Chapter Twenty-six #3
Charlotte, in an admirable fashion, made no exclamation. Instead, she pithily remarked, “So this is what occurs when I go away for a few days. I can see that everything is settled between Jane and Mr. Bingley as well. I have missed all the interesting events in our society.”
“There is more,” Lizzy promised her.
“Tell me quickly,” Charlotte ordered her. “I will stiffen my spine.”
“Mary and Dr. Oscar Gregg are to be married,” Lizzy revealed.
“Finally,” her friend said, adjusting her shawl so it did not trail on the floor.
Lizzy nodded emphatically. “I completely agree.”
“Your mother must be in raptures,” Charlotte said.
“Say nothing to her about Mr. Darcy, pray,” Lizzy urged. “I do not wish her to know my news until after the assembly. How she would crow if she knew.”
“You may rely on my discretion. Ah, here comes Mr. Green with my glass of punch.”
Lizzy withdrew, moving toward her mother’s side where she waited for her next dance partner to claim her.
*
When the door to his bookroom opened, Mr. Bennet looked up from his correspondence at Hill.
“Sir, Mr. Darcy of Pemberley House has arrived to see you,” their butler said.
Surprised, Mr. Bennet set aside his quill and nodded. “Send him in.”
Hill bowed and left, returning almost immediately with the guest. Mr. Darcy strode inside, hatless and gloveless. Hill left, closing the door behind him. Mr. Bennet rose, came around the desk, and spread his hands.
“Mr. Darcy, good evening. This is a pleasant surprise.”
“Thank you, sir,” Darcy said, nodding. “Pray, call me Darcy.”
“Of course. Would you care to join me in a glass of whiskey?” Mr. Bennet asked, moving toward a side table where a drinks tray sat.
“Thank you,” Darcy said.
“Please, sit,” Mr. Bennet said, waving vaguely at the two chairs flanking the unlit fireplace. “Amazingly warm for this time of year, is it not?”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Bennet turned around with two glasses in hand to see that Darcy had sat in the righthand chair. He gave him the whiskey, set his own down on the small table between them, and brought the lamp from the desk and placed it on the mantel.
“There, now we can see ourselves converse,” he said, settling into his chair and picking up his whiskey. He raised his glass, saying, “To your good health.”
“And to yours, sir,” Darcy replied.
After taking a sip, pausing to appreciate its flavor, Mr. Bennet said, “Now, what brings you on a visit tonight when you should be at the assembly?”
Darcy put his glass down before answering. “Sir, I have come here to ask for your permission to pay my addresses to your daughter.”
Mr. Bennet blinked. “My daughter? Which one?”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Darcy explained. “We have professed our love for each other and are desirous of marrying.”
Mr. Bennet removed his spectacles and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Am I correct in recalling that Pemberley House is in Derbyshire?”
“It is, sir.”
“So far away,” Mr. Bennet whispered.
“The distance can be covered in two days with a well-sprung chaise and multiple horse changes. Though, three days is a more comfortable ride,” Darcy informed him.
“What of Lizzy’s animals? Are you prepared to have your home overrun with them?”
“I plan to have a menagerie built for her,” Darcy said.
He is smiling, now. Will he do, I wonder, for my dearest girl? I do not wish her to be so far from me. Is there nothing I can say to dissuade him?
“And what of Clover?” Mr. Bennet asked, thinking this one ton obstacle to Mr. Darcy’s happiness might be one ton too many.
“I will hire an experienced drover.”
Damn.
“I am reasonably certain Clover will not like to be stomping his way over the countryside,” Mr. Bennet warned.
“We plan on keeping pace with him in my chaise so Elizabeth can reassure him often.”
“B…but that will take—”
“A fortnight, yes,” Darcy said.
“Good Lord,” Mr. Bennet muttered.
Darcy drank down his whiskey in one swallow. After a pause to recover from the strong drink, he said, “I promised your daughter I would return to the assembly before the dinner dance, sir. Might I trouble you for your answer? May I marry your daughter?”
Mr. Bennet released a tired, disheartened sigh. “I shall miss her immensely, Darcy.” He rose and held out his hand. Darcy rose and took it. “I have no objection to you marrying my dear Lizzy. I could not have parted with her for an ordinary man, Darcy, for no ordinary man would deserve her.”
“I shall strive every day to deserve your daughter’s love, sir, I swear it.”
“Very well, you had best be off so you might keep your promise.”
“Thank you, sir,” Darcy said, shaking his hand firmly. “Be assured that you will be welcome at Pemberley whenever you wish to visit.”
“I shall take you up on that assurance,” Mr. Bennet said. He gestured to the door. “I will see you out.”
“We plan on marrying in June, sir,” Darcy explained when they reached the front door.
“That will give me eight and a half months to say goodbye,” Mr. Bennet mused. “And yet, it will not be enough time. Oh, well. I shall get used to the idea.”
“I hope so, sir,” Darcy said, donning his hat and gloves offered to him by Hill.
“So do I. Good night.”
“Good night, sir.”
Mr. Bennet waited until the door closed before he slowly returned to his bookroom to finish his whiskey.