AN - I feel many of you will love this chapter.
"Jane," Lizzy's tone questioned as her eyebrow arched. Looking her sister over, Elizabeth noted the return of some colour to Jane's cheeks and the lustre to her eyes. Yet the aura of illness still hung like an ever-present cloud, threatening to rain but holding back the down-pour.
"I am well, Lizzy," Jane reproached in response to her sister's unspoken concern. "Do not look so affected. I promise not to tax my strength. I will sit quietly by the fire and enjoy the company of our hosts for only an hour after we first dine. We are to go home tomorrow and I will not miss this opportunity to become better acquainted with Mr. Bingley."
"Then let us go down to dinner," Lizzy blew out a breath in exasperation. Unable to keep the anxiety from her eyes, Elizabeth forced a smile to her lips. "With you at the table," she teased her sister, "perhaps Miss Bingley will leave me alone, and Mr. Bingley will talk more and brood less."
"Has today been so bad," Jane sympathised.
Initially, Miss Bennet had considered Caroline Bingley an acquaintance worth knowing. Wanting to think well of the woman, Lizzy's tales of spiteful comments and veiled insults did not sit well with Jane's soft heart and acquiescent view of the world. She needed to witness for herself Miss Bingley's demeanour toward her dearest sister, for she could not imagine Caroline being so deliberately ill-mannered and spiteful.
Dinner proved a trying affair, as Caroline attempted to extract information on, and then belittle, the Bennet relations. Both Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst looked upon their uncles, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Gardiner, with disdain when they exposed the connection to trade. However, Mr. Darcy subtly implied many gentlemen supported their lands with incomes from investments in such companies, while the Bingley's late father was himself in trade and had made the family's fortune importing goods from India. Miss Bingley immediately changed her tactics. Lizzy kicked Darcy under the table and glared at him to stop baiting the woman. He answered her with a quick smirk of satisfaction.
Bingley and Darcy decided against a separation of the sexes, after dining, as Miss Bennet intended to stay but an hour or two below stairs. Hurst protested but was overruled. Moving into the drawing room, Charles could not do enough to ensure Miss Bennet's comfort. Seating her by the fire in one wing-backed chair, he took its twin and there he remained to the exclusion of everyone else. Lizzy, was delighted by the thoughtless slight, as she felt it demonstrated Mr. Bingley devotion to her sister. She could not be happier for Jane.
"What amuses you so, Miss Elizabeth," Darcy requested quietly.
Aware Miss Bingley was demonstrating her skill at the instrument only to garner his attention, Darcy used the distraction to speak with his object. Once again he took up the other end of the love seat and the book he'd abandoned on the end-table last evening. Darcy pretended to read, although his attention focused on the bewitching creature a foot away, pretending to ignore him.
"I am sure it is not your choice of reading material that distracts you," pointing to the book, he stated in a droll tone, "for I believe even you would find it difficult to read upside-down."
Caught, Elizabeth blushed to the roots of her hair. "I am afraid my mind was more agreeably engaged."
Glancing at his friend, Darcy could not help but see Charles' attachment to Miss Bennet. Due to his own very-deep feelings for Elizabeth, Darcy could hardly chastise Bingley for his affections. However, with the obvious disadvantages of the Bennet family living only three miles away, Darcy would strongly suggest he forgo the purchase of Netherfield should he make an offer to Miss Bennet. Indeed, in his own case, he fervently hoped that Derbyshire would prove far enough away so as to have to cope with relations such as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, at most, once a year.
"I had hoped, this being your last night at Netherfield," Darcy suddenly felt embarrassed by the request, "that you would honour us by performing. It gives me great pleasure to hear you play."
"I will agree," Lizzy smiled in response, her impertinence reaching her eyes and making them sparkle in the candle light, "but only if you will turn the pages, Mr. Darcy."
"Turn the pages," he responded, irony lacing his tone, "or save you from undue abhorrence now the lady in question has completed her exhibition and turned her attention in this direction."
"Both," she stood, waiting for him to follow, "I imagine."
After playing a single piece, Elizabeth noticed Jane wilting from fatigue. Making her excuses, she escorted her sister from the room. Still early and not wanting to retire, Lizzy remained in her sister's chamber and read aloud. Smiling as Jane's eyes drooped, then closed completely, Lizzy sighed and retreated to her room.
Changing for bed without the help of a maid, Elizabeth found she had much to think on. They would remove to Longbourn tomorrow. Before breakfast, the trunks would have to be packed and sent outside. Mr. Darcy had offered his carriage to convey the Bennet sisters home. Such kindness, if witnessed by the population of Meryton, would cause much talk. Lizzy could not help but reflect upon her feelings about a certain gentleman. Just considering him increased her heart rate and made her mouth run dry.
How, she contemplated, can one man affect me so. Surely it is too soon to be in love. Yet I am sure Mr. Darcy believes it to be so. Even Jane has assumed to know my feelings. It is all so new and delightful, and frightening at the same time. Yet would I say yes if Mr. Darcy proposed? Could I even contemplate refusing?
In her heart, Elizabeth knew the answer. Drifting off to sleep, Lizzy dreamt of walking in woods and coming upon a fork in the path. She knew one direction lead to Longbourn, the other to an unknown destination. Choosing the less-travelled trail, she came across a small church. Hearing happy voices inside, she watched as the doors flew open and out came the bride and groom in a shower of wheat seed. Continuing on, Lizzy approached a well-situated house. The couple from the church pulled up before a line of servants, alighted their carriage and hurried inside.
Remembering the emotions evoked by her dream, Lizzy hurried through her packing the following morning. Embarrassed by the maelstrom of feelings within her, Elizabeth did not know how she would face Mr. Darcy. Now dressed for church, she hurried to her sister's room to help Jane.
"A moment of your time, Miss Bennet," Darcy requested as Lizzy exited her room. Hurrying up the stairs, he wished to catch Miss Elizabeth alone for a quiet word. Now the opportunity presented itself, he found the sentiments he wished to express stuck in his dry throat.
"Only a moment, Mr. Darcy," Lizzy smiled, her hand on the knob to Jane's room. "We depart for Longbourn after services. I wish to ensure our trunks are ready for the footmen before we go below for breakfast."
"I cannot, in all conscience, let your return without telling you how much I have come to admire and love you, Miss Bennet," Darcy suddenly found the dam, holding back his most private feelings, broke at the thought of her loss from Netherfield. "I understand our acquaintance has been of short duration, but every time we are in company my heart leaps for joy the moment I see you. You make me a better man, the kind of man I have always wished to be."
Pausing to catch his breath and organise his raging thoughts, Darcy dropped to one knee before Elizabeth. "I have long wished for a woman I can sit beside in companionable silence, or engage in conversation on many and varied topics. Spending the greater part of the year in the county, there will be many hours spent quietly at Pemberley with only my partner in life for company. I wish to share my life in its entirety. I want you for my wife, Miss Bennet, to stand beside me, laugh and cry with me, share our sorrows and joys, but most of all to share our life and raise our children together. Please say you will end my suffering and accept my hand, Miss Elizabeth."
"Yes," she managed to choke out with tears welling in her eyes as happiness filled her heart.
Taking her bare hand between his much larger ones, Darcy brought it to his lips. Softly laying a caress on each knuckle in turn, he finally turned it over. His tongue darted out to trace a circle upon her palm. He felt the shiver of her delight, emanate from his most inappropriate touch. Glancing up to capture Miss Elizabeth's, no his Elizabeth's reaction, Darcy found himself drowning in the pleasure shining from her eyes.
"May I accompany you and your sister to Longbourn," Darcy requested as he stood, but did not release her hand, "and speak to your father?"
"Yes," Lizzy uttered, to overcome to think rationally. "I can hardly believe it to be true. We are engaged!"
"Yes," Darcy couldn't stop the smile breaking out on his face, or the rich laughter bubbling up from the region of his heart. "I will ensure you have no reason to repine, once we are married, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth."