Chapter 35
“Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy greeted, joining her on her walk the next morning.
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth replied as they walked in companionable silence for some time. Once they were away from the main house and prying eyes, Elizabeth at last spoke.
“Mr. Darcy, I am sorry for my outburst yesterday and for implying that we are engaged in front of my aunt.”
“Miss Elizabeth, you hardly need to apologise to me when I am the greatest beneficiary of your deception,” Darcy replied with an amused smile, much to Elizabeth’s embarrassment. She opened her mouth to respond, but turned away as she blushed furiously.
“I beg your pardon. I had no intention of embarrassing you, but I hope you understand that my feelings and wishes remain unchanged; if anything, they have grown. I remained silent in the face of Mrs. Hardwicke’s accusation, only to protect you from any obligation.
While I wish nothing more than to have you as my wife, I would never want you to be forced into accepting me,” Darcy said, trying to dispel any embarrassment on Elizabeth’s part.
“Mr. Darcy, I assure you that I have not declared our engagement due to any obligation. I consider you the most honourable and upright man of my acquaintance, and I am humbled by your steadfastness, and wish nothing more than to be married to you. With the scales of prejudice finally falling from my eyes, I was able to judge you on your own merit and realised that you are the only man suited to my temperament.”
A smile spread across Darcy’s face as he took Elizabeth’s hand and turned her to face him, “Elizabeth, you have made me the happiest of men. I am deeply sorry for the way I had spoken in Hunsford, and had no expectation of you ever forgiving me, but I will not decry my good fortune. I hope to spend the rest of my life being worthy of you.”
“Mr. Darcy, as I said, I already consider you the best of men. Maybe you are not as amiable in company as others, but you are much more than that. Your steadfastness of character and dedication to your responsibilities are truly admirable. Pray do not consider my regard for you as anything but the deepest, truest desire to be with you. It was in that moment when my aunt was unjustly accusing you that I finally understood my heart.”
“You told your aunt that we have yet to seek your father’s permission, for that purpose I have written a letter to Mr. Bennet. Will you do me the honour of reading it before I send it.”
Elizabeth took the proffered letter and the next few minutes were spent in silence while she read the letter.
“Your letter is entirely proper, sir, but I am afraid my father may not take you seriously, especially when you mention my happy acceptance. I was not silent in my disapprobation of your manners, and have yet to speak to anyone of my newfound appreciation. I myself laboured over my letter to my father yesterday and will send it today. I hope that is enough for him to accept my change in judgement.”
“I assure you that I will do all in my power to convince your father. I plan to travel to Hertfordshire once you depart. I will remain in the neighbourhood as long as it is needed for me to court the good opinion of your family.”
The practical matters of their return to Hertfordshire were then discussed in some detail.
Mr. Bennet had asked Elizabeth to stay with her aunt until Mrs. Hardwicke could be convinced to return to Longbourn.
Even though Mrs. Hardwicke had a comfortable situation and the dower house available for her, Mr. Bennet had still thought that it would do her good to be among family, and young Margaret would enjoy the company of her cousins.
“My aunt would have happily gone back to Longbourn if not for my mother. I would not have any secrets from you, sir; you have met my family and are well aware of their deficiencies. My mother resents Mrs. Hardwicke’s influence on my father.
As a rational and educated lady, my aunt garnered much more respect in the household than my mother could ever command.
Mama was petty in her jealousy, and Aunt Sarah suffered for it.
I do not blame her for staying away from Longbourn.
Once Papa is sufficiently recovered and cleared for travel, I will depart for home; if I leave before that, he will be restless with worry for his sister. ”
“Then I hope you will let me know once your plans are fixed, and I will accompany you on the journey.”
Once they were satisfied with all their plans, Elizabeth decided to return to the house and Darcy accompanied her. This time their walk was filled with light-hearted discussions of the future. Elizabeth told Darcy about Jane’s advice to let him down gently, much to the gentleman’s amusement.
“I am actually thankful for your outburst in Kent, for it gave me the reason for your disapprobation, otherwise I would have been lost trying to understand everything.”
“Well then I will make it my life’s mission to speak with candour whenever I am displeased with you in the future,” Elizabeth teasingly responded.
“I pray that you do, for I am too much of a blockhead to even realise your displeasure,” Darcy replied in the same tone.
As Elizabeth walked towards the main house she could see her aunt already out in the gardens.
Darcy offered to accompany her, but she declined, thinking that his presence might antagonise the lady further.
Thus it was at the turn of the dower house that they separated and Elizabeth walked directly back to the house.
She greeted her aunt and entered the house as Mrs. Hardwicke followed her.
The lady had come down earlier than usual to speak with the servants and understand about Mr. Harrison’s presence.
Mrs. Ashcombe’s comment about Mr. Harrison loitering in the gardens had made her uneasy, and while she considered Mrs. Ashcombe unreasonable in comparing it to the situation with Darcy; she was intelligent enough not to allow her grievances against the lady to let her ignore another suspicious situation.
The report had been puzzling, Mr. Harrison had visited the house multiple times talking only to the servants on the pretext of being worried for her and her daughter.
The man was well respected in the neighbourhood, and the servants had found nothing odd in his request; they had been rather loquacious regarding all that had been happening.
The servant’s gossip had done nothing to improve her spirits, which were already greatly agitated after the events of last evening.
She was not yet reconciled to Elizabeth’s being engaged to Darcy and was convinced that her niece was being taken advantage of.
She would never begrudge Lizzy an advantageous match, but she knew way too much of the world to be sanguine.
It was thus most unfortunate when she spied Elizabeth walking back to the house on Darcy’s arm, laughing and talking with abandon.
She was incensed by her niece meeting the gentleman clandestinely and immediately followed her inside to confront her.
“Elizabeth, I had thought that I made it apparent that I do not wish for you to walk unaccompanied.”
“I had not ventured away from Willowmere land, and had Mr. Darcy as an escort.”
“That is hardly any better. I told you that I do not trust the gentleman, and while you may consider yourself betrothed to him, without your father’s permission, the whole thing has no standing.”
“I assure you that Mr. Darcy plans to accompany me to Hertfordshire to take papa’s permission.”
“Then you may be in Mr. Darcy’s company once you are back in Hertfordshire. I have no wish to see you make a spectacle of yourself while you are under my guardianship.”
“That is unfair. I have never been improper in my conduct with Mr. Darcy, and he is too much of a gentleman to ever be dishonourable,” Elizabeth replied in a trembling voice.
“Well then you may depart for Longbourn immediately if you do not wish to adhere to my wishes, but if you are to remain here you will listen to me,” Mrs. Hardwicke responded with evident anger.
Elizabeth was incensed by her aunt’s unfair restrictions and very calmly replied, “I will pack my things and will depart by afternoon.”