Chapter 24
Darcy
The next day, Georgiana, Darcy, and Bingley were at Longbourn’s door at the earliest possible polite hour.
A middle aged woman opened the door to them with courtesy, took their names, and announced their presence as she showed them to the parlour.
Apparently their call had caused a great deal of surprise; Mrs. Bennet’s mouth opened in an “O,” and she almost forgot to stand, and all five of the sisters, as they stood and curtsied, smoothed their skirts and hair.
Miss Lydia dropped a bonnet and some ribbons as if she had been caught in a disreputable act, and Miss Kitty hid her embroidery hoop in her skirts.
Darcy glanced sidelong at his sister and saw that she, like him, seemed a bit flummoxed that Elizabeth and Miss Bennet would be surprised; when they had left Netherfield the day before, the Bennet sisters had warmly invited them to call “at any time.” Darcy felt certain that they both knew how dear they had become… .
When the greetings, Darcy’s introduction of his sister, and a few mandatory exchanges on the weather had occurred, and the three were urged to take seats, Darcy led Georgiana over to Elizabeth’s side, and he took a seat near them both.
Elizabeth murmured, “What news is there? Did Sir William indicate what will happen to Miss Bingley?”
It was Georgiana who answered, whispering, “The magistrate is happy that Mr. Bingley is arranging care for his sister and seems satisfied to leave the law out of those decisions.”
Elizabeth nodded and then turned to Miss Mary to involve her in a conversation with Georgiana. Soon the three were happily conversing about music and novels. Darcy was quite delighted to just watch and listen.
His eyes were inexorably drawn to Elizabeth.
Her dark eyes were sparkling and merry as she called her two younger sisters to join in a discussion about Belinda.
All three of the younger Bennet sisters rose in his estimation because they were artlessly friendly to his sister.
Indeed, during the twenty minutes of their visit, thus far, he almost felt guilty for ever thinking poorly of them.
Bingley stood and addressed all of them, saying that they should take advantage of the sunny day and take a walk.
As they gathered outerwear, Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty began to squabble over a bonnet, and Miss Mary chided them both in the most overblown way, as if their disagreement was likely to destroy the entire family or, perhaps, Western civilisation.
Darcy bit back a smile as his internal dialogue acknowledged that he’d had some reason to disapprove of their comportment.
He offered his arms to his sister and Miss Elizabeth and led them away from both squabbles and unwanted sermons.
The three walked through the almost barren garden for only a minute before the youngest Bennets joined them and whisked Georgiana away with promises to show her the most darling litter of kittens, the best hawthorn berry bushes, and a particularly late-producing pippin apple tree.
Darcy was happy for a chance to be relatively alone with Elizabeth, and he hurried to take advantage by plunging into a speech he had laboured over through the night.
“Miss Elizabeth, I have developed strong and steady feelings for you, and I wondered if you would be so good as to accept my courtship and, hopefully, eventually, my proposal of marriage.”
After hurrying through his declaration, a part of him wanted to laugh that he had tossed and turned for six hours in order to come up with a couple of dozen words.
Of course, another part of him was dismayed that he had not uttered the praises of her intellect and character he had planned to say, nor did he use warm words such as love or affection, nor even strong words such as I admire and respect you.
Instead, he had only admitted to having feelings.
Elizabeth had stopped walking and asked, “Courtship? Marriage?”
She seemed more than surprised; she seemed astonished.
Darcy cocked his head in question. “Surely you know—surely you have noticed how much I admire and respect you?”
She blushed and looked down. Then she raised her eyes to his again and said, “And I, you. But I thought….”
“You thought what?” he asked. He hated the fact that she dipped her head again. He felt that he very much needed to look into her eyes.
“I thought you would have to choose a lady with more—with better—a lady of your own circle.” She seemed to be addressing her own feet.
He could not go on without seeing her expression, her eyes. He used one finger to gently tilt her face up so he could do so.
“I again apologise for my horrible insult at that infernal assembly,” he said.
“I hope that those untrue words did not make you feel as if you are not my equal, or rather, as if you were not better than me in many substantial ways. Because speaking of circles and other terms used within the ton does not make much sense to me. I am, in some ways, merely a farmer—granted, my farm is quite large—and you could be called a farmer’s daughter.
More realistically, given the size of the ‘farms’ in question, I am merely a gentleman and a landowner, and you are a gentleman landowner’s daughter.
We two could easily be seen as social equals. ”
Elizabeth looked ready to argue the point, and Darcy smiled at her.
He had noticed, in the past, that she seemed affected by his widest smiles, and he was satisfied to see her response now.
Her cheeks became pink, and she took a deep breath, and he drew upon his strength to continue: “I am certain that some people would consider that I should wed an earl’s daughter or a woman with a dowry amounting to tens of thousands of pounds.
However, I am a man with wealth and connections aplenty.
Why should I have to struggle to find a wealthy and connected woman whose company I can abide for longer than half of an hour, when I find myself completely in the thrall of a gentlewoman who combines intelligence and kindness with accomplishments and beauty? ”
Elizabeth smiled. “Truly? I have not dared to dream that you could think so well of me.”
“I rather thought,” Darcy said, “that my embrace yesterday would have communicated some measure of my ardent love.”
“I did not presume…I was not at all sure….”
“I am hoping that all of these faltering words mean that you favour my courtship?”
Suddenly the endearingly tongue-tied Elizabeth transformed to the woman he usually saw: a confident woman who delighted in irony and laughed at the ridiculous.
She said, “I do indeed, Mr. Darcy. You may be assured of my favour towards any efforts you wish to make to praise me, to seek me out, and to offer anything you deign to offer. I am quite the enthusiast of all things Mr. Darcy, you see.”
He was so happy, he could not help himself; he reached for her and held her tenderly, looking down into her mirthful eyes and sweet smile.
“I wish to kiss you,” he murmured. “But given the fact that Bingley and your sister are hurrying towards us with the appearance of the greatest shock, I had best leave that for another time. Should I seek approval of the courtship with your father, do you think?”
“Yes!” she said, laughing a little. “You had best hurry to do so, dear man, so that you escape the interrogation of my eldest sister and her suitor. Never fear, I can handle these two.”
He chuckled, reluctantly dropped his arms, and then turned and strode to the house.
When he re-entered the house, alone, Mrs. Bennet apparently assumed the worst. “Oh, dear, Mr. Darcy, what did Lizzy do now? Whatever it was—”
“Mrs. Bennet, I would like to speak with Mr. Bennet on a matter of importance, if I may.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Bennet looked shocked, then excited, then uncertain.
He took a step towards the parlour door, wondering if he should apply to the capable-looking housekeeper, but Elizabeth’s mother shrieked, “Hill! Hill!” Mrs. Hill appeared and led him to a closed door. She knocked and then said, “Mr. Darcy to see you, sir.”
Darcy entered a small study that featured a single desk, three chairs, and many bookcases stuffed with a great many books. Mr. Bennet did not stand as Darcy entered and bowed, but rather remained seated at the desk, looking at Darcy with a quizzical expression.
He had never met Mr. Bennet before. The one time the gentleman had visited Netherfield was before Darcy had arrived; and Elizabeth’s father had never bothered to attend the card parties, assemblies, or other gatherings where Darcy had seen the many females of his family.
But he had heard about Mr. Bennet from several sources.
Mr. Bennet was said to be intelligent, indolent, and sarcastic.
The plethora of books in his study spoke to his intelligence, the fact that he did not stand was evidence of not only indolence but also a tendency towards rudeness, and Darcy was certain that the man’s sarcasm would soon be on display.
He felt nervous. The fact that—according to Richard—Darcy had long been considered one of the most coveted bachelors in all of England did not mean that a discussion with Elizabeth’s father would be easy.
“Thank you for seeing me, sir,” Darcy said.
Mr. Bennet frowned a bit and then indulged in the expected sarcasm.
“Well, you have been delivered into my sanctuary without any efforts on my part, not even so much as an agreement to take the delivery. As for seeing you, my eyes apparently do not require my approval to do their job any more than my housekeeper needs my approval for bringing me uninvited guests.”
Darcy felt a jolt of humour and a stronger jolt of anger.
Deciding that he would do better to respond with humour, he gave the man a small smile and said, “Indeed.” He took a seat, although he had not been invited to do so.
He said, “I know very well how unwanted interruptions can be while one is in one’s sanctuary.
And I see that you, like me, have outfitted your refuge with books.
” He took a careful look at the volumes close enough to read their spines and widened his eyes as he recognised some highly coveted—and very pricey—volumes.
“Well, now that an unwanted interruption has occurred,” Mr. Bennet said, allowing a return smile to flit across his face, “perhaps you should get to the matter that precipitated it.”
“Mr. Bennet, I have asked Miss Elizabeth for a formal courtship for the eventual purpose of marriage, and she has agreed. Since she is out in society, I imagine that seeking your formal approval at this stage is not strictly necessary, but both Miss Elizabeth and I thought it would be best to alert you to my honourable intentions.”
Darcy interpreted Mr. Bennet’s expression as shock. “Why would a man such as yourself want to court my Lizzy?” Mr. Bennet asked. Scepticism coloured his words unpleasantly, and Darcy was bewildered by the implication that Elizabeth’s father did not see her worth.
“Sir, you must know that your daughter has intelligence and integrity that are unequalled. She is delightful to converse with, she is kind to people of every social standing, and she displays a courage I have never before witnessed in the fairer sex. All of that is in addition to her beauty, her singing talent, and her cheerful outlook on life.”
Mr. Bennet did not respond for a few moments. When he spoke, he teased, “If she is as wonderful as you say, perhaps I should hold out for a duke to come make his offer.”
Sighing at the man’s desire to continue to agitate, Darcy said, “Sir, I am well aware that I do not deserve your second daughter, but I am thrilled to my core that she seems to hold me in esteem, as I do her. I am determined to work hard to become more and more deserving of her, and one way I intend to do that is to work tirelessly to foster her happiness. I assume that we could wait a number of months and marry without your approval or blessing, but even when she achieves her majority, I am positive that she will still want your blessing.”
Darcy was relieved to see the man nod. “Of course. I am willing to give your suit my approval and, if Lizzy eventually consents to marry you, I will bless your union. Indeed, you are the kind of man I should never refuse anything he deigns to ask.”
Ignoring the man’s sarcastic tone, Darcy said, “Thank you, sir.”
“I assume that you will be presenting me with marriage articles before long?”
“Yes, sir. I plan to write to my solicitors today to update my will and draw up a settlement. I am certain that you already know that I can well afford to care for your daughter and any children we might be blessed with.”
Mr. Bennet used his eyebrows to shrug. “Yes, yes, I know. Ten thousand a year!”
“Pardon the correction, but that figure is a bit of an underestimation. I beg you will keep that between us, however. I am target enough as it is.” Darcy rose, bowed, said, “Thank you, again,” and he left, carefully closing the door behind himself.
It was only after he had left the study that Darcy thought how odd it was that Mr. Bennet had not asked about all the drama at Netherfield the day before. He wondered if it was possible that Miss Bennet and Elizabeth had not informed their family.
But the happier thought of being able to assure Elizabeth of her father’s approval took precedence, and he hurried to find his beloved.