She laughed. “Patience — go to Papa.”
Darcy left the room, Mama and Elizabeth’s sisters returned to the room. Mrs. Bennet exclaimed immediately, “Heavens! Ten thousand a year, and likely more! As good as a Lord — but, Lizzy, are you sure? — he is a cripple.”
“Do not say that about him,” Elizabeth exclaimed with passion. “Do not ever suggest that he is deficient in any way that matters! There is no man who is more capable, or who I would trust more to care for me.”
Jane took her hand. “Are you sure, my dear?”
Mr. Darcy loved her.
Everything was so different now. Just an hour ago she had believed she would never see him again. And now they were to be married.
Elizabeth's smile could not be repressed.
“I am so very sure. Jane, it is too perfect to describe — I had never let myself hope, really hope before today. I never could admit to myself that I liked him inthatparticular manner — for I had not any reason to believe that he would set aside the considerations that might make him hesitate. And now… now I am so happy.”
Jane smiled back at her, glowing herself. “Then I am happy for you.”
A pearl from the muck.
Do not dwell onthat.
Think about his kisses.
Mama said, “My clever, clever girl — you must have known he would return in this way. Was that why you refused Mr. Collins?”
Elizabeth sighed and rolled her eyes. Perhaps her happiness was too perfect to describe, but her situation was not wholly perfect.
ChapterSeventeen
Meryton was close enough to London that the town primarily served as part of the hinterlands for the capitol. The business of the local farms was raising mutton, beef and grain for the consumption of the laborers of the great city. The local prosperity of the town itself was based upon the collection and transport of the locally produced goods to the capitol.
No major turnpike passed through Meryton, and it was less than half a day’s carriage ride from London. The only gentlemen of substantial rank who passed through the town were either on the route to their own estate or to that of a friend.
So thinking, Darcy happily explained to himself the inferiority of the best inn in Meryton.
How was it possible that an inn with only one decent room could leave him so entirely and completely happy? Far happier than when he stayed in a fine estate that had been let by his friend, with an excellently appointed room, an ample staff of servants at his call, and the finest furnishings and foods?
Soul deep happiness was more important than trivialities.
However, while Darcy was wholly happy with the poorly appointed suite of rooms his engagement with Elizabeth had brought him to stay in, one matter always rose to his mind as unfortunate about his residence in Meryton.
It was Mrs. Bennet.
As soon as he arrived at Meryton she talked, and talked, and talked: About her day, about her nerves, about the cruelty of Mr. Bennet who had recently begun to restrain their spending for Jane’s sake. Then she would add sentences about how Elizabeth had refused Mr. Collins, how very impressed she was that a cripple such as he could survive daily life, and how exceedingly surprised she was that Elizabeth was willing to marry such a man, even though he was very rich.
Also she occasionally asked whether he had heard anything from Mr. Bingley.
Mrs. Bennet, despite her occasional assertions that Jane was doomed to always and forever, eternally remain unmarried, still held some hopes uponthatcount.
What Darcy did not say, but he thought every time, was that Bingley was a damned fool.
The better he came to know Jane the more he was impressed by her. Elizabeth had good taste in favorite sisters.
This morning Darcy came to Longbourn on horseback. He preferred not to use his horse’s trained ability to sit or rise with a rider on its back overmuch, because while it was valuable in some circumstances, it was not particularly good for Athena’s back if done too often.
A specialized high mounting block had been installed in both the Longbourn stables, and at the inn in Meryton that allowed Darcy to pull himself up from the horse, and then securely swing himself on and off of the horse without the use of his legs.
Today a groom brought a gift for Elizabeth behind him. She had said that she had never learned to ride, but he hoped that with some encouragement she would be happy to learn the skill.
