Page 16 of The Bennet Heir

Chapter Fifteen

B ennet decided to postpone his visit to St. Albans until Monday. As it was Saturday—the day of the Gouldings’ dinner party—he preferred to wait for Darcy’s messenger and learn how Darcy intended to proceed regarding the latest revelations.

Darcy did not disappoint; his messenger arrived much earlier than usual. Bennet summoned his sister to his study to deliver the letter addressed to her, then gestured for her to sit when she arrived a moment later. “Read your letter, Lizzy, and we will speak after. In all the excitement yesterday, I cannot remember if I told you that I intended to ask your suitor for permission to announce your courtship. I expect that he has agreed, and if so, we will announce it tonight at dinner.”

“How will you explain how we are courting without Mr. Darcy being present?” Elizabeth asked.

Bennet waved this concern away for the moment. “We will deal with that later,” he replied. “Now, read your letter while I read mine.”

Both were silent for several moments as they each read their letter. Finally, Bennet looked up and waited for his sister. “He is frustrated that he is obligated by his aunt to escort her to a musical event tonight, or he would have arrived himself instead of his letter. Had his uncle not been away for several days and he had promised to attend in his stead, he would have sent his aunt a note excusing himself and ridden here directly. As it is, he says the soonest he can arrive is next Tuesday.”

Elizabeth looked up, surprised. “Did you ask him to come?”

Bennet chuckled. “I did not. He is simply concerned for your safety. The messenger arrived with two rather large footmen from Darcy House—one assigned to accompany you whenever you leave the house and the other to watch over the rest of the family. Darcy apologises for any officiousness, but after I expressed my concerns for your safety in my letter, he sought to ease my worries. I suspect he sought to alleviate his own as well.”

Elizabeth nodded as she considered his words. “He also indicates as much to me,” she said. “What did he say to you about the announcement?”

Bennet examined the letter again before he looked up at his sister. “To speak to you. He mentions there is a question in your letter and that you will decide if and what to announce this evening.” He looked at his sister quizzically as he tried to imagine exactly what his friend intended.

Elizabeth had looked back at the letter as her brother spoke, her fingers lightly tracing the words on the page. “He says the same to me,” she stopped and took a deep breath. She looked up at her brother, smiling softly as tears gathered in her eyes. “You may announce our engagement, Jonathan. He wishes he were here to speak to both of us in person, but he knows that he wishes to have me as his wife, that he cannot imagine going on without me, and that he cannot risk losing me to a compromise from a fool. No matter what happens, if I agree, he will marry me.”

Without another word, Bennet moved from behind his desk to stand in front of his sister. He held out his hand and then helped her to stand.

“Are you certain about this, my dear sister? You have known him barely more than a month,” Bennet said.

“You proposed to Charlotte after only a fortnight of courting her,” she reminded her brother, dismissing his objections with a wave of her hand. “I know you knew her longer, but you once said that almost as soon as you saw her again, you knew you would marry her. Fitzwilliam—” Elizabeth spoke his Christian name for the first time, responding to his request in the letter, “and I may not have known each other very long, but we had heard of one another for far longer. Uncle Gardiner has known Fitzwilliam for years, and I heard about him every time I visited. I knew of his goodness and his character. As soon as I saw Mr. Darcy, I was attracted to him, but the truth is, I was half in love before we ever met. He says the same is true for him, for Uncle Gardiner also spoke of me often. It was almost as though Uncle knew we would be perfectly suited to each other.”

Bennet laughed at that. “So, I will announce tonight that the two of you are engaged and that he will be bringing me the settlements next week?” he asked.

“His letter did not indicate when he would return. I suspect he expected the two of us to speak to each other and did not bother to write the same details out twice. Did he mention settlements in your letter?” Elizabeth asked.

“No,” Bennet admitted. “Given what I know of your intended,” he said pointedly, smiling at his sister as he mentioned this new connection, “I expect him to arrive with them in hand. If he has not already had them prepared, he is likely doing so today and is holding a gun to the solicitor’s head to get them done as quickly as possible.”

Elizabeth laughed at the mental image this created. “I am certain the circumstances warrant haste on his part. Were it not for all of this happening, we would have likely continued courting for some time, and he would have waited for a more suitable time to propose. He certainly would not have done so via the post,” she laughed again. “Perhaps it is not entirely unique to have one’s suitor ask for one’s hand in a letter, but it will be an interesting story to tell our children one day.”

To Elizabeth’s great surprise, when she handed the messenger her and her brother’s letters in response to Darcy, he paused and asked her directly what her response to Mr. Darcy’s question had been. She had eyed him warily at first, uncertain of his purpose, but when she admitted that her answer had been in the affirmative, he wordlessly presented her with another letter and a small velvet box.

My darling Elizabeth,

Thank you for accepting my hasty proposal. In truth, I wished to make it before I left Longbourn, but had convinced myself that it was too soon. We have not known each other long, and I feared that you did not feel what I did. Let me take this opportunity to tell you how dearly I love you.

From our first meeting, I knew that my life would never be the same. You teased me about the words I confessed that night, but I say again, being in your presence often left me tongue-tied, blurting out things I ought not say, but, even so, I meant them. That first night, I hinted that you would soon change your name, and now, with your acceptance, one day very soon you will shed Bennet for Darcy. I cannot wait until that day comes, my love.

I trust that you know that it is not just your beauty that has entranced me. You are lovely, quite the most beautiful woman I have ever met. But your beauty extends beyond your outward appearance. You are intelligent, witty, kind—oh, I would need Johnson’s Dictionary to find enough words to describe you. I look forward to endless hours spent in conversation with you, discussing our estate and our tenants at Pemberley, similar to how you do now with your brother and his wife.

Since I need to hurry and finish this letter so it can accompany the messenger, I will borrow from the Bard to express my love. I know that Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy and we have discussed how foolish they were, but still, Juliet’s words encompass how I feel about you:

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep. The more I give to thee,

The more I have, for both are infinite.

Thank you for accepting my hand, my love. I will see you as soon as I may so we can formalise our agreement. Please consider the gift that accompanies this letter as your engagement present. I was shopping on Bond Street when I saw it and knew it was meant for you. Although I hoped to give it to you in person, I thought you might wish something tangible to demonstrate my devotion.

With all my love,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

The box contained a diamond pendant set on a delicate gold chain—understated yet exquisite.

“It is stunning,” Elizabeth breathed, hesitantly lifting it from the box and asking her brother to assist her in fastening it on her neck.

“My wife will be envious,” Bennet laughed. “As will everyone in attendance tonight. Darcy did well, I believe.”

Elizabeth barely spoke, only nodded, before hugging her brother. “I cannot wait to see him so I can express my thanks in person.”

Bennet raised his brow. “I have no wish to know about that, dear sister, and I will ensure that the two of you are not left alone while he is here. In fact, I believe I will speak to Sir William about his staying at Lucas Lodge instead of at Longbourn.”

Elizabeth pulled back, narrowing her eyes. “You would not dare.”

Bennet smirked. “Would I not? A brother must protect his sister’s honour.”

She huffed. “As if you have ever been so overprotective before.”

“With you? Never. But with Darcy?” He grinned. “I think it might be rather amusing.”

Elizabeth shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips. “You are impossible, dear brother.”

That evening, the Longbourn Bennets arrived early at the Gouldings’ home. Elizabeth had chosen one of her newest and finest gowns for the occasion—a deep green silk that complemented the vibrant shade of her eyes. The elegant cut of the neckline perfectly displayed the diamond pendant that nestled just below the hollow of her throat.

Now, as Elizabeth stepped into the Gouldings’ home, the pendant resting just above her heart, she could not help but wonder what people would say when they noticed it. She knew they would, and while they had agreed her brother would not openly announce the engagement, they would not hold back from mentioning it.

Her neighbours did not disappoint. Mrs. Goulding noticed it as soon as Elizabeth removed her wrap. “That is a lovely necklace, Miss Elizabeth,” she began. “Was that your mother’s?”

Elizabeth smiled warmly. “It was not. It is an engagement gift from Mr. Darcy,” she replied, her voice light but steady. “We have not yet announced it, as he had to travel to London to prepare the settlements, but he sent this to me this morning.”

She gave the explanation she, Jonathan, and Charlotte had carefully crafted earlier that day. They had agreed not to specify exactly when Darcy had proposed, instead allowing their neighbours to assume the engagement had been of long standing. Given Darcy’s established acquaintance with their uncle and his growing friendship with her brother, it would be easy enough to create the impression that he and Elizabeth had known each other longer. This way, no one would think to question the speed of their decision or think that Mr. Collins or Fanny Bennet were speaking the truth.

“You are engaged to Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Goulding exclaimed, her voice carrying just as the next group of guests entered the room. The words had barely left her lips before murmurs spread throughout the gathering, and those already present began offering their congratulations. With each new arrival, the news was repeated and acknowledged with warm wishes until the engagement became an accepted fact among the entire assemblage.

By the time Fanny Bennet arrived with her daughters, the matter had been thoroughly settled in the minds of all present. There was nothing she could do but force a tight smile and offer her own congratulations, though inwardly, she seethed. Elizabeth’s engagement to Mr. Darcy was not a cause for celebration—it was a direct threat to her carefully laid plans. She had intended to force the girl into a marriage with Mr. Collins, thereby reclaiming her own place as mistress of Longbourn when something unfortunate happened to her stepson. Now, with Elizabeth’s engagement acknowledged so publicly, her scheme was in jeopardy.

This turn of events did more than merely disappoint her—it undermined the plans she and her accomplices had spent hours carefully constructing. When Mr. Collins arrived later that evening with the Bingleys, he was to begin insinuating himself into Elizabeth’s good graces, dropping hints about the documents he had “discovered” regarding the entailment. He had even planned to mention a marriage settlement signed between the late Mr. Thomas Bennet and his own father, tying the two families together. Elizabeth’s announcement, however, put a spoke in the wheel, disrupting everything they had plotted.

As if that were not enough, Mrs. Bennet’s frustration only grew when she overheard whispers about Lydia. While some twelve-year-olds might have behaved with quiet decorum, Lydia had no restraint. She openly scoffed at the notion of Elizabeth’s engagement to the wealthy Mr. Darcy, loudly repeating her mother’s claims about Elizabeth being promised to Mr. Collins. Even before the meal was announced, guests had begun to take notice—some with mild amusement, others with outright disapproval—of the girl’s boisterous laughter, bold manner, and complete lack of propriety.

“She is certainly lively,” murmured Mrs. Long, her tone suggesting that ‘lively’ was not entirely a compliment. “Imagine bringing a child like that to a dinner party for adults and encouraging her to repeat gossip.”

“A touch too lively, if you ask me,” replied Mrs. Philips, shaking her head. “I daresay my sister ought to rein her in before she grows entirely unmanageable. The child ought to have been left at home until she can learn how to behave properly in company.”

Mr. Goulding, glancing towards the girl in question, chuckled dryly. “She has the energy of a boy let loose from his lessons. One wonders how she will behave when she is truly out in society.”

“I am sure she will make an impression,” Miss Bates offered with a good-natured smile, though whether she meant it kindly or not was unclear.

Mrs. Bennet bristled at these remarks, but she forced herself to smile and hold her tongue. She had always indulged Lydia’s high spirits, believing them to be the makings of an enchanting young woman. But tonight, they only served to embarrass her. This evening should have been about securing her advantage, yet instead, she was left to endure whispered criticisms and the sinking realisation that her influence over Longbourn was slipping away.

Dinner was held as they waited on the Netherfield party to arrive. When they were ten minutes past the appointed time, Mrs. Goulding announced that they would wait no longer and instructed everyone to find their partners and proceed to the dining room. The guests were already seated, and the first course had been served when the tardy party finally arrived, their expressions ranging from frustration to indifference—except for Mr. Bingley, who remained as cheerful as ever.

Without hesitation, he made his way to the open seat next to Miss Jane. Mrs. Bennet had insisted that the seat on Jane’s right be reserved for him, and since none of the other guests wished to sit next to Lydia, seated to Mrs. Bennet’s left, no one had challenged her claim. Meanwhile, the Hursts positioned themselves near their host, leaving Miss Bingley with no choice but to sit on the other side of Lydia—a placement that visibly displeased her.

The cause of their delay became apparent when Mr. Collins entered behind them. Mr. Bingley had been baffled by Mr. Collins’s unexpected presence in their party, and his confusion only grew when his sister refused to give him a clear explanation. Between Miss Bingley’s stalling and Mr. Collins’s insistence on joining them, their departure from Netherfield had been repeatedly delayed. Eventually, Bingley, unable to tolerate his sister’s evasions any longer, declared that she could explain herself in the morning. Only then did they finally set out.

Being forced to accept the escort of Mr. Collins when no one else offered and then to sit next to Lydia Bennet did not improve Miss Bingley’s disposition, especially when she saw the hated Eliza Bennet dressed so well and wearing a diamond pendant that was unlike any she owned. Of course, she would have preferred something flashier, but even she could not deny that it was simply stunning.

She let out a long-suffering sigh and muttered to no one in particular, “That child is unbearable. If she giggles in my ear one more time, I shall go quite mad.”

To add insult to injury, about halfway through the meal she heard Mr. Darcy’s name mentioned. “What was that about Mr. Darcy?” she asked sharply.

“Oh, you missed hearing of it, arriving so late as you did,” Mrs. Philips gushed. “He has proposed to our niece Elizabeth. Such a marvellous match she has made. I knew he was quite taken with her, but the speed of their agreement surprised me. Of course, he has known my brother in town for some time now, and I believe Mr. Darcy and my niece actually met in London last spring.”

This was the first Miss Bingley had heard of a prior acquaintance between Darcy and Elizabeth, and the combination of that revelation and the news of their engagement left her seething with rage. Were she not in company, she would have screamed or found some delicate, breakable item to throw at the wall in an attempt to release her frustrations. Beside her, Mr. Collins was wholly engrossed in his meal, oblivious to the conversation, and she dared not speak to him, lest she be subjected to his atrocious manners.

Denied any form of relief, Miss Bingley was forced to endure endless praise of Eliza Bennet’s good fortune throughout the rest of the meal. She could not even turn to the other side for solace, for that would have meant listening to the inane chatter of the child seated next to her, a thought that only further exacerbated her irritation.

When the interminable meal was finally over, Miss Bingley sought out her sister with a furious expression. “They are saying that Mr. Darcy is engaged to that chit, Eliza Bennet,” she hissed.

Mrs. Hurst sighed, already weary of the subject. “Yes?” she asked, arching a brow. “It is not as though he was ever going to ask you, particularly not after you had him locked out of the house in a fit of pique. You must let this go, Caroline. He has done everything but tell you outright that he wants nothing to do with you.”

“He would have offered for me eventually,” Miss Bingley insisted, her jaw tightening.

Mrs. Hurst shook her head. “No, he would not have,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “I encouraged you for a time, I admit, but only because I wanted you married and settled in your own home. It has become abundantly clear that he will never do as you wish. Mr. Hurst has been pressing me for days to spend Christmas with his family, and I have decided that we will depart tomorrow—or as soon as it can be arranged.” She paused, seeing that Caroline intended to protest, and held up a hand to silence her.

“No, Caroline, I will not change my mind in this nor willl you be accompanying us. You will stay with Charles, or he can make other arrangements for you. It is time for my husband and me to focus on our marriage. That means you will be far away from us.”

Miss Bingley’s lips parted in outrage, but Mrs. Hurst pressed on. “Do not think your secret meetings with that Mrs. Bennet woman or Mr. Collins have gone unnoticed. I may not know what you are planning, but it is obvious that you are plotting something . However, when it inevitably explodes in your face, I will not be here to witness it.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Miss Bingley fuming in silence.

The rest of the evening went no better for either Mrs. Bennet or Miss Bingley. Mr. Collins, oblivious to the undercurrents in the room, continued to push forward with his plan. Though he had heard rumours of an engagement, he dismissed them entirely, confident that the plans already put in place would ensure he would gain Elizabeth’s hand in marriage before long.

Still, every attempt he made to corner Miss Elizabeth Bennet was thwarted. Charlotte remained steadfastly at Elizabeth’s side all evening, never allowing the clumsy clergyman the chance to speak with her alone. Even Jane, sensing something amiss and hearing fragments of her mother’s intentions, stayed close to her sister, quietly congratulating Elizabeth on her news. Though Jane was unaware of all the details, she knew Mrs. Bennet was determined to find a way to push Elizabeth into marrying Mr. Collins. With this in mind, Jane made a quiet but determined effort to protect her sister, ensuring she was never alone with the man who seemed to threaten her happiness.

Bingley, having heard the discussion amongst the men of his friend’s engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, kept quiet. When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies, he attempted to comfort his sister, assuring her that it was just a rumour, but it did little to improve her mood or her enjoyment of the evening.