Pride and Prejudice
Colonel Fitzwilliam
Darcy's cousin
A friendly, easygoing army officer and Darcy's cousin. He chats with Elizabeth at Rosings and lets slip something he should not.
Colonel Fitzwilliam is thirty, a cheerful and talkative officer, and a cousin of Mr. Darcy. He is more sociable than Darcy, and Elizabeth finds him easy to talk to. He shares guardianship of Georgiana with his cousin.
He has a soldier's practical manner and a gentleman's good nature. He speaks openly, and he does not always think about what his candor might reveal. At Rosings he is happy to spend time with the young lady from the parsonage.
“Darcy congratulates himself on having lately saved a dear friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage.”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
He arrives at Rosings for Easter with Darcy and takes to Elizabeth at once. While playing the piano, Elizabeth teases Darcy in front of him about the Meryton ball.
On a walk, he mentions that Darcy recently congratulated himself on saving a friend from an imprudent marriage. He means no harm, but Elizabeth realizes he is describing Darcy's interference with Bingley and Jane. That news leaves her furious and leads directly to Darcy's disastrous proposal.
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