It was absurd, caught at his age, by a woman who, while beautiful, was not the most beautiful, with a modest dowry, and mixed connections.
Yet caught he was.
She was kind; she was lovely; she was brilliant; she accepted and helped his sister freely; she spoke her own mind; she was truly accomplished, in the ways which mattered most. He admired her entirely, despite her dissimilarity to what he had naively believed his female ideal to be. He never imagined himself falling in love with an unconventional, learned woman. But he had, and he was more completely happy than ever before in his life.
Elizabeth Bennet held Fitzwilliam Darcy’s heart, and now he had to gain hers.
Chapter Twelve
The next morning was a brilliant, crisp day. Despite the season it seemed as if every cloud had been driven from the sky, and there was nothing but the glorious ability to see for miles. Elizabeth wrapped herself warmly in her favorite red jacket and shawl as she walked up to knock on the entrance to Netherfield. She had come to call on Georgiana and Jane.
Strange exaltation sat in her stomach. She did not understand her mood, even though last night had been a great success. Mr. Darcy was a fine dancer. She was now piercing through to his soul. He was so…vulnerable. He took so much upon himself, expected so much of himself, and he was miserable when he did not achieve it.
They liked each other greatly.
She could host his dinners and balls — he hadsaidhe was happy to do such things for those he loved. Nothing too grand, not too often. Darcy was not the sort who would like many grand entertainments, to impress the whole neighborhood, in the way of Bingley or Mrs. Bennet. But he hadlikedmeeting new persons and beginning to become their friends last night.
He liked John Lucas and Felicia; surely that must be a sign.
Again. She was again imagining marrying Mr. Darcy. She’d told herself three times this morning to stop. She was losing control of herself. She could not stop thinking about him.
Shewouldbe rational.
When Mrs. Bennet had stood in the passageway, decked out in as much lace as a dressmaker’s mannequin, to go out for the morning, Elizabeth had begged her to head in the direction of Netherfield so that she could call on Georgiana and Jane.
Elizabeth hoped Mr. Darcy would be gone, so that she could have a little bit of peace in which to question Georgiana about her brother. Georgiana would surely tell some story about him that would let Elizabeth put thatmanout of her head forever and return to the peaceful calm tenor of her life with her father.
Like she wanted to.
The carriage ride took its time. Three miles could not be traveled in a minute, even with a jangling chaise and a dry, cold day with neither ice nor mud. They called on two acquaintances on the way. Mrs. Bennet intended to use the day to crow like a cawing rooster to everyone about how well Georgiana had been received by John Lucas and his wife — the children of the knight — and the Gouldings, such an old and respected family.
Mrs. Bennet also bragged about the ball that Bingley planned to announce in a day or two for Georgiana. On account of Lady Lucas’s interference with the assembly committee, Mrs. Bennet felt any success Georgiana achieved more keenly than the girl herself.
The second friend they called upon lived only a half mile from Netherfield. This was not more than a modest walk, so Elizabeth set off to the house alone. Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, as Elizabeth left, “Tell Jane greetings! And sweet Bennet too! But I shall not call today. I am far too busy, ‘tis more important to finish the matter once started. After last night, everyone should hear from me. I warrant Icanget Georgiana invited to every house without a young daughter. Except Lady Hampton — I do not like enthusiasts. They say she is low church.”
Elizabeth left and started the walk along the hard dirt road shaded by bare oak trees with a smile. She rather doubted that her motherknewwhat the difference between high and low church was, but she certainly knew that being low church was not thething.
Maybe Darcy would think her strange and forward towalkto the home, even though her sister was its mistress. At present Jane was overshadowed: Netherfield meant Darcy.
“All alone? I am disappointed in Jane. And your brother.” Those were the first words Elizabeth spoke upon being led into the nursery where Georgiana supervised a game played between Bennet and Anne.
Both children leapt from their finely carved set of backgammon. “Lizzy!”
She laughed and picked each up with a giggling swoop to kiss them on the foreheads before placing them down. “Abandoned by all? Terrible.”
“I am quite happy. Quite.” She smiled. “Jane needed to make calls this morning, and my brother is quite used to how I sometimes prefer solitude.”
“Goodness, a hint I ought keep this visit short?”
“No!”
Elizabeth laughed.
“Iamhappy to see you. You see, I had opportunity to think already — roll the dice, Bennet, it is your turn —yourcompany is always welcome.”
“Only mine?”
“Certainly notonly.”
