Page 25 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
Elizabeth’s eyes briefly met and held Darcy’s, and she felt her cheeks colouring as she looked towards others.
She politely smiled at the colonel, and while the presentations were made, Mrs Bennet and Mrs Philips, as well as the youngest Miss Bennets, fell into silence.
The gentlemen took their seats and began enjoying refreshments while carrying on a light conversation with Mr Bennet and the Gardiners.
Mrs Bennet and Mrs Philips were still unable to speak coherently while Lydia, Kitty and Mary excused themselves.
Eventually, Mrs Philips left, and her sister took no notice of her departure.
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy whenever she had a chance. She could hardly believe that such illustrious personages were visiting her and that they were so polite and amiable with her family. In fact, they would soon be her family!
At one point, Lord Matlock himself asked Elizabeth to sit by him, and he gently conveyed Lady Matlock’s regrets that she could not attend the wedding and her wish to meet for dinner as soon as Elizabeth was settled. She was stunned .
After a long struggle, Mrs Bennet regained her voice enough to ask the gentlemen to stay for dinner, and when they accepted, she went so pale that Elizabeth feared she would faint again.
Fortunately, the matron’s excitement overcame her nervousness, and she disappeared towards the kitchen to make sure the prepared dishes would rise to the expectation of an earl, a future earl, and her future son-in-law with ten thousand a year.
Darcy finally approached Elizabeth. He offered her his arm and she hesitantly took it.
“Please forgive me for not telling you in advance of my uncle and cousin’s intention to accompany me.”
“I beg you, do not apologise. It was quite a lovely surprise. I truly appreciate their presence and their effort in coming. Besides, they are very pleasant company.”
“Yes they are—unlike me,” he said seriously, but she could feel a smile in his voice.
“Surely, you are not fishing for a compliment, sir.” She smiled, glancing up at him.
“Not at all—I only speak the truth. It will be your duty to help me improve my manners.”
“I am sure—and you proved me right—that your manners are perfectly charming whenever you are willing to display them, sir. You do not need improvement in manners but in your desire to please.”
“Then you shall help me in this,” he added, their gazes fixed for a moment.
They arrived at the dinner table, and since the seating had not been previously specified, he hesitated a moment then sat beside her.
Jane was across from Elizabeth with the colonel beside her.
The earl and the viscount were seated near Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner.
Mrs Gardiner strategically sat near Mrs Bennet and the younger sisters.
“Is Miss Darcy well?” Elizabeth inquired in a low voice.
“Yes, thank you. She looks forward to meeting you, as does Mrs Annesley, her companion. ”
That was all they said to each other that evening, but each was aware of the other’s presence. He was attentive to her, filling her water glass and handing her what she needed from the table. She occasionally glanced at him while talking politely to his relatives.
The entire dinner went better than either had expected, and the guests complimented Mrs Bennet for a pleasant and delicious meal.
When the four gentlemen left Longbourn, it was almost midnight.
After their departure, Mrs Bennet needed another hour to express her delight in receiving such a visit and her admiration towards the gentlemen’s politeness and handsome appearance.
Mrs Gardiner was the only one who sacrificed herself to listen.
Elizabeth retired to her room, overwhelmed by the day’s events.
She appreciated Lord Matlock’s presence as powerful proof that his family supported the marriage, and she was grateful for their guests’ kind behaviour towards her family.
As for Mr Darcy—her future husband—he was unchanged except for friendly glances and smiles, slightly improved manners towards her family, and gentle teasing when they spoke privately to each other.
Her fears of and reluctance to the marriage had diminished considerably since the day of the proposal, but the thought of leaving her home and family forever on the morrow clutched at her heart and took her breath away.
She knew that, after the wedding, she would be entirely subject to her husband’s will and power.
She hoped and prayed that he truly was a good man.
Besides her own observations, she relied on what her aunt knew of the Darcys.
Surely, a wonderful lady like Lady Anne and a fair, honest man like the late Mr Darcy could not but raise a good man with good principles.
However, despite all her self-assurances, it was nearly dawn when she fell asleep.
***
Longbourn, 27 Decembe r
The wedding morning started with a din that Mr Bennet perceived as madness. He asked for a few private minutes with his daughter, and he embraced her tightly, which he had not done since she was a child. When they looked at each other, they were both tearful.
“My dear girl, please do not cry. At least one of us should be strong. I feel guilty enough for insisting upon this marriage, and I need to hope that all will be well. Are you frightened?”
“Papa, I am not frightened, and you are in no way culpable! You have been nothing but fair and supportive to me. Any other father would have forced me to marry someone with Mr Darcy’s situation, but you did not.
This marriage is entirely my and Mr Darcy’s decision.
I am only sad that I will not see you every day as I am used to. I will dearly miss you!”
“You will be deeply missed, Lizzy, but I have good feelings about your marriage from what I have seen these past days. Darcy invited me to visit you any time I want without any previous announcement, which I believe is proof of his genuine good intentions. He also invited us all to visit Pemberley in the summer, but I think such insanity will pass, and he will withdraw the invitation. In truth, I am impressed by how well he and his relatives bore your mother and sisters. They seemed men with remarkable self-restraint and mastery of their patience,” he concluded, and Elizabeth laughed heartily.
“In earnest, Lizzy, I believe that Mr Darcy is a man who, in disposition and talents, will most suit you. His understanding and temper, though unlike yours, will answer your wishes if only you will make the effort to know him. I feel, my child, that this union will be to the advantage of you both. By your ease and liveliness, his attitudes will be softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, you will receive benefit of greater importance. And he already admitted that he understands and values your qualities and is confident of a happy future for this marriage.”
“I shall do everything in my power to contribute my share. I promise, Papa.”
“I know you do, my dear. Now let us go. Your mother cannot bear her nerves any longer.”
They embraced again, more closely, then left the house together.
It was settled. Everything was packed and ready to be loaded into the carriage, including Lucky, who had been highly agitated for days as he felt something extraordinary was about to happen.
Despite other reasons for worry, Mrs Bennet could not conceive that Lizzy intended to carry a dog to Mr Darcy’s sophisticated townhouse.
But since he agreed, she feared to contradict him.
She was still incredulous that such a man was determined to marry Lizzy, who was not as beautiful as Jane nor as joyful as Lydia and who also possessed a peculiar preference for roaming outside with her dog.
Curiosity and the shock of the extraordinary news brought most of Meryton to the church, and nothing could have been more rewarding for Mrs Bennet’s ego than the expression on the faces of Sir William and Lady Lucas when they extended their good wishes.
The ceremony was beautiful, Mrs Bennet believed, but immediately afterwards it began to snow again. The guests returned to Longbourn for a brief breakfast. After Elizabeth’s luggage was loaded and a very emotional farewell taken, the party headed towards London.
Darcy, Elizabeth, and an excited Lucky took one carriage, while the earl and his sons travelled in another.
Mrs Bennet remained outside, staring in their direction long after the carriages disappeared from her sight, still wondering at the miracle that had just happened.
Then she quickly sent a servant to invite her sister Philips, Lady Lucas, Sir William, and Charlotte—as well as five other families—to visit.
She had an excess of special dishes and comments to share with them all.