Chapter 9
Seeing her nephew's gaze once again peering into the carriage at her companion, Lady Matlock stiffled a chuckle. Quiet Darcy might be, she thought ruefully, but subtle he was not, and poor Elizabeth appeared to have no clue what he was about. It would be up to her to enlighten Elizabeth, she thought to herself, or Elizabeth might stubbornly never realize the regard Darcy had for her, until a proposal came pouring out his lips.
"I must say I admire my nephew's good taste, though both Henry and I hoped to introduce you to one of our sons," Lady Matlock said without preamble. When Elizabeth frowned in confusion, Lady Matlock said, "You may have missed it, but Darcy's regard for you is fairly obvious to the rest of us."
Lady Matlock chuckled when Elizabeth's mouth dropped open in complete disbelief and waited patiently for Elizabeth to say something. Finally finding her voice, Elizabeth said, "You are mistaken, Susan. Mr. Darcy does not hold me in any particular regard."
"You cannot possibly believe he holds you in disdain still. You are cleverer than that," Lady Matlock said firmly.
"Not disdain," Elizabeth said blushing. "but not holding me in disdain is a far cry from holding me in regard. I assure you, I have no designs on your nephew. I have no intentions of taking advantage of your family's assistance to me."
"No, you don't. But he does. He very much so has designs on you. He intends for you to be his wife. Mark my words, William is attempting to court you and has every intention of offering for you. He won't attempt to force you to his will like my sister-in-law's odious parson, but he will diligently do what he can to earn your regard. I would not like to see you caught unaware due to your own misconceptions. I do not tell you this so that you feel obligated to accept him, I tell you so that you have the opportunity to judge him as a suitor and potential husband before he springs a proposal on you that you might not otherwise be expecting. I won't say anything more on the matter for now amd shall do my best to offer impartial advice."
Darcy, Lady Matlock suspected, would not be able to help himself from proposing before to long. She was relatively certain he almost requested a private audience with Elizabeth three times last night to do so. Once he decided on a course of action, her nephew tended to be direct as a bullet and as quick as one too. He was more tenacious then a dog with a bone when there was something he truly wanted, and he wanted Elizabeth as his wife.
Elizabeth merely blinked in response, her face coloring up rosily. It seemed impossible to believe, but many of Darcy's words and actions that day and last night at dinner that had confused her due to her perception of how he regarded her took on less confusing meanings if she regarded him as a suitor. After all, she had more then once thought that if he was another man, one that did not dislike her, that his words and actions would be construed as showing marked attentions.
…
Darcy was wondering what his aunt had said to Elizabeth to cause her to flush when his cousin rode up next to him and called out, "You just may get your wish and find yourself in that carriage you keep looking longingly inside. Which I'd like to point out to you we could have been riding comfortably inside already."
"Last night Aunt Susan suggested I allow Elizabeth some space to allow her to regain her feelings of comfort and security after her reccent experiences and ride alongside. Your mother was concerned that such close proximity might make Elizabeth uneasy. I never want her to flinch away from me in fear again, Ben. She may not be my wife yet, but she will be, so it is up to me to protect her in all ways. I want her to be comfortable and if being out here makes her feel safer for now after what Collins put her through, out here I, and any other male, will be."
"While your constant staring at her might discomfort her, I pose no such threat. I do not understand how you and Richard can stand to spend so much time astride a horse," Sutton grumbled. He had been dismayed when he saw the second horse saddled that morning and realized he was expected to ride.
"f I am not in there with her, I certainly was not going to allow you to be," Darcy said with a glare.
"It looks like we may be in for some rain up ahead, putting us both in the carriage. After how she confronted you at luncheon, I think we cas safely say she is not afraid or uneasy in a male's presence. She is quite the fierce little thing. Shall I assume that while you will not be able to sit next to your lady love, you will want to claim the seat across from her?"
"You should assume that if you attempt to take the seat across from Miss Elizabeth, that I am not above bodily removing you," Darcy said stonily.
"No need to give me that Medusa glare. Your Miss Elizabeth is intelligent, charming and witty, in addition to being pretty. A man could do far worse in a wife. I look forward to having intelligent younger cousins and watching you turn gray as your daughters enter society. I did not invite myself along as an escort to woo her away from you. I invited myself along so that I could assist you. Neither of us have the charm of Richard. But I can participate in discussions that allow you to woo your Elizabeth's mind with tales of your deeds as Master of Pemberley. Richard was quite firm this morning, I am not to let you muck this up."
"Muck it up?" Darcy said dryly.
"If you cannot win her hand, you will be absolutely miserable. Neither of us wish to see you miserable and not just because you will be a real bear. So let us discuss strategy. Richard suggested that you have a fine enough form and face that no lady is likely to be immune to you physically."
"What's this? Are you suggesting that Richard believes I should attempt to seduce my intended?" Darcy asked in disbelief.
"Not seduce her persay. Definitely not," Sutton said decisively. "Just make sure she is aware of you. As a man."
"And how do you expect me to do that?" Darcy asked wryly.
"I haven't got a bloody clue," Sutton said with chagrin. "Damn it Richard!" he added in vexation. "Just where is that lout when you need him? Well between the two of us, I dare say we have enough experience to figure it out. Ladies are constantly throwing themselves at both of us. They like to physically cling to me and fawn over me. Maybe you could try that?"
"Neither of us like when they hang desperately off our arms," Darcy said with a frown. "Miss Elizabeth I know well enough to know she would object to any sort of fawning manner."
"Can't blame her for that," Sutton said thoughtfully. "Well, how would you like Miss Elizabeth to act towards you? Do that!"
"I think I would shock Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said simply. He wished Elizabeth would have more physical contact with him. Once they were engaged he intended to thoroughly indulge his sense by touching her hand, her arm, her curls, her face, what ever he possibly could, whenever he could and hoped she would do the same.
"Oh," Sutton said, blinking. "She would certainly be aware of you as a man."
"She is an innocent maiden, I do believe I should keep my hands to myself," Darcy said with a shake of his head to dispel the idea of feeling her slim digits engulfed in his own larger hand or better yet, stroking his face or tangled in his hair as he kissed her.
…
Darcy stretched his long legs out attempting to make himself comfortable in the carriage. When his leg bumped against Elizabeth's he started to draw back, an apology on the tip of his tongue. Elizabeth's blush though changed his mind. Rather then do so, he stretched back out, making himself more comfortable and once again coming into contact with Elizabeth's skirts.
Ever since he and Sutton had discussed touching Elizabeth he had felt even more driven then usual to have physical contact with her as long as she would allow it. He was inordinately pleased when Elizabeth blushed again but did not pull away from him. Feeling the weight of her leg against his felt oddly reassuring to him. He would prefer to have her closer, but that small amount of contact reminded him that he had not lost her yet. His aunt out of the corner of his eye he saw shake her head minutely at him, but said nothing to chastise him.
With a small pleased smile, that he ducked his head to hide, he nudged his leg against Elizabeth's. She glanced at him and he said, "Have you been enjoying the scenery, Miss Elizabeth?"
Smiling, Elizabeth said, "Despite the rain I am. You will find this a flight of fancy, but I am imagining the rain is washing away any trail of our passing. I know my cousin does not have the means to actually trail me, and my father intends to only give the appearance of assiting, but with everyone snug inside their is no one to report my flight. I am grateful to have been provided a place to flee too."
"You are protected no matter what," Darcy told her. "Your cousin will never lay a single finger on you again."
"Hopefully he does not carry tales immediately to Lady Catherine to spurn her into aiding him in his pursuit of you right away. If Collins decided to regale her with tales of Darcy dancing with you at Netherfield over tea, she will be determined to see you married to her parson quickly. It was only the one dance, wasn't it?" Sutton said with a smirk at Darcy. To Elizabeth he added, "Of course Aunt Catherine is so meddlesome and convinced of her own condensation she will take your flight from her parson as a personal affront and aide him no matter what once he learns you are gone."
Seeing Elizabeth's features become more anxious, Lady Matlock said, "Do not fret. Your father's plan allows sometime before Mr. Collins or your mother become suspicious that you have fled. Though I suspect if Cathy has demanded he marry, he will put pressure on your father to have the banns called. As long as he remains in Kent though he will not know when the banns have been called or not. Hopefully our travel will buy your father enough time to sort everything out."
Darcy nodded and added, "I suspect the situation will be resolved before the new year and I am sure your father has a plan to delay the reading of the banns." What Darcy did not say was that he had authorized his cousin to spend an exorbitant amount of money to ensure which ever Bennet was disgraced avoided complete ruin in an expident fashion. He, Sutton and Lady Matlock all knew that as soon as Lady Catherine heard of his interest in Elizabeth, Lady Catherine would act. The only thing in doubt was how soon she would hear of it from Collins, which is why Darcy had been anxious to remove Elizabeth from London even though it was Sunday, an inappropriate day for travel. Her meeting Lady Catherine would not help his suit.