“I believe you would have found a friend in him, Bennet. His mind was so keen, even in his last letters. I had thought he would say something about why he had chosen me or at least provided me a warning in his final letters to me, but he did not. He knew he was ill, but in the end, he was taken quickly.”
“We should all be so blessed,” Bennet said quietly, reaching for the leather-bound volume Darcy held out. “I will read this in the library.”
Darcy nodded. “I appreciate the help.”
They had been in London for a week with little further news other than the arrest and quick sentencing of the men involved in the attack on Mr. Darcy and his cousin. Elizabeth was anxious, for this morning, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Fitzwilliam were to pay a call to the Earl of Matlock. The earl had come to town immediately upon hearing of their difficulties. Not only would the men discuss the problem of Theophilus Darcy, Mr. Darcy would break the news of their betrothal.
“Your father awaits you in the library,” a maid informed her.
Elizabeth marked her place in Horatio Darcy’s journal from 1806 and set it down on the table before answering Papa’s summons.
“I believe this is my favourite room in the house,” her father said when she entered the room. He was crouching to read the spines of the books on the lowest shelves. “Darcy has many fine books here.”
“It will encourage you to visit, then,” she said softly.
“That is an excellent idea,” her father replied. He waved her to a chair by the fire and joined her there. “Darcy will join us here with his uncle soon.”
Not a minute after they had made themselves comfortable, a booming voice called to them from the doorway. “General Bennet, I am pleased to meet you.”
They turned to see Mr. Darcy and Mr. Fitzwilliam with an older man. “I am the Earl of Matlock,” he said, “and I have come to meet my future niece.”
“Your Miss Elizabeth is full of fire, Darcy,” his uncle Matlock said approvingly. “She will do well for you.”
“I am pleased to hear you approve,” Darcy replied. His uncle Matlock had summoned him to Matlock House and Darcy had arrived not knowing what he was to hear. “I was concerned you expected a different sort of match, but I am a plain gentleman, and that is all I wish to be.”
The earl’s expression was serious as he nodded. “The earldom has offered me a life that I rather enjoy, but it comes with a great deal of . . .”
“Sacrifice?” Darcy asked when the earl did not seem inclined to continue.
“Compromise,” his uncle said at last. “I do not mind so much, as I am used to it. You would have a more difficult time, I think. In fact, I hope you will convince my son to marry a fine country girl as well. He is no more made for Parliament than you are.”
“I admit to some surprise, sir,” Darcy told him. “My cousin fears he may be required to take his brother’s place at some future time.”
“He may. It does not follow he must be miserable his entire life on the chance he may be needed. Richard is not a politician by nature, but should the job be required of him, I believe he would prove rather effective.”
“I see,” Darcy replied, though he was not sure that he did.
“Nephew,” his uncle said with a sigh. He sipped his drink and stared thoughtfully at Darcy before adding, “I have many sisters. I hardly knew most of them, and I only truly loved one.”
“My mother.”
The earl nodded. “She loved you dearly, and she would not wish you to spend your life in the ton any more than she wished it for herself. So I shall protect you from it.”
Darcy shook his head. “I have been to war, sir. I require no protection in that way.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am no naïve boy.”
“You are not naïve,” the earl agreed. “Yet remarkably, your heart is still pure.” He eyed Darcy with some affection. “Remind me why you did not drink Bennet’s cognac.”
Darcy frowned. Being patriotic hardly made him a man in need of protection.
“Oh, do not you scowl at me, young man,” his uncle said, his smile bittersweet. He set down his glass. “Youhavebeen to war, son. You and Richard have done your duty on the fields of Spain and Portugal. There is no need to marry for duty, too.” He set down his glass and consulted his watch. “I must be somewhere in an hour. If you would excuse me?”
“Of course,” Darcy said, standing. “Will we see you soon?”
“You may depend upon it,” was the earl’s reply.