“There was a time when I thought with that look you disdained me and found fault with me. Then I saw the same expression on your face in your portrait at Pemberley,” she sashayed closer to him. She placed her hands on Darcy’s chest,“and I wanted nothing more than anything to see you look that way at me again.” Elizabeth went up on her tiptoes to nibble on his lower lip.
“Mrs. Reynolds,” his voice was breathy and ragged, “tells me you find me to be handsome,” he teased her by brushing his lips over hers.
“Did I not tell you so last night?” Her mouth was near his.
“I am a vain, prideful man, as you have so often pointed out.” He smiled down at her face tilted toward him. “I need for you to feed my vanity with your praise.”
“Then you must reciprocate with praise of my good qualities.” Their breathing caused a sudden flush of heat to rise to Elizabeth’s cheeks.
“My dearest Elizabeth, you are so beautiful.”The warmth of his kiss smothered the words. Elizabeth now realized it was a look exclusively reserved for her; she was the one person who brought passion to his being. They parted unwillingly and started their walk again, but now it became more leisurely and more loving.“Georgiana will be so pleased when she hears; if it was not for her, I may have given up my hopes of our reconciliation. She is more intelligent and astute than I once gave her credit for being; I am afraid I spent so much of my time being her guardian I forgot she is my sister.”
“It will be pleasant to have Georgiana as a sister. Losing Jane is something about our future to which I am most dreading; Georgiana and I will be great friends.”
“I dreamed of you at Pemberley so often.”
“I dreamed of it last night,” she stammered. “How will I ever manage to be its mistress? I am frightened; how will I survive?” Anxiety showed in her manner of speaking.
“Elizabeth, there are servants to manage Pemberley. It could run by itself.You will be my wife; you have nothing to fear. If you can win my heart as easily as you did, there is no one at Pemberley you have to fear.” Then he quickly changed the subject, not wanting her to dwell too long on the transition to her new life. “I would ask your father’s consent this evening. How will he react?”
“Papa, I am afraid, will be very surprised. I told him nothing of Hunsford or of Pemberley. I fear my earliest impression of you is the only one of which he knows.”
“Does he dislike me so much?”
“Your refusal of his favorite daughter at the assembly colored his opinion of you, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth needled him about his once haughty behavior.
“I believe I still owe you an apology for such bad behavior.” Darcy reached out to caress her face.
“By starting over, My Love, we can get some place else,” she said decidedly, and the beauty and wit of this remarkable woman again overwhelmed him.
“Do you have a preference for when to set our wedding date? I suppose we will have to wait until after Charles’s and Miss Bennet’s nuptials.”
“I have a suggestion . . .” She hesitated not knowing how he would react. Darcy waited patiently for her to finish her thoughts. “Jane and I stumbled on an idea last night when I told her of our engagement. At first we thought it to be a lark, and we laughed at it; but, the more it was considered, the more reasonable it sounded.”
“Do you plan on sharing this idea, or must I guess your mind?”
“What say you to a double wedding?”
“You and Miss Bennet and Bingley and I?” He seemed stunned.
“Is it a bad idea?” She was unsure of how to read his reaction.
“Will Bingley agree to this?”
“Jane will ask him today,” she offered. “We would not have to wait so long. You do not want a long engagement do you, Mr. Darcy?”
“I believe we waited long enough to start our life together.” He kissed her with renewed ardor.
“I will tell Mama about our engagement once you secure my father’s consent.” She planned this part of what she would say to him today. Elizabeth feared her mother’s reaction to the news of her daughter’s choice of a husband. Mrs. Bennet was not known to be tactful; one never knew what she would say. “Jane and I will then tell her our plans. Mama’s nerves will only have to go through the planning of one ceremony and one wedding breakfast.” She said no more, but Darcy knew her sentiments. “There is only one thing more of which we should speak before you address my father this evening,” Elizabeth hesitated again.“My father received a letter from Mr. Collins the day Lady Catherine paid her visit. It actually warned me not to accept your proposal. Papa finds anything Mr. Collins writes amusing. He had no idea how I felt about you. When he finished his humorous diversion, I questioned whether you could love me.”
“I will take the time, Elizabeth, to allay your father’s fears. Everything will go well, I promise.” They walked back toward Longbourn with plans of their life together.
After dinner, Mr. Bennet made his usual retreat to his library, and Darcy followed. “Mr. Darcy,” seeing this guest in his library surprised Mr. Bennet, “may I help you find something to read or would you care for a glass of port?”
“Thank you, Mr. Bennet,” Darcy cleared his voice,“but I would like to speak to you on a matter of importance.”
“Of course, Mr. Darcy, please have a seat. What may I do for you? It would give me pleasure to be of service to you.”
“Mr. Bennet,” Darcy paused, wondering how to tell Elizabeth’s father of his love, “I asked your daughter Elizabeth to be my wife, and she accepted my proposal. I come here tonight seeking your permission for our union.”
Mr. Bennet sat bolt upright in his chair and gripped the handles tightly. The color drained from his face, and he was momentarily speechless. “Mr. Darcy, are you sure? This is not some joke the family is playing, is it?” Mr. Bennet seemed to be looking for an explanation.
“Mr. Bennet, I realize you are unaware of my relationship with Miss Elizabeth. We have been more secretive than my friend Mr. Bingley. Our natures are not so open, but, I assure you Elizabeth and I are deeply in love; she agreed to be my wife.” Darcy’s voice sounded calmer than his body felt.
Her father got up and walked to the window before he spoke again. “Mr. Darcy, I do not wish to offend you, but Elizabeth is my favorite of all my children. Her nature will not be dictated to; Elizabeth has a spirit I would not wish to see caged by your society’s rules and regulations.”
“Mr. Bennet, I am well aware of your daughter’s spirit; she humbled me; I learned about myself thanks to her. I realize I offended Elizabeth at the Meryton Assembly, and from that you drew your opinion of me.” All this frankness made Mr. Bennet uncomfortable, but it also made him see Darcy in a different light. “When I saw Elizabeth care for Miss Bennet at Netherfield, I realized she was the type of person I would want to be a friend to my own sister Georgiana.We spent time together at Hunsford and most recently at my estate in Derbyshire. I did not fall in love with Elizabeth overnight; even when I thought we would never be together, my love for her stood the test. I adore Elizabeth.”
“Mr. Darcy, I understand your affection for my daughter, but you must understand as her father I want to be sure she is protected. You can provide for Elizabeth, no doubt, but I would like to speak to my daughter before I give my final consent. If Elizabeth loves you as you say, my consent will be yours immediately and willingly.”
Darcy thanked the man and said he would send Elizabeth to him shortly. “When you satisfy your inclinations, we may meet again regarding Elizabeth’s settlement, but please know I already decided to create a jointure for Elizabeth as part of the marriage articles; even without an heir, Pemberley will be hers.”
“Mr. Darcy, your being able to provide for Elizabeth is not my concern. Elizabeth will choose with her heart; if you own her heart, you are an incomparable man indeed.”
When Darcy returned to the drawing room, her increased attention to her needlework spoke volumes of her anxiousness. When he stepp
ed into the room, her eyes shot up searching his face for reassurance; Darcy offered her a smile, giving her some relief. He walked casually about the room, talking specifically to Bingley and Miss Bennet, and, eventually, coming to stand beside Elizabeth.
“May I see your work, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked, wanting to talk only to her, but knowing he must wait.
“What do you think, Mr. Darcy?” she asked, holding out the needlework for his inspection; but his nearness ignited her passions, and she allowed her eyes to drift up his body just a little too slowly.
He bent down as if to inspect her work, but it was to her eyes he spoke. “Beautiful, Miss Elizabeth, absolutely beautiful,” he spoke from his heart. She blushed slightly.Then in a whisper he said,“Your father wishes to speak to you in his library.”Thus said, he stood and walked casually back to the settee across from Bingley and Jane and joined their conversation. Soon Elizabeth left the room.
Darcy’s attention to the conversation was minimal at best; of course, Bingley and Jane were happy just to be together; they were the acknowledged lovers.When she did not return right away, the more consternation Darcy felt. Had her father refused? Was the initial dislike for him enough to sway Mr. Bennet’s decision? After nearly an hour, Elizabeth reentered the room, giving him a great sense of relief; she came to sit beside him on the settee; and although she did not speak to Darcy directly, Elizabeth engaged Bingley, Jane, and Darcy in a lively conversation.They spoke of the rooms at Netherfield, Georgiana’s musical talent, and the neighbors, the conversation secondary to Darcy. What was important was he was sitting beside Elizabeth in her home. Tomorrow they would be acknowledged lovers also, and soon he would be sitting beside Elizabeth in their home. It was enough for now.
When it was time to leave, Elizabeth stepped into the foyer with Jane as the gentlemen put on their greatcoats. Handing Darcy his hat and gloves, their fingertips intertwined for a few brief seconds. Elizabeth whispered,“I will tell Mama tonight. All will be known tomorrow.”
He leaned in as near as he dared.The familiar lavender overtook his senses.“As I said before, I have been waiting for you.Tomorrow cannot come soon enough.” Darcy reached out and squeezed her hand; they could not take their eyes from each other.
The ladies stepped out into the early fall evening as the men mounted their horses. Jane said a loving goodbye to Mr. Bingley while Elizabeth stood a bit apart staring up at the man she chose as her husband. Desire charged the air between them. Darcy looked at her as he always did; the stare so intense it used to make Elizabeth uncomfortable. Now it seemed so natural—so him. He leaned down from Cerberus’s back and touched her cheek lightly. “Elizabeth” was all he said. She caught his hand and kissed his palm. “Darcy” was her reply. Nothing else needed to be said; there was no more “Miss” or “Mr.”Their names were bound together as were their hearts and their minds.
CHAPTER 17
“Everything in his favor . . .”
At last came the day he was welcomed at Longbourn. In such awe of Darcy, Mrs. Bennet kept her comments in check except to offer him any attention or to mark her deference for his opinions. Mrs. Bennet was beside herself to have two daughters so well-placed; having Jane at Netherfield was one thing, but having Elizabeth at Pemberley would be an honor for the whole family. Mr. Bennet sought Darcy’s opinion again on the estate.They walked out over some of the property, and Darcy’s sharp eye for details impressed Mr. Bennet. They also spent some time discussing the marriage articles, and Mr. Bennet took note of Darcy’s good business sense.
“Mr. Darcy,” he said, as they sat in the library at Longbourn, “Elizabeth told me of your part in saving my other daughters’ reputations and your dealings with Mr. Wickham. It is my intention to repay you, Sir, for your efforts.”
“Mr. Bennet, Sir,” Darcy knew this conversation was inevitable, “my part in Mrs. Wickham’s marriage was nothing I could not afford. I freely admit to doing so for selfish reasons.To give relief to Elizabeth was my motivation. I never wanted the Bennet family to feel an obligation to repay me. I desired Elizabeth’s love, not her gratitude.You repaid me tenfold by giving me your daughter, Sir. Give me your respect as Elizabeth’s husband and keep your money, Mr. Bennet.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Elizabeth also tells me you took great amusement in choosing Newcastle for Mr.Wickham’s commission.”
“It was the best I could do on such short notice,” Darcy smirked.
“Mr. Darcy, your value as a son is increasing by the moment. Of course, you will have to go some to catch up with Mr. Wickham. I am afraid I have a propensity for choosing amusing characters such as our own Mr. Collins and Mr.Wickham as my favorites. The only foolish thing I can say of you is you gave your money to two of the most frivolous people in England, but you made up for it by falling in love with my Lizzy.” Darcy was not used to such tongue-in-cheek teasing from a gentleman, but he found nothing offensive in the conversation as he settled into the comfort of Elizabeth’s home.
In early afternoon Darcy and Elizabeth finally found themselves alone; they sat together in the copse holding hands. Darcy reached behind him and brought out a simply wrapped package. He handed it tentatively to Elizabeth. “I brought something with me from London for you.”
“Fitzwilliam,” she started, and then he saw the quizzical look cross her face.“How did you know I would accept you? Would you give me this package if I refused you?”
“There are many things I plan to give you, Elizabeth, but what is in this package, I could not bear for you to share with anyone else.”
She looked at him suspiciously as she unwrapped the string and turned back the paper. Elizabeth’s fingers caressed the delicate lace, and he watched her eyes well up as she rubbed her hands gently over the package. Without warning, she hugged his neck tightly. “How did you know?” she whispered in his ear.
Darcy held her for a few minutes, gently stroking the back of her head as she collapsed against him. Finally, he moved her back away from him so he could look at her and tell her how he came by the lace. “Last April, Colonel Fitzwilliam saw you in London with Miss Lucas and Miss Bennet. He did not approach because he trained recruits all day and was not presentable, but he observed your choice of this lace.That night the good colonel came to Kensington Place because Georgiana feared I would go mad if I did not talk to someone.” He stroked each of her delicate fingers as he spoke softly to her.“My cousin teased me with tales of seeing you; I was in such turmoil I did the unthinkable—I drank a decanter of brandy and then confessed my love for the beautiful Elizabeth Bennet.” He smiled briefly at her for he rarely remembered seeing her so somber.“I told him everything—the proposal—the letter; as I literally crawled into bed that evening, I called out to him to ask from which merchant I could find the lace; Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed and told me he would make arrangements for me to have the lace.The good colonel knew I would want it; Elizabeth Bennet chose it but did not buy it for some reason. The colonel knew I loved you even then; I kept it for you.”
“Fitzwilliam, when I saw the lace in London, I kept thinking you were somewhere close by and thinking ill of me. By that time, I read your letter at least a dozen times, and I knew if not for my prejudices, I could be choosing this very lace for my wedding. I went back to the lace several times, but I did not buy it because I thought you were lost to me forever. I was discovering myself—how I judged people—how I judged you.You offered me an honor with your proposal. I foolishly threw your love away. It was the first time I admitted to myself I carried any feelings for you.”
“Then the lace was meant for you, Elizabeth,” he whispered as he moved a strand of hair away from her face.
She reached for the hair at the back of his neck, rubbing her finger along the shirt line.“I used to tell Jane the problem with our parents’ marriage was Mama always waited for Papa to make the grand gesture. She is a very foolish woman, but as much as I adore my father, I believe she wants only some of his attention—the things he showed her wh
en they were first married. They forgot what brought them together.You, Fitzwilliam Darcy, gave me more today than my parents have given to each other in years. You obtained the lace for a woman who thoroughly abused you and refused you.What did I ever do to deserve your love?You made the grand gesture without ever knowing I would love you in return.”
Darcy took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Elizabeth,” he too hesitated before saying what he now realized, “you will be—we will be wiser—my parents loved in a manner appropriate for their time and station, but they only showed regard for our family circle, leaving me with all my false pride.You admire your father’s abilities and are grateful for his approval, but you understand although you love his wit, it has its limitations. Do not second-guess; being his daughter does not mean you will make Mr. Bennet’s mistakes any more than I will make those of my father.We are not our parents; our love will be freer, more open—more hopeful.There is no guarantee, Elizabeth; you are more vulnerable than is your father because you love life. That is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you.”
She nodded as he spoke, and Darcy watched as she shook her head as if to shake off the desperation she felt. The shift of her shoulders and the glint of her eyes told him she was ready to face their life together devoid of the apprehension she just experienced. In due time, playfulness rose again. “When, Love, did you know you cared for me? How could you begin? I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?”
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
“My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners—my behavior to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?”
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