Chapter 7
"Your invitation is most appreciated, Mrs. Bennet. My friend Bingley would be so pleased to know that you have welcomed the two of us to your table," Darcy said graciously.
"Oh well, any thing for Mr. Bingley's friends," Mrs. Bennet said with a flutter of her handkerchief.
"Yes," Col. Fitzwilliam agreed with his cousin. "Bingley would be very pleased at the welcome you have extended to us. We will be sure to praise your hospitality to him as soon as he gets back."
"Yes. He is coming back? You are sure? His sister's letter to Jane," Mrs. Bennet trailed off with a wave of her handkerchief.
"I am sure," Darcy assured the matron, gritting his teeth. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Elizabeth, reminding himself it was entirely worth it to earn her good opinion. His cousin had been eagerly feted by the matron and her youngest daughters on their arrival. His own delivery of Elizabeth's bonnet and gloves had been met with a frown from the matron and an, "Oh that girl!"
Upon assertaing that the colonel was single and expected to stay in the area for a few days an invitation to dine was eagerly offfered. Darcy had absolutely no qualms about sacrificing his cousin for the evening to the eager youngest two girls. He was determined to show Mrs. Bennet ever civility he could.
At dinner Darcy found himself seated next to Mrs. Bennet. He was very aware of how frequently Elizabeth's eyes came to rest on him and he found himself hard pressed not to spend the meal gazing at her. He had offered his compliments to his hostess on the meal and endured her effusive response, that included remarks about how he had a french chef and she assumed was used to a variety of sauces. Unsure of what to say in response and seeking to make conversation with her he commented, "You must be very proud of all your daughters."
"Oh my yes," Mrs. Bennet gushed. " Not Lizzy, of course. You were right about Lizzy being only tolerable. That girl could have been engaged and the future Mistress of Longbourn-"
"Mrs. Bennet," Darcy said with steel in his tone. "I am afraid I gravely misspoke when I uttered such a ridiculous statement. I beg of you not to repeat such a thing in my hearing. Miss Elizabeth is a lovely young lady. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful."
"Lizzy?" Mrs. Bennet asked and gawked at him.
"She is an extraordinary young lady," Darcy said.
"Hmph. My Jane js very lovely is she not? She will make a worthy gentleman a fine wife," Mrs. Bennet said slyly.
"My friend Bingley, I believe is very taken with her," Darcy said sensing that Mrs. Bennet had just zeroed in on him as prey for the wrong daughter and hoping to remind her of that relationship she had been so thrilled about previously.
"Well Mr. Bingley is not here anymore is he? And yet you have stayed behind. This was your second call today at Longbourn was it not? And after finding Jane not at home, I understand you found her in Meryton and spoke to her?" Mrs. Bennet asked with satisfaction. "I apologize for not seeing it before, but of course you could do nothing while your friend was in residence."
"I am afraid you misunderstand entirely," Darcy said tightly. "While your eldest is a fine young lady, I have absolutely no interest in her."
"But if you do not desire her to turn her attention to you, why would you seek to compliment Lizzy, who, for some reason, Jane is always championing?"
Darcy stared at Mrs. Bennet in complete disbelief. How he wondered could she acknowledge that he complimented Elizabeth and yet not realize that it was Elizabeth he admired?
"Mama!" Jane exclaimed softly in mortification from Mrs. Bennet's other side.
"Well, what can he possibly mean complimenting Lizzy, if it is not for your sake to gain your good opinion?" Mrs. Bennet demanded loudly enough that the entire table heard.
Lydia burst out laughing and said, "What a good joke! La, as soon as Mr. Bingley is out of the area Mr. Darcy has decided to marry Jane himself. You will be so rich, Jane! Mr. Darcy has 10,000 a year! You absolutely must let me stay with you in London and for all the balls!"
"I complimented Miss Elizabeth, Darcy said tightly. "Bcause I find her to be the worthiest woman of my acquaintance and I admire her."
"Admire Lizzy?" Mrs. Bennet squawked? "Over Jane? Or Lydia? Impossible! She is an obsitant, headstrong girl!"
Darcy glared down towards where Mr. Bennet sat with a white faced Elizabeth at his side, but the patriarch merely seemed to be amused at the scence unfolding at his dinner table rather then stepping in to defend his daughter and silence his wife. Seeing no defense of Elizabeth would come from that source, Darcy said, "Miss Elizabeth is intelligent, kind, compassionate and clever, a true treasure."
"Well I won't have it. Lizzy won't marry better then my Jane or Lydia," Mrs. Bennet said in a petulant tone. "Not after her ungrateful action refusing Mr. Collins."
"If you do not mind," Darcy said evenly as he smoothly rose, "I believe Miss Elizabeth could use some fresh air. Richard, Miss Bennet, would you be so kind as to accompany us?"
"Certainly," Col. Fitzwilliam said with a disgusted look toward the Bennet Matron.
"Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy said softly as he offered his hand to assit her in rising from her seat.
"Yes, go on, Lizzy. This has been highly diverting. Your mother could not wait to throw you at Collins and now she cannot fathom a richer man being interested in you. Quite amusing my dear," Mr. Benent said patting Elizabeth's hand. "Well go on. We shall speak later, Mr. Darcy."
…
Once out of the dinning room, Darcy turned to Elizabeth and mummered, "I am sorry, Elizabeth, I mean to show you tonight that I could be civil to your family, but-" He hung his head and said, "When she. She may be your mother but I could not bear to hear her disparge you."
"You defended me," Elizabeth said softly, her eyes shinning at him. Darcy had acted as she had always hoped the man she choose to give her heart to would. Her mother had always disparged her and she had secretly hoped that someday a suitor would declare her to be beautiful. For him to do so and defend her from her mother's disparaging remarks all at once, exceeded her every expectation she had.
"How could I not?" Darcy asked softly.
"I thank you," Elizabeth said with a becoming blush and a soft smile.
…
"Well, Mr Darcy, I imagine Lizzy gave you the what for out there," Mr. Benent said with a chuckle as he settled himself into his chair in his bookroom. "Let you know, I imagine, that she doesn't need your overbearing defense. She is quite used to her mother's remarks and knows to pay them no mind. Her supposed suitors though have certainly provided me with some entertainment. My couisn Collins was quite amusing to watch. You should have seen Lizzy declare that she had refused him. Fiercely independent, my Lizzy. Calm and cool as could be as my wife bleated on how she would never speak to her again if she didn't marry him and my cousin mumbled about how she could never expect to receive a better offer and the condensetion of his patroness."
Darcy clenched his jaw, but said nothing as he listened to Elizabeth's father find amusement in what he knew had been an upsetting event for Elizabeth. She had not been calm and cool, she had been upset, angry. He supposed he should at least be grateful her father had supported her refusal, but he privately felt her father should have never allowed her to be put in such a situation to start with. By the sound of things, Darcy though with disgust as Mr. Bennet continued on, her father had done nothing to stop things for his own amusement.
"And now we come to you," Mr. Bennet declared suddenly. "I imagine you never thought a mere country miss would send you packing, but what is done is done. In this case it does not appear my wife plans to storm my study demanding I make her accept you. Which is rather surprising. It must be a result of how put out she is with Lizzy for refusing Collins," Bennet said with a chuckle. "I will naturally support my daughter's refusal again in this case, like I did her refusal of Mr. Collins. Should I expect your cousin in her for a similar interview? " Bennet finished with a smirk at his own joke that Darcy manfully ignored.
"You misunderstand the situation, Sir," Darcy said slowly. "Miss Elizabeth has not refused me."
"She what?" Mr. Bennet said gapping in surprise. "She accepted you?"
"She has not refused or accepted me. I have not asked her. It is my hope that when I do ask her, she will accept me. She does not know me well enough yet though for her to be asked to make such a monumental decision. Mariage is for life after all."
"But you do intend to ask her?"
"When the time is right, I do," Darcy said looking the older gentleman in the eye. "Preferably with your permission."
"I see no reason not to grant my permission for you to ask her, but bear in mind I will support her response. Good luck to you."
"Thank you, Sir," Darcy said with a stiff bow.
"Well I guess we should rejoin the others in the parlor," Mr. Bennet said rising. "Who knows what further amusements are in store? I would have expected Mrs. Bennet to be loudly accepting your suit on Lizzy's behalf, like she did Mr. Collins. I never would have thought after 23 years of marriage she could surprise me still."
