Well, this still isn't the end but it is coming soon.
Chapter 16: Mr. Bennet's POV: Waiting for the Day
Once our engagement was announced, Mr. Darcy summoned me, Mr. Collins and Mr. Gardiner to the room in which the men generally spent the separation of the sexes. He poured all of us a drink and immediately told me, "I am so happy that you are to wed. Lady Catherine has been lonely and I dare say that you have been as well. It will be good for the two of you. However, I warn you that I expect you to observe all decorum in my home, especially before the marriage is solemnized. I will have no licentious behavior take place here."
"I understand," I told him and indeed I did.
Mr. Collins suggested, "Perhaps you might wish to purchase a common license so that you may be wed sooner rather than later."
I concurred.
I think if I had been a younger man and marrying a wife who was not the aunt of my host and patroness of Mr. Collins, I likely would have been subject to some ribald comments. As it was, though, no one said anything of the sort. Perhaps they did not think people of our age would wish to engage in passions of the flesh (though of course Mr. Darcy's warning implied he had not discounted the possibility). Or perhaps they did not wish to think of people of our age in an amorous embrace; I certainly would not have wanted to when I was a young man. But now as an old man I knew something that they might not. Although I might be weaker, a bit more stooped and frail, I still had the same desires of the flesh and dearly hoped Lady Catherine did, too.
When we rejoined the women, they were conversing about ribbons and lace and considering how long it might take to make up some new garments for my bride's wedding. When it comes to talking about dresses and fashion, women the world over must be the same.
Naturally with a room full of people, I had no chance to say anything to Lady Catherine alone. Thus we picked a wedding date in consultation with the Darcys.
Much later, when she arose to go up to her rooms for the night, I quietly told Lady Catherine, "I bid you goodnight and I hope to see you tomorrow for an early breakfast."
Lady Catherine nodded and smiled, responding, "Eight?"
That was a bit later than my "early" but I gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment. I rarely saw Lady Catherine before noon and knew she generally took a tray in her room.
A moment later I heard Lizzy say, "I shall go up as well." I had not realized how close she was to me and had a distinct feeling that Lizzy had overheard us making plans. This gave me a strange feeling of foreboding, but I tried to pay it no mind. What should it matter if my daughter knew we were to break our fast together? However, I was to learn how important it was the following morning.
That night as I lay in my bed, I wondered if indeed Lady Catherine might have left her door unlocked, hoping that I might visit her. However, my honor would forbid such conduct, even if my mind could not help but dwell on imagining Lady Catherine's maid helping her to undress. I imagined her rose colored dress being loosened and then dropping in a pool of fabric at her feet, exposing her shift. Then, perhaps, this would be removed as well. I imagined her maid bathing her in a copper tub, but this image had a fuzziness with Lady Catherine's breasts being of unknown shape, her nipples vague. I imagined her hair down, her silvered locks drifting in the water, undulating snakes. I imagined myself in the scene, plunging into the tub while facing her, her thighs and arms opening to me.
I slept ill, but awoke before my valet, Bran, had even arrived. I had already performed my morning ablutions and half-dressed when he finally opened the door from the servant's hall.
I reached the table at exactly seven minutes to eight a.m. according to my pocket watch, having already been awake for two hours. Darcy already there. He was drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper. After an exchange of greetings, we had companionable silence.
It was not until nearly half past eight when Lady Catherine arrived. I had already drunk my first cup of coffee, but had waited to take any food.
Lady Catherine and I ate slowly and tried to out wait Mr. Darcy. We had a stilted conversation in front of him; I felt neither of us could say what we wanted to say.
However, Darcy did not depart until Lizzy arrived, rising to kiss her cheek before he left. After greeting her, Lady Catherine and I exchanged glances.
My glance said, I love my daughter but I did not want to see her now.
Hers said, Shall we never be alone?
I shrugged. Neither of us made a move to leave. Having long ago finished my own breakfast, I took another cup of coffee; Lady Catherine requested more toast. We waited.
Mrs. Darcy ate slowly, reading the paper as her husband had done. We waited and waited, wondering, How long shall she remain?
Mrs. Darcy lingered until Georgiana arrived. Lady Catherine had long ago ceased eating, some crusts remaining on her plate, but she had declined efforts to remove my plate, likely wishing to keep at least the trappings of breakfast around her. I had only taken a couple of sips from my second cup of coffee, which long ago had grown cold. My rear was becoming sore from the hard wooden chair and I wondered if hers was becoming sore, also, which led me to think about the particular specimen of bottom that might be concealed under her dress. I imagined it would be pale and soft. I imagined holding her against me, my hands gripping each half moon. In such a way I whiled away the time, periodically turning my thoughts elsewhere to keep my member from disarranging my breaches.
However, after a while, I became frustrated. By this time the occasional glances I exchanged with Lady Catherine said, This has all been arranged. They will never leave us alone. Still, neither of us was willing to give up.
Before Georgiana finished eating, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and their children (all save for the youngest who was doubtless in the nursery with little Janey) came in. We spent some time talking and then Mr. Gardiner said, "My wife and I had planned to leave for London on the morrow but we have been considering whether we might extend our stay so as to attend your wedding."
Mrs. Gardiner added, "We have no wish to be presumptuous. We certainly understand if you would rather we did not remain."
I wished to accept but looked to Lady Catherine to let her know that it was to be her choice.
Lady Catherine responded, "Nothing could please us more." However I found myself wondering whether she welcomed their presence or not. After all, they were not nearly of her sphere. As for myself, I was genuinely pleased with their desire to remain to celebrate our nuptials. It meant a great deal to me that Fanny's brother approved.
Not long after that. Georgiana finished eating. After her plate was removed, she asked my bride to be, "Lady Catherine, may I show you a drawing I am working on?" Then she turned to me and offered, "Mr. Bennet, you are welcome to join us as well."
What could she do? What could we do? I supposed we could have remained and tried to out-wait all of the Gardiners, but doubtless someone else would have followed. Lady Catherine murmured her agreement and then looked at me as she began to follow Georgiana out of the room. I found myself following as well.
Georgiana should have not been deemed a suitable chaperone, but apparently she had been designated to do just that. It was so awkward to be before her. I wanted time with my beloved without scrutiny.
We looked at Georgiana's drawing, then she settled down to draw. I briefly left to retrieve a book, but found I could not read.
After a while Lady Catherine asked Georgiana, "Are you not going to practice the piano forte today? Diligent practice is most important in maintaining one's skill."
Lady Catherine then glanced over at me and I made sure to give her a cheeky wink. I could certainly see what Lady Catherine was trying to do. I did not imagine that she had some grand plan to seduce me, just days before our wedding, even if she had joked about inviting me to her bed. However, surely there could be no harm in exchanging a few kisses, could there be?
"I would like to practice," Georgiana admitted. She rose and I wondered if it could be that simple to get her to leave. Her next words showed me how wrong I was. "Lady Catherine, could you keep me company while I play?"
Lady Catherine gave me a look, before once again following after Georgiana. I wondered about remaining behind, but then it occurred to me that perhaps with the cover of music we might at least be able to talk.
When Georgiana was well occupied playing the piano forte in the music room, I stood up from my chair and joined Lady Catherine on the sofa. I looked her right in the eyes before I gently plucked her hand from where it was resting on her lap. I could not resist seeing her dear wrist and so I slid her glove down her arm, watching as pale skin, with a few freckles emerged. I turned her hand over and then gently kissed her wrist.
When she withdrew her hand I wondered, Was I too bold? Was what we shared the night before an abberation?