Chapter 28

 

May 15, 1813

 

Lizzy had been uncertain how her parents would feel about her and Jane traveling so far from home without her aunt and uncle as chaperones. She expected they would be uneasy with the idea of a bachelor providing them with transportation on such a long journey. Yes, Mr. Bingley had previously taken them to Rosings Park, but that had been a much shorter distance, and Mr. Bingley had stopped at agreed upon points along the route to allow Mr. Bennet to check on his daughters. It was, therefore, a surprise to her when her mother practically shoved her out the door and very nearly demanded that they leave only days after the invitation had been issued. Lizzy had successfully lobbied to leave after May fourth, but she couldn’t help but wonder why her mother had been so anxious. Mrs. Bennet had been acting rather peculiar since Mr. Darcy's last visit. Lizzy had speculated that her changed mood had something to with Mr. Darcy's unusual meeting with her father.

After conveying his sister's invitation to Pemberley, Mr. Darcy returned the following day and asked for a private audience with Mr. Bennet. Lizzy assumed it had something to do with explaining his unusual suggestion about the travel arrangement, or perhaps he wanted to assuage any fears her father might have about Georgiana's role as a hostess, given her tender age. Mrs. Bennet had also been curious as to the purpose of the meeting, for as soon as the gentleman left, she marched into her husband's study, closed the door, and did not emerge for nearly an hour. When the couple rejoined the family, Mrs. Bennet was positively beaming, but Mr. Bennet looked far from happy. Both parents remained tight lipped. After speaking with Jane, Lizzy concluded that Mr. Darcy must have offered her father some sound advice on estate management. This would explain her father's response. He was a proud man who lacked talent in such areas. While he would benefit from and, on some level, appreciate receiving such advice, he would not altogether welcome it. It would also explain her mother's sudden admiration for Mr. Darcy and her recent gaiety. Mrs. Bennet was prone to worry over the security of her future, but if the estate was to implement a procedure that would generate additional income, she would indeed praise the man responsible and display her excitement openly. Lizzy had approached her father to confirm her suspicions, for he often took her into his confidence. Although he would not specifically answer her questions, he did lead her to believe it was nothing that she should concern herself over, and Lizzy left satisfied that she had uncovered the source of the shift in the atmosphere at home.

Both Lizzy and Jane were jarred awake when the coach pulled to a stop. As their eyelids begrudgingly opened to the bright world, their ears were assaulted with the jubilant Mr. Bingley's ever-chipper voice.

“Ladies, I am so pleased to see you are awake. I asked the driver to stop for a moment as you can get a lovely view of Pemberley from this exact spot.”

While Lizzy fought to shake off her blanket of languor, Jane, the more gracious of the two sisters, smiled in appreciation and accepted Mr. Bingley's assistance in exiting the coach.

“Oh my! Lizzy, it is absolutely breathtaking. You simply must come look.”

Mr. Bingley helped Lizzy maintain her footing, and soon the three stood to gaze upon Pemberley. While the estate was striking and the mere sight of it had impacted many a traveler, Lizzy felt a unique connection that was both surprising and disconcerting. It was very similar to the feeling she had upon returning to Longbourn after lengthy travel. It was as though she belonged here and had finally reached home.

Darcy had been told to expect the party's arrival today, and was pacing nervously all morning, bursting with anticipation. Georgiana looked on with amusement. She had been more than happy to discover her brother did have feelings for Elizabeth. She felt vindicated that she had been correct in her initial suspicions, but the knowledge that her brother and friend were so well suited for each other gave her the greatest measure of satisfaction. She was also relieved to think that Darcy would be marrying someone that she was fond of. Several sleepless nights had been spent fearing that she would be forced to share her childhood home with a woman similar to Miss Bingley.

Georgiana was hesitant to inform her brother that Lizzy did not share his affections, but knowing that it would be treacherous to proceed with misguided assumptions she did eventually broach the subject with him. Much to her surprise, he indicated that Mr. Bingley had already informed him of this predicament and, although he tried to hide it, he looked positively annoyed that this seemed to be so perfectly clear to all his dearest friends and relations. It did seem, however, that knowing his feelings were unrequited Darcy was determined to trick, cajole, or charm Elizabeth to spending the majority of her time getting to know and fall in love with him. His accomplices in this plan were Georgiana and Bingley.

To compel Elizabeth to accept the invitation, Darcy had claimed he and Bingley would be otherwise engaged, leaving Georgiana lonely. It had been agreed that Georgiana would feign illness a few days into Elizabeth's visit, providing Darcy with an excuse to explain why he was suddenly available in such great abundance to spend time with the female guests. After all, it would not be gentlemanly to leave them without a host or hostess. It had further been agreed that Bingley would distract Jane, a task which he readily agreed to. This would leave Elizabeth with no options, other than Darcy, for companionship. If asked, the staff had been instructed to direct Miss Elizabeth to the Master for any suggestions on ways to pass the time while in Derbyshire. Georgiana had also secretly asked several servants to share, with their guests, amusing tales and fond memories about her brother if given the opportunity.

“Georgiana, is my cravat straight?”

“It is no more, and no less, straight than it was two minutes ago when you last asked.”

“Do you think she will find it thoughtful or strange that we are serving all of her favorite foods tonight at dinner?'

“If she thinks it is strange, I shall mention that I arranged the menu. If she thinks it is thoughtful, I will say we planned it together.”

As Georgiana watched her brother fidget and worry so, her heart felt sympathy and compassion for him. How he struggled! She could not imagine seeing him suffer for the entire length of her stay. “Fitzwilliam?” she asked, “I realize that this is none of my concern, but might I inquire when you plan to ask for Miss Bennet's hand.”

Darcy was surprised by the question. It seemed very out of character for his young sister to ask such a personal and direct question. “I intend to speak with her during her visit here at Pemberley, of course.”

“Yes, but when, precisely? Toward the beginning of her visit or toward the end.”

Mr. Darcy had been pondering this question himself. It would be so much easier to enjoy her stay without this looming over his head, and if she understood why she should be spending her time with him, all the subterfuge could be avoided. But despite his knowledge that she should not refuse him, a small part of him feared she might. “I would like to be certain of receiving a positive response before asking,” he said reflecting on the true cause of his delay.

Georgiana nearly laughed out loud. “Fitzwilliam, I know with certainty that she has no other man with whom she is in love. For what possible reason would she refuse you?”

“Perhaps she wishes only for a love match and does not believe she will find this in me.”

“We both know that marriage almost never starts with love. It is a legal contract, and in her case, it is a most attractive one. If she hopes to eventually find love and happiness in a match, I can think of no one else with whom she would have more of a chance to succeed. You are smart, loyal, kind, and handsome. You have no fault of consequence. Why would she not fall in love with you eventually?”

“But what if she hopes to wait to promise herself until the love is first in place?”

“Fitzwilliam, could you please, for just a moment, imagine you are not currently in love? Now, if your heart is open and you were asked to marry Princess Sophia, would you do so?”

Darcy looked stricken. “But she is so old! I believe she must be close to six and thirty!”

“Yes, but would you accept?”

“That is eight years my senior. And her family has not proved to be the most stable of lineage.”

Georgiana released an exasperated sigh. “Clearly, you do not find her at all agreeable for a love match, but would you proceed?”

“Yes. I suppose I would have to.” A frown creased his brow. “It would be my duty to my Country, and the match would mean so much to your future as well as that of my heir.”

“Then, now do you see? You run in the first circles. There is not a member of the House of Lords that does not value your opinion. You too have influence over our nation in your own way, and of course, you have wealth, status, and connections. If you could not deny Princess Sophia, with her many personal faults because of the advantages to such a match, how could Elizabeth deny you when you offer much the same without all of the defects of character or person, you note in her Highness?”

“Yes, I suppose that is the impression her father gave as well.”

“Excuse me?” Shock etched her features.

“When I asked her father for her hand, he seemed to believe that she would be obligated to accept. I rather felt his blessing was given with the same amount of enthusiasm.”

“You asked her father for his blessing before you asked her to accept you?”

“Well, yes. I have waited so long, and it seems she will be duty bound to say yes. I saw no reason to prolong my agony by having to wait until her visit concluded and I had traveled all the way back to Hertfordshire to obtain her father's blessing. Now, once she says yes, the issue will be put to rest. I was assured that nothing will be mentioned to her before her arrival, so I see no harm in getting some formalities out of the way.”

“Fitzwilliam!” exclaimed Georgiana. “Have you no sense?”

“Is your surprise an indication you actually think there is a chance she might deny me? Are you implying that I may have set myself up for ridicule?”

“No. I see no way she can deny you. It is just that I do not think your approach will endear you to her further. I imagine she would like to feel she controls her own destiny and is not a prisoner of our society. By assuming it was a fait accompli you robbed her of the illusion that she could deny you and treated her more as an object you wish to purchase from her father than as a woman who may decide her own path.”

“I see.” Briefly retreating into his thoughts, Darcy tapped his chin. “Well, then we should not mention this to her. I will ask for her hand when she first arrives. That will ensure I have enough time to travel to Hertfordshire and back under the guise of seeking an audience with her father. I shall ask her father not to reveal the timing of my request for his blessing, at least for the time being. Then, when she returns home, she will be none the wiser as to the exact timing of things. Once she has fallen in love with me, I will tell her how my over-eagerness led to this blunder and what I did to try to hide it. She will forgive me for my lack of experience and we shall share a laugh over my sad lack of insight.”

At that moment, they heard the approaching carriage and Darcy gathered his courage. He would make his request at the first possible opportunity.