Darcy's Uneasy Betrothal

by Zoë Burton

  Soon, the family was all squeezed into the Bennet carriage and the master instructed the coachman to begin the journey through town to the Lucas home on the other side. Bennet had arranged the occupants of the carriage himself; his daughters and wife were on the front-facing seat, and he, his cousin, and Mrs. Collins were on the rear-facing seat. While this allowed Mr. Collins to see more of the Bennet girls than their father would have liked, it did prevent him from touching any of them.

  Bennet peered through the darkened carriage, thinking about Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary and their circumstances. Elizabeth is taken care of, and Mrs. Bennet assures me Jane will be within days. That leaves Mary. She is eight and ten; is that too young for marriage? Who among the neighbours could be considered a good match? These thoughts and more whirled through Bennet’s mind for the short journey to Lucas Lodge.

  Upon their arrival, Bennet stepped out of the equipage, handing out his wife and daughters before allowing Collins to disembark. He herded his family into his friend’s home, looking over his shoulder in time to discover his cousin leaving his wife to fend for herself. With a snort of disgust, Bennet turned back, extending his hand to Mrs. Collins and assisting her down the step. He offered her his elbow, leading her to her husband’s side, then entered the house to locate his family.

  Mrs. Bennet did not wait for her husband before she began circulating the room. She was a social creature and loved gossip. It did not take her long to find Lady Lucas and subtly interrogate her about the guest list. As she had suspected, the party from Netherfield had been invited. Better yet, a note had come just this morning accepting the invitation. A gleam in Mrs. Bennet’s eye would have given away to anyone who cared to look that she was scheming something. Thankfully for her, only her husband was of a mind to notice it.

  “Mrs. Bennet, what sort of plans have you come up with for this evening?” Bennet whispered in his wife’s ear.

  She turned to her spouse, a grin overtaking her features. “Bingley will be here. The Lucases have a closet with a broken lock. Jane is unaware of the break.”

  Bennet’s eyes widened. “I see.” He grinned. “Very good, Wife.”

  “Shhh, do not give anything away.” Mrs. Bennet turned to face the room once again.

  “Never.” Bennet winked at his spouse, then wandered away to find a comfortable chair from which to observe the proceedings.

  Chapter 17

  As usual, Bingley and Jane had their heads together from the moment he entered the room. Deep in conversation, they paid little attention to the other occupants.

  Mrs. Bennet wandered out of the drawing room and down the hall. She visited the ladies’ retiring room, then crept further down the passage to the back stairs and the linen closet tucked under them. She opened the door, checking the lock to see if Sir William had fixed it. To her delight, it remained as it had been for the past year. She pushed the door to, so that it appeared shut but was not, and hastened back to the drawing room. Knowing that supper was nigh, she walked over to Jane and Bingley. Taking a deep breath, she drew their attention away from each other.

  “Oh, Jane, I fear I have ruined one of Lady Lucas’ towels. Would you mind terribly going down to the linen closet and bringing back a fresh one? I am certain Mr. Bingley would be happy to accompany you.”

  “Of course I will.” Bingley was always eager to spend time with Jane. He was certain she was the angel he had been looking for, the one with whom he would spend his life. He extended his elbow to her, and she promptly tucked her hand in the crook.

  “I will take care of it, Mama.” Jane smiled at her mother.

  “You are such a dutiful daughter.” Mrs. Bennet beamed at her eldest child. “Hurry now. Our meal will be served soon.”

  With a grin, Bingley escorted Jane out of the room. “Where is this closet?”

  “I am uncertain, but I know there is one in the back of the house that used to contain toweling and linens. We played there as children, though I have not been in that part of the house in years.” Jane looked up at Bingley, her ever-present smile in place and a twinkle in her eye.

  “Closets are such entertaining places when one is a child, are they not?” Bingley led Jane down the hall.

  “Oh, there it is.” Jane let go of Bingley’s arm, opening the door and stepping in.

  Bingley entered behind her. The door, off-centre due to the settling of the house as it aged, swung shut behind him. He turned and felt for the handle in the dark room. “Uhoh.”

  “What is wrong?” Jane turned. “It is too dark to see in here. Can you open the door?”

  “Um, no. No, I cannot.” Bingley tried to wrench the latch and push at the door, but it would not budge. “We are locked in.”

  “Oh.” Jane bit her lip. Though she wondered if she should not demand Bingley beat on the door and summon help, she enjoyed the feeling of his close presence.

  Bingley turned around to find Jane right behind him. “It is a small closet, is it not?”

  “It is.”

  Standing this close to the object of his desire was straining Bingley’s self-control. He wanted more than anything to kiss her and had for weeks. “Jane?” His voice was little more than a whisper.

  Jane’s reply matched Bingley’s for softness. “Yes?”

  Bingley swallowed, bringing his hands up to her elbows. “I would very much like to kiss you.”

  Jane drew in a sharp breath. “Yes.”

  Bingley drew her closer, lowering his head until he found her lips raised to his. He brushed his mouth over hers once, then a second time. Finally, he settled his lips firmly on hers. Her quiet moan urged him on, and soon, his tongue begged entrance to her mouth.

  An indeterminate amount of time later, Bingley and Jane were lost in each other. Their hands had roamed, leaving clothing askew and Jane’s coiffure in shambles. Suddenly, the door opened and light filled the closet. Bingley and Jane jumped apart, Bingley whirling to stand between his beloved and the group of people gathered in the doorway.

  “Jane!” Mrs. Bennet’s shrill voice shrieked above the rest.

  “What is going on here?” Sir William blustered, shocked to discover two young people behaving so in his house.

  Bingley cleared his throat as he buttoned up the waistcoat he suddenly realized had come undone. “I have asked Miss Bennet to marry me; she has accepted my hand.”

  “Truly?” Mrs. Bennet clapped, delight written all over her face.

  “Yes. Truly.” Bingley felt Jane’s hand at his back. He glanced over his shoulder to see she had pulled the shoulders of her gown back up where they belonged and attempted to repin her hair.

  Jane stood on tiptoe to whisper in Bingley’s ear. “Are you certain?”

  “Never moreso. Will you marry me?” Bingley half-turned, whispering his question to Jane.

  Jane’s smile had never been wider. Her eyes filled with tears. “I will.”

  Bingley grinned, relief causing his shoulders to relax. “Thank you.”

  The couple was pulled out of the closet by the happy matron and paraded amongst the partygoers as she crowed about her most beautiful daughter’s happy future. After said daughter was made presentable again, of course.

  ~~~***~~~

  The following day passed peacefully enough for the residents of Longbourn. The dinner party the night before had turned into a celebration once Bingley’s proposal and Jane’s acceptance became widely known. Following the meal, there was dancing in the parlour that lasted into the wee hours of the morning.

  The Bennets did not break their fast until noon the day following the party. Even the Collinses were slow to rise, a fact that gave Elizabeth and Bennet some comfort, as they were then able to have a quiet chat without the annoying and sometimes worrisome presence of their relatives.

  “How soon do you think Mr. Bingley will present himself?” Elizabeth’s eye twinkled over the rim of her teacup. She blew gently on the hot liquid, then took a sip before lowering the cup and saucer to rest on her
lap, held steady between her hands.

  Bennet chuckled. “No later than one o’clock, is my guess. Such an eager young man will wish to see his betrothed sooner rather than later.”

  “I am sure.” Elizabeth grinned, looking down.

  Bennet tilted his head. “Are you thinking of your own soon-to-be-husband?”

  “I confess I am.” Elizabeth looked up. “I know he is in London for a reason but I have to wonder how often that happens.” She shrugged. “I do not know why I allow this to bother me.”

  “He will return soon. You have not set a date. Maybe you should.” Bennet sipped his tea, watching his favourite daughter wrestle with the decision.

  “If I do, perhaps Mr. Collins will leave off being so … unpleasant.”

  Bennet snorted. “I do not believe he can. The apple does not fall far from the tree, you know. Every aspect of his character reminds me of his father, except for his ridiculousness. That is his alone.” Bennet poured the last of his tea into his mouth and swallowed as he leaned forward to place the cup and saucer on the table before him.

  Elizabeth had grown quiet, looking off into the garden beyond the book room window. “I suspect he treats Mrs. Collins poorly. The woman is a mouse, never speaking.”

  Bennet leaned back in his chair, a scone in his hands. “I suspect you are correct. I have never seen one who calls himself a gentleman treat a lady so cavalierly.” He shook his head. “Especially when it was his own wife.”

  “Is there nothing we can do to help her?” Elizabeth looked from the window to her father. She set her cup on the table beside his, then placed a scone from the tray onto a plate and sat back. She watched Bennet take a bite of his pastry, lifting a brow when she noticed he was handling his food with his bare hands.

  Bennet winked as he gobbled up the last of the scone, then brushed the crumbs off his hands and the front of his waistcoat. He swallowed, then quipped, “More for the mice.”

  Elizabeth shook her head and groaned, using one hand to check that her skirts were tucked under her legs, which were bent at the knees, her feet buried between the cushion and the arm of the chair. She rolled her eyes and applied herself to her pastry while her father laughed.

  When he had done making sport of Elizabeth, Bennet poured himself more tea and picked up the cup, leaning back in his chair again. “There is little we can do to help Mrs. Collins, even if we know he is beating her, which I suspect he is. If she comes to us for assistance, we can, perhaps, help her hide away somewhere, but legally, he is her master and can do what he wishes with her. Divorce requires an act of Parliament, and the law will consider any abuse she suffers to be her fault. It is a disgrace, but that is the way it works.”

  “That, my dear father, is because men are in charge of the making of laws. If women were involved, the world would make more sense.”

  “If women were involved, the world would be covered in lace.” Bennet winked and then chuckled when Elizabeth scowled at him.

  “Nonsense. You are claiming an opinion that is not your own simply to make an argument.”

  “Nay!” Bennet gestured to the closed door of his book room. “Look in the breakfast room at your mother and sisters. They are the silliest creatures I have ever beheld. You, yourself, have been known to be just as silly at times. What manner of laws would they advocate for? Subsidizing lace and ribbon makers.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes again. “Not all women are like my mother, just as not all men are like Mr. Collins.”

  Bennet clapped his hand over his heart. “Ah, you have me there. I concede to you. If sensible women were allowed to assist in the making of laws, this world would be a better place.”

  “I am happy you have seen reason.” Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled. She drained her cup, setting it down and lowering her legs to the floor. “I wish there was something we could do for Mrs. Collins, but I understand that our options are limited, even should she wish for us to.”

  “I will do my best not to allow him to harm any female in my home. I hope you know that.”

  “Thank you, Papa.” Elizabeth stood, then leaned over to kiss her father’s cheek. “I wish to take a walk. I will ask Hill to come with me, and I plan to be gone not more than a half hour.”

  A crease appeared between Bennet’s eyes. “Are you certain that is wise?”

  Elizabeth smiled reassuringly. “Mr. Jones said that since my headaches have diminished, I may walk further afield, though I must take someone with me. I will be well, Papa, and will return to you shortly.”

  Bennet’s frown did not ease, but he waved her away. “Very well, then. If Hill cannot go with you, ask him to assign a groom to you. Robbie will do.”

  “I will. I love you, Papa.” Elizabeth did not wait for her father to return her statement of affection, for she knew he would not. Instead, she turned and walked to the door, looking back to see his arm wave, the acknowledgement of her words she expected. Then, she slipped out the door and went to find Mr. Hill.

  ~~~***~~~

  As anticipated, Mr. Bingley arrived at Longbourn not long after breakfast and immediately requested an audience with Bennet. The family, including their guests, were in the drawing room. Mr. Hill was stationed at the back of the room and a groom-turned-footman stood near each of the two doors. Bennet and Bingley entered to excited questions from Mrs. Bennet, which they ignored. Bennet asked Jane to come stand beside him. When she reached his location, he took her hand and kissed her cheek, then turned her to face the room. He cleared his throat.

  “Mr. Bingley has asked my permission to marry our Jane, and I have granted it.”

  Mrs. Bennet exploded in a flurry of exclamations and handkerchief waving. She hugged both her daughter and her future son-in-law. “Two daughters married! I shall go distracted!”

  Eventually, the chaos subsided. Mr. Collins offered his congratulations along with a healthy dose of pomposity and preaching, and even Mrs. Collins offered a smile and wish for happiness for the couple. Bingley and Jane were allowed to sit, and tea was called for.

  “You did not bring your sisters today?” Mrs. Bennet and her nose for a good story thought it was strange he would come alone and then stay as he had.

  Bingley’s ears reddened. “No, my younger sister was a bit indisposed this morning, and my elder sister wished to remain at Netherfield to comfort her.”

  “That is too bad. Such terrible timing when there is joyous news to be had.” Mrs. Bennet shook her head.

  Mr. Collins chose that moment to begin a monologue. Bingley attempted to follow along, but Jane leaned over and whispered a question to him, a distraction he happily latched onto.

  “Is Miss Bingley ill?”

  Bingley shook his head. “No, not really. She is suffering from disappointed hopes.”

  Jane’s brows rose. “Disappointed hopes?”

  “Yes. She has lost two things in the last month that she very much wished for: Darcy as her husband and Miss Darcy as her sister.”

  Jane’s eyes grew wide. “She does not approve of our marriage?”

  Bingley took Jane’s hand. “She will come around. She is not in charge of me, no matter how much she might wish to be.” He paused for a moment, searching for words. “Up until now, I have allowed her to run my life, at least to a point. Darcy has spoken of it to me several times, but it was easier to allow her to have her way most of the time than to fight her.” He lifted and lowered one shoulder. “I am not happy she feels as she does, but she will get over it or she will be angry for a very long time. I am firm in my decision to marry you and I will not be swayed.”

  Jane’s shoulders relaxed a fraction, but she was not done questioning her betrothed. “She wished to marry Mr. Darcy? Was the feeling mutual?”

  Bingley laughed. “Oh, heavens, no. Darcy told me long ago he would never marry my sister. She is not the woman for him. Anyone with eyes can see that. Miss Elizabeth is his perfect match. She will keep him on his toes and keep his head from swelling too much with his consequenc
e.”

  Jane giggled, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth. “He is perfect for her, as well. She needs someone to challenge her mind, and from what I have seen, he is well capable of doing that.”

  “Indeed he is. I have often teased him that he takes so long to reply to letters because he spends so much time searching for words of four syllables.” Bingley grinned.

  Jane’s eyes sparkled. “Do you truly?”

  “I do! You must ask him when he returns if I do not.” Bingley winked and leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Too bad there is not a handy closet to be had. I should greatly enjoy kissing you again.”

  Jane blushed, her eyes lowering to her lap for a moment. She then tilted her head to the side and looked up at him out of the corner of her eye. “I should enjoy it, as well.”

  Before Bingley could think of a rejoinder, Mary and Elizabeth joined them, claiming chairs on either side of the sofa. The conversation naturally turned to more appropriate topics.

  Chapter 18

  Elizabeth, while joyful that her eldest sister would be so delightfully situated, found herself missing Darcy terribly.

  “I do not understand why,” she said to Mary that evening when she visited Elizabeth’s room at bedtime. “It is not as though we are in love. I barely know him.”

  “But you have been courting, and when he is in Hertfordshire, you spend many hours together. It is natural for you to feel this way.” Mary sat with her back to the headboard.

  Elizabeth, seated next to Mary in an identical pose, sighed. “This is true.” She bit her lip.

  “Have you found things to like about him? I know it has always been important to you that you esteem your spouse.” Mary drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them.

  “I have. He has shown me great respect thus far in our acquaintance. He is well-read and articulate, and gentlemanly, if a little formal.” Elizabeth paused. “I find I like him very much.”

  “Is it possible you are falling in love with him, then?”