Chapter 45 Mr. Allen
Mr. Bennet stood at the drawing-room door and looked upon his two daughters, seated together on the couch, in earnest discussion. He felt grateful, for Elizabeth appeared much recovered from the great disappointment of the previous night.
He glanced out a window and saw a gentleman dismount a fine steed. Could this be the man Elizabeth had spoken of, the one whom Mr. Darcy had frightened away?
The gentleman handed the reins to the stable boy and then walked toward the front entrance.
Bennet watched as the good-looking gentleman of about five and twenty came up the walk to stand before him. He appeared to be of a suitable age for Elizabeth, was impeccably dressed, and spoke with respect.
“Sir, I am Gerard Allen. I have been a friend of Mr. Charles Bingley for more than seven years now.”
He handed Bennet his card.
“I had the privilege of meeting your daughter at the ball last evening and wished to pay my respects.”
“Come in, Mr. Allen. My Lizzy is in the drawing room.”
He led the young man into the house, and, observing Mr. Darcy’s carriage draw up, sent Hill out to assist his men with the trunks.
Bennet led Allen to the drawing room, where Elizabeth and Kitty stood, awaiting their entrance.
“Lizzy, you have a caller.” She curtsied, her eyes welcoming.
Mr. Allen chose the chair nearest Elizabeth. He studied her face, and she noticed the crinkle at the corners of his eyes. She returned his smile.
“Sir, I had expected that you would have reached London by now. The hour is growing late.”
He said, “Do not concern yourself for my safety, Miss Bennet. I do not travel back today. Your brother-in-law has granted me leave to remain as his guest for a month. I hope to know you better during that time, if you will permit it.”
Her face grew pink, and once again, pleasure shone in her eyes. When he saw her response, he relaxed, and his eyes reflected his satisfaction.
“You approve, ma’am?”
“Yes, sir, very much. I look forward to knowing you better.”
He glanced toward Kitty, who watched them with far too much interest. Then he looked toward the window.
“It is fine outside, ma’am. Would you walk out with me?”
“It would be a pleasure, sir. Allow me to fetch my bonnet.” As she left the room, he turned to Mr. Bennet.
“You own a very pretty estate, sir. I understand that your middle daughter has married your heir.”
“Yes. Mr. Collins is a rector in Hunsford Parish. He is a fine man, and Mary is a happy woman. I would say that she is as happy as Jane. We have been blessed with the addition to our family of two very fine gentlemen, sir.”
Elizabeth returned wearing a light shawl, her bonnet, and gloves.
Mrs. Hill handed him his hat and gloves, and the couple was moving toward the door when Mr. Hill and the stable boy entered carrying Georgiana’s large trunk, with Darcy following behind with her smaller one. Kitty ran out to meet the younger girl.
Allen stepped aside to let Darcy pass, then, turning to Elizabeth, he offered his arm, and they walked out together.
Darcy set the trunk down and looked after the pair, his mouth drawn into a thin line and his brow furrowed. Then Georgiana came to his side and embraced him. He offered her a final admonition to conduct herself well, to write to him at least once each week, and to enjoy herself.
She walked with him to the gate while Kitty waited for her at the entrance. Georgiana’s eyes grew moist, and she made every effort not to cry. She would miss her brother, yet this holiday with the Bennets filled her with such pleasure that she laughed instead.
“Fitzwilliam, I am quite torn. I shall miss you dearly, yet I long to be with my friends, who treat me as a sister.”
“Then allow me one last embrace and let me wish you well, Georgie. Until we meet again.”
When he had disappeared from sight, the two girls hurried indoors. Kitty collected the magazine, and they left the room.
Bennet stood in the doorway of his study.
“Catherine, where are you going, my girl?”
“We are going to my bedchamber, Papa, to study the latest fashions.” She held up the magazine as proof.
“And what of your sister? Who is to serve as her chaperone if not you?”
Kitty and Georgiana exchanged a look.
“I beg your pardon, sir. I forgot myself.”
His gaze rested upon both girls.
“Mr. Allen will be visiting us for the next month, and I expect that one or both of you will remain in the room with Lizzy to lend them countenance. If they walk farther than the rose garden, you will follow behind them.”
He turned to the window on the far side of his study.
“I see that they are returning now. Seat yourselves at the far end of the room to provide them a semblance of privacy, and do not stare at them. You may occupy yourselves with your woman’s journal instead.”
He raised his brows. “Very well. Run along with you.”
Elizabeth and Mr. Allen walked to the hermitage and then turned back to the house, for the coolness of the autumn day made it uncomfortable to remain outdoors for long.
“Miss Bennet, at the risk of being told that the matter is none of my concern, I wish to know how you fare. Were you much injured by Darcy’s prideful remarks? I apologize that I was unable to turn the subject last evening. I am afraid the conversation got away from all of us.”
Elizabeth raised her eyes, relief on her face.
“Sir, I am glad that you raised the matter. I wish to thank you for defending my family, though you had never met them. I admit that I was injured, for I have known Mr. Darcy and his sister for several months and believed that we were friends. It pained me to hear his opinion, yet it was no more than I have believed myself.”
Both her voice and her expression conveyed her earnestness.
“Mr. Darcy indicated that gentlemen of your position and rank would not connect themselves with a woman of my station, yet you have come to pay me a call. I had expected never to see you again, believing that you held the same opinion as Mr. Darcy.”
Mr. Allen smiled kindly.
“Miss Elizabeth, there is a difference between Mr. Darcy and me. He is the grandson of an earl, while I am the son of a squire. I hold no lofty aspirations for marriage. My parents are happily married, and my only wish is to be as happily married as they are and to establish a loving home for my children.”
She listened to every word he spoke, and when he finished, she was smiling.
“Miss Bennet, we met only yesterday, yet I am charmed by your open manner and your expressive eyes. I should like to know you better. Perhaps we may discover that we suit one another. Would you permit me to visit you with that purpose in mind?”
Her eyes brightened, and her heart quickened.
“Yes, sir. I would like that very much.”
He took her hand.
“Miss Bennet, I confess that I believed there was an understanding between you and Mr. Darcy. I thought I saw it in his eyes and in your response to him.”
Her eyes lowered.
“I will not dissemble with you, sir. I have no wish to mislead you. I do not know how it came to be so, for Mr. Darcy can be very direct and at times unpleasant; nonetheless, he has captured my affections. I have diligently attempted to guard my heart against him, knowing that nothing could ever grow between us. In spite of myself, I have fallen for him.”
“But you refused his offer of marriage, ma’am?”
She raised her eyes to meet his.
“Yes, sir, I did, for I cannot believe that we could ever be happy. I shall never be good enough for him or for his family. You heard him yourself. A connection between us would be regarded as a degradation by him. Mr. Allen, I believe that time heals all things, and I believe that a woman possesses enough love in her heart to find happiness with another and, in time, to love him more deeply than a man she can never truly have. Do you understand what I am saying, sir?”
He was smiling.
“I believe that I do, Miss Bennet, yet I should prefer to hear it from your own lips. What is it that you are trying to tell me?”
She flushed, and her eyes fell away from his.
“I am certain that this subject is improper, sir, and that you will most likely think me indelicate, yet I shall say it nonetheless. I believe that when a woman gives herself to a man, and he knows her in the Biblical sense, they truly do become one flesh and their hearts are joined together.”
She raised her eyes to meet his.
His smile was broad; his teeth were straight and white.
He had an attractive smile. “I believe that as well, Miss Bennet, and I am very pleased to learn that you are capable of loving more than one man. I will do all I can to turn your affections, and if fortune favors me, you will very soon love me more than you love Mr. Darcy, and he will become only a pleasant memory of a gentleman you once knew.”
She laughed. “You are teasing me, sir.”
He chuckled. “I am, ma’am, and it gives me great pleasure to do so. Come, let us return to the house, for I see that your nose has grown pink, and I am loath to see you catch a cold.”
As they walked back, she glanced up at his profile. He was a fine-looking gentleman, with dark, wavy hair and a strong chin. Most of all, she was drawn to his smile. Her heart gave a little skip.
His eyes met hers, and he smiled.
Mr. Allen remained with the family for half an hour, and then he rose to take his leave.
Mr. Bennet extended his hand.
“It has been a pleasure to meet you, Allen. If you have no prior engagement, would you join us for dinner?”
The gentleman’s eyes brightened, and Elizabeth saw that he was well pleased with the invitation.
“I should like that very much, sir. At what hour shall I present myself?”
“We dine early here at Longbourn. Would six o’clock be too early for you, sir?”
“No, indeed, for it means that I may spend more time in Miss Bennet’s company.”
When Mr. Allen had departed, Thomas Bennet looked at his second daughter and raised his brow in amusement. She appeared very well pleased with the world.
“Lizzy, I would speak with you in my study.”
“Yes, sir.”