Chapter 11 #2
“I have only one question, though,” Mr Bennet continued.
“The last thing I remember before my accident was seeing the lights of Netherfield in the valley. It could not have been more than half a mile to the house, and it was very clear in our sights. How was it possible that it took you more than an hour to reach it?”
The enquiry, addressed in a calm tone, surprised the entire group. Elizabeth held her breath, doubting the meaning of her father’s words.
Mr Collins’s lips moved, but no sound came out. His countenance became pale, and he blinked repeatedly, glancing from one person to another.
“In truth, my men wondered the same thing when they found Mr Bennet,” Mr Bingley added, clearly increasing Mr Collins’s distress.
“I am sure Mr Collins is simply a very poor rider and has no sense of direction and no courage,” Mr Darcy replied in a tone that sounded light, despite the accusation in it.
“That must be the case, or else one would assume that he deliberately delayed the search party and put Mr Bennet in danger for some nefarious reason. Which I am sure is not true.”
“Yes, that must be the case,” Mr Bennet accepted, rolling his eyes. “At least you had the chance to see Longbourn, as you wished, Mr Collins, though I dare say it will be quite a few more years before you own it.”
Elizabeth smiled; her father’s spirits had returned, and she knew his recovery would be complete. Mr Collins’s troubled expression added to her satisfaction, and when the clergyman left with a hasty goodbye, everyone sighed in relief.
“That scoundrel deliberately left me there, in the rain and cold, hoping I would die,” Mr Bennet uttered.
“Something scared my horse when I fell. I cannot be sure it was him, but I have no doubt he took advantage of the situation and abandoned me there. I am sure he came to Netherfield only because it began to rain, and he was too stupid to find his way back to Longbourn by himself.”
“Papa, I cannot believe this! Could he be so horrible?”
“He could,” Mr Bennet replied, not minding the presence of the other gentlemen. “In fact, during our ride, he asked for permission to marry you, and I laughed at him.”
“Excuse me?” Elizabeth asked in shock.
“Indeed. He believed Jane’s interest was somehow engaged elsewhere, so you were his next choice. Of course, I told him that he could not possibly handle a woman like you, even if you were to accept his proposal, which was absolutely impossible.”
“Papa, I cannot believe it,” Elizabeth gasped.
“And, shortly afterwards, my accident occurred. I am sure it was nothing but a coincidence,” Mr Bennet concluded, rolling his eyes again.
“Sadly, Bingley and I reached the same conclusion without knowing all the details,” Mr Darcy said. “We did not mention it to avoid further distress for your family. Would you like to pursue these accusations?”
“No — let him be. I have no proof, and he will inherit Longbourn regardless, so I must consider a way to ruin it entirely before then.”
“Mr Bennet,” Mr Bingley said with apparent uneasiness, “I know this is not the best moment, but I would like a short conference with you…privately…whenever suits you.”
Mr Bennet expressed surprise, while Mr Darcy smiled and said, “If Mr Bennet is not too tired now, Miss Elizabeth and I could take a little walk and allow you to speak.”
“It is raining,” Mr Bennet said. “I am not tired, and you should not leave. Whatever Mr Bingley wishes to speak to me about or to ask of me, I would be honoured to grant it.”
“Oh…I see,” Mr Bingley mumbled. “Miss Bennet and I…Miss Jane Bennet, I mean…I have long come to admire her, and…last night when I escorted her back to Longbourn, we spoke, and…she agreed to marry me, that is…I mean, if you will give us your blessing, of course.”
Elizabeth looked at Mr Darcy, and his little smile betrayed that he had already been informed. Tearful, she sensed that she could feel Jane’s happiness even though they were separated.
Mr Bennet’s blessing was granted within moments, making Mr Bingley the happiest man in the world.
***
A week later, Elizabeth and Mr Bennet returned home, but she did not cease to care for him and to protect him from any distress.
She gave him his medicine diligently and ensured he was eating and sleeping properly, which was rather difficult, as Longbourn had become even more chaotic than usual after the news of Jane’s engagement had broken.
Mrs Bennet’s nerves were tried as she moved from the deepest despair to the greatest happiness. The wedding was set for the end of January, and preparations were already underway.
Mr Bingley’s sisters returned to London soon after the news of his engagement. But Mr Darcy remained, and he joined Mr Bingley at Longbourn daily.
Elizabeth’s heart danced with gladness every time she saw him.
He was polite, even friendly to her mother and sisters, and spent time with her father, while she was often in their company.
But they did not resume the conversation from that morning in the library, until one sunny day when they were taking a stroll in the garden, together with Jane and Mr Bingley.
“Miss Elizabeth…” he began hesitantly.
“Yes?”
“I am not certain if this would be a good time for me to speak to you.”
“Mr Darcy, I hope you know that any time is good for you to tell me anything,” she replied. She tried to smile, but she felt too nervous. Her heart warned her about what would follow, although his words were delayed.
“Even though I did not say as much when I first spoke in the library, I hope you know how much I love and admire you. I find it difficult to express in words because my feelings are so new, so unexpected, so strong!”
“You have already proved the depth of your feelings, Mr Darcy, by your actions on my father’s behalf.”
“But I am still in your debt for your actions regarding my accident,” he said.
They stopped, gazing at each other.
“Then perhaps we should find a way to call it even, Mr Darcy?” she teased him.
“That would be the perfect solution, of course. However, it might take a while before we find it. Perhaps even a lifetime. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife, Miss Elizabeth, and pursuing this quest together?”
The question she had waited for so long had come.
“I happily accept, Mr Darcy, and I would gladly pursue any quest by your side.”
They continued to look at each other for a while, with no other words, then they slowly walked back to the house, arm in arm.
“I have spoken of my own feelings, and I have proposed to you before I have even asked about your feelings for me,” Mr Darcy said. “How very inconsiderate and selfish of me. I fear I have many faults that you will have to bear when you become my wife.”
“That would be only fair, as I have many faults that you will have to bear when I become your wife,” she teased him back, and they laughed, both of them nervous in their happiness.
“I shall go and speak to your father now,” Mr Darcy said when they entered the house through a back door.
“Very well. You should not fear any opposition from Papa, but you may be afraid of my mother’s approval,” she joked.
“Then I shall need some of your strength,” he said.
And, to her amazement and delight, he leant towards her and stole their first kiss right there, in the hall, risking being caught by anyone.
But neither of them cared. All Elizabeth could think of was that his lips tasted better than she had imagined in all those nights when she had slept in his bed.
***
Longbourn, February 1812
Darcy watched the party gathered in front of Longbourn church, happy to see even Mr Bennet there.
After his proposal to Elizabeth, Bingley and Jane had decided to postpone their wedding too, and it had been fixed for the middle of February.
For Darcy, the engagement, as sweet and delightful as it was, felt too long. However, it gave him time to inform his family, to deal with Lady Catherine’s anger and spite and with the Matlocks’ reluctance. Also, it allowed Georgiana to adjust to the idea of his marriage and having a sister.