"You must be in jest!" exclaimed the Duke of Derbyshire in amusement. He was paying his fourth call in as many days on the enchanting Elizabeth Bennet, who he was currently taking a stroll with around the grounds of Huxby as she told him of Mr. Collins' ridiculous proposal.
He nervously paid her a call the day after their extraordinary meeting at Pemberley, and he was even more drawn to the stunning beauty as he got to know her better over tea and refreshments in her aunt's parlor than he ever did in the drawing rooms of Hertfordshire. It had been a most enjoyable visit as he exchanged pleasant conversation with her and her hosts before taking a stroll with her to clear up any misunderstandings between them.
After explaining about his titles and his reasons for hiding them, she explained more about her encounters with Wickham and how he had misled her about his character and his relationship with his sister who barely even knew him. Once she had forgiven him for misleading her and her neighbors so, and accepting his apology for his impolite comment that he never even meant and his insulting proposal, she surprised him with an apology of her own. She apologized for her manner of refusing him and after exonerating each other of any fault, they had a pleasant conversation.
Elizabeth proved to be everything he had remembered her to be. She was warm, open, intelligent, witty, and artless. And he could not get enough of her as they discussed books, plays, music, and even farming during that exciting first call. She referred to him as Mr. Darcy and Your Grace intermittently. Though she usually called him thus when she was debating with him or after he had deliberately raised her ire, he did not mind being her Mr. Darcy. He immediately requested a second visit, which lead to a third, which led to a forth and to their current occupation.
"I assure you I am in earnest, Your Grace. He insisted that we not tarry so that we may know marital bliss before my father was led down the primrose path to his imminent death, delaying our nuptials while I mourned" said Elizabeth, feeling better than she had since she fled Longbourn.
"And this is the man you are reluctant to marry? Such brilliance is rarely encountered! Should you not secure him before another lucky maiden does?" he joked.
"They are welcomed to him, I assure you" she laughed, happier than she had been in a long time.
Everything that was sensible told her she was entering dangerous territory as she was losing her heart to this man she once thought she hated, powerless to stop it. She only prayed that he did not hurt her. He could not hurt her. The attraction between them was too poignant and she knew he felt it as well. She had a feeling that he would not forsake her, though she was so far beneath his notice and she had once so cruelly rejected his proposal using the most heinous way she could have, wishing she had a chance to do it again. But her brain wanted to confirm what her heart already knew.
"And what about yourself, Your Grace? Surely one such as yourself has not escaped the notice of the maidens of the ton."
"Unfortunately I have not, though I rather wished I had" the duke answered in distaste.
"You almost sound as if you do not enjoy the attention" she teased. "What man would not love to have beautiful women fawn over him, leaving him with choices abound?"
"Beauty is relative and I see very little of it in society. Each woman hardly distinguishable from the next, as they hold to society's strictures on what is deemed beautiful. True beauty is artless and has no need to be enhanced by silk and baubles" he said as he looked into her beautiful face.
"Silk and baubles would definitely ruin any pleasure I feel during my daily activities" she teased.
"Ah, not one to sit still and embroider the day away? I figured as much during our time in Hertfordshire" said the fascinated duke, as he remembered how lovely she looked after walking to Netherfield to ask after her sister, her eyes brightened by the exercise. She was breathtaking and her lack of artfulness was refreshing. She was not throwing herself at him as young ladies usually do, and he liked the change. He felt as if he could be himself around her.
"Not at all, Your Grace" she laughed. "I prefer books to embroidery, horses to the pianoforte, walks to drawing, and every other thing I should not admit to preferring in mixed company. And you are well aware that I prefer reading to cards" she added in remembrance of their time at Netherfield.
"Which makes you profoundly more interesting than those who would not dare to even prefer such things, much less admit it" he answered, making her blush prettily.
"Mr. Darcy!" said Elizabeth in mock horror. "Are you allowed to say such a thing? Surely you are supposed to admire a woman that has a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages. One who possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions" she teased, gesticulating snobbishly with her nose in the air while quoting the ever quotable and ridiculous Miss Bingley, to his great amusement as he recalled the conversation they had about an accomplished woman in Netherfield's drawing room one evening.
"On the contrary, Miss Bennet. Though I admire an accomplished woman, my idea of a truly accomplished woman differs from the tons and a certain lady of fashion. For example, she must prefer books to embroidery, horses to the pianoforte, walks to drawing, and every other thing she should not admit to preferring in mixed company" the duke flirted, surprising even himself. Never has he acted thus.
"Careful, Your Grace" said a blushing Elizabeth. "You might make me believe you approve of my unruliness."
"I assure you I do, Miss Bennet" he bantered. He had no idea what had come over him but he could not help himself when he was with his Elizabeth. He was still drawn to her like no other and he loved her teasing wit.
"But everything you say you approve of are the reasons why my family thinks I shall never marry where I wish, and I am inclined to believe them" she said sadly, having no idea why she said such a thing, especially in the midst of such a pleasant conversation. "Forgive me, Your Grace. I can be quite pessimistic sometimes" she said in a teasing voice, trying to diffuse the awkward tension her statement had cause.
"You have no need to apologize. My sister can tell you I can be quite pessimistic myself. Though I must stress that I completely disagree with anyone who disparaged you in such a way. I think you are everything lovely and your character and personality are to be admired. Any man would be lucky to have such a wife. That is to say any man who does not prefer a stupid wife" he joked, now able to look upon his rejected proposal with something other than pure, unadulterated pain and humiliation now that she seemed to have forgiven him for it.
"And therein lies the problem. There are too many men in society that prefer a stupid wife whom will not question the norm and especially not himself."
"Meaning a woman would have to be rendered uncommonly stupid in order to be deemed marriageable?" he asked with interest.
"'Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.'" she quoted. "Which most marriages of today are chock full of, on the woman's part of course. So, yes, only a stupid woman without an enlarged mind can be deemed marriageable to men who want and expect blind obedience from their wives."
" 'Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will quickly become good wives; that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.' " the captivating duke quoted back to her surprise.
"Mary Wollstonecraft, Your Grace?!" said the pleasantly surprised Elizabeth. "I would never take you for a feminist" she teased.
"The book was recommended to my sister by my aunt, and I, of course, had to read it to see if it was acceptable reading material for one so young."
"And was it?"
"By all means. I heartily agree with improving the female mind by extensive reading, and in my hopes that my sister would not become an uncommonly stupid woman, I agreed to let her read it, though it is a little radical."
"Is there not an uncommonly stupid wife in your future, Your Grace? A man of your station cannot due to be challenged" she teased, as she thought of an uncommonly stupid redhead and an equally foolish blonde that wanted the position, now able to look upon his proposal without pure, unadulterated mortification and regret now that he had forgiven her harsh rejection of it.
"On the contrary, I want to marry a rational creature, a free citizen whom will quickly become a good wife, for I most assuredly do not plan to neglect my duties as a husband and father" he answered looking deep into her eyes.
They held each other's gazes for a long while asking silent questions and seeking answers. Elizabeth asking if he was speaking truthfully, the duke telling her she was the rational creature he had not known he was searching for until he laid his eyes upon her. Elizabeth looked away from him with a blush on her cheek, pleasantly surprised at the intriguing man she had misjudged so and his refreshing conversation with her. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen and she was immediately attracted to him and his pensive blue eyes. Now that she had gotten to know him better, she knew he was not the proud, disagreeable man she once thought him to be and she could only repine her careless treatment of him earlier in their acquaintance, though he did little to recommend himself.
They never lacked for conversation as they got to know all they could about each other. He told her more of his relationship with his sister, about his parents, family, hobbies, and his beloved main estate, the beautiful Pemberley she was so taken with, as well as his other 10 estates he had sprawled throughout the country. He even spoke of his desire for a marriage of affection kin to the one his parents shared, as well as the family he was not close to. She was surprised to learn more of the rift in the Darcy family, and saddened on his behalf over the breach with his aunt Lady Catherine, even if she thought she could not be a sensible woman to have given a living to one as ridiculous as Mr. Collins while making up a lie to entrap her nephew into marriage against his will.
She told him of her childhood, Hertfordshire, Longbourn, and more about her relationship with her late father and pestering mother. She told him of her fears of a forced marriage upon her father's death and of the conversation she overheard between her mother and Jane, not shocking him with the true nature of the young lady who had all the appearances of a lovely, unassuming, and gentle soul. She opened up to him like she had never done with anyone, not even her beloved aunt who she shared all her fears. She could not help but feel secure in his presence and wished she could always be by his side.
"Miss Bennet, I never imagined I would divulge this information to you, but seeing as how you have since learned of your sister's true nature, I feel compelled to enlighten you further and tell you more about the scene that occurred at the Netherfield ball that hastened my disastrous application" the duke said gently, shocking Elizabeth who had no idea of what he spoke. She knew from his letter that her sister had apparently made advances towards him, but she knew nothing of when and how. "Following our dance at the Netherfield ball I needed to get away from the crowd and went into the library for some solitude, only to discover that Bingley had also sought refuge there. As Bingley began to tell me what had upset him, we heard someone calling my name from outside the door" he began, repeating the story he had told his cousin.
"I do not believe this" said Elizabeth in horror as he finished recounting the night.
"I assure you it is true, Miss Bennet. I would never willingly cause you such pain by telling falsehoods about the one you held so dear."
"Well, Jane most certainly played the jilted maiden immediately following the ball, and I most assuredly believed her before I overheard that fateful conversation. The missive Miss Bingley sent her, touting her brother's eagerness to return to town and to your sister, who he was all but engaged to, never to return, did wonders to cement my belief, and I gave no credit to your warning about her in your letter."
"As you now know, my sister is a child that Bingley only looks upon as a sister. And as she is not yet out, I know not why Miss Bingley would imply such a thing, but there is no truth to it. I can hardly fathom that she would spread such falsehoods about my sister, and I shall make sure she knows I am aware of her desperate scheme" he said in anger.
"If I am honest, I did not believe her, and thought it a ploy to keep her brother and my sister apart. I even convinced Jane of it and implored her to go to London in hopes of seeing Mr. Bingley and learning the truth from him."
"I assure you she shall not seek out Bingley, and I have every reason to believe it is me she is still after. Especially when she learns of my titles" said Darcy in disgust.
"I can assume you hid who you were to avoid incidents like the one you experienced in Netherfield's library with my sister, though little did it matter. I suggest you lower your income even more next time, Your Grace. Maybe say you clear 3000 a year, to make you less desirable to mercenary shrews and their matchmaking mamas" she teased before remembering something that still puzzled her. "Why would Mr. Wickham not advise us of who you really were?"
"To give further credit to his nefarious lies no doubt" said the angry duke. "I implore you not to believe a word that wastrel has said to you, Miss Bennet. He is a rake, a scoundrel, a gambler, and a spoiler of maidens. He is not to be trusted."
"I have come to understand that very thing, and no longer give any credit to anything he told me. And I must apologize to you again, Mr. Darcy. Though I thought no good of you after the assembly, I allowed my hurt over your slight to make me more susceptible to his lies, and I believed the most horrible things about your character, which I know now to be untrue."
"As long as you no longer think so ill of me, I have no cause to repine. It was of my own doing, after all. Had I not behaved in such a manner, you would have no reason to doubt my character."
They each allowed each other to be sorry and accepted their own fault in the matter before their conversation turned to more pleasant topics as they strolled the beautiful grounds arm in arm, the ever faithful Adams and His Grace's footman/guard, Davies, discreetly following. By the time they turned back to the manor house, the decision he had made during her first visit to Pemberley was solidified. He was still a little wary from her rejection, and though she was more open and a lot softer toward him, he could not be sure of her feelings for him. But he had never made a decision that felt so right and it could not be helped. He had found his duchess and he would not let her go. He would renew his addresses!
