Page 107 of A Most Beloved Sister
Cool air rushed into the space where Darcy had been. Elizabeth wrapped her robe tightly around her, tying the sash firmly to keep it in place. “I know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of the night. “We should wait… until we are wed?”
The last was spoken as a question, hanging in the air. She held her breath and twisted her fingers together absentmindedly; while his actions demonstrated he wanted her—and even that he loved her—she realized they had yet to actually speak about anything of substance.
I am just as much a fool as Kitty and Lydia are,she thought with a wry laugh.So much for my expert advice this evening that if a man is really in love with you, he’ll speak with your father and not solicit favors in private.
“Until we are wed,” he repeated, sending a jolt of relief through her. “I shan’t ask you now though. This isn’t the propertime or place; you deserve better. But tomorrow, I will speak with Bingley and your father to secure their permission. Then, when the time is right, I will tell you exactly how much I ardently admire and love you.”
∞∞∞
The very next morning—or rather, the same morning—Darcy was true to his word. He informed Bingley of his intent to propose to Elizabeth, then rode over to Longbourn and did the same with Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth sent a note along with him to assure her father that no, this wasn’t all a good joke at his expense.
Apparently, the letter wasn’t sufficient to satisfy the patriarch’s doubts. Two hours later, Darcy returned with Mr. Bennet, who demanded a private audience with Elizabeth.
He stalked about the room, looking grave and anxious. “Lizzy, what are you doing? Are you out of your senses to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?”
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give, but they were now necessary.
“No, Papa. I did not always like him as well as I do now, but I do like him.”
“Well, now, he is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine clothes and carriages than any of your other sisters, but will they make you happy?”
“Have you no other objection at all than your belief of my indifference?”
“None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man, but this would be nothing if you really liked him.”
She stamped her foot. “Oh, Papa! Did you not hear me? I said, Idolike him! I love him, Father. He has no improper pride at all, but he is perfectly amiable in every way. You do not know him; not like I do. Please do not pain me by speaking of him in such a way.”
“Lizzy,” said her father, “I have given him my consent. He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything, which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you, if you are resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband, unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life.”
Elizabeth then spent the next half hour telling him about her time in London; more specifically, how she had spent many hours in conversation with Darcy and watching him interact with people of different levels of society. She told him about Georgiana, and Wickham, and even the fight she and Darcy had before he left Netherfield. In short, she told him everything.
Well,almosteverything.
“Well, my dear,” said he when she ceased speaking, “I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.”
He stood from his chair and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead before saying, “Now, if any young men come for Lydia, send them to me at once, for I am quite ready to be rid of her as soon as may be.”
She gave a surprised giggle and followed him out of the room towards the parlor, where Darcy waited impatiently. He lookedfrom one to the other, hands clasped behind his back and shoulders rigid and straight.
“No need to look so alarmed, son,” Mr. Bennet said. “My daughter has been singing your praises, which have convinced me to give my blessing as well as my permission.”
The tension in Darcy’s body melted away so quickly that Mr. Bennet let out a bark of laughter. “I admire all four of my sons-in-law highly. Collins, perhaps, is my favorite, but I think, Lizzy, that I shall likeyourhusband quite as well as Jane’s.”
Thinking of her other sisters caused Elizabeth to let out a quiet groan. When the two gentlemen looked at her in puzzlement, she said, “Perhaps we could keep this to ourselves for a while? After all, Mr. Darcy has not yet officially asked me to marry him. He is only securing the permission of my guardian.”
Mr. Bennet chortled. “Trying to keep the news from your mother, eh?” Elizabeth blushed, and Mr. Bennet said in a high-pitched voice, “Good gracious! Lord bless me! Only think! Dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it? And is it really true? Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! ’Tis as good as a lord! And a special license—you must and shall be married by a special license. Such a charming man! so handsome! so tall! Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Everything that is charming! Four daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me? I shall go distracted.”
It was all she could do to keep from losing control in the hilarity. Tears flowed down her face as her father perfectly mimicked her mother, even down to the fluttering of her hands and the way that she pranced about. She glanced at Darcy, whose jaw was working furiously to keep from bursting into laughter himself. His eyes danced with mirth, betraying the effort he was exerting to maintain his composure.
Unfortunately for Darcy, Bingley and Hurst came into the room just as Bennet was finishing his act.
“Here now, what’s all this? I say, Mr. Bennet, are you unwell? You sound as if you’ve caught a cold.”
Darcy’s amusement could be heard all the way to the kitchens.
Chapter 29
The next few days were spent in the type of bliss that only comes when lovers finally acknowledge their feelings for one another. True to his word, Mr. Bennet did not reveal his knowledge of the intended courtship to his wife. Even though Elizabeth and Darcy were well-chaperoned at Netherfield with two married couples, it was just simply not done for a courting pair to reside under the same roof—and Elizabeth had no desire to leave her sister’s side.
