by J Dawn King
He flashed a smile before kissing her again. Then he leapt on his horse and rode off without once looking back.
Elizabeth put her hands to her lips and shook her head. How could a woman be so pleased? Freedom from the threat of Mr. Collins had emboldened her. Where she had looked with dread on the marriage to the rector, she looked with joy at marriage to the man from Derbyshire.
Once Darcy was out of sight, Elizabeth turned and entered her home. Only one week more would she be a resident. One week. The thought surprised her in that she felt no sadness. For a certainty, she would miss her family. In spite of their flaws, she loved them all. Yes, she loved her father as well. Without him she would not have life. Therefore, she would be no man’s wife and Darcy would continue in his lonely state. Had her father not allowed her to travel to Derbyshire with the Gardiners to come to terms with her future, she would not have met the Darcys. And had he not made such a foolish wager, she would not know the peace of having her mother and sisters settled while her own years would be spent with a man she could lo…lo…love? She was falling in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy? What a perfect realization!
CHAPTER NINE
“What were you thinking, Papa?”
“About what subject, daughter?” Elizabeth’s father despised confrontation.
“Papa, I feel like I’ve experienced the full range of human emotion in the past four and twenty hours. I will have no peace until I understand why you gambled with our future in such a cavalier manner.” Elizabeth swallowed. “It is most unlike you.”
Mr. Thomas Bennet had known from the instant Darcy had laid his opponent’s king over on its side that this confrontation with his daughter was inevitable. What could he say? He had felt the heavy guilt resting on his shoulders, though in the intervening hours since the game, he had been able to shrug the majority of it off. It was his way.
“Lizzy, do you like your young man?” He thought to distract her by changing the subject.
“I do.” was her immediate answer. She was not distracted.
“Then whatever I was thinking matters not, does it?” He excused his lackadaisical conduct in one question though it bothered him to lose the admiration of his favorite daughter.
He could see the struggle to contain her sarcasm written clearly on his daughter’s face. Even though he had raised her to laugh at the follies of others, he would not have appreciated her doing so to him.
“Has he shared with you his plans for our family?” Mr. Bennet had been confident that the only salvation for his wife and daughters lay with Mr. Collins. To have both his plans and his self-proclaimed superior intellect challenged and won by a much younger man was humiliating. His instinct was to look upon Darcy with disfavor. Nevertheless, Elizabeth desired him over Mr. Collins, not that Mr. Bennet was much surprised.
“He has.” Mr. Bennet knew if he dug in his heels in the matter of stubbornness, she would dig deeper.
Though he longed to know what Darcy had in store for his remaining daughters and his wife, Mr. Bennet would not lower himself to ask. Instead, he raised his brow, something which had always drawn a response from this particular child. This time it was to no effect. Finally, he
stood from his bookroom chair and walked around his desk to where Elizabeth stood.
“I have been a selfish being all my life, Lizzy, in practice, though not in principle,” her father began. “As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them with the laxity I chose. Unfortunately, as the eldest child and only son I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and lackadaisical; to care for none beyond myself.” He reached out to take her hand.
“Lizzy, I will not ask for your forgiveness as I am well aware that I am undeserving of such. Note, I pray you, that it was within my rights as your father to arrange a marriage. The mere fact that it is called a marriage of “convenience” suggests the wedding would be of benefit to both partners or their families.” He took in a deep breath. “I will, however, do what I can to ease your way.”
***
By this point Elizabeth was no longer surprised when he slipped some justification into his conversation. It added to her disenchantment.
“Papa, until this summer when you decided to engage me to your cousin, I would have said that next to Jane, I knew you and felt closer to you than any other person in the world.” Elizabeth’s eyes were dry and her voice was steady. “Nevertheless, your abdicating your responsibility for our family’s care, your dropping that heavy weight on my small shoulders without any consideration for my future happiness, was a disappointment I will carry with me for a time—a long time.”
Her father stepped back, though he continued to hold onto her hand.
“Yes, I am now promised in marriage to a wonderful man who will make changes to this household which will guarantee good outcomes for my sisters. If you truly mean what you say, that you will ‘ease my way’, then I ask you, no, I beg you, to restrain Mama and my youngest sisters tomorrow when the Netherfield Party arrives. Though we are used to their outbursts and Mama’s nerves, others are offended by them. Should Jane have any hope of becoming attached to a gentleman such as Mr. Bingley, there can be no embarrassment generated by Mama, Kitty, or Lydia.”
Mr. Bennet used his free hand to rub over his face. Elizabeth knew he would consider this request a hardship. His pattern was to ignore a situation until it either resolved itself or disappeared. She waited for him to reply. Finally, he did so.
“I will speak to your mother.” He breathed in deeply.
When he offered no more, Elizabeth raised her own brow in imitation of him, placing her free hand on her hip.
“And I will confine Kitty and Lydia upstairs.” For the first time since Elizabeth’s birth, she did not try to pacify him or make things easier.
Mr. Bennet dropped his chin to his chest and then looked back at the clearness of her eyes, the lift of her chin, and the erectness of her spine. “You have grown up, my Lizzy.”
“Thank you, Papa.” As if she were already the mistress of a large home, she turned and walked out of his bookroom.
***
“Mr. Darcy, wherever have you been? We have seen little of you since your arrival.”
In Darcy’s opinion, Caroline Bingley would have been a pretty sort of woman if she had learned to modulate her tone and the critical words which spewed from her mouth with regularity. She was well-dressed and trained to care for a home. Her dowry was twenty thousand pounds and she should have appealed to Darcy. She did not.
“Am I to report my comings and goings to you, Miss Bingley?” Darcy’s happiness did not overshadow her impertinence at asking such a question and the sternness of his voice indicated he was displeased. It was not her right to know his business. However, had Elizabeth asked him the same? Darcy smiled at the thought. He would have answered her readily.
“I beg your pardon, sir.” Caroline swallowed and looked closer at Darcy. “Mr. Darcy, are you well? The smile on your face…well, your expression is puzzling. It is not a look we have seen in your company.”
“I rejoice to see it. Darcy can be quite a dour creature when he is not occupied.” Charles Bingley walked to greet his friend and stand by his sister. “I am pleased you are returned, Darcy. I was planning an afternoon visit with the Bennet family and wondered if you wanted to travel with me?” Bingley waited, his posture one of impatience and anticipation.
“That would work well for me, Bingley. It is proper to get to know the neighborhood. Your house is the most important in Hertfordshire and your position is one of which your neighbors would welcome.” He changed the subject abruptly. “By the by, we are invited to dine at Longbourn tomorrow. I took it upon myself to accept for all.” At that, Darcy bowed to the room and left to wash and change his clothing, the smile still on his face.
Bingley’s grin showed a row of straight white teeth
. “I suspected Darcy had already been in Miss Elizabeth’s company this morning and Darcy, with the invitation, just confirmed my supposition.”
“Oh, Charles, you think you know everything.” Caroline Bingley stood with her hands on her hips, her foot tapping on the marble floor. “If we are to be in company with these chits, it is time to go through my closet so the Bennet females will know what a woman of elevated rank looks like.” She huffed as she walked away.
“It is good to have a goal, Caroline.” He said to her retreating back.
***
The evening started well. Caroline Bingley had been ready on time and the five of them fit in Darcy’s carriage without her and her sister’s dresses and hair being squashed—a vital concern to a well-coifed unmarried woman. They were welcomed to Longbourn with the fanfare deserving of having company above their sphere in the household. Caroline lapped it up like a thirsty puppy.
Charles Bingley immediately went to Jane Bennet’s side while Darcy headed to Elizabeth’s. Bingley’s sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, spoke with Mrs. Bennet while the three youngest Bennet sisters sat quietly in a corner.
Apparently Mr. Bennet had spoken firmly with his wife and two youngest as Darcy noticed their conduct was vastly improved. At the insistence of his wife, Kitty and Lydia were allowed downstairs with the adults. It was a battle Mr. Bennet felt he would have lost, so he surrendered. So far they had caused no harm.
When dinner was announced, Darcy was pleased to offer his arm to his betrothed. Bingley did the same to Jane and Caroline. Caroline had jockeyed into position where she assumed Darcy would escort her to dinner and her ire was piqued when he did not.
Without Kitty and Lydia’s giggles and loud chatter and Mrs. Bennet’s nervous outbursts, the only noise around the table was the quiet whispers between Darcy and Elizabeth and Bingley and Jane. Gratefully, Mrs. Bennet had allowed open seating so they were able to choose their dinner companion. Caroline Bingley was not at all pleased.
Thus it was a surprise, either unpleasant or delightful, depending on the hearer, to most of the guests when Mr. Bennet stood to make an announcement.
“Yesterday morning our daughter, Elizabeth, accepted an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy. I have given my blessing and consent.”
The uproar was instantaneous. Mrs. Bennet had been prepared for the announcement and had resolved to maintain her composure, but failed in the end. Caroline Bingley had shouted, “No!” into the fray and Bingley had jumped up to offer his congratulations.
Nobody in the dining room heard the carriage arrive. None heard the thump of the heavy wooden cane on the marble entrance hall floor, and not one person realized Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins were standing in the doorway—until she spoke.
***
“Fitzwilliam Darcy!” She had entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious. The expression on her face proclaimed her desire to be anywhere other than at Longbourn. She had been forced to travel an inconveniently long distance in the company of her insipid rector and she was determined to use everything within her power to halt her nephew from making a terrible mistake. Lady Catherine de Bourgh wanted heads to roll.
Her rector followed her into the room, though he stopped a step behind her, as if seeking refuge from an oncoming threat.
“Lady Catherine, I expected your arrival, though hoped it would have been at Netherfield Park to save Elizabeth from this confrontation.” Darcy looked down at Elizabeth as she lifted her chin to him and smiled. “I will not tolerate poor manners in front of my betrothed.”
“Betrothed!” Both his aunt and her rector spoke at the same time.
“Yes, Lady Catherine.” He did not address Mr. Collins. “I have offered my hand to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and she has accepted. We shall be married.”
“This is not to be borne.” Fury poured from his aunt like water from an overflowing dam. “Since infancy you have been destined to marry Anne. You are meant for each other.” She stepped closer, her chin lifted, and her eyes direct. “You do not intimidate me, Darcy. I have known you since you were in leading strings. Your family will be displeased that you have shunned your responsibilities, that you will bring shame to Pemberley and the name of Darcy, and that you are forsaking proper guardianship of Georgiana by attaching yourself to this woman of decidedly inferior birth.”
“I think not, Lady Catherine. So many times I have heard the same rant from you that I almost know what you would say before you utter it. I am in no way terrified by you.” He smiled in the face of her rage. “I shall have such causes for happiness that I can, on the whole, have no cause to repine.”
“You obstinate, headstrong boy! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for the guidance I have provided since the death of your dear mother, my own sister? Have you no consideration for the loss both Anne and I will suffer at being abandoned for a young woman who is so far below us? Who is her mother? Who are her family?” Lady Catherine stepped forward, her finger shaking at her nephew. Mr. Collins paced himself so he remained just behind her. “I am no stranger to the machinations of a girl who wants to use you to reach the first circles of society where we reside. She has used her arts and allurements and you have foolishly been blinded by your own desires.”
Lydia gave a most unladylike snort. “Arts and allurements? Lizzy? Well, it is blatantly obvious you do not know who you are talking about. My sister would not know an allurement if it hit her in the face. What a joke!”
Caroline Bingley used the distraction to stand and move next to Lady Catherine’s side.
Lady Catherine caught the movement and demanded, “Who are you and what are you about?”
Caroline had not imagined she would be so addressed.
“I am Miss Caroline Bingley. I, too noticed Miss Elizabeth using her flirtatious ways with Mr. Darcy at the assembly in Meryton only two nights past. I stand beside you, Lady Catherine.”
“You? A Bingley?” Lady Catherine gave a sound very similar to Lydia’s, though she would not call it such as a woman of her sphere simply did not snort. “Does not your family reek of trade? You seek to attach yourself to my nephew? Never will that happen. Now, sit back down. You are not wanted or needed here.”
***
At that, Elizabeth stood and clasped her hand into Darcys. He did not know if she needed support or was wanting to give it. It mattered not.
“That is enough!” Darcy moved away from the table, drawing Elizabeth to his side. They were a team—comrades in arms. Again, he looked at Elizabeth and smiled. Then he looked back at his aunt, his eyes piercing into hers. “You have no right to enter this home. You have no right to advise me. You have no right to declare me as engaged to Anne, and you have no right to expect me to follow your commands. For five years I have been my own master. For five years you begged for assistance rather than offered help when I desperately needed it after father died. I have been alone, Lady Catherine. Once I marry Elizabeth, I will have a home filled with love and joy. We will guide Georgiana to a marriage which will be full of the same. I will be wed to a woman I love, admire, and respect. I will no longer be alone.”
His words met with silence, until Mr. Collins spoke.
“Pardon me, Mr. Darcy. I am exceedingly sorry to inform you, the nephew of my most noble patroness, that you cannot marry Miss Elizabeth.”
“I cannot? Why ever not?” Darcy was not in the mood to be addressed by the rector. William Collins was not a threat to him now nor would he ever be.
“Because she is betrothed to me.”
Lady Catherine spun on her heels at his words. “This is the girl you were planning to bring to Hunsford? Miss Elizabeth Bennet? You shall receive the full force of my fury for doing so.”
“Yes? No?” His voice stuttered. “But for you, Lady Catherine, I will end the engagement with Miss Elizabeth and marry one of the other Bennet daughters.” He bowed so low he threatened to tip over.
“You imbecile! I am done with you. Return to
Kent and pack your bags—immediately!” Lady Catherine dismissed him with no concern for the law or the fact that the night was already dark. “You may make your home in this squalid cottage. I have no use for you anymore.”
Before Lady Catherine could turn back to Darcy, the Reverend William Collins, approached Mr. Bennet seeking refuge for the night and a home as soon as he returned from Hunsford Parsonage.
That arrangement appeared satisfactory to Mrs. Bennet. She was no different than the mothers of the ton. A single man who would inherit an estate, even if it was her own, was highly desirable.
“I shall have a room prepared for you right away, Mr. Collins.” Mrs. Bennet rubbed her hands together in pleasure. She turned to her second daughter. “I can almost forgive you for putting me through this ordeal, Lizzy.”
Again, Darcy spoke up to regain charge, only to have Elizabeth’s free hand rest on his arm. It stopped him, his attention redirected from Lady Catherine to his betrothed.