Chapter Thirty-Eight
Mrs. Bennet nearly fainted when Elizabeth told her she was engaged to Mr. Darcy. She threw up her arms and screamed. "Oh Lizzy, is this true? You would not be so cruel to tease me, would you?"
"No, Mama, I would not. Mr. Darcy has asked me to marry him and I have accepted."
Mrs. Bennet's eyes were bright with tears. "Oh Lizzy, you clever, clever, girl. I always knew you could do it. All that nonsense about not wanting to get married, and now you have caught Mr. Darcy."
"Mama, I have not caught him…."
Mrs. Bennet was not listening. She started to pull open some drawers. "Oh Lizzy, this is so exciting. How rich you will be. That is such a good thing. How everyone is going to envy you." She started to put a new cap and some lace cuffs from the drawers. "I must go out, Lizzy, I have some visits to make."
"Can't they wait, Mama?"
"No indeed, there is much to be done. I shall invite Mr. Darcy to dinner tomorrow. Lizzy, you must find out his favourite food. Before then I must go and see Mrs. Phillips, Lady Lucas… Mrs. Kennington… Think, Elizabeth, none of their daughters have made such grand alliances as mine."
Mrs. Bennet opened the door and yelled. "Hill, Hill, where are you…. Hill."
Mrs. Hill came running and Elizabeth looked at her apologetically.
"What is it, ma'am?"
"Miss Lizzy is getting married, Hill. Hill, can you imagine it. Such a fine man. It is Mr. Darcy and he has a fortune of ten thousand a year. What do you think, Hill?"
"Congratulations, Miss Elizabeth," said Mrs. Hill
"Thank you," said Elizabeth, glad that no one but her had witnessed her mother's reactions.
Elizabeth thankfully left them alone.
The dinner with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley as guests of honour could not be avoided, but Elizabeth did everything she could to shield him from her mother's extravagant and vulgar comments. And although she saw a vein throb in his cheek on several occasions, he did very well not to show his impatience as Mrs. Bennet lavished praise on him.
In private she couldn't resist teasing him. "I was thinking that when we are married I might invite my mother to live with us?"
Mr. Darcy's face was a picture of horror, though he only said, "Would she be happy moving away from her friends and family?"
Elizabeth could not help laughing. "No, she would not, even to live on a grand estate. I promise you she will not be living with us."
Mr. Darcy looked relived. "I hope you will be happy there, Elizabeth."
"I would be happy with you, Mr. Darcy, whether you had Pemberley or not."
Mr. Darcy looked pleased but changed the subject. "I have to go away tomorrow. I need to go to Kent and see Georgiana. I want to tell her myself that we are to wed."
"Will she be unhappy?" asked Elizabeth anxiously.
"Not at all. She hinted to me before I left Kent that I might marry you. She is very fond of you."
"And I of her."
"I also have business in London and Derbyshire and then I will return and we will make plans for our wedding."
Elizabeth laughed. "If Mama had her way it would be tomorrow. Promise me you will not stay away too long."
"I will return as soon as I can and in the meantime I shall write to you daily."
Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Darcy, you are a letter writer?"
"Very poor," said Mr. Darcy, "but for you I will make every effort."
Elizabeth missed Mr. Darcy when he left for Kent. She was rather envious of Jane, who continued to spend a great deal of time at Netherfield with the Bingleys. Though each day the two sisters found time to go for a walk and talk about their hopes for the future.
"My only sadness, Lizzy, is that we will be living so very far from each other," said Jane.
Elizabeth had thought the same and yet she was looking forward to a time when she would be with Mr. Darcy at Pemberley. "We will write, Jane, and we will have so much to tell each other."
Jane tried to smile, blinking back tears. "But it will not be the same, Lizzy, and I expect you will be far too busy if Pemberley is the large estate Mr. Collins has described."
"I will never, ever be too busy to write to you, Jane," said Elizabeth firmly.
Mr. Darcy was sorry to say goodbye to Elizabeth at Longbourn. He was so pleased they had reached an understanding, he did not want to leave her, but he had no choice in the matter. Before he was married there were matters that he wanted to settle. He did not travel directly to Kent but returned to London where he had several visits to make. One was to see the Gardiners in Cheapside.
"Mr. Darcy, sir, it is a delight to see you," greeted Mr. Gardiner.
"I apologise for not warning you of my visit."
"You are always welcome," said Mrs. Gardiner. "Do sit down."
Mr. Darcy sat. He liked both the Gardiners and he hoped they would be happy with his news.
"I came today to tell you that I have offered my hand in marriage to your niece Elizabeth Bennet and she has accepted."
"Oh… Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Gardiner clasped her hands together. "Oh, that is such wonderful news."
"It is indeed," agreed her husband. He shook hands with Mr. Darcy. "Congratulations, sir. There is no one that I would rather marry my niece."
"I am glad to hear it, sir. However, before the marriage can take place there are a number of things I need to do. I came to you because I need your help."
Mr. Gardiner looked startled. "What is it, sir?"
Mr. Darcy told them.