Bingley could hardly disagree, but Jane appeared mortified. He searched for something to say. “You are correct, madam. I have thought her angelic from the first moment I saw her.”
“Oh! Mr. Bingley!” Mrs. Bennet seemed more pleased with the praise than Jane did, but Mrs. Bennet showed all emotions more freely than Jane.
She took a deep breath, then addressed her cousin who peered at Darcy with a strange look. “Mr. Collins, do you mean to accept Mr. Bingley’s invitation?”
The man in question fixed a smile on his face. “I certainly do. There can be no evil in a ball hosted by such a respectable young man. I hope to dance with each of my cousins, as well.”
The younger girls looked quite alarmed, but Miss Mary easily dissembled, and Jane was as civil as ever.
“I had wanted to solicit Miss Elizabeth’s hand for the first two dances—I mean no slight to you, Cousin Jane. I am certain you will soon understand the reason for my preference,” he said with raised eyebrows.
Jane looked at Darcy, still drawn into a conversation with Bingley’s sisters and looking quite annoyed. She tapped Bingley’s foot. Not understanding what she was about, he looked at her in confusion.
“I would hate to speak for Lizzy,” Jane said, “but I believe she has already reserved those sets for Mr. Darcy.”
Mrs. Bennet looked displeased, and Jane seemed to plead silently that he not contradict her. “Oh yes. As we spoke of this ball before the ladies even left Netherfield, he asked for her hand—I mean for the first set with her—there.”
Mr. Collins frowned for a moment, then looked all excitement. “I believe I have finally recalled how I know the name Darcy!”
Before anyone could say otherwise, he stood and quickly walked to Darcy’s seat. Caroline and Louisa looked at him with disgust. “Mr. Darcy, are you not the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh?”
Darcy raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
“Indeed! Accept my apology for intruding upon your conversation with these lovely ladies. I have the privilege of having the rectory at Hunsford, which, you likely know, abuts her estate. She is the most amiable patroness I could ask for. Such wonderful condescension!”
Bingley watched as Darcy looked at the man with unrestrained wonder.
Mr. Collins continued. “I have heard much about you from her ladyship, and I hope, dear sir, when at last you are united to your fair cousin, you may pay a call upon us when next you are at Rosings.”
“Us?” Darcy asked in confusion.
Mr. Collins brought his fingers to his lips as he realised his mistake, then rapidly explained, “Oh, I am soon to be in such a state as yourself, but I ought not to speak of her while she is not present. Your friend tells me you were so impressed with her while she stayed at Netherfield to tend her ailing sister that you have solicited the first sets of next week’s ball with her. I trust you will wish to continue the acquaintance when we are all in Kent together.”
Darcy’s jaw tightened in contempt, but the foolish parson did not perceive his danger and continued, “I thank you, too, for the notice you will be paying her. Such a compliment! I have indeed chosen wisely!”
“Mr. Collins, am I to understand…”
“Now pray excuse me, as I must write her ladyship at once about this wonderful news.”
He quickly exited the room. His sisters, as well as Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia, all sat back and laughed at the scene. Mrs. Bennet beamed and declared him a most solicitous and proper young gentleman, and Jane twisted her hands on her handkerchief, the only sign of her distress.
Miss Elizabeth appeared at just that moment, looking pale. She took in the room and nervously inquired, “Perhaps we might all go for a walk in the garden before dinner?”
Bingley seized upon the idea. “Indeed! It is a splendid day!” He stood and offered one arm to Jane, then another to his sister. Caroline grimaced but began to take his arm.
“My dear Miss Bingley! Are you unwell? Truly your face looks painfully contorted,” Mrs. Bennet observed.
Like a trained actress, Caroline’s hands flew to her head. “Oh! A sudden headache.” Bingley restrained his anger at his sister’s antics.
“You had much better stay here and rest, then,” Mrs. Bennet replied.
Bingley frowned, but before he could speak, Louisa hastily explained, while walking to her sister’s side, “Oh, we would hate to inconvenience you. Let us call for the carriage, and Mr. Hurst and I will accompany my sister home.”
Caroline remarked, “I am terribly sorry to spoil our dinner. I did so look forward to enjoying your table again, Mrs. Bennet.”
Beaming like a pleased peacock, Mrs. Bennet replied, “Oh, you give me a great compliment! I invite you to come any night this week of your convenience, then. I know dear Jane would love to spend more time with her future sisters.”
Caroline gave Louisa an incensed look and Bigley briefly regretted not previously sharing the news of his betrothal. He was relieved to see Mrs. Hurst took the news with some equanimity.
Caroline broke the silence. “We thank you, Mrs. Bennet, but I am afraid my sister and I will be much engaged in the coming days preparing for the ball.”
“Oh, yes, the ball! I am certain you will have the most beautiful lace and the most fashionable setting…”
“Might you call for the carriage?” Louisa saved the room from more effusions of Mrs. Bennet.
After several more minutes, the Hursts and Caroline stood ready to depart while the others put on their outerwear. Bingley breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps one day having their family together in one room would feel less like a circus. For now, he would walk with Jane in the garden, hoping for privacy.
*****
“Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet called out. “Was not I clever the way I got rid of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst?”
“Mama!”
“Now you know the younger girls will talk amongst themselves. You must go with Mr. Darcy to keep him from being in Bingley’s way. I am sorry, for I know you dislike the man so much, but there is nothing to be done about it. I had planned to send you with Mr. Collins, but he had a letter to write Lady Catherine after meeting Mr. Darcy.”
Her words were not quiet enough, for Elizabeth heard a strangling sound and turned to see Mr. Darcy only a few feet from them. He clearly heard every word! Mrs. Bennet did not even have the good grace to blush and left the two in the hall.
In a voice of forced civility, Darcy said, “Do you consider yourself an obedient daughter, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth reached for Darcy’s extended arm and raised her chin in defiance. “No, my mother often bemoans my recalcitrant and headstrong ways.”
Darcy’s lip turned up in amusement, and he directed her outside. “What makes you take my arm, then?”
She gave him a sly look. “I desired privacy with my betrothed.”
He rewarded her with a full smile, revealing his dimples and perfectly white teeth. She had to suppress a sigh. The contentment did not last long as Darcy placed his free hand over hers and squeezed it. Elizabeth was amazed at the continued effect his touch had on her.
“You cannot know how much I enjoy hearing those words from your lips, Elizabeth.”
Between his touch and calling her by her Christian name, her heart rate accelerated, and she blushed but tried to appear calm. His gaze travelled to her lips, and she shivered.
“Here, let us walk in the sun to warm you.”
They walked on in companionable silence for several moments until Elizabeth felt the need to break it. “Mr. Darcy…”
He stopped walking and faced her. His actions silenced her. “William, please.”
She startled at first, then shyly murmured, “William.”
She heard him take a sharp breath, and he stepped closer to her, taking her left hand— now entirely healed—in his. Darcy’s scent, something unnameable, mixed with soap and spices made her feel lightheaded.
Darcy gazed into her eyes, and all other things blurred
from her sight. His eyes dropped to her lips again, and she understood the longing she saw in them.
“Elizabeth.” She almost moaned at her name spoken so lowly from him. They were very close now, and she gasped when he turned her hand over to stroke her palm.
It was impossible to conceal her rapid breathing, and when she looked back into his eyes, she saw they were dark and his pupils very wide.
A rabbit hopped by them, making enough noise to remind them of their position. When Elizabeth went to move again, she felt as though her legs were as liquid as pudding. She was very grateful when he led her to a nearby bench.
He did not relinquish her hand from his. “Elizabeth.”
“William.”
They spoke simultaneously, and both stopped short, sharing an amused smile. “Please, continue,” Darcy told Elizabeth.
“William, I am a very selfish creature, and for the sake of giving relief to my feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours.”
He looked at her in alarm, and she could see that she truly needed to say this. Squeezing his hand with her free one until he met her eyes again, although his gaze held uncertainty behind it, she waited.
“We both have reason to think my opinions not entirely unalterable; they are not, I hope, quite so easily changed as to make you fearful that I might have been insincere in my acceptance. I consider myself entirely obligated to you.”
He cringed at her final words. Earlier in the hall, he had believed Mrs. Bennet was being her usual ridiculous self when she said Elizabeth disliked him, but his heart sank to hear her only speak of her moral obligation due to his actions. It was painful to hear she did not love him as he loved her.
As I love her? He looked at their still joined hands and knew nothing had ever felt so perfect in his life. Yes, I love her. Straightening a little and with a determined set to his jaw, he mentally added, And I will earn her love as well.
“I am sorry, for your sake, that it is so necessary; that my selfish behaviour made it necessary. I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice. I was taught right and given good principles, but I followed them in pride and conceit. I was allowed and encouraged to become selfish and overbearing, to think meanly of the rest of the world’s sense and worth compared with my own. But I have been humbled by you. I see how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.
“Painful memories of my conduct to you, which merit the severest reproof, will intrude. My actions were unpardonable, and I cannot think of it without abhorrence.”
“William, you must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” She blushed and dropped her voice but finished her statement. “That night brought me pleasure.” She almost laughed at his reaction. He stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
Darcy could scarce believe his ears. Pleasure? Did I bring her pleasure that night?
Before he had recovered from his shock, Elizabeth was tugging on his hand. He was only minimally aware that they walked into the house. All during dinner, he was equally affected.
Every time he so much as glanced at her, he felt entranced by her mouth, recalling her thrilling declaration again. He had been affected when she first pronounced his Christian name, but nothing could compare to her pronouncement of pleasure.
It was not just the thought that he had pleased her that threatened to undo him at the dinner table amongst her family. Her mouth had parted enticingly, her delicate pink tongue had flicked up to the top of her mouth. The word made his body shiver as though she caressed him.
Her mouth! Those perfect lips! That tongue! What had it felt like? Being intimately acquainted with his thoughts and fantasies for the last several weeks, he had no delusions that he had indulged in nearly every fantasy he held of Elizabeth. Velvet, he was sure of it. Her tongue would have felt like velvet on his.
He loosened his cravat as he tried to master his thoughts. It would not do to wonder if he had tasted her skin. Even still, some deep carnal drive told him he must do so someday lest he die.
He gave his future mother-in-law some mundane praise for her skills as a hostess. She tittered and fawned with a shrill voice, but it did not affect him in the least. His mind was much more agreeably engaged.
His eyes met Elizabeth’s. What had her fine, bewitching eyes looked like when she took her pleasure?
Undeniably, that was his new favourite word. Was it his imagination, or was Elizabeth colouring quite becomingly under his gaze? Did she meet his eyes with a shy smile? She lightly licked her lips before speaking to Bingley, and Darcy thought he might jump across the table to kiss her.
He did jump when a hand clapped him on his shoulder, and his mind registered Mr. Bennet’s words. “Son, it is time to leave the ladies.”
His voice sounded alien. “Certainly.”
As the door to Mr. Bennet’s library closed, he said to Darcy, “I think that special licence was perhaps a better idea than I first gave you credit for.” It was clearly a reprimand, but Mr. Bennet sounded amused as well.
Darcy wondered why Mr. Bennet would be amused at the need for a special licence when it was because his daughter’s virtue had been stolen. Mr. Bennet had rallied to the point of anger easily enough earlier and acted quickly to purge Wickham from his household.
Darcy’s lust-drugged mind was not to its usual sharpness. Instead, he could only consider it another peculiarity of Elizabeth’s father. They agreed to a wedding in a week’s time as Darcy had business to complete in London and then Pemberley in early December.
As Elizabeth escorted him outside to part for the evening, he leaned in close enough to speak only for her ears. Adorable ears.
“Today was very enjoyable. Might I have the pleasure of calling on you again tomorrow, Elizabeth?”
She blushed but agreed. “The pleasure would be all mine, William.”
As he boarded his coach, one word resounded in his ears to drown out Bingley’s chatter of his angel. Pleasure!
*****
“Lizzy,” Jane said as they readied for bed in their room. “How could you not tell me that you were engaged to Mr. Darcy? If Father had not announced it, I would have thought it quite the joke!”
Elizabeth seemed very uneasy as she spoke. “I have been quite confused and did not know if I should talk about it. He left for Town immediately the morning after we left Netherfield. I had no idea when he would return and speak with Father.”
Jane sensed Elizabeth was annoyed by that fact but hoped to take her mind off of it. “You asked Mr. Bingley about Mr. Darcy on Tuesday. You did seem uncommonly interested in him all of a sudden, but I cannot understand why he proposed so quickly and why you accepted. Tell me all!”
Elizabeth turned red. “Oh, Jane! I hardly know where to begin! But no, I am not interested in Mr. Darcy all of a sudden. I cannot recall a single day where my mind did not wonder about him since our first meeting. He has always roused my interest, although it has taken a positive turn lately.”
Jane sat silently, awaiting more information from her sister. “While at Netherfield, he and I engaged in several debates, and I came to admire the challenge he presented me. As much as I thought he always disapproved then, he treated me like an equal in our discussions. There was no snide superiority like Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst express and call it wit.
“The night before we left, I could not sleep and was looking for a book in the library. Mr. Darcy was there already, and you will not believe what happened next, but I swear it is the utter truth.” Without pausing for Jane to venture a guess, she continued. “He asked me to dance! He even sang so we would have a tune to keep. Jane, he sang ‘The Ash Grove.’”
“The song you sang at Lucas Lodge?”
“Yes!”
“Charlotte and I told you he admired you. His eyes hardly ever stray from you.”
“Yes, I know.” Elizabeth explained about the broken glass. “He assisted me to my door. I could have easily
gone on my own, but I admit I enjoyed his nearness very much.” Jane’s eyes widened, but she said nothing.
“But there is more! The next morning after breakfast, we walked in the garden, and he proposed! At first, he tried to explain he felt an obligation, I suppose due to the liberties he took, but he soon admitted he greatly admires me. I refused him at first, but he requested I think about it.”
Elizabeth took a lengthy pause. “He asked again as he handed me into the carriage when we went to leave…and I accepted.”
Jane sat in astonished silence for a moment. “Lizzy, are you quite sure you wish to do this? I know you dislike him. I never thought him so disagreeable as you did, but...”
“You are to remember nothing of the sort! Perhaps I did not always like him so well as now, but that is all to be forgot. A good memory in such instances is unpardonable. I am convinced I should esteem and respect him.”
“But are you quite sure you feel for him what you ought? If he admires you, think of the misery of such unequal affections!”
“Indeed, I am quite convinced. I cannot explain it. I know it sounds as if I have taken leave of my senses, but I find I very much admire Mr. Darcy.”
“If that is the case, then I wish you joy!” She tightly embraced Elizabeth. “Can you believe we are to marry the best of friends?”
Elizabeth laughed. “It entirely escaped my notice! I am extremely grateful to not have to deal with Mr. Collins’ attentions. I would have wished Mama had been calmer in her reaction to the news of our betrothal.”
Jane sat back. “I do not think Mr. Darcy even noticed! He seemed quite enamoured as he stared at you all night!”
Elizabeth blushed, and Jane laughed until Elizabeth returned the tease. “And just where were you and Mr. Bingley while we walked in the garden?”
Jane turned bright red. “We were…talking.”
Elizabeth gave her a knowing smile. “Of course you were.”
Jane shook her head. “Oh, I am so happy. My dearest sister will marry my husband’s best friend. We are both betrothed for affection, and our mother need not worry about being thrown into the hedgerows.”
The two sisters soon went to bed. Jane could only wonder at Elizabeth’s granting Darcy so many liberties that he felt obligated to propose…and yet, she could not deny the temptation she felt with her betrothed.
Compromising Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Anthology Page 33
