Chapter 25
As Elizabeth stood in the Mistress’s chamber of Darcy House, she could not believe what had occurred in the past hour.
She had taken a leap of faith and decided to come to Mr. Darcy’s house against all reason and propriety.
As she had climbed the grand staircase, doubt had crept in, making her question her actions.
She had been worried as to how she would explain her recklessness, but it seemed Mr. Darcy required no explanations.
He had been jubilant to see her. She could scarcely believe her audacity in proposing to him, but it had seemed the perfect thing to do.
Mr. Darcy had genuinely been pleased by her daring for she had seen the happiness reflected in his whole demeanour as he had turned and introduced her as the future Mrs. Darcy to the petrified butler.
Before she realised, the footmen were instructed to take care of her luggage and the housekeeper was escorting her upstairs.
“The Mistress’s Chamber.” Mr. Darcy had said with quiet authority when the housekeeper had asked which room to assign to her. The whole house had been in an uproar or as much uproar as could be decorously managed.
There was a knock on the door bringing her out of her reverie. A dignified maid entered the room at her command, “I am to help you freshen up, Miss. Would you like to change into something from your valise or should I unpack the luggage?” she asked politely.
“There should be a day dress in my valise. That should suffice for now.”
“As you wish madam. Your bath is ready, if you would step into the next room,” she said, signalling towards a door. Elizabeth took a moment and looked around and then quietly asked, “Does that other door lead towards the master’s chamber?”
“Yes, Miss, but it has been unoccupied since old Mr. Darcy’s passing. The present master prefers his old bedchamber. Though I have heard he may move into the master’s chamber once he marries.” The servant girl answered.
“Why would you say that?” Elizabeth questioned, curious about this detail of Darcy’s life.
“This year when he visited Kent, Mrs. Morton, the housekeeper, received a letter from him to clean and refresh both chambers and make sure they were habitable.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth was again reminded of how cruelly she had refused Darcy without even understanding all that he was offering.
She now understood that the instruction must have been in preparation for the proposal he had made to her in Kent.
This was just another example of his thoughtfulness. How disappointed he must have been!
“We were all so worried that he intended to marry Miss de Bourgh as Lady Catherine had always insisted. But then he returned all downcast and no announcements were made. We all breathed a sigh of relief for Lady Catherine can be tough to please. The staff is very happy to know you, Miss,” the maid boldly finished.
“I am sure I have caused enough commotion downstairs with my unplanned arrival,” Elizabeth replied with a smile.
Elizabeth spent the next hour enjoying the most luxurious toilette of her life.
All the anxiety and uncertainty of the past days were soon washed away by the lavender-scented water and a calmness slowly descended on her.
She still had no idea what was to happen next, but she had complete confidence in Darcy.
All she could think about was his genuine smile that had seemed to light him up from within when he had seen her.
That laugh when she had proposed had finally released all his pent-up emotions, and the pride with which he had introduced her to the staff had been unmistakable.
Darcy was pacing restlessly in the parlour from the moment Elizabeth had gone upstairs.
He kept replaying Elizabeth’s arrival in his head and her words, “I could not stay away.” It had touched his soul more than any proclamation of her affection.
It was for the first time that he had realised the depth of her feelings for him, and it stunned him.
The idea that she was receptive to his affections had been astonishing, but this was beyond all his hopes and desires.
To be held in such deep regard by such a woman as Elizabeth was inconceivable.
He had no idea what had caused her to come to him in such a state but all he knew was that he no longer could allow any separation between them.
He had sent his valet to get his uncle, Judge Darcy, his aunt Lady Matlock and most importantly Georgiana.
Elizabeth deserved to be treated with all the respect of his betrothed and to that end she would have to be introduced to his family.
Darcy was thinking of all that needed to be accomplished when the footman announced his uncle and Georgiana.
“Brother, whatever is the matter? Wittings said that you had urgently summoned us,” Georgiana said as she went up to him and kissed him on his cheeks.
Darcy gave her a quick hug then he bowed to his uncle inviting them both to sit.
“I called you urgently because Elizabeth is here,” Darcy spoke to Georgiana, not knowing how to express Elizabeth’s sudden appearance to his uncle.
“Oh! Is she staying with the Gardiners? Are we to go and meet her now?” Georgiana responded with obvious excitement.
“She is here as in, at Darcy House dearest. She is upstairs refreshing.” While Georgiana looked surprised with this information, Darcy could see his uncle’s eyebrow disappearing in his hairline.
“How, if I may know, did this paragon of virtue come to be in your house?” His uncle questioned and for the first time in twenty years Darcy felt like an errant schoolboy.
“It is a long story, and I was hoping that once Elizabeth came down, we could explain it together. I am also awaiting Lady Matlock’s arrival and she, I am sure, would like to hear the tale.
” Darcy finished trying to avoid his uncle’s scrutinising gaze.
It was then that Elizabeth walked in, and Georgiana rushed to greet her.
“Elizabeth! I am so happy that you are here. Brother has been so despondent without you,” she said as she gave her a quick hug.
“Georgiana!” Darcy exclaimed.
“Well, it is true. Is it not? I am sure Elizabeth was equally distressed. Her letters had lost all their cheerfulness since you returned to town.” Georgiana continued embarrassing both Elizabeth and Darcy.
Quickly changing the subject, Darcy introduced Elizabeth to his uncle, and they spoke of general pleasantries when Lady Matlock was finally announced.
“Darcy, whatever is the matter? I heard that your valet had been to all the leading drawing rooms of the ton searching for me. I had gone to the art gallery with Lady Sefton and at least three of my acquaintances told me of Wittings desperate search.”
“Aunt, I apologise for disturbing your outing, but the matter was of some urgency, and I am in need of your counsel.” Darcy replied as he greeted Lady Matlock.
She looked around and commented. “I see the reclusive Judge is also here and so is Georgiana, whatever is going on?”
Darcy quietly invited his aunt to take a seat and it was then that she saw Elizabeth and raised an eyebrow at her nephew.
Quickly introducing the two ladies, Darcy continued.
“I summoned you here to make a very important announcement. I would like to inform you that I am engaged to be married to Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Darcy said as he took Elizabeth’s hand and brought it for a kiss.
“Oh! How lovely. Is that why she is here at Darcy House? I had wondered.” Georgiana commented as she quickly hugged both her brother and Elizabeth.
“About time, I would say.” Judge Darcy commented from where he sat. “While I still hold my opinion on both of your judgments, I know enough of what happened in Kent that I could do nothing but approve of the engagement.”
“Why would you doubt Elizabeth’s judgement? She is very smart, I assure you,” Georgiana immediately defended her future sister, frowning at her uncle’s words.
“I am questioning both dearest, for a young lady to be calling on a bachelor is not just unorthodox but scandalous. Miss Elizabeth is unknown in the society that your brother frequents and should not make such a notorious entry.”
Lady Matlock, who had been silent until then, finally took a deep breath and spoke. “Darcy, you have sprung quite a surprise on me. Am I to understand that all your moping during your last stay in town was due to Miss Elizabeth?”
Seeing Darcy trying to stammer a response and Miss Elizabeth’s embarrassed countenance, Lady Matlock took pity and said, “I think it would be better if the two of you explain in some detail as to what exactly is happening here.”
Finally deciding that it would be better for her to show the courage she had always claimed to possess, Elizabeth took the lead and quietly explained about the whole of her acquaintance with Darcy, including his proposal and her refusal in Kent, their chance encounter at Pemberley, her father’s strictures, and Mr. Bingley’s sullen attitude.
Judge Darcy, it seemed, had already spoken to the Matlocks after Darcy's return from Kent for everyone had been worried about his desolate behaviour.
“I had not come to town with any such bold plans, but when I boarded the hackney to travel to my uncle’s house, I could not bear the separation any longer.
I do not know what came over me to come here in such a state.
I just, as I told Mr. Darcy, I could not stay away but now I will take my leave to go to my uncle’s house. ”
Darcy had taken Elizabeth’s hand within his and was quietly pressing it to comfort her.
The gesture was not missed by the sharp eyes of his aunt.
Deciding that she needed to know more about this creature who would now by all accounts join the family, she asked Elizabeth to come and sit by her; then questioned her thoroughly on her family, connections, education, and accomplishments.
While Elizabeth had been annoyed when Lady Catherine had made such presumptuous inquiries during her stay in Kent, she could not blame this formidable lady.
She was after all the intruder in her family, and with her scandalous arrival deserved all scrutiny.
Thus mustering all her politeness, she continued to answer every question that Lady Matlock posed.
“And you have an uncle staying in town? Where does he reside?”
“Gracechurch Street.” Elizabeth responded knowing that the location near Cheapside would invite further disdain. She was not disappointed because it was Judge Darcy who commented almost immediately.
“You can hardly stay there while you reside in town.”
Darcy, who knew how beloved the Gardiners were to Elizabeth, intervened immediately. “Uncle, I assure you the Gardiners are fashionable and respectable folks.”
“I am sure they are,” Lady Matlock responded as she exchanged a glance with the Judge and then continued.
“I will be forthright, when I say that the location will not be conducive for the coming months,” seeing Darcy ready to object, she raised her hand to hold him off.
“Do you wish to wait till Elizabeth achieves her majority? And then force her father’s hand to accept your engagement.
From what I have heard he will not be convinced out of stubbornness easily.
If you are ready to take that course, Elizabeth may stay at Gracechurch Street but seeing her impulsive arrival and your impatient behaviour I would recommend getting married within a month before you would do anything more foolish. ”
“I do not understand. How can we get married so quickly? Papa will not agree, especially not after my escapade.” Elizabeth questioned.
“Because you will be staying with me dear. I plan to introduce you to the whole of the ton as Darcy’s betrothed. Even your father would not dare to gainsay a countess,” Lady Matlock finished with a conspicuous smile.