Page 3 of Roses from Pemberley
“Well, I do…” said Darcy, “but in a brotherly sort of way.”
“And I love you too, Cousin,” replied Anne, “in just the same way.” She turned to Lady Catherine and added, “So you see, Mother, it is hopeless for you to make plans for Darcy and me. It simply will never happen.”
Darcy was relieved that Anne had finally spoken up. For he himself had told Lady Catherine - many times - that he would not marry Anne. And yet…it still stung (just a little) to have yet another woman say that she would not marry him. And on the same day, no less. Darcy sighed.
Then, as if reading his thoughts, Lady Catherine said, “But how could you not be in love with Darcy? He is generally thought to be a handsome fellow. And he is rich and well-respected…”
“But too stern, at times, for my liking,” said Anne.
“Too stern!” cried Darcy. “Have I not always been kind to you?”
“Yes, of course you have, Cousin. However, you do tend to brood sometimes. And you also scowl when you are not pleased.”
“I do not scowl!”
“I am afraid that you do, Cuz,” said Richard. He shrugged and added, “That is not to say that you do not have reason to scowl…at times.”
“I agree with Darcy,” said Lady Catherine. “He has a dignified bearing and is always proper. And, if he is dissatisfied with something, then of course it shall show in his expression.”
Darcy stared at his aunt and began to think that her approval was a sure sign that his behaviour was not all that it should be.
“Do I really scowl, Richard?” he asked, knowing he could always count on Richard to tell the truth.
Richard just looked at him sympathetically and nodded.
Darcy closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Was this what Elizabeth was talking about when she accused him of despising everything related to her? He recalled how he had disapproved of the behaviour of her family. There were so many instances of it. When Mrs. Bennet visited Netherfield, for example, andtook her two youngest with her. She had been quite vulgar in her behaviour even then. And Lydia Bennet had insisted that Bingley give a ball. And of course at the ball itself almost everyone in her family (other than Elizabeth and Jane) had made perfect fools of themselves. Even Mr. Bennet had embarrassed his middle daughter after she had sung so poorly.Let the other young ladies exhibit,he had said to her. And all the while Darcy had noticed it. And disapproved of it. And probably scowled as well. He scowled now, just thinking about it.
“Pray, let us speak of something else,” he finally said, pressing his fingertips against the lines between his eyebrows, as if in doing so he could erase every past scowl that had ever manifested on his face. “For I grow weary of this subject.”
"Yes, of course, Darcy," said Richard. "Let us speak of something else."
CHAPTER 2 In Retrospect
After dinner they all repaired to the drawing room and, shortly after that, Lady Catherine and Mrs. Jenkinson retired, leaving Darcy with his two cousins. He was anxious to leave (and think more about his failed proposal) but did not wish for anyone to suspect it. They were both astute people, his cousins, and he would have to be very careful around them. Then an idea came to him.
“I was thinking of leaving tomorrow,” he said abruptly.
“Tomorrow!” cried Richard. “But why? We have hardly spent any time with our aunt and cousin.”
“I am sorry, Richard, but I must go. If you like I can leave alone then send the carriage back for you.”
Richard and Anne looked at each other. And then Richard said, “Never mind. I shall go with you.”
For a while none of them spoke.
“Is this because of what I said this evening?” inquired Anne. “You do not wish to incur my mother’s anger and you now wish to leave?”
“No! Not at all, Anne. In fact it was you who incurred her anger and left me quite blameless in the matter. No, I would like to leave for completely different reasons.”
“And what are they?” asked Richard.
Darcy frowned. “It is a personal matter and I would rather not speak of it.”
“Does it have anything to do with why you left all of a sudden this afternoon?”
“Again,” said Darcy, beginning to lose his patience, “I would rather not speak of it.”
“But it has obviously bothered you,” said Anne. “And you know we are your closest relatives other than Georgiana. We only wish to help, you know.”
