Chapter 9
Mr. Collins eventually decided to bestow his attention on his host and on Longbourn, so Mr. Bennet became his next victim.
Luckily, his disposition to make sport of ridiculousness caused Elizabeth’s father mostly to relish the ludicrous conversation and new waves of praise for Lady Catherine and Rosings Park.
Exhausted for the same reason, Darcy quickly took the chance to steal some solitude and enjoyed his drink by the window.
He often preferred to have a full view of the room when he was among people–family, friends or strangers.
And at that moment he had a special reason–from there he could enjoy Elizabeth’s enchanting presence without any disturbance.
Mr. Collins could be heard praising the dinner, the house, and his daughters to Mr. Bennet and mentioning Lady Catherine’s name in every sentence.
While Darcy was annoyed beyond his patience, Mr. Bennet seemed to be amusing himself exceedingly, obviously provoking Mr. Collins to display the full range of his stupidity.
While Darcy mused in silence, he was delighted to observe Elizabeth walking towards him, carrying a cup of tea. She stopped by his side, near the window lit by a bright full moon.
“Miss Bennet…”
“Mr. Darcy…I cannot thank you enough for protecting my sanity tonight,” Elizabeth said, smiling with equal embarrassment and joy. “You have been kind and generous and courageous, to face the danger of Mr. Collins’s tediousness to my benefit.”
He crushed a smile between his lips. “Although it might not be considered a gentlemanlike reply, I confess your praise for my courage is well-deserved. I was in danger of dying more so than in a duel. Although this time, the weapon was boredom.”
“Although we only met today, Mr. Collins seems to be a rather overwhelming person.”
“I am sorry to say so, but I feel compelled to be honest with you. Mr. Collins is simply absurd. I know I might not be the best person to judge the behaviour of others, but he is simply…unbearable.”
“Unbearable would be the proper word,” she replied.
They shared a smile and she felt warm again.
The tumult of feelings aroused in her in the last few days, closely related to Darcy, felt exquisite and tiresome at the same time.
She was still wondering about her feelings, a week since they had been locked in the library, and she was slowly becoming accustomed to her own reaction towards him.
As they spoke, she gathered the courage to watch his dark eyes closely, the little frown between his eyebrows, the strong line of his jaw and of his mouth, the most appealing change brought in his features by a mere smile, the dimples that appeared in his cheeks.
Every single detail was discovered there in Longbourn’s drawing room with Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins’s voices in the background, and Mr. Bennet’s amused gaze over the entire party.
Darcy bore her scrutiny with puzzlement matched by delight.
Her eyes searching his face heated him like sunshine on a summer’s day.
Now he knew it was not only his imagination.
For some reason, she was looking at him differently, with an interest keener than before.
And the small interlude at the dinner table–the little touch of their feet– made a stronger impression on him than all his previous intimate encounters with other women.
The sensation aroused in him was different and stronger than he had felt before.
For the rest of the evening, he wondered and dreamed about the feeling of a true touch, of a true embrace, of a true kiss…
She had not withdrawn her leg; of her own will, she had kept and prolonged that sweet, improper moment.
That should be enough proof that the small adventure in the library had changed her opinion of him and maybe even her feelings.
Mr. Bennet had hinted to him as much, earlier that day, and he was beginning to believe it.
Now, in the middle of the party at Longbourn, in a room filled with people, they had found a way to speak privately. And he felt like they were alone.
“He is absurd indeed,” she whispered back. “And that makes your sacrifice even more commendable. But it is not kind of us to be so harsh on someone that we have barely met. Even more so since your illustrious aunt seems to approve of him very much.”
She challenged him with a daring gaze, at risk of offending him. Darcy held her gaze in silence for a few moments, delighted to be the object of her challenge. He finally replied in all honesty.
“Mr. Collins is precisely the kind of man that my aunt Catherine would fully approve of and wish to have around her.”
“It seems a fortunate arrangement for both of them,” Elizabeth admitted.
“Indeed. I understand you have not met Mr. Collins before?”
“No. He is visiting us for the first time.”
“He does not seem to share any resemblance with your family,” Darcy said.
She smiled bitterly. “And yet, he will inherit our house.”
“Not anytime soon, I am sure. Mr. Bennet seems in excellent health and I am sure he will have the pleasure of spoiling his grandchildren at Longbourn.”
“We hope so. I have no worries about my father’s health, but the mere notion that a woman has fewer rights than a stranger over her own house is distressing,” she admitted.
“I imagine so,” he replied in complete earnestness. They locked glances briefly, again too close to each other to feel comfortable, still rejoicing in the other’s nearness and in their intimate moments of conversation.
“I hope Mr. Collins’s presence did not make your first dinner at Longbourn disagreeable,” Elizabeth continued in a more teasing tone.
“Not at all. Although, I cannot deny that his absence would have been preferable,” Darcy admitted. “I understand he will stay long enough.”
“Yes. He seems to have a personal purpose for this visit, besides visiting us and the property.”
He struggled whether to reply or not, still uncertain how much he could dare to touch on a personal matter with her.
“I hope his purpose is not as unreasonable as he let us presume,” he finally said reluctantly. Their eyes were still meeting.
“If it is, he will have to bear the failure,” she answered meaningfully.
They shared a smile and remained silent for a while, in front of the window, with the moonlight behind them, sipping from their drinks. Their silent posture was rather awkward, very much like their mutual feelings. They found nothing comfortable to talk about, but were also unwilling to separate.
Several more minutes passed, then, worried about her mother’s repeated looks towards them, Elizabeth apologised and left Darcy, moving to sit near her sisters.
With more drinks and conversation, some music and more details about Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the evening ended rather late.
The guests and the hosts were equally delighted with its progress and were willing to repeat it soon.
Mr. Bingley expressed his desire to see the Bennets dining at Netherfield in the following days and was assured of the family’s grateful acceptance.
Farewells were exchanged, as well as some longing, lingering gazes, disguising old or new feelings and hopes.
Judged by the rules of decorum, Mr. Darcy’s first dinner at Longbourn was an unremarkable one, successful in its tasty dishes and careful arrangements.
But to him and to Elizabeth, it was a day that started and ended in a most surprising way and opened an even more unexpected path for their growing relationship.
∞∞∞
Mr. Collins’s first breakfast at Longbourn was also a regular one, following the rules of decorum. His behaviour, although flawless, became more and more annoying to the family, and the days he intended to remain in the house were already being carefully counted.
“I must thank you again for the wonderful reception and exquisite dinner that you offered me yesterday. I was flattered by your attention and making Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance was an additional reward,” he said ceremoniously.
“We are content that you had a pleasant time, sir,” Mrs. Bennet answered.
“Very pleasant indeed. Do Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy visit Longbourn often? I wonder if I will have the chance to meet them again,” Mr. Collins asked.
“I would not say often – but rather regularly. Especially Mr. Bingley,” Mr. Bennet responded.
Mr. Collins’s reply was a large grin. “Since Lady Catherine herself appreciates my keen sense of observation, I will be so bold as to presume that Mr. Bingley has a particular reason for the regular visits.”
Jane blushed, much to Elizabeth’s displeasure. The man was as improper as he was annoying.
“You are truly very perceptive, sir,” Mrs. Bennet readily answered. “Mr. Bingley is a very close friend and he seems to consider Longbourn as his home lately.”
“Mama!” Jane interjected, abashed. “We do not know what Mr. Bingley thinks of Longbourn. He is just a very pleasant and amiable neighbour!”
“Yes, of course he is. And so is Mr. Darcy!” Mrs. Bennet declared.
“Mr. Darcy is just as I imagined him to be!” Mr. Collins responded.
“I have not had the honour of meeting him at Rosings yet, but Lady Catherine said he is expected very soon – in the spring. She is very happy to see him growing more attached to Rosings every year. If the Lord allows it, she expects him to marry Miss de Bourgh anytime soon–perhaps even this year.”
He spoke with confidence and eloquence, throwing consternation over the entire family. Mrs. Bennet looked alarmed and immediately became nervous, while Mr. Bennet frowned in disbelief.
Elizabeth was stunned and Mr. Collins’s words spun in her mind until she had gained full comprehension. Heat and dizziness engulfed her head and her chest while she fought to acquire and to admit the astonishing information. Mr. Darcy was engaged? He was to marry his cousin? How could that be?
“Mr. Darcy is engaged? He never mentioned anything of the kind!” Mrs. Bennet objected.