Chapter 4
"Goodness," cried Kitty as she looked out the window. "A man on a horse approaches. He rides so quickly!"
Mrs. Bennet was quickly next to Kitty at the window. "Oh, his clothes are so fine. It must be Mr. Bingley! He has returned for Jane! Everyone make yourselves presentable."
Elizabeth struggled not to smile at the idea that her letter had worked. Mr. Bingley had come to make an offer to Jane, and the family would be saved. She might not have to marry the terrible Mr. Rowe after all.
"No, Mother," said Kitty. "It is not Mr. Bingley. It is that strange man who is always around Mr. Bingley—Mr. Darcy. What could he possibly want here?"
Elizabeth's mood fell as quickly as it had risen. She did not know what business Mr. Darcy had at Longbourn, but she knew that it could not possibly be in their benefit. If Mr. Bingley was in Hertfordshire, he should not have sent Mr. Darcy alone to visit the Bennets.
Darcy dismounted and handed the bridle to the Bennets' groom. He adjusted his hat and his gloves and realized that he was very nervous. He still had not the slightest idea what he would say to Miss Elizabeth nor how he would explain his presence at Longbourn. He would have to figure it out as he spoke. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He was admitted and led to the sitting room, where the Bennet women sat looking proper and not at all surprised by his visit.
"Mr. Darcy," said Mrs. Bennet regally, "welcome to Longbourn. To what do we owe this unexpected visit?"
Darcy bowed low. "Madam, I have heard the terrible news about Mr. Bennet. I returned to Netherfield to offer you any assistance that you may need."
Elizabeth was shocked by his statement and worked hard to keep it from showing on her face. The only assistance that they needed was that of Mr. Bingley. She could not imagine what Mr. Darcy thought he could do.
"Well, Mr. Darcy," said Lydia, "you could marry my dear sister Lizzy and keep her from marrying that horrible butcher!"
Elizabeth turned white and then red in embarrassment. "Please excuse Lydia, sir. Sometimes the words are out of her mouth before she even considers them."
"What is this about marrying a butcher?" asked Darcy, confused.
"Oh!" continued Lydia, "Mr. Rowe made Lizzy an offer right before Papa's funeral. Of course, Lizzy does not want to accept it as Mr. Rowe is just awful, but what else are we to do?"
Jane stepped over and took Lydia's arm firmly. "Let us go for a walk," she said. "I could certainly use the fresh air. Kitty, come with us."
Kitty looked none too happy to leave but she followed her sisters out the door.
"Mr. Darcy, please forgive Lydia's impertinence. The shock of our father's death has affected us all deeply, and sometimes she does not realize what she had said," said Elizabeth.
Darcy had no concerns about Lydia but plenty about Elizabeth.
"Is it true that Mr. Rowe has offered for you?" he asked, trying to keep his voice from sounding strained.
"It is, sir," replied Elizabeth.
"I was not aware that there was a connection between the two of you."
"There has not been. When he heard of our troubles, he made the offer in hopes of assisting us."
Darcy doubted that greatly. It was more likely the fact that the man saw an opportunity and took it.
"Should I wish you congratulations?" He asked.
"Not as of yet, as I have not answered him," Elizabeth replied uncomfortably.
"Well, he will be a fortunate man if you do him the honor of becoming his wife. Mrs. Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, if there is anything that I can do to be of service to you, please feel free to tell me. I will be staying at Netherfield."
With that, Darcy bowed and made a quick retreat from the house.
xxx
Why had he been so arrogant as to think that he was the only one who had noticed Elizabeth? Darcy's anger was mostly directed at himself for being blind to the fact that Elizabeth might have other suitors. Her father's death had led him to hope that he could offer her support and win her over. Why would he not imagine that other men would have the same intention?
He had not been able to clearly get a sense of whether Elizabeth was inclined to the match with the butcher. She had seemed uncomfortable when speaking about it, but Darcy could not be sure whether it was the situation or her dislike of him that caused her to react in such a way. Was it too late for her to consider another offer?
Darcy had not intended to make her an offer any time soon. He had only hoped to provide any service that was necessary in the aftermath of such a tragedy. Although, upon reflection, he realized that he had never been opposed to the idea of Elizabeth's gratitude taking a decidedly romantic turn. He had to admit that the only reason that he was in Hertfordshire and offering his help was due to the strong feelings he had for her.
Darcy leaned back in his chair in the Netherfield study, swirling his brandy in its glass. He had not expected to find clarity in the drink, but the more he thought about it the more determined he became. He could not let Elizabeth marry another man without making an offer for her. He was not sure how he would react if she rejected him. He tried that idea out for a bit - how would he feel if she would rather be married to the local butcher than to be wed to him? He took another swallow of the brandy and felt it warm his throat down into his stomach. Now was not the time to lose courage.
He finished his drink and retired for the night. Regardless of the outcome, he knew that the following day would be an eventful one.
xxx
"Here is Mr. Darcy again!" Kitty called from her position as lookout at the front window. Mrs. Bennet took much less care in arranging the tableau of girls now that she knew Mr. Bingley was not with him. Elizabeth felt suddenly nervous and alert. Mr. Darcy had offered his help the previous day, but what reason would he have to visit again so soon?
Darcy was shown in to the sitting room and bowed to everyone present.
"What a surprise, Mr. Darcy," said Mrs. Bennet. "To what do we owe the pleasure of another visit?"
"Mrs. Bennet, I was hoping that I might have a few moments to speak with Miss Elizabeth."
"Certainly," Mrs. Bennet responded. "There she is, working on her embroidery."
Darcy turned red. "I was hoping to speak with her alone," he said, his voice catching on the last word.
"Oh. Oh!" said Mrs. Bennet, finally understanding. "Let us take our leave, girls."
Darcy could not make eye contact with anyone in the room as they left. He felt wildly uncomfortable, but within the constraints of the current situation he knew that this was his only chance.
He realized that he was quite alone in the room with Elizabeth. She stared at him in confusion, as if she could not understand what was happening.
"Miss Bennet, I know that this is quite unusual," he began. "I do not know your feelings towards Mr. Rowe, and I apologize if this is an intrusion. However, if your feelings towards him are not strong and you are considering this union purely for practical reasons, I would feel remiss if I did not speak to you."
He paused, looking for her reaction.
"The strength of my feelings is not what it should be in a woman who is to be married," she responded in a shaky voice. She had not intended to speak, but the words had tumbled out on their own.
"Please allow me to present you with another option," Darcy said. "I would be honored if you would consider becoming my wife."
"Your wife?" Elizabeth whispered. "Sir, you have made it clear that you can hardly bear to be in the same room as me."
"I apologize with all my heart that you have that impression of me," he said. He knew that it would be difficult for her to forget his terrible behavior on the occasion when they first met. "It is not true. Indeed, I have the greatest respect for you, and that is why I do not wish to see you marry below your station if it is not your fondest wish to do so."
"So you are here to save my reputation?" Elizabeth asked, a bit sharply. "Your thought is only to maintain my status as a gentleman's daughter?"
"Of course that it not the only reason for my offer," he replied.
She did not respond, but looked at him pointedly and waited for him to continue.
"I admire the quickness of your mind. I feel that you could be the mistress that Pemberley deserves," he said. And I love you, whispered his heart, but he did not speak the words.
"Mr. Darcy, I do not possibly know what you could have seen in my character that would lead you to believe that I would be a fit mistress for a grand estate," said Elizabeth. Her eyes softened a bit. "However, I do know that this offer is a most generous one, and I will give it the consideration that it deserves. May I have the night to consider it?"
Darcy's heart leapt. It was not a yes, but neither was it a no.
"I will call tomorrow morning. Will that give you the time that you need?"
She nodded. "It will, sir."
Darcy bowed. "Until tomorrow," he said, and took his leave.
It was not until he left the room that Elizabeth realized how much she was shaking. Two offers, and neither from men that she had believed had any concern for her whatsoever. Her hope had always been to marry for love. It appeared, at that moment, that she would marry for survival instead.
xxx
Elizabeth stoutly refused to answer any questions about Mr. Darcy's visit. In response to her mother's repeated questions, she could only reply "we are not engaged" over and over again. It was not until she and Jane had retired for the evening that Elizabeth was able to speak of what had occurred.
"He offered for you? What did you tell him?"
"I asked for a night to consider it, but, Jane, is there really any consideration to be done? Mr. Darcy has been stiff and pompous, but his disagreeable traits pale in comparison to Mr. Rowe's."
"Yes, I agree with you."
"But I cannot see myself as Mr. Darcy's wife!"
"I think he will be kind to you, Lizzy. The fact that he hopes to help you by marrying you speaks highly of his character."
"Yes, it certainly was unexpected. I know that I must choose one of them, and if I must, then it will be Mr. Darcy."
Jane smiled and embraced her sister. "I think you have made the best choice," she said.
Elizabeth knew that, of the two offers that had been made, Mr. Darcy's was by far the best. But sleep was a long time coming that night as she worried about exactly what it would mean to be his wife.
