Chapter 15
Darcy
Having Elizabeth at Netherfield was equal parts wonderful and frustrating.
First, unlike Longbourn, there were no Bennets strewn about the house.
Netherfield was three times larger, and of course Mr and Mrs Bennet, Miss Kitty, and Miss Lydia were not there.
It was almost too easy to speak with Elizabeth with privacy.
He began to worry about her reputation, and that of Miss Bennet.
Feeling awkward, because it was not his house, Darcy gave the housekeeper an order to have servants sitting or working unobtrusively in every public room to ensure that the ladies did not regret this visit as whispers spread through the area.
Other than the worry for her reputation, of course Darcy adored having so much time with Elizabeth. They played two games of chess and spent time in the music room with the others, singing songs and even doing a bit of dancing while Mary and Georgiana took turns playing.
At one point, Elizabeth played and sang, and Darcy was astounded by how moving her performance was. He had tears in his eyes as he said, “I can imagine hearing you play almost every evening of our lives. It was just…heart rending.”
Georgiana took advantage of the silence that followed Darcy’s praise to ask Miss Bennet if she wished to perform. She smiled gently and said, “I do not play.” When asked if she would sing for the group, she shook her head again, claiming no skill in music of any type.
Darcy disliked the short, awkward silence.
He noted with surprise that Bingley was frowning at Miss Bennet again, which was still shocking—because Bingley never frowned at anything or anybody.
He hurried to fill the silence, saying, “If someone will play ‘Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms,’ I will sing it for my lady.”
Georgiana took the challenge, and Darcy sang.
It was rare for men to exhibit, and even Georgiana looked surprised at his willingness to do so.
Still, Elizabeth and Georgiana had heard him sing at church many times and had said how much pleasure it had given them.
So, he thought, why should not men take the time to entertain as well as ladies?
Darcy had been concentrating on the sheet music and the lyrics, during his performance, and he was surprised, when he stopped, to see that several of the ladies had tears in their eyes.
“Oh, Brother!” cried Georgiana.
[T]he heart that has truly lov'd, never forgets
But as truly loves on to the close.
That was beautiful!”
Mary chimed in, “I liked the part that went,
Thou wouldst still be ador'd as this moment thou art
Let thy loveliness fade as it will;
And, around the dear ruin, each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still!”
“I liked the tune, the words, the message, and especially the singer,” Elizabeth said.
Darcy wondered if Bingley was primed to praise him or tease him, but as he turned towards him, he saw that his easy-going always-smiling friend was frowning at Miss Bennet yet again.
Well, he thought, I suppose this angel has reached the end of her reign. I hope she will not be hurt when he turns his affections elsewhere.
However, there were not many ladies here in Meryton.
And Bingley would not like to go back to town in August—it would be deserted.
Also, Bingley’s sisters would be arriving soon, along with his new brother-in-law.
Given the circumstances, Bingley might allow things with Miss Bennet to drag on for several months.
Darcy decided that he would have to watch carefully to ensure that his soon-to-be sister would not be dreadfully hurt.
Darcy turned back towards Elizabeth, his mind still considering the near future—and he had a sudden idea. He said, “Miss Elizabeth, this visit has been enjoyable in every way, but I have something serious I need to discuss with you. I wonder if we might meet in the library in order to do so?”
“Of course.”
“Bingley, might we stake out your library as our own, with adequate chaperonage, of course.”
“By all means, Darce. What is mine is yours, including what is mine merely on lease!”
As Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the library, he said, “I have a plan to force your father’s hand…not several days from now, but tomorrow.”
The next day, Darcy and Elizabeth did not meet at the Oakham Mount trail, as was their recent custom, but instead met at the Philips law office mid-morning.
They walked together to Longbourn after several hours with Elizabeth’s uncle.
Their arrival coincided with the call to luncheon, and of course Mrs Bennet extended an invitation to Darcy to join them.
The matriarch shot many curious looks their way, and Darcy knew that Elizabeth’s mother, at least, was eager to formalise the relationship between him and her second daughter.
“If I may have a few minutes of your time, sir,” Darcy said to Mr Bennet after the meal.
The older man mumbled his assent, and Darcy went back to the hall to fetch the leather portfolio he had placed with his hat and gloves.
Then he followed Elizabeth’s father to the library, where he shut the door and then proceeded to tower over the man who stood in the way of his happiness.
Mr Bennet had taken the seat behind the desk, and he said, “Will you not sit?”
“Not at this moment, sir.” Darcy gave him his best Master of Pemberley stare, and he started on his planned speech.
“You have something I want. I am here, today, to demand that you relinquish it. Of course I speak of the legal right to make decisions about your second daughter, Elizabeth Rose Bennet.”
Mr Bennet’s eyes widened, and he made a little choking or coughing sound, but he did not manage to say anything comprehensible.
“Elizabeth has informed me of everything she said to you, and I am proud of her strength and acumen. However, I have decided that she made one grave error when she let you know that you had a week to reach out to us, to give your permission that we may wed. The reason this was an error is because, given your nature, you will clearly not make a decision, and that indecision on your part will force us, some five days from now, to meet with your relations and do everything lawful to work without your permission. If we have to do such work, I want it to start now, not five days from now.”
Mr Bennet stared up at Darcy, blinking. Knowing the man’s intelligence, Darcy assumed that he was listening well and understanding what he said, but there was no guarantee of his attention.
He brought out the marriage articles and the papers he had worked on with Mr Philips and said as forcefully as he could, “I met with your brother, Mr Philips, this morning; Elizabeth went with me, of course. We explained what we wished to have written out, to lay out before you a simpler choice. This stack of papers,” he placed his left hand on the thicker packet, “explains the future if you give your written permission, today, for our marriage. This other stack of papers,” he said, putting his right hand on the thinner packet, “explains the alternate future—if you do not. You do not have five days to make your decision; instead, I will not leave the office without you having made the decision. This stack, or that one.”
Still standing, Darcy watched while Mr Bennet turned the various pages, scanning the careful script. The man looked astonished, which Darcy had fully expected.
The future spelled out in both sets of papers included the settlement on Elizabeth and the plans for dowries and inheritance of whatever children they had.
Elizabeth would have the right to live at Pemberley the rest of her life, even if Darcy predeceased her, unless she married another man.
Even these pages had startled Elizabeth’s father—because the jointure, pin money, and provisions for children were very generous indeed.
However, it was the next set of papers in the packet, the ones contingent on Mr Bennet granting them permission to marry, that really shocked the older man.
For in these papers, Darcy set out amounts with which he would augment the other four Bennet daughters’ dowries, plus a settlement on Mrs Bennet, should she outlive her husband, including a sum dedicated to the purchase of a cottage in or near Meryton for her use.
The packet that would go into effect if Mr Bennet would not sign the paper giving his approval of their marriage was much thinner because no provisions would be made for Mrs Bennet or the four Bennet daughters.
But there was a clearly written explanation of how the trespass law would be enforced against both Mr and Mrs Bennet at any and all properties belonging to Fitzwilliam Darcy.
As Mr Bennet read that particular page, frowning down at the paper as if it contained insults to his person, Darcy said, “If you will not sign the papers giving your permission to our marriage, Elizabeth will leave Longbourn today with me, and you will never see her or hear from her again.”
“This is no choice!” Mr Bennet grumbled.
“You did listen to your daughter, two days ago, did you not? You only have a very limited choice here, as she clearly stated to you. You will not be able to choose for us not to marry at all—that choice is not an option. We are also not offering as a viable choice anything that will force us to wait until Elizabeth reaches her majority. Frankly, I have the money and connexions that will enable me to weather the scandal of an elopement, although such a scandal may hurt your other daughters more than myself and Elizabeth. As Elizabeth clearly spelled out to you, your only choice is whether or not you wish to remain in Elizabeth’s life after she marries me. ”
Mr Bennet nodded, seeming to bow to the inevitable.
Darcy softened his voice a bit as he finished, “I have been generous enough to add some inducements to your giving us your written permission today, now. As you see, I have the means to help your entire family. Do you wish to avail yourself of this aid?”
He placed the thicker stack of papers directly in front of Mr Bennet, with the page he would sign to indicate his approval on top.
Mr Bennet heaved a sigh as if he was a long-suffering victim of a tyrant, and he signed and dated the paper.
“Thank you, sir. It will be my pleasure, someday, to show you around one of my libraries.”
“So, your lordship, your majesty, your holiness—however you wish to be addressed—when is it that you will be marrying? I suppose I have no choice in this matter, either?”
“Let us bring Elizabeth into this discussion, and we will decide together.”
“As you wish, your highness.”
“Sir would be the appropriate form of address.”
“Well, then, as you wish, sir.” Mr Bennet used such a sarcastic tone as he said sir, Darcy almost laughed, but he contained himself and whisked out of the room to find Elizabeth.
“He signed?” she asked.
“He did.” Darcy smiled at her excitement. “Elizabeth Rose Bennet, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
She laughed joyfully. “All this time, and that is all the proposal which I am to have the honour of expecting?”
“You make a good point,” he said with a wide smile, “let me work on a proper speech, and of course we need to wait until we find ourselves in a beautiful place and are dressed in our very best, and—”
“No, let us not wait for a lovelier setting and longer speech. My answer is yes, as we both have known for many weeks.”
“I have known for months,” he said.
“Years, really,” she teased. “Decades, perhaps centuries.” Then she embraced him and said, “William! We are finally officially engaged!”
“We are,” he confirmed. “I feel so blessed, my dearest Elizabeth.”
Before entering the library, the two paused in the small recess in which candles, holders, spills, and flints were stored. There they celebrated their betrothal with a few tender kisses.
Elizabeth was the first to pull away. She said, “There will be a lot more of this, William. But now we should meet with Papa.”
He grinned. “I will be happy to meet with your father yet again. But…yes, indeed, there will be ever so much more of this.” And he gave her a few chaste pecks on her cheek, her temple, and the top of her head.
He elicited a shocked yelp by giving Elizabeth a small pinch on her backside just as they entered the door, and the couple entered the room laughing and affectionate and looking forward to a blissful future.