Chapter 16 Bennet recalls his past and gives his consent.
During which the reader is subjected to an overly sweet non-canon version of the Hunsford proposal.
Rosings Park, Kent
Darcy awaited Elizabeth’s arrival for dinner with both happy anticipation and dread.
He was not certain how she would react to his addresses if she thought they were only due to the newly disclosed knowledge of her fortune and connections.
When she arrived, she looked at him with sparkling eyes, and at the first opportunity, he moved to stand near her.
“Mr. Darcy, I am looking forward to seeing Jane and Mr. Bingley now that they have sent such good news to us.”
“Yes, I am as well. I was delighted to hear of their engagement.”
“They are well-suited.”
“Indeed they are. Bingley could not have chosen anyone more complementary to his character.”
Lady Catherine chose this moment to interject, “Pray, Darcy, what are you talking about with Miss Bennet?”
“We were discussing the recent betrothal of Miss Elizabeth’s elder sister to my friend Mr. Bingley.”
“Who is this Mr. Bingley? What are his connections?”
“He is from the north, has a fortune of ￡100,000 derived from business interests and has lately let a property in Hertfordshire near Miss Elizabeth’s home with intent to purchase the land and become gently situated.”
“In trade, is he? I hope her parents are not displeased with the connection since Mr. Bennet is a gentleman. I should advise this Mr. Bingley to purchase before his wedding to make the match seem more appropriate.
“Miss Bennet, who are your connections? Have you relatives in town?”
“My uncle in town is in the import business, and my other uncle is a solicitor in Meryton.”
“But you have relations near Matlock, do you not?” Lady Catherine was relentless in her questioning, hoping to have her suspicions realized about Elizabeth’s relationship to her old friends, Lord and Lady Shelton. She was certain Elizabeth was similar to Lady Shelton in looks and colouring.
“Not to my knowledge, madam.”
“You should ask your parents. Perhaps on your mother’s side. You must have better connections there.”
Elizabeth was saved by the call for dinner and fortunate to be seated at the far end of the table from Lady Catherine.
The colonel was the beneficiary of Lady Catherine’s dissertations for the duration of the meal while Elizabeth conversed for the most part with Mr. and Mrs. Collins.
When the former saw fit to once again enlighten his cousin regarding his fortunate ability to interest Lady Catherine in providing him the position of rector of Hunsford, the latter suggested that Elizabeth had already acknowledged this fact and admonished his verbose manner and need to dominate the conversation.
After dinner, Elizabeth was once again applied to play the pianoforte, and Darcy was quick to offer to turn her pages before Fitzwilliam was able to do so. He took delight in the opportunity to sit very close to her and enjoyed her playing and singing of a Mozart aria from The Marriage of Figaro.
Darcy’s presence affected her so much that she forgot her carefully practised fingering and struggled her way through much of it, feeling relieved that she was eventually successful at minimizing the discordant notes.
Were he to know she had selected the piece just for him, she would have been even more nervous.
When she finished playing, Lady Catherine was absorbed in a conversation with Mrs. Collins, and Darcy invited Elizabeth to take some air on the terrace.
The evening was cool, so she fetched her shawl.
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked as if he were about to follow, but Anne’s hand stayed him.
Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth as they walked along the garden path outside the windows.
They stopped under an arbour near the entrance to Lady Catherine’s maze, and Darcy boldly took her hands in his.
Her eyes widened with the intimacy of the gesture, and she swallowed hard.
Suddenly, her feelings were clear to her—she loved him and maybe always had.
Too much time had been wasted listening to her pride and doubting all but her dislike for him.
Darcy was unaware he had made such an impression. He looked down at their entwined hands while collecting his thoughts. He was silent for some several minutes.
“Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth said, finally. He felt apprehension, admiration, and excitement all at once. Raising his eyes, he saw what he wished in hers. She smiled reassuringly, and he inhaled deeply before he began speaking.
“Miss Elizabeth, I want you to know that your father has disclosed your situation to me; however, I must assure you that it is not important to my suit.
I had decided to make my declaration even when I thought your situation beneath me.
Although I struggled to reconcile myself to a connection with someone whose family and circumstances were so far below my own, I ultimately determined my depth of regard and independence of situation allow me the freedom to marry as I please.
My friendship with your good father also helped me justify such a union.
I have held my feelings to myself for some months now, but I can no longer act as such.
“Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
He searched her eyes and saw some astonishment, though undeniably mixed with something more than friendship. She wet her lips, swallowed, and nervously glanced away.
He saw this as a desire for him to continue.
“My regard for you is long standing. When I first knew you at Longbourn, I respected your clever intellect and esteemed your spirited challenges, and I began to feel an affection that has only increased with time.
I have seen how gentle and loving, how kind and loyal you are with your family, and that inspired my tender feelings to grow.
I adore watching you tease and laugh, especially when it is directed at me.
I am captivated by your loveliness, and I am lost when I look into your beautiful eyes.
“When I danced with you at the Netherfield ball, I could not but feel that you were the most enchanting creature I had ever beheld, and it was then that my heart truly became yours. During these weeks in Kent I have come to know you better, and my regard has turned into a deep passion. After our walk in the park yesterday, I imagined you by my side at Pemberley and I knew what I must do. I have since thought of little else but to find time alone with you to declare myself.”
He paused and leaned in towards her, close enough that he could feel the tickling of her hair on his lips.
“You have beguiled me, bewitched me, enchanted me to my very soul. I long to be your lover, your confidante, your best friend. My heart aches when I am away from your presence. I cannot continue this way. Please, Elizabeth, relieve my misery and say you will marry me.” He continued softly, “I love you so dearly,” and followed his declaration by taking her into his arms and pressing his lips gently against hers.
To say that Elizabeth was overwhelmed would be as much an understatement as it would be to say she was overjoyed.
She could not believe how wonderful that first kiss felt, and her heart overflowed with love for him.
She swallowed again and tried to gather her confused thoughts, but was not quite successful.
“I take it you did not bring me here to hear my story about Mr. Wickham!” she retorted abruptly then immediately realised her mistake as he pulled back. He appeared confused and hurt as, once again, his archenemy interfered with his happiness.
She was dismayed and cried, “Oh, Mr. Darcy, I am so sorry! I cannot believe I could say such a thing! It seems that your declaration has affected my sensibilities!” Her eyes filled with tears, and she said with a wavering voice, “Oh, I have ruined it! You must despise my thoughtlessness!”
Determined not to lose her heart’s desire, she impulsively rose on her tiptoes, took his face in her hands, pulled his head down, and planted a firm kiss on his lips.
She looked into his eyes and said with vehemence, “What I meant to say is I love you excessively! You surprised me, and I could not think, but I wanted to say I love you! If the offer still stands, I shall say yes. Yes, yes, I shall marry you.”
He looked at her with all the heartfelt joy that newly acknowledged lovers have and pulled her closer.
Their noses bumped and she giggled, but Darcy silenced her with his lips, kissing her slowly, longingly, tenderly.
She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and felt his strong arms close tightly around her.
He pulled his head away slightly while still holding her close and brushed the tips of his fingers along the edge of her face just under her curls, ending with a stroke along her neck. She could barely breathe.
“I am the happiest man in the world.”
“I…I want to know your Christian name,” she said.
“It is Fitzwilliam.”
“Fitzwilliam.” She said it slowly and lovingly, rolling each syllable in her mouth, earning another sweet kiss.
“I hope you do not mind…I am not quite in control of my rational mind right now…I may seem a bit odd. But I assure you, I plan…to return to my senses quite soon.” She spoke between short breaths as he continued trailing kisses on her hair, along her cheek and down her neck.
She pulled away slightly and smiled. “I have never felt such a way! I have not been kissed before, and no one warned me how I would feel! I must admit, I would like to try it again. Perhaps I shall achieve sufficient improvement to keep my wits about me.”
Darcy laughed. “I was always attracted to your wit, my dearest.”
“My father will be surprised at our engagement. After Mr. Bingley courted Jane for a month, I think he expected that you wished to court me.”