Chapter 15
The Gardiners remained at Longbourn only two more days, then returned to London.
When they departed, Elizabeth lost most of the people with whom she could discuss Darcy; only her father remained, but he mostly teased her while he became more and more accustomed to the idea of her marriage.
After sound reflection, she decided not to tell Jane about her engagement.
Her sister was overjoyed, blooming from her own felicity, and it was only fair that she could rejoice in her happiness only.
Mr Bingley was a daily visitor to Longbourn, and he indeed spoke about Darcy quite often.
Elizabeth only saw Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley once, when they had tea together after the announcement of their brother’s engagement, which they treated with visible disapproval and disdain.
The meeting was as cold and awkward as expected, with discussion of Pemberley and Georgiana, whose health was ‘a major preoccupation’ for the Bingley sisters.
They mentioned that they had received ‘a long and detailed letter from dear Georgiana, whose friendship was invaluable to them’.
Elizabeth chose to make few comments, attempting to hide her smiles and amusement at their imaginary grossly exaggerated intimacy with Georgiana, allowing Mr Bingley to struggle with concealing the truth and temper his sisters.
To her, it was more entertaining to imagine the sisters’ reaction when they would find out about her own engagement to Darcy.
That was a scene she looked forward to witnessing.
Unlike their previous stay at Netherfield, Mr Hurst was a pleasant companion, showing respectful courtesy towards the Bennet ladies and some censure towards his wife and sister-in-law’s rudeness.
He was, though, not willing to produce any disagreement or argument, so he remained loyal to his nonchalant attitude.
With the regiment moved to Brighton, Meryton was rather peaceful.
Lydia received a note from her friend, Colonel Forster’s wife, describing all the entertainment she enjoyed and regretting Lydia was not there.
Lydia cried and whined several times a day, together with Kitty, but Mrs Bennet, caught in the fever of the upcoming wedding, remained indifferent to their complaints until she became irritated and dismissed them completely.
In Mrs Forster’s letters there was also some mention of Wickham’s appalling actions towards fellow officers — and some others were revealed in regard to his behaviour even in Meryton — but Mrs Bennet dismissed those too, as she did not want to ruin her disposition with any unpleasantness.
From Kent, the news of Charlotte Collins expecting an heir arrived by way of a letter her mother came to share, but — to Lady Lucas’s chagrin — it was quickly disregarded and overshadowed by the preparations for Jane Bennet’s wedding to Mr Bingley.
Elizabeth received letters from Georgiana and from Mrs Gardiner.
Her friend informed her about their arrival in London and mentioned that she would not come to Hertfordshire until her brother had settled all his affairs.
Her aunt informed her that Mr and Miss Darcy were expected to dine with them one evening, and that Mr Gardiner had already met Mr Darcy for business purposes at his gentlemen’s club.
With every passing day, the waiting became more difficult for Elizabeth.
She was eager to find out how Darcy’s plans progressed, but mostly, she missed him.
Mr Bingley — a dinner companion for the family almost every other evening — had received letters from him, but he only expected Darcy ‘as soon as possible’.
On a rainy September afternoon, just before dinner, the sound of a carriage and her racing heart announced to Elizabeth that her wait had ended. When the servant announced Darcy, Elizabeth glanced at her father, noticing his slight disquiet.
Mr Bingley, as a true part of the family, immediately hurried to welcome his friend, introducing him with unrestrained pleasure.
The Bennet ladies — even Jane, Elizabeth noticed with a clenching heart — received Darcy with either suspicion for the older ones, or indifference for the younger, but generally little expectation of pleasure.
Even though Mr Bingley and the Gardiners had spoken highly of Darcy, the recollection of the proud and arrogant gentleman they had met a year ago and his intolerable slight against Lizzy, made Mrs Bennet and her daughters prudent and reluctant.
However, Darcy entered, and the first change, visible immediately, was his friendly greeting and his countenance — warmer and brighter than ever before.
The guest glanced at Elizabeth several times, but, as propriety required, he addressed himself to her parents.
“Mr Bennet, Mrs Bennet! It is a pleasure to see you again. Please forgive me for appearing unannounced at this hour. I shall not bother you long. I have just arrived from London and wanted to greet you all and to present Mr Bennet with a letter from Mr Gardiner, then I shall go to Netherfield.”
“You are not bothering us, Mr Darcy,” Mr Bennet said. “You are welcome, and since your friend is here, I hope you are not too eager to be at Netherfield. We would be happy for you to stay for dinner if you do not have other plans.”
“I do not, but I do not want to disturb your plans,” he said, with another stolen look at Elizabeth.
“Nonsense! You are not disturbing us at all! And there is enough food for one more, I am sure. Mrs Bennet’s dinners are always fabulous!” Mr Bingley said enthusiastically.
“Oh, I am just trying my best, considering our limited possibilities in the countryside,” Mrs Bennet answered with unusual modesty. “But I am certain a man accustomed to all fineries would call my dishes tolerable, at the most.”
The sharp arrow with a poisoned tip sent towards Darcy took everyone by surprise.
He looked disconcerted at first, then, causing even more surprise to Elizabeth and her father, he bowed his head acknowledging the point and answered with a hint of a smile, “What I found ‘tolerable’ last year when I did not pay careful attention and my judgment was faulty, turned out to be wonderful on closer consideration. As for my time at Longbourn, I trust I shall share the same opinion as Bingley.”
His words sounded a little too complicated to be fully understood — except for Elizabeth and her father, who smiled at his discreet confession.
However, his voice, his countenance, and his obvious admittance of error were enough for Mrs Bennet to overcome her past grudge.
After all, the man was her future son-in-law’s best friend, and she did not wish to argue with him any longer.
“Mr Darcy, you said you had a letter for me?” Mr Bennet intervened. “May I offer you a drink in my library while I see what my brother has to say?”
“Yes, of course! Thank you,” he mumbled, following the host and glancing at Elizabeth one more time, while Mrs Bennet wondered what on earth Darcy was thanking her husband for.
The minutes passed torturously slowly for Elizabeth, and she made an effort to remain still on her chair; she listened to the conversation but understood little of it, and when the servant came to call her to the library, she almost jumped from her seat.
She turned the doorknob with increasing nervousness, and inside, she found the two beloved gentlemen sitting on opposite sides of Mr Bennet’s desk, each with a glass of brandy in front of them.
Darcy hurried to her and took her hand, leading her towards a chair.
“Well, my dear, I have spoken to Mr Darcy at length,” Mr Bennet declared. “It was quite an entertaining conversation. I believe his main flaw is his tendency to take too much upon himself, which is a good balance for others who rarely take responsibility for anything. That would be me.”
“Papa! That is not true!”
“Yes, it is, and I know it too well. It is a blessing that both you and Jane found good, reliable young gentlemen to have as husbands, otherwise, my poor skills in managing the estate would have left you at Mr Collins’s mercy.
Fortunately, all ended well and with little effort on my part.
I do feel guilty, but I am sure it will not last long. ”
“Papa, now you are too hard on yourself. You are an excellent man and a most loving father.”
“That I try to be, Lizzy, but loving my daughters is not enough. Regardless, let us return to Mr Darcy’s application, which still amazes me, even after I have granted my consent.”
“Mr Bennet wishes to know whether we are certain we want to marry,” Darcy explained with an open smile, looking her in the eyes in his earnest manner. “I assured him I had never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“I have no doubts, Papa,” Elizabeth answered her father, but her eyes were locked with Darcy’s. “I thought I had already convinced you by now.”
“I felt it was my duty to ask one more time. If so, I am giving you both my blessing. Have you decided on a wedding date yet?”
“I shall agree to any date Miss Elizabeth decides,” Darcy said. “I only hope to marry in time for us all to spend Christmas at Pemberley, if you have not made other plans. Mr and Mrs Gardiner were quite thrilled by the notion, but it depends on your decision.”
“To be honest,” Mr Bennet interjected, “once you announce your engagement to your mother, I would rather have you married as soon as possible, as I expect her to speak of nothing else, every day, every hour, to everyone. She will finish with Jane’s wedding and go on about yours, Lizzy.
What would be even better is a double wedding, so we can avoid half the clamour,” he concluded mostly in jest.
Elizabeth and Darcy’s gazes met again and locked for a moment.
“Actually, Papa,” Elizabeth answered, “that is a lovely idea. I would love a double wedding, if nobody were opposed to it. There is a full month left, it should be enough time.”