Chapter 1.4 #4
After sleepless weeks, once he made the final decision, Darcy felt an enormous relief. He would do it: he would propose to her, and she would be his wife. It had been so ridiculous to fight against the obvious and against fate, as there could be no one better for him.
Mile after mile and hour after hour, his heart became lighter, and his concern turned into joy.
He wondered what she would say when he proposed.
Surely, she could not expect such a thing.
Marrying him was certainly never considered by her or her family.
Nor my family nor me, he laughed to himself.
He remembered her smiling at him, teasing him, glancing at him.
Now all those things would happen in the solitude of his home—of their home.
They finally reached Meryton and stopped at the inn. He asked for the best rooms, food, and drink, and for a servant to be sent to Longbourn immediately. He was less than two miles away from her.
Longbourn, 22 December
At Longbourn, two days before Christmas Eve, there was constant commotion. In addition, the Gardiners were expected late in the afternoon. Around eleven o’clock, Mr Bennet left the library to give the ladies some most unexpected news.
“I just received a note from Mr Darcy. He has some business in the neighbourhood, and he wishes to call on us. He is staying at the Meryton Inn for the night. He is travelling with his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, Lord Matlock’s younger son.
I will send John to tell Mr Darcy that we will be honoured by his visit. ”
Jane turned pale in a moment, and Elizabeth felt her cheeks colouring for no reason. Mrs Bennet stared at her husband in shock for a long moment then finally burst out.
“Mr Darcy? And the son of an earl—in my house? And he is a colonel? Oh Lord, what is happening? Jane, Lizzy, Hill! What time will they arrive? Mr Bennet! You cannot bring such news and then leave! Oh, just imagine what Lady Lucas will say. Charlotte marrying Mr Collins is nothing to this! Oh, they are staying at the inn? Girl, go and change your clothes. you look nothing like you should in the presence of an earl’s son! ”
The din became insupportable, and Elizabeth and Jane moved to a corner of the room.
Mr Darcy’s visit three days before Christmas was the most shocking event.
Surely, it must be related in some way to Mr Bingley.
Otherwise, why would he stop at the inn and come to visit them?
Was it possible that he was announcing the wedding of his sister to his friend?
Such news would certainly be intolerable for poor Jane.
But why would he come to inform them personally?
Something was strange and certainly not in a good way.
An hour past noon, the guests arrived. The gentlemen were received in the drawing room, and Mr Darcy performed the introductions.
More shocking than the visit was the revelation that the colonel was completely opposite in temper and manners from his cousin. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s voluble amiability conquered the ladies in moments.
Mr Darcy behaved as his usual self. He took a seat in a corner, close to Mr Bennet, and intruded rarely in the conversation. Several times, Elizabeth met his glance and attempted to smile in a friendly manner, but his countenance remained serious.
“So, Mr Darcy, is Mr Bingley in good health? He will not return to Netherfield soon, I understand,” Mrs Bennet inquired bluntly, and Elizabeth saw Jane turn as pale as the wall.
“Yes, he is in good health,” Mr Darcy replied. “Unfortunately, we have not seen him much lately as we both have been very busy. I am not certain of any of his future plans—”
“Oh well, he may do as he likes. Please tell him that the entire neighbourhood awaits his return soon—maybe for the summer?”
“I will tell him as soon as I see him, ma’am,” Mr Darcy said.
Elizabeth was relieved: once again, Miss Bingley’s words were nothing but mischievous deceptions.
Mr Bingley seemed not to have been engaged with Mr Darcy and his sister at all.
And had he been in a sort of understanding with Miss Darcy, he would surely not leave to spend Christmas with other friends.
Jane’s face turned from pale to crimson, and for the next minutes, she suddenly became more animated and involved in the conversation.
Mr Bennet declared that he and Mr Darcy would retire to the library as they had some business to discuss.
Their departure brought little discomfort to the ladies as neither gentleman participated much in the conversation.
Elizabeth was the only one who wondered about the nature of her father’s private business with Mr Darcy, but she found no satisfactory answer.
Her curiosity turned to astonishment when Hill returned some minutes later and whispered in great secrecy that her father was waiting for her in the library.
Glancing around with puzzlement, she met the colonel’s look for an instant.
Then he averted his eyes. She had no time to wonder further, so she silently rose from her seat and left the room while the others remained captivated by the colonel’s entertaining tales.