Mr. Collins smile broadened and he bowed so low to the esteemed nephew of his esteemed patroness that Darcy had to step back a few paces.
Darcy glared at him wondering how the man could be so stupid. He seemed so proud to be addressed by Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley that he missed the warning signs that he was on the verge of being throttled by that illustrious personage.
Darcy beckoned him to come closer which was immediately obeyed in a crab-like fashion.
Darcy rose to his magnificent height of six foot two dwarfing the little man. He leaned in so close that he could smell the putrid smell emanating from this grotesque caricature. Darcy took a deep breath, willing himself to be calm and not make a scene. "Your manners offend me, Mr. Collins and I will not have it," he said quietly. "I give you fair warning to cease and desist your attentions to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. If you do not, I will break you in half."
Mr. Collins blinked rapidly, his tiny brain trying to process what he had just heard.
Darcy continued, "If I ever see you leering at any woman in this house I will see that you will lose your position at Hunsford. Indeed, no one in the kingdom will employ you if you continue to displease me. Do I make myself clear?"
Mr. Collins's eyes had widened in terror during this address. He made no response except to bow once more and back away still in low deference.
Unfortunately this unique form of showing respect to his betters backed him into Richard Fitzwilliam, son of the Earl of Matlock. Richard had been watching the scene with Darcy and Mr. Collins unfold with vast amusement. Nevertheless, when Mr. Collins had stumbled back at him he was so surprised that he accidentally threw a full glass of red wine on the head of the hapless cleric. The room exploded with gasps and titters and a snort from Miss Lydia Bennet.
Mr. Collins scurried out of the room with Mrs. Bennet following in his wake offering him her abject apologies to the man she hoped to call son.
"What an unfortunate accident," allowed Anne, not daring to look at Richard.
Elizabeth had immediately turned her attention to Georgianna assuaging the young girl's confusion and distress at the comical scene which had just transpired. She managed to bring a smile to Georgianna and Darcy was relieved to hear his sister actually giggle out loud.
Elizabeth finally turned her attention to Darcy and studied him with a placid smile. "I'm afraid this unfortunate accident will necessarily delay our dinner. I hope you are not too hungry, Mr. Darcy."
"On the contrary, Miss Elizabeth, you see before you a starving man."
Elizabeth nodded in understanding, "I too begin to feel the pangs of hunger. But it shouldn't be too long before dinner is served."
When Mrs. Bennet returned to the room still aflutter, Darcy offered his arm to Georgianna and Elizabeth and escorted both ladies to the dining room where an excellent dinner was served. Mr. Collins remained in his room for the duration of the evening and the party enjoyed many spirited discussions. Mr. Bennet went so far as to quiz Darcy about Pemberley and his farming practices which Darcy was more than happy to respond to. He wanted Mr. Bennet to know the man behind the facade he showed to the world. He also wanted Elizabeth to know who he really was. It wasn't enough for him to love, it was imperative that she love too.
After dinner and port, the men rejoined the ladies in the drawing room. Georgianna was implored to take her place at the pianoforte. She did so with some trepidation but was soon relaxed in the company of the three younger Bennet sisters who were obviously awed by her talent and comportment as a young lady.
"I like your sister, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth said, handing him a cup of coffee. "I don't suppose you'd trade her for one of mine?"
Darcy smiled, "they do seem to be getting on well. Georgianna has been alone too long. It's good to see her happy with young ladies her own age."
"My sisters are planning to introduce Georgianna to their good friend, Maria Lucas, in the morning. Do you have any objection?"
"Not at all. If Miss Maria is as nice as her sister, I'm sure she will be an acceptable companion to my sister."
The evening came to an end an hour later and though Darcy was loathe to leave Elizabeth's company, he was cheered by the knowledge that she had promised that all the ladies of Longbourn would be out walking in the morning.
On the way back to Netherfield Darcy asked Georgie what Elizabeth had said to her after the Collins's debacle. Georgie laughed, "she asked me if you wore shiny white armor when you rode the grounds of Pemberley?"
Darcy smiled in the darkness and wondered how long a courtship was supposed to last. Darcy hated the rules of society. He hated the ones who created the rules. He had always envisioned them to be a half dozen ancient crones dressed in black dress and abigails hunched over their quills making up the ridiculous laws of propriety. Never mention bathing costume in mixed company and heaven forfend that anyone have the temerity to say 'bed' if one of the opposite sex should be in the near vicinity.
To share his life with a woman who would laugh with him at the vagaries of society would be heaven. That they had shared a silent look where he asked and she granted him permission to court her had been bliss. And now to hear that she thought of him as a knight in shining armor was happiness that left him breathless.
When they reached Netherfield Darcy was ready to retire and think of Elizabeth but Richard insisted that they have a drink before retiring. Bingley joined the cousins and shared a guarded glance with Darcy as Richard paced in obvious distress. He hadn't even poured himself a drink which meant something extreme was in the wind. Bingley played host and poured them each a large brandy and waved Richard into a chair.
Instead of draining half the glass as was his wont, he sat swirling the amber liquid in the snifter.
Darcy eyed his cousin with interest and a growing suspicion. He looked at Bingley and winked. "Out with it, cousin," he growled. "Be a man and spill it."
Richard took at deep breath, "if you must know, I've asked Anne to marry me and she said yes."
Bingley hooted, "well, it's about time. Half of Meryton is wondering when you'd get around to proposing to the poor girl."
"Hmmm," Darcy rejoined, "I think the local butcher has this date for the proposal. He's a winner of seventeen pounds."
"Eighteen pounds," Bingley said, "if memory serves me."
"Stop it! " Richard cried, "both of you. I refuse to be made sport of."
"Darcy and I have been putting up with your snide remarks for the past three weeks, Richard," Bingley chortled, "allow us some sport."
Richard's color rose, "Well, put that way, I guess I owe you."
"Bingley," Darcy said, "I believe my cousin is blushing."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Darcy," Bingley said, "but isn't this the second confirmed bachelor to fall for the charms of a lady?"
"Ironic, that the confirmed bachelors are engaged, and you are not, Bingley."
"That is about to change, Darcy, Richard." Bingley grinned broadly. "Tomorrow I will speak with Mr. Bennet. Miss Jane Bennet has agreed to be my wife."
"And then there was one," Darcy said, more to himself than to his friends.
The following day while Bingley spoke with Mr. Bennet, Darcy and Elizabeth sat on a stone bench in the Longbourn garden. He'd hardly spoken to her upon his arrival and now he'd fallen into a long silence that had become uncomfortable for both of them. He could feel her eyes upon him searching his face for a clue to his mood. He couldn't bring himself to look at her. He could smell her fragrance and closed his eyes for a moment relishing the feeling that seemed to pervade his soul. He groped for the right words but nothing sensible came to him. Suddenly she reached out and touched his hand but said nothing.
He turned to her, his dark eyes studying her beautiful face. "Elizabeth," he said, "I've been officially courting you for twelve hours now and I think it's time to speak to your father again."
Elizabeth laughed in relief, "twelve hours? Oh my. That is a long time."
Darcy took both her hands in his. "Elizabeth, I'm deadly serious. I'm not a child. I'm a full grown man. I've been searching for you all my life and now that I've found you I cannot...I will not waste any more time." He released one hand and laid it against her cheek gently caressing her. "Say you want me, Elizabeth. Say you will be my wife. Say you will grow old with me."
Elizabeth pulled back slightly and looked at Darcy, her eyes glistening with tears that matched his own, "of course I'll marry you," she said. "How could I not? I feel I've known you all my life." Tears flooded down her face. "All my life I've been waiting for you to find me and when you walked into the assembly I knew that you had come for me finally. I've tried to understand it all but it makes little sense to me. All I know is that I cannot bear the thought that you would be alive in the world and not have me by your side for always.
Their kiss was gentle and deep and long. When they at last parted neither was inclined to release the other and their mouths moved over each other's faces caressing and whispering words that brought a joy that was almost painful to each of them. Darcy knew he had to stop but her touch and her words inflamed him and he sought to pull away before they crossed the lines of propriety if they hadn't already. He stood up and walked away breathing with difficulty. "I must speak with your father," he said.
His words were greeted with silence and he turned his head and looked at Elizabeth. She too was having trouble breathing but managed a smile. "I think perhaps you had better do just that," she said.
When Darcy stepped into Mr. Bennet's study he was shaking inside but determined to get the ordeal out of the way as painlessly as possible. "Sir," he said, "allow me to tell you how much I admire and love your daughter Miss Elizabeth. She's done me the honor of returning my feelings and I beg you to give us your blessing and accept me into your family. I can assure you, sir, that you will never regret ceding your daughter's happiness into my hands. I promise to cherish her all her life." Feeling that he had said enough and fearing that he might start to sound more like Mr. Collin's blatherings, Darcy snapped his mouth shut and waited.
Mr. Bennet eyed his daughter's suitor with a wry smile. "Last night you began to court her, this morning you wish to marry her. May I ask what your plans on the morrow will bring? If it's to be a wedding, Mrs. Bennet might complain that you give her little time to prepare."
Darcy wasn't sure Mr. Bennet required an answer so remained silent and tried not to fidget.
"Alright, young man. I see you are in earnest and I've seen how my daughter looks at you. You have my blessing."
Darcy's relief was palpable. Bingley had spent a good half-hour closeted with Mr. Bennet and when he finally returned to the garden to embrace Jane, he looked like he'd been in a shipwreck. Apparently Mr. Bennet had taken great delight in sporting with Bingley before giving his blessing.
For the next few days Darcy and Elizabeth quickly lost their chaperons and walked and talked together for hours at a time. If September hadn't behaved and given the trio of lovers a warm and placid month they might have gone distracted with Mrs. Bennet's ministrations. Anne and Richard were bombarded with advice on how their wedding should play out since Richard was the son of an earl. Bingley and Jane suffered through demands and commands on just how the wedding of the eldest daughter of the Bennets of Longbourn would play out. As for Darcy and Elizabeth, she was still in awe of what that particular marriage would bring to the family and so hadn't really warmed to the subject, but Darcy knew it was only a matter of time.
Darcy watched the machinations of Mrs. Bennet with a jaundiced eye. Richard and Anne smiled it all off and even left the house when Mrs. Bennet's shrill voice got too much for them. Unfortunately, Bingley and Jane's dispositions were so equable they endured talk about laces and ribbons for hours with no respite even at the dinner table.
Darcy wasn't about to endure this kind of misery. It was agony enough to be in Elizabeth's presence without being able to touch her beyond offering her his arm, it was another thing to have her mother arranging his marriage. He'd been engaged to Elizabeth Bennet for five days and his nerves were shot. If it kept up he'd need to borrow Mrs. Bennet's smelling salts.
One day they stood on a small plateau gazing down at the meadow which led to Netherfield. Elizabeth moved her hands up and down the rough bark of an ancient oak tree and leaned in close to whisper to her old friend.
Darcy smiled at the gesture, "and what did you tell your old friend?"
"I asked her if she was well on this beautiful morning and that I would sorely miss her."
"And what was her reply?"
Elizabeth stepped back a few paces and gazed up at the canopy above her. "She said that she was quite well. She also asked how my companion was."
"Dare I ask what your reply was?"
"No, you may not," she replied with an arch smile.
Her teasing sweetness was too much for him.. He reached for her hands and held them to his chest. "Elizabeth, this is intolerable!", he groaned.
She made no pretense of ignorance as to his meaning. "It's only been eight days," she sighed.
Darcy wrapped his arms around her and murmured in her ear, "Elizabeth, I want you at Pemberley. I want you in my bed. I want your face the last face I see before sleep takes me. I want your face to be the first face I see when dawn breaks. I want to touch you as a man touches the woman he so desperately loves."
He released her and studied her face looking for anger or disgust at hearing his words. He closed his eyes as her hand moved up his arm until her fingers found the curls at the nape of his neck. "I'll leave it in your hands, William." She grinned impishly, "you're a clever man. I'm sure you've been plotting something."
"Plotting is perhaps too strong a word."
"I'll let that pass," she replied, rewarding him with a brief kiss.
Darcy hesitated for just a moment, "I've been talking to Richard and Anne as well as Bingley."
"And the plot thickens," Elizabeth said.
"What would you say to a triple wedding?"
Elizabeth didn't have to think long. "I think Jane will think it a splendid idea as I do. However, being a cowardly woman, I'll allow you to break the news to mama while I buy an extra supply of smelling salts."