Chapter 9
The next morning was Sunday and everyone was up and dressing for church to hear Mr. Collins give his sermon.
He was excessively nervous about it and ran about the house, telling everyone to hurry and rushing through his own preparations so that his appearance was not what it could have been.
Thankfully, Charlotte pulled him aside and quickly set him to rights as the entire family assembled at the door and prepared to walk to church.
Their small processional was quite a sight.
Mr. Collins walked with Charlotte and Maria on either arm, Mr. Bennet with Mrs. Bennet and Jane, Elizabeth next to Mary, and Kitty and Lydia followed.
Kitty was in more grown-up clothes, but wore her hair down as a sign that she was not yet out, while Lydia was dressed as the girl she was, with long strawberry blonde curls cascading down her back and a braid wrapped round her crown.
She was on her best behavior, speaking only when spoken to and doing nothing to usurp her older sisters.
Her father had threatened her seriously that any rudeness or soldier chasing or sister teasing would be rewarded with a lonely trip back to Longbourn and the watchful eye of Mrs. Hill while her family enjoyed the seaside without her.
Lady Catherine did not particularly like what she saw, but she did feel a certain perverse fascination to see the Bennets up close. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was a pretty little thing, and certainly very lively, especially when near Anne, who was so very dull in comparison. Unfortunately.
The eldest Bennet daughter was quite easily the prettiest woman she had ever seen, except for herself when she was younger, of course.
The next sister was fairly unremarkable but not unpleasant to look at, and the two children in the back seemed like nice enough girls.
The service was predictably dull and drawn out and afterward, Lady Catherine issued an invitation for dinner to the Hunsford party.
They had previously been invited to tea, but Lady Catherine found she wanted to learn more about these Bennets before they departed on the morrow.
Mr. Collins thanked her profusely for such an undeserved honor and the attention bestowed on his humble family. Mr. Bennet merely smiled and thanked her, as did Mrs. Bennet, who was too much in awe to say anything else.
Darcy had a plan. Since he had been unable to speak to or see Elizabeth the day before, he planned to offer for her before dinner.
He would ask her to take a quick turn in the gardens, or if the weather changed, he would speak to her in a corner.
The pianoforte would also be a likely location.
He could suggest she play and offer to turn the pages for her.
Under the cover of music and with the privacy afforded by the instrument’s location, he would pour out his heart and ask for her hand.
He dressed with particular care and waited in the drawing room with his heart pounding.
The Bennets arrived in good time. The two youngest, Kitty and Lydia, had stayed at the parsonage, and Maria, feeling odd arriving without them and outshone by the eldest and prettiest Bennet sisters, stayed with them.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins entered with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet directly behind them.
Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary followed. Everyone was introduced to Miss Anne De Bourgh and her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson, and asked to sit.
Lady Catherine quickly began quizzing the elder Bennets and found an eager recipient for her advice in Mrs. Bennet, who was only too happy to hear what the great lady had to say.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was quite enchanted with two pretty women and another who would have been more attractive had she not been next to her sisters.
He quickly engaged all three women in conversation, including Charlotte and Darcy occasionally, and enjoyed his role of storyteller and center of attention immensely.
After a polite amount of time had passed, Darcy suggested Miss Elizabeth play as Lady Catherine did so love her music. Before he could offer to turn her pages, Elizabeth and Mary had looked at each other and nodded, silently agreeing on something, before they both made their way to the pianoforte.
“Shall we move closer to the instrument?” Jane suggested. “I believe this will be a charming performance.”
The gentlemen gladly moved with her, though Darcy wondered how it would be a charming performance with Mary Bennet playing. He had heard her more than once in Hertfordshire and he sometimes thought his ears were still ringing.
He was in for a surprise.
Elizabeth and Mary played a duet, both playing on the instrument, and eventually Elizabeth began singing in her high, clear voice.
He had only heard her sing once since coming to Rosings and that had been a simple tune, not a song like this that was designed to challenge the performer and impress the audience.
Before he knew what had happened, Mary Bennet had joined in with a soft alto, all the more surprising because she had sung the soprano part in Hertfordshire.
Of course, her being a natural alto explained why her attempts had always gone awry.
The song ended with applause all around and then Mr. Bennet made a request. Next he knew, Mary was playing a lively air and Jane had joined her sisters behind the pianoforte.
The two eldest sang while Mary’s hands flew across the keys, invigorating the air around them and filling the room with an almost palpable joy.
Then the most extraordinary thing happened.
When the song came to the part that was usually sung by a man, and in this case would have been sung by Mary’s low voice, Colonel Fitzwilliam began singing!
He had a pleasing baritone and sang with aplomb, to the great delight of the ladies who could not stop smiling at him.
The next verse Elizabeth sang directly to the colonel, as the song dictated, and he actually sang back to her!
Then Jane took a turn and before they were done, his sneaky cousin had sung with every Bennet sister in the place!
They finished to a hearty round of applause and before they could begin another song, dinner was announced.
Darcy cursed his ill luck and the rain that kept them from walking out and his fool cousin for stealing the smiles that should have been his.
Elizabeth was leaving tomorrow! He had to ask her tonight; it was his last chance!
And he must speak to Mr. Bennet before they left, if only to give him permission to write to her while she was at the seaside.
They were to be there above three months.
He could not become engaged and then go an entire three months without seeing or even hearing from his beloved. It was not to be borne!
Dinner was no better. He was seated two places away from Elizabeth, her sister Jane between them.
They participated in conversations together and he was able to talk to her, but there was no opportunity for private discourse.
After an interminable meal, during which his aunt continued to heap advice upon her newest supplicant while Mr. Collins commended everything she said, the ladies finally departed for the drawing room and the men remained behind.
Darcy quickly pulled aside his cousin and asked him to leave him alone with Mr. Bennet to discuss some private business.
Fitzwilliam merely winked and poured himself and Mr. Collins a drink while Darcy asked Mr. Bennet to join him in the library for a moment.
“Mr. Bennet, would you like a brandy?” Darcy asked as he closed the door behind them.
“No, thank you.” Mr. Bennet seemed greatly distracted by the shelves of books he was surrounded by and he walked along slowly, reading the titles and occasionally touching a spine.
“I understand from your daughter that you are a great reader,” Darcy said, more from the need to do something than an actual interest in the conversation.
“Yes. There is nothing so good on a cold day as a good book and a warm fire.”
Darcy agreed. Then, swallowing his nervousness, for he had wanted to talk to Elizabeth before talking to her father, but there was no opportunity—well, no opportunity lately—and here he had the perfect opportunity with Mr. Bennet, he began.
“Mr. Bennet, there is something I would like to speak to you about.”
“Ah, yes, of course. What do you wish to speak of?” Bennet continued to peruse the shelves, unconcerned about the impending conversation.
Darcy had planned to have this conversation face to face, but how could he do that when the man refused to turn around? Could nothing go to plan?
“Sir, I would like permission, and your blessing, to marry Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy stated formally.
Mr. Bennet stopped where he was, his hand reaching toward a volume, and slowly turned to look at Mr. Darcy. “You want to marry my daughter Elizabeth?”
“Yes.”
Mr. Bennet stared at him. “Has she accepted you?”
Darcy breathed deeply and worked his jaw. “I have not had a chance to ask her. That is, I have not had a moment alone to offer my hand.”
Mr. Bennet nodded slowly, then walked to a chair near the window and eased himself into it. “Why?” he asked.
“Why?” repeated Darcy.
“Yes, why do you want to marry Elizabeth?”
Darcy looked surprised for a moment, then opened and closed his mouth twice before speaking.
“I love her, sir. I do not believe I could lead a complete life without her. I am sure we are well matched in mind and character, and I can assure you that I will always treat her with respect and kindness. I am prepared to be very generous with her settlement and with any children we may have.” He sat in the chair opposite Bennet’s.
Mr. Bennet nodded again, his hands steepled in front of his mouth and his eyes looking into the distance. “You love my Lizzy,” he said quietly.
“Yes, I do. Very much,” Mr. Darcy said, just as quietly.