Chapter XIV #3
“I do not know if that is proper,” replied Elizabeth weakly.
“I cannot understand what would not be proper about it,” said Mrs. Bennet. “You are acquainted with Mr. Darcy— he may offer an invitation that you could pass to your uncle. Surely my brother and sister would be more comfortable at Mr. Darcy’s estate than an inn, no matter how finely appointed.”
“I agree with your mother’s interpretation,” said Mr. Darcy. “If you would consent to pass the invitation to your uncle, I would be very much obliged, for I would be happy to make his acquaintance.”
“This is all unseemly,” said Elizabeth, glaring at them all, while her father and Colonel Fitzwilliam chortled.
Even Lydia appeared to have recovered a little of her spirits and was grinning at her from her father’s side.
“Do you all suppose that I will capitulate even if you are all united against me?”
“It seems you would do well to give it up, Lizzy,” said her father. “Now that Mr. Darcy has enlisted your mother to his side, I have little hope for you.”
“And I shall enlist your sisters too!” exclaimed Georgiana. “What fun we shall all have in Derbyshire!”
“Perhaps we could make a party of it,” suggested Mr. Darcy hopefully. “Pemberley has more than enough room for you all. Shall you not all travel with your relations and join us at Pemberley for some days?”
“Oh, yes, Brother!” squealed Georgiana, quite removed from the shy and quiet girl she had been only the day before. “I should love to show my new friends our home!”
For a time thereafter, the room rang with the sounds of excited chatter.
Lydia pried herself from her father’s side, joining the younger girls, and planning what they would do when they arrived, while Mrs. Bennet listened and added her opinion.
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked on with amusement while Mr. Darcy explained something of his property to Mr. Bennet.
“I do not know if I approve of this notion,” said Mr. Bennet after a time of this, though he winked at Elizabeth. “If you must know, I detest travel at the best of times, and enduring three days cooped in a carriage with six—or may I even say seven!—nattering ladies is more than I can contemplate.”
“Ah, but I have not yet told you of the books at my estate,” said Mr. Darcy. “There are more books there than you could hope to read in a lifetime, and the library is light and airy, a genuine delight in the summer months. And I may summon another carriage or two to help ease the journey.”
Mr. Bennet fixed him with a lopsided grin. “I do not know, Darcy, for in a lifetime, I could read a great many books. It seems there is nothing to do but verify your claim, though I am loath to wait for my brother and sister; let them make their own way to your estate.”
The colonel let out a lusty guffaw, while Mr. Bennet’s words provoked even greater excitement.
Soon the sounds of animated conversation were even more deafening than before.
Elizabeth had no choice but to look at Mr. Darcy with admiration, for the man was nothing if not an excellent tactician—he had won her family over in far less time than she might have imagined.
“Mr. Darcy,” a soft voice quieted some of the uproar.
The gentleman looked at Jane, who had spoken, with a mixture of regard and understanding. “Yes, Miss Bennet?”
“I do not suppose . . . Well . . . Will Mr. . . . Bingley visit this summer?”
“It was on my mind to invite him and his family to Pemberley for the summer, but other matters arose, and he determined to go north. Before he left London, I suggested he might wish to visit Netherfield again when he returns.”
Jane nodded, a rosy hue coming over her face. “I remember you mentioning it.”
“Of course,” continued Mr. Darcy offhandedly, “I have sent him an express requesting permission to stay at Netherfield while we are in the area, but that may no longer be necessary. It may be better to convert that request to an invitation to join us at Pemberley when he returns south.
“It may involve his family too, for I suspect they will travel with him. While some members of his family may not be precisely welcome, I suppose we can endure them.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Jane. “I would not wish to put you to any trouble.”
“It is no trouble at all, Miss Bennet,” said Mr. Darcy. “Bingley is an excellent friend. I am always happy to receive him.”
Jane exchanged a long stare with Mr. Darcy, and he nodded while she beamed. It seemed they understood each other very well.
“We should be happy to see Mr. Bingley again,” said Mrs. Bennet, the excitement clear in her voice, but this time devoid of the fluttering and nerves she might have displayed earlier.
“Then it is settled,” said Mr. Darcy. “Depending on your plans, I shall leave a few days in advance to ensure everything is prepared. We shall welcome your relations when they arrive.”
“That would necessitate a departure before long,” observed Mr. Bennet. “As I recall, Edward and Madeleine are due to arrive in two weeks.”
“Yes,” was all Elizabeth said to her father’s questioning look.
“I would urge you to remember,” said Mr. Bennet to Mr. Darcy, “that my brother has four young children. They are well-behaved but are still children.”
“Children have not wandered Pemberley’s halls since Georgiana was a child,” said Mr. Darcy. “I dare say their presence would reinvigorate my old home. In fact, I would have no objection at all should children reside at the estate more permanently in the near future.”
“You, sir,” said Elizabeth with a glare at the gentleman as the rest of the company expressed their amusement at his quip, “are quite incorrigible.”
“Perhaps I am,” said Mr. Darcy, unrepentant. “Silent and grave did not work to draw your esteem, so I believe I shall try a little more liveliness.”
“Lizzy is a lively girl!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “I am certain that will work very well, indeed!”
“Then we should plan to depart as soon as may be,” said Mr. Bennet before the teasing flew about the room yet again.
It was not until much later that Elizabeth could contrive a moment in relative privacy with Mr. Darcy.
The rest of the afternoon they spent planning for their sudden determination to go to the north, the excitement of the company growing with every moment.
When they applied to him, Colonel Fitzwilliam told them he meant to deliver Mr. Wickham to those who would see him to his new position but promised he would make his way to Pemberley thereafter.
They settled the matter with such speed that Elizabeth found her head spinning, but she was not at all unhappy with the results.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” said she when the moment came. “You have given my sister such hope, that I can never express my appreciation.”
“Your approbation is thanks enough.” The gentleman regarded her, his manner as serious as those days after she first made his acquaintance.
“I think you know that your acceptance of my suit would erase the debt between us if there is one. Though I jest about it, I shall not push you into anything you do not wish.”
“Then we shall take up the matter at Pemberley,” said Elizabeth. “While I cannot promise anything at present, I believe I may safely say I am not opposed to the notion.”
“That, Miss Elizabeth, is sufficient for the moment. The rest is my responsibility to ensure you can accept with a clear conscience.”
Elizabeth nodded and smiled and changed the subject. Anticipation for the summer in Pemberley now filled her breast. It seemed she would find something greater than the hills and valleys, the peaks and lakes of which she had spoken to her aunt.