A Decision Rendered
The next day arrived, rather cold, blustery and rainy which prevented any thoughts of venturing out of doors for a walk. Jane and Maria's departure was effected after breakfast, the weather not proving to be a deterrent to travelling by coach. Jane was dispatched with strict orders from her sister to write as to how their father had acted in respect of Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth had no expectation of her father writing to her particularly, since he expected her to accompany Jane. With their departure, Elizabeth was thrown upon her own resources and given that she had arrived at a decision, Elizabeth was eager to inform Mr. Darcy of it; the forced inactivity – physical at least – was trying her patience. Finally her aunt, exasperated undoubtedly by her niece's restlessness, banished her to Mr. Gardiner's study where she would, as Mrs. Gardiner put it, 'be in nobody's way there'. Fortunately for Mr. Gardiner, he had already left for his warehouse and the intrusion of a restless, fidgety niece into his private room could not be of any concern. Why she was so restless, Elizabeth could hardly answer, but there it was, and she found herself forced to feign an interest in a novel, although she finished barely two chapters in the several hours she spent reading.
At last, early in the afternoon, she took up a station with her aunt in the sitting room to await Mr. Darcy. A scant quarter hour later, the sound of a carriage stopping in front of the house was heard and, shortly thereafter, Mr. Darcy was shown into the room. It took but a single look to see that the gentleman was decidedly uncomfortable - his efforts at masking his uncertainty quite fruitless – and, while he attempted to converse easily with both Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth, his gaze was regularly drawn to Elizabeth as though he wished to read her answer upon her countenance. Elizabeth made such efforts as she could to set him at ease and reduce his discomfort but it was clear that such efforts were meeting with small success.
Mrs. Gardiner at last rose from her chair, saying, "I believe you both desire a private conversation. I will be in the room across the hall and the door to this room will be left open. Your privacy here is assured as all my servants have been instructed to remain downstairs."
Upon Mrs. Gardiner leaving the room, Elizabeth could not resist teasing Darcy, "You look overset, Mr. Darcy. Surely you are not uncertain of my answer?"
The half smile that she wore and her gentle tease – he believed he knew her well enough to know she would not tease him so if she meant to refuse him – drew a bark of laughter from him; she could see his body and features visibly relax, before he replied, "Miss Bennet, I was never more uncertain about anything when I entered this room. I admit to feeling more hopeful now."
"And so you may be – quite hopeful, in fact. I have decided to accept your offer of a courtship." She could not but be pleased by the happiness she could read on his countenance – it was not that he wore a broad smile but his eyes seemed to warm as he gazed at her. She held up a hand to restrain him, as he appeared about to take her hands in his own, saying, "There are some conditions I must attach to my acceptance. I do not think them particularly onerous but you must decide for yourself."
"And these conditions are?" A trace of uncertainty had returned as he awaited her answer.
"I am sure you are aware that my cousin, Mr. Collins, made me an offer of marriage last November – your aunt must have spoken of it to you, I am sure – and not too kindly, I would hazard. I refused the offer, against my mother's wishes, but was supported in it by my father. Nonetheless, my mother spoke warmly of my disregarding her wishes for months afterwards." She looked calmly at Darcy, "I wish to keep our courtship private for the first fortnight or so; and my aunt has kindly offered to host me here for that time."
Darcy considered her suggestion, "By private, I assume that your mother would not be informed. I do feel bound by honour to obtain your father's consent. Will he be in agreement with this condition?"
"I believe so. I realized that you would need his consent and thought to have you take a letter from me for him. I sent a note to him with Jane, who returned to Longbourn this morning, as to why I did not return - as well saying my aunt wished for my help with the children. If my conditions are acceptable to you, I will send another outlining the reason why I have accepted the offer. It will, I believe, be necessary since my feelings towards you were quite negative when last I spoke with my father."
Darcy nodded before asking another question, "Why only a fortnight here? Do you expect to arrive at a decision so soon?"
Elizabeth rose from her seat and began to pace the room for several minutes before turning to face him, "I felt that a fortnight would allow us both to reach a conclusion and decide whether we want the courtship to proceed further." Her gaze now commanded his attention, "I believe…I know that my station in life is much inferior to yours. I have come to believe that you have resolved your uncertainties about the difference, but I admit to a concern that….further reflection may lead you to regret an attachment. That you may lose respect for me is something I could not bear. Should you feel this likely, I would hope for you to withdraw from the courtship."
Darcy was speechless for almost a minute before finally saying, "I had quite resolved all those matters while I was at Rosings and my sojourn here in Town has quite fixed the matter in my mind. I have never sought to be much in society and would much prefer to spend my life at Pemberley – a few weeks in London would satisfy my cravings for its pleasures. And with respect to my friends, well…to put it simply, if a friend cannot accept my wife, he is cannot be counted amongst my friends. I fear you cannot hope to escape this way, Miss Bennet." His grin was surprisingly cheerful, "And what is the decision you face?"
"I have said I do not know you. If we continue the courtship at Longbourn, I will have come to view a possible offer of marriage more favourably; however," and her smile disappeared, "I expect to bring to Longbourn the Mr. Darcy that I have come to appreciate lately." Then her grin returned, "And you shall have the pleasure of my mother's solicitous behaviour. She will, I assure you, be most favourably impressed by your ten thousand a year and quite, quite attentive."
Darcy nodded, "I consent to these conditions quite readily, Miss Bennet. Since this courtship is to be conducted under your uncle's protection, I believe I should speak to him as soon as may be."
Mrs. Gardiner was applied to and, after extending her congratulations to them both, invited Mr. Darcy to dine with them that evening, an invitation which he was quick to accept and, indeed, requested permission to include his sister so that he might introduce her to Elizabeth. The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too great for her to know in what manner she acceded to it. She immediately felt that whatever desire Miss Darcy felt of being acquainted with her must be the work of her brother; and without looking further into the matter, decided it was satisfactory. Elizabeth was not altogether comfortable – that was impossible; but she was flattered and pleased. His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of the highest kind. It also, she realized as she considered it further after his departure, improved, if only slightly, her opinion of Mr. Darcy himself.
Mr. Darcy remained but a short while longer, claiming the need to return home to apprise his sister of their engagement to dine. Elizabeth saw him to the door and could not help but be pleased by his courteous manner as he bowed over her hand when he took his leave. She rather thought she might enjoy this courtship, although she told herself firmly that she had disliked the gentleman in the past – a circumstance based on his behaviour then – and, if she could not say she liked him now, at least she did not dislike him so severely as in the past. Pushing such thoughts aside, she removed herself to her room to write her father who believed her quite opposed to Mr. Darcy - to hold him in serious dislike. To explain the dramatic shift in her feelings was not something to be undertaken easily. Fortunately, her deliberations with her aunt had forced her to review her acquaintance with Mr. Darcy and that experience made the task of communicating the change less onerous. She was honest with her father, she did not profess an attachment to her suitor but focused on identifying those areas from which the misunderstandings arose – including his role in separating her sister and Mr. Bingley. It took four full sheets of paper to express her thoughts and she could only hope her father would credit her reasons for accepting the courtship.
Mr. Gardiner had, when apprised that Mr. Darcy and his sister were to be guests for dinner, arrived home somewhat earlier than was his wont in order to greet them; of particular interest, of course, was the gentleman who was to court his favourite niece. About an hour before dinner, Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. From Mr. Wickham she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of but a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable and cast a fulminating thought in Mr. Wickham's direction.
Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother, but there was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.
Very shortly after they were introduced, Elizabeth had led Miss Darcy to a settee where they ensconced themselves comfortably and she made every effort to engage her conversation. It proved a somewhat difficult task as Miss Darcy's shyness limited her to the very briefest of answers. It was not until the subject touched on music and her studies that she so far lost her reserve as to speak entire sentences complete and, within the half hour, had begun to describe her favourite places at her home – Pemberley. As Miss Darcy's comfort with Elizabeth increased, she allowed herself the liberty of asking Elizabeth about her home and its environs; and, by the time they were called to dinner, she was speaking with slightly more ease of her time at school and the girls she had met there. With some embarrassment, she admitted that she had become friendly with only two girls with whom she maintained an acquaintance via correspondence since they were separated by such distance as to preclude an easy exchange of visits. She freely admitted that she found herself reluctant to enter into an acquaintance with some young women, who were desirous of doing so, because it had become quickly obvious that the presence of her brother was the chief attraction for them. Elizabeth found herself expressing sympathy with her saying, "It seems that there is more than just one Miss Bingley."
Miss Darcy looked embarrassed as she said, "Miss Bingley is very fulsome with her praise. I sometimes think she values my accomplishments too highly."
"I dare say she does. I believe she considers you one of the most accomplished ladies of her acquaintance." Elizabeth's smile was meant to reassure Miss Darcy but her embarrassment deepened and she whispered, "I suspect I would be less valued if my brother was less worthy."
Elizabeth patted her hand and said, "Perhaps in the mind of Miss Bingley, but in no else's I am sure. Your brother speaks very highly of you and I trust his opinion. I should very much like to hear you play."
"My brother says that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to you sing and play."
Elizabeth smiled and teased, "I fear he praises me too highly, undoubtedly for some mischievous purpose of his own."
Miss Darcy's concern was immediate, "Oh no. My brother never exaggerates, although I believe he is too kind to me."
"A perfect older brother then! I could wish I had a brother but have only four sisters."
Elizabeth could not miss the wistfulness in Miss Darcy's expression as she replied, "I could wish that I had a sister."
"Well, when your brother marries, he shall provide you with one."
Miss Darcy looked down at her hands and murmured, "I hope that I do not have to wait too long."
Elizabeth could think of no response to this statement and purposefully changed the subject and soon had engaged Miss Darcy in a discussion of their favourite composers – a subject which they were to carry into the dinner itself.
It was not often that Elizabeth could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself who was being ably entertained by her aunt and uncle; but, whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general complaisance; and, in all that he said, she heard an accent so far removed from hauteur or disdain of his companions, as to convince her that the improvement of manners which she had so lately witnessed, however temporary its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When she saw him thus, seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people, with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace; when she saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected his past behaviour in Hertfordshire, the difference, the change was so great, and struck so forcibly on her mind, that she could hardly restrain her astonishment from being visible. Never, even in the company of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations at Rosings, had she seen him so desirous to please, so free from self-consequence or unbending reserve, as now, when no importance could result from the success of his endeavours, and when even the acquaintance of those to whom his attentions were addressed, were it known, would draw down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and Rosings. It was consoling that he should know she had some relations for whom there was no need to blush. She listened most attentively to all that passed between them, and gloried in every expression, every sentence of her aunt and uncle, which marked their intelligence, their taste, or their good manners.
While the Gardiners usually dined in company with their oldest children – even when their nieces were visiting – tonight they had chosen to have them eat in the nursery and thus the company around the dinner table was a congenial blend of intelligence, good humour and amiability such as to produce lively and interesting conversation. Miss Darcy found herself sitting at Mrs. Gardiner's right hand with Elizabeth beside her while Mr. Darcy sat to Mrs. Gardiner's left. That lady was able to revisit with Mr. Darcy the subject of Lambton and her upbringing there and if, between them, they were unable to exhaust their descriptions of Derbyshire and environs of Pemberley, it was not from want of trying. Their discussion was so animated as to draw Miss Darcy into it and led her to ask whether Mrs. Gardiner had met either of her parents. That lady was able to satisfy her only slightly, saying that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy had come but rarely to Lambton but that her father had occasion to meet them both as he was the rector for the Lambton parish. She did recall visiting Pemberley once, as a young girl – the occasion being Miss Darcy's christening. She thought she remembered seeing Miss Darcy's brother on that occasion but would not have recognized him now since he had grown so tall – leaning over to Miss Darcy, she whispered, "and handsome." Whether Mr. Darcy heard that comment, Elizabeth could not be sure, although his faint blush suggested he had.
The dinner was one of the most pleasant that Elizabeth could recollect and she was beginning to seriously question the basis for her former dislike of Mr. Darcy. When they rose from the table, Mr. Gardiner invited Darcy into his study for a glass of port and, Elizabeth had no doubt, a discussion of the possible rules of propriety that would govern their courtship. Elizabeth knew that her aunt and uncle would not be as blatant as her mother in allowing a courting couple unchaperoned privacy, although they would ensure the couple opportunities to converse privately.
While they waited for the gentlemen to return, Elizabeth and Miss Darcy continued their easy conversation, ably assisted by Mrs. Gardiner; and, finally, after much persuasion, Miss Darcy was encouraged to play a few pieces with Elizabeth turning the pages for her. She was half finished her second piece when Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy returned and they greeted her efforts with vigorous applause. Induced to play a third selection, she agreed only on condition that Elizabeth also perform – and her performance was greeted with equal enthusiasm which, even if prompted by the regard of one of her listeners, was no less appreciated by her.
A few minutes before the Darcys left, Darcy indicated his plans to ride to Longbourn in the morning to speak with Mr. Bennet and his expectations that he would return by the middle of the afternoon. An invitation to tea for that afternoon was extended by Miss Darcy to Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner which those ladies were pleased to accept. Darcy also expressed a desire to meet with the Gardiners and Elizabeth to discuss his meeting with Mr. Bennet and suggested that Mr. Gardiner join them at his home for dinner. The Gardiners being amenable to these arrangements, the Darcys took their leave, albeit not before Elizabeth had given Darcy a letter to deliver to her father when they met.
The observations of her aunt and uncle began shortly after the Darcys left; and each of them pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything they had expected. "He is perfectly well-behaved, polite and unassuming," said her uncle.
"There is something a little stately in him, to be sure," replied her aunt; "but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can now say that though some people may call him proud, I have seen nothing of it."
"I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It was more than civil – it was attentive – although there is obviously a reason for such behaviour. Nonetheless, I find it hard to believe he was so disagreeable when in Hertfordshire. On the contrary, there is something of dignity in his countenance that would not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart."
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled with delight at Elizabeth's blushes and she found it advisable to remove to her bedroom to consider all that had happened that evening.
