Chapter 1.17 #2
“Lady Matlock, offending me was of no great importance, but Lord Matlock offended Miss Elizabeth in a most outrageous manner, undeservedly and most unfairly. I cannot allow or forgive that, not even from my excellent uncle. I shall be forced never to visit this house again. I am sorry.”
His aunt had never seen him so offended, and her heart melted for him as if he were her own son.
They had always treated the Darcy siblings as their own children, and he had always held them in the highest regard.
Under no circumstances would she allow him to leave her house in such a state and with the intention of never returning due to the nature of his disagreement with the earl.
A few moments were enough for the lady to decide the best course of action, the most advantageous one for all the parties involved. She took his arm firmly.
“Darcy, of course you will do as you wish, but please give me a few minutes. Please indulge me in this?”
Tired and powerless to enter into another argument at the moment, he accepted and sat with her while the colonel poured him a glass of brandy. They enjoyed the drink for a couple of minutes before Lady Matlock spoke again.
“I hope you know that, despite his inconsiderate words, Lord Matlock has the deepest affection and concern for you. His only excuse might have been that your announcement has astonished us both. You have never given us any reason to expect such a thing, and I must say that I, too, have some doubts regarding your decision. Also, be assured I have no intention of offending Miss Bennet in any way. I am sure she is everything charming and might be a good wife for you, but will she be a proper mistress of Pemberley? Will she be able to rise to the expectations of the position and to honour it as did your mother and grandmother? I am afraid it will be too difficult a task for the daughter of a mere country gentleman who may only be acquainted with the lesser responsibilities of a small estate.”
“I can understand your surprise, Aunt, and I can also understand your disapproval of my choice. Moreover, less than two months ago, I myself would have been decidedly against the mere idea of such a union, regardless of my admiration of her. I congratulate myself on being wise enough to understand, before it was too late, how mistaken I was. In truth, I have every reason to believe that Miss Elizabeth Bennet will be an excellent mistress of Pemberley. She is generous, kind, and amiable, and she possesses an intelligence that I have not seen in any young lady before her. She is not merely witty and bright but pleasant, unpretentious, and also accomplished in every way a proper lady should be.”
“I see… Well, I must say she sounds very impressive. If she is only half as you describe her, she must indeed be as no other lady I have met before. If she is also as beautiful as I imagine she is, it is no wonder she managed to charm you as not one of the ladies of the ton has succeeded in all these years.”
Her tone was light and conversational, but Darcy could easily understand her hidden meaning and discreet allusion to a mercenary purpose.
“Indeed you are mistaken, Aunt. She made no attempt to charm me; in fact, it was quite the opposite. For as long as a month after we were introduced, our every encounter turned into a debate, she missed no opportunity to challenge and censure me, and I offered her numerous opportunities to do so. But she did all this in such a playful manner that I was never offended—quite the opposite, I might say. She refused to dance with me more than once, you know.”
Every word made his aunt knit her eyebrows in disbelief. She thought Darcy spoke in jest—and his voice indeed sounded amused as though he were telling a joke—because she could never imagine any woman would dare treat Darcy in that manner. His next words only increased her astonishment.
“And I, in my selfish pride, chose to see her behaviour as flirtatious. I was convinced she admired me and was seeking my attentions. Consequently, for many weeks I tried to treat her coldly, not to raise any expectations. Can you imagine me such a fool? I came to understand the truth only when she explicitly told me that I offended her every time we met and that there were few people whose company she would not prefer over my own.”
“Oh dear—now I am shocked! The lady seems quite wild and frightful. That way of treating you was preposterous.”
He began to laugh, quite relieved at the turn of the discussion.
“No, believe me, I deserved every derisive word and poor opinion of me. For you see, Aunt, I deeply offended Miss Elizabeth the first moment we were introduced just because I was in a bad humour. Bingley suggested that I should ask her to dance, but I refused quite rudely, calling her ‘not handsome enough’ though I had not even looked at her properly. Alas, she heard me!”
“Oh, heavens! Now you cannot leave! Pour me another glass of wine and tell me all the particulars; I deserve at least that much.”
Fatigue from the previous night, two glasses of brandy, and his aunt’s encouragement made Darcy more talkative than usual.
Lady Matlock wisely chose to let him speak and, instead of posing direct questions about Miss Elizabeth and her family, found her answers in her nephew’s story.
Another two hours passed before they finally ended their discussion and Darcy decided to leave.
“Well, nephew, this was the most entertaining evening I have had in years. I never would have guessed at the behaviour you exhibit among strangers. Now you absolutely must bring Miss Elizabeth for tea as soon as possible so I can meet her. And then you must have another dinner and invite the Bingleys too, for I understand I missed quite a spectacle a few days ago.”
Though she spoke in a light, jesting tone, he bowed in front of her and kissed her hand formally.
“Thank you, Lady Matlock. I know Miss Bennet will be honoured to meet you. Please send me word when it would be convenient for you, and we shall honour the invitation.”
When Darcy reached his house half an hour later, he asked briefly about Georgiana, and he was told she was well. Then Miles assisted him in retiring for the night, and he fell into the deepest sleep.
At the same time, the colonel and Lady Matlock remained in earnest conversation while the earl, taking his wife’s wise advice earnestly, found himself quite put out by one too many glasses of brandy.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth had another restless night, this time from the unexpected and still not completely believable happiness that prevented sleep from claiming her for many long hours.
Only when dawn appeared did she finally fall asleep.
She woke a few hours later, not tired but with anxious anticipation of what the day would bring.
The second day of my engagement. If not for the ring that sparkled on her finger, she might fear it was only a dream.
An exquisite bouquet of red roses was delivered to her before breakfast, making her blush in front of her family. She took the card and gasped as her heart beat wildly on seeing her own earlier thoughts written by Darcy.
This is the second day of our engagement, and I love you even more than I did yesterday. The hours until we meet again seem an eternity.
F. D.
PS. I have ordered the carriage to remain at your disposal for you to call on Georgiana.
Elizabeth barely noticed the meal on her plate or the topics of conversation; after her father and uncle departed, she tried to spend some time playing with her young cousins, and she was more than pleased to tell them of her engagement and answer their questions.
Around half past ten, while Mrs Gardiner and Jane were trying to persuade Lydia to demonstrate moderation in discussing all the things that needed to be purchased for her wedding, Elizabeth prepared to call on Georgiana.
She felt guilty for again not staying at home to help, but Mrs Gardiner heartily encouraged her outing. Her aunt would have left Lydia alone herself, so much was she irritated and even revolted by her youngest niece’s lack of judgment, but there was nothing to be done. Lydia was Lydia after all.
∞∞∞
The next morning, Colonel Fitzwilliam found his mother in the dining room and greeted her affectionately and with no little admiration. They conversed until after midnight, but her appearance was as flawless as ever at that early hour of the morning.
He thought he had never seen his mother appear less than perfect in any situation.
Her gowns, jewels, and hairstyle were of the highest possible fashion but never ostentatious; rather, she exhibited more of discreet elegance.
Her adornments plainly spoke of her wealth and position in society but also her exquisite taste.
For more than thirty years, she had been one of the most admired ladies wherever she appeared, including St. James’s Palace.
Even now, at the age of four and fifty, her entrance into a room full of people made all eyes turn towards her.
She had been—and still was—not only beautiful but also glowing, spreading light around her, a quality the colonel had never found in any other woman of his acquaintance.
They did not begin breakfast until the earl appeared, his countenance looking a bit the worse for wear. “Good morning, Father.”