“Yes, I suppose I have.”
“Given that and that there is a possibility someone might have seen the two of you come off Oakham Mount one after the other, would you be willing to ask her for a courtship at this point in your relationship? I have known men who are willing to ask for a courtship after calling only once, let alone three times.
Darcy sat for a long time, considering his request, knowing he certainly had the right to have him ask her for a courtship. As he was thinking about it, Mr. Bennet rang for Malcolm and when he came in, told him to ask Elizabeth to come in.
Chapter 10: Declarations
Soon Malcolm returned with Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet said, “I will leave you two alone for a few minutes. Malcolm, take me into the parlor.”
After Malcolm had wheeled Mr. Bennet went out the door, Elizabeth asked, “What is this all about, Mr. Darcy? Did he discover about our time together on Oakham Mount?”
“He did, and we had a good talk. We agreed that, for all practical purposes, I have called on you at least twice and even three times, if you count the first time I met you. Given we could not be sure no one saw us come off Oakham Mount one after the other, he asked me if I would be willing to ask you for a courtship at this point in our relationship.”
“A courtship! He wants you to ask me for a courtship? He did not state it as a requirement, did he?”
“No, he did not. It was only a suggestion. I told him I had intended to ask to call on you, because, as we discussed on the trail to Meryton, our talk this morning went beyond what most men and women talk about when they are not courting. It was then that he asked me if I was willing to ask you for a courtship, but he said nothing about it being a requirement. In fact, earlier he stated that he wished he could find a reason to not allow me to call on you. He also said something to me which makes me hope I may have discovered your compelling reason for refusing Farrington’s offer of a courtship.”
“And what might that be?”
“He said he thought you may have wanted to see what might happen between us when we finally met face to face. Is it possible you had hopes that we might be attracted to one another?”
She blushed and lowered her eyes. Very softly she said, “Would it distress you if I admitted he was correct?”
“No, it would not. In fact, I would quite happy that you would have that feeling. However, as much as I enjoyed being with you and believe we have established a rapport that I have never sensed with another woman, I am not sure you think we know enough about each other or that you have even the slightest desire for me to court you. Given you refused a courtship by Farrington, I do not know if you are even willing to consider a courtship by someone of my status who has some relatives who would disapprove.”
She looked up and gazed intently into his eyes. “Have you developed feelings for me which would make you desire to ask for a courtship?”
He could not look away, nor did he want to do so. Without thinking, took her hand and as soon as their bare hands touched, he felt warmth over his entire body, and he could see by the reaction in her eyes that his touch had affected her. “As irrational as it seems to me, I have. Even though I did not see you on our first meeting, I considered what you must be like, being rather certain you were not ugly and deformed and that you were a young woman whom I would like to know better. Those thoughts were reinforced during our meetings today, and not only did I wonder how my relatives might react to a marriage between us, I had the thought we might have been destined to meet.”
“But we have spent so little time together.”
“I know, which is why I assumed you would rather I just call on you, rather than start a courtship as your father suggested. But I will admit, at this moment, listening only to my heart and not my analytic brain, which is something I rarely do, I am fully willing to ask you for a courtship.”
“But as you have already stated, I have refused a courtship with Mr. Farrington. Why would you believe I might want one with you? Do not the same arguments apply – we hardly know one another and your courtship of me might upset your family.”
“They do, but the coincidental – or should I say providential – nature of our meeting is different than your meeting with him. I sense a connection between us that I must believe you do not feel with him, or you would not have refused his courtship.”
Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away from him and missed the warmth of it as soon as she did. She then turned and walked to the window, where she stood for a moment, staring at the sky. Finally, she turned and said, “This is almost unbelievable. I have wanted to meet you since I first stood in front of your portrait at Pemberley when I was seventeen. As I stood there looking at your portrait, as impossible as it seems, I wondered what it would be like to be courted by and eventually married to one such as you.”
He walked directly in front of her and this time took both her hands in his, looking at her intently without saying anything. Looking back at him, they seemed to be lost in each other’s eyes and suddenly it seemed natural for each to release their hands and to move to each other. Soon his arms enclosed her, and she had her arms around him, with her head on his chest. He lowered his head and buried his face in her hair, breathing in its lavender scent. Then he kissed her hair and said, “I cannot explain it, Elizabeth, but having you in my arms seems so natural – as if it was meant to be.”
She loved the smell of him and the feel of his body, and when she felt him kiss her hair, she found herself longing for her first true kiss. As if it was meant to be, she tilted her head back and looked at him longingly. “I know. It is not logical, but it is very real.”
He could see the desire in her eyes and lowered his head to kiss first her forehead, and then her nose, and finally to softly put his lips on hers. She almost fainted when their lips touched. It was the most delicious moment she could ever remember and without thinking about it, she moved her arms to his neck and pulled herself closer to him, deepening the kiss. After a several seconds, he pulled away, kissed her forehead, and said, “What magic have you used, Elizabeth? I have never felt such feelings or been so affected by a kiss.”
“I have never been kissed before. These feelings I have are new and so delicious to me, and I have to believe it is because it is you I am kissing.” Standing on her tiptoes, she whispered, “Please, do it again.”
Again, he lowered his head and kissed her. She responded with even more passion than she had to the first kiss – trying to meld her body into his. When they finally parted again, she stepped back to look him in the eyes.
“What are we going to do? Papa will be back soon, but all I want is another kiss. Am I a wanton woman? I almost forced you to hug me. I hope you do not think me one of those mercenary women of the ton, who try to find ways to put a man in a compromising situation to force a marriage. I assure you, I will not tell anyone, not even Jane, this happened.”
He took her hands again and kissed first one and then the other. “Elizabeth, I have never even thought of doing anything such as I have just done. I am known to be a calm, unemotional man, but I find myself full of emotion when I look at you. I could not help myself, but believe me, I neither blame you or think poorly of you because you allowed me to kiss you. All I can think of is how wonderful it would be to be able to kiss you like that every day. My fate is in your hands. I can hardly believe I am saying this, but I have compromised you to the point, I will fully accept a demand from you that I marry you. However, if a courtship is sufficient, then so it shall be.”
She looked him in the eyes, then down had their clasped hands, and then back into his eyes, and then softly laughed. “Can you imagine the speculation if we announced our engagement less than four hours after you supposedly met me for the first time? Somehow, I do not think Papa would condone that. You must know that to do so would be completely illogical. We are supposedly two intelligent, logical people.”
“Supposedly is the relevant word there. I feel I am intelligent, but, at this momen
t, am not feeling logical. Even with such short acquaintance, despite all the rational arguments against making such a decision so quickly, I will make you an offer of marriage if it is what you wish.”
“My head and my heart are in conflict. I can still see myself standing in front of your portrait, wondering if you could ever believe me to be a suitable mate for you. Yet, we barely know each other. All we know is what we have heard from others and what we have learned in a few hours of conversation. You have no idea how pig-headed and independent-minded I can be. Nor have I ever seen you as the taciturn, unsocial man others have told me you are. How are we to know the demeanors we have observed in each other are representative of how we truly are?
“We cannot. We would have to take it on faith. Therefore, what do you suggest we do?”
She moved to him again and put her arms around him and her head on his chest. “I suppose we must follow what society would consider proper procedures. You must call on me a few days and then you can formally ask me for a courtship, to which I will reluctantly agree. We will court for at least a week or two, and, if you are still convinced we should marry, I will gladly accept. How does that sound?”
“Entirely too long. That means I should not kiss you for over a week. However, having been given that pleasure not once, but twice, I want it again as soon as possible. Let me suggest I go to town and buy a special license and we marry in, say, four days.”
“You cannot be serious. You still hardly know me. I have learned of you from many people, but you have just met me.”
“Two people for whom I have profound respect have convinced me, one directly and the other indirectly, that you would be a wonderful wife.”
She leaned back and once again, looked in his eyes, wishing they could kiss again. Seeing the desire in her eyes, he lowered his head and kissed her gently again. However, fighting the temptation to put her arms around his neck again, she drew her lips away from his, gave him a quick kiss on the chin, and then stepped back. “As much as we might wish it, you know we should not do it. I would not want to start with all your family disliking me for coercing you into such an act, for I am sure they would believe it was my doing. You are known to be a careful man who thinks things through. And I believe I am known to be a rational woman who does not make impulsive decisions. They will be sure the only reason we need to marry so soon is that you have compromised me with far more than a kiss or two.”
“But you do agree we must marry?”
“Yes… No...” She moved to him and put her head on his chest again. “I do not know. This is ridiculous. We are two educated, intelligent, rational people. We do not take such life altering actions on the spur of the moment, do we?”
He put his face in her hair again and said, “We do if it is an intelligent, rational decision.”
They stood there, silently, reveling in the feeling they were experiencing, until there was a knock on the door, which made them spring apart. When Malcolm pushed Mr. Bennet into the room, they were an appropriate distance apart, but, to Mr. Bennet’s eyes, looking somewhat discomposed. After Malcolm left, closing the door behind him, he said, “I believe you have had enough time. What are your plans?”
“We have not had enough time, Papa. Would you please allow us a few more minutes? We have been discussing making a life altering decision which I believe we need more time to consider before we make it.”
He looked at them with pursed lips for what seemed an uncomfortably long time to them. “Life altering decision is it? Then I fear you are discussing far more than I thought you would be discussing. I am not sure I want you to discuss such a decision at this point.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, obviously expecting him to say something. “Mr. Bennet, we are two educated, intelligent, rational people who, on the spur of the moment, began discussing, as she said, doing something which will affect the rest of our lives and which most people might consider completely irrational. She was attempting to pull us back to rationality when you entered. I believe she wants a few more minutes to discuss what most would believe is the most rational decision.”
“And what might the irrational decision be?”
Darcy took Elizabeth’s closest hand and guided her to turn to face him. Then he took both her hands in his. “Elizabeth, I have the feeling that being irrational is rational in this case. Do you truly believe we need more time?”
She looked in his eyes and thought she saw that his feelings for her were the same as hers for him, but she had to know. “We have said not actually spoken of our feelings for one another.”
He kissed one of the hands held. “I believe, despite the fact I met you in person for the first time early this morning, I have fallen in love with you. Can you say the same?”
Mr. Bennet felt both distraught and amused as he looked at his daughter and saw her internal struggle, but seeing the way she looked at Darcy, was not surprised when she said, softly, “As irrational as it seems, I can.”
“Then may I tell him what happened?”
When she nodded, he turned to Mr. Bennet. “Sir, I have compromised your daughter not once, but three times, with two, quite long and passionate kisses and a shorter, gentler kiss. Ones, I might add, which she seemed to encourage and greatly enjoy. Therefore, the only proper course of action for me is to ask you to give me her hand in marriage.”
Mr. Bennet shook his head in disbelief. “You proposed? I was afraid, when you said you were discussing something irrational, that it was an engagement. And how long did you intend this engagement to last?”
“We had not yet had time to discuss that topic.”
“What are your thoughts, Lizzy? To what rationality were you trying to bring him back?”
“That you would believe we have not known each other long enough for you to agree to an engagement.”
“Tell me, Mr. Darcy, if I did agree to an engagement, how long would you expect it to be?”
“I would hope it would be no more than a month, because I would like her to be mistress of Pemberley when we have the annual Fitzwilliam-Darcy Christmas gathering at Pemberley.”
“A month! Surely you do not believe I will agree to such a short engagement, when you have known each other for such a short time?”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, the rise in her eyebrows displaying that she had not expected him to mention the marriage date before more discussion. But quickly, her expression softened, and she gave Darcy a beautiful smile, which Mr. Bennet interpreted to mean she approved of what he had said, even though he had said more than she thought he would. Nevertheless, he asked, “Is that what you wish, Lizzy, or are you, perhaps, having second thoughts?”
She blushed as she continued to look at Darcy, thinking that it more than met her desires, but not her expectations. She had assumed he might ask for an engagement but had not expected to marry before the beginning of the next year, at the earliest. Then, believing, or at least wanting to believe, she saw unconditional love for her in his eyes, she responded. “Yes, it is my wish and no, there are no second thoughts.”
She turned to her father. “I know an engagement after supposedly only meeting this morning and a marriage within a month will possibly start tongues wagging, but we have discovered a longing for each other that is almost inexplicable, although I can trace my longing for him to the moment I saw his portrait at Pemberley when I was seventeen. I know it is irrational, but is true love not irrational? We are convinced we were fated to meet and marry. I cannot wait to be with him and kiss him again. I have an overwhelming urge to be his wife and bear his children. I know you can force us to wait until I am twenty-one next March, but I beg you, do not. We are willing to live with any disapproval and rumors we may have to face.”
An amused Mr. Bennet, continuing to shake his head, looked at them for some moments, digesting what they had said. Finally, with a wry smile on his face, he said, “Are you sure you are Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Anne Bennet and not some imposters who took their place
s? You, Mr. Darcy, are known to be a thoughtful, pragmatic man who is extremely careful in his decision making. Your resistance to young woman and marriage has become almost legendary. Yet you just met my daughter, and you want to marry her? And you, young lady, are a woman I am not sure I know. Based on only four conversations, during the first of which you did not see each other, a second, ten-minute meeting on Oakham Mount, a walk to Meryton, and a few minutes alone in here, you have decided you want to marry this man. I have taught my daughter to be logical and think through every decision. You cannot be the Lizzy I know and love. She would never make such a crucial decision with so little thought.”
“In my defense, Mr. Bennet, I have been resisting attachments because I have never met, and thought there may not exist, a woman who could meet my expectations for a wife. I believe it is entirely rational that the moment I do meet one, after so many years of looking, I wish to marry her as soon as possible.”
Elizabeth moved beside Darcy, put her arm through his, and put her head on his upper arm. “And Papa, his face has been in my dreams since I was seventeen and looked at this portrait in the great hall at Pemberley. Furthermore, all I heard of him from his staff and others who know him well only reinforced my belief we were meant to be. It did not take me more than four meetings with him, including this one, to believe he is everything I want.”
Before Mr. Bennet could respond, Darcy added, “Also, I do not know what you know of my wealth, but let me assure you, there are not many in England who have more. You need have no worries about the family should something happen to you. I would be pleased to erase all the fears your family may harbor because of the entail. Also, I can provide dowries for your daughters that may ensure they find suitable husbands.”
Mr. Bennet waited, looking at Elizabeth, expecting her to add another argument. He was convinced they had not had time to discuss all they had said to him, and that Elizabeth was surprised when Darcy had sought an immediate and short engagement. But he had to admit, she had wasted no time in accepting his proposal and supporting his arguments. Finally, he could only laugh and say, “You two astound me. You almost sound as if you have been scheming about this for weeks rather than minutes. Tell me the truth, Lizzy, if he had not spoken first, what would you have said was your decision. I believe you were somewhat surprised at his proposed time table.”
The Lady of the Mount and Patience Rewarded: Two Stories of Darcy and Elizabeth Page 8