Darcy stared at her. “You did?”
Lord Matlock grumbled. “Yes, well, I suppose your aunt is correct. We did not come to upset you, Darcy. I imagine Catherine has already done that job admirably. No, no, we came to show our support for you and your Elizabeth. Fine girl, if I do say so myself. Beautiful features, excellent mind, and a tongue as sharp as a double-edged blade! Ha-ha! I daresay you could not expect to do better if you were to court every eligible lady in the first circles of society!”
Darcy raised his chin. “I have no intention of looking elsewhere, Uncle. There is no other woman who could ever make me happy. I am to take Elizabeth as my wife by the end of the week and not a day later. We have yet to finalize all the arrangements, but I hope very much you will both attend.”
Lady Matlock smiled and moved to embrace him, placing a kiss upon his unshaven cheek. “Of course, we will be there, Fitzwilliam. We are very pleased for you, dear. I enjoyed Elizabeth’s company immensely, as did Richard. She shall make an excellent addition to our family. I should like to see her now, if I may. Which room have you given her?” Darcy told her and, before he could move to accompany her, she had quit the room, leaving him very much alone with his uncle.
“Well, Darcy, I know it is early still, but I would like to partake in some brandy. Catherine always manages to have that effect on me. Even as a girl, she drove me to my wits’ end. Meddlesome woman,” he muttered. Darcy accommodated him, pouring a glass for himself, as well, though it was not generally his habit to imbibe so early in the day. They settled into silence, nursing their drinks.
At length, the earl fixed him with a serious look. “I would speak to you, Nephew. Keep in mind now, it is not my intention to judge you. But, ah, well… Catherine has thrown out some mighty offensive accusations regarding your engagement, some of them downright vulgar—foremost, the circumstances surrounding your interest in Miss Bennet.”
Darcy opened his mouth to object, but the earl held up a hand and continued. “Save your breath, Nephew. You forget I have already seen you together. I know a love match when I see it. I had one myself with Rebecca and still do to this very day.” Here, Lord Matlock gave Darcy a significant look. “And I am not such an old man not to remember how it once felt to be a young one. My Rebecca was always a stunning woman, as is your Elizabeth. From the moment we laid eyes on each other, I wanted nothing more than to make her my wife in every sense of the word. We loved one another with a passion that consumed us, so much so that, eventually, it did not much signify to us how the means were achieved—or when.” Darcy quirked his brow at such an implication, and the earl cleared his throat. “However, much like your aunt, Elizabeth seems to be too much of a gentlewoman to have initiated… ah, well… let us just say I believe my sister is entirely in the wrong as far as your wife is concerned. You, Darcy, are another matter entirely.”
Darcy bristled and demanded, “Am I? How?”
Lord Matlock chuckled. “For starters, the way you look at her. The way you touch her—yes, Darcy, I have seen you caress her hand, her arm, the small of her back. I have seen you innocently pretend to brush against her—repeatedly, I might add. You were in full company, and you fooled no one, including your aunt, and Elizabeth handled it all with grace and dignity, as a well-bred wife who has a true affection for her husband would.” He gave Darcy another pointed look. “I say wife, Nephew, because I suspect you have already taken her as your own. Am I wrong to think it?”
Darcy stood and walked to the window. He placed his forearm against the casement, his other hand on his hip, and expelled a deep breath. Several minutes ticked by in silence before he admitted “It is true.” A moment later, however, he spun around and added, “And do not dare to call her my mistress!”
The earl considered his words with a grim countenance. “Has someone aside from your Aunt Catherine referred to her as such?”
Darcy turned away and said tightly, “Elizabeth’s father, after he discovered me leaving her room just before dawn this morning.”
Lord Matlock pursed his lips and let out a low whistle. “That could not have gone well for either of you.”
Darcy laughed ruefully. “Believe me, it went far better than it would have with any other lady’s father. Elizabeth has always been his particular favorite, and Mr. Bennet is a reasonable and, I daresay, extremely forgiving man, even under such circumstances. His daughter’s happiness is his foremost concern. In short, he has not called me out nor demanded satisfaction in any way other than to ascertain that I hold Elizabeth in the highest regard and will restrain myself from any further contact with her until after we exchange our vows on Saturday. She has yet to learn of his knowledge of our situation. I would, of course, prefer she does not.”
The earl nodded and asked, “And he is the only one you know of who has discovered this facet of your relationship, aside from Catherine and her parson?”
“I… after Lady Catherine left last night I went to Elizabeth in her room. Georgiana was with her. I confess myself to have been so furious with my aunt and so concerned for what Elizabeth was suffering, I gave very little thought to propriety. I soon became so caught up in offering my comfort to Elizabeth, I had completely forgotten Georgiana was present, witnessing my attentions. Though nothing scandalous took place between Elizabeth and me in her presence, per se, I believe she now suspects something of the truth. At one point”—and here Darcy hesitated, his voice becoming hoarse—“at one point Elizabeth withdrew from me. She had such a look of sorrow and hopelessness in her eyes. I was terrified she was going to break our engagement. I could not… I could not think, for the fear that gripped me. I demanded Georgiana leave us, which she reluctantly did, but only after I had lost my temper.” He walked a few paces and slammed his fist against the wall. “Would to God that I had been more careful!”
Lord Matlock rose and went to Darcy, placing his hand upon his shoulder. “Darcy, what has been done is done. Unfortunately, you must now deal with the repercussions of your actions. Like I said, your aunt and I can be counted on to welcome Elizabeth into society, as can your cousins. Should any rumors get out, we will do all in our power to quell them. Once they have the pleasure of meeting your Elizabeth, I very much doubt many members of our circle will believe any of it anyway. It shall be dismissed as malicious gossip and die a quick death. Any reverberation will not be of a long duration, and neither of you will have to bear this alone, my boy. Therefore, do not worry yourself over it any further. All will be well.” Lord Matlock embraced him, clapping him upon the back.
Darcy returned the gesture with no little emotion. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Lady Matlock knocked upon the door to Elizabeth’s rooms and waited. “Elizabeth?” she called. “It is Lady Matlock. I would very much like to speak with you, my dear.”
The door opened, and Elizabeth appeared. Though she was dressed far more appropriately to receive visitors than Darcy had been, she happened to have the same worn, defeated look about her Darcy had exhibited when his aunt had first seen him earlier. It pained Lady Matlock no less to see it on Elizabeth’s lovely features than it had to see it upon the face of her nephew. She smiled kindly and stepped into the room. “Well, my dear, I believe you have had a rather trying night, have you not?”
Elizabeth managed a weak smile and averted her eyes. “Will you not sit down, your ladyship?” she asked as she indicated a small sofa and several chairs in the sitting room.