Page 30 of Why I Kissed You (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
On returning to Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth was glad to find that the letter she’d written to her father the night before—in which she assured him of her accepting Darcy’s proposal with an open mind—had not been sealed, as she had more to add.
She unfolded it and read over what she’d written—that in Kent, she had found him to be much less the proud, disagreeable person he’d presented in Meryton.
That he’d displayed a kindness and attention to her she’d not seen before because of a dislike founded in his stiffness of manner and Mr. Wickham’s lies.
Yes, Father, lies. Mr. Wickham’s story about being denied a living was only partially true. Here is what really happened…
Elizabeth had detailed everything Darcy told her about his history with Wickham regarding the living and cautioned her father to be wary of his attentions towards Kitty and Lydia, saying I am aware that they will not attract him in a financial sense, but their looks and attention and flattery of his own person and character could lead to their ruin.
Please, Papa, do not dismiss this advice as you so often have done before, as I am genuinely concerned for my sisters .
The point of my telling you all this is to demonstrate the real character of Mr. Darcy.
Having heard his confession regarding Mr. Wickham and having received such particular attentions as he has shown me, I have come to see that he is a good man.
He has no improper pride, and only appears to as a result of being ill at ease in large, unfamiliar company.
And Papa, he loves me! I have heard the words from his own lips—how could I then do anything but accept him?
I have even begun to think of him with fondness.
Please do not worry for me. I am very much pleased to soon be Mrs. Darcy, and when you attend our wedding, you will see for yourself how much it is true .
With a sigh, she drew her writing set closer and prepared to add on a paragraph about the possibility of she and Darcy marrying sooner than Saturday—and why. She soon finished her addition with I will send you word express when Mr. Darcy has informed me of the archbishop’s decision .
Expelling a sigh, she finally sealed the long letter and put it aside—she would send it out with the morning post. Elizabeth then left her room and went in search of Jane and, finding her up in the nursery with their cousins playing games, decided to join in the fun.
The two were just descending the stairs after helping the nursemaid put the children to bed for their afternoon nap a couple of hours later when there came a knock at the door.
Mrs. Reed approached to open it as the sisters reached the landing; Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were invited in moments later.
“This is a pleasant surprise!” said Elizabeth after curtsies and bows were exchanged. “I did not think to see you again today. Won’t you come into the drawing room?”
“I did not expect to call on you again,” said Darcy as they moved that way; the gentlemen were greeted by Mrs. Gardiner when they entered.
“I was just about to ring for some tea, would you all care to join me in a little refreshment?”
“That would be lovely, thank you, Mrs. Gardiner,” said Bingley.
Mrs. Gardiner went to the bellpull and gave it a tug, then the five of them took seats. “What brings you by again, Mr. Darcy?” the lady asked.
Darcy looked to Elizabeth, then back to her aunt.
“By now, I am sure, Miss Elizabeth has relayed the outcome of our visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral this morning.
It so happens that my uncle is much closer to the Archbishop of Canterbury than I expected.
I imagined them to know one another by name as they are both on the Privy Council, not to be friends to any degree—yet when I spoke to my uncle after our visit to St. Paul’s, Lord Disley informed me that he and His Grace the Archbishop attended Cambridge at the same time. ”
Mrs. Gardiner glanced from her guest to her niece. “I take it this revelation is beneficial to the resolution of any possible impediment to your marriage with Lizzy?”
Elizabeth blushed as she met Darcy’s gaze.
He smiled as he said, “Indeed, Mrs. Gardiner. I do not often take advantage of my noble connexion—in fact, I generally eschew it in favor of accomplishing a task on my own merit. However, in this instance I am far too grateful for the existence of the friendship between the earl and the archbishop, for Lord Disley took me to call on His Grace as soon as I’d relayed the information Bishop Keller told us. ”
Mrs. Reed came into the room in answer to Mrs. Gardiner’s summons. After receiving her instructions to prepare tea for their party, the elder lady curtsied and departed.
Darcy looked again to Elizabeth. “I did as Bishop Keller advised and told His Grace the truth of our situation, Elizabeth, and he is being extraordinarily gracious in granting my—our—request. Despite his inordinately busy schedule tomorrow, I am to see him first thing in the morning to pick up the license—though I beg being allowed to take your statement and your father’s letter to show him, as he requested to see them. ”
“Oh, of course! I should be glad to give them to you,” Elizabeth agreed, standing. “I’ll just go and fetch them.”
She was gone to her room and back again within five minutes, returning just as the tea things were being brought in. She handed the letter and statement to Darcy as she moved to take her seat again.
“So, Miss Elizabeth,” said Bingley after the servant had gone and Mrs. Gardiner began to serve the tea. “How do you feel about being married as early as tomorrow?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Mr. Darcy and I cannot get married tomorrow, sir! We would surely hear my mother’s lamentations all the way from Longbourn should I marry without her present.”
“Not to mention Lizzy has a full day of dress fittings at Madame le Blanc’s,” said Jane with a smile.
It was an effort not to roll her eyes, though Elizabeth did grin wryly as she said, “Yes, I have much suffering to endure tomorrow. Madame promised she and her ladies would have at least five of the forty gowns ready for a first fitting.”
Bingley’s teacup rattled as he abruptly set it on the saucer he held. “ Forty gowns? Are you quite serious, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked.
The ladies laughed and his friend grinned.
“I am afraid so, Mr. Bingley,” said Elizabeth.
“Believe me, sir, I should have been perfectly content with only five or six new gowns, but I was convinced by my aunt and uncle, and my sister, that the wife of a gentleman of Mr. Darcy’s station could not possibly purchase so few.
You should ask him to show you the bills from all the shops we visited Saturday, that you are prepared when your sister gets married. ”
Bingley snorted and took a sip of his tea. “Caroline will be paying for her own wedding clothes,” he said.
It was clear that his sentiments towards his sisters were still not cordial. Although Elizabeth did not doubt that they both deserved his acrimonious feelings, she could not help feeling pity for Bingley himself.
“Forgive me, Mr. Bingley,” she said contritely. “I merely jested in reference to what Mr. Darcy told Jane and I this morning about the proposed house party.”
At this Bingley brightened. “Oh, yes, well… What do you ladies think of the idea?”
Mrs. Gardiner’s expression turned curious. “A house party?” She looked to her nieces. “You girls didn’t say anything to me of a house party.”
Elizabeth exchanged a look with her sister. “Well, it is only that nothing is confirmed as yet, Aunt,” said Jane.
“Miss Bennet is correct, Mrs. Gardiner,” offered Darcy.
“My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, is rather fond of one of his father’s smaller properties, an estate called Winfield that is down in Hampshire.
Last evening, after your family had left Darcy House, the subject of marriage was broached, and Lord Rowarth suggested to his brother that their father might grant him ownership of the estate if he were to take a wife.
Later in the discussion, Lord Rowarth suggested one way to entice a lady to accept a gentleman’s offer would be to show her the home of which she might one day be mistress. ”
“Hence the suggestion of a house party, Mrs. Gardiner,” said Bingley. “We talked of gathering half a dozen or so friends together to have a merry time of it, and to see if one of the single ladies among the guests might like the property well enough to wish to claim it as her own.”
Mrs. Gardiner grinned and sipped her tea before saying, “Something tells me you have a specific young lady in mind. But pray, Mr. Darcy, how does your cousin the colonel feel about the lady in question?”
Elizabeth was hard-pressed not to laugh at the expressions that overcame both Darcy and Bingley’s faces; it was harder to keep her mirth in check when she recalled what Colonel Fitzwilliam had said of Caroline .
He wasn’t wrong , she mused.
Darcy cleared his throat. “Colonel Fitzwilliam is not… entirely keen, at present,” he confessed. “But I am sure he may come to think better of her if he should spend more time in her company, as Elizabeth learned to think better of me.”
“If she can be made to see that there is no shame in being connected to trade,” added Bingley, “and can learn that her perception of a proper society lady does not equate an agreeable one.”
“And can be made aware of what opportunities she may lose with her manner, I expect,” observed Mrs. Gardiner quietly.