Chapter 6
Six
After dinner Elizabeth asked her uncle for permission for her and Darcy to speak somewhat privately. They sat down on two chairs at the far end of the room, and he turned to her with both trepidation and hope.
“Mr Darcy, I am not certain if I ever apologised to you for embroiling you in my lie to the duke. I know you have said several times that you wish to marry me, but now that you have come to know me better—and to see that I am apparently apt to lie without compunction—I must ask you if your wishes truly do remain the same, that you wish me to be your wife.”
“Miss Elizabeth, believe me when I say that my wishes not only remain the same, but my feelings are a thousand times deeper. I…I do not merely wish for you to accept my proposal, I long for you to do so. But only if you truly wish to. Do not allow my longing, nor the duke’s frightening attentions, nor the fear of whispers compel you to say ‘yes.’”
She nodded and stared into Darcy’s eyes much as she had earlier that day.
Then she said, “This week I have seen you in a variety of different situations, Mr Darcy, and I can honestly say that I do wish to say ‘yes.’ However, when I explained this to my aunt, she warned me that the vulnerability I felt when the duke approached me makes my feelings a bit suspect. She is positive I should travel with them to the Lake District before firmly deciding—and certainly before announcing. However, I am already positive, because I felt this way before we saw the duke.”
Darcy felt as if his smile encompassed his whole body.
A part of him wanted to jump up and dance a jig, but of course that would take him farther from Elizabeth than if he remained in his chair, so he did the staid thing, saying, “Oh, my dearest, that makes me so happy. But I suppose I must continue on without taking liberties, as per your aunt’s guidance. ”
Elizabeth nodded and said, “I suppose. But I wanted to say that, despite what that debauched duke said, I imagine that you do, in fact, have an idea of what to do with a woman.”
Darcy felt a blush rise up his cheeks; he shook his head repressively but also chuckled in appreciation. He said, “Miss Elizabeth, forgive me, but I have so many feelings about that little speech. What can you mean by it?”
She laughed and said, “Part of what I mean is that I hope you did not feel humiliated that I heard that awful man insult you. Another part of what I mean is that I am aware of the differences in how our society treats experience for men and women. And I acknowledge what I have always been taught: you will have had some experience. The reason I bring it up, despite the fact that it will cause us to blush quite as vividly as we have ever done in our lives, is because I am hopeful that you will not have had very much experience, and that I will not forever be running into women….”
Darcy was not chuckling anymore, but the heat he felt from her first, somewhat cryptic statement was as nothing compared to what he felt with her ongoing explanation. She, too, was blushing brightly.
Keeping her eyes lowered, she finished with a whisper: “I thought I would be bold, but I no longer know how to finish. But…you will keep your marriage vows, sir, will you not?”
“I will keep my vows; you may be certain of that. As to my past, I have never had a mistress, I have never courted a woman nor proposed to a woman until you, and I have not lain with a woman for years. You will never run into a woman I have been with in that way; it was just three courtesans at the most distinguished houses near Cambridge.”
“Ohh…that is about as positive as I could have hoped,” she responded. She still did not look up at him, and her cheeks were still rosy with embarrassment.
He said, “I also agree that the mandate that men must have experience and that women must not makes an inherent inequity, which I cannot like. However, I believe our marriage will have every chance for felicity.”
She looked up at him with the most beautiful expression of hope.
“Also, I thank you for your confidence in me,” he murmured. “I assure you that I do know what to do with the most beautiful woman who has ever lived; it is a multiple-step process, and the step we now stand on is for me to make every attempt to please a woman worthy of being pleased.”
“You have pleased me so much this very evening, Mr Darcy.”
“When you are back from the Lake District, and we are officially engaged, I hope you will call me Darcy. Or, if you like, Fitzwilliam, William, or Will.”
She smiled and agreed to do so. “I will have to call you each of these names, I believe, depending on my mood or our location.”
“I look forward to it.”
She stood, signalling that their private conversation was over; he escorted her back to the group and briefly went over the travellers’ itinerary.
Because they planned to set off early in the morning, the Gardiners whisked Elizabeth to their guest chambers at that point, and before long Georgiana said good night as well.
Darcy was trembling from his excitement about his nearly-official betrothal, and he feared it was unlikely that he would be able to sleep anytime soon.
But, he ruefully acknowledged to himself, perhaps that was a good thing.
After all, there was a stack of correspondence he had neglected for the past several days.
Going to his study, he sorted through the letters stacked on his desk.
He organised his writing materials, but instead of responding to the most important letter, he began to write letters to each of the inns at which the Gardiners planned to lodge, requesting that the travellers be treated as members of his family.
Darcy knew the owners of all but one of the establishments, and he felt assured that the use of his name would elevate the service and, he hoped, their enjoyment.
Next, he wrote an express to his local and London investigators, implementing the measures he had outlined earlier that day.
Only after all those tasks were done did Darcy begin to answer his various letters and invitations.
It was almost midnight by the time he was done, and considering the amount of time he had to spend almost daily on correspondence, he tentatively decided to hire a secretary.
Once he was wed, he would wish to spend that time… more agreeably engaged.
The next day, Darcy rose early to see the Gardiners and Elizabeth off. He had ordered a hamper of food and beverages to be gathered for their travels, and he kissed Elizabeth’s hand lingeringly—despite the presence of her aunt and uncle.
Once the carriage disappeared from sight, Darcy attempted to jump back into his ordinary duties, but he found it a bit more difficult than usual to maintain focus in his meetings with Pemberley’s steward and housekeeper and with Georgiana’s companion.
Instead of paying attention to the report on the yield of the winter wheat crop, he pictured Elizabeth’s face turned back towards him and Georgiana, her hand lifted in farewell, as she began the day’s journey…
away from him. Instead of reading the week’s menus, so that he could make changes or grant approval, he remembered how soft Elizabeth’s hand had been in his, and how she had trembled when he kissed her wrist just above her glove.
Instead of promptly responding to Mrs Annesley’s request for new sheet music for Georgiana, he flashed on Elizabeth’s voice as she had said, “I will see you quite soon,” and then she had whispered an addition: “Will.”
Every time he lost focus, he held up his hand, apologised for not attending properly, and asked that the last point be repeated.
He not only exerted a tremendous amount of effort on not getting distracted by daydreams of Elizabeth, he also remembered to thank his servants and employees, to smile, and to make every demonstration of respect that they deserved.
It was slightly depressing that, in each meeting, each of his employees asked if he was well—but not when he demonstrated a failure to maintain his attention on the business at hand, but rather when he smiled and apologised.
Still, Darcy comforted himself that each of these individuals, who were so crucial to his life, demonstrated true respect at the beginning of each meeting and even more respect, along with appreciation, by its end.
However monstrous he now found his former arrogance and propensity to frown, he could see that his pre-resurrection self had been hardworking and capable enough to have earned respect.
At the end of the meeting with his steward, Mr Morris said, “It is wonderful to see things going well for you again, sir.”
As she left his study, Mrs Reynolds said, “It is so wonderful to see you happy, sir.”
Tears had actually formed in Mrs Annesley’s eyes when she said, “Your recent guests have brought you and Miss Darcy a measure of peace and contentment that I hope will continue.”
Only a few minutes after that third meeting ended, Darcy received the announcement that he had dreaded. His butler knocked on his door and said, “The Duke of Lymebourne is here to see you, sir. I have put him into the blue drawing room.”
He had never thought to ensure that Georgiana was far away if and when the duke visited, but of course Connors lived in Derbyshire and knew the duke’s reputation. Still, he had to say, “Please be certain that Georgiana is kept away.”
“Yes, sir. She is currently in her private sitting room, and I have alerted Mrs Annesley to the duke’s presence.”
“Thank you, Mr Connors,” Darcy said. He did not smile—indeed, he could not—but he tried to express his respect and gratitude with his voice and eyes.
Darcy slowly made his way to the blue drawing room, considering what strategies he could use if the duke were as unpleasant as he anticipated.
Darcy well remembered that his father knew a man who was sentenced to death for hitting a duke in self-defense; that duke was a friend of King George III.
The Duke of Lymebourne claimed to be a special friend of the Prince Regent.
He had no idea how the prince actually viewed the duke, but Darcy knew better than to let himself respond with any show of violence.
“Your Grace.” Darcy greeted the man with deliberate astonishment, saying, “I cannot imagine how it is that I have the honour of being sought out only a day after we met at Lymeston.”
“I came to better know your charming intended since you had to hasten away so quickly yesterday.”
“Apologies for our hurried removal yesterday, sir, but we had many miles to accomplish. Can I offer you some refreshment? Tea, perhaps? Lemonade?”
“I would prefer something stronger, Darcy, as you well know. Good God, man, offering tea in the afternoon?”
It was just a few minutes past noon, which Darcy supposed did indeed qualify as afternoon.
He rang and asked for a single glass of sherry.
The duke lifted his eyes skyward, likely in disapprobation over being served wine rather than a stronger drink.
But Darcy’s experience had taught him that alcohol tended to make this particular man… even more unpleasant.
While waiting for the sherry, Darcy said, “Miss Bennet is not in residence and has likely left Derbyshire at this point.”
“Oh, dear, I regret not being able to converse with the young lady. After all, if you really do marry her, she will become an important personage in our little corner of the world.”
In response, Darcy merely nodded.
The duke said, “I had my man do a quick search of Debrett’s and the Baronetage, and there is no listing for a Bennet family.
Of course, you are a commoner, and despite the…
fire…your lady demonstrates, I assume her to be commoner as well.
Where did she come from? What is her father’s estate?
I have never seen her at Almack’s or, indeed, at any ball here or in Town. ”
A footman arrived and courteously offered a goblet of sherry to the duke and then executed a deep bow before retreating.
Darcy waited until the footman had left the room before answering: “Mr Bennet does not care for London, sir, and indeed their family is not well known there. Again, apologies for our hasty removal yesterday, but I am afraid that I must beg off any further conversation today, as well. I am even now late for a meeting with some tenants.”
At that moment, Connors entered, bowed, and said, “Sir, please excuse the interruption, but the situation is getting more dire, and Mr Morris asked me to strongly request your prompt attention.”
“Excuse me,” Darcy said to the duke, who downed his sherry in two gulps. “Many apologies, sir,” Darcy continued, “but my duty calls.”
Darcy accompanied Connors out of the room, but he heard the duke follow them, and as the peer passed him on the stairway, the man muttered, “Avoiding my question two days in a row? Good lord, Darcy, you are not marrying a kitchen maid, are you?”
Pretending not to hear, Darcy accepted his outer layers from a footman and hurried outside, towards the stables.
He made certain that the duke had entered his carriage and set off before he sent two of his most trusted riders to discreetly watch the duke’s conveyance to ensure that he would know if the carriage did not, as expected, leave Pemberley’s extensive lands.
Then Darcy rode out to meet with some tenants.
Granted, there was not really a scheduled meeting, nor a “dire” situation, but just as he had begun to use his employees to keep a circumspect watch over the duke, he considered it a possibility that someone in the ignoble nobleman’s employ might have been assigned to secretly watch him.
He would have to assign some footmen to comb through the areas near enough the house to watch comings and goings.
Darcy sighed. He could imagine many more beneficial ways he might utilise his time, if it were not for that unfortunate moment at Lymeston, when they nearly collided with the duke and Elizabeth’s beauty came to his notice for the first time.