Chapter Sixteen #4
“It may well do for the others,” replied Mr. Bingley, ironically enjoying his new role of controlling Darcy’s life, “but I am confident it is too much for Kitty. Will it not be, Kitty?”
“If it is acceptable, Mama, I would rather stay home,” Kitty acknowledged.
Darcy would not permit the opportunity to be alone with Elizabeth pass. “Mrs. Bennet, Oakham Mount sounds interesting. I would enjoy having Miss Elizabeth as my guide.”
Elizabeth, he noted, smothered her amusement at such a convenient proposal before silently consenting.
At the fork in the road, the couples parted to find their own privacy.
Darcy willingly followed Elizabeth when she took the steeper path.
They walked along in silence for a quarter of a mile.
At length, Darcy caught her hand and turned her to him.
He knew her. Knew her mother likely said something to upset her.
He purposely held her gaze. Eventually, Elizabeth chuckled, which brought him pleasure.
Darcy held her there with a look of barely restrained passion. “I know that look,” she teased.
“What look?” he pretended to misunderstand.
“There was a time when I thought with that look you disdained me and found fault with me. Then I saw the same expression on your face in your portrait at Pemberley.” She sashayed closer and placed her hands flat on his chest. “And I wanted nothing more than to see you look that way at me again.” Elizabeth went up on her tiptoes to nibble on his lower lip.
“Mrs. Reynolds,” his voice was breathy and ragged, “tells me you find me to be handsome.” He brushed his lips over hers.
Her mouth was near his. “Should I flatter you, sir?”
“I am a vain, prideful man, as you have so often noted.” He smiled down at her face tilted towards his.
“Then you must reciprocate with praise of my good qualities.” Their breathing caused a sudden flush of heat to rise to Elizabeth’s cheeks.
“My dearest Elizabeth, you are so beautiful.” The warmth of his kiss smothered the words.
At length, they parted unwillingly to walk once more, but now the journey became more leisurely and more loving.
“Georgiana will be so pleased when she hears of our engagement. I am afraid I have spent so much of my time being her guardian that I had forgotten she is my sister.”
“It will be pleasant to have Georgiana as a sister. Losing Jane is something of our future of which I dread. Georgiana and I will be great friends.”
“I have dreamed of you at Pemberley so often.”
“I … I dreamed of it last night,” she stammered. “How will I ever manage to be its mistress? I am frightened. How will I survive?”
“Elizabeth, there are servants to manage Pemberley. It could run by itself. You will be my wife. You have nothing to fear. If you can win my heart as easily as you did, there is no one at Pemberley to offer perturbation.” Then he quickly changed the subject.
“I planned to ask your father’s consent this evening. How will he react?”
“Papa, I am afraid, will be very surprised. I have told him nothing of Hunsford or of Pemberley. My earliest impression of you is the only one of which he knows.”
“Does he dislike me so much?”
“Your refusal of his favorite daughter at the assembly colored his opinion of you, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth needled him.
“I believe I still owe you an apology for such an affront.” Darcy reached out to caress her face.
“By starting over, we will reach a new understanding,” she said decidedly.
“Do you have a preference for when to set our wedding date? I suppose we must wait until after Bingley and Miss Bennet’s nuptials.”
“I have a suggestion.” She hesitated. “When I informed Jane of our engagement, my sister and I stumbled on an idea. At first, we thought it to be a lark, and we laughed; but, the more it was considered, the more reasonable it sounded.”
“Must I guess your mind?” he taunted.
“What say you to a double wedding?”
“Miss Bennet and Bingley and you and I?” He hoped he had not misunderstood. It would mean he could claim Elizabeth at an earlier date.
“Is it a terrible idea?” She was, evidently, uncertain of how to read his reaction.
“Will Bingley agree to this?” he said cautiously.
“Jane will ask him today,” she explained. “You do not wish a long engagement do you, Mr. Darcy?”
“I believe we have waited long enough to start our life together.” He kissed her with renewed ardor.
She said cautiously, “I will tell Mama of our engagement once you secure my father’s consent.
Jane and I will then tell her our plans.
Mama’s nerves must only go through the planning of one ceremony and one wedding breakfast.” She said no more, but Darcy knew her sentiments.
Mrs. Bennet would see his wealth as a real coup for her family.
“There is one thing more of which we should speak before you address my father this evening,” Elizabeth hesitated again.
“My father received a letter from Mr. Collins the day Lady Catherine paid her visit. My cousin actually warned me not to accept your proposal. Papa finds anything Mr. Collins writes amusing. He had no idea how I felt. By the time he finished his humorous diversion, I questioned whether you could love me.”
“I will take the time, Elizabeth, to allay your father’s fears. Everything will go well, I promise.”
After finishing their hike, they returned to Longbourn with plans of their life together dancing in their heads.
After supper, Mr. Bennet executed his customary retreat to his library, and Darcy followed. “Mr. Darcy,” the man said with a bit of amused surprise, “may I assist you in finding something to read or would you care for a glass of port?”
“Thank you, Mr. Bennet,” Darcy cleared his voice. “But I must speak to you on a matter of importance.”
“Assuredly, Mr. Darcy, please have a seat. What may I do for you? It would give me pleasure to be of service to you.”
“Mr. Bennet,” Darcy paused, wondering how to tell Elizabeth’s father of his love. “I asked your daughter Elizabeth to be my wife, and she has accepted my proposal. I come tonight seeking your permission for our union.”
Mr. Bennet sat stiffly in his chair and gripped the handles. The color drained from his face, and he was momentarily speechless. “Mr. Darcy, are you assured? This is not some amusement my family practices?” Mr. Bennet looked for a simpler explanation.
“Mr. Bennet, I realize you are unaware of my relationship with Miss Elizabeth. We have been more secretive than my friend Mr. Bingley. Our natures are not so open, but, I assure you, Elizabeth and I are deeply in love. She has agreed to be my wife.” Darcy’s voice sounded calmer than his body felt.
Her father rose and walked to the window before he spoke again. “Mr. Darcy, I do not wish to offend you, but Elizabeth is my favorite. Her nature will not be dictated to. Elizabeth has a spirit I would not wish to see caged by your society’s rules and regulations.”
“Mr. Bennet, I am well aware of your daughter’s spirit.
She has humbled me. At her hands, I have learned something of myself.
I realize I offended Elizabeth at the Meryton Assembly, and from that you have drawn your opinion of me.
” All this frankness, evidently, made Mr. Bennet uncomfortable, but Darcy hoped it also would make the man see Darcy in a different light.
“When I observed how Miss Elizabeth cared for Miss Bennet at Netherfield, I realized she was the type of person I would want to be a friend to my own sister. We have spent time together at Hunsford and most recently at my estate in Derbyshire. I did not fall in love with Elizabeth overnight. Even when I thought we would never be together, my love for her has stood the test. I adore Miss Elizabeth.”
“Mr. Darcy, I understand your affection for my daughter, but you must understand, as her father, I must protect my child. You can provide for Elizabeth, no doubt, but I wish to speak to my daughter before I give my final consent. If Elizabeth loves you as you say, my consent will be yours immediately and willingly.”
Darcy thanked the man and said he would send Elizabeth to him shortly.
“When you satisfy your inclinations, we may meet again regarding Miss Elizabeth’s settlement, but please know I have already decided to create a jointure for Elizabeth as part of the marriage articles.
Even without an heir, Pemberley will be her home. ”
“Mr. Darcy, your ability to provide for Elizabeth is not my concern. Elizabeth will choose with her heart. If you own her heart, you are an incomparable man indeed.”
When Darcy returned to the drawing room, her increased attention to her needlework spoke volumes regarding Elizabeth’s anxiousness.
When he stepped into the room, her eyes searched his countenance for his reassurance.
Darcy offered her a smile, providing her some relief.
Then he walked casually about the room, talking specifically to Bingley and Miss Bennet, and, eventually, coming to sit beside Elizabeth.
“May I see your work, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked, wanting to speak only to her, but knowing he must wait.
“What do you think, Mr. Darcy?” she asked, holding out the needlework for his inspection. As always, Elizabeth’s closeness inflamed his passions.
He bent down as if to inspect her work, but it was to her heart he spoke.
“Beautiful, Miss Elizabeth, absolutely beautiful.” She blushed slightly.
Then, in a whisper, he said, “Your father wishes to speak to you in his library.” Thus said, he stood and walked casually to the settee across from Bingley and Jane and joined their conversation.
Likely, only he noticed when Elizabeth slipped from the room.
In truth, Darcy’s attention to the conversation was minimal at best. Naturally, Bingley and Jane were happy just to be together.
They were the acknowledged lovers. When Elizabeth did not return in a timely manner, Darcy worried.
Had her father refused? Was the initial dislike for him enough to sway Mr. Bennet’s decision?
After nearly an hour, Elizabeth reentered the room.
Presenting him a great sense of relief, she seated herself beside him, and although she did not speak to Darcy directly, Elizabeth engaged Bingley, Jane, and Darcy in a lively conversation.
They spoke of the rooms at Netherfield, Georgiana’s musical talent, and the neighbors, the conversation secondary to Darcy.
What was important was he was sitting beside Elizabeth in her home.
Tomorrow they would be acknowledged lovers also, and soon he would be sitting beside Elizabeth in their home. It was enough for now.
When it was time to leave, Elizabeth stepped into the foyer with Jane as the gentlemen retrieved their great coats. Handing Darcy his hat and gloves, their fingertips intertwined for a few brief seconds. Elizabeth whispered, “I will tell Mama tonight. All will be known tomorrow.”
He leaned in as near as he dared. The familiar lavender overtook his senses. “As I said before, I have been waiting for you. Tomorrow cannot come soon enough.” Darcy squeezed her fingers.
The ladies stepped out into the early fall evening as the men mounted their horses.
Jane said a loving goodbye to Mr. Bingley while Darcy stared down at Elizabeth from the back of his mount.
Desire charged the air between them. He looked upon her as he always had.
Now she returned its intensity. He leaned down from Cerberus’s back and touched Elizabeth’s cheek lightly.
“Elizabeth” was all he whispered. She caught his gloved hand and held it to her cheek.
“Darcy” was her reply. Nothing else needed to be said.
There was no more “Miss” or “Mr.” Their names were bound together as were their hearts and their minds.