Chapter 20
Elizabeth was the most beautiful, pleasingly formed woman in the world. It had been many months since Darcy knew it to be a fact. He had studied her, had tried to find a fault in her appearance in the beginning of their acquaintance—an endeavour which only resulted in his realisation that he found her utterly attractive.
Then there was her mind, which he sincerely believed was the most charming, brilliant thing. She was no worldly creature, but her remarks were always enlightening and her humour distinctive. He understood her, when few others could; likewise, she understood him. He could listen to her forever.
Her heart, her character—she was everything he admired. He loved that she was loyal. He loved her stubbornness, her sweetness. Her spirit was fierce, but it was virtuous; it was lively and courageous, and at other times hesitant and emotional, and he loved it all. He loved how she cared for others, how she cared for him, and how she loved him.
He could not hold back his stare, his eyes trailing her light figure, her lovely face as she once again walked to meet him at the border of Netherfield and Longbourn. So bewitched he was at the thought of her; at the sight of her, he was enraptured. The hours away from her were too much. He almost regretted that Bingley reopened Netherfield and was able to host him. He might have tolerated staying at Longbourn if it meant that he was near Elizabeth.
There was, however, something sentimental about their morning assignations. It was them alone at dawn, in the quiet countryside. It was where he had walked to her, and she to him. Hope was formed where he currently stood, smiling as she greeted him with her effervescent, fine eyes.
"You are here," she said, returning his smile.
"Did you expect me to be absent?" He was fairly early, but it was the first time that they had actively planned their rendezvous. Certainly, she did not think that he would forget.
"I wonder if you really exist sometimes in the morning, when I am half awake. You are so much like a dream," spoke she.
"I am here," he stated. "I will always be yours, no matter the distance between us. And in seven days we will wake up together. You need not be parted from my flesh."
Her lips, shaped joyously at his words, drew his attention. They were pink and plump, and there was no one in the vicinity to watch them be kissed.
It was new, the concept of taking liberties. With twenty, and eight-and-twenty, long years of virtue, they had been taking every step slowly, hoping to learn, to familiarise themselves for their marriage only days away. After his lifetime of patience, Darcy was eager to engage himself thusly with the woman he loved and desired. Sometimes it was all he could think about. He could not help it. His handsome Elizabeth was too tempting, too attractive, and he wanted her more than anything.
Their discoveries were natural and passionate; he was in paradise, and each indication of Elizabeth's pleasure heightened his bliss. Every movement of her lips ignited him, every blush gratified him. It was utterly heavenly, and they had yet to engage in the more shocking of activities.
"Are you well? Have I overwhelmed you?" he asked when they parted to catch their breaths.
"Yes," said Elizabeth, panting, "and yes, but it is a good sort of overwhelmed."
She tugged on his cravat, pulling him down and closing her eyes expectantly. Darcy let out a strangled groan of pleasure and kissed her with a force, his desire enthusiastic and eager.
They alarmed a footman of Bingley's, who had been off duty and indulging in the nature of the estate. To the stray, Elizabeth managed her mortification well, but Darcy knew her best. He shielded her from the young man, extracting from him a promise to go away and refrain from gossiping.
Only when the blushing footman became a speck in the distance did they address each other. Fortunately, Elizabeth did not shy away from Darcy's caress. He assured her that the young man was one of the more good-natured Netherfield servants, for Bingley himself, and not his sister, had hired him.
"You are quite calm," observed Elizabeth.
Indeed, the faint pink of his ears was the only indication of his embarrassment. In truth, he could tolerate startling a footman whose fellow servants speculated about his relationship with Bingley. His only regret was that they were not seen by his own servants in town, who were equally and wrongly suspicious of him and Bingley; but he and Elizabeth would scandalise them enough in time, he was sure.
When he shared his thoughts with her, she was shocked at his boldness.
"How will I ever gain their esteem if I am seen all over your person?" she asked.
"You need not worry about that. The servants at Pemberley already love you. Town will be the same."
Darcy began to play with Elizabeth's hair as they spoke of other prudent things. They managed to agree on several points about their wedding, their travels, and their families.
"My mother will want to parade me to her neighbours," said Elizabeth. "I dread it, but if it will make her happy, I suppose it is the least I can do. She is putting all of her effort into making our wedding beautiful, even in her state."
Hearing this, Darcy was moved to accompany his bride on her calls. Perhaps he was putting himself in misery by allowing Mrs. Bennet and Hertfordshire to chatter and inquire incessantly about his fortune, height, and connections to the peerage. However, he thought of Elizabeth beside him, and he felt that nothing could be better. For her, he could sit through an infinite amount of calls. He would rather be in her presence in the worst of places than be without her.
Mrs. Bennet, upon realising this, was greatly pleased. From Longbourn, the party of Mrs. Bennet, her two engaged daughters, and her future sons-in-law embarked to Meryton. Jane was intentionally left at home, and Mary and Kitty were ordered to stay with her. For, three missing daughters were less suspicious than one, and Mrs. Bennet had no desire for her acquaintances to ruminate on the sole broken betrothal. She was very displeased with Jane and Bingley indeed.
Mrs. Philips, of course, had the honour of being the first to host her sister and the engaged couples. Darcy had offered the use of his carriage. Thus, Meryton watched as the grand, expensive conveyance stopped in front of the residence. A victorious Mrs. Bennet made a show of her descent, and her almost equally prideful sister welcomed them into her home.
As he took his seat, Darcy realised, with a little shame, that he was not as familiar with Mr. and Mrs. Philips as he ought to have been. Even Denny, whose shyness was improved by Lydia's presence, seemed to surpass him in prior knowledge.
"My cousin did not exaggerate your husband's interest in ships," Denny managed to say, his eyes fixed on the display of wooden models.
Mrs. Philips beamed and remarked on how wonderful the company of the militia had been.
"Mr. Denny called so frequently with his friends that I almost forgot they were not my sons," said she.
"You will find my fiancé even more agreeable than them," spoke Lydia. "My Denny was very eager to meet you. He had asked me at least one hundred questions about my uncle's business."
It was not lost on Darcy that young Denny, whom he considered a weak sort of person, was at least gentlemanlike enough to be civil. His own meanness towards Elizabeth's family months before was a contrast he did not like. To be sure, he had improved when he had met the Gardiners; he now wished to correct his mistakes towards Mrs. Philips.
He began to converse with her as well as he could. He and his future aunt had little in common, but she seemed to like him better than before, and with his betrothed as an influence, he was more willing to be open. He glanced at Elizabeth often, and was triumphant to see her pleased with him.
Then it was time to call on the Lucases, and the uneasiness commenced. Between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas, there was little subtlety.
"So many daughters engaged at once!" exclaimed Lady Lucas. Mrs. Bennet preened until the rival matron continued, "It is a shame that Jane's wedding to Mr. Bingley did not yet take place. My girls were fortunate that Mrs. Collins, as the eldest, had gotten engaged and married first before anyone else revealed a suitor. They would be loath to share the attention otherwise."
"Yes, I can see your children behaving like that," said Mrs. Bennet, "but mine are such affectionate, generous girls. Even if Jane and Mr. Bingley did not part ways, my sweetest Lizzy and Lydia would not have minded there being three of them engaged. But how is Mrs. Collins? I suppose she will be glad to learn of Lizzy becoming family to her husband's patroness."
"Did I hear correctly? Is Jane no longer marrying Mr. Bingley? You only have two daughters engaged?"
"Oh, yes, you must think that I had forgotten to inform you right away about that, but surely you must know that, in light of all the more important news, there is nothing more to be discussed than Mr. Bingley and Jane's peculiar attempt to kindly draw the attention, of which you speak of, to themselves as a falsely engaged couple instead of Lizzy, who, as you know, would sometimes rather sit out than perform or dance. Young people do tend to have fun these days by misleading their elders. You need not be ashamed of your surprise."
Darcy frowned at the untruth, but did not say anything.
Lady Lucas spoke, "I would not say that I was surprised. After all, no banns had yet been read for Jane and Mr. Bingley, and then he went away again. I am not even surprised about Eliza's good fortune. I do not want to boast, but I do believe that I also knew of her and Mr. Darcy for quite a while."
"Is that not what everyone says when news is revealed?" Mrs. Bennet sniffed. "Everyone knew that Mr. Wickham was the worst sort of villain the day after his disgrace. Everyone knew that Mr. Robinson's footman fancied Mrs. Long's maid."
"But I did know of Eliza and Mr. Darcy. My dutiful Mrs. Collins did not fail to inform her mother the many calls Eliza received when she was a guest in her home. Why, Mrs. Collins was thrilled to be able to provide her dearest friend a proper room to welcome her suitors."
"I suppose my cousin's house might be charming," said Mrs. Bennet, "though Lizzy did not say much of it. How did it compare to Longbourn, my sweetest child?"
Elizabeth gave the appropriate compliments to both properties.
Lady Lucas spoke, "Oh, but of course Eliza must have a preference for the house she grew up in. She need not pretend to find the Parsonage as equally wonderful as her father's home. Then again, I do not recall any of her lovers calling on her at Longbourn. I wonder why that is the case? I find your parlour pleasant enough to sit and converse in, Mrs. Bennet."
"If there had been a lack of callers at Longbourn, it was due to Lizzy driving them away herself. Clever girl she is, knowing to wait for her Mr. Darcy. I hope your own son will not be too disappointed when he hears of her engagement."
"Mr. Lucas has only ever been a friend, mama," interjected Elizabeth, satisfying Darcy. "I am sure he would be no more disappointed to hear of my betrothal than to hear that it will not rain tomorrow."
Lady Lucas nodded. "He is too amiable to experience any bitterness in any case. They are such dear friends, all of my children and Eliza. Mrs. Collins thinks of her as her own sister."
"Yes, they are close; but Lizzy and Jane have always been closer," spoke Mrs. Bennet.
"Surely they are not so inseparable."
"I have provided Lizzy with many sisters, so even if they were not, she still has Lydia, Mary, or in recent days especially, Kitty. I am afraid Mrs. Collins is not without competition."
"But you must admit that there is something genuine about the choice involved in finding friendship, as opposed to being family."
"Lizzy has been clever to make your daughter her particular friend. Mrs. Collins is a good, intelligent girl. Yet Lizzy has been even cleverer in her choice of husband. She will not want for anything! Mr. Darcy has a house in town, fine carriages and jewels, and of course he owns half of Derbyshire. Once they marry—by a special license—Lizzy will share his great fortune."
"A special license! I do not believe Meryton has ever seen it!"
"Of course my sweetest Lizzy will have the honour. Mr. Darcy will only have the best for her."
"A generous gentleman he is!"
"Very! And so tall!"
"His height is perfectly suited for Eliza. She is so short and delicate, and needs a well-built figure to protect her."
"Yes, and Mr. Darcy is not only tall—he is rich enough to provide her with the best footmen, maids, and guards. She will never be lost on her walks, as I have feared many times."
"All the servants! How many footmen do you have, Mr. Darcy? Are they handsome?"
Darcy said that there were many of them, and that many of them were indeed handsome.
"You and your obsession with footman, Lady Lucas!" said Mrs. Bennet. "Of course Mr. Darcy's footmen are numerous and fine. The very wealthy always have the most beautiful ones."
"Yes, that is true. I was pleased to see no ghastly creature at Netherfield Park."
"Indeed there were none; but I prefer a different sort of uniform."
"Ah, yes, we all miss the militia—or shall I say we miss most of them. I dare say no one, least of all Eliza, misses Mr. Wickham. Though Mr. Wickham must miss her. We should all be glad that he did not propose to her after his engagement with Miss King had ended."
"If he had, I have no doubt that Lizzy would have rejected him, or Mr. Darcy would have fought him for her hand."
Quite late, Darcy realised that his presence perhaps gave his betrothed more cause to be embarrassed. That he knew how Mrs. Bennet and her neighbours spoke was one thing; that he had to listen to them was another, and he knew that Elizabeth was beyond mortified behind her sweet mien. At first, he was a little guilty, for as much as he tried, he could not help but think that the current discussion between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas was unpleasant.
However, his guilt soon shifted grounds. As the conversation continued, far too much he delighted in the way Elizabeth blushed. He liked the clever remarks she made to make the best out of the situation, and he enjoyed seeing her, when she believed no one to be looking, nervously chew her lip.
Loathing himself for finding her discomfort endearing, he endeavoured to bring her solace, as he had originally intended. The next instance he caught her eye, he mouthed to her that he loved her. He was gratified when her eyes lit up, and was touched when she mouthed in return that she loved him. They would always be content together, even when society was trying to make a spectacle out of them.
They gazed at each other for a while, until Elizabeth's eyes slightly shifted and her small smile transformed into a frown. Darcy glanced at what had caught her attention. Behind him, on the other side of the room, her younger sister had somehow been inflicted a minor injury. Denny was attending her, while Maria Lucas was returning a blade to a display. Darcy was surprised that a scene had not been made. He looked at Elizabeth, who was observing Lydia and Denny with wonderment.
When their time at Lucas Lodge ended, they called on Mrs. Long, who was completely shocked that the charming, well-spoken Miss Elizabeth would engage herself to the taciturn, silent Mr. Darcy. By the end of the visit, however, she was less worried about Elizabeth's choice, for Darcy had tried his best to redeem himself since he last failed to converse with her, and had tolerable success. They visited next the Gouldings, who had no less than twenty questions about Darcy's connections to an earl. The Robinsons, whom they saw afterwards, formed their inquiries around the recent gossip. Though they had not directly remarked on it, they evidently wished to know whether or not an affair between Darcy and Elizabeth had taken place in Derbyshire, Kent, or even under Mr. Bingley's roof last November.
No matter the neighbour, nearly all attention was directed at Darcy and Elizabeth. It could not have been otherwise. He was far too rich, she was the jewel of the county, and the tension between them had, since the earliest of their acquaintance, been known to exist. They were the most striking couple, and the simultaneous formation of Denny and Lydia and fall of Bingley and Jane were, in that instance, of lesser importance. Under such consideration, the calls were a success, and all except Lydia, who did prefer to be the one everyone talked about, returned to Longbourn content enough.
After dinner, Mrs. Bennet just happened to leave Darcy alone with Elizabeth. The matron had managed to herd her other daughters and Denny elsewhere, and more impressively, she persuaded her grumbling husband to follow her out of the door. The betrothed couple felt their privacy akin to a reward.
"Your parents care much for each other," observed Darcy. He had noticed a difference in their manner of interaction. There was a softness between them that he did not see the previous autumn.
"It is a more recent development," admitted Elizabeth. "I am sure the babe has something to do with it, but it is good to witness, nonetheless."
Darcy agreed. He added, "Your parents were very attentive to you today, perhaps more than usual. Your mother especially surprised me."
Although Mrs. Bennet had arranged a dinner consisting of his favoured dishes, she had also made sure that all of Elizabeth's favourite sweet treats were presented afterwards. Darcy had been most pleased to see Elizabeth eating so happily.
"That might also be a recent development," said she, and unfortunately, he could believe it. In all of their acquaintance, the majority of the praise he had heard of Elizabeth had come from her neighbours, and in particular from the mouth of Sir William; Mrs. Bennet spoke of her other daughters, and Mr. Bennet spoke little in general. He had always found it odd that an acquaintance would be more prideful of a young lady than her own parents. Elizabeth did not lack confidence, and surely her parents had loved her in their own ways all of her life. Yet Darcy remembered those few times in his past, which made him frown more than smile, when his father boasted of Wickham's lesser accomplishments while saying nothing of Darcy's better achievements. As much as he was coming to value Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, he was not ignorant of their previous shortcomings.
"They need not be so excessive. I know that they have always loved me dearly," continued Elizabeth, "as I have always loved them."
Wanting her to know that she would have no deficiency of affection from him, he spoke truthfully of how marvellous and worthy of a woman she was. She laughed and told him that he could not be so objective, but her cheeks were a pretty pink. Unable to meet his eyes, she looked down afterwards, her smile small and something he knew her to be fighting.
"I was studying Lydia and Denny today," she said, changing the subject. "He seems to be a much more palatable creature in her presence. From what I have seen, he cares for her very much, which makes me like him better. I think, when he is older, I might even say that he is exactly the husband Lydia requires."
Darcy contemplated her words with what he had observed and nodded. "She could have done much worse," he remarked before he realised exactly what he had said aloud.
Elizabeth stared at him.
He tried to correct himself and immediately spoke, "I mean that she could have entangled herself with a rake or gamester. Denny is neither. Perhaps he is poor, but he has no debt. With the right connections, he might even make a decent living in medicine."
Like Elizabeth, he was currently not so impressed by him. The boy was a milksop, and by no means would he have liked him for Georgiana. For Lydia, however, he found Denny to be acceptable. At times there were even moments when he believed that it would be Denny who, in the future, would regret his choice of wife. He was not as convinced as Elizabeth that the affection between the younger couple was true and lasting, but hopefully, they would prove her correct and him false.
His dearest, loveliest Elizabeth's fiery eyes and pouting lips inspired him to take her face into his hands and kiss her until she forgave him. She melted in his arms, and it was the reliable Mr. Hill who informed them through his loud handlings of objects in the hall that they were expected by the others.
By the time Darcy returned to Netherfield, it had been dark for several hours, but a sole candle indicated that Bingley had not yet gone to bed.
"A little dramatic, are you not?" Darcy asked.
Bingley startled from his position near the window, his state not unlike his brother-in-law's at the end of an evening.
"Darcy! I did not notice you!" he exclaimed. He glanced at the dim light and down at his unkempt clothes. "I suppose I do look a bit strange. You may thank the gentlemen of the county for that. Hurst would have liked the amount of drink at dinner, and particularly the amount present afterwards. How is Lizzy and her family?"
"Their despair is forgotten, and rightly so. The neighbours are ignorant of what had brought Lydia and Denny together, Elizabeth and I are to be married in days, and your previous engagement is but a spare detail."
"Yes, the gentlemen were more concerned about asking me about you and Lizzy than myself and Miss Bennet. Though, they could have been sparing my feelings," said Bingley. He muttered a complaint to his chair when he stood and stumbled. "How is Miss Bennet? I know you do not like her, but I would still like to see her happy."
"I would not have known that she had been upset at all if Elizabeth had not told me. I did not see her without a smile, and to Elizabeth, she was especially merry."
"She is the sort of person who likes to think of only the good."
"So she is either foolish, unfeeling, or willing to disguise any unpleasant truth with unrelated stories of her liking."
"Come, Darcy, you must not think too ill of your future sister-in-law. I do not, and she crushed my desire to love! I would believe it if she were sincerely happy for you and Lizzy. It would be her redemption of sorts."
"I may think ill of whomever I wish. My own aunt, for example." He frowned. "I hope your defence of Miss Bennet does not mean that you are regretting your decision."
"What decision? Ending my engagement? No, no—I do not regret that at all. My heart is light with freedom and content."
Darcy waved his hand in front of him. "Then what is this? This does not look like content. You are usually lively when you drink, and never brooding."
Bingley sniffed.
"What is it?" asked Darcy, worried for the emotional expression which fell upon his friend.
"It is just that I am so very happy for you!" cried Bingley. "For years I have wondered what would have become of you! A miserable old fellow roaming the empty halls of your great estate on more days than Sunday, because I would be married, and so would your sister and cousins, and you would not want to impose on us even when we would happily welcome you. I really worried for you!"
Darcy did not know whether to be moved or insulted.
"Then Lizzy appeared," continued Bingley. "What would have happened to you if not for her! You would have suffered a great loneliness that no one but her could cure. At dinner this evening, some of the gentlemen described the horrors of marriage for what they supposed to be my sake, but others countered them and spoke of the wonders and joy they experienced in their own matches. I could not help but think of you, Darcy, finally being able to meet your ultimate happiness by seeing Lizzy every morning and night, sharing with each other all of your slightest feelings and deepest concerns, welcoming your children into the world—your children, Darcy! Yours! You will be a father!"
"I assure you, Elizabeth and I have yet to expect such news."
"A little Mr. Darcy!" exclaimed Bingley, as if he had not heard him. "Or will it be a little Miss Darcy first? It does not matter, I suppose, for I am sure that you will have many of both eventually. I can envision your hoard of children now, running around with your noble nose and Lizzy's pretty eyes."
A tear was shed, and to give some dignity to Bingley's sniffling, Darcy searched for a handkerchief. His hand accidentally pulled from his pocket Elizabeth's token, which he dared not taint with Bingley's mucus. He did not put it away promptly enough, for his friend noticed it, questioned its feminine existence, and immediately poured more tears at the answer.
"I thought you believed tokens unsentimental," Darcy said drily. He found his own handkerchief and held it out.
Bingley accepted it with great thanks and replied, "That was before I knew that you and Lizzy would be married—you know, when I thought that you were hopeless and your feelings unrequited. Now I know the truth of love. Seeing that you still keep her token on your person, in the pocket nearest to your heart, how could my own heart not be touched?"
The happy weeping renewed.
"I have never seen you like this."
"You are to be married, Darcy! You and Lizzy, married! It feels so right. It is happening, Darcy! You and Lizzy! Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy!"
Darcy smiled, but also decided that it was time for Bingley to sleep off his overindulgence.
Note: Apologies for the delay. The next updates will be much sooner. Other announcements coming soon as well!
Up Next: The beginnings of happily ever after.
