Page 23 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
“I was never more surprised by his behaviour yesterday. I suspected he would be civil with my family since we were discussing the prospect of a future marriage, and I had already reproached him for his previous lack of politeness. But with you and uncle, I might say he was more than civil. He seemed really attentive.”
“He was! And he invited your uncle to visit Pemberley and go fishing with him. I still cannot believe it—me, visiting Pemberley and my husband fishing with Mr Darcy! You must see that this is a compliment to you, Lizzy, and another proof that he is endeavouring to gain your good opinion. Surely you must appreciate that.”
“I do understand and appreciate that, Aunt. I am not insensitive to Mr Darcy’s efforts. But have you not visited Pemberley? You seemed well acquainted with the estate.”
“I am well acquainted with the estate from the outside. I never entered the house. My family was not on intimate terms with the Darcys. But do you not remember that you yourself met Lady Anne?”
“I? How is that possible? When? I have never been to Lambton.”
“Not in Lambton but in Brighton. Do you remember when your uncle and I married? You were ten years old, and that year we took you and Jane with us.”
“It was the year you gave Lucky to me as a present and he almost drowned in the sea.”
“Yes—and you with him. I will never forgot how scared I was when I heard…but anyway, you used to play with Lucky on the beach, and you met Lady Anne who was there with her daughter—Georgiana, I believe was her name. She was about five or six years younger than you. Apparently, you became quite friendly with both Lady Anne and her daughter even before I became aware of your acquaintance. What a strange coincidence, indeed!”
“I met Lady Anne and Georgiana? How astonishing! I do not remember either of them at all, and I would wish to, so very much! Please tell me more: How was the late Mr Darcy?”
“It was said that he was a fair master and all his tenants had the comfort of a good income. I also heard that he was very devoted to Lady Anne. He passed away only a few years after her death. He was quite an impressive man—much like the young one. Mr Darcy—your Mr Darcy—seems very much like him.”
“He is not my Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said, blushing.
“Perhaps not yet. But he is very generous with you, from what I heard about the settlement; and very, very handsome.”
“Aunt!” Elizabeth blushed once again.
“Lizzy, that is nothing to be ashamed of. This may be a shock to you, but no man is really kind, gentle, patient, and amiable all the time, and a woman must compensate for this if she wants to keep a happy marriage. God knows that I married your uncle for the deepest love, and my affection has not diminished in the slightest, but sometimes he drives me out of my mind—more than four children together. I imagine the best of men are the same. In cases like this, it is very helpful if the man is handsome. You will surely bear his faults easier. ”
“I never heard you talk like this before!” Elizabeth said in disbelief.
“Well, dearest, you have never been almost married before,” the lady replied.
“Now, will you join me in the kitchen to see what Maria is cooking? I will make my special apple pie. Did I mention that I got the recipe from my great-aunt Teresa? She was a cook at Pemberley even before Mr Darcy wed Lady Anne. When she was too old to work, Lady Anne used to ask her to make her pies for special occasions at Pemberley. I believe Aunt Teresa made a dowry for her granddaughter just from what Lady Anne paid for the pies.” Mrs Gardiner continued to laugh, and Elizabeth could not but wonder at her aunt’s levity.
Around noon, they were surprised by the visit of Mr Wickham and Mr Denny. Elizabeth politely introduced them to her uncle and aunt, and, as expected, mere minutes passed before the previous day’s visit of Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam was mentioned.
“I was shocked to hear that Darcy and the colonel were in Meryton—and stayed at the inn,” Mr Wickham said. “I cannot imagine what business they could have in the neighbourhood as Mr Bingley is no longer at Netherfield. Darcy had no other acquaintances in the county.”
“Well, as you claim to having rarely seen Mr Darcy in the last years, I venture to assume that he might have made new acquaintances about whom you have no knowledge,” replied Mr Bennet.
Mrs Bennet ignored her husband’s sarcasm.
“Oh, I do not know what business they have. Mr Bennet might know as he spent quite a lot of time with Mr Darcy. But they were very polite, and they seemed to enjoy Longbourn exceedingly as they stayed several hours, two days in a row. Surely, it was a sign of respect towards our family. And the colonel is so handsome and so pleasant! We all liked him extremely well.”
“Yes, the colonel is very amiable, very gentlemanlike. Very different from his cousin. ”
“Yes, very different. But I think Mr Darcy improves on acquaintance,” Elizabeth intervened.
“Indeed! I am surprised at your changed opinion of Darcy, Miss Elizabeth. Is it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add aught of civility to his ordinary style?”
“I could not say for certain why my opinion is changed. It is more that, from knowing him better, I better understand his disposition. Besides, it cannot and should not be forgotten that Mr Darcy saved my life.”
For a moment, he was silent. Then he said in the gentlest of accents, “You, Miss Elizabeth, who so well know my feelings, will readily comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he generously took care of you and that he is wise enough to assume even the appearance of what is right. His pride in that direction may be of service—if not to himself then to many others—for it must deter him from such foul misconduct by which I have suffered.”
“Oh yes, Aunt,” cried Lydia, “Mr Darcy was so cruel to poor Wickham. He refused to give him what was rightfully his by the late Mr Darcy’s will. I am sure he did that because he was jealous of Wickham.”
“Really? That is almost unbelievable. I will write my cousin Mary Ann for all the details she knows about Mr Darcy. You know, Mr Wickham, I grew up in Lambton, and my cousin still lives there. She is very well informed about events in the neighbourhood.”
Surprised by her aunt’s statement, Elizabeth glanced from her to Wickham and did not miss the sudden alarm that appeared in his heightened complexion and agitated look.
“Mrs Gardiner, I would be grateful if you inquired no further. I mean—as I told Miss Elizabeth previously, it pains me to speak badly of a Darcy or to hear anyone do so. I would rather keep the entire matter private if you would be so kind.”
“As you wish, sir. I can easily understand your desire for privacy, but I was misled by your sharing the story with my nieces. Anyone wanting to keep a secret should think twice before doing so. But we had better change the subject as this one seems uncomfortable for all of us,” Mrs Gardiner said with a polite smile. “How do you like Meryton?”
That brief exchange made a strong impression on Elizabeth.
She understood her aunt’s little scheme in suggesting that she would ask for more details of the story, as well as Mr Wickham’s panic and insistence on her not doing so.
It was enough for her to realise that she had been hasty in giving such full credit to a man whom she barely knew.
That night—as well as the night before—Elizabeth slept poorly, thinking of Mr Darcy and the various contradictory things she knew about him.
Strangely, her mind returned to their brief exchange just before he left when he told her his name.
That memory seemed to trouble her, and his warm expression would not leave her thoughts.
What sort of man is he? She remembered their discussion at the Netherfield ball, and yes, she had not managed to sketch his character, but she would have plenty of time for that—a lifetime.
On Christmas Eve, Mr Bennet was informed of a visitor. He requested the gentleman be sent to his library, and a minute later, the servant called Elizabeth too.
“Lizzy, I received a letter from Mr Darcy. He sent me the settlement written by his attorney and informed me that he will receive the license on the twenty-sixth so the wedding can take place on the twenty-seventh. If this is acceptable to you, I will send him the answer straight away. He also said that he will arrive in Meryton on the twenty-sixth in the afternoon. He suggests that you both leave for London after the wedding breakfast.”
Her words tumbled out nervously. “Yes, that matches our tentative plans. On the twenty-sixth? That is quite soon. We should proceed as we discussed. We have so many things to do. When should we tell Mama and my sisters?”
“Lizzy dearest, please breathe deeply and try to calm yourself. Do not worry. We will talk tomorrow about what and when we will tell the family. Mr Darcy says an announcement will appear in The Times on your wedding day as we planned. All will be well.”
“Yes, I know, Papa… Do not worry. I shall be fine. All will be well. I know that…”
Elizabeth returned to the others a few minutes later and Mr Bennet not long after her. The rest of the dinner was animated, full of joy and happiness for everyone—save Elizabeth and her father who barely said a word.
When the dinner was over, Elizabeth went to her chamber and spent several minutes looking at every piece of furniture in the room where she had lived twenty years and where she was allowed to remain only three more nights.
It was all settled, and it was time to speak to Jane then to her entire family.
But she would wait until after Christmas.
She wished for one more normal Christmas at Longbourn as it would be her last.