Chapter 8
In the parlor Darcy quirked an eyebrow at Col. Fitzwilliam who had firmly ensconced himself between Elizabeth and Jane. As he and Mr. Bennet approached the parlor it had been clear some sort of commotion was going on inside. His cousin gave a minute shake of his head, indicating he would fill him in later. Rising, Col. Fitzwilliam said, "I am afraid my cousin and I must go before it gets to late. Thank you for your generous hospitality. "
"Thank you for a tasty meal," Darcy said simply.
"Of course, Mr. Darcy! Perhaps you would like Lydia to see you out?" Mrs. Bennet fluttered. "Please do call again. It would not do for the two of you to remain sequestered at Netherfield all alone when we are so nearby and willing to entertain you in Mr. Bingley's absence."
"Thank you madame, but we would hate to call your daughter away from her amusements just to see us out," Col. Fitzwilliam said firmly.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said softly trying to catch her eye, but failing as she ducked her head to avoid his gaze,"It was a pleasure to see you."
"I will have Hill get your things," Elizabeth said softly as she rose and left the room. She was mortified by the behavior of her mother and youngest sister and was sure that Darcy would wish to know why the colonel had desired such a hasty departure. Once Darcy heard of her family's latest exhibit he would surely never wish to darken Longbourn's doorstep again. As for her mother's demand, it was ridiculous. Mr. Darcy married to that spoiled child, she thought with disgust, it was utterly ridiculous.
As Elizabeth went to go by him, Darcy stepped into her path, determined to find out what was wrong. Elizabeth glanced up at him and the humiliation in her eyes nearly undid him. Did she believe he would give her up merely because her family was vulgar? After things had seemes so promising outside? He had witnessed their actions time and time, again. He heartily regretted his remark about her family being a degradation. He had seen Elizabeth's embarrassment before, he should not have reminded her of how humiliating they were. His words must have made their usual antics seem even worse. Knowing it would not be wise to say what he wanted in the parlor with her family assembled, Darcy did the only thing he could think to do, he gently reached out and captured her hand, he grapsed her slim fingers and brought her hand up to kiss it.
…
Once mounted on their horses Col. Fitzwilliam turned towards Darcy and said grimly, "If you don't marry her, or Bingley does not marry Miss Bennet and insist on Lizzy becoming part of his household in very firm language, I am kidnapping Lizzy and making for Gretna Green to remove her from that house. I am tempted to write her uncle that I am acquainted with about tonight. He wouldn't stand for the nonsense I witnessed."
"What could her uncle do? He isn't her father. It can not possibly have been worse than her father though. He took enjoyment from his supposed favourite daughter's distress over the situation with Mr. Collins," Darcy said grimly.
"Ha, our aunt's clergy? After that little scene at dinner I am not surprised. How could he let his wife speak of his daughter that way? In company no less? The actions in the parlor though took the cake. Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty bodily throwing themselves at me, quite literally, when we first entered. I settled into a seat as close to Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth as possible for my own protection. Mrs. Bennet to my relief called Miss Lydia over to her. The other one, Miss Kitty, stayed near me and kept blinking her eyes rapidly at me. Meanwhile the mother admonishing Miss Lydia in the loudest whisper to lower her bodice before you arrived since you evidently liked a lively girl and she was a much better match for you than Lizzy. Miss Lydia objected that I had a red coat and you did not. Though she did concede you were more handsome and if you did don a redcoat she would be wild for you. Something about you being so tall and muscular. It was vulgar to say the least. Her mother informed her you had 10,000 a year, likely more and Lydia, as your wife, could have all the dresses and jewels she wished while still enjoying the society of the officers whenever she wanted. That you would buy her a house in Brighton and take her there to see the officers stationed there. Lizzy and Miss Bennet were naturally mortified. Bless both their hearts, they attempted put a stop to their mother and sister, but where overwhelmed by the shriller voice of Mrs. Bennet."
"Good God!" Darcy exclaimed.
"Oh there is more," Col. Fitzwilliam said grimly. "And then Miss Mary suggested that any interest you had in Lizzy indicated that you valued an intelligent wife since you did not find her to be handsome. Miss Lydia began to loudly protest that Lizzy should not be allowed to have you, because she wanted to be rich. Miss Kitty jumped into the fray demanding that she be allowed a chance at you because she deserved just as much as Lydia to be rich and live in Brighton surrounded by officers. I thankfully appeared quite forgotten over their squabble for you and your 10,000 pounds a year. By this point Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth could do nothing more than sit there miserably holding hands. When my opinion on the matter was sought, I said that I thought you had already made it clear where your preference lay and decided the situation had deteriorated to such a point to ignore decorum and moved to sit bewteen Lizzy and Miss Bennet, for my protection and theirs. Then Mrs. Bennet demanded that Lizzy do her duty and see that you understood you were to marry Miss Lydia and not be a selfish girl by stealing her sister's beau. Thank God Miss Mary heard you and Mr. Bennet in the hall and announced you were back. I decided it was best we leave before you walked unknowingly into a situation where Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty hurled themselves at you."
"We left Elizabeth behind to contend with that mess alone?" Darcy demanded angrily, starting to turn his horse around.
"Miss Bennet is with her and trust me when I say, our continued presence would have likely escalated the situation. Imagine how much worse your lady would have felt to have to watch you fend off her youngest sisters and your disdian for them grow in such a scenario. Miss Elizabeth already knows of your previous disdain for her family, not that I think she will hold such a thing agaisnt you after tonight."
"I gathered from Elizabeth's expression when she left the parlor that she was humiliated. My fear is that having not hid my disdain before and my comment earlier today regarding her family being a degradation that she has concluded I will abandon my pursuit of her," Darcy ground out.
"I suspect your more civil manner has made Mrs. Bennet reconsider your potential as a husband and she has never had a man of your wealth and consequence in her sights before. Pemberley's income alone is double Bingley's, I imagine the newfound knowledge that you could be a suitor has her in a frenzy. Her understanding is limited. She cannot see past her own ideas. She is angry at Miss Elizabeth for refusing Collins and sees your intrest in her as a reward when Mrs. Bennet feels Lizzy should be punished. To her if you would consider her least favorite and to her least deserving daughter, her favorites you should be jumping at the chance to marry. There is nothing you can do about her actions. You will simply have to show your lady love, and Mrs. Bennet, your consistency to Lizzy."
"That won't be a problem. I have no intention of abandoning my pursuit unless Elizabeth herself sends me away. And even then I cannot say I would give up. I would reasses my conduct and strategy and consider what I could do differently. It is not in my nature to simply give up, particularly when my future depends on my succeeding."
...
Jane was unsurprised when Elizabeth did not immediately rejoin the family after the gentleman's departure. She watched quietly has her mother and sister exclaimed over Lydia's good fortune to secure a man with 10,000 a year, her mother proclaiming how she knew Lydia could not be so livley and pretty for nothing. When her mother began to demand that Mr. Bennet command Elizabeth to not interfere with Lydia and Mr. Darcy's courtship, Mr. Bennet said blandly, "I am sorry Mrs. Bennet, but I have already given him permission to attempt to persue Elizabeth and stated my intent to support her decision. You cannot expect me to allow the man to persue two of my daughters at once, it would be unseemly."
"He is not pursuing Lizzy!" Lydia exclaimed. "Why should she be rich? I am twice as pretty and fun as she is!"
"Yes Mr. Bennet," Mrs. Bennet said nodding her head vigorously. "If he is not here for Jane, then he must be here for Lydia it stands to reason. We have a chance to secure a man of 10,000 a year for one of our girls! We cannot let such an opportunity escape us."
"So you wish for me to force Lizzy acceptance of Mr. Darcy? Does this mean we have moved on from Mr. Collins?" Mr. Bennet said with an amused air.
"Lizzy's acceptance? That girl can remain a spinster for all I care, refusing a perfectly respectable offer from Mr. Collins. She deserves such a fate!"
"So if she refuses Mr. Darcy, you wish me to support her?" Mr. Bennet said his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Refuse Mr. Darcy?" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. "As if he would offer for her. Have you not been listening to a word I have said! Mr. Darcy is interested in Lydia and Lizzy seeks to distract him from her more deserving sister! It is up to you to put a stop to her nonsense."
"I am afraid I cannot oblige you. I give Lydia leave to persue her sister's suitor if she so desires, though. Shall Kitty compete with Jane for Mr. Bingley?"
Jane chose this time to quietly slip out of the parlor and go in search of Elizabeth. She knocked gently on her sister's door and when Elizabeth bade her enter she did. "Mama is in fine form tonight, " Jane said as she took her sister's brush from Elizabeth's hand and began to tenderly brush Elizabeth's hair.
"After tonight's performance Mr. Darcy is likely to round up Col. Fitzwilliam and your Mr. Bingley and ride for Pemberley with both to put as much distance between the Bennets of Longbourn and themselves as possible as quickly as he can," Elizabeth responded, but her voice lacked her usual levity.
"If he is rounding up individuals and riding with speed toward his estate, I imagine him and the colonel are planning on stopping by for you to bring you with them," Jane teased. "My simple request is that you persuade them to take me with you."
"It was that bad?" Elizabeth asked.
"Papa is amused by mama's desire to throw Lydia at Mr. Darcy," Jane said helplessly.
"As amused as he was by how she threw me at Mr. Collins?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"More so, I'm afraid."
