“It might be best to wait a few more days,” she replied, and noticed his face fall. “I do not want to delay our announcement, but I want to try to speak to Papa one more time before you approach him. I am not certain how receptive he will be.”
Darcy nodded at that. “Very well, I will wait a few more days, but no later than Monday. I am ready to have our engagement acknowledged publicly and to set a date for our wedding.”
“Monday would be ideal. We can have the banns read the next Sunday and can marry immediately after they are finished. Have you already written to the rector in Kympton?”
“I will do so immediately upon my return to Netherfield. I will arrange the message to be sent by express on our way to Longbourn,” he replied.
“Good,” Elizabeth said before kissing him one more time.
Darcy and Bingleycalled again that afternoon and spent a half an hour sitting in the parlour with the Bennet ladies. Mr. Bennet did join them for a few minutes though he mainly stared at both gentlemen and said nothing. Darcy attempted to engage him in conversation, but each conversational gambit was shut down with one-word answers. After several minutes of this, Mr. Bennet made his excuses and departed again for his study.
Once everyone had finished their tea, Bingley suggested they go for a walk in the garden. The younger girls did not care for the exercise, but Jane and Elizabeth gladly accepted the invitation. After donning their pelisses and bonnets, they met the gentlemen in the garden where they broke into couples.
“Have you and Mr. Bingley spoken about Jane?” Elizabeth asked softly.
Grimacing, Darcy only nodded, but did not reply right away.
“What did he say?” she prodded.
“He cares for her, but he is uncertain what to do. He has listened to his sister entirely too much, and that has made him question everything he thought before about your sister.”
“So he is undecided then?”
“I hope he merely needs some time with Miss Bennet to remind himself how much he cares for her. Away from his sister, he might be able to come to a decision by himself,” Darcy replied.
“I think Jane still cares for him, but she is uncertain about a future with him after all that has happened. It will take some time for her to feel comfortable again.”
“And I am encouraging Bingley to make this decision on his own. If he asks, I will try to ask questions that force him to evaluate the situation. I will still advise when needed, but my goal is to ask the questions that will enable him to reach the decision on his own. I have already employed this strategy a few times with decisions he needed to make about the estate.”
“If he and Jane decide to pursue a relationship, this is the type of thing they will need to work through together. Jane also struggles to make decisions or to think poorly of anyone. Even after Miss Bingley cut the connection by never visiting, she makes excuses for her. I think she is finally starting to realise that Miss Bingley is not her friend, but that took both my aunt and me a significant amount of effort to convince her of that much.”
Darcy sighed heavily. “I have the same difficulty with my friend. However, for now, I prefer to speak of more pleasant things. Richard will arrive tomorrow instead of Monday as he originally planned. He will call on Colonel Forster shortly after he arrives and then we will visit Longbourn.”
“What will happen to Mr. Wickham after that?” she asked.
“That will be determined by Colonel Forster. I have with me the receipts of what I have paid for him over the years, and you said that credit for the militia has been limited. The militia is notto remain in Meryton for much longer, so if Wickham behaves, nothing may happen. If Wickham protests or attempts to create problems, then he might be punished by the militia. Or he can go to Marshalsea since I doubt he will have the funds to pay back what he owes,” Darcy replied.
Elizabeth changed the subject to something joyful. “And on Monday you will speak to Papa, and we will begin to plan for our wedding. I am suddenly very grateful for my aunt’s insistence to start ordering my trousseau while we were in London. There are too many worries here, and I am ready to be married to you.”
“So am I,” Darcy whispered, leaning close to her ear as he spoke. Her answering shiver made him grin.
A call from the house made them step apart, since they were far closer than propriety allowed. The two couples returned inside, and then the gentlemen took their leave, with Mrs. Bennet encouraging Jane to see Mr. Bingley out. Elizabeth accompanied them to farewell Darcy, and this time he managed a brief kiss to her hand.
“I love you, Elizabeth,” he whispered and was delighted when she said it back.
Chapter Twelve
Elizabeth and Darcy met again atop Oakham Mount again that next morning. Her face was flushed when she entered the house, which was only somewhat attributable to the exercise. After breakfast, she and Mary visited two tenants, and then returned to her room to prepare for their visitors that afternoon.
When she came downstairs, she was surprised to hear male voices in the sitting room. Standing outside the room for a moment, she listened to the voices inside before realising they belonged to the officers. “Do they ever work?” she muttered under her breath.
Bypassing that room for now, she entered her father’s study. “Papa, the officers have called once again. My younger sisters need to do more than visit with these men. Truly, what do we know of them other than what they tell us? For all we know, they could be wastrels and rakes. Lydia and Kitty are far too young to be in company with these men so often.”
“I thought you liked the officers and enjoyed their company,” he replied. “Is not Mr. Wickham a particular favourite of yours?”
“He is not,” Elizabeth stated. “Months ago, I reconsidered his words to me and realised how improper it was for him to share such personal information so early in our acquaintance. I told you this back in December. Additionally, I have spoken to Mr Darcy about him, and he confirmed that Mr. Wickham is the worst sort of man—exactly the kind my sisters need to be warned against. It is not as though any of these officers could afford to marry one of us. Mama would not care to have one of her daughters follow the drum because she was forced to marry a poor militia member. Not to mention the effect that would have on the rest of us should Kitty or Lydia get into trouble with their thoughtlessness.”
Her father looked at her sharply, seeming to consider her words carefully. “Your opinions of both men have changed considerably. Is there something I should be aware of?”
