and thought his friend too much in love to notice anything or anyone else save Miss Bennet. Till he confirmed what Charles was alluding to, Darcy kept his response general.

“Had I your affable nature, I should not hesitate to take instruction from you and favour you with my imitation,” Darcy said, solemn, for there could be no inconsequential visit to Longbourn till he had received an answer from her.

“The art of making love to a woman has never been one of my better skills,” he finished. His experience with Abby and at Trenwith House had helped his confidence, and though he was assured in the bedchamber, no endeavour had racked his nerves as much as the pursuit of Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s hand.

“But you would never admit to any skill that you had not obtained near perfect mastery of,” Charles objected. “If the feelings between two parties are mutual, the courtship is rather a simple matter.”

Darcy said nothing at first. For Charles, the world held little complication. The situation with Miss Elizabeth, however, could hardly be more knotted. Despite the unpleasantness of Lady Catherine’s visit of a few days ago, Darcy was grateful for the intelligence she had imparted regarding her conversation with Miss Elizabeth. With hopes that his aunt might reveal more, he had welcomed a repetition of her visit the following morning. After suffering through more diatribes of Miss Elizabeth, coupled with the virtues of marrying his cousin, he could glean no additional information, but he did resolve to return to Hertfordshire, and sent his regrets to Abby that he would be unable to attend her benefit after all.

“I urge you not to overthink it, my friend,” Charles said.

“You have an easy way with people that makes such efforts seem natural. Any part of me to emulate you would only come across as false and affected. I must be satisfied with envying your sociability.”

Charles laughed. “Come, come! You know as well as I that you envy me not a jot! Sometimes I think you relish your surliness.”

Like a child testing his impishness, Charles gave Darcy a large smile, hopeful that his friend would not take offense at the ribbing.

“I only wish you could be as happy as me with a love of your own!” Charles added.