Page 76

With the absence of Mr and Mrs Bingley from Netherfield for two or three days, it was inappropriate for Elizabeth to call on Miss Darcy at Netherfield without a married adult to act as chaperone.

Mrs Annesley, Georgiana’s lady’s companion, did not have the social standing to act as chaperone without Charles or Jane in the house.

As a consequence, Mr Darcy brought his sister to Longbourn each morning after they broke their fast. They remained through luncheon, the whole of the afternoon, and dinner.

The siblings only returned to Netherfield when the sun began to draw near to the horizon.

The first day was filled with music lessons for Mary and Georgiana, sewing lessons with Mrs Bennet and all four sisters, quiet time to read the latest newspapers and magazines from London with Mr Bennet in the parlour, and pleasant excursions along the paths leading to the pastures, and the road into Meryton.

Georgiana hoped her brother would find his courage soon – Mr and Mrs Bingley would return from London before too many days passed.

On second morning once the Darcy siblings arrived at Longbourn and sent the coach and four on to the stables, Mr Bennet brought out the London newspapers and shared an article with Fitzwilliam. Georgiana ignored the two men but noticed that Elizabeth seemed aware of their quiet conversation.

Mrs Bennet voiced a notion of venturing into Meryton to purchase a suitable length of material to sew a new shirt for her husband.

As soon as she mentioned the walk to the mercantile, Frances added, “Miss Darcy, my Lizzy has the strongest stitches for the seams in the shoulders and arms. I insist she teach you that stitch.”

“My dear, please wait another day before you walk into Meryton,” Mr Bennet instructed his wife. “I feel the need to hear our daughters read this morning.”

“Oh Papa, no,” complained Lydia immediately. “I do not enjoy that at all.”

“Then you may sit quietly and listen to your sisters read,” Mr Bennet replied as his wife brought their youngest daughter to her side on the sofa. Mrs Bennet whispered about a reward of lace or ribbons during the future trip mercantile if Lydia behaved as a proper young lady today.

Mr Bennet left the parlour for a moment and returned with the book, The Natural History of Selborne.

Elizabeth smiled remembering this was the book that Mr Darcy surreptitiously provided to Mr Bennet (and Miss Elizabeth) the previous autumn through Mr Bingley.

While everyone listened Mary, Georgiana, Kitty, and Elizabeth each read two or three pages from a chapter that described the flora and fauna around the author’s home.

After the reading was complete, Mr Bennet questioned each young woman about the meaning of the passage she had read, and Mr Darcy noted that the four ladies provided accurate recitations of the descriptions and how they compared to the countryside around Meryton.

‘Elizabeth and her sisters were educated properly by Mr Bennet,’ Darcy realized when he compared the explanations provided by the Bennet sisters compared to Georgiana’s responses. ‘The gentleman was as thorough as a professor at Oxford with his questioning for understanding.’

Once the reading was completed, everyone in the parlour participated in a general discussion of the articles in the newspaper without any mention of the earlier discussion between Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy.

Then Mrs Bennet announced that it was time for lunch.

She took Mr Bennet’s arm and directed Mr Darcy to escort Elizabeth and Miss Georgiana into the dining room.

The meal was delicious as always at the Bennet table, but the conversation was stilted as Mrs Bennet led the conversation into discussion of the many excellent qualities of her second daughter.

Lydia remained quiet but her patience was tested by not being able to voice her true opinions.

Georgiana was perplexed by the youngest sister’s behaviour because other four sisters were perfectly well-behaved.

When the party left the dining room, Mr Bennet invited Mr Darcy to his library to discuss estate matters.

Stepping between Mr Darcy and her second daughter, Mrs Bennet immediately directed Elizabeth to join her sisters and Miss Darcy in the parlour where they would take up the mending while the gentlemen handled financial matters.

“If you will listen to me, you may be engaged by autumn,” whispered Mrs Bennet. “But do not put yourself forward with your knowledge from books. Mr Darcy may not want a wife who knows where tea is picked off the bush!”

But it was only ten minutes before a maid entered the parlour with a note that she slipped to Miss Elizabeth.

“What is it Lizzy?” asked Mrs Bennet, impatient to know the note’s contents.

“Papa instructs me to bring The Natural History of Selborne back to his library,” Elizabeth replied though she frowned slightly.

Finding the book on the table where her father left it before lunch, she hurried from the parlour and to the library door. When Elizabeth knocked, she was surprised to discover her father was standing just on the other side.

“Lizzy, you are an obedient child,” Mr Bennet said with a gentle smile. Then he kissed his daughter’s forehead and continued, “My dear, Mr Darcy has asked for a private interview. While he speaks to you, I shall wait in the hall and read from The Natural History of Selborne.”

The door closed and Elizabeth was totally alone in the room with Fitzwilliam Darcy – alone with a gentlemen behind a closed door without a chaperone. The young woman felt her face blush with an unfamiliar emotion – desire.

Gathering her courage, Elizabeth said, “Sir, you wished to speak…”

Without any words, Fitzwilliam Darcy took the three steps that brought him to Elizabeth’s side, pulled the beautiful woman into his arms and kissed her.

Unable to move her arms because they were captured inside Mr Darcy’s embrace, the young woman found her entire existence reduced to the feeling of this first kiss from the man who haunted her dreams. After a moment the man released her but did not step away.

With a heated tone, Darcy declared, “Miss Bennet…Elizabeth…I love you. Please say that you will marry me.”

Sliding her hands around the man’s head and pulling his face toward hers, Elizabeth replied, “Of course, Mr Darcy. Kiss me once again and I shall marry you.”

This time, the kiss lasted longer, and the young woman’s hands pulled the young man’s head close to hers while his arms embraced her.

The feel of a man’s body against pressing against Elizabeth’s bosom made her stomach feel as if it was filled with butterflies.

And the press of Mr Darcy’s lips and then his tongue touching her lips and tongue ignited a fire in her belly.

They repeated the kiss a third time and then he asked a second time if she would marry him. Grinning widely, Elizabeth replied, “Yes! Mr Darcy there is no man in the whole of the kingdom to whom I would say yes except for you. No other man can compare.”

“Those are sentiments that I should say to you, Elizabeth,” Darcy stated. Now he grinned and repeated her words, “Elizabeth Bennet, there is no other woman in the whole the kingdom to whom I would propose marriage. No other woman can compare to you.”

He held her close for another moment before she asked, “Why today?”

Darcy explained, “Your father called me into his library and reminded me that two weeks had passed since we arrived in Meryton. He knew I intended to court you, and he made an inquiry as to my progress in winning your heart.”

Immediately, Elizabeth replied, “You hold my whole heart, Fitzwilliam!”

“I know and that made me determined to act before Mr and Mrs Bingley return,” Darcy replied. “I asked your father’s permission for this interview.”

Grimacing slightly, Elizabeth stated, “Sir, I hope that you can bear my mother’s expressions of joy this afternoon once she hears of our engagement.”

The gentleman replied, “I am certain that I can bear with a mother’s joy to have a daughter engaged to a man she loves – the man who loves her for her worth as a woman.”

There was a knock on the door and when it opened, Mr Bennet’s head appeared in his library. With a small smile on his face, the gentleman asked, “Is the deed done then?”

There were nods and smiles in confirmation to which the older gentleman said, “Well, then congratulations Mr Darcy on winning the heart of the brightest woman in the kingdoms of King George.”

Satisfied that his daughter was pleased with her situation, Thomas told the couple, “Now, I find myself in need of strong tea and believe we should adjourn to the parlour. There I shall share the happy news with your mother and all the sisters. I am certain that Jane and Mr Bingley will forgive us for taking this step while they are absent.”

~~~

Mr Bennet walked ahead of his daughter and her fiancé as he led them into the parlour where he did make the announcement of Lizzy’s engagement to Mr Darcy.

While Mrs Bennet suffered spasms of great joy that she shared with her daughters and Miss Darcy for many minutes, Elizabeth summoned a maid and requested a pot of strong tea to fortify her father’s nerves.

Before Mrs Hill appeared with the tea tray, the emotion of the situation overcame Mrs Bennet, and the lady fainted.

When Frances had been revived by smelling salts, she remained silent for three more minutes before approaching Mr Darcy to inquire about the dishes he preferred for supper and his favourite port.

With the delivery of the tea tray and sharing of cups of the fresh tea, Lydia began loud exclamations and demanded a new wardrobe. She declared, “Lizzy is richer than Jane! I am the prettiest Bennet sister and need a fashionable wardrobe to attract a rich husband!”

Kitty teased, “I thought you wanted an officer for your husband.”

“A rich officer will do perfectly,” Lydia declared.

However, the youngest daughter’s demands were cut off because Mr Bennet scowled and sent the girl to her room. Mrs Bennet pretended nothing had occurred to mar the happy afternoon.

For exercise after drinking the new tea, the newly engaged couple walked in the gardens around Longbourn and the along the cow path to the pastures. Miss Mary and Miss Georgiana were pleased to act as the chaperones who walked far enough ahead of Lizzy and her beau to give them moments of privacy.

~~~

That evening before retiring to her bedchamber, Mrs Bennet acted to force Lydia to reform her behaviour.

Frances was sincere when she warned her favourite daughter, “If you dare to make any declarations about new gowns or being the prettiest girl in company again, I shall not allow you to attend the next gathering at Lucas Lodge, the wedding breakfast, or any of the dinners to celebrate the engagement! There will be no officers in their red coats who ask you to dance until after your sister is married and removed to London.”

Kitty was in awe of her future brother-in-law and realized proper behaviour was required to win his approval. Mary was pleased by the engagement because this meant she would have future conversations with Miss Darcy who loved music as much as she did.

For a few days, Mr Bennet enjoyed his wife’s discomposure to have their second daughter engaged to one of the richest men in the kingdoms. Jane and Charles were both pleased to learn of the engagement upon their return to Netherfield, and they were pleased that the good news meant that no one was too interested in their news from London.

Over the next week, Thomas also took pleasure in the looks of wonder on the faces of neighbours when his wife shared the news.

But then the gentleman grew concerned at the idea his favourite child would leave his home and only return in the future as the wife of this other gentleman.

He would never again have an afternoon in his library with his little girl curled up with a new book while she asked him a hundred questions.

Mrs Jane Bingley rejoiced for her sister’s happiness to be engaged to a man she truly loved. And Mr and Mrs Bingley were pleased that Mr and Mrs Darcy would be located in Derbyshire – the county where they hoped to relocate when the lease on Netherfield ended in two more years.

~~~

When Charles and Jane acted as chaperones for the couple during a walk in the gardens around Netherfield, there was an uncomfortable conversation that involved all four. Charles began by stopping Jane’s progress along the path and that halted Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth behind them.

“Miss Elizabeth, Jane and I want to provide you with sad news,” began Charles. Glancing at her fiancé with his suddenly stoic expression and her sister’s sad face, Elizabeth tightened her fingers on Darcy’s arm. In response, his free hand came around to caress her hand gently.

“The troubles in London have been settled to everyone’s satisfaction except for my sister Caroline.

In the months she was alone in London she fell into company with disreputable persons – Mr George Wickham and his confederates.

They convinced my sister that she would marry a gentlemen known as Lord John Campbell and someday become the Countess of Argyle.

To achieve this title, Caroline invested fifteen thousand pounds from her dowery in Wickham’s New World Tea Company.

Then everyone and Caroline’s money vanished. ”

Elizabeth exclaimed, “Vanished? What is to be done?”

“Nothing can be done,” Charles admitted. “Wickham killed his confederates and disappeared. He took passage to somewhere in the colonies.”

Suddenly concerned for Jane’s felicity, Elizabeth insisted, “But what of Miss Bingley? Will she live with Mr and Mrs Hurst? Or with you and Jane?”

Jane replied, “No, Caroline will not live with Louisa and Geoffrey or with us. She has become a lady’s companion to provide her with a roof over her head, food, and heat. She has an income from the remainder of her dowry, but she must work.”

Elizabeth knew of a disaster with Miss Bingley’s dowry but until this moment had not known the outcome. Relieved that Miss Bingley would not be present in her sister’s home, Elizabeth was unwilling to express any sentiment aloud.

“There is a serendipitous connection between Miss Bingley’s situation and my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” Fitzwilliam stated.

Elizabeth paused and looked up at Fitzwilliam for explanation.

Darcy grimaced and said, “I am certain you remember when my aunt imposed herself on Mrs Bingley that afternoon at Netherfield. Like Miss Bingley, my aunt had given Mr Wickham fifteen thousand pounds to purchase shares in the New World Tea Company.”

Shaking her head in disbelief, Elizabeth asked, “Fitzwilliam, what is the connection between Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine now?”

“Miss Caroline Bingley is become Lady Catherine’s lady’s companion. They share the dower house at Rosings Park.”

~~~