Elizabeth snarled back at herself, it was unreasonable to expect him given how she had refused him once, and what he knew of her past, to speak to her when she showed a clear sign of distress. Her Fitzwilliam would never act so. She, ought to show the eagerness she truly felt.
Really, it was her place to speak, and to tell Darcy clearly that despite, some lingering anxiety, she was comfortable and very much — very, very much — wished him to pay his addresses to her again.
Unfortunately for Elizabeth the Grecian temple they had sought shelter at was only a few hundred feet from where they parted to return to their separate abodes, and immediately after she formed this resolution, with no chance to find the words to express her desire — or work up her nerve — they exchanged their parting words.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would speak.
* * * * *
About noon that day Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner arrived at Longbourn. Darcy made a point to talk to them both. As he expected since Elizabeth loved them they both showed excellent manners. Mr. Gardiner was very clever, Darcy knew he had been quite successful in his business, and they spoke a little about it. But, Darcy knew little of Mr. Gardiner’s trade, and Mr. Gardiner knew little of what Darcy had begun to privately consider his own trade, estate management. They found common ground in a shared passion for fishing.
This was a subject Darcy believed he could use to his advantage, and he waxed poetic about the well-stocked ponds and streams of Pemberley, he hoped to encourage Mr. Gardiner to agree to a long stay at Pemberley. He wished for this not merely as a compliment to Elizabeth, and also not merely because he expected to enjoy their company a great deal, but also he hoped that by the time of their vacation Elizabeth would live at Pemberley, and he knew she would enjoy a visit from her favorite relatives a great deal.
Mrs. Gardiner was also a delightful woman, and Darcy spent a full hour answering as best he could her questions about the state of affairs in Lambton, and exchanging memories of landmarks and events. There was one great tree near Lambton they both were quite fond of.
Near the end of the evening Darcy saw Lydia and Georgiana rapidly speaking to each other, the two girls had become very tight friends. Lydia pointed at him once, and Darcy idly wondered what they were saying.
By the time Darcy, Bingley and Georgiana left Longbourn the Gardiners had given Elizabeth a knowing look and promised they would spend at least a fortnight at Pemberley, though it would reduce the time they had to explore the famous sites of the Lake District.
On the carriage ride back to Netherfield Georgiana exclaimed, “Hertfordshire has been so delightful! And I am so happy to have met Lydia. I feel like she is a sister.” Georgiana paused, reddened, and stammered out in an embarrassed voice, “Is the — I mean if two people were sister-in-law’s of the — of the same person, would not that make them sisters as well?”
Darcy put his hand against his mouth as Bingley gave an amused reply, “Yes, I do believe it would make them sisters.” Had his sister just hinted he should ask Elizabeth to marry him?
“Oh. That is what Lydia said. I thought so too. Fitzwilliam would —”Georgiana gave a small giggle, “if — do you agree that when you marry, the sisters of your bride would also become my sisters?”
Georgiana gave him a pointed look, which was somewhat marred by her clear embarrassment. His sister just had hinted he should ask Elizabeth to marry him. Clearly it had been Miss Lydia’s idea. Perhaps he had been wrong about their friendship being a good thing. Bingley’s broad smile visible in the dim light did nothing to reduce Darcy’s awkwardness.
Darcy remembered this morning, when he had nearly spoken. Elizabeth had been relieved the first morning after he returned when Darcy made it clear he would wait to ask her. This morning, the only way to describe her reaction afterwards was disappointed. Even though Elizabeth might yet have some anxiety, Darcy felt sure it was time. Still, while he was near certain she would give a positive reply, Darcy felt very anxious as he decided he would ask Elizabeth tomorrow.
There had been a sustained pause while Darcy made this resolution. But Darcy now replied to Georgiana’s question, “Yes, I believe they would become your sisters.”
Chapter 16
Lydia Bennet had always known two things: marriage was unpleasant because men were brutes and Lizzy was the best person in the world. Lydia had not been permanently affected in the way Lizzy was when Mr. Collins hurt her to insure Lizzy’s obedience. In fact Lydia could barely remember that day. What she remembered was her terror that he would hurt her again and how Lizzy flattered Mr. Collins, and acted upon every whim of the ugly little toad, so he would not.
Lizzy always would be the best, but the past months left Lydia unsure about her first belief. Lizzy had really desired to accept Mr. Darcy. And, Lydia overheard a conversation between Jane and Lizzy that showed they hoped he would ask again. Lizzy thought Mr. Darcy was a good man. And Bingley, Jane’s suitor had always been kind to everyone, much like Jane was. Perhaps, some marriages might be happy. Aunt Gardiner certainly seemed happy. But she was happy because Uncle Gardiner was a very good man.
Also to Lydia’s great surprise she had, over the past three months, felt the beginning of an affection for Captain Denny. He was very handsome in his regimentals, and always great fun when they spoke. Lydia knew her feelings were not serious, and it was just fun, and the idea of marriage still seemed ridiculous to her. But — the way her stomach fluttered pleasurably when she caught sight of him, and the way she could not stop imagining places and times they might meet — Lydia now understood why, despite the awfulness of being under a man’s control, a woman might desire to marry.
Lydia was still not sure that it would be good for Lizzy to marry Mr. Darcy. Was he special enough for the best person in the world? And, was he a good man? What if, even though Lizzy and his friend Mr. Bingley both thought he was a good man, what if Mr. Darcy wasn’t good? What if he tried to hurt Lizzy like Mr. Collins had? Lydia would kill him if he did — she would buy or steal a gun and shoot him dead. But, since Lizzy wanted to marry him, it would be best to know whether he was a good man before Lydia needed to flee to the Americas to escape the noose.
Lydia knew it was her task to make sure Darcy would treat Lizzy kindly. Her mind uncontrollably returned to Denny, even though she knew that she did not wish to marry — at least not till she was almost an old maid. Lizzy liked Darcy a great deal more than Lydia liked Denny, and her feelings must be correspondingly stronger. Lizzy could take care of herself in most cases, but if Lydia had irrational ideas about Captain Denny, Lizzy certainly had them about Mr. Darcy. She could not be trusted to make a good decision.
Elizabeth had in fact said as much herself, Lydia had once heard her tease Jane, “It was his easiness of manner, and handsome features that first drew you — you knew no actual good of him at the time, but no one thinks of that when they fall in love.”
Love, Lydia thought, was a form of insanity. And just as the mad King required a regent during his spells, so Lizzy needed someone to take care of her during her spell of madness. Lydia was not sure how to perform this duty. Then she learned that Mr. Darcy’s sister would come to Netherfield with him for the wedding. Miss Darcy was almost the same age as Lydia, and Lydia decided it would be easy to force her to reveal everything about Mr. Darcy’s behavior at home. After all, Mr. Bingley would certainly be kind to Jane since he was never mean to his sister Caroline — even though Miss Bingley was the most annoying and superior woman Lydia had ever met.
If Miss Darcy was treated well then Lydia would not need to stop Darcy and Lizzy from marrying.
The assembly night when the Darcys arrived was her first ball, and of course Lydia was expected to, and in fact wished to, dance a great deal. However, Lydia only paid half attention to her first partner as she sought out her prey.
There she was. La! She was even taller than Lydia herself. And while Lydia knew her to only be 16 she looked very well grown for that age. She also looked awkward and
ill at ease. As Lydia plotted her approach she felt uncommonly pleased with herself. She would be Lizzy’s protector this time! She would ensure her normally rational and clever sister was not led astray by the insensibility love created.
The dances were great fun. Denny asked her twice, and Bingley, though he was less interesting as they had danced at family parties before. Darcy himself asked her. He was very amused by her questions, and her attempt to get him to show any ill humor he might hide.
Near the end of the night Lydia found her opportunity. Georgiana sat alone in the edge of the room, watching the somewhat diminished number of couples twirl colorfully on the dance floor. No doubt her feet hurt, Lydia’s certainly were sore. Georgiana had not talked very much all night, and acted stiff, almost scared of her partners. Had Darcy ordered her to behave in that manner? Like Mr. Collins had ordered Lizzy to never laugh in company?
Lydia sat next to Georgiana, “Hello.”
There is a long pause before the yellow haired girl said quietly while looking away from Lydia, “Hello.”
Georgiana did not say anything else, and before the pause became long Lydia exclaimed “La! You are so quiet. So tell me about your brother.”
Her head snapped to look at Lydia, “About Fitzwilliam?”
“Yes, tell me about Mr. Darcy.” Lydia leaned forward and pulled her chair closer to Georgiana, and excitedly whispered, “Do you not say much because he ordered you to rarely speak in company? Is he a tyrant who demanded you behave in that manner?”
Miss Darcy was shocked, “He would never —”
Lydia enthusiastically spoke over her as she described a few of the scenarios her imagination had conjured up over the past weeks, “Oh, and does he lock you up in a high tower? Are you never allowed to leave the estate to visit friends? Are you forced to stay at home all of the time? Is he mean to the servants? Does he drink too much?”
Miss Darcy listened to Lydia open mouthed without response, but as Lydia continued her face reddened and she scowled, “Fitzwilliam is the best brother imaginable! He is always kind, he is never mean to anybody — even those who deserve it — he always takes the best possible care of me, even when I do not deserve it. I have never seen him drunk, and it is horrible, horrible that you could suggest such things about him. He is the kindest best man ever.”
Miss Darcy raised her chin up and prepared to stand. At her reaction Lydia thought maybe she should not have asked in quite that way, and grabbed Miss Darcy’s sleeve, “Do not go, I do not want to insult your brother. I am very pleased to hear what you said. You see, my sister Lizzy wants to marry him and I must be certain that he will not hurt her.”
“Oh!” Some of the offense faded from Miss Darcy’s face, but she remained stiff and angry, “I can understand that concern, but it is still horrid that you imagined such things about Fitzwilliam.”
“Yes, I see why you are offended — were someone to speak so about Lizzy — I should not have asked in such a manner, but you must understand that I need to be sure. You see,” Lydia lowered her voice again and leaned forward, “Mr. Collins acted in a very like manner to what I suggested. So I know men can behave so. I cannot let Lizzy go through such an experience again, and I cannot trust her in this case to look after her own interests — love makes people foolish. And while your brother appears good, one cannot trust such appearances — but as his sister, as a woman entirely under his care, you would know how he behaves.”
Miss Darcy vigorously nodded agreement when Lydia finished, “Yes, I know you cannot trust the appearance of goodness. Why, I once —” She stopped. “I will tell you whatever you wish to know about Fitzwilliam.”
Lydia began to speak, but Miss Darcy said, “No first, I have already told you something of my brother, you must tell me about Mrs. Elizabeth, my brother has spent the last three months speaking constantly of her, but you are right, a sister’s view must be more sensible than that of,” Miss Darcy blushed, “a lover.”
“Lizzy is the best, bravest, cleverest, and kindest person in the world. She can do anything — she runs Longbourn without help, she reads really difficult books, she dances and sings, everyone agrees she is the wittiest woman in Hertfordshire.” Lydia paused, “And she will do anything, anything, to care for us. So surely you see why I must be sure any man who takes her fancy is most excellent.”
Georgiana nodded and said firmly, “I see. But my brother is most excellent.”
The two spent the rest of the evening in conversation, and continued when Georgiana called at Longbourn with her brother and Mr. Bingley the next day.
It had been less than a fortnight since they met, but by the time Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner arrived with their children Lydia and Georgiana were the best of friends. They had decided that since Elizabeth and Georgiana were to be sisters, and Elizabeth and Lydia were sisters already, that meant Lydia and Georgiana would be sisters. Georgiana never annoyed Lydia in the way Kitty, who was mother’s favorite, would. And Mary, while more sensible than Kitty, spent all of her time with her books, the piano, and her boring quotations.
Georgiana was somewhere between the two, she was great fun to talk with, unlike Mary, but she was not a wild flirt with no thought in her head but officers, like Kitty. If Elizabeth was not there to keep an eye on Kitty she quite likely would do something foolish like run off to Gretna Green with one of the officers. Lydia was happy to know she would never act so. And Georgiana played beautifully. Lydia knew she would never have that level of skill, but she practiced with Georgiana so she could become good enough to occasionally perform a duet with her friend.
The two girls had shared confidences: Lydia told Georgiana about Mr. Collins, and how he had hurt her to control Elizabeth, and Georgiana told her about Mr. Wickham and how she had nearly eloped with him. When told about Wickham Lydia exclaimed, “Why he nearly enrolled in the militia here! I saw him once, he was very handsome. But Lizzy knew there was something wrong with him. I do not know what they said, but Lizzy spoke with him for half an hour the night he came into Meryton, and the next morning he left right away.”
Only one problem worried Lydia and Georgiana: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had not yet announced their engagement. They compared notes, and Lydia and Georgiana found that Elizabeth and Darcy both left the house at the same time each morning, and often would not return for hours. They had been seen walking together several times. And they primarily talked to each other in company; their behavior clearly showed an attachment, but there had been no announcement yet. At first Lydia thought Lizzy wanted to wait for the Gardiners to arrive.
However the day Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner arrived came, went, and supper was over, and no announcement had been made. Maybe the two had not yet come to an understanding? Lydia decided something needed to be done.
“I agree,” Georgiana replied, “but what can we do?”
“We must tell them that it is time to reach an understanding, and that we all expect them to do it.”
Georgiana blushed, “I could never speak so to him, besides I should not interfere in my brother’s business.”
“Nonsense Georgie, it will be easy.” Lydia leaned forward eagerly, “You see you need not say anything directly. You just need to hint, your brother is clever, he will know what you really mean.”
“But —”
“Do not worry: on the carriage ride home just ask whether your brother thinks two girls become sisters if the sister of one marries the brother of the other. And then say how you would like to have many sisters.”
“Oh.” Georgiana blushed, “Maybe I could say that.”
Lydia grabbed Georgiana’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly, “I know you can! And while you do that, I will find a chance to talk to Lizzy and tell her that she must make it clear to Mr. Darcy that it is time to ask her.”
“But, is it not the man’s choice?”
“Well maybe, it is supposed to be, but a girl can make very clear when she wants someone to ask. She could just say, ‘oh, it would be wonderful
if we were together forever’, or something else in that manner.” Lydia laughed and put her head closer to Georgiana’s, “Lizzy could say Georgie is such a dear, I wish she were my sister.”
Georgiana blushed and giggled, she was such a dear; it was so much fun to tease her. Lydia knew she could not rely on Georgiana to do her part, so she would have to make sure Elizabeth hinted to Mr. Darcy.
After everyone had prepared for bed, Lydia went to Elizabeth’s room, and said, “Lizzy, I have decided that I like Darcy. I just wanted you to know. Georgiana and I have talked about this a great deal, and he seems to be a really excellent brother.”
Elizabeth smiled, “My goodness, I thought you were completely set against him. I am sure he will be pleased to know he finally has your approval.”
“La! I expect to soon be told how he will be my brother as well.”
Elizabeth blushed and laughed, “Do you mean to order me to marry Darcy?”
“You know that you love him, and the two of you have met every morning since he arrived in Hertfordshire, so you have had plenty of opportunity to speak already, and —”
Elizabeth went bright red, “enough, enough. I will not pretend indifference to him, and I have heard what you said.”
“So you will speak to him tomorrow?”
“Lydia this is a terribly improper conversation, but I admit I had already decided to do so.”
“Good.” And Lydia walked over and kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, “I hope to hear something about it tomorrow morning after your walk, and you know Jane and Bingley would be most disappointed if they left for the wedding trip without it being settled.”
Elizabeth laughed in embarrassment, and pushed her away, “Go to sleep.”
Chapter 17
Elizabeth felt a half happy anxiety twist through her body when she walked out to meet Darcy the next morning. Though it was a bright sunny morning, Elizabeth gave no attention to the scenery absorbed as she was in her thoughts.
Mr Darcy and Mr Collins's Widow Page 17
