Chapter 2 Mr Bennet's study.
Mr Bennet pointed Mr Darcy towards a chair in front of his cluttered desk, offering him a seat. He walked over to a small table with a bottle and several tumblers. Lifted the bottle up in the air and waved it in Darcy's direction.
"Port?"
"No thank you. 'Tis a bit early for me."
The last thing Darcy needed was to fill his gnawing, empty stomach with spirits. It was essential that he kept his wits about him as Mr Bennet was no mediocre opponent and the stakes were all or nothing.
Mr Bennet filled two tumblers regardless of Darcy's polite refusal, returned to his desk and shoved one of the tumblers towards Darcy.
"In case you change your mind."
Mr Bennet sat down, elbows on his desk, fingers gently touching while he scrutinised his opponent.
Darcy also studied this enigma of a man before him, previously believing him to be an uninvolved, lackadaisical parent. One look at Elizabeth father showed that his aforementioned perception was erroneous.
"What brings the illustrious Mr Darcy to my sanctuary at the early hours of the morning?
May I make the presumption that you have come to contradict the scandalous rumours your condescending aunt so eloquently berated Elizabeth for spreading last night? I am well informed you see. Your aunt's ridiculous parson, and unfortunately my cousin, have already written me four pages on the matter."
"Not exactly,"
Darcy cautiously replied. Contemplating on how he should proceed after Mr Bennet's revelation.
"I have asked for your daughter's hand in marriage and she has accepted me."
Mr Darcy gave Mr Bennet time to reply but none was forthcoming so he continued.
"She will be well provided for, as will our eventual children. I know of the rumours containing my estimated wealth but I can assure you they are grossly underestimated. The exact numbers will be presented to you in the settlement after I have procured them from my solicitor in town. I understand if you need to withhold your consent until you have seen the settlement..."
"No, I know you can provide amply, more than she has ever known... What I fail to understand is why, you, Mr Darcy, who could have your pick at any of the exalted ladies of the ton...
Why my daughter?
She is not familiar with the ways of the upper ten thousand.
She is more likely to challenge you than to be the obedient, pliable wife you would expect. If you had been the recipient of her wrath..."
Darcy chuckled lightly.
"Oh, I have been on the receiving end of your daughter's wrath. It was a fearsome thing to behold, I can assure you..."
"When?"
"In Kent, the first time I proposed to her."
Mr Bennet stared at Darcy, speechless, for a moment before rumbling laughter erupted.
"What on earth can you have put into a proposal that made her temper flare? And why have I not heard anything about this until now?"
Darcy did not particularly want to elaborate on the encounter he had with Elizabeth in the Greek folly at Rosing's, especially not to Elizabeth's father. Trying to steer the conversation away from the subject, he gazed out the window to gather his thoughts.
"I love her."
Darcy bared his soul for the second time that day.
"But will it be enough?" Mr Bennet said quietly, almost as an afterthought.
"It will. I am looking forward to battle with her wit, debate literature on the cold winter evenings of Derbyshire. Watching her conquer the ton with her vivacity and intellect. If she can outwit Miss Caroline Bingley and aunt Catherine, she has nothing to fear from the upper éclat's. She will be a formidable opponent to anyone who dare challenge her.
Besides, I would never put her in a position I feared she could not manage..."
"Yes, well. I was eavesdropping on your aunt yesterday but what of your other relatives? Will she be shunned and despised by them? Elizabeth is generally loved in our little society. She is used to being liked, I would hate to see her spirit crushed by the vultures of the ton and then devoured by her own relatives..."
"My sister and Colonel Fitzwilliam adore her. I am not sure how my aunt and uncle Matlock will receive her in the beginning but I am confident she will win them over, eventually."
"But not without a fight?"
"They will interrogate her like you are doing now but that is because they care about my wellbeing, you can hardly expect them to do less..."
Darcy looked Mr Bennet straight in the eyes. Challenging him to gainsay him but the Bennet patriarch was wise enough to defer.
While the battle of wills continued in Mr Bennet's study, Elizabeth was pacing the hallway outside, wondering what took them so long.
Unable to distinguish any words from the low rumbling murmurs that drifted through the thick oak door.
The house was slowly awakening and the smell of freshly baked bread played in her nostrils. The peace was about to be broken though, the sound of her mother's footsteps were approaching in a hurried manner.
"Lizzy! Why are you not dressed yet? Tell your father that breakfast is ready in a minute, he will want to eat while the food is still hot. What are you standing about for? Go on in and tell him, he much rather be disturbed from his books by you than me!"
"I can't," Lizzy lowered her voice in hope that her mother would follow her lead.
"Why ever not, get out of my way and I will tell him myself, obstinate girl," Mrs Bennet muttered irately at her daughter, barging towards the study door.
"You cannot disturb him, he is not alone," Elizabeth said hastily.
"Whoever can it be this early in the morning, Lizzy?
I hope it is not Mr Bingley, perhaps he has changed his mind."
Mrs Bennet got an anguished look upon her face and Elizabeth reluctantly ushered her mother out of the hallway and into the front parlour before a case of fluttering nerves took over.
"No, mama. It is Mr Darcy."
"What is he doing here? Oh, lord I hope he did not see you dressed like this. He might tell his friend we are savages and persuade him to break off his engagement to Jane!"
"It is astonishing how your mind leaps from one catastrophe to another, in a matter of seconds.
I am sure Mr Darcy's could not break off their engagement once it was blessed by my father, even should he wish it.
Keep the girls in the parlour, papa does not want to be disturbed. I will tell him that breakfast awaits him when he is finished."
Mrs Bennet nodded. "Make sure Mr Darcy does not see you dressed like that," she admonished before she continued onwards to the breakfast parlour in a swish of skirts.
Elizabeth had escaped her mother without making any promises. She leaned onto the opposite wall of the study, exhaling exasperatedly.
Inside the study, the opponent's were silently eyeing each other. Mr Bennet was first to break the silence.
"I hope you are aware that my daughter's dowry is a one fifth portion of her mother's 5000 pounds."
"Yes, I am aware of her dowry and connections…"
"Her connections I highly doubt…"
"What do you mean?"
"That, Mr Darcy, you will have to figure out for yourself. You are an intelligent man, I give you six months, a year at the most."
"I could just ask miss Elizabeth…"
"Lizzy does not know…"
It was Mr Bennet's turn to press for a change of subject, having no mind to enlighten the bewildered Mr Darcy.
"So... when did you fall in love with my daughter Mr Darcy?"
"Almost at the first moment I met her."
Darcy contemplated pressing Mr Bennet on the previous matter but decided to brush it aside as one of Mr Bennet's quirks.
"Took you a while to muster up the courage to approach her?"
"Yes."
Darcy had no intention of elaborating. If Elizabeth had chosen not to tell her father about their previous experiences, he would not.
Seeing an explanation was not forthcoming, Mr Bennet finally relented.
"You have my consent, provided that Elizabeth wants this union. By what I witnessed this morning, I might have little choice but I will speak to my daughter now, please send her in on your way out..."
Darcy had been dismissed with a conditional consent.
Seeing Elizabeth waiting outside the door, he gave her a half-smile and held the door open for her to enter.
Elizabeth seemed unfazed, her amused, twinkling eyes locked with his until the door was fully closed.
Darcy considered for a split second to remain outside the study but giggles erupting from the parlour persuaded him to venture out of doors.
He was in not feeling confident of the outcome. Elizabeth's declaration of love was too fresh. He feared her father might persuade her to reject him, knowing of the close relationship the two obviously had.
Never in his life had he contemplated the possibility of rejection from any father. Yet, here he was, a bundle of nerves. Awaiting the blessing he needed to fulfil his most fervent wishes, now pending on the whims of a lowly country squire.
The comments of disbelief, floating through the parlour windows did nothing to appease his fears. They obviously knew she didn't like him... It was, however, the giggling from the stairs inside the open front door that sent him pacing the courtyard.
'Why was she taking so long? What could be said that could set her against him, besides the obvious arrogant, arse argument...'
Light, running footsteps woke him up from his reverie and Elizabeth's smiling countenance came flying towards him.
"It is official. You are mine!"
Elizabeth practically leapt into his arms and he lifted her from the ground, threw his head back laughed heartily while twirling her around and around before gently lowering her back on to her feet. Enveloping her countenance in his large hands, he kissed her soundly.
"Now, that is a happy Mr Darcy,"
Elizabeth smirked, feeling rather pleased with herself, eliciting such a display of emotions from the staid Mr Darcy.
"Keep bringing me such invigorating news Elizabeth and I will be perfectly happy to oblige."
Darcy lifted her hands to his mouth spreading tender kisses on the top before turning them to lightly kiss her palms, then he kissed the pulse point inside her wrists. All the while looking intensely into her deep brown eyes.
Elizabeth got lost in his gaze, depriving her of her wit and quite possibly her ability to move.
Her lips parted due to the increasing difficulty she had drawing breath.
Four pairs of wide, astounding eyes accompanied by gaping mouths, watched in silence at the unfathomable scene unfolding in the courtyard.
The silence was abruptly broken by a tirade of giggles, followed by Mrs Bennet's unusually low and quiet voice...
"Jane! Ask Mr Darcy if he wants to break his fast with us and persuade Lizzy to put on something more appropriate..."
Elizabeth finally became aware of their audience. Reluctant to end their first private interlude as a betrothed couple just yet, she grabs Mr Darcy's hand and pulls him away from the onlookers before Jane reaches the door. Jane halted after that blatant demonstration of not wanting to be disturbed.
"Perhaps we can give them a few more minutes, mama?"
Elizabeth tugged Mr Darcy to her favourite place in the Longbourn courtyard, the swing... Sitting down she patted the seat beside her urging him to take a seat.
"It is a snug fit but a pleasant view, it is actually one of my favourite jaunts when in need of some peace and quiet."
She had chosen to sit with her back to the livestock and face the field beyond the house. Mr Darcy accepted her invitation but chose to straddle the seat facing Elizabeth rather than sit beside her. Efficiently rocking them back and forth with his long legs.
Elizabeth turned to face him.
"Will you stay for breakfast?"
Mr Darcy could not keep his hands from touching his betrothed. Trailing her cheek, jawline and chin with his fingertips, like he thought she would evaporate into thin air, the minute he did not touch her. He continued down her neck and arms to capture her hands intertwining her fingers with his.
"No. I am not dressed for company and I have a furious aunt that Bingley might need to be rescued from... I am loathed to part from you though."
For the second time this day, his eyes portrayed raw emotions and a vulnerability which tugged severely on Elizabeth's heartstrings.
"I had totally forgotten about that, you go on and fight the dragon lady... I will be waiting for you. Perhaps you can come back for dinner? Oh, and bring Mr Bingley."
Elizabeth was unconsciously caressing his palms with her thumbs, Darcy, however, was highly conscious. Leaning towards him she whispered softly in his ear.
"I have been told that those who fight dragons, may be rewarded if successful..."
Closing in on her mouth with his, he whispered back...
"Ah, I know."
"What would you like to be your reward?" Elizabeth decreased the gap to an inch.
He did not answer with words but opted to demonstrate...
Lips slightly parted they met tenderly, first with her upper lip then her lower lip, moving excruciatingly slow, sometimes barely touching, sometimes suckling lightly.
Elizabeth closed her eyes while she felt her bones liquefy. The sensations he created made her heart pounded furiously in her ears and frissons travelled up and down her spine.
Darcy sat back and watched her, eyes closed, lips slightly parted. Her pulse beating rapidly in the hollow of her throat. Lowering his gaze he caught a glimpse of what a betrothed, not yet a husband, should not yet see...
Darcy pulled her lapels firmly together, to cover the nightgown that had slipped off her shoulder before he tugged her to him for a last searing kiss.
Jane's gentle voice ended their private interlude by calling them in to break their fast.
Darcy led Elizabeth to the door, kissed her hand and turned to walk away when Mr Bennet called him.
"I have readied the carriage for you, Mr Darcy. You look exhausted, please accept my offer to convey you back to Netherfield."
Darcy gave him a thankful look and nodded his head in acquiescence, knowing fully well that this day was not over yet...
Elizabeth remained on the steps until the carriage with Mr Darcy was out of sight before she entered. Her mind in a state between reality and dream, she ran up the stairs to change for the day and escape her mother's exuberant celebrations for a few more minutes.
The breakfast turned out to be a noisy affair, everybody was trying to figure out how this new development had come about. Elizabeth was bombarded with questions but she was not willing to enlighten her family. The experience was too new and too private.
Darcy regretted leaving Elizabeth the moment he entered Mr Bennet's carriage. Not that he had much choice but the pull she had on him made it almost unbearable to part with her.
He watched her standing on the threshold, looking longingly after the retreating carriage. Imaginations of returning and abscond with Elizabeth to Gretna Green fluttered briefly through his mind only to be rejected as absurd. His Elizabeth deserved better. He had waited so long though... Mostly in hopeless regret.
Darcy entered Netherfield with a certain amount of trepidation. He was met with not only one, but two fire-spitting dragons...
Lady Catherine assaulted him first. Caroline, who had rushed to Netherfield after receiving an express about her brother's engagement, was waiting patiently next in line.
"Where have you been Darcy? I expect you to attend me, not to run scampering about the countryside and leave me stranded with these tradesman people..."
Caroline gasped at this atrocious statement.
"You may wish me joy, aunt," said Darcy, sending a sly smile in Bingley's direction.
He must have heard the commotion and had come rushing to his aid.
"I knew you would come to your senses and marry Anne, let us celebrate. Do you have a bottle of champagne in your cellar, Mr Bingley?"
"I am not marrying Anne, aunt."
"Of course you are, you have been designed for each other from birth..."
Darcy weary of the game blurted out with no further ado.
"I am betrothed to Miss Elizabeth Bennet as of this morning. I need a bath and a change of clothes. Aunt Catherine, I expect you to acquiesce to this or remove your self from the premises. Bingley, we are invited to dine at Longbourn at six."
He turned towards his stunned aunt.
"You are not invited."
"Neither are you," Bingley looked pointedly at his sister.
The two gentlemen made use of the dumbfounded silence that followed and excited the hallway.
"May I offer you a tumbler of Brandy while the servants heat your bathwater?" Mr Bingley asked Mr Darcy while they strode in the direction of his study.
"Yes, that sounds perfect."
Bingley studied his long-time friend intensely. Although exhausted, there was a new sense of calm about him.
"Have I dumbfounded you?" Darcy looked tentatively at his friend.
"No. I always knew you favoured Miss Elizabeth. I am surprised that you could persuade her to say yes. I thought she didn't like you very much."
"How come everybody knew this but me?" Darcy groused.
Bingley chuckled at his question.
"We see what we choose to see, I suppose."
Both gentlemen fell into deep thought before Bingley suddenly beamed. "We will be brothers after all."
"Yes. That's worthy of a toast, don't you think?"
They lifted their tumblers, to rejoice in their future felicity.
Caroline was aghast but not defeated.
In her mind, nothing was lost until the I will was uttered before the vicar. Perhaps, not even then...
Her only concern was if she should unite with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in the battle for Mr Darcy and his Pemberley.
"That little chit," Caroline hissed between clenched teeth.
"Mind your language young lady, it is not appropriate to call your betters chit."
Caroline's mouth dropped open. "That country bumpkin is not my better..."
"Of course she is, she, after all, is a gentleman's daughter. Breed always supersede wealth, if you had been a gently bred lady, you would have known that."
Lady Catherine sailed away in a swish of skirts and could be heard ascending the stairs, muttering to herself.
'Caroline thanked the heaven's that she had not approached Lady Catherine with an offer of her aid in her campaign against Miss Eliza. She would need all her skills as a professional cat of the ton to win but she had no intention of losing. She would have to manage on her own, briefly missing her older sister Louisa before she began to consider which approach would be the best method.
Compromising Mr Darcy, she immediately turned down due to the risk of her own reputation in high society if anything should go amiss.
There was a slight possibility Darcy would not act honourably towards her and choose to stand by his betrothed...
No, she would need to think of something else, something that would make it impossible for Mr Darcy to marry Eliza...'