Darcy Steps In
Page 8
Elizabeth smiled, but her giddiness began to wane—she still faced the unenviable task of informing her mother, whose view of Mr. Darcy was less than favourable.
30
Elizabeth Bennet knew she couldn’t delay telling her mother forever, but she wished for a little time to decide how best to approach the subject. Fate, however, had a different plan. On gaining the breakfast room, Lizzy found her mother at the window, wringing her hands in a state of nervous agitation.
‘Whatever is the matter, mama?’ she cried, rushing to her mother’s side. As soon as she reached the window, she guessed at the source of displeasure.
‘That man, Mr. Darcy,’ Mrs. Bennet muttered, pointing at the two figures approaching on horseback. ‘He escorts Mr. Bingley to breakfast. Why, what is to be done? I do not wish for him to be here, disturbing Mr. Bingley and my dearest Jane. Why, it is intolerable!’
Elizabeth looked around and saw her older sister in the doorway, watching their exchange with much amusement. Jane nodded her encouragement, and Lizzy realised that she must put the proposal to her mother now, lest she grievously offend Mr. Darcy in the meantime. She looked around the room, wondering how the news would be received. Deciding that a cautious approach was best, she hurried to the table and carried the closest chair to the window.
‘What are you doing, Lizzy? What a time to rearrange the furniture! No, you rush out there and divert Darcy’s attention. See if you can’t persuade him to walk with you a while. I’m sorry if it inconveniences you, but do think of your sister.’
‘Mama…’
‘Oh Lizzy, I beg you. Do this one thing—’
‘Mama!’ Lizzy cried with unexpected force. She had little choice, for the gentlemen would arrive at any moment. ‘I beg you take a seat.’
‘Whatever for?’ Mrs. Bennet gasped. ‘Why, my nerves have been much improved ever since the news of Jane’s engagement.’
‘Please, give me the benefit of this one indulgence.’
Mrs. Bennet, though grumbling, finally sat down in the chair and looked up at her second daughter with such a mixture of scepticism and incredulity that Lizzy found herself blurting out the news rather than introducing it delicately as she had planned.
‘Mr. Darcy has asked for my hand and I intend to accept,’ she said simply. Behind her, Jane giggled delightedly, and Elizabeth saw that her other sisters had joined the crush at the door to witness the spectacle.
Elizabeth turned back to her mother, anxiously hoping the shock would not overpower her too much. Mrs. Bennet’s head had lolled against the chair back, and she stared at Lizzy with a strange, fixed grin her daughter had never witnessed before.
‘Mama,’ Lizzy said, kneeling before her and watching her with great concern. She wondered if she had been irresponsible in simply blurting out what must have been shocking news. ‘Mama, he is not the man we first thought.’
Mrs. Bennet shook her head but seemed entirely incapable of speech.
A few minutes passed, and Lizzy dispatched Jane to distract Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Finally, Mrs. Bennet began to stir.
‘It is nothing to be alarmed about, mama. Of this I promise you.’
By now, Mrs. Bennet was positively fidgeting in her chair. She fixed her eyes upon Elizabeth and gasped, as if emerging from underwater. ‘My dearest Lizzy! I can scarcely believe it! How rich you will be! Ten thousand a year! You must be married as soon as can be. We must seek a special licence! Though I fancy I might die with laughter at the sight of Lady Lucas’s face on hearing the banns read at Meryton!’
31
‘So it is settled,’ Darcy said as they walked in the woods near Longbourn.
‘Yes,’ Elizabeth said, sighing with contentment and relief at escaping her mother’s fervent delight.
‘I shall write to my sister at once. I am sure she would love nothing more than to arrive here in advance of the wedding in order to get to know her new sister. I have no doubt that she shall love you almost as much as I do.’
‘I hope then,’ Elizabeth teased. ‘That that is quite a lot - for the sake of my relationship with my new sister-in-law.’
A smile crept across his features. It was still a revelation to her that he possessed a side that was entirely different to the serious man whom she had first encountered at Netherfield. She eased her arm through his, delighting in how they seemed to fall into a synchronised pace with such ease.
She turned serious. ‘You would marry here in Hertfordshire and not at Pemberley? That is your preference?’
He stopped and looked down at her, as if worried he had caused offence. ‘No, my dearest Elizabeth. My only preference is that you are the one to whom I am wed. All other details are of no matter to me.’
‘I have not even seen Pemberley, and soon it will become my home.’
‘You will be happy there, no doubt. There is ample parkland in which to stroll at your leisure. Do not hesitate to invite visitors whenever it pleases you. There is a large ballroom, if you desire to throw a ball.’
Elizabeth looked up at him, surprised. ‘You should enjoy that? It was my belief that you preferred reading to conversing and hunting to dancing.’
‘My dear,’ he said softly. ‘I will enjoy any pursuit provided it puts a smile on your most lovely face.’
Elizabeth thought that her heart might burst from happiness.
‘And I you, Mr. Darcy,’ she whispered.