Page 40
London
William and Richard were to dine with Lady Morgan to learn the decision she had reached regarding Mr. Graves’ recommendation of a betrothal. As the cousins rode in Darcy’s carriage towards the Morgan’s townhouse, it was with sombre faces and little conversation.
At length, Richard said, “Come now, Darcy. You will have to appear congenial once we reach Lady Morgan’s townhouse, else straight off she will know you are not in favour of an engagement with her.”
“Rest assured, I shall put on my usual facade by the time we greet Lady Morgan. I am well-versed in pretending to be well when I am not.”
“I can certainly attest to that! You were never one to wear your heart on your sleeve for, as I recall, you rode with me all the way back to London from Rosings without once giving away that Miss Elizabeth had just broken your heart into a thousand pieces.”
Not wishing to relive that memory, William did not address Richard’s declaration. Instead, he said, “Just try not to say anything if she has decided that I am the one she wishes to engage herself to. I will not add to her grief by setting her straight about my feelings at this point.”
Richard’s expression darkened. “Just as I feared, you have decided already to let her believe what she will. You do not plan on telling her the truth?”
“I cannot … will not add to her present pain. She has borne too much since David’s death and is great with child. If she decides for me, I shall suggest that the engagement may be broken after the case is settled in court. Perhaps that will allow a way to escape another marriage I do not want.”
“I fear you are more optimistic than I, Cousin. If I were Lady Morgan, I would hold you to the engagement, and I would certainly never be the one to break it.”
Just then Darcy’s carriage came to a stop in front of the Morgan townhouse. Glancing out the window at the front door, William said quietly, “I pray you are wrong on both counts.”
Dinner was a delicious, if abbreviated, affair with only three courses—the result of Lady Morgan’s cost cutting measures. She apologised at the beginning of the meal for so few courses, admitting that, after receiving James Morgan’s letter, she had dismissed many of the servants at the townhouse.
When it came time to serve dessert, Jane suggested they remove to the parlour to enjoy coffee or tea with their dessert. Miss Catherine, who had joined them for dinner, accompanied her sister to the parlour as well. Kitty, as Jane called her, was not anything like William recalled. Instead of giggling and acting like a child, she had seemingly transformed into a proper young lady who asked sensible questions and seemed determined to support her older sister.
Once everyone was situated and had eaten, Jane was the first to speak. “Mr. Darcy, I have thought about your kind offer to engage yourself to me—”
William’s heart sank to see the serene smile on her face.
Kitty interjected. “I told her she would be a fool not to accept your offer, even if Lizzy would not be pleased. Just because Lizzy hates you is certainly no reason for Jane to reject you.”
William’s heart clenched at Kitty’s declaration of Elizabeth’s feelings towards him, but he did his best to hide his humiliation.
“Kitty, please!” Jane interrupted, giving her sister a cross look. Turning to William, she resumed her usual smile, saying, “Please do not think Lizzy hates you. On the contrary, from all she has said, I believe she regrets how severely she rejected your offer. It is just—” Jane stopped speaking, and it looked as though she was trying to organise her thoughts. Once she had, she continued, “I am not certain how to say this, but for Lizzy to forgive you, she would be forced to look more closely at her own behaviour and, conceivably, to forgive herself as well. She is not willing to do that yet. Does that make any sense to you?”
Richard looked to William in a bid to read his thoughts but found it impossible. Instead, he beheld how skilfully his cousin continued to negotiate a conversation that had to be very painful, without conveying his true feelings.
“Lady Morgan, if it is within my power, I will do nothing to hurt Eliz … Miss Elizabeth ever again. Perhaps choosing another gentleman to become betrothed to might serve you best.”
“I-I find that impossible, Mr. Darcy. Truthfully, I have searched my memory, and there is no other man of my acquaintance whom I trust nearly so well as you. David did not bring many of his friends home and those he did, stayed cooped up with him in his study for most of their visit. So, you see, I have no other candidate.”
William’s eyes met Richard’s briefly before he nodded resignedly. Trying not to show any emotion, he said, “Mr. Graves also suggested that any engagement could be broken—by you, of course— directly after the court case is settled. You could allude to your current condition as the reason for your original acceptance. No one would fault a woman carrying a child for being uncertain of what action she wished to take.”
“Oh, sir. I could never find another gentleman to be a better husband or father for Alice and the child I am carrying. Though I wish to postpone marriage until after the baby is born to give it David’s name, I am content to marry you afterwards.”
Unable to argue without doing harm, William merely nodded.
Not noticing his reluctance, Jane changed the subject. “Please tell Mrs. Barnes that the salve she sent over for Alice has given her great relief for her gums and relief for all of us as well! We are all most grateful for being able to sleep much of the night now.”
“I am glad to hear it,” William replied.
“Jane said you were to speak to James Morgan,” Miss Catherine declared. “May I ask if you have and what he had to say?”
Seeing how morose his cousin had become now that his fate was sealed, Richard answered in his stead, saying as cheerfully as he could muster, “We did have an opportunity to interview him since we were last here.”
“What did he have to say?” Jane asked.
“He denied knowing anything about the circumstances of your husband’s death,” Richard continued. “We expected that, but William and I wanted to see his countenance when confronted with the facts. I have found that, try as they may, many people’s faces reveal their true feelings when asked blunt questions.”
“And what did you decide about him?” Miss Catherine asked curiously.
