He paced, but Elizabeth could hardly fault him for that; she also did her best thinking on her morning rambles. “At his heart, Bingley is a romantic. His parents were indifferent to each other, and he wanted a love match. Whenever I observed Miss Bennet, she was everything polite and amiable, but she showed no greater preference for my friend than for any other person she was partnered with for a dance set or card game.”
MrDarcy had said himself that he did not perform to strangers; could he not afford Jane the same grace? Charlotte advocated that a lady should show more affection than she felt, but poor Jane had endured too many so-called gentlemen trying to claim that a smile was an invitation.
But Elizabeth had promised to hear MrDarcy out, so she said nothing in her sister’s defence. MrDarcy continued, as if he feared that if he stopped, he would never start again. “All of Meryton knew that your mother was desperate to see her daughters married, and while I cannot censure her ambition, it made me wary. I feared that she would pressure Miss Bennet to accept Bingley, whether she liked him or not.”
The worst part was that Elizabeth could not refute his fear. Mama had been entirely willing to force Elizabeth to marry MrCollins, regardless of Elizabeth’s wishes. If not for Papa’s support and MrCollins having his head turned by Charlotte, what lengths might Mama have gone to, in order to secure Longbourn beyond Papa’s lifetime?
Elizabeth forced her attention back to the man beside her.
“When Bingley asked my opinion, I told him the truth as I knew it: that I had seen no particular regard, but a very determined mother. As for London, I will own that I made no great effort to confirm whether the young lady I saw at a distance was Miss Bennet and left it to Miss Bingley and MrsHurst to tell their brother of her calling upon them. The effect may have beenthe concealment of her presence, when they did not speak of her to him, but it was not my intent.”
Jane had no acquaintance with Miss Darcy, and MrDarcy had no reason to call upon her. He had already confessed to thinking Jane indifferent, and so they had simply once been temporary neighbours. Unhappy as she was, Elizabeth could absolve MrDarcy of blame in this instance. “There is one question you have not answered: Why am I acceptable, where Jane is not?”
MrDarcy swung his arms awkwardly. “Bingley isnouveau riche, and who he marries matters in a way that I can afford to ignore. Georgiana is not out and is happy to remain thus for as many years as she can get away with. I am one of the prominent landholders in Derbyshire, and the Darcys have held Pemberley for centuries.”
In other words, you may marry a country gentlewoman for love and retreat to your estate until the gossips find a new scandal.MrBingley needed to marry up, preferably a gentlewoman with a fortune who would help separate him from the taint of trade. Elizabeth bit her lip and said light-heartedly, “I confess, I had thought MrBingley’s biggest trial would be finding someone who could tolerate his sisters.”
MrDarcy flashed a smile, and Elizabeth was again astonished by his altered countenance. A warmth rose unbidden to her cheeks, and as she lifted her eyes to his, she found herself studying the earnestness in his face rather than searching for defects.
“Miss Bennet is a gentlewoman, yes, but one of five sisters, all with little fortune and few connexions. Miss Bingley is enough of a chain around his neck, as she seeks to place herself above others, without adding your youngest sisters.”
Elizabeth raised her brow, and Darcy hastened to explain himself. “I do not mean to say Miss Bingley or your sisters… Imeant… Your younger sisters may well improve, with guidance and instruction, but their current behaviour is not that of young ladies out in society.”
He was not wrong. Lydia was likely harmless in Meryton, surrounded by those who had known her all of her life as a silly, headstrong girl. But in London, or Brighton? In Bath, the birthplace of Good Manners? Young Goulding, Long, and Lucas knew not to take Lydia’s flirting seriously. Officers might have enough sense not to want silly wives, but a young lady could find her reputation ruined for far less than the activities of a married woman.
“What made you propose? Even the most confident gentleman wants to be sure his attentions are returned first.”
He blushed. “You challenged and bantered with me in a way that few ever do. I thought you were engaging me through your wit. Miss Bingley often remarked upon my attraction to you, so I thought it must be obvious.”
MrDarcy was an intelligent man, but it was clear that he was something of a novice when it came to women.
“It was not, I assure you. I was certain that you looked at me to disapprove, so I was sceptical of any claims of your interest.”
He looked to the heavens and inhaled. “In that case, I can scarcely rebuke your surprise. How are we to proceed?”
A courtship under Lady Catherine’s nose and hampered by MrCollins risked disaster. On the other hand, courtships were to allow a couple to know each other, and that was less objectionable than she might have thought, last year. “Depart as you planned, and tell MrBingley of meeting me and discovering that you were mistaken about Jane’s affection.”
“Then I shall return to Netherfield and court you as I meant to, with no misunderstanding between us.”
She nodded. Perhaps it was vain of her, but Elizabeth wanted to be courted, too, not merely to receive a proposal without warning, followed by a hasty wedding.
MrDarcy smiled again and, rather daringly, took her hand. “Perhaps Bingley will not mind a double wedding.”
Something in her chest gave a treacherous flutter, and she forgot to guard herself as she took in the frankness of his countenance. Did she love him, or were these feelings from another time, another Elizabeth, remembered in dreams? Perhaps, during this promised courtship, she would come to love him again. Elizabeth felt the corner of her mouth betray her before she could school her composure, and she found his expression warmer than she had ever allowed herself to believe.
Elizabeth returned to the parsonage feeling far more peaceful than when she walked out that morning. Indeed, she might even consider herself hopeful.
She made herself comfortable in Charlotte’s sitting room with a biscuit and tea, and she picked up the book that Maria had been reading.A Bleak Futureby Jeff Bigler. Goodness, what an ominous title. Setting her tea on the small table, Elizabeth read the first page:“It is a truth universally acknowledged that people who will not listen to their own good judgement will listen to a spectre.”
Chapter 12: A Bleak Future
by Jeff Bigler
Hunsford Parsonage, Kent
Tuesday, the 7thof April, 1812
Perhaps it would not be wholly bad to be his wife—after all, MrDarcy was quite wealthy. And attractive. And respectable. She need never fear that he would embarrass her.
