Chapter 8
Presumptions
Darcy only managed a brief word with Elizabeth as she and her aunt had been on their way out of the house when he arrived to deliver the letters.
He handed each letter to its recipient and was pleased by Elizabeth’s blush when he apologised in advance for any assumptions made in his sister’s letter.
Reluctantly tearing himself away from Elizabeth’s company, he went to his office.
Despite his best efforts, his thoughts frequently strayed to her throughout the day, necessitating a constant need for him to redirect his attention to his papers.
Since this was not his normal state, he found himself frustrated with his lack of concentration, although the object of his reflections was pleasing.
Finally, he finished enough work to feel he could depart in good conscience.
Perhaps he had not completed as much work as he might typically, but he had still done at least as much as most of his peers.
Strangely, although he knew he had selected the law as a way of life only a few years ago, knowing he could live the rest of his life as the master of an estate not far from his family’s ancestral seat of Pemberley pleased him.
He had always preferred the country to town, though he had chosen the law over the church when he selected a career as a barrister.
He felt a little sadness at the thought of giving up this career but knew his life would not be one of idleness.
Unlike other estate owners he knew—his brother included—who allowed the steward to oversee his estate while merely collecting the rents, Darcy had learned from his father to be a diligent master.
He would be involved in running his estate and do all he could to make it prosper under his management.
And he would have Elizabeth by his side to assist him as he learned.
This thought followed him into his rooms to change for dinner and led him to quickly depart for the Gardiner home a few blocks away.
He arrived early, as Gardiner suggested.
After greeting the family, the young couple was allowed the opportunity for a private conversation in the drawing room, leaving the door ajar for propriety’s sake while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner tucked their children into bed.
“Elizabeth,” he began, “I have had several discussions with your uncle and my mother since I spoke to you yesterday. I believe those conversations have all led to the same certainty, and I would like to ask you: what are your thoughts on our relationship?”
Elizabeth blushed at his direct question. “Sir, I … what exactly do you mean?”
Darcy chuckled at her flustered response to his rather improper question.
“Forgive me, dearest,” he began, and she blushed brightly at the endearment.
He beamed as he realised what he had said and her reaction.
“Perhaps I should simply tell you what has been discussed,” he said, sharing the details of what he had learned about his future.
He concluded, “Even though we have known each other less than a fortnight, I confess I had frequently heard about ‘Lizzy’ from your aunt and uncle long before I met you. I think the fact strengthened our friendship. However, from the moment I met you, especially the first time we touched, I felt something for you I had never felt before. At first, it was simply an attraction to a beautiful woman, but your wit and charm did not take long to touch my heart in earnest. I have come to care for you greatly, and while I am reluctant to call it love quite this quickly, I feel I am well on my way.”
Reaching out to place her hand in his, Elizabeth interrupted him.
“My aunt has said something similar to me, Fitzwilliam. I had heard of you before I met you, although perhaps not as frequently. Although I had been in town less than a fortnight when we met, you were frequently mentioned. I was predisposed to like you, and I felt that same jolt of … something when I first saw you and then again when I laid my hand on your arm. Like you, I can easily say I care about you but am reluctant to call it love after such a short time.”
“Yet my uncle and mother have both suggested I give in to the inevitable and propose to you immediately, as they believe our marriage is a foregone conclusion at this point,” he informed her dryly.
She arched an eyebrow in a way he had come to adore. “That is rather presumptuous of our relatives, Fitzwilliam. And are you inclined to follow their advice?” she inquired.
“That is why I asked for permission to speak to you, Elizabeth,” he retorted. “And might I say, you are holding my hand and calling me by my Christian name seems to indicate a closer relationship than a mere courtship already? We are friends, but perhaps there is more there as well.”
Feeling slightly stunned by the thought, Elizabeth attempted to pull her hand from his, but he tightened his grip. “Please, Elizabeth, do not pull away from me just now. I wanted to show you what my mother gave me to give to you.”
“What?” Elizabeth asked, feeling rather curious.
Darcy smiled at his success in turning Elizabeth’s mind from her pique at presumptuous relatives and onto a gift. He pulled the velvet bag from his pocket and held it up for Elizabeth to see.
“Jewellery?” she guessed.
“A necklace meant for my intended,” he whispered as he poured the necklace into his hand.
Again, she startled. “More presumptions,” she whispered as she looked at the beautiful necklace in his palm.
“Perhaps, but, Elizabeth, is it truly so unlikely? You have admitted to caring for me and feeling the same jolt I felt upon meeting. I feel like I have known you for much longer than merely a sennight, and I have difficulty picturing life without you in it.” He paused to take a deep breath.
“Perhaps I should have waited to speak of this. However, I want you to know what I am thinking. We have the support of your London family and my mother, and I will speak with my uncle tomorrow about my inheritance.”
Darcy continued: “Between all these things, we can be assured any children we have would be well provided for.”
“Children, sir,” Elizabeth said, standing and pacing before him.
“How can you speak of providing for our children when we are not yet engaged? Despite the feelings you evoke in me, I have known you for a week. Do not my uncle and your mother think this is moving too quickly? How can you speak of a life with me so soon? Is this merely to allow you to inherit your estate? Am I merely convenient to fit into your plans?”
“How can you think such a thing, Elizabeth? This simply makes it easier for us to marry—I only learned of it when I told my mother I intended to offer for you,” he protested.
The Gardiners were walking by in time to hear this outburst and stepped into the room. Mrs. Gardiner immediately went to Elizabeth to calm her, and Gardiner encouraged Darcy to step across the hall to his study for a few moments.
“That was not what I expected,” Darcy said after taking a large gulp of whatever Gardiner handed him.
“My wife worried she would react this way when I told her the subject of your discourse,” Gardiner told the younger man.
“Her parents are not much of an example of marriage. I do not know if she realises her parents married because they had to, but she is still terrified of making a mistake despite the relationship she has seen between my wife and me. She is not rejecting you but will need time to calm herself. My wife will speak to her and help her to see things properly.”
As the gentlemen spoke further, Mrs. Gardiner tried to calm her niece. “How can he speak of marriage so soon after meeting me? How does he know he feels what he should so quickly?” Elizabeth cried.
“First, Lizzy, dry your tears and come sit beside me so we might speak,” Mrs. Gardiner said, patting the seat beside her.
It took a moment, but Elizabeth obeyed, her body still full of nervous energy.
“I would have warned your uncle to allow me to speak to you first had I known what he and Mr. Darcy discussed this morning. You must remember Mr. Darcy is not like your father, and you are definitely not the same as your mother. Even if you and Mr. Darcy were to marry tomorrow, you would never have the relationship they have. Do you know your uncle and I married after only six weeks? We both knew immediately the other was our partner, which is what we have—a partnership. Our marriage is nothing like your parents, is it? And I know you have seen other examples of good relationships, even if what you see at home is not good. The amount of time we know someone matters less than our commitment to ensuring things will work.”
Elizabeth nodded her agreement and noticeably began to calm until another worry struck her. “Did I scare him away?”
Mrs. Gardiner chuckled at her question. “No, dear, I do not believe he is one to be easily frightened. Your uncle is speaking to him, but I think you are the one who needs reassurance right now. Now, has he asked for your hand? Did you answer him?”
“No, he did not ask,” she admitted. “We were merely discussing the idea of our marriage. It was his mention of us having children that frightened me, I think.”
“Why did that frighten you? You adore your cousins?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“I do, but …,” she sighed heavily before she continued.
“What if I am more like Mama than either of us believes, and I can only have daughters? Will Fitzwilliam grow to despise me if that happens? Will I come to hate one or all of my children as my mother did? He has said he is not ready to say what he feels for me is love, yet he speaks of marrying me as though it will definitely occur. I told him I felt the same—I know I care for him, but it simply feels too soon to call what I feel love. Can I fall in love with someone in just seven days?”