Chapter 18 #2
“Going to London is even more necessary now. I shall ask for Mr Bennet’s blessing today, and I shall take care of the rest of the business whilst I am in town.
The sooner this marriage takes place, the sooner all gossip will be buried.
I must purchase a licence, and I also have to discuss the wedding with Georgiana, then with Uncle and Aunt Fitzwilliam, and inform Lady Catherine. That will be the most daunting task.”
“Agreed. But Georgiana is your main concern. I shall speak to my sister and brother-in-law the moment we arrive, if you approve of it. That way they will be prepared by the time you approach them.”
“As you wish, sir. I would not mind if you spoke to them, but I have no concerns about telling them directly. I am ready and capable of defending my choice and my future wife.”
“I do not doubt you. Please know you may count on me to be a faithful supporter of your decision and your marriage, even though you surely do not need such support.”
“I might not need it, but I certainly appreciate it. I cannot help but wonder whether my father would have approved of it.”
The admiral hesitated for a moment, then stood, taking a few steps. Darcy gazed after him.
“I have no doubt that George would have admired Miss Elizabeth as much as I do and would have been pleased to have such a woman by your side. I am almost certain that he would have supported your decision to marry her, too. I hope you can sense the distinction between the two.”
“I can, sir. And I thank you again.”
“Well now, it seems we have a busy day ahead of us. Let us eat and then call on Mr Bennet. By the by, when do you plan to tell Bingley?”
“As soon as I have Mr Bennet’s blessing. For now, only you know, Admiral.”
“Thank you. I anticipate no obstacle to Mr Bennet’s approval. In truth, I look forward to seeing everyone’s response to the news of your betrothal. And please do me a favour and tell that miscreant Wickham, too. Knowing you are happy will surely help me enjoy his miserable future life.”
“I shall have the scoundrel removed from Meryton and shipped abroad and then forget about him. But yes, I intend to give him the good news.” Darcy smiled mischievously.
“Excellent. Speaking of Wickham, even if you purchase a comfortable cabin for him, I would suggest requesting the ship’s captain keep him locked up until they are out on the sea. Just to be certain he has left the country for good.”
“I intended to do so, but it is pleasant to realise we think alike, sir,” Darcy replied.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth struggled to eat; she had lost her appetite entirely. She was anxious, glancing at the window repeatedly, under her father’s insistent scrutiny. She had not had time to even tell the news to Jane, so she nervously awaited Mr Darcy’s arrival.
Immediately after breakfast, Mr Collins departed, but not before another long and annoying farewell and best wishes repeatedly expressed.
When his carriage finally disappeared from view, a deep sigh of relief was heard from everyone, except for Mrs Bennet, who wondered aloud about the change in the clergyman’s plans.
Mr Bennet immediately withdrew to the library.
Shortly after Mr Collins’s carriage left, the carriage from Netherfield arrived and calmed some of Mrs Bennet’s anxiety.
Mr Bingley and the admiral engaged in conversation with the ladies, while Mr Darcy enquired after Mr Bennet.
He only exchanged a brief glance with Elizabeth before he left the room.
The admiral’s expression of satisfaction and his large grin, as well as his gaze on her, revealed to Elizabeth that he had been informed of the news and approved of it. She was thrilled and nervous, could hardly listen to the discussion around her, and barely engaged in it.
Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy came to join them rather quickly, and from one look at them, Elizabeth knew the matter had been settled. The visitors remained less than half an hour, claiming other engagements.
“But you must come to dinner tomorrow before you leave!” Mrs Bennet demanded. “You cannot possibly refuse. It might be our last chance to dine with the admiral!”
“I hope that will not be the case, ma’am,” the admiral answered, “but I shall surely come for dinner, and I hope my young friends will accompany me,” he concluded, much to Mrs Bennet’s satisfaction.
With no strangers around, the house became more peaceful. Elizabeth was desirous to finally share the news with Jane and went to ask Mr Bennet when he intended to make the announcement. Once there, Mr Bennet asked her several more questions, to be sure of her decision.
“Mr Darcy is determined to send his physician to examine me, which I find absolutely ridiculous,” Mr Bennet said.
“Is he? How generous and kind of him!”
“It is ridiculous and silly to send a man from London for nothing! But apparently, the moment I agreed on his engagement to you, he believed he could impose his will on me.”
“Papa, please! Do not be unfair.” Elizabeth smiled, embracing him. “If I am to marry and leave you, I need to know you are in good health.”
While they talked, a din could be heard from the drawing room, and Mrs Bennet’s voice was loud and whining. Mr Bennet rolled his eyes, and with Elizabeth’s help, he went to the drawing room to see the reason for such uproar.
Mrs Bennet had collapsed in a chair, with Hill holding her salts and four daughters around her; nearby was Mrs Phillips, in an agitated state of mind. The lady of the house seemed to revive somewhat upon seeing her husband and most wayward daughter.
“Oh, Mr Bennet, you cannot imagine what disaster has befallen us! We are lost forever! My sister just told me there is some gossip about our family. About Lizzy and her habit of wandering like a lunatic across the fields, which is bad enough. But it seems the reports prevented Mr Collins from proposing to Lizzy! He has proposed to Charlotte Lucas instead, and she has accepted! They will be married in two months! We are lost, I tell you! You will die, and we shall be thrown out of the house, and Charlotte Lucas will become the mistress of Longbourn!” she cried hysterically.
Elizabeth hesitated to say or do anything. She glanced at her father, who looked suspiciously serious.
“So, Mrs Bennet, you are so desperate and upset because Lizzy did not marry Mr Collins?”
“Of course I am! If she was a better daughter, she would have encouraged him, and he would have proposed to her, as he intended!”
“He? Who?” Mr Bennet asked, and his wife stared at him, a look of bewilderment on her face.
“What do you mean who? Mr Collins, of course! It is all Lizzy’s fault, and I shall never speak to her again. I shall never forgive her!”
“I see. I am sorry to hear that, Mrs Bennet. If you were to speak to Lizzy, she would tell you that she is engaged to Mr Darcy. I just gave him my blessing. They will marry likely sooner than Mr Collins, who I understand is your favourite of the two, which will surely pain Mr Darcy.”
Elizabeth watched her father speaking, his deep satisfaction brightening his face; her mother stared in shock that increased with every word, transfixed, struggling for air.
By the time her father concluded his statement, Mrs Bennet gulped repeatedly, tried to stand up, then went to collapse back into the chair again but missed it and fell to the floor, landing on her buttocks.
Mr Bennet slowly returned to his library, while the ladies tried to pull Mrs Bennet back to her feet — or to her chair.