Page 49 of Roses from Pemberley
“Perhaps.”
Once everyone had settled into the drawing room, Lady Catherine ordered fresh tea and conversation resumed.
Lady Matlock sat next to Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson, while Richard and Bingley continued to converse.
Lord Matlock entered into an animated conversation with his sister. “So you finally gave up on having Darcy as a son-in-law?” he asked with a grin.
Lady Catherine shrugged. “Anne told me that she did not love him and…I decided not to pursue the matter further.”
“How very magnanimous of you, Catherine.”
They continued to talk about the benefits of the match while Darcy’s cousin Diana, came to sit beside him. Like Darcy, she was tall, with dark hair and handsome features. She was also generally reserved. And he was often comforted by her company when he was growing up and had been outshone by the likes of Wickham, Richard and Richard’s older brother.
“So why the long face, Darcy?” she asked, looking curiously at him. “Are you not happy now that the issue between you and Anne has been resolved?”
He smiled at his cousin, so similar to himself, and answered, “Yes, I am quite pleased. For Lady Catherine is no longer hinting to me that I propose to Anne.”
“It would probably have been a terrible mistake to marry her,” said Diana. “For the two of you are too much alike. Rather shy and reserved.”
“You mean like you and me?” asked Darcy with a faint smile.
“Yes, that too.”
“So how have you been enjoying the Season?” asked Darcy, wishing to change the subject.
“It is as tedious as ever. I do not know how you can bear it.”
Darcy laughed, feeling happy to be in the company of one who thought so well of him. They continued to converse about all of Diana’s potential suitors until dinner was called.
Later that evening in the drawing room, the two of them sat once more in a tête-à-tête, while Richard and Anne talked on the other side of the room. The others had retired early.
“Are you not fatigued, Diana?” asked Darcy, looking closely at his cousin. “You have had a long day of travel, after all. Do you not wish to retire?”
She chuckled and tilted her head towards her brother and cousin. “But what kind of friend would I be if I left you alone to chaperone the two ofthem?”
Darcy looked at Anne and Richard as they talked happily to one another, immune to everything going on around them. It was nice that at leasttheywere happily in love. But it made his own situation with Elizabeth all the more pitiable. Darcy then studied Diana and noticed that she too looked slightly pensive.
“I never asked before,” he said at length, “but how are you, Diana? You seem slightly out of sorts as well.”
“Oh, it is just the usual. All I wish for is to return to Matlock but my mother insists that I participate in the activities of the Season. Balls, and soirees; dinner parties and the theatre. I grow so weary of it. People always talking of my dowry of fifty thousand pounds and that I am daughter to an earl. It seems that no one cares a whit about what I think and who I truly am. But Mother insists that I choose a husband - this year!”
“Do you have many suitors?”
“Yes, but none that I care about.” She laughed mirthlessly. “But enough of me. What of you, Cousin? Is there any lady that strikes your fancy?”
“Perhaps…”
Now she smiled widely. “I am happy for you. And I am certain she will be quite ecstatic when you finally decide to propose.”
Darcy sputtered a little, thinking of his recent disastrous proposal. But he said nothing more about it and simply plastered a bland smile upon his face.
A few moments later, they were joined by Anne and Richard who told Diana about the events of that past few days.
“So this Miss Elizabeth Bennet sounds like an interesting lady,” she commented after they had finished their narrative. “I believe I would like to meet her. Would any of you like to accompany me tomorrow?”
She looked specifically at Darcy who turned away, suspiciously silent.
“I believe Anne and I must spend the morning with our parents,” said Richard. “How about you, Darcy?”
