Chapter 33
As Bingley was laying out his plan to divert Wickham’s attention, Darcy was pacing restlessly in his study.
Elizabeth had declared them engaged in front of her aunt and he was not sure what to make of it.
Mrs. Hardwicke had been insistent in knowing his intentions, not that he could blame her.
She was unaware of his history with Elizabeth, and was looking out for her niece; that she inherently had a low opinion of high society only spoke to her better judgement.
Darcy would have loved to let the whole of England know of his preference for Miss Elizabeth but he had no intention of forcing her hand.
He craved her affection, and had recently begun to hope for finally gaining it, but now he was worried that all may be lost forever.
Elizabeth was an intelligent and independent lady with a free spirit and would be unlikely to appreciate being forced into such an understanding.
She may well blame him for his over-eager behaviour which had incited her aunt’s suspicions.
“Why are you so morose? I would have expected a celebratory dance after today’s drama,” Mrs. Ashcombe walked into the study and sat down on the couch.
“You should not have left Elizabeth unchaperoned in the parlour. Things would not have escalated so far had you been present,” Darcy passed his hand through his hair.
“You should be thanking me, had the situation not been so dire, Miss Bennet would hardly have blurted out an engagement with you.” Then narrowing her eyes she asked, “Now that she has agreed, have you changed your mind?”
Darcy sat down on the nearest chair with a dejected frown. “Of course I wish to marry her, but I have no wish to force her hand.”
“I had thought you moderately intelligent even though you are a man, but you are as mutton-headed as the rest of them. No one forced Miss Bennet into anything. She declared her attachment to you to preserve your honour in front of her aunt.”
“Well, that is the problem, she is sacrificing her happiness for my honour.”
“Who is to say that she is sacrificing anything? She just took matters into her hands, for she knew you would not speak without knowing her mind. If she was set against you, she would not have been here in the first place.”
“Do you really believe so?” Darcy asked hopefully.
“It is not for me to think, but for you to act. Speak to her privately to clarify matters, and then get her father’s consent.”
“You are right, I need to write to Mr. Bennet. I will compose the letter, and once I get an opportunity to speak to Miss Elizabeth, I will ask her to read it.”
“Good. Now I will go back to the main house, all the excitement of the day has left me quite thirsty, and you do not have any good sherry,” so saying the lady departed the dower house.
Darcy went back to his desk and concentrated on his letter to Mr. Bennet.
He had hardly spoken to the gentleman during his sojourn in Hertfordshire and whatever interaction they had shared reflected poorly on Mr. Bennet.
He had considered him a lazy and sarcastic man who, instead of doing his duty to his family, was busy being entertained by their antics.
Mrs. Bennet was not a gentlewoman and it was her husband’s duty to teach her the ways of society, but he seemed to have abdicated his responsibility in favour of his own entertainment.
He may not be a gambler or a debaucher, but in Darcy’s mind, duty to the family should always precede one’s own amusement, no matter how noble.
In spite of all this, he was Elizabeth’s father and she was closer to him than anyone else and as such he deserved Darcy’s politeness and respect.
While Darcy was composing his letter to Mr. Bennet, Elizabeth was struggling with her own letters, both to her father and to Jane.
Now that she had blurted out an attachment to Mr. Darcy, she could no longer keep her family in the dark.
The problem was that she had been too vocal in her disapprobation and now her attachment may seem coerced or mercenary.
She wanted to highlight the qualities of Mr. Darcy, but was hesitant, for it may appear defensive.
Finally, she wrote to Jane explaining everything from the proposal in Hunsford to Mr. Darcy’s letter and her changed feelings for the gentleman.
Her letter to her father was much more succinct, where she only spoke of her reunion with Mr. Darcy and her improved opinion of the gentleman after knowing him better.
She did mention Mr. Wickham, and how she had been led astray by that gentleman but nothing more.
She knew her father would never oppose any of his daughters’ decisions to marry and would never withhold his consent even if he was not convinced by her decision.
It was later in the evening that she went out for a brisk walk near the house but kept away from the dower house.
She had no intention of aggravating her aunt any more and though she was desperate to speak to Mr. Darcy, she thought it better to delay that meeting until the next morning.
Mrs. Hardwicke had been shocked when she had revealed about Mr. Darcy’s proposal and Elizabeth had been certain that she would refute the statement but Mr. Darcy had intervened.
“Mrs. Hardwicke, I had not wished to divulge this information until I had spoken to Mr. Bennet, but as far as I am concerned, Miss Elizabeth is the only woman capable of becoming Mrs. Darcy. I had thought to travel to Hertfordshire and speak to Mr. Bennet once Miss Elizabeth returned home, but I assure you I have never had any dishonourable motive.”
Elizabeth could still remember each and every word and had been obliged to the gentleman for continuing with her ruse.
Before she realised it, she had reached the farms, thinking to take a look at the completed drainage that Mr. Darcy had been so concerned with.
She was surprised to see some labourers digging in the area.
She had been certain that the work had been finished, but deciding not to trouble the workers, she turned around, concluding that probably there was some repair required.
“Elizabeth, wherever have you been?” her aunt questioned the moment she walked in.
“I was restless and needed a walk; I had gone to the fields.”
“I would appreciate it if you would have a maid or footman accompany you. You are my responsibility, and I would be remiss in my duty if I did not insist,” Mrs. Hardwicke replied much to Elizabeth’s annoyance.
Her aunt may have accepted her explanation about her attachment to Mr. Darcy, but she did not seem to have given up on her suspicions.
Elizabeth had no wish to quarrel with her, for she did not consider her an enemy, just misguided in her purpose.
She hoped to speak to Mr. Darcy tomorrow and then send her letters.
The sooner her father was aware of the engagement, the better; as then her aunt would have nothing to complain about.
“My dear Sarah, I applaud your insistence on propriety but it would be better directed towards that Mr. Harrison than my nephew. Darcy is family and the master of the estate; he has an impeccable character, while that Harrison fellow gives me the most uneasy feeling. He was loitering in the garden when you were busy ascertaining Miss Bennet’s whereabouts,” Mrs. Ashcombe entered the house and then made her way upstairs.