Jane blushed and seemed incapable of speaking. Elizabeth laughed and kissed both of her parents, saying, “Ishall be sure to pass on your messages, though I cannot promise not to keep every speck of Mr Darcy’s attention to myself for a week or more. That is if he decides to propose. I do not take it as a given.”
Her father guffawed. “If I thought you harboured serious doubts about him, I would ask the apothecary to examine you for possible illness. Some disorder that was addling your brain.”
“Oh, Mr Bennet, do not make one of your jokes now!” her mother cried. “You do not think that he might?—?”
“Not to worry, my dear.” He patted her arm soothingly, then turned to Jane and Elizabeth, adding, “Off you go. We shall be here, awaiting your excellent news.”
In the carriage a short while later, Mrs Gardiner asked Jane whether she was well. “You look anxious. Is something worrying you?”
Jane shook her head, and it was left to Elizabeth to explain what she suspected was the source of her sister’s unease: the earlier conversation. “But, Jane, you do not truly doubt Mr Bingley?”
“I do not wish to,” she said meekly. “But I know that any number of things might happen to prevent him from proposing. Until a gentleman asks, nothing is secure.”
There was truth in her words, but Elizabeth preferred to think only of what made her happy. She would never understand why Jane could not. “Do not borrow trouble,” she advised her sister. “It will rob you of your ability to enjoy this period.”
Her aunt and uncle agreed, and Mr Gardiner said, “I do not doubt your Mr Bingley, Jane, or your Mr Darcy,Lizzy, and I refuse to believe that anything will prevent them from proposing. Speaking as a man myself, I promise you that no man would allow himself to appear like a ridiculous moon-calf around a lady unless he was madly in love. For the past week, I have watched both of those young gentlemen tripping over their feet trying to please you two or staring at who-knows-what, clearly dreaming of how glad they will be to become your husbands. You have no need to concern yourself, Jane. Mr Bingley will propose. I would wager within the next week.”
“I would not be at all surprised if Mr Darcy ran out of patience and proposed to Lizzy even sooner,” Mrs Gardiner said more to her husband than her nieces.
Jane chuckled and thanked them, promising she felt better and would endeavour to banish her nerves.
Elizabeth smiled to herself. Privately, she agreed with the Gardiners. Nothing, it seemed, would stop her and her Mr Darcy from becoming betrothed, and by the spring, she would be Mrs Darcy. Life could not possibly be any better. She spent the greater part of the journey imagining how he might propose. Would it be in the Gardiners’ parlour? If it were not winter, she would favour a proposal in the open air where they could be surrounded by the beauty of nature. It would remind her of the walks they had taken during which she had learnt to love him. Wherever and whenever he spoke, it would be the most wonderful, romantic moment of her life.
It will be such a contrast to the tale of the assembly, and, told together, the two are sure to delight our children and whomever else we share our history with in the years ahead.Elizabethanticipated being the one who took the most delight in recounting it, but she liked to think that Mr Darcy would use it as a lesson to any sons they might be fortunate enough to have, just as she would use it to teach her daughters.You never know where you might find love, and it is best not to risk losing the promise of a joyful future by letting your bad mood or unwillingness to look past a poor first impression get in the way.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The day after they arrived at Gracechurch Street, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley called with their brother and Mr Darcy. It was obvious to Elizabeth that the ladies did not want to be in her aunt’s parlour, but Jane had told her that Mr Bingley had insisted they come. They were polite but not warm to Jane, and Miss Bingley spent almost the entire length of their visit staring at Mr Darcy and Elizabeth, who spoke chiefly to each other but without completely overlooking their companions. Mr Bingley whispered an apology to Elizabeth as he was saying his farewell.
“I did not think to explain your connexion to her. She has said she gave up her hopes regarding him long ago, but…”
“Think nothing of it,” Elizabeth said. “I assure you, I shall not.” That was especially true because Mr Bingley was immediately replaced by Mr Darcy, and she was far more interested in enjoying her last moment of the day with him than remembering Miss Bingley.
“I wish we had more time together,” he said.
“As do I.” The Gardiners, Jane, and Elizabeth were engaged to dine with one of Mr Gardiner’s business associates that evening. “Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” he agreed, surreptitiously taking her hand briefly.
They had already arranged that he would take her and Miss Darcy to call on Lady Romsley. Afterwards, she and Miss Darcy would meet Jane and Mrs Gardiner to do some shopping, followed by returning to his house, where Mr Gardiner would join them for dinner.
Once the guests were gone, Jane announced that she would like to return the ladies’ call. “I do not know that we can be friends, but I am determined to be on good terms with them.”
“You might feel you need to bend a little to please Mr Bingley by being amiable towards his sisters, but recall that he loves you as you are,” Mrs Gardiner said. “A successful marriage requires the couple to learn to work well together. You and he will both necessarily change as you establish your life and family, but do not change who you are in an effort to befriend his sisters.”
Fortunately for her, Elizabeth did not need to worry about simply being on good terms with Mr Darcy’s relations. His sister was sweet and already dear to her, and, as she met them, she very much liked the earl and countess, their sons, and Mr Frederick Darcy, his wife, and daughter, who Mrs Darcy hinted was on the point of forming an attachment to a certain viscount of their acquaintance. Lady Romsley arranged a family dinner forthem all, including Mr Bingley, Jane, and the Gardiners, so that they might become better acquainted before the ball. During it, Elizabeth had a chance to see Miss Rebecca Darcy and Viscount Bramwell together, and it was apparent they were happiest in each other’s company. She mentioned his cousins’ relationship to Mr Darcy when they were in the drawing room after the meal.
“I do not believe my cousin noticed her a day in her life until last spring, despite having known her since she was a child. Since then, however, he has been trying to earn her regard,” Darcy said. “I believe he is succeeding.”
“It seems as though romance abounds about us.” Their eyes met, and he slipped his hand next to hers on the settee they were sharing.
Leaning towards her and whispering, he said, “I am only interested in one romance. I had not expected we would be so busy.”
“Neither had I. I had thought—hoped—we would have fewer demands on our time, especially after how many we had in Hertfordshire.”
“I am gratified to hear you say that. It matches my sentiments exactly.” He chuckled and added, “I wonder what we might do that would give us the right to insist we be left alone upon occasion.”
“As an unmarried lady and gentleman? Nothing I can think of.”
