“Well, it has been some time since we have seen or heard from him,” Kitty put in.
“The man does have his own life.” Mary was sitting in a corner, holding up the very end of a large quilt. She was on her last stitches, and was very proud of the creation. She smiled at Elizabeth, who appreciated her support.
“That is true, Lydia,” Kitty pointed out, nodding at her sister. “He does not have time to always come calling on his fiancée.” Her sister put a special emphasis on the last word, looking directly at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth felt the heat in her cheeks and wished she didn’t blush so easily. “Stop it, Kitty.”
“Well, I would like to know where he is. I would not want my man waltzing all around town without me for three days. My man is going to stick by my side, and I am going to know where he is every minute of the day.”
Jane and Elizabeth joined their mother in laughter at Lydia’s words.
“Do not be silly, Lydia,” Jane said. “That is not how relationships work. I have not heard from Bingley for a week now, but I know he is still there and that he is thinking of me.”
“How is that going, Jane?” Elizabeth asked curiously. “I would really like to know.”
Jane gave her a soft smile. “He is in London doing business. He will return to Netherfield in a few days and will come for me.”
“Is he with his sisters?”
“I believe he is, yes.”
Elizabeth wanted to tell Jane how much she disliked the Bingley sisters, but she kept her opinion to herself. She pushed the needle through the fabric and pulled it out the other side, making a neat ‘x’ in the cloth. Her embroidery was her passion, and she was very good at it.
“So they will be back in time for the next ball? I noticed they were absent at the last one. Darcy did not look for them or mention them, so I did not really think about it until now.”
“I suppose they will be back.”
“I wonder,” Lydia said in a voice that made all eyes turn on her to hear her mysterious thought. “I wonder, Lizzie, if Mr. Darcy had your arrival announced that way because he knew his good friends would not hear it.”
Gasps went around the room.
“Lydia!”
“Do not say such things!”
Elizabeth held up her hand so that her sisters would stop giving their opinions of Lydia’s hurtful thought.
“Why would he do that?”
“He does not seem to like the fact that Jane is with Bingley, but yet he decides to court and marry you? It seems like he is embarrassed and does not want to lose face with Bingley.”
Elizabeth, who hadn’t thought about that before, felt like she’d been slapped in the face with doubt. What if that was indeed what he was doing? He was too embarrassed to let his best friend know that he was planning to marry a Bennet girl.
But he wasn’t planning to marry her. It was all a ruse.
Wasn’t it?
Jane clucked her tongue. “It is a terrible thought, Lydia, and you should never say such things to a woman in love.” She looked at Elizabeth. “You are in love with Darcy, are you not?”
Elizabeth’s blush deepened, and she felt hot all over. She fanned herself with her needlework. What could she say? She didn’t know if she loved him or not. She was still suspicious of him. His moods changed frequently, along with his behavior. He confused her. She didn’t want to say all of that in front of her mother, who believed the courtship was real.
“I believe I do love him,” she choked out. “I… I would not want to marry him if I did not, would I?”
She knew from their skeptical looks they didn’t believe her.
“Come now, dear,” her mother said. Elizabeth braced herself for what was coming. “You must love him. You would not marry Mr. Collins because you do not love him, even though it would benefit the family. Surely you would not marry Mr. Darcy if you were not sure of your feelings?”
There was a knock on the parlor door, and when it opened all the women in the room blushed. Mr. Collins stepped in and bowed to them, taking off his hat. “Ladies.”
They all nodded at him and greeted him. Mrs. Bennet stood up. “I was not expecting a visit today, Mr. Collins. I am afraid Mr. Bennet is not here.”
“That is fine, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Collins replied, his eyes on Elizabeth. “I was wondering if I might ask your daughter, Miss Elizabeth, to come for a stroll with me.”
Elizabeth felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to walk around with this man. He wasn’t going to change her mind or make her fall in love with him. She received sympathetic looks from her sisters. She knew she was obliged to go on the stroll with him, simply because he’d asked.
She stifled a sigh, put aside her needlework, and stood up. “I suppose a short stroll around the grounds will not do me any harm,” she said, quietly.
His face lit up and he crooked his arm in her direction. She reluctantly slid her hand around his elbow and looked back at her mother with pleading eyes. She knew there was nothing Mrs. Bennet could do, but it felt like the right thing to do at the time. Mrs. Bennet only gave her a sad smile.
Mr. Collins led her out of the house, walking with the confidence of a man who was extremely sure of himself. She had to hurry her steps to keep up with his strides. He didn’t seem to notice that she was walking quickly, or that she was running out of breath.
“Miss Elizabeth, your parents and I have been discussing the arrangements we previously made in regard to a marriage between us. They have informed me that you are not as willing as I. I do hope that you will give me a chance to plead my case.”
“Mr. Collins, please slow down. I am running out of breath,” Elizabeth gasped. He looked down at her and immediately stopped walking, which made her nearly trip over her own feet. He caught her and righted her, and she stood for a moment, holding onto his arms and breathing hard.
His disrespect for her made her angry, which didn’t help his cause at all.
“I do apologize,” he said meekly. “I did not realize I was walking so quickly.”
“Yes,” she replied, still catching her breath. “I do not… consider that… strolling.”
“I do apologize again, Miss Elizabeth.”
He waited until she was breathing normally before he resumed walking, and this time at a much slower pace. “I am deeply sorry if I have offended you somehow, my dear. I do not want to do that. I would much rather gain your affection than push you toward your other young man.”
“They told you about him?”
“I know of Mr. Darcy. I have had occasion to speak with him in the past. I am surprised that he would… that you would become a couple.”
Elizabeth licked her lips. “You are surprised that he would choose a woman like me, are you not?”
“I did not say that, my dear.”
His use of “my dear” was getting on Elizabeth’s nerves. “That is what is sounded like you were about to say. If you believe I am below his station, I am surprised you would be willing to marry me.”
“There are many reasons why we should get married, Elizabeth.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
“And what would those reasons be?”
They had stopped in the middle of the garden. They stood face to face. She tilted her head to the side and waited.
“We would… we would be happy together… you would not have to leave your home. Your mother and sisters would not have to leave Longbourn.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I will not get married as a business deal, Mr. Collins. I want to marry a man I will love for the rest of my life.”
“You may learn to love me.”
“No, I do not think that will happen.”
“Do you love Mr. Darcy?”
Elizabeth was astounded. It was the second time in less than an hour that she had been asked that question.
“Whether I do or not is irrelevant,” she replied, hotly. “What is relevant is that I do not love you. I am sorry
, Mr. Collins, but you will not change my mind.”
Chapter 21
Darcy soon returned to Longbourn, leaving Elizabeth waiting six days between the ball and his arrival. She was on the porch, enjoying the cool breeze and the warm sun on her face, when she saw him riding up the path. She felt a nervous excitement pass through her. She stood up and walked to the edge of the porch to greet him.
He was smiling as he came up the path. She couldn’t help smiling back as he slid from his horse.
“Good day, young lady. I was wondering if you would like to take a ride with me.”
“I would like that.”
“I would like to see that special place you like so much. It is quite majestic, and I have brought along a sketch pad.”
“I did not know you were an artist.”
He shrugged. “I am, of sorts. I do not have much time for such things, but as a lad I used to draw quite a lot. I got very good at it.”
“Let me change into my riding clothes. I dare not muss this dress or Mama will be livid.”
He waited on the porch while she disappeared back into the house. After a few minutes he heard the sound of giggling voices, and knew Elizabeth’s younger sisters were coming around the side of the house. They couldn’t be giggling about him because they hadn’t seen him yet, but he was sure once they did they would have a whole new subject to gossip about.
He waited patiently for them to round the corner and see him.
When they finally stepped around to the front and saw him, they stopped abruptly and stared at him, wide-eyed. They then recovered their wits and hurried in his direction.
“Mr. Darcy!” Kitty exclaimed. “How delightful to see you. Does Elizabeth know you are here?”
“Yes, we are going for a ride when she is ready.”
“That is very nice, yes, very nice.” Lydia nodded vigorously.
“And what are you two young ladies doing this afternoon?”
“Oh, we have no plans till later when Mama takes us to town.”
“Doing some shopping?” It seemed to Darcy that was all the young Bennet women did.
Kitty laughed. “No, we are just going to visit and socialize. Lydia has a crush and…”
“Kitty!” Lydia slapped her sister lightly on the arm. “Do not gossip about me. At least not when I am right here listening!”
Both girls laughed and Darcy joined them.
“You have been scarce lately, Mr. Darcy,” Kitty said. “We did hope that you had not lost interest in our dear Lizzie.”
“No,” Darcy said with a smile. “I simply had business to take care of. I did not fear your sister would go anywhere.”
“That is true,” Lydia nodded. “If Elizabeth is anywhere, she is here at Longbourn. Why, she does not even like to visit Meryton anymore. I do not know how she will manage when you move her to Pemberley House.”
“Do you think it will be difficult for her?” Darcy didn’t want to make Elizabeth uncomfortable. After a moment, he remembered he wasn’t supposed to really marry Elizabeth in the end anyway. He was beginning to wish it wasn’t a farce. She was a lovely woman, and he enjoyed the time he spent with her. Even when they argued, he never lost that feeling of comfort with her.
“Of course it will be difficult, Mr. Darcy,” Lydia said, never losing the joviality in her voice. “This is the only home she has ever known. She will be leaving her sisters and her parents. It will not be easy for her, I am sure. But she will adjust.”
“You just do not understand because you have been on your own for a long time,” Kitty supplied. “But she will get used to it, I am quite sure. She is a strong woman. I am proud of her. And you will be a lucky man to be married to her.”
Darcy felt sudden affection for the two young ladies. They spoke highly of Elizabeth, and that meant a lot to him. He had spent a great deal of time in the presence of the Bingley sisters, who would speak sweet to the face and venom behind the back, no matter who it was about. He realized long ago that he couldn’t trust a word that came out of either of their mouths. The Bennet sisters, all five of them, weren’t like that.
He was glad.
“You had so many women to choose from, Mr. Darcy.” Lydia leaned in conspiratorially. “I am glad you chose Elizabeth. She will make a good wife for you.”
“And so much happier than if she had been forced to marry Mr. Collins!” Kitty exclaimed. She gave out a little cry when Lydia elbowed her. They gave each other angry looks. “That hurt!”
“No need to worry, my dear,” Darcy said, holding one hand out facing Lydia. “I knew about the deal Mr. Collins tried to make with your parents. I am just glad I was able to… get in your sister’s good graces before the deal was settled.”
Kitty snorted in an unladylike way. Darcy chuckled at the sound coming from such a dainty-looking creature. “She escaped the lion’s mouth, if you ask me.”
“My goodness, you really do not care for the man, do you?”
Kitty looked at him with pursed lips and raised eyebrows. “There is not much to care for. And he was not a good match for Lizzie. She would have been absolutely miserable. At least with you, she will have a chance to be happy and in love.”
“Did she say she is in love with me?”
“No,” Lydia responded, but was quick to say, “but it is obvious she does. She just does not want to admit it.”
The first word had been like a small knife stabbing Darcy in the heart. The rest of her words eased his immediate pain. It only served to make him realize further that he was falling for the Bennet girl, and he was going to have to let her know this wasn’t a game anymore. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life making her happy.
“Why would she not want to admit that? Am I not considered good enough to her?”
Lydia gasped while Kitty choked back a laugh. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, you have a wonderful sense of humor!”
He just smiled at them, wondering how long it was going to take for Elizabeth to come back out. As soon as the words passed through his mind she was on the front porch, coming down the steps toward them.
“Hello, girls,” she greeted her sisters. They hugged her. “We are going riding. Would you care to join us?”
Both girls vigorously shook their heads. “No, no,” Kitty said. “You two go ahead. We have plans for later and want to be well rested.”
“All right, take care of yourselves.”
“Ta-ta!” Kitty and Lydia both waved as they walked back to the house.
“You have fine sisters, Liz. I like them very much.”
“You are not marrying either of them,” Elizabeth said in a warning tone. They both chuckled.
“No, I think I chose correctly.”
“I am looking forward to this ride. I have been missing you, I must admit. You have been gone for almost a week. I did not realize how much I had gotten used to you being around more often.”
“I am glad that I was missed.” He grinned at her. “It shows you care.”
“Oh, I do care, Darcy. That I do.”
“Very glad to hear it. Shall we go for a ride?”
“Yes, let’s.”
They walked to the stable to retrieve a horse for Elizabeth. As she walked, she resisted the urge to take his elbow the way she’d had to with Mr. Collins. He was leading his horse behind him, but the arm on her side was available. Thinking of that day made her wince.
“We had an unwanted visit from Mr. Collins a few days ago.”
Darcy frowned. “What did he want?”
“He wanted to talk to me, of course.” Elizabeth laughed. “Why else would he come here? He has finished talking to my parents about it, but they will not budge because I have not budged. So therefore, his next step is to confront me about it.”
“I do hope he was not confrontational with you. I might have to punch him in the nose.”
The thought made Elizabeth giggle uncontrollably. She covered her mouth and looked up at Darcy through laughing eyes. “Oh, Darcy
. That would be most unfortunate.”
“It would be. For him.”
Again, the fit of giggles overtook her. He couldn’t help smiling, even though the thought that Mr. Collins was still trying to weasel his way into a marriage with Elizabeth was infuriating to him. He wondered if it was now the right time to tell Elizabeth how he was really feeling and see how she felt about him. Would she… could she love him back?
She did seem less suspicious of him than she had in the beginning. He had changed his attitude over time, and even he knew that. His reputation for being a cold-hearted breaker of hearts was being altered. He was no longer looked at the same. He wanted to be thought of as powerful and untouchable. But being with Elizabeth had changed him. She had taught him to be less selfish and more willing to look at things from another’s point of view. He still had his moments where he would backtrack and be his old self again, not caring at all about what happened to others as long as he got his way. It was likely he would do it again. But Elizabeth had changed his thinking so that he actually thought about whether someone else would be hurt by his actions.
Sometimes he didn’t care.
But because of the woman in front of him, now he at least thought about it.
Chapter 22
Darcy didn’t tell Elizabeth his true feelings on the ride around the property. Instead, he decided to wait until Easter, when they would have a celebration at Longbourn. He wanted to see her happy day become even happier. He was going to ask her to settle on a date for their wedding. When she mentioned that there wasn’t supposed to be a wedding anyway, he would tell her how he truly felt. He was confident she would agree to really marry him. Her sisters were right. Elizabeth’s eyes when she looked at him made it clear how she felt.
He arrived at Longbourn and wasn’t surprised by the number of carriages and horses he saw. The Bennets were hosting friends and family. The Bingley family wouldn’t be present, as Jane and Bingley’s romance had fizzled out when he left town. The last he’d heard from Miss Bingley was that Charles was talking to a young lady in another city, and had no plans of immediately returning to Netherfield.
A Convenient Darcy Marriage Page 10