Page 14

Longbourn

Dinner Time

Their mother was in fine fettle and full flow, but after the first few sentences, Elizabeth ignored her. She understood why Mrs. Bennet was ecstatic that Jane had received an offer from Charles Bingley, but was too preoccupied with her own life to be interested in plans for Jane's wedding clothes right now. Kitty and Lydia were audience enough, with occasional calming interjections from Jane. Elizabeth was not the only quiet one, as Mary and Mr. Bennet likewise contented themselves with eating and listening, one with a disapproving frown at such frivolity and one with a sardonic smile.

Elizabeth neither smiled nor frowned. She was delighted that her dear Jane's happiness was so assured and did not grudge her a stitch of new clothing. Later, she would happily join in such discussion and planning, rejoicing in outfitting Jane as she deserved.

But for today, Elizabeth's mind was too full to have room to spare for gowns and bonnets and frills and ribbons. She continued to be stunned that she had, in fact, accepted Mr. Darcy's offer. Though she was perhaps still judging him too harshly – the insult the night of the assembly stinging yet, and the outrage from Wickham's lies not yet fully faded despite her knowledge of the truth – he had previously shown himself haughty and contemptuous, and she doubted he would make a good husband. And yet, she had made many a mistake of late regarding the characters of those around her, and her father was hopeful that she and Mr. Darcy would suit very well.

An excited shriek from Lydia induced a wince. She could not fully blame the master of Pemberley for disdaining her family, even if it was abominably rude of him to say so, especially in the way that he had. It made his offer of marriage to her all the more shocking. He would likely be accepted by ninety-nine out of a hundred ladies in London, and it would have been no trouble at all for him to ride away and leave her and her damaged reputation behind, thus abandoning her and her family to bear the full weight of the scandal. She was hopeful, even confident, that his offer indicated that he truly did care for her.

But if so, Elizabeth did not reciprocate his feelings. How could she? She had disliked him intensely for the entire duration of their acquaintanceship, and she had fully believed the animosity was mutual. She had no desire at all to actually marry the man. But might that not perhaps change in three months? He was not, after all, the villain that Wickham had painted him to be. He was honorable, in fact, as well as handsome and very wealthy. Certainly the match had its advantages. Might she learn to respect Mr. Darcy? Even develop affection for him?

If she did, it would be despite his rude words. She glanced up from her nearly empty plate – she did not really remember what she had eaten – and looked first at her mother and then her two youngest sisters. It was the truth of his words that stung the most, she thought. He was absolutely correct that Lydia – and Kitty with her – were barely better than hoydens. Not once had Mr. Bennet ever reined them in, and it showed.

“Elizabeth.”

She looked up in surprise and noticed that her father was gazing at her with a slight smile on his face. “Are you ready to make your announcement to the family?”

She realized that the servants had left the room, and the doors were closed, and she took a deep breath and said, “Yes, of course, Father. Mamma, sisters, after Mr. Bingley asked Jane for her hand in marriage, his friend, Mr. Darcy, offered for me as well, and I have accepted.”

The room was suddenly so silent that one could hear a pin drop, and when Elizabeth dared look around at her mother and sisters, it was to find awestruck expressions on all their faces, ranging from surprised pleasure on Jane’s face to shocked outrage on Lydia’s.

“But Lizzy!” the youngest Bennet cried out a moment later, “surely you will not marry Mr. Darcy! He was so cruel to Lieutenant Wickham and…”

“Do be quiet, Lydia!” Mrs. Bennet ordered loudly. “Oh Lizzy, you are not teasing me, are you? You are truly engaged to Mr. Darcy?”

“I am,” Elizabeth replied and felt her chest ease slightly. At least her mother did not sound upset.

“Oh, my dear Elizabeth!” the mistress of the house squealed, her lips stretching into a beaming smile. “Oh, good gracious! Lord bless 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! Jane’s is nothing to it – nothing at all. I am so pleased – so happy. Such a charming man! So handsome! So tall! Oh, my dearLizzy! A house in town! Everything that is delightful! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me? I shall go completely distracted.”

** *

Caroline Bingley’s Bedchamber

Netherfield Hall

Caroline opened her eyes, lifted a hand to her head, and groaned aloud. She was in her room, lying on her bed, and sunshine was pouring through the window, and she was entirely confused.

“Miss Bingley,” a familiar voice said from her side.

She turned her head and stared in bewilderment at Clara, who was seated nearby with an anxious expression on her face.

“What happened?” Caroline said in a dazed tone.

“You fainted, Miss. Do let me call your sister. She is quite concerned about you.”

Caroline groaned again and nodded, and she leaned back against her feather pillow, incredibly confused. How could she have fainted? She never fainted!

She sat up abruptly and moaned again, both from pain and horror, just as her sister entered the room, her face a mask of concern.

“Caroline, dear, how are you feeling? ”

“Louisa,” Caroline said, her voice raspy, “Louisa, pray tell me that I have merely had a nightmare. Surely Mr. Darcy … that is, he is not … please tell me that he is not engaged…”

“To Elizabeth Bennet?” Louisa said, her lips drooping. “I fear so.”

Caroline prided herself on her control of her own emotions, but at these words, she released a guttural howl and began rocking back and forth. “No, no! It is quite impossible! It cannot be. Blowsy, coarse, shrewish, unfashionable Elizabeth Bennet! Oh Louisa!”

She could not contain her sorrow and vexation, and continued to wail and whine, though she took the time to drink two cups of sweet tea.

She had deliberately spread rumors of Elizabeth Bennet’s indelicate actions, and those very rumors had, apparently, pushed Mr. Darcy into offering his hand in marriage! How could something like this happen? How?

She wiped her face, wet with her tears, and leaned back in her chair. She felt strangely tired, so very tired…

A few minutes after that, she was sound asleep.

** *

The Hursts’ Sitting Room

Netherfield Park

A Few Minutes Later

“How is Caroline?” Charles asked his elder sister, and Louisa said resentfully, “She is asleep again after drinking tea with laudanum, but she is very upset.”

“Why is she so upset?” Charles asked, his voice calm, his eyes narrowed.

Louisa was irritable and anxious, and thus she spoke with less care than was usual. “She has every reason to be upset, Charles! How could you ask Jane Bennet to marry you with the Bennet family disgraced?”

“How did you learn of the scandal?”

“Caroline’s maid heard of it first, and of course, Caroline told me. We were entirely certain that…”

Louisa trailed off and looked at her brother, who was now openly angry.

“Certain that you could convince me to leave Jane behind, in spite of the fact that Miss Elizabeth did nothing wrong? ”

“Well, we did not know that,” Louisa said sullenly. “We had no idea that she was in the library speaking with Mr. Darcy.”

“Miss Elizabeth is a virtuous lady,” her brother said angrily. “You ought not to have assumed that she was doing anything disreputable.”

Louisa possessed a more compliant character than her sister, and she was also tired.

“I suppose not,” she confessed. “I am sorry. Poor Mr. Darcy, to be forced to marry…”

“Elizabeth?” Bingley interrupted, “sister to Jane, my beloved fiancée?”

Louisa winced. “I merely meant that it seems difficult for Mr. Darcy, who does not truly care for Miss Elizabeth, whereas you are genuinely in love with Jane.”

“Whatever Darcy’s feelings, he has made a legitimate offer and been accepted. I demand that you refrain from discussing your unhappiness over my engagement or Darcy’s.”

“As you wish,” Louisa replied meekly, though inwardly she was confident that Caroline would have trouble restraining her own ire about the situation.

“Thank you,” Bingley said.

** *

Darcy’s Bedchamber

Netherfield Hall

Midnight

The sheets and pillows of the guest bed assigned to him were comfortable, and the maids were attentive in their work of airing and freshening. Darcy’s body was entirely relaxed where he lay gazing into the dim of the burned-down fire. It was his mind and soul that were humming still with energy and driving away sleep.

He was far too excited to close his eyes. Joy sang in his heart, like the first chorus of spring birds. Elizabeth Bennet had accepted his offer! They were engaged to be married! Truly, he was among the happiest men in England this evening.

Of course, his happiness was not unalloyed. The disheartening reality was that Elizabeth – Miss Elizabeth – had accepted him, not because she cared for and respected him the way he admired her, but because scurrilous rumors were swirling around Meryton regarding her reputation. She had accepted his offer only at her father’s urging, to protect herself and the family she so loved. Now, he had three months to win her respect and affections and he knew it would be no easy task.

After all, he had never practiced wooing a lady, as he had previously been more concerned with avoiding pursuit than pursuing an eligible female. He was not, by nature, conciliatory and charming, and now that it was necessary for him to make himself agreeable and appealing, he found himself woefully unprepared.

He was also worried about his relatives’ reaction to his engagement. They would be aghast at his fiancée’s abysmal connections. The Earl and Lady Matlock would be primly disapproving, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh would be outraged, and loudly. She insisted, even now, that he must marry her daughter, Anne, despite neither of them desiring the match. Anne was quiet and often ill, and Darcy was not in the least interested in marrying her. She needed a vibrant husband with a joie de vivre, the same as Darcy needed a vivacious wife.

Nor was he blind to the Bennets’ impropriety of behavior. He adored Miss Elizabeth and thought only well of Miss Bennet, but the rest of the family were poorly behaved. Mr. Bennet was the laziest father of Darcy’s acquaintance, and his youngest daughters ran headstrong and hoydenish, encouraged by their vulgar mother. Even Miss Mary, dour as she was, had no sense of tact or social nicety, as evidenced by her determination to sing and play too long at the Netherfield Balll. But Elizabeth loved her family – how could she not? – and he understood her anger when Darcy spoke disapprovingly of her relations. He would have to be very careful.

No matter about Mrs. Bennet and Miss Lydia, no matter about the Matlocks and Lady Catherine. Darcy had always known his own mind and held to his own course, and he would do his best to win the lady he loved. He would show her that he was a man worth having – not because he was wealthy, not because he was Master of Pemberley. He would convince her that he, Fitzwilliam Darcy, would love and cherish her. He adored Miss Elizabeth wholeheartedly, her sharp mind, her clever wit, her generous heart. She would be a magnificent mistress of Pemberley, and he thrilled at the thought of seeing her gracing the halls of his home.

It was on these pleasant musings that he finally fell asleep.