Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer

Darcy smiled and nodded. “I had the same idea.” He poured another drink into their glasses.

“To Aunt Catherine,” Fitzwilliam began.

“Beloved matriarch of our family,” Darcy continued.

“Grande Old Dame,” said Fitzwilliam.

With one clink, they tossed back their whiskeys. Both smacked their lips and smiled, enjoying in silence their personal memories of her.

Darcy stretched his arms and legs, stiff from waiting. “By the way, did you receive a copy of Alice’s play for this year’s family theatrical? I believe there was a rather unnecessarily large part in it for you.” Darcy was incredibly proud of his youngest daughter’s gift for writing.

“You mean Meticulous and Libidinous—A Tale of a Tribune and a Centurion? Yes I did, and I can tell you I don’t care much for my part. The centurion, Libidinous, is bullheaded and loud, randy as a rabbit, and incredibly sloppy.”

“Well, what of my part? That tribune fellow, Meticulous , is just a finicky, overconfident snob. Proud as a peacock; thinks he knows everything. However does she come up with these characters of hers?”

After a brief silence, the two old friends burst into raucous laughter.

Closer than brothers still, they went forward to greet their families.

About the Author

Karen V. Wasylowski is a retired accountant living in Bradenton, Florida, with her husband, Richard, and their many pets. Karen and Richard spend much of their free time volunteering with the St. Vincent DePaul Society and Stillpoint House of Prayer, both charitable organizations that assist the poor living in the Bradenton community.

They are also actively involved with Project Light of Manatee, an all-volunteer organization that provides literacy instruction to poor immigrants and to members of the community who cannot read.