Page 26 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
“How did it start… if I may be so bold as to ask?” Elizabeth asked gently. “To be clear, I am not rejecting you—but you must admit that the transition from not handsome enough to dance with, to handsome enough to marry, is a bit much for half a day’s friendship.”
“That is both understandable and fair,” he said pensively, then tried his own luck at remembering, before finally working on an answer.
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
“Sly things, these feelings,” Mary said with a laugh that Elizabeth very much appreciated. Things were far too serious for her liking, but she did not want to spoil the mood with teasing, which could so easily be misinterpreted.
“That they are, Miss Mary… that they are. I have admitted that my first impressions of the neighbourhood were little better than your first impressions of me—with the obvious difference that your estimations were correct, while mine were prideful nonsense.”
“Do not overdo it. We have forgiven you, so self-flagellation is unnecessary and self-defeating,” Elizabeth said gently.
He laughed. “You are unique—the very first person in the history of England to recommend less humility for a Darcy man.”
Mary laughed uproariously, while Elizabeth simply smiled. Eventually, both ladies averaged their reactions to a quiet giggle (or chuckle since they universally associated giggling with Lydia and Kitty).
Darcy chuckled softly himself. “I suppose that night in Lucas Lodge could serve as a beginning. I started listening to your conversations…”
“You know eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves,” Mary said with a laugh.
They all joined, and the tension all three had been feeling was relieved a bit. The fact that something very much like a proposal was being handled with three people in the dead garden in twilight of a cold November afternoon, and that it was triggered by multiple bouts of eavesdropping, gave all three an appreciation for how unconventional the situation was.
Darcy laughed, “I suppose if I had listened often enough back then I might have learnt of my folly sooner—but back to the point.”
“By all means,” Elizabeth said, feeling less nervous as time went on.
“My admiration made a big leap at Netherfield when you and your sister very politely and with great propriety flayed us alive with our own words.”
“That is far from expected.”
“To be honest, by that time I had almost forgotten what I said at the assembly. I did not remember it until after you and Miss Bennet left the yard.”
“You are not doing your suit any favours with that statement.”
“I know, but the time for prevarication and dishonesty is long past.”
Elizabeth nodded but did not feel the need to beat the point into the ground.
“The feeling of admiration had been sneaking up on me for some time, but I did not fully realise it until I saw you helping your sister… ah… halfway to Longbourn.”
Lizzy appreciated his delicacy, but she was not so fastidious. She told Mary with a grimace, “Jane was being sick over the side of Nellie. It was not our finest moment.”
Darcy said gently, “To the contrary, I believe it was. It showed me the type of women you are. I noticed—far later than I should—that you were supporting each other against all obstacles. I do not know, but I can easily imagine how uncomfortable it is to get on a horse without a saddle or habit, riding astride, on a cold November day, in front of two so-called-gentlemen who had shown you nothing but ill manners, after barely escaping a madhouse—and yet, you did it without qualms.”
“I suppose so,” Elizabeth said reluctantly. “My choices were limited.”
“That is not all I saw in my epiphany. I believe, in that moment, I got a look at both sisters’ characters and wished to have some of that in my life. I suspect that if Miss Bingley disparaged anyone but you, Miss Bennet would not have been so fierce, as it is not in her nature—but she defends you like a lion with her cubs. Contrarily, I suspect if you had found your sister asleep for an hour, you might never have told her what you overheard and would have born the bad manners in silence for her sake. You are both more protective of the other than yourselves. In addition to all that, I would bet a year’s income that Mrs Bennet blamed you for abandoning the field early and continues to do so to this day. She is careful to hold her tongue around me, but I doubt she is so circumspect in my absence.”
“He has you there,” Mary observed.
Elizabeth sighed. “I suppose we will never know. If nothing else, it allows me a window into your thinking, which is somewhat opaque.”
Mary agreed readily, then laughed. “I believe Shakespeare said music is the food of love, but he has it all wrong.”
“Do tell,” Elizabeth said.
“Disgorgement is,” Mary said and laughed uproariously. Darcy and Lizzy joined at once, and they all felt better for it (as was often the case with being sick).
Darcy ended up having to wipe tears from his eyes, while smiling at Mary in thanks.
