Vol 2, Chapter 5
“Lizzy, I had intended to send for you in a few days so you and Tom would be here for the investiture and the announcement, but Collins’s death brought us all to you instead. You did not think we would bear all of the scrutiny of the
Ton and not allow you your part in the pleasure, did you?” Bennet smiled sardonically where he sat in the library at Rosings with his daughter.
“I thank you for my share, Papa, but I would happily forgo that pleasure, although I suppose I must be with the rest of the family when we meet the royals. Are they our family now, even though the connection is through the Duchess?” Elizabeth asked.
“It is a tenuous connection at best, as you correctly state. Aunt Rose is the one related to the royals by blood. The truth is that it all depends on them. If they recognise us as family, it will be so,” Bennet explained.
“When do we decamp for Town, Papa?” Elizabeth asked. “I assume we want to be back before Tom arrives?”
“We depart on Monday. Uncle Gardiner is currently making an inventory of all of the objets d’art and useless furniture Miss de Bourgh wants to sell.
He is sure he can recover close to full price for her selections as he has many clients who enjoy displaying such gaudy items.” Bennet shared.
“Some of his men will return next week to catalogue and remove the objectionable pieces.”
“I am in amazement at the changes in Lady Catherine. Anne’s statement must have shaken her to the core to cause such a radical change in her behaviour in such short a time,” Elizabeth opined.
“That is true, Lizzy. You never know what will force a person to see their behaviour towards others. Thankfully, most change their course when confronted as Lady Catherine was, but there are those who will let nothing shake them from their path,” Bennet stated sombrely.
“Unfortunately, I think Miss Bingley falls into the latter group. Until Darcy told us what occurred at Pemberley, I would have hesitated to say something so dubious even about her, but no longer.” Bennet stood.
“I need to discuss something with your mother; enjoy your book Lizzy.” Bennet kissed his daughter on the forehead and left the library.
There was almost a collision in the hall outside the library as both Bennet and Darcy were deep in thought and not paying attention to where they were going. “Ah, Bennet, I am sorry, I was wool gathering and almost bowled you over,” Darcy gave a half bow.
“We both have an equal share in the blame, Son, for I too was not paying attention to my surroundings,” Bennet allowed.
“Then I will take chance as providence and say it was fortuitous, this running into you. I would like to request your permission for a private interview with Miss Elizabeth, Sir,” Darcy said, his fate now officially out of his own hands.
“You may speak to her now if you like; she is reading in the library. Before you do, I will send my girl’s companion to sit in with her.
You will be observed but not heard, and the door will remain open,” Bennet stated.
He hoped that Darcy was not foolish enough to propose to Elizabeth yet, she was not ready for that step, with him or any other.
Darcy waited patiently in the hallway until Mrs. Ponsonby joined him, then entered the library after her, waiting as the companion found a seat in the corner out of earshot.
Realising that Elizabeth was engrossed in her book, he cleared his throat to let her know she was no longer alone.
“Do you mind if I sit, Elizabeth?” he asked when she looked up smiling at him.
“I do not mind,” Elizabeth indicated the wingback chair where her father had recently sat.
“I apologise if I am disturbing your reading, you seem engrossed with…” Elizabeth held up the book for him to see the cover. “Robinson Crusoe. It is one of my favourites,” Darcy revealed.
“You are interrupting my reading, but it does not follow said interruption is unwelcome. It is also one of my favourites, I have read it several times before,” Elizabeth shared.
“It pleases greatly me to hear that my interruption is not unwelcome. Your father granted my request to speak to you alone.” Darcy said evenly.
Elizabeth’s eyebrows raised in question as she placed the book on the table between them.
“I think you have gleaned from my letter that I have tender feelings for you, Elizabeth,” he began.
“Yes, I now know you do, but just because your feelings are thus, it does not follow mine are as well. Or did you think I would swoon as the great Fitzwilliam Darcy has bestowed his regard?” Elizabeth bit out, falling back to her old habits and assuming that which he had not said.
“I am well aware my feelings for you are not returned, Elizabeth. It is but days since you agreed we could begin again. Trust me when I tell you ever since Uncle Reggie’s verbal evisceration, I question my ability to convince anyone of anything.
If I gave you the wrong impression, I am profoundly sorry and I will leave now and allow you to return to you book.
” Darcy made to stand but was stayed by Elizabeth’s hand on his arm.
“Please stay, William. In this instance, it is I who must beg your pardon. My mother has pointed out my propensity to be too hasty to make judgment based on assumptions, and that is what I just did. You asked a question and my answer to it should have simply been ‘yes.’ Instead, I reacted as if you had asked much more than you actually did, I know of your having a regard for myself. It seems we both will have to work to reduce misunderstandings between us,” Elizabeth stated with deep contrition.
“Then I will continue with what I intended to say, with your permission.” He waited, relieved when she nodded her acceptance.
“I know it is too soon for you to have any tender feelings for me, and in truth I am lucky that it seems you no longer dislike me. You know I had these feelings before what you revealed to me the other day and certainly before the earth-shaking news your father delivered. So at the very least you may acquit me of my affection being borne of the knowledge of your wealth and connections,” Darcy laid out.
“There is nothing in that statement with which I would argue.” Elizabeth allowed. Darcy drew his hand across his forehead in a dramatic gesture as if he were wiping sweat from his brow. The effect was a smile from Elizabeth that reached her eyes.
“Whew!” Darcy feigned great relief then again sobered.
“Only if you agree, I would like for us to get to know one another better. If I thought you would accept a courtship…” Seeing she was about to interject, Darcy raised his hand to stay her reply.
“But as I am sure you are not yet ready for that step; I am requesting your permission to call on you so we may get to know one another better and hopefully reduce the instances of misunderstandings between us.”
“It is good you stopped me,” Elizabeth owned.
“I was about to tell you I thought you presumptuous when you were not. In fact, you were just the opposite. Yes, William, you may call on me, as I too would like to get to know the real you. I am sure you are cognisant of the fact there will be many demands on our time after the investiture?” Darcy nodded.
“I am not a prognosticator so I cannot tell you what will be in the future, but I believe we are making progress on a good start,” Elizabeth stated evenly.
“I have another request, Elizabeth, though it is not about me or us,” Darcy qualified, earning him a tinkling laugh.
How he loved to hear her laugh, and to be the cause of it was even better.
“It is about Gigi. You know what she has been through.” Elizabeth nodded.
“She is much recovered but still shy, and it is hard for her to make new friends. I have observed that she feels more comfortable with you and your sisters than any other friends I have noted previously. Her affinity is especially with you. My request is that when you are able to do so, please visit her and include her in activities with you and your sisters. I believe it will do her self-confidence a world of good,” Darcy asked fervently.
“That is an easy request to grant as it was already my intention. I believe she will do very well with Esther and Ally,” seeing his quizzical look, Elizabeth clarified.
“Our cousin, Lady Alicia Carrington, my Aunt Marie’s daughter who is almost the same age as Esther.
She has a good heart and is not spiteful. ”
“Thank you. It warms my heart that Gigi has been accepted so readily by all of you. She is aware that you know of Ramsgate, and it makes your friendship all the more special to her.” Darcy stood.
“I need to inform your father that you have permitted me to call on you in case he objects. I think he thought me addlepated enough to be about to propose!”
They both shared a laugh at what a mistake that would have been, and Darcy took his leave to seek out Elizabeth’s father.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Caroline, please join me in the drawing room,” Miss Mathilda Bingley called up the stairs to her niece.
Caroline Bingley was not in a good mood.
Not one response to any of her letters had been received.
How could that be? Surely, she had used the correct words to make herself seem sincere and garner sympathy at the same time.
It must be something with the post! She had seen no notice in the paper of there being an issue with the post, but perhaps the bag with her letters had been misplaced and the letters were taking longer than normal to be delivered.