"But Kitty, I know that you think better of him now," said Elizabeth when her sister told her of her engagement, "but do you even know his character? We dined with him and danced at the ball, but surely those few meetings are not enough to decide to marry a man."
"I met him much more often," said Kitty quietly.
"What do you mean?" asked Elizabeth.
"I, well when we were in London, you and Jane were very much engaged with each other and aunt, planning the wedding. Miss Darcy and I would often walk in Hyde Park or sometimes I might even go alone - taking a maid of course, but sometimes Miss Darcy was occupied. The first few times that we came across Lord Barlow, I thought perhaps it was for his cousin alone that he attended us. Yet, often Mrs. Annesley and Georgiana would walk on ahead together, leaving me to walk with Lord Barlow."
"So you got to know him well?" asked Jane.
"At first he did not speak much, at least when Georgiana was not partaking in the conversation. He is very shy with people he does not know well. After a while, he seemed to grow more comfortable and we talked of all manner of things."
"You truly love him then?" asked Elizabeth delighted for her sister.
"I did not say so," said Kitty, her eyebrows raised.
"But I thought..." said Elizabeth, letting her voice trail off.
"I esteem him. I like him. I respect him. I think he is very handsome. I do not think I love him yet," said Kitty, "But he declared his love for me."
"Will you be happy in a marriage of unequal affections?" asked Jane.
"Is it not more important for a man to love his wife? He is the one with all the power. Yet, Lord Barlow is quite willing to give up much if his father does not approve, living on a small estate the size of Longbourn until his father dies if needed. I feel I cannot do better than a man who loves me so."
"It is not because he is a viscount?" asked Jane.
"Of course not!" said Kitty, offended, "I would not have accepted him even if he were a duke if I did not like him at least. I would not wish to have to endure a marriage where I disliked my partner."
"Still," said Lizzy, "You shall soon be Lady Barlow. Shall I have to address you as such?"
"Of course not," said Kitty, "I suppose you may have to at formal occasions, but I shall always be Kitty to my sisters."
"That is well. I cannot imagine addressing my baby sister as 'her ladyship'!" said Jane with a giggle.
"Goodness," said Lizzy, "When shall you tell Mama?"
"He will not seek Papa's permission until after Jane and Bingley are wed. It would not do to have Mama in raptures over Lord Barlow instead of being happy over Jane's day."
"I would not mind your announcing it at my wedding breakfast," said Jane.
"You are too good, Jane," said Kitty, "but I could not ask it of you, nor would I wish for Mama to embarrass me so publicly, for you know she would."
"Indeed," said Lizzy, "We shall not have a moment of peace until you are safely wed, and perhaps not even then."
Mrs. Bennet could not decide what she should feel on the day before her eldest daughter's marriage. On one hand, Mr. John Lucas had recently wed Miss Goulding and now Mr. Collins was to wed Miss Lucas. Two of the most eligible bachelors that had ever come to the area were wed to ladies who were not her daughters. This stung most particularly as her most disobedient daughter Kitty might have been wed to Mr. Collins, if only she were not so headstrong. On the other hand, her eldest was to marry a very rich man tomorrow and her second daughter was being courted by a man of ten thousand a year.
"Lizzy!" called Mrs. Bennet.
"Yes, Mama," said Elizabeth, coming down the stairs from Jane's room to meet her mother.
"What is Mr. Darcy's favourite colour?" asked Mrs. Bennet.
"I do not know," said Elizabeth, "Blue, perhaps? He wears his blue coat rather often."
"How do you not know what his favourite colour is? How can you expect him to propose if you make no effort?"
"Mama," said Elizabeth, "I am certain he shall not mind if I do not know his favourite colour. Why do you wish to know?"
"Why! The ribbons on your new white dress, of course," said Mrs. Bennet, "You said you would wear it to-morrow, so you must change the ribbons for ones in his favourite colour."
"I have already changed the ribbons, Mama," said Elizabeth, "to violet so they might match Jane's gown. It would not do for me to look out of place beside her. Besides, Mr. Darcy shall wear a violet waistcoat to match as well."
"Oh, how well you will look together!" said Mrs. Bennet, "I am certain he was only waiting for your sister to be wed before proposing. It shall not be long now, my dear."
"Yes, Mama," said Elizabeth, feeling no need to correct her mother.
"You must not carry on and argue with him as you are wont to do."
"I do not argue with him," said Elizabeth, "I debate with him. He likes it, Mama."
"Men do not like bluestockings, dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "You must agree with what he says so he will think well of you."
"Mama, Mr. Darcy likes me as I am," tried Elizabeth.
"He would like you better if you were not so impertinent," said Mrs. Bennet.
Mrs. Bennet then went on to explain that Elizabeth must look her best the next day, pinching her cheeks and putting coal on her lashes. She must also go to bed early, for it would not do to look tired. She should also be friendly to Lord Barlow, for Mr. Darcy must care what his titled relations think of her. Elizabeth planned to do all of those things anyways, simply because she liked dressing for balls, and she wished to get to know her future brother better. Yet, she was still annoyed by her mother's high-handedness.
Jane looked the angel that Mr. Bingley thought her on her wedding day. Her gown was white like Elizabeth's but with white ribbons. She carried violets grown in Mr. Darcy's hothouse at Pemberley, which contrasted brilliantly with her dress. Mr. Bingley did not cease smiling during the entire ceremony. His bride was more sedate in her joy, but it was evident to those who knew her.
Mr. Darcy noticed none of this. He could not keep his eyes from Elizabeth, who stood opposite him as she represented her sister and he his friend. She noticed the intensity in his gaze, but attempted not to react as she already could hear Mrs. Goulding commenting on it as that lady sat very near to where Elizabeth stood.
"You look..." began Darcy, as he led her to her carriage, but could not come up with words to describe it, so he simply finished lamely, "beautiful." He must not have done too poorly in his expression of appreciation, for Elizabeth blushed and thanked him. He stood back, watching the rest of her family enter the carriage and depart.
"Brother," said Georgiana from beside him. He started, for he had nearly forgotten she was there.
"Yes, Georgie?" asked he.
"Do you not wish to go now to Netherfield?" asked she.
"Of course," said Darcy, leading her to the carriage.
Darcy was unfortunate enough to have requested Elizabeth's hand for what turned out to be two very lively dances and therefore had very little chance to speak with her during them. He sighed internally as he handed her over to Mr. Bingley for the next dance and went to where Mrs. Wickham stood, for she was to be his next partner.
The dance with Mrs. Wickham was pleasant, as were the following dances with Mrs. Bingley, Mrs. Collins, Miss Kitty, and Miss King. After Miss King, Darcy was to dance with Miss Lydia, but she was not to be found. He questioned Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bingley to see if they had seen her, but they had not seen her since a half hour earlier. Darcy assumed that she must have had need of the retiring room and therefore waited for her while finally having a moment to speak with Elizabeth.
When Mr. Goulding came to collect Elizabeth for the next set, Darcy realised that Miss Lydia was still nowhere in sight. Concerned, but not wishing to find himself in an untenable situation, he found Mrs. Gardiner and shared his worry with her. Knowing her niece's character as she did, Madeline Gardiner bade Mr. Darcy to assist her in looking for her niece, but not to mention the disappearance to anyone else. Darcy made his way through the main rooms of Netherfield, before widening his search to the rooms not open to guests. Mrs. Gardiner went out of doors, looking in the gardens for her niece.
Darcy interrupted Mr. John Lucas and his recent bride in a tryst but saw no sign of Miss Lydia Bennet. It was then that Mr. Darcy remembered that he must look on the balconies, for she may have simply wished for air. Mr. Darcy was certain now that his actions were drawing attention, for it was not typical for someone to go from one balcony to another in such succession. He intruded on an arguing couple and a crying young lady - not Miss Lydia - in his search of the balconies. It seemed that all he might accomplish in continuing to search was more intrusion into the private lives of the Hertfordshire gentry, but he pressed on. It was not until he reached the balconies that were on the far east side of the house that he found his quandary - in a sense. He happened to see movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned towards it, spotting a young lady running from Netherfield, valise in hand. While he could not be certain, the lady looked similar enough to Miss Lydia for him to be concerned.
Trying not to draw too much attention, he made his way to the east entrance to the house and out of doors. The lady was quite far away from him now and was no longer alone. A militia member, identified only by the red coat he wore, was with her. There was a carriage waiting nearby, and the two were walking towards it, hand in hand.
Darcy broke into a run. The couple heard him as he drew closer and began to run themselves, but his long legs allowed him to outpace them. He grabbed the officer by the collar and threw him to the ground.
"Denny!" cried Lydia.
"Miss Lydia, go back to the breakfast."
"I won't!" said Lydia, "I am to be married."
"You're damn right you are," said Mr. Darcy.
Lydia continued to protest, which drew the attention of Mrs. Gardiner who was still in the back gardens. Mrs. Gardiner quickly understood the situation and led her niece back to the ball. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy led Mr. Denny into the Netherfield Library. Mr. Bennet was quick to arrive, having been ordered to the library by his sister-in-law.
"If you wished to marry Miss Lydia," growled Mr. Darcy to Mr. Denny, "why would you simply not approach Mr. Bennet for her hand?"
"I-Well, I had not thought," Mr. Denny stumbled over his words.
Mr. Bennet, not having been yet observed, continued to watch the scene without comment.
"You had not thought what?" asked Darcy.
"I had not thought Mr. Bennet would accept my suit for Miss Lydia, for I have no fortune."
"How did you expect then to live?" asked Darcy.
"She has six thousand pounds and a rich brother," said Mr. Denny quietly.
"You wished only for her fortune, then?" asked Mr. Darcy.
"I would remain in the militia," said Mr. Denny, "but between my wages and her fortune, I thought we might do well enough."
"Did you know that there is a clause that excludes the dowry from being released unless either Mr. Bennet or Mr. Bingley approves of the marriage?" said Mr. Darcy.
"I didn't," said Mr. Denny with a pained look.
"You should be rather glad that Mr. Darcy stopped you, then," said Mr. Bennet, making his presence known.
"Indeed, sir," said Mr. Denny.
"The banns will be read on Sunday, Mr. Denny. You and Lydia will marry in a month," said Mr. Bennet.
"Very good, sir. Thank you, sir," said Mr. Denny. Mr. Bennet bowed and left the room.
"Know that if you do not keep good on your promise, I have the resources to make your life miserable, Mr. Denny," said Mr. Darcy.
"Aye, sir," said Mr. Denny.
Mr. Darcy followed after Mr. Bennet, going back to the wedding breakfast so they might not be missed.