She entered the house not even considering the need to be quiet. Darcy had hurried back to Netherfield to change out of his muddied clothes before speaking to her father. He had promised to ride to Longbourn as soon as he had done so.
As soon as she encountered her mother, she realised the error she had made.
“Elizabeth Bennet how could you!” Her mother raged. Elizabeth suspected she had been watching for her return. “You have ruined us all by refusing to marry Mr. Collins. Why couldn’t you have said yes to such an excellent proposal? I tell you, it is better than anything you might have hoped for.”
“I am not a suitable match for him, mama. He is intolerable.” She lowered her voice as she said it. After all, what was the sense in hurting the man’s feelings? But it was true—she could not even imagine spending an entire day in Mr. Collins’s company let alone a lifetime.
“How dare you, Lizzy? I have never heard such impertinence, even from you!”
Before Lizzy knew what was happening, her mother had grabbed her by the arm and was dragging her along the hallway to her father’s library.
“Mr. Bennet!” his wife cried when she had thrown open the door. “You must take some sense into your daughter. I have tried and tried, but it is no use. She will not listen to me.”
Mr. Bennet looked up and Elizabeth fancied that she saw a twinkle in his eye. She was in no doubt that her mother had already told him all about what had happened earlier. “Is that so?”
“Yes, papa,” she said, shaking her head at the memory. “Mr. Collins proposed and I told him I could not accept. That is as true now as it was then.”
“Oh Mr. Bennet, do something! I have tried to make her see reason. Tell her she must find Mr. Collins and beg him to forgive her. Her stubbornness will ruin us all!”
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. “Lizzy, my dear. Do you want to marry Mr. Collins?”
“Surely it is not about what she wants, dear husband! No, tell her what she must do! She listens to you!”
Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door. Mr. Bennet responded and the butler entered.
“Mr. Bennet, there is a gentleman here to see you. Mr. Darcy, a guest at Netherfield House.”
Mr. Bennet appeared confused by this, but he recovered quickly. He looked at his wife. “We will discuss this later.”
Elizabeth accompanied her mother out of the room and tried to contain her happiness as her mother cursed and chided her for her foolishness.
If only she knew the purpose of Mr. Darcy’s visit, she thought, hardly daring to believe it herself until her father had given his permission.
* * *
Jane was sitting in a chair in the corner of the drawing room, wrapped in a blanket. She was gaining in strength and Elizabeth was glad to see the colour returning to her cheeks. Jane was the prettiest of the lot and had been blessed with an equally beautiful personality. She was kind and patient to everyone that she met and would never speak ill of anyone.
“I’m so glad to see you finally out of bed, dear Jane.” Elizabeth said.
“I was getting quite bored looking at the four walls of our bedroom” Jane smiled. “I’m glad to be amidst all the action. I seem to have missed a lot while I lay sick in bed, Lizzy.”
“There is so much more to tell you!” Elizabeth said. “But I will have to save all I have to tell you for later, when we are alone.” She was bursting to tell her sister what had happened, but they could hardly disappear now. No, she could not leave and miss the outcome of her father’s discussion with Mr. Darcy.
Mrs. Bennet was just settling herself into a chair when the two men entered. She leapt to her feet.
“Oh, Mr. Darcy! I thought you were here only to see my husband! We are not appropriately dressed for company.” she cried. “Whatever are we going to do?”
“There is no need for a fuss,” Darcy muttered, and for one awful moment Elizabeth wondered if he would rethink his proposal now that he had seen her mother. After all, Mrs. Bennet was similar to those women whose fortune-hunting he professed to despise.
But he did not. He did not say a word, only stared at her with a steely gaze.
It was Mr. Bennet who spoke. “Mr. Darcy here has come to see me about a matter that took me quite by surprise.” He, too, was staring at Elizabeth.
By now, the others seemed to have realised that both men were focused on Elizabeth. Kitty and Lydia shifted around restlessly, looking first at Lizzy and then back at the men as if they could not wait to find out what was happening.
“What is it, papa?” Lydia finally cried. “Pray tell us what is happening?”
“Lydia!” her mother hissed. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble lately?” Her face fell as she recalled they had company. “Please keep your voice down, my dear,” she said in a calmer voice.
“I suppose I had best get to the point,” Mr. Bennet said. He knew his wife too well. When there was something that she was eager to know she could scarcely hide her impatience.
“This morning the whole house was in an upheaval because my dear Lizzy had turned down a proposal.” Mr. Bennet began. His wife looked astounded that he was sharing this private news with a stranger present and opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with a wave of his hand.
“Well now I am very glad to understand the real reason for this rejection and to gladly inform you all that Lizzy has agreed to marry Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.” He paused. “If what the good gentleman has just told me is to be believed. Lizzy?”
She smiled. It was a few moments before she could speak because of the depth of the emotions that had washed over her. “Yes,” she stammered. “Yes, that is correct.”
“In that case,” Mr. Bennet said with a wry smile. “My dear, I believe you have a marriage to prepare for.”
“Oh Lizzy, I’m so happy for you.” Jane enthused as she hugged her sister.
“Isn’t this exciting, mama. We will get to dance at Lizzy’s wedding!” Lydia exclaimed excitedly.
“Such surprisingly good news has robbed me of words,” Mrs. Bennet finally said. “You are a friend of Mr. Bingley, I take it?”
Darcy nodded. “Yes, he is a dear friend of mine.”
“I’m surprised we have not heard of your presence at Netherfield.”
“Oh, mama,” Lizzy said, barely able to hide her frustration for she knew what her mother was really asking. “Mr. Darcy does not need to hear about you and your friends’ insatiable appetite for gossip.”
“Lizzy!” her mother chided.
“It is hardly relevant now, Mrs. Bennet,” her husband said, looking much put-upon. “I rather thought you’d be out of the house by now, racing up the lane to share the news with Lady Lucas.”
She frowned at him and for a moment it looked as if she was about to scold him. But then something in her expression changed. She turned and hurried towards the door and they all heard her calling for her bonnet and shawl.
* * *
Later in the evening Jane and Elizabeth sat whispering in their bedroom.
“I’m so glad to have finally met your Mr. Darcy.” Jane smiled. “Your words did not do justice to the man. He is so much more handsome and distinguished than what you had described him to be. Tell me more about him Lizzy, what’s he like? What’s it like to be in love with a man—I cannot even imagine it, not really.”
Her innocent question caught Elizabeth off guard. She realised that she did not know anything about Mr. Darcy except the little that he had told her. It was true, she found him agreeable, but that was all. Not to mention the fact that his proposal had hardly been driven by love—quite the opposite in fact.
She was trying to think of how to explain this to Jane when their door burst open.
“Oh Lizzy I’m so glad you were so sensible in turning down Mr. Collins’ proposal.” Mrs. Bennet gushed. She was red in the face and her hair was awry, as if she had just been running. “Why on earth didn’t you tell me the truth?”
“What truth?�
�
“About your Mr. Darcy! There I was, wondering who he really was. I thought surely I’d have heard of him if he was a man worth knowing.”
Jane and Elizabeth exchanged glances.
“Well?”
“I don’t know what to say, mama.”
“How about apologising to your poor mother? I almost told my husband to send the man away only his clothes seemed too fine for a poor man. And it’s a good job I did! Oh those crafty women. It spread around like wildfire at the assembly, but of course none of them wanted to tell me because of how beautiful my girls are. Mr. Darcy’s not just a wealthy man, it turns out, but he’s got ten thousand a year! Lizzy why on earth didn’t you tell me? You made me look a fool in front of Lady Lucas.”
“I… I didn’t…”
“Never mind, my dear,” Mrs. Bennet said, smiling indulgently. “The important thing is you’re a clever girl. Fancy you catching the eye of a man like that? I can scarcely believe it!”
Jane and their mother proceeded to chatter about all the wonderful decorations and foods they might order for the marriage, but Elizabeth struggled to join in. What did it matter how much of a fortune he had? It all seemed rather false when she knew the truth. He wasn’t marrying her to share his fortune with her, but to protect it from the hands of greedier young women. There was no love there. So how could she join them in their enthusiasm?
Chapter Nine
Longbourn House had become a hub of activity since the engagement. Instructions were being given out constantly and everyone seemed to be scurrying about trying to follow them. Elizabeth’s misgivings had not eased. In fact, they grew worse with every passing day. She felt like a fraud: would her family be so excited if they knew the true reasons for her engagement?
Finally, she could take it no longer. She found herself explaining the truth to Jane.
Jane shook her head, her expression unchanged. “This is what was bothering you? I knew there was something on your mind.”
“Yes, so now you see,” Elizabeth said with a sigh.
“No, I don’t,” Jane said, with a frown that was rarely seen on her face.
“But why not? Perhaps I should explain again. It is more of an agreement than an engagement. And everyone is so pleased and excited—I can barely stand to listen to their kind words.”
“Knowing you, Lizzy, you wouldn’t have said yes if the man was not suitable. You had absolutely no qualms about rejecting Mr. Collins outright, but you chose to accept Mr. Darcy, which tells me that you feel a great deal of affection for him.”
Elizabeth flushed. He was rarely far from her thoughts, but that was beside the point, wasn’t it? “I hardly know the man.”
“Mr. Bingley has a very high regard for Mr. Darcy.” Jane said. “He says you will not find another man as honest and generous as he is.”
On hearing this, Elizabeth could not help but smile—despite her misgivings about her own marriage. Mr. Bingley had been a frequent visitor to Longbourn House since Elizabeth and Darcy’s engagement was announced. And just as Mrs. Bennet had predicted, as soon as he met Jane he’d been so smitten by her that he had visited every day since then. No-one had been at all surprised when Bingley asked for Jane’s hand in marriage—in fact, the only surprise had been how long it had taken him to ask. They would be married a week after Elizabeth’s wedding.
“There now,” Jane said, misunderstanding the reason for her sister’s smile. “I imagine you are feeling nervous before the marriage. It is perfectly natural.”
Elizabeth didn’t have the heart to disagree.
* * *
It was a beautiful morning. The previous day’s shower seemed to have swept all the dust and gloom away and the day shone bright and clear. There was a freshness to the air which was made even more pleasant by the birdsong.
“What a perfect day for a wedding!” Jane enthused as they made their way to the church.
Elizabeth looked stunning in her wedding gown. She had given up reminding herself that the marriage was a fraud. How could she think that when she looked in the mirror and saw herself reflected back as the perfect bride? No, she had decided to allow herself to enjoy the day. And why not? If nothing else, was it not a celebration of her and Darcy having found a way to live their days in harmony? Wasn’t that enough?
“Mr. Darcy is going to be speechless when he sees you!” Jane cried, rushing at Lizzy and pulling her into a tight embrace.
* * *
Elizabeth was surprisingly nervous as her father walked her up the aisle of the chapel. There was something about the sight of Darcy in his fine suit, waiting for her at the top of the aisle. She wasn’t sure whether it was her imagination, but it seemed to her that he was just as nervous.
No, impossible! she told herself.
She focused her attention instead on Bingley, who was struggling to keep his eyes off Jane. How wonderful it must be to feel such love for someone who loves you in return, she thought.
She was soon distracted from such self-pitying thoughts when she got closer to Darcy. How handsome he looked! Against all the odds, she felt a giddy sense of delight at the prospect of marrying him. And, was it just her imagination or did his eyes seem to light up when he turned and smiled at her?
She had not seen much of him in the days leading up to the wedding as he had been called back to London. Part of her had worried that he had changed his mind, even though she knew he would not do such a thing—if only because calling off an engagement would lead to the kind of scandal she knew Darcy would do anything to avoid.
But then he hadn’t brought his sister to the marriage. She did not know much about him, but one thing she did know was he adored his younger sister more than anyone else.
Stop, she told herself. What does it matter if he does not love me? I do not love him! It ought to be enough to live our lives in peace. I will always be grateful to him for removing the pressure on me to marry a man like Mr. Collins.
The reverend began the proceedings and Elizabeth forced herself to clear her mind. She was only torturing herself and there was no sense in it.
No, she vowed silently as they made their marriage vows before God. No, that is the end of it. I must stop wondering what might happen if Darcy were to fall in love with me. That way lies madness. I shall never think of him in that way again.
To her surprise, her decision brought her no small amount of peace.
Soon it was done. They were man and wife! They walked back down the aisle hand-in-hand. Darcy squeezed her hand and it instantly put her at ease.
That was all the time they had together. As soon as they reached the churchyard, each of them was pulled this way and that by well-wishers who wanted to know where they would live and how many children they hoped to have.
Children… that was something Elizabeth had not even considered.
Still, she resolved not to let her spirits dampen. After all, this was far preferable to the alternative and Darcy had promised to let her live in peace. Was that not a thousand times better than having an unruly brood with Mr. Collins? She thought so.
Afterwards, Bingley threw a ball in their honour at Netherfield House and they danced the first dance together, to a chorus of gasps and happy sighs from those in attendance—with one notable exception.
Mr. Bingley’s sister Caroline was rather sour-looking for the whole event and Elizabeth soon concluded that she was the young lady who had caused Darcy to propose to her. What a strange series of events!
* * *
The newlyweds were to stay at Netherfield until after Bingley’s marriage to Jane, and it was with a strange mixture of relief and regret that Lizzy was shown to their quarters. Bingley had very thoughtfully assigned them their very own wing in the house and Elizabeth did not just have her own bedchamber, but her very own suite that was entirely separate from Darcy’s.
Here was the peace she had so desperately sought!
She immediately felt guilty for thinking such a thing—after all, was she not
in a better position than the vast majority of young ladies in England?
Despite her earlier vow, her new husband was the only thing on her mind as she drifted off to sleep. He was so close, sleeping only a few rooms away and her husband by law, but still as far away as ever in reality.
Chapter Ten
If Elizabeth had worried about being constantly reminded of the true nature of her marriage, she was wrong. A new arrival at Netherfield quickly distracted her from the heaviness in her heart.
She and Jane were out walking in the gardens when they first saw the carriage. Neither of them had any idea who it belonged to.
They both watched curiously as the stable hand helped a regally dressed lady alight from the carriage. She surveyed the area around her with approval and immediately summoned the butler who had stepped out when he saw the visitor.
“Tell Mr. Darcy I am here to see him,” she commanded in a voice that implied she was not used to being disagreed with.
“Of course, madam,” the man said with a respectful bow. “Who may I say is here?”
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” the woman spat, as if the man ought to have known without asking.
“Gracious!” Jane exclaimed softly, snapping her head around to look at Lizzy, who had also recognised the name. “Is that not the woman you said Mr. Collins used to talk endlessly about?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, her spoke of her at length. I wonder… well, it must be one in the same—how could it not be?” Jane had been too ill to go downstairs at mealtimes when Mr. Collins first arrived, but she had taken great pleasure from her sister’s accounts of what had been said.
“Did you know she was Darcy’s aunt?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. Mr. Collins had spent most of his time at Lucas Lodge after she rejected his proposal, so she supposed he had not spent enough time with Darcy to discover the connection. Not that it mattered. “I had better meet her. From Mr. Collins’s account, she is kind and gracious.”
First Comes Marriage: A Darcy & Elizabeth Pride & Prejudice Variation Page 4
