Darcy extended his hand to Mr. Bennet, who clasped it firmly in his. It was at that moment that Mrs. Bennet burst into the room.
“Oh, Mr. Bennet! We are all in an uproar! You must come immediately and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins!”
Darcy visibly paled. “In God’s name, whatever for?” he demanded.
Mr. Bennet looked in astonishment, first at his guest, then at his wife. It was short-lived, however, as expectancy intervened. Without a doubt, the situation promised some unanticipated amusement for him, and he settled in comfortably. “Forgive me, Mrs. Bennet, but I do not have the pleasure of understanding you. To what are you referring?”
Mrs. Bennet was clearly exasperated. “To Mr. Collins and Lizzy! Lizzy has declared she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say he will not have Lizzy!”
“Thank God for that!” Darcy muttered under his breath and, with relief, fell back into his chair.
Mr. Bennet looked thoughtfully at his wife. “Let me rightly understand you, Mrs. Bennet. Am I correct it is your wish that Lizzy accept Mr. Collins?”
“Yes. I insist you make her marry him.”
“Very well.” Here, Mr. Bennet turned to Darcy. “I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, we seem to have stumbled upon yet another impediment, so to speak.” He enjoyed seeing the look of alarm that had transformed Darcy’s usual calm demeanor into one of absolute horror.
Darcy could hardly believe what he was hearing, his shock apparent as he protested loudly, “An impediment! Mr. Bennet, you cannot seriously be considering—?”
“For Heaven’s sake!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. “What does Mr. Darcy have to do with Mr. Collins and Lizzy?”
“Well, nothing with Mr. Collins, to be sure,” replied her husband evenly, “but, as I have just granted Mr. Darcy my consent to court Lizzy for the purpose of marriage, I would imagine he might have a few words he would like to interject on the subject.” Mr. Bennet looked back at his wife, quite pleased with himself.
So stunned was Mrs. Bennet by this declaration, she could not speak for a full five minutes. After only two, however, her husband took pity upon his agitated guest. “In light of this recent information, Mrs. Bennet, do you still wish for me to prevail upon Lizzy to accept Mr. Collins, or would you prefer to remain forever silent on the subject?” Seeing his wife did, indeed, plan to remain silent on the subject, he addressed Darcy. “If I am not mistaken, Mr. Darcy, Lizzy should be extremely pleased to have you join her at this time. That is, if your wishes remain unchanged.”
I believe, Mr. Bennet, there is nothing anyone could say or do that would ever change my mind regarding your daughter, he mused, but aloud said, “I see no reason for any alteration at present.” The corners of Darcy’s mouth turned upward as he bowed and made to leave. Mr. Bennet, having had enough diversion for one morning, waved him on his way.
Chapter 9
The following morning saw Bingley and Darcy out of the house and on their way to Longbourn before the rest of the Netherfield party had even come down to breakfast. After several weeks of careful meditation about Caroline and her plans to separate him from his angel, Bingley was determined not to waste another day dawdling about in courtship. Today he would ask Jane Bennet to become his wife, and if all went well, he would return to Netherfield that evening engaged and the happiest of men.
Though enticing thoughts of matrimony pervaded Darcy’s mind as well, he knew to act upon such would be jumping too far ahead of the good fortune he had so recently found with Elizabeth. He was more than willing to take her as his wife without the delay of an additional heartbeat, but he was also well aware of the fact that any tender regard she now felt toward him was still quite new.
But Elizabeth did desire him. The reality of it was enough to cause his heart to soar with pleasure, but that she did not yet feel love for him left much still to be accomplished. He would take his time and go slowly—well, as slowly as their passion for each other would permit. With a wry grin, Darcy struggled to push the delicious image of Elizabeth as his wife from his mind. For today and, he supposed, countless weeks to follow, he would have to content himself with the pleasures of courting her. At least I am now at liberty to do so with her father’s blessing.
When they reached Longbourn, the gentlemen were shown into a cheerful parlor where they were greeted graciously by Mrs. Bennet while Jane smiled demurely, Mary engrossed herself in a book, and Kitty and Lydia giggled over some private joke of their own. To Darcy’s concern, Elizabeth and Mr. Collins were noticeably absent. After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Darcy mumbled an excuse about checking on his horse and went on a quest to find Elizabeth.
After searching for some time, he finally discovered her in one of the gardens toward the rear of the house. Elizabeth was so preoccupied with her feelings of disgust over Mr. Collins’s continued perseverance in his pursuit of her, despite her pointed refusal of his offer of marriage and Darcy’s prior interest, that she failed to hear Darcy’s approach.
Standing much closer than propriety would ever allow, he said, “When I did not find you in the drawing room with the rest of your family, I feared Mr. Collins had carried you off to Gretna Green.”
Elizabeth turned to look at him with an arch smile Darcy had come to recognize well. “I would not yet put it past him, sir; however, you will be happy to know I am prodigiously capable of defending myself against any such attempt.”
He took her gloved hand in his and raised it to his lips to bestow a lingering kiss. Rather than releasing it, however, Darcy yielded to temptation, allowing his gloveless fingers to trace the skin of her exposed wrist while he gave her the barest hint of a teasing smile. “I am very relieved to hear it. Otherwise, I would certainly find myself in the uncomfortable position of having to call out my aunt’s clergyman. I am a very possessive man, Elizabeth, when it comes to you.”
“Are you, Mr. Darcy?” Her voice quivered from his ministrations. He nodded almost imperceptibly, his fingers continuing to caress her wrist in a most delightful manner. Elizabeth felt weak from his touch. Striving to lighten the mood, she smiled unsteadily and said, “Then you must tell me, sir, how I might reassure you of my fervent desire for your society.”
The hunger in Darcy’s eyes was tangible.
“I should have thought that by now, such an answer would have been obvious,” he whispered as he leaned in to press his lips against hers, lightly at first, but her responsiveness to him soon spurred him to deepen his kisses. Slowly, his arm began to encircle her waist as he drew her against him, his other hand cradling the back of her head.
Her knees became suddenly weak, and Elizabeth slid her hands to Darcy’s shoulders to steady herself, rejoicing in the sensations he was able to stir within her. She knew she should not be permitting him to take such liberties with her within full view of the house, but his mouth, then traveling down her neck, was exquisite in its distraction. Elizabeth soon found it impossible to think of anything beyond him. She was, therefore, at a loss when she felt Darcy suddenly release her and step quickly away. Her eyes met his briefly with a look of bereft longing before Jane and Mr. Bingley were upon them.
With a smile, Jane left Bingley’s side and went directly to her sister. Lost in her own joy, she had not seemed to notice Elizabeth’s discomposure.
“It is too much! I do not deserve it! Oh, Lizzy, why is not everyone as happy?”
Elizabeth followed her gaze to Bingley, who was receiving Darcy’s heartfelt congratulations with obvious pleasure, and smiled. “Oh, Jane! Certainly, if you do not deserve such happiness, I cannot think who does. I am so very pleased for you.” Elizabeth embraced her sister with warmth. They were immediately joined by the gentlemen so Darcy could kiss Jane’s hand while Bingley joyfully shook Elizabeth’s, claiming the right of a brother.
The foursome wandered for some minutes together in happy conversation until they were joined by Charlotte Lucas, who had come to visit with Elizabeth. Bingley, who was most anxious to call upon Mr. Bennet, a
nd Jane, to go to her mother, left Charlotte with Elizabeth and Darcy. It wasn’t long before they, too, returned to the house for some refreshment, where Charlotte heard Mrs. Bennet’s effusive raptures over Jane’s betrothal to Bingley, Elizabeth’s courtship with Darcy, and, more discreetly, Elizabeth’s refusal of Mr. Collins.
To that unfortunate gentleman, residing in the same house with Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet’s pronouncements were nothing short of a punishment. Mrs. Bennet, who had until only very recently been so encouraging and supportive of his suit with his fair cousin, was now fawning over the other gentlemen in the parlor with unabashed enthusiasm, Mr. Collins all but forgotten. Bingley’s smiling face and obvious success with Jane only served to remind him of where he had so recently failed. He could not like it one bit.
Mr. Collins looked resentfully toward Elizabeth, who was engaged in conversation with Charlotte while Darcy observed her with undisguised admiration, and a bitter taste rose in the back of his throat. On the other side of the room, Lydia and Kitty burst out in raucous laughter, their mirth-filled eyes fixed upon him. Mortified, Mr. Collins abruptly stood, readying his escape.
In the very next moment, he was startled to see Elizabeth making her way toward him with her friend. While she said very little, Mr. Collins found Miss Lucas to be a most amiable lady, readily engaging the clergyman in pleasant conversation for nearly a quarter of an hour. As she rose to take her leave, she extended an invitation to dine with her family that afternoon. This was most fortuitous, indeed, as it provided an immediate reprieve from the company of his fair cousin and his esteemed patroness’s nephew. With great eagerness, he accompanied Charlotte to Lucas Lodge.
Much to Mrs. Bennet’s vexation, as she still had three perfectly good daughters yet to be spoken for, Mr. Collins did not return to Longbourn that evening until very late, just as the family was retiring for the night. He was gone shortly after breakfast the following morning, much to everyone’s surprise and, once again, not to return until the Bennets were on their way to bed. When the third day afforded much the same routine, the inhabitants of Longbourn were at a loss as to where Mr. Collins could possibly be spending his time. Not until Elizabeth paid a visit to Charlotte at Lucas Lodge several days later, was light shed upon the subject.
“Engaged! To Mr. Collins?” Elizabeth stared at her friend in shock.
“Why, does it surprise you, Elizabeth, that Mr. Collins should manage to procure any woman’s good opinion simply because he was not so happy as to succeed in procuring your own?”
Elizabeth hardly knew how to answer her.
“I see what you must be feeling,” her friend continued, “especially since Mr. Collins was only lately paying his addresses to you, Elizabeth.” Charlotte sighed. “I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask for only a comfortable home, and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced my chances of happiness with him are as fair as most people can boast upon entering the marriage state.”
Elizabeth was at a loss. “Undoubtedly,” was all she could manage. She had always known Charlotte’s views of matrimony did not necessarily coincide with her own, but to accept Mr. Collins—to pass the rest of her life in his company and as his wife—was incredible to her. She could not imagine enduring such humiliation and sacrifice simply to secure such a future for herself, yet it was an opportunity Charlotte seemed eager to embrace. How could her friend, whom she had always valued for her good sense, sentence herself to such a fate with a man whom she could never completely esteem?
As Elizabeth walked back to Longbourn, her thoughts gradually drifted from Charlotte and Mr. Collins to Darcy and herself. How fortunate she was to have engaged the affections and admiration of such an intelligent and worthy man! He had cared for her, ardently, these many weeks, and yet, she had been blind to it until only recently.
Elizabeth found herself wondering what a future with him might be like. No doubt, much more palatable than a future in Mr. Collins’s society! Her mind wandered to the intensity of Darcy’s penetrating eyes and the way he could evoke a passionate response from her body without ever having touched her. It made her shiver.
Though she found such intimate interactions with Darcy to be more exquisite than anything she had ever dared to imagine possible between a man and a woman, there were other aspects of their relationship that also brought her unparalleled gratification. She had found a source of immeasurable satisfaction in Darcy’s insightful discourse, and in his keen interest and knowledge of world affairs. Indeed, in the last month they had passed many enjoyable afternoons and evenings in one another’s society, discussing books and music, philosophy and history—even travel. And, though Elizabeth had not yet been given much opportunity to venture farther than London, she had still managed to impress Darcy considerably with her extensive knowledge of America and its lucrative investment opportunities, information she had gleaned from extensive reading and from conversations held with her father and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London.
The more time she spent with Darcy, the more Elizabeth was forced to admit she would, most likely and quite soon, be in very great danger of finding herself in love with him. It unnerved her. She had always relied upon her own liveliness of mind and independence of spirit to provide her with ample sources of enjoyment, but now she found herself coming to depend more and more upon one very particular man, whose society, she happened to find, was far superior to that of every other gentleman of her acquaintance.
Chapter 10
The passing of another two days finally brought a close to Mr. Collins’s rather lengthy stay at Longbourn, but as he was, by no means, ready to take his leave of his dear Charlotte after having so recently discovered her, Lady Catherine de Bourgh had, yet again, graciously condescended to grant him her permission to extend his stay until the following Friday. This did nothing to appease Elizabeth, who, in spite of his engagement to her good friend and her own understanding with Darcy, continued to be an object of that gentleman’s interest, though she was hard-pressed as to understand why.
To Darcy, her cousin’s actions were far from acceptable. He did not at all like the way the clergyman’s eyes followed Elizabeth when he was in company with her. It was not exactly a look of admiration or even lust the man bestowed upon her, but more an expression of scrutiny and bitterness, as though Mr. Collins wished to discover something to criticize in her behavior toward him.
As far as his treatment of Darcy was concerned, however, Mr. Collins continued to take pains, however grudgingly, to maintain his abject attentions toward the master of Pemberley—but only out of reverence for Lady Catherine and his exalted position as her most humble servant.
On one particular morning, Darcy, after bearing witness to Elizabeth’s agitation and discomfort while in the presence of her cousin, requested they walk out together with Jane and Bingley. She readily agreed.
As the ladies went to their room to fetch some warmer attire for their outing, Mr. Collins, who was lingering just outside in the hall, happened to overhear Darcy remark in a low, disgusted voice to Bingley about his very great displeasure with the clergyman for his continued interest and scrutiny of Elizabeth. A few other choice words of observation on the subject were exchanged between the two gentlemen before they were finally rejoined by Elizabeth and Jane. Exchanging warm smiles, the foursome then removed themselves from the house.
Mr. Collins was incensed. Was it not enough Darcy had managed to rob him of the connubial felicity he felt sure would have resulted from an alliance with his pretty cousin? Now he had also seen fit to publicly censure him, as well—and after all the condescension and preference he had continued to show him as the nephew of his patroness! No, I am not deserving of this infamous treatment, even though Mr. Darcy is such a wealthy man and the favored nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh! A smile then overspread his indignant face as he suddenly imagined the reaction his patroness would have upon learning she was likely to gain an untitled niece who was
clearly without fortune or connections. Yes, Lady Catherine will have much to say on that subject, but first… It was with alacrity that Mr. Collins quitted the room and went in search of Mr. Bennet.
* * *
It was not until several hours later that the professed lovers finally wandered back to Longbourn—Bingley and Jane smiling, Darcy and Elizabeth laughing, and all four in obvious high spirits. Darcy had barely removed his greatcoat and hat when Mr. Bennet approached him with a grim countenance and ushered Elizabeth and him into his library, where they were surprised to find Mr. Collins sitting smugly in one of the chairs near the fire. Elizabeth’s father took his usual position behind his desk and began without preamble. “Mr. Darcy,” he said severely, “I am afraid Mr. Collins has recently brought to my attention a matter of some import regarding your intentions toward Elizabeth.”
Darcy fixed the clergyman with an icy glare before replying, “And precisely what, may I ask, is this matter of great import that would so prompt Mr. Collins to dare to question my intentions toward Miss Elizabeth?”
Before another word could be spoken, Mr. Collins inclined his head and began addressing Elizabeth. “My dear young cousin,” he said with his usual haughty flourish, “I know not how the nephew of my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has imposed upon you, and far be it from me to rejoice in being the bearer of such grievous news that will, no doubt, mortify you while leaving nothing but pain and disgrace in its wake. I feel, however, that my very respectability as a clergyman qualifies me to assume the unhappy role of apprising unfortunate young ladies such as yourself of certain events that you must have brought to your attention for your own very great benefit, and with all due haste.
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