Chapter 4 #2
Georgiana nodded her agreement, and Elizabeth began the conversation by asking a question about her music since she knew from her conversations with Miss Bingley and her time at Rosings that Georgiana enjoyed the pianoforte and played exceptionally well.
As a maid helped Elizabeth change her dress, they discussed favourite composers, and Georgiana told her some of the pieces she had been working on this spring with a master.
Several times, Georgiana hinted at the excellent qualities of her brother and frequently praised him as ‘the best of brothers.’
Once Elizabeth was ready, they returned to the drawing room. On the way, Georgiana knocked on a door, which she told Elizabeth was her brother’s study. After only a moment, he joined them with a broad smile and offered an arm to each young lady to escort them to the drawing room for tea.
“Elizabeth, would you mind pouring the tea? I need to step into the music room and get something,” Georgiana said after the other two were seated. She quickly darted out of the room, careful to leave the door slightly open for the sake of propriety.
Darcy grimaced. “I apologise for my sister, Miss Bennet. She is rather obvious in her matchmaking.”
Elizabeth waved her hand, making clear the apology was unnecessary.
“She is a sweet girl, very eager to please and, I think, eager to throw the two of us together. She sang your praises while we were upstairs,” she said, grinning as she watched his cheeks pink at the praise.
“She has already requested that I call her Georgiana and expressed a wish to be friends. I hope you do not mind the familiarity.”
He drew in a breath at the smile on her face as she teased him.
“I am pleased at how well you are getting along, Elizabeth. I had hoped you would befriend her and that she would feel comfortable with you. And she has done so very quickly, which is unexpected as she is normally timid,” he said, smiling at her in return.
“However, while we have a moment, I need to ask if you wish to stay here, or would you prefer I ask my aunt to host you? I understand she will not be home until late tonight, but I can speak with her tomorrow if I cannot tonight.”
“When will my aunt and uncle return to London, sir?” she asked. “I did not know they were going out of town and had not considered they might until I received your note in the carriage.”
“I attempted to visit Mr Gardiner at his office first since you kindly included both addresses. After some convincing, I was told by his man of business that Mr Gardiner and his entire family travelled out of town for a day or two, and the butler at their house confirmed it. I understand they are to return sometime the day after tomorrow,” he said.
Elizabeth considered this. “There seems little reason to involve others at this point. Your sister has a companion who can serve as my chaperone; is that correct? It seems easier to remain here than spend one night and another elsewhere. That is, if you do not mind or think it would affect your reputation.”
Darcy nodded. “I agree with you, although my concern is for your reputation, not mine. I did want to offer you the option to stay with my aunt. I will have dinner with you, but I can spend these nights at my club if you want me to. I would like you to agree to marry me willingly and not be forced into it.” Once again, his cheeks and ears pinked at his words, and he watched as she reacted the same way.
“I am not certain what is best to do in this situation, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said haltingly, her face uncertain and embarrassed at his words.
“You have asked to court me, but it is not official as you have not spoken to my father or uncle yet. None of my family knows where I am, and I worry my cousin may contact my family to tell them some ridiculous story about my expulsion from his home. I did ask Charlotte to prevent him from sending any letters, but I do not know how successful she might be. If any of today’s events become known, my reputation will be ruined regardless.
You have acted to protect me, but I remain in a precarious situation.
” She took a deep, shaky breath, her shoulders slumping slightly with the weight of the day’s events.
Darcy noticed this and felt an almost desperate desire to take Elizabeth in his arms and comfort her.
He moved towards her but halted before he did more than begin to rise from his chair.
“Elizabeth,” he started softly in a slightly husky tone, making her name nearly a caress.
“I am sorry to have put you in this position. I did not anticipate your relations being away from home, which would have made today’s events much simpler to contain.
My aunt is responsible for putting you in this situation; I have told her I will not marry my cousin for years, but she has refused to listen to me and continued to believe that someday I could be persuaded to marry Anne.
She may have been informed that I took my leave from the parsonage yesterday after speaking with her and set herself against you.
I worry she may continue to threaten your person or your reputation.
I hope you know I wish to marry you and would gladly marry you to protect your reputation, although I desire you to wed me willingly, not out of obligation.
My only concern is I am not certain you wish to wed me …
yet … and I hoped to give you time to get to know me better. ”
He hesitated, moving to kneel in front of her and taking her hand in his, and then continued speaking earnestly.
“I do not know if you realise it yet, Elizabeth, but I do love you, most ardently.
I have for some time, although I confess it took some time to know what to do in this situation.
I had never been in love before, and the unfamiliar feelings left me unsettled and uncertain.
Since reaching my majority, it has been expected that I know what to do in nearly all situations.
I took over the running of Pemberley from my father shortly before my twenty-first birthday, as he learned he was sick then and hoped to extend his life by handing over the estate to me.
I was forced to take on the mantle of master far sooner than I would have liked, first with my father there to support me, but he did not live long after the transition.
“Additionally, I have been told my entire life that I must marry a well-dowered, well-connected woman of the ton, and especially since meeting you, I have struggled between doing my duty and following my heart. When I saw you again at Rosings, I knew doing my duty could not compare to what I felt for you. I would be honoured, dearest Elizabeth, if you would accept the offer of my hand in marriage. However, I do not want you to feel obligated to accept me; I will protect your reputation regardless of your response.”
Elizabeth was shocked and overwhelmed by his words.
She attempted to speak several times before finding the words to respond.
“I cannot say I am in love with you at this moment, sir, but after you left Rosings, I have come to realise I could fall in love with you. I would like us to court first, and if we can keep others from learning I have spent two nights in your home, we will have time to do so. However, I am uncertain what will happen should others find out I am here. I would not like to be forced into a marriage I am not yet prepared to accept.”
“Other than Richard, no one knows I am in town, and as the knocker is not on my door, my presence here should go undetected for another day or two. Once your relations return, I will escort you to their home, and you can explain as much or as little as you like. While here, we will have opportunities to speak frequently with Georgiana or Mrs Annesley as chaperones. I hope to show you a better version of myself than I did in Hertfordshire,” he confessed.
Elizabeth nodded quietly, watching him intently for several moments before her eyes again took on a teasing glint. “And sir, do not think I have not noticed your use of my Christian name. I did not think a mere courtship, and an unofficial one at that, entitled you to such liberties.”
He grinned as he stood and sat at a more appropriate distance, although he remained close to her. “Perhaps not, Miss Elizabeth, but it seems unfair that my sister has been granted the privilege when I have not. And as you see, I cannot completely relinquish the right.”
She laughed. “What then, sir, am I to call you if you insist on calling me Elizabeth?” she teased him.
“I believe you know my Christian name is Fitzwilliam, although my Aunt Catherine is the only one who ever uses that name. Most of my friends call me Darcy, and my sister mostly calls me Brother. My mother called me William, and Georgiana has begun to on occasion. Would you be comfortable calling me by that name?” he requested.
“William is a fine name,” she said, considering his request as she poured the tea. “Yes, I think in private I could call you William.”
When Georgiana returned with her companion, Darcy and Elizabeth were sipping their tea and talking quietly.
After Georgiana introduced Elizabeth and Mrs Annesley, Elizabeth asked the ladies how they took their tea and prepared a cup for each.
The four began conversing about books they had read and other pleasant topics.