Page 78 of Sketching Mr. Darcy

E lizabeth spent time speaking to her aunt and her sisters about her new home, her new sister, her new relatives, Lady Matlock’s private ball, her beautiful gowns, and the astonishing jewels she received.

“Lizzy, I will delay coming to Town,” Jane said. “I feel I should stay a few more weeks to be sure Papa is recovered, and I shall come a little later. I hope you do not mind.”

“I will be upset not to have you with me sooner, but I believe you are right, Jane. I shall ask William to send a carriage to bring you to town at the right time,” Elizabeth said.

Jane replied that it would not be necessary to go to so much trouble.

Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner disagreed with her, and they quickly put an end to the debate.

Dinnertime finally arrived. Elizabeth returned to see her father and worried that the bruise on his temple grew darker.

He asked them to blow out some of candles as the light hurt his eyes.

The doctor assured her that everything was as expected, but she insisted on staying with her father during the night.

Mr Bennet—as well as the doctor—strongly objected.

It was decided that John would sleep on the couch in Mr Bennet’s room.

Mr Darcy soon joined them in the dining room, his countenance changing instantly when Mr Collins greeted him with bows and theatrical condescension.

“Mr Darcy, I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to be able to welcome you into our family, an event that I never would have dared to even imagine in my wildest dreams. I am—”

“Mr Collins, your words flatter me, but they are completely unnecessary, I assure you. Let us dine—the entire family is very tired and surely very hungry. I confess your presence is quite unexpected. I thought you were busy in Kent, preparing for your upcoming wedding.”

“I was indeed—it is quite an unfortunate coincidence that Mr Bennet fell precisely when I returned to Hertfordshire. I am the happiest of men, and I hope to be even happier when the day of my wedding to my beloved Charlotte finally comes. I have been blessed beyond imagination with Lady Catherine’s approval of my choice of a wife.

Her ladyship granted me an hour to hear my description of my dear Charlotte’s accomplishments. ”

“Miss Lucas is a worthy lady. You were very fortunate to secure her acceptance. I was quite surprised.” The ladies paled at that harsh remark, yet Mr Collins continued unmoved.

“Indeed, I was, sir. I can only imagine my marital felicity once I bring my new wife to the vicinity of Rosings’ beauties.”

“I congratulate you, sir, and I hope you and Charlotte will have a happy life,” Elizabeth said.

“I thank you, Cousin Elizabeth. As Lady Catherine said—”

“But if everything is settled, I was wondering why you did not stay at Lucas Lodge. It would be more agreeable to you, I imagine, to be close to your betrothed,” Darcy inquired.

“I was tempted to do so, but I realised that a man in my position can never be too careful in avoiding improper situations. I still remember Cousin Elizabeth’s situation from a few weeks ago when her misconduct and imprudent behaviour placed her in questionable circumstances, which raised speculation and rumours. ”

Elizabeth’s cheeks coloured, but her amusement overcame any other feeling.

“Excuse me? I am afraid I did not hear you correctly.”

Darcy’s voice turned cold and severe.

“I was referring to the day you found her in the wood,” Mr Collins replied with serenity.

“By the way, I must congratulate you, Cousin Elizabeth, for your unexpected nuptial. It is a very advantageous and unimagined alliance for you all to connect with a most illustrious personage, blessed with splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive patronage.” He spoke with a most flattering smile, bowing deeply to Darcy, who stared at him in disbelief, undecided how to proceed to stop such an outrageous speech.

Mr Collins then continued with equal condescension: “Yet, my conscience demands I inform you that Lady Catherine de Bourgh condemns this alliance, which, unlike my marriage to dear Charlotte, her ladyship considers to be the worst that could ever be imagined. Her ladyship expressed what she felt on the occasion regarding both Cousin Elizabeth and the entire family—which she rightly appreciates to be far below hers. Lady Catherine did—from my knowledge—put all this into an eloquent letter to Mr Darcy, which, sir, you should expect to receive soon. Although it is late for any remedy, she declared she would never give her consent to what she called ‘so disgraceful a match.’ I thought it my duty to give you the full intelligence of this.”

Darcy’s face was so shadowed by fury that even Lydia and Kitty noticed it, staring in silence from him to Mr Collins. Elizabeth turned white from shame, and Jane gently squeezed her hand to comfort her. Darcy gulped his wine then turned to his interlocutor.

“Mr Collins, I thank you for this complete intelligence of your amazement and of my aunt’s opinion about my marriage.

However, the only opinion that matters to me is my wife’s, and I could not care less about any others, including my aunt’s.

I do not need anyone’s consent or approval for my marriage, and I certainly did not decide whether to marry based on someone else’s estimation of my future wife’s’ qualities and accomplishments. ”

“Sir, I assure you it was not my intention to upset you, but you must admit that—”

“Mr Collins, I ‘must’ not do anything! You either offended my wife intentionally or because you were oblivious to the meaning of your own words. Pray enlighten me: Which was it?”

“Indeed, I believed it to be my duty as a clergyman to bring and spread the words about what is right and proper. Lady Catherine herself insisted that—”

“Mr Collins!” Darcy’s voice rose, icy and sharp.

“I am not interested in your sermons about this subject—and I assume that nobody in the room is—even you must see that. I have heard enough about my aunt, and I am sure the others, who do not even know her, care even less about her words of wisdom that you so frequently repeat.”

“I must heartily contradict you, sir, although it pains me deeply. I am not—”

“And please weigh your words very carefully when you speak of my wife. I shall not admit any rudeness. Let us apologise to our hosts for such improper conversation at dinner, eat peacefully, and discuss the weather. Or please leave.”

There was complete silence, and the redness of many at the table became pale. Lydia whispered to Kitty, loud enough to be heard by the entire party.

“Mr Collins is jealous that Lizzy married Mr Darcy, who is twenty times wealthier and more handsome than him.”

Mr Collins’s eyes and mouth widened in shock. Elizabeth became as white as the wall and glanced with despair at Mrs Gardiner, who put an end to the debate.

“Gentlemen, please let us give proper attention to this beef steak and let me know what you think of it. I am especially curious to hear Mr Darcy’s opinion on this subject. ”

“I am eager to enjoy it. I was just talking to Elizabeth and to my sister about the exquisite dishes I had the pleasure to taste when I last dined here.”

Mr Collins declared the meal at Longbourn was almost as good as the dinners served at Rosings. No more than a few minutes after Darcy’s severe scolding, he mentioned that Lady Catherine considered it fortunate he would marry someone from the proximity of the estate he would someday inherit.

Darcy’s anger became frustration and then resignation. There was nothing to be done about Mr Collins. The man had no sensibility, no shame, and not enough wit to be silenced by censure. Darcy easily recognized his remarkable resemblance to Annabelle Stafford, just as Elizabeth had said.

After dinner, the gentlemen retired to the library to enjoy their drinks. The ladies, however, all declared they were weary and retired for the night.

Elizabeth washed herself, changed into her nightgown, and climbed into bed, wrapping the bedclothes around her.

A strange peace enveloped her, and she closed her eyes, trying to recollect the events of the day.

In no more than a few minutes, sleep overcame her as she wondered how long her husband would tarry downstairs.

***

Around midnight, Darcy quietly stepped inside Elizabeth’s room.

The first thing he saw was the dwindling fire, so he added one more log before dressing for bed.

A moment later, his eyes were caught by the image of her left foot, escaped from under the blankets.

The perfect line of her ankle was intriguingly exposed to his gaze, and he suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Elizabeth was sleeping so profoundly that she occupied more than half the bed.

He pulled the blanket over her bare foot then took a seat on the chair.

In the corner was a tray with a carafe of wine, one of brandy, and a jug of drinking water, together with two glasses.

He smiled, considering that the staff—although few in number—were quite efficient.

Though it was snowing and windy outside, the room was warm and pleasant—too warm.

Elizabeth slowly moved in her sleep, and his gaze turned to her again.

Her hair was spread over her back on the pillow and her shoulders, her dark, rebellious locks playing unrestrainedly.

He wondered whether her hair was as soft as he remembered, and he rejoiced in the delight of touching it again soon.

But how could he push her towards the edge of the bed and make room for himself?

She was exhausted by worry, sleepless nights, and the fight he had so stupidly started.

He thought he might allow her to rest in peace a little while, so he poured himself a glass of wine and remained in the chair, looking at her.