by Zoë Burton
Darcy watched Elizabeth prepare her tea. “Tell me a little about yourself. What are your likes? How do you fill your days?”
Elizabeth sipped the sweetened tea before replying. “I am fond of walking, as you undoubtedly witnessed.” She saw Darcy nod and continued. “I enjoy reading, though I cannot do so at the moment without pain in my head. Jane tells me I sew passably well and Mary says I play a little, but do not have much skill. I sing, again not well. I remember attending assemblies in Meryton and enjoying them, so I know I love to dance.” She shrugged. “My sisters tell me I do not paint or draw because I have never found the topics interesting enough to study. Papa has told me I speak French, German, and Italian well enough to please a master, though probably not well enough to converse with a native speaker, and that I know a smattering of Latin and Greek.” She shrugged again. “He also said I am passably good with maths, and help him with the estate’s books.”
“It sounds to me as though you are accomplished in many things.” Darcy sipped his tea. “Your education is quite thorough, it seems.”
Elizabeth had begun to feel put out at Darcy’s inquiry. “What about you, sir? What are your accomplishments? What languages do you speak? Do you know what crops are planted on your estate and when? Do you dance, or would you rather spend your time at a ball in the card room, gambling away your inheritance? Come to think of it, are you the heir to your estate, or a younger son? What do you have to offer a lady such as myself?”
Darcy fought to keep a grin off his face. Clearly, she is not one to hold back her opinion. “I inherited my estate a few years ago.” He ignored Elizabeth’s gasp of dismay. “I am my father’s only son, though I do have a much younger sister. I speak the same languages that you do, though I would say I speak and read Greek and Latin rather well.” His lips twitched. “My estate is in Derbyshire. We grow sheep, mostly, but also the same wheat, turnips, and other crops that your father does. Our growing season is shorter; we plant after your tenants do and harvest earlier in the autumn. I do not like to dance unless I am particularly well acquainted with my partner, but I do dance. I am not fond of cards and do not gamble.” He stopped and a light flush stole over his face. “Unless you count bets made with my cousins over trifling things.”
Elizabeth was arrested by the boyish look on Darcy’s face as he spoke of his cousins. “What sort of trifling things?” Her eyes twinkled.
Darcy cleared his throat. “Usually races with each other, to the stables or across a field or something. Sometimes how many fish we will catch or who will be the first to fall into the lake from the boats.” He shifted in his seat and shrugged, looking down. “We have done so since we were boys, but as adults, we do it with money.”
Elizabeth ducked her head to hide a smile. When she thought she could control her facial expression, she looked at him. “And, what is it you can offer a lady such as myself?”
Darcy looked up and was riveted by the gleam in Elizabeth’s eye and her twitching lips. “I can offer a stable home with a faithful husband. She will want for nothing, if she accepts my offer. All of London is at her fingertips, or, if she prefers, all of Derbyshire. I can promise the roof will not leak and there will always be food on the table. Money will always be available for travel; visits to her family for now and perhaps to the Continent once it is safe again. She will never wear rags, and need never lift a finger to do anything. She will be safe, warm, and cared for.”
Elizabeth tilted her head, her mien turned serious. “What about affection? Will you respect your wife and hold her in esteem in a dozen years? What if she only gives you female children? Will you hold her in contempt and ignore her?”
Darcy glanced at the other side of the room again. Then, his gaze found hers once more. “I will respect my wife at all times. I cannot promise I will not make mistakes and anger her, but she will always come first in my life.” He paused, looking down, then brought his eyes back up to capture Elizabeth’s. “If we decide to marry, I hope we will grow to care for each other. I would prefer a wife I loved to one I merely tolerated. I … I felt protective of you from the first. I have never experienced such a thing with any female who was not family, and it startled me. However, I believe we have the basis for an affectionate marriage. I have seen the care your sisters take of you, and have heard from Bingley that you are the same. Between your warm heart and my feelings, I believe love is not out of the question.” He did not miss the look of relief that spread over Elizabeth’s countenance. Leaning forward from his seat on the couch, he took one of her hands in his. “Will you marry me?”
Elizabeth took a moment to compose her thoughts, which were scattered, both because of her injury and because she was distracted by the sparks that flew up her arm from her fingers where he rubbed them. “I will marry you, yes, but I do not want a quick wedding. I would like to get to know you before we bind ourselves together forever.”
Darcy nodded. “I would like that, as well.” He squeezed her hand before lifting it to kiss. “I will tell your father.” He stood, immediately gaining Bennet’s attention. “I have asked Miss Elizabeth to marry me, and she has accepted.”
Bennet rose, a satisfied grin on his face. “We can call the first of the banns next Sunday.”
The smile on Darcy’s face was instantly replaced by a glower as he turned to his future father-in-law. “Miss Elizabeth has requested time to get to know me, and I desire the same. She specifically asked not to marry right away; therefore, we will wait several weeks before we even contemplate a wedding. When we are ready, I will purchase a common license. There is no need for banns.”
Bennet’s grin had, like Darcy’s, been replaced with a frown. “Her reputation ….”
“Will be saved by our engagement. Elizabeth is in charge here, not you or me. When she tells me it is time, we will wed and not a moment before.”
Bennet gritted his teeth but acquiesced. He could work on Elizabeth to marry quickly, he was sure. “Let us go down and announce the engagement, then.” Turning to his daughter, he urged her to stay put. “I will send Mary and Jane up to help you.
“Thank you, Papa.” Elizabeth hesitated. “Please do not be unhappy with my decision. An engagement alone is enough to salvage my reputation. I see no need for haste.”
“I will visit you every day, so we can come to know one another better. Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy bowed.
Bennet said nothing, merely tipping his head toward her before he turned and escorted Darcy downstairs.
~~~***~~~
Upon arriving at the drawing room, Bennet and Darcy announced the engagement. Immediately, Mrs. Bennet expressed her pleasure in her typical fashion. Darcy grimaced, but stoically withstood the onslaught, focusing his attention on receiving the congratulations of his friend and Elizabeth’s sisters.
Following the announcement, the party broke up and he and Bingley returned to Netherfield.
“Congratulations again, old man.” Bingley was ecstatic for his friend. “I know the situation is not what you would have wished for, but I truly believe Miss Elizabeth will make you happy. You are similar, you know, both always with a book in hand and speaking far above the rest of us.”
“Thank you; I have a feeling you are correct. I am already fond of Miss Elizabeth and have high hopes for a happy union with her.” Darcy paused. “Let us not tell your sisters yet, shall we? At least not Caroline. After speaking to Mr. Bennet this evening, I find my temper frayed. I would rather not have to defend myself to her, as well.”
Bingley nodded, though in the darkened carriage, he knew his friend could not see it. “We shall. She will be disappointed, and she is unbearable when she does not get what she wants.”
“It is not as though she has not been told multiple times through the years that I would not marry her. I know I found amusement in her company until last year, but seeing her treat that debutante so cruelly last season put me off her forever.”
“That was a terrible debacle, was it not? Do not worr
y. Louisa will remind her again, as will I. She has only herself to blame, and I suspect she will soon decide that being granted entrance to Pemberley in the future is enough to allow her to be kind to Miss Elizabeth.”
“I certainly hope so.”
The carriage came to a stop, and soon, the gentlemen were ensconced in their rooms and getting ready for dinner.
Later, Darcy lay in his bed and relived the evening and his conversation with Elizabeth. “I am sure we will be happy, and I am glad I offered for her. She is too ill to play a part. I could see at the end of the night how pale she had become. She never did eat,” he murmured, shaking his head. He rolled to his side as his eyelids grew heavier. “I am looking forward to knowing her better.”
Chapter 9
True to his word, Darcy visited daily for the next couple days. He spent time with Elizabeth’s father, hammering out a draft of her settlement, but the majority of his visits were spent with his betrothed.
By the sixth day following her rescue, Elizabeth’s dizziness had passed and she began to spend more time out of bed and downstairs. Her father insisted she take her recovery slowly, so as not to have a relapse.
“Oh, Papa.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes the first time she ventured downstairs, her four sisters surrounding her. “You are as bad as Jane and Mary.” She shook her head. “I am feeling much better now. I need to walk and be in company again.”
Bennet waved a finger at his second daughter. “And so you shall. You will simply not do it all in one day.” He looked around at his other daughters. “I am proud of the four of you for ensuring your sister’s safety. See to it that she is not left alone and that she limits her visits to no more than an hour.”
After murmuring their agreement, Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia herded Elizabeth into the drawing room, seating her near the fire and covering her with a blanket.
“Does it still pain your head to read?” Mary settled into a nearby seat with a book.
“After a while it does, yes.” Elizabeth tilted her head in an effort to identify the book Mary held.
“I could read to you, if you wish me to.” Mary lifted the book, blushing but raising her chin. “I have brought the novel with me that you were reading the day you got hurt. I could finish it for you.”
Elizabeth’s brows rose at Mary’s words. “I would love to hear you read the rest of my book, if you are certain you will not be offended by it.”
Mary glanced at her other sisters, whose chatter had prevented them from hearing her conversation with Elizabeth. “I can bear whatever is written within if it will bring you enjoyment. I know you would not read anything inappropriate.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Thank you, Mary. I would be delighted to listen.”
Mary grinned, then settled back into her chair and opened the tome. She began to read, softly at first, then more strongly as she became swept up by the events of the story. She never noticed when Jane and her youngest sisters stopped talking to listen. Even Mrs. Bennet moved closer and dropped her sewing to her lap.
When Darcy and Bingley knocked a quarter hour later, Mrs. Hill did not announce them. Instead, she entered ahead of the gentlemen, curtseyed, and waved them in. With a tilt of his head, Darcy realized what was happening in the room. Not wishing to break up the moment, he soundlessly pulled up a chair and seated himself. Bingley followed suit.
“… who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them. The end.” Mary sighed, closing the book and running her hand over the cover.
“Very good, Mary! I had no idea you read aloud so well, and a novel, too!” Mrs. Bennet lavished praise on her middle and most misunderstood child. “You should read to us more often.”
Mary’s countenance turned a deep red. She stammered when she tried to respond to the unusual accolades from her mother. She swallowed and tried again. “Thank you, Mama. Perhaps I will.” She ducked her head and smiled before turning toward Elizabeth.
“That was very good, Mary. You infused the words with so much emotion, it was almost as though I were there, experiencing the events myself.” Elizabeth reached a hand toward her sister, grinning when Mary laid hers in it and she was able to squeeze it. “Thank you for making my recovery more bearable.”
Mary turned shy once more, ducking her chin to her chest and mumbling her thanks.
“I agree, Miss Mary, that was excellent reading. My sisters and I have never done such a thing. None of us are great readers, you know. I did not realize how entertaining it could be.” Bingley stood and bowed. “I hope you do not mind; Darcy and I entered several minutes ago. You were so involved in your reading that you did not see us, so we sat and listened.”
Darcy joined his friend in standing. He bowed and repeated Bingley’s greeting. “I also would love to hear you read again.”
Mary’s blush deepened. Though she could barely lift her eyes, she rose and curtseyed. “Thank you, Mr. Bingley. You, as well, Mr. Darcy.” She moved to Elizabeth’s side to fuss over her and help her to rise.
Mrs. Bennet seized the momentary silence to greet the visitors. “Welcome, gentlemen. It is so good to see you again. Would you care for tea?” When her guests indicated they would, she waved to Kitty. “Call for Hill, dear, and ask her to bring the tea service.”
With the arrival of Elizabeth’s betrothed, her sisters scattered about the room. Jane chose a nearby chaise, smiling when Bingley promptly dropped down beside her. Mary vacated her chair, which had been situated beside Elizabeth’s, so Darcy could take it. She chose a different seat near the window, close enough to be near should her sister need her but far enough away to not be able to hear Elizabeth’s conversation. Kitty and Lydia flounced across the room to the table that was littered with bonnet-trimming supplies. They settled in, picking up their previously-abandoned bonnets and turning them this way and that with a laugh. Mrs. Bennet beamed her approval at the sight of two daughters with suitors in her drawing room.
Though the group was not seated as closely together as previously, they still conversed together until tea had been served. It was only then that they broke off into twos and threes to have individual conversations.
“You are feeling better today?” Darcy sipped his tea, looking over the edge of the cup at his betrothed.
“I am.” Elizabeth carefully set her cup on the table that stood between her chair and Darcy’s. She leaned back, a biscuit in her hand. “My father has warned me to be patient and not do too much, too soon. That is difficult advice to follow. I long for a brisk stroll about the gardens.”
Darcy’s lips lifted for a moment before falling into their usual stoic expression. “I would imagine it is. From what I gather, you are an active sort of person.”
“Yes, I can honestly say that I am.” Elizabeth smiled.
“Does your memory still bother you?”
“I am beginning to recall some of the things I had forgotten. Mr. Jones’ recommendation for memory aids was spectacular. There is something about seeing things written out that prompts my mind to remember.” Elizabeth brushed biscuit crumbs off her hands and picked her tea up again. Her left brow rose as she sipped from the cup. Lowering it, she continued speaking. “I quoted some Italian to Jane this morning, who replied with the next line. I understood it, so I have happily not forgotten everything I know.”
“Excellent!” Darcy chuckled but quickly sobered. “Do you have any recollection of the bull?”
Elizabeth’s smile turned to a frown. “No, I do not,” she replied softly. “I have tried, but it makes my head ache, still, so I stop.” She rolled her eyes and grimaced. “Reading and sewing affect me the same way, which is why Mary was reading today. She was entertaining me, though I am happy everyone else enjoyed it, as well.”
Darcy dipped his chin for a moment. “As I understand it, some memories never return after an injury such as yours.”
“Yes, that is what Mr. Jones tells me.” Elizabeth shrugged. “It might be better if I cannot recall, do you not think? If t
he event was too disquieting and there existed a danger of nightmares, would it not be best if I were never able to remember?”
Darcy lifted his brows and tilted his head to the side. “I had not thought of that, but you may be correct.” He straightened. “If it causes you pain to think about it, do not. Perhaps one day it will come back, and by then it will not distress you.”
“Perhaps.” Elizabeth smiled, her eyes twinkling. “We are supposed to be learning more about each other, and I have already overstayed my allotted hour out of my room. “Tell me about yourself. Did you go to school?”
Darcy chuckled. “I did. I went to Eton and then Cambridge.”
Elizabeth smirked, tapping her chin. “I see. Did you complete a course of studies at University, or were you one who preferred to enjoy himself?”
“I completed my studies, thank you very much. I graduated at the top of my class.” Darcy’s lips lifted in a slight smile, his eyes crinkling. “I made a number of useful acquaintances, as well.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Very good. What topics were your favourites?”
“My favourites?” Darcy looked over Elizabeth’s shoulder at the wall, his eyes darting back and forth as he considered his classes. Soon, he moved his gaze back to hers. “I enjoyed all the subjects I was taught. The thing that made certain courses less attractive than others was not the topics I was learning but the professors who were teaching.” Darcy shifted in his seat, crossing his legs and leaning back. “I found Latin and Greek to be the most challenging. The instructor was a harsh and exacting taskmaster. Mathematics were the easiest, but numbers have always made more sense to me than anything else.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, numbers never change. People do. I comprehend your meaning.”
Darcy grinned. “You, who I have been told is a great studier of character, prefer to work with numbers than with people?”