Page 53 of A Prudent Engagement

“My dear,” Darcy said, “you are wholly superior to your family. You need not fret that I do not know the pearl that you are.”

“A pearl which you have picked up from amongst the muck of London tradesmen and petty rural attorneys?” Elizabeth replied in a tone that showed she was not at all pleased.

“You stand above those around you—everything about you reveals your excellent mind, your elegant manners, and your worthiness to be my wife,” Darcy assured her.

No reply was made, and when he looked at Elizabeth, he found her expression to be clouded and frowning rather than pleased.

“Elizabeth,” he said, “I swear that I shall endure your family for your sake.”

She looked up with appealing and sad eyes. “Must it be a matter of endurance? Can you not see the real value of many members of my family? Can you not attempt to look at them without those prejudiced eyes?”

There was justice in her request.

It made Darcy feel odd and uncomfortable, as though he were doing something wrong. He did not think that he could force himself to consider a Mr. Gardiner, a resident of Gracechurch Street, or a Mr. Phillips who did business in wills and petty lawsuits as valuable in the way that he had every reason to wish for and expect from the closest relations of his wife.

“It was natural and just for me to have expected more,” Darcy said at last. “And if I am happy to give up what material benefits I might have gained in marriage out of affection for you—I am happy to do so; do not doubt that I consider the return to be well worth the payment—I shall not pretend that it is not a cost.”

This statement did not soften Elizabeth’s expression.

Darcy said, “I find it odd that you do not appreciate my sense of the inferiority of your connections as displaying the strength of my affection for you.”

Elizabeth laughed in a tight manner. “Oh! I understand that. But I already have a high opinion of your affection for me—I might trade a little of that affection in exchange for a greater sense of respect. But let us not quarrel. My family are not what you would wish for in my relations. This can neither be mended nor changed. To dwell upon the few points on which we cannot look with satisfaction when there is so much good would be perverse and unlikely to encourage the happiness of either party.”

She then hurried from him and went into Longbourn House, and Darcy followed with a sense of dissatisfaction, but he was not sure whether he was unhappy with himself or with Elizabeth.

Chapter Twelve

By the end of the day of walking about with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth was beginning to feel more settled with herself.

His behaviour was always kind.

She had not imagined that such a great man would be so consistently kind.

And she very much liked to look at him. She enjoyed it when he held her arm, and she liked it when he kissed her.

He only occasionally said things which reminded her why she had always disliked him, and at other times he said things that filled her with guilt for not being able to reciprocate the full strength of his feelings, whilst he believed that she did.

That evening Elizabeth did not speak with Jane.

Every time Elizabeth noticed her eldest sister looking at her, it was with an expression of fixed disapproval.

The next day was Monday, and Mr. Collins was due to arrive in the afternoon. so when Mr. Darcy called at Longbourn that morning, he directly asked her mother, who had not yet answered Elizabeth upon the point, “Would you wish for me to lease Longbourn on your behalf?”

“Oh my. That is most kind of you. Lizzy, you were very clever to secure yourself a man who could simply do such a thing. But I do not know whether it is the most sensible idea—Lizzy, would you not wish to have your mother and sisters near you once you are married?”

Not giving her a chance to answer, Mr. Darcy said, “Do not consider that question. Madam, ask yourself what you would prefer for your own sake—you cannot wish to be separated from places that have long and happy associations, that have been the sites of your girlhood joys and where you spent the whole of your married life.”

“Oh, my poor Mr. Bennet. I shall see him everywhere here. I do miss him dearly. I always shall. I do not imagine that I shall ever remarry.”

“I do not want to leave,” Lydia offered. “It is always so gay with the regiment about. But I suppose they will be departing soon.” She pouted. “They will be gone before we are out of deep mourning.”

“Thankfully,” Elizabeth said. “And we have already informed you that you will leave with us when we go to Pemberley.”

“It is awful that you are happy about this!” Lydia exclaimed. “Just because you are to be married and must give up every flirtation does not mean that you must tear me from such happiness—Mr. Darcy has already informed me that there is no likelihood of a regiment being quartered anywhere near his estate while I shall be there.”

As a result of these speeches from Lydia, Elizabeth could not hear the chief part of the conversation between her mother and Mr. Darcy about whether to rent Longbourn.

She did gather that her mama was concerned that she would not be able to keep Longbourn in such style as the house deserved without her papa’s income to pay for the servants and all of the food and dinners, but that Mr. Darcy had satisfied her on those grounds.