Page 118 of Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure

He took a deep breath and prepared to confess his involvement with Trenwith House, but she had pulled out her watch and noted it was time to be home. They sauntered back onto the path.

“What could become of Bingley and Jane?” she wondered.

“Are you quite delighted with their engagement?” he asked.

“Are you?”

“I am. Charles had given me the earliest information of it.”

“I must ask whether you were surprised?”

“Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen."

"That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as much."

“Charles does not require my permission on anything!”

“But he must have sought your counsel?”

"On the evening before my going to London, I made a confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had the slightest suspicion. I told him, moreover, that I believed myself mistaken in supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent to him; and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together."

She smiled at his easy manner of directing his friend.

"Did you speak from your own observation," said she, "when you told him that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?"

"From the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection."

"And your assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to him."

"It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess one thing, which for a time, and not unjustly, offended him. I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter, that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was angry. But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments. He has heartily forgiven me now."

The relaxed and friendly manner in which she conversed with him pleased him more than anything as they made their way back to Longbourn. He thought her beauty glowed more warmly than the sun, and but for the confidence he knew he had to reveal, their walk could not have been more satisfying until they had to part. Charles had turned toward the house with Miss Bennet earlier and awaited by his horse outside. Darcy walked Miss Elizabeth into the foyer of the house and there bid her adieu. He placed a chaste kiss upon her hand. Her ensuing blush reflected the memory of their earlier, more passionate caress, and perhaps a shared desire for something more.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Though Darcy had gone, Lizzy still felt his lips upon her hand. She shivered. There was no manner of touch, large or small, that she did not welcome from him. Her deepest hopes had been answered beyond expectation. Darcy loved her!

"My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a question which Lizzy received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, and from all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own knowledge. She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor anything else, awakened a suspicion of the truth.

The evening passed quietly, unmarked by anything extraordinary. With Darcy gone, she felt agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy than felt herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known; she was aware that no one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.

And then there was the consideration of Trenwith House.

At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here.

"You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be! Engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible."

"This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you, and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged."

Jane looked at her doubtingly. "Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much you dislike him."

"You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself."

Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Lizzy again, and more seriously assured her of its truth.

"Good Heaven! Can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you," cried Jane. "My dear, dear Lizzy, I would—I do congratulate you—but are you certain? forgive the question—are you quite certain that you can be happy with him?"

"There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother?"