Wednesday dawned and heralded a further day of fine weather.
Darcy turned away from the looking glass, his dress complete, and walked over to the dresser as Thornton began his habitual tidy of the room. Picking up a small leather case, he weighed it on his palm for a moment, reflecting that his valet had made good time in his journey to Town to collect the box from Darcy’s safe and restore it to his master’s care – a short tenancy, for its content was destined for another at the soonest interlude.
Flicking open the lid, he smiled as the light flickered upon the dark green jewel nestled in its velvet bed. He had gazed upon it before now in such a different frame of mind – so certain of his acceptance, an altered man to the one who now held it and, conscious as he was that the person upon whom he would bestow the ring was responsible for precipitating that alteration – one that he knew he must endeavour to build upon – he felt a wave of love and gratitude sweep through him as his thoughts rested pleasurably on Elizabeth.
How he longed to see her, and how thankful he was that the Haringtons had been amenable to his suggestion that she travel to Hertfordshire under his protection. If he had been considering his impending interview with her father with Elizabeth far away in the West Country, he would have borne the wait with far less tolerance.
The chiming of the clock on the mantel roused him from such speculation and, tucking the small box into his waistcoat, he made his way out onto the landing in search of his sister and cousin.
~o0o~
A good night's rest was sufficient to restore Mr Bennet's usual equilibrium. The shock of Elizabeth's revelation on the previous evening had eased, though at the time he had struggled to comprehend what she was telling him. Yet her unconcealed pleasure as she recounted how her feelings had come to change for Mr Darcy, coupled with her assurance of his long-held admiration in return, was sufficient to reconcile him to a match that he had supposed could never be.
That Mr Darcy had turned out to be the hero, not the villain, of the piece he had already become accustomed to following that gentleman’s visit the previous week, but now his earlier fears over Elizabeth's heart were likewise satisfied.
With his astonishment having diminished, Mr Bennet found any concern yet remaining over the union was tempered by the evidence he had seen from his daughter herself that she clearly admired the man; indeed, she professed to love him.
Mr Bennet smiled wryly. So – the great Mr Darcy was going to approach him. He shook his head in bemusement as he left the dining room, having broken his fast with his family. This had to be the most singular week in all his memory, and with that thought, he crossed the flag-stoned hallway to his library to await whatever further incongruity the morning might bring.
~o0o~
The fare upon the table in Netherfield’s dining room had been ample to satiate even the Colonel’s appetite and the morning meal had, perforce, lasted a considerable time. Soon after its conclusion, however, Bingley excused himself to speak to his steward whilst Georgiana continued at table with Mrs Annesley as they consumed a further cup of tea, and Darcy and the Colonel walked over to one of the full-length windows that opened onto the terrace, thrown open to let the morning air pervade the room.
It had been decided between the gentlemen that Darcy would make the requisite journey to Longbourn as soon as the hour was convenient for making a call and that the Colonel and Bingley would follow on with Georgiana shortly after.
With his impatience to see Elizabeth at its height, Darcy quickly checked his watch before tucking it away again. Time barely seemed to have moved on from when last he had consulted it, and he sighed.
His cousin threw him a quick glance. “You do not doubt his consent?”
Darcy shrugged. “I would not count on anything where Mr Bennet is concerned.” He turned to the Colonel, lowering his voice that his sister might not overhear him. “You do recall that Miss Elizabeth rejected Collins before she turned me down. She informed me over supper at the inn the other night that, despite her mother’s insistence on the offer being accepted, her father backed his daughter and refused to allow her to throw herself away – on the heir to his estate, no less.”
The Colonel let out a slow whistle. “That would account for your air and countenance! I observed you both in conversation – she appeared most earnest, and your attention was quite fixed upon her, but I could tell that you were disconcerted by whatever it was that she was disclosing.”
“Our perception last week that he puts the lady’s happiness ahead of all else is clearly correct. All I can hope for is that I can convince him that she will be content with me.”
Slapping him on the back, the Colonel shook his head. “Do not doubt your ability, Darce, to get your message across. This is just a hurdle to overcome – after all, you do have the lady’s sanction, which Collins did not!” He turned to look back out of the window. “Just see it as the final step towards your future being settled.”
Darcy frowned. The memory of his cousin, Anne’s, words returned in full measure, of how she had no future until he was wed to another. It was adequate distraction from his present thoughts, and he glanced at his cousin.
“We must think on how to proceed with Anne. We made a start in Bath; it would be unkind of us not to continue.”
“Most indubitably.” The Colonel turned to face him. “Once the marriage has taken place, it would be a good thing to have Anne to stay at Pemberley.”
“I do not think Aunt Catherine would permit her such a length of journey and a sojourn so far from home without accompanying her.”
The Colonel grunted. “You assume Aunt will be prepared to pay you her attention once you are wed to Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
Darcy blinked, and then frowned. “I had given it little thought thus far. I suppose there is every likelihood she will not take it well.”
“Well, that is one way of putting it.” The Colonel let out a short laugh. “It will be no hardship, Darce, if she severs all ties. Bear that in mind.”
“But what of Anne, should that come to pass?”
“She is well of age and has her own fortune.” The Colonel sighed. “Were I a better man, I would offer for her myself to free her from her cage.” He threw a quick glance at Darcy. “But much as I am growing to like our cousin of late, I do not think I could be content in spending the rest of my life with her – nor she with me. But my point is, even should our aunt cut you from her acquaintance, then Anne I am certain will wish a continuance.”
“Then she will need our assistance to leave Rosings.”
“Indeed she will.” The Colonel turned back to resume his study of the parkland. “And we will need to keep a careful eye on the bird as it flies the nest.”
Georgiana, who had not really been paying attention to her brother or her cousin, frowned. “What bird?” She looked over towards the window where they stood. “Can you see a bird?”
~o0o~
Frequent though his use of the library was, Thomas Bennet was also used to being disturbed in it. Thus it was that he was unsurprised, having heard the doorbell, at the appearance of Hill some few moments later; nor was he taken aback by whom she announced.
“Mr Darcy, Sir.”
Getting to his feet as the gentleman entered, Mr Bennet gave an order for tea and then waved his visitor into a chair.
“Please, be seated.”
They both took up the same respective positions they had when last they met and, for a moment, silence reigned. The elder gentleman felt a slight twinge of conscience, for Mr Darcy’s air and countenance were not indicative of a man at ease. Yet as he understood his reason for calling, and thus what likely caused his present anxiety, Mr Bennet felt obliged, until the gentleman had himself under sufficient control to speak his purpose, to fall back upon generalities.
“I wish to thank you, Mr Darcy, for safely restoring my daughter to me.”
An inclined head was the only acknowledgement to this, but as his guest seemed to be struggling to find anything to say, completely in keeping with the taciturn and serious man that he knew him to be, Mr Bennet continued.
“We did not expect her. She wrote last week to say she would be spending some time with her friend in the West Country.” He paused. “I understand she travelled home in your carriage, alongside your sister and her companion – and under the protection of yourself and your cousin.”
Darcy cleared his throat. “Indeed, Sir. You are correct.”
“And how is the good Colonel? Did he not wish to join you in paying a call?”
His visitor looked a little awkward for a moment before shaking his head. “He sends his best wishes, Mr Bennet, but on this occasion, I wished to speak to you alone.”
Though this surprised him not, he raised a brow at the young man opposite. “Is that so?”
Darcy gestured with his hand. “Be not alarmed, Sir. I do not bring any intelligence along the lines of our last conversation.”
“I am glad to hear it. One bounder a year attempting to infiltrate one’s family is sufficient, I believe.” He shifted in his seat, studying his guest carefully. “I trust you are well settled at Netherfield. Mr Bingley is a genial host, I suspect.”
“Most indubitably.” Darcy tugged at his neck-cloth as though it caused him some discomfort.
“I am fortunate in my future son-in-law. My only wish is that he lived vastly further afield.” A raised brow from his visitor was sufficient to prompt him to expand upon this. “I mean no slur upon him, Sir.” He waved a hand in the general direction of the window. “And Netherfield is a fine property. But though my wife is deficient in understanding at the best of times, I suspect even she would be suspicious should I tell her I intend to make a stay of several weeks with the Bingleys when they are but three miles distant across the parkland.” He paused, out of patience now with trivialities. “Come then, Sir; to what do I owe the honour of your call?”
Just then, a light rap came upon the door, heralding the arrival of a servant with a tray of tea and, once they were both served with a cup and left alone again, Mr Bennet gave the young man, who, after all, was of significant consequence to his daughter, an encouraging smile. It was not reciprocated as Darcy quickly placed his cup on a small table beside his chair and got to his feet. He gestured with his hand, opened his mouth and then promptly closed it again, swallowing visibly, and Mr Bennet, who had only ever considered Darcy a controlled man, blinked in astonishment.
Then, the gentleman cleared his throat. “My purpose-” he hesitated. “I am come, Sir, to – to request the hand of your daughter in marriage.”
Though he had ample daughters who were unspoken for, Mr Bennet was obviously in no doubt whatsoever which one Mr Darcy referred to. However, it was not in his nature to make things easy if there was some sport to be had, and he got to his feet as well.
“Well, Mr Darcy. I will admit to being a little taken aback. Do you have a particular preference, or shall I recommend one my four remaining daughters for you? I will lay claim to knowing them best, having been in their acquaintance just a little longer than you.”
“Yes – yes, of course you do. I meant to-”
“It is a thorny one.” Mr Bennet continued, ignoring the interruption. “Mary would of course, benefit from the tuition of the first-class music masters you could no doubt provide; Catherine’s improvement will be in direct proportion to the distance there is between her and her younger sister; as for Lydia – well, even I would not be so obtuse as to recommend my youngest to you. So,” he sighed, concealing his amusement at the gentleman’s conflicted countenance. “I suppose you had best take my Lizzy.”
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Darcy cleared his throat. “You knew, Sir.”
Mr Bennet inclined his head. “Forgive me for making fun of you, Mr Darcy. I have been somewhat astounded by events this past seven days, and it seems there is to be no let-up.” He gestured to the young man to take a seat again and resumed his own. “Though I believe this intelligence has taken the crown, so to speak?”
There was no denying the question in this statement, and Darcy nodded.
“I fully comprehend your surprise, Sir. When I last stayed in the neighbourhood, there was little indication from me, I know, of what might come to pass.”
“Indeed. There is the element of the magician about you, Mr Darcy. What impression do you give to all around you, but that you find Elizabeth only tolerable, not handsome enough to tempt you, even in so little a formality as a country dance. Yet this, it transpires, is an illusion, for it now comes to pass that you admire her sufficiently to take her as your partner in life.”
Darcy released a deep breath, his serious gaze meeting that of his host. “I hope you will pardon me for speaking such imprudent words, Mr Bennet. I have been fortunate in securing your daughter’s forgiveness, and I can assure you my rudeness brought its just reward. The mistakes I have made of late…” he stopped and ran an agitated hand through his hair. “I have tried to correct them, but it does not excuse the making of them in the first instance.”
With a gesture of his hand, Mr Bennet brushed the matter aside. “Pay me no mind, Mr Darcy. I find it hard not to give young men who come calling upon me a hard time. Surely it is a father's privilege when he is facing losing a beloved child to another. The handover of something so precious as a daughter is-” he stopped suddenly as his throat tightened upon the words. “Yes, well - suffice to say, you will I am sure generously allow me to extract payment in whatever form I wish.”
“I fully comprehend, Sir. Feel at liberty to exercise your wit; I can only hope to learn from you, for though my sister is but sixteen years of age, I have already cast my mind to how I would receive any young man approaching me for her hand. I begin to see some appeal in your method.” He paused. “Yet I would know, Sir, if I – if we may have your consent?”
“Mr Darcy, you are a man of great consequence. I am not going to refuse you, especially in the light of Lizzy’s obvious pleasure in her choice. But her happiness is the point. She is the joy of my life – and there are but few of them; to see her anything but content in her marriage will break my heart. You will forgive my saying, I trust, that the attachment seems to have been rapidly formed. Whilst Lizzy assures me that her affection for you is sound, my concern is that it may not endure – on either side.”
“I fully comprehend your anxiety on behalf of Miss Elizabeth, Sir. Though her change of heart appears the work of an instant, I do believe in its constancy. As for myself, I have long held your daughter in the highest esteem.” Darcy hesitated, then cleared his throat. “If you will forgive me the liberty of speaking so, I hold her in the deepest of affection. All told, Sir – I love her; most ardently.”
Mr Bennet eyed him thoughtfully, then got to his feet, offering his hand. “Well then, I welcome you into the family, Sir – though I doubt that you will thank me for it.”
Darcy also stood, shaking his head as they clasped hands. “You do me great honour, Sir. All I wish for now is your blessing.”
“Well, Mr Darcy, for what it is worth, you have it.” He turned to the long table between the two windows which housed a salver filled with an array of bottles and reached for one tucked away at the back. “Loving my Lizzy shows both taste and good sense.” He glanced over his shoulder at Darcy, then turned back to splash liquid into two crystal tumblers. “Good sense, however, must be questioned when it is prepared to take on a wife with such minimal dowry and a family prone to the ridiculous.”
Mr Bennet walked back to where Darcy stood and handed him one of the glasses.
“You have yet to make the acquaintance of my Aunt Catherine, Sir. I think I can trade you for absurdity.”
“Good. Because you will meet absurdity at Longbourn, Mr Darcy, on every occasion. It is the one given in my life, the one thing I can rely upon and the one thing I wish I could not. However-”
He broke off as Darcy started at a loud crash somewhere in the house, followed by a quickly smothered shriek of laughter and then Mrs Bennet’s strident tones.
Meeting Darcy’s eye, Mr Bennet inclined his head towards the door. “I will apologise in advance for what you are about to endure.”
“I would endure anything for your daughter, Sir.”
“Clearly.” Mr Bennet grunted. “Well, I shall remind you of that in a few hours’ time, young man, but in the meantime, let us raise a toast to yours and Lizzy’s happiness.”