Hello good friends! Here's another diverting chapter for you—Darcy begins to truly see the error of his ways and he meets with his uncle to tell him about the engagement. I'm sure you've noticed that I changed the title of the story (found out another JAFF book already published had the same title) as well as added a cute cover pic. The artwork is not mine—it is by viral13 at DeviantArt.

Much gratitude, as always, to everyone reading along, for you make the continuing efforts worth it!

Guest Lia: I am aware that gentleman's daughters wouldn't curtsey to a lowly maid—normally. Elizabeth is being courteous here.

Chapter Six

Though he had never told anyone, people's reactions to unexpected news had always fascinated Darcy.

Delighted was the first word that came to mind on watching Mr. Gardiner's eyes and smile widen. Mrs. Gardiner cried out softly and raised a hand to her lips, before smiling and reaching forward to wrap her arms about her niece.

"Oh, congratulations my dear! I am so happy for you!" said the lady.

Jane Bennet's reaction intrigued Darcy the most. She drew a breath and pressed her hand to her heart, her eyes first widening with surprise and then, if he was not mistaken… Was that envy that now came into her gaze? Her expression, though pleased and smiling as she, too, embraced Elizabeth, most definitely belied envy.

And disappointment—he was suddenly sure of it. Instinct told him that she was not disappointed in Elizabeth's choice, but in having been deprived of the same pleasure she believed her sister to now be experiencing.

Darcy felt his misjudgment of her keenly, and as covertly as he was able, while accepting the congratulations of Elizabeth's aunt and uncle, he continued to study Jane. She was paler than when he had seen her last, and thinner. Her smile did not quite reach her eyes. It pained him to see her thus, her bloom somewhat faded, and to think it was the result of his own actions in convincing Bingley to give her up increased his sense of guilt.

He would correct that mistake tonight.

"Mr. Darcy," said Mrs. Gardiner; his name snapped Darcy from his reverie. "I know it is quite last-minute to ask you, but would you care to stay for dinner?"

Darcy offered her a genial smile. "I thank you, Mrs. Gardiner, but I regret that I cannot," he replied. "I must see my uncle to inform him of my engagement, I have some small matters of business to attend to, and then tomorrow I have an early start to my day, as I must away to Longbourn to speak to Mr. Bennet."

Mr. Gardiner laughed. "I wish you every success, Mr. Darcy, as I do not imagine it will be entirely easy to convince my brother to part with Lizzy. She is his particular favorite among his daughters, you know."

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth to see a smile on her countenance that he hoped was genuinely felt. "I will concede to his every demand if it is within reason, for the very great pleasure of having Miss Elizabeth for my wife."

Elizabeth's eyes widened, and her gaze searched his. It occurred to Darcy then that she still believed him unhappy about the real reason for which they were going to marry. In all honesty, he was not best pleased with the situation—he'd rather she had accepted him because she wanted to be his wife, not because she needed to marry. Darcy wished she at least liked him, and at present he could not be certain that she did. She had acknowledged his innocence regarding Wickham, had appreciated his kindness to herself, but as much as he wished it were possible, the entirety of her ill opinion of him was unlikely to be done away with in only a few hours. Finding him innocent of one crime of which she had accused him had not lessened his guilt in the other.

Darcy recognized that, for Elizabeth, her choices had been truly difficult: stand by her refusal and risk her character and her family's reputation being destroyed or accept his offer and bind herself forever to a man she could not even say she liked in order to save both. But she was not marrying him to save herself; her own respectability he felt certain she would willingly risk if that was her only concern. Knowing how deeply she cared for her family, however, he was without doubt—for her own words had told him so—that preserving the respectability of her parents and chances of marriage for her sisters was her primary motivation, if not the only.

Kempis had written that "Of two evils, the lesser is always to be chosen." Darcy was hopeful that Elizabeth's having decided marriage to him was the lesser of two evils would soon give way to more tender feelings. He knew that he could be a man that she liked, respected—perhaps even loved. She had only to give him time to prove it. He was certain that his efforts to see her pleased with her lot would change her mind as regarded his character, for he would certainly promise to do whatever he could to make the years ahead as tolerable—even happy—as possible.

It all came to one material point: he was still in love with her. Elizabeth's angry recriminations hadn't altered the sentiments he had avowed to her—on the contrary, they had forced him to reflect on his own behavior. They had forced him to accept that his manner was in great need of alteration if he ever hoped to be worthy of her good opinion, let alone her affection.

Darcy looked to Mrs. Gardiner. "I cannot stay to dinner with you tonight, ma'am, but I should like to know you and Mr. Gardiner better," said he. "If you are not engaged tomorrow evening, perhaps you and Mr. Gardiner, and the Miss Bennets, would care to dine at Darcy House?"

"That is very kind of you, Mr. Darcy," said Mr. Gardiner.

"Not at all," Darcy replied. "I have heard Miss Elizabeth speak of yourself and Mrs. Gardiner several times, and I know she thinks very highly of you. I cannot help but wish to know better the relations who would inspire such devotion in her."

Of you, at least, he added silently, Elizabeth need not feel any shame. Darcy had spent only a few moments in the company of the Gardiners, whose surprising gentility pleased him, and he liked them already. Their fashionable dress and comfortable style of living he knew was supported by Mr. Gardiner's being in a very profitable line of trade—and was further surprised to find it did not matter to him. He made a mental note to speak to Mr. Gardiner at dinner about commissioning a new carriage for Elizabeth.

"Our Lizzy is nothing if not loyal," said Mr. Gardiner with a chuckle. "And as we are not engaged tomorrow evening, we should be delighted to accept your invitation."

Darcy nodded. "Very good. Dinner will be at six. Now, Mrs. Gardiner, might I beg the use of your writing desk for a moment? I have a note I must write for Miss Elizabeth."

He was not remiss to the roll of Elizabeth's eyes, and he could not help the smirk he turned her way in response.

"Why certainly, Mr. Darcy," said Mrs. Gardiner as she showed him to the desk across the room.

"What is the note for, if I may inquire?" Jane asked.

"Mr. Darcy wishes to make me a wedding present," replied Elizabeth. "My trousseau is to be his gift to me, and the note he now writes is apparently meant to ensure that my purchases this week are charged to him—he claims to know the best dressmakers in town."

"I remind you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I have a sister," said Darcy as he finished signing his name to the short missive he'd written. "I am unfortunately required to know the best dressmakers in town."

He turned back to find smiles on the faces of her relations; Elizabeth's expression was sour, but he suspected her to be holding back her own amusement. "I must go now to see said sister," he told her as he handed her the note, along with a list of dressmakers and clothiers she might visit, "as well as my uncle, and as promised I will fulfil your request. Until tomorrow evening?"

Elizabeth's answering smile pleased him. "I look forward to hearing how your business concludes, especially with my father."

Darcy smiled and took up her hand, bowed over it, and after giving his address in Dover Street, he quit the house.

"Where to first?" asked Fitzwilliam as he was mounting his horse.

After verifying with a glance that Elizabeth's trunks had been conveyed into the Gardiner house, Darcy urged his horse ahead of the carriage so that he could lead the way to his own London residence. Fitzwilliam came up beside him, an expression of mild impatience on his countenance. "Given we shall reach Dover Street first, I intend to share the news of my engagement first with my sister. Afterward, I'll call at your father's house. Then I must see Bingley—I have promised Elizabeth to correct my error regarding her sister and my friend."

"Shall I go with you Grosvenor Street?" Fitzwilliam asked.

Darcy nodded. "I would very much appreciate the support. Bingley is for the most part an unaffected fellow, but when I confess to concealing Miss Bennet's being in London all this time…"

Fitzwilliam nodded his understanding. "Yes, I don't imagine he'll be too pleased with you."

On arriving at Darcy House, the two gentlemen found that Miss Darcy was not in; she had been collected that morning by her aunt, Lady Disley, for a day of shopping. After exchanging their travel attire for clean clothing, Darcy ordered a fresh pair of horses be hitched to the carriage; the two rented horses were to be treated well that night and conveyed to a coaching inn the next morning. When his coach was again ready to depart, he and Fitzwilliam rode the few blocks over to the earl's house.

Their relations were surprised but not displeased to see them; even Fitzwilliam's brother, Lord Rowarth, was there. After greetings were exchanged, his uncle said to Darcy,

"I am glad you are here, Darcy. Would you come to my room? There is a matter of some import that I should like to discuss with you."

Darcy glanced at Fitzwilliam, who lifted a shoulder. After acknowledging his uncle's request, Darcy followed him out of the drawing room; he would have liked to announce his engagement to all the family and be on his way to Grosvenor Street, but it appeared he must wait. He walked beside the earl in silence, wondering what business he could wish to address, when suddenly a sneaking suspicion entered his mind that was confirmed moments after the study door had been shut.

Lord Disley crossed the room and went behind his desk, and from a drawer he took out a folded letter that he held up for Darcy to see.

The address was in Lady Catherine's handwriting.

"My sister sent this express to me today, which I received little more than an hour ago," his uncle began. "In it, she claims that the cousin of Hunsford's parson has engaged in a total want of proper decorum, that she has disrespected the hospitality of the Reverend Mr. Collins and shown an utter contempt for the notice and condescension of herself. In short, Catherine claims that this girl, a Miss Elizabeth Bennet, has thrown herself at you repeatedly in an attempt to violate your betrothal to Anne and trap you in a disgraceful alliance."

Darcy scowled, and several deep breaths were required to rein in his rising fury. "Lady Catherine is a liar," he said at last.

Lord Disley's eyebrow rose. "Is that so?"

"It is," Darcy replied. "Firstly, Uncle, you know I've never desired my cousin and am not engaged to her. Your sister has allowed that fantasy of hers far too much free rein, and now she thinks to use your authority to force me to do her bidding. I will not abide her attempts to manipulate me.

"Secondly, that Miss Bennet is the cousin of Mr. Collins is the only sentence you uttered which is true. The rest of Lady Catherine's claims are entirely false."

His uncle dropped the letter on the desk. "So you said. Tell me, then, what is the truth, Darcy?"

"I first became acquainted with Miss Bennet when I went into Hertfordshire with my friend Charles Bingley," Darcy began. "It was not long before I found myself falling in love with her, much against my inclination. The situation of her family is such that a match between us would be considered imprudent. Her father is a gentleman, but his income is not enough for him to have the means of endowing his five daughters. Her mother's connections are an attorney and a tradesman."

Lord Disley frowned. "I fail to understand you, Darcy. If you acknowledge the girl's family is beneath you, why did you allow yourself to become attached to her?"

Darcy sighed. "I was in the middle, Uncle, before I realized I had even begun—and by then, I now suspect, it was already too late. I did try to quell my growing affection—as you know, the Bingleys and I returned to town after the ball he hosted at Netherfield, and I remained here until Fitzwilliam and I went into Kent. Until meeting Miss Bennet again there, I had believed myself free of my attachment. I was wrong, as I found myself as drawn to her as before. We spent a great deal of time together these last three weeks."

The earl sighed and lowered himself into his desk chair. "Go on," said he with a flick of his hand. "I suspect you have more to say."

"Yesterday, I gave in to the force of my desire and asked Miss Bennet for her hand in marriage. Only I did not do so in a manner which recommended my suit, so she begged I give her time to consider my offer."

Here his uncle frowned again. "Time to consider? Why should she need to consider anything? You are one of the richest young men in the whole country and she would be elevated to the first circles of society."

Though vexed with his uncle's attitude—more so because it reminded him most uncomfortably that he'd thought the same—Darcy nevertheless smiled. "Although Miss Bennet is well aware of the value of a good income, wealth and status have less influence on her than mutual respect and admiration. And as I said, sir, she found much fault with the manner in which I presented my offer. When she told me this morning that she had decided to accept me, I vowed that I would behave in a more gentlemanlike manner henceforth."

Lord Disley scoffed. "You, ungentlemanly? The very idea is absurd," he said. Then, after a moment of scrutinizing his features, he added, "However, I can see you are quite serious."

Reaching forward, he picked up the express Lady Catherine had sent him and tapped it against the palm of his hand. "There was no inappropriate conduct?"

Darcy clenched his jaw. There had been, of course, but he could not bring himself to confess it. And yet… given he had no idea of just what it was Mr. Collins's servant had seen, or precisely how much of that report was contained in his aunt's letter, he wondered if perhaps a partial admission might do.

"No, sir. Miss Bennet's conduct was entirely proper, though I will admit to embracing her when I was assured of her wishing to marry me. I understand from what Lady Catherine said to me this morning that one of the parson's servants reported having witnessed some interaction between Miss Bennet and myself, but I assure you, there was nothing untoward."

Reflecting once more on the morning's events, he was forced again to pause in order to rein in his temper. Elizabeth's disapprobation had vexed him, but it was nothing in comparison to how furious he was that Lady Catherine had abused her authority over Collins in the manner that she had—or that she had sent an express to her brother in the hope of the earl doing what she could not.

"Your sister had the sheer hubris to order Mr. Collins to turn Miss Bennet out of his house based on hearsay, with no means for leaving the country except what she could do on her own—which was nothing. I could not in good conscience allow Lady Catherine's complete disregard for the reputation and safety of a young lady to go unanswered, so I engaged a maid from her house to accompany Miss Bennet on the journey and brought her to her uncle in Gracechurch Street myself."

"This uncle is the one in trade?" Lord Disley asked; Darcy inclined his head. "What is his name? What does he do?"

"His name is Gardiner, and he is the proprietor of Gardiner's Custom Carriages."

Surprise alighted on his uncle's countenance. "Is that so? I have met him—we ordered our last carriage from him, and he presented it personally when it was finished. I was astonished to find him so gentlemanlike."

"I confess I felt the same when I met him near an hour ago," said Darcy. "Both he and his wife are well-spoken, well-mannered… They are people of fashion, and what little I saw of their house was very comfortably fitted up."

"I should imagine so—his carriages are in great demand, so he is never in want of business," Lord Disley observed. "Last I heard, he has had to institute a wait-list."

The earl then leaned forward and sighed. "It is probably unnecessary for me to ask, but all the same… You are resolved, then, on marrying this Miss Bennet?"

Darcy nodded. "I am, sir. I love her."

Lord Disley scoffed. "So you said. Well, it's not as if I can stop you—you're of my family, but you are also the head of your own and you are past your majority. I confess that I'd rather she did come with a fortune and better connections, but few dowries would significantly add to your coffers, and we can emphasize that she is a gentleman's daughter—and that her uncle is one of the most sought-after carriage makers in the city."

Relief coursed through Darcy that his uncle did not entirely object to his marriage. "Thank you, Uncle. It pleases me to know that you believe me and trust in my judgment."

"I know you would not throw yourself away on some flibbertigibbet with no sense or manners, so she must be a beauty and possess more than a little intelligence."

Here Darcy smiled. "Miss Bennet is the handsomest woman of my acquaintance, and she has a dry wit that I find rather refreshing."

Again, his uncle scoffed. "Which means she is a beauty who speaks her mind and doesn't fawn all over you like that boy Bingley's sister."

"Indeed. To be appreciated for who I am rather than the size of my income or my relationship to nobility is a much better foundation for a happy liaison than being liked only because I am rich and connected," replied Darcy sardonically.

"How very modern of you, Darcy," said Disley. He tapped the express against the desk. "Your aunt will not take my refusal to stand in your way lightly."

"I don't imagine she will," Darcy agreed. "As such, Miss Bennet and I have agreed to put an announcement in the paper for tomorrow's morning edition."

"Why not the evening edition? I'm sure we have the time to notify the papers—"

Darcy held up a hand to stay his uncle's words. "I have not yet sought Mr. Bennet's blessing for our marriage," he interjected. "To put the announcement in this evening risks his seeing it before I have chance to speak to him."

"If he's a smart man, he won't object. Very well, I'll see to placing the announcement for you," said Disley. "When do you expect to meet with Mr. Bennet?"

"Tomorrow. Meryton will not receive the morning papers from London until some hours after my business there is concluded."

Lord Disley stood and, moving around the desk, went to the fireplace and took up a matchstick. Darcy was surprised to see him light the express from Lady Catherine on fire before tossing it into the hearth.

"Can't let Catherine's accusations get out," he muttered at Darcy's quizzical look.

"That won't prevent her writing to you again, or writing to someone else," Darcy pointed out.

"Perhaps, but by the time she does I expect you'll be married, and she will gain nothing. You do intend to marry quickly, I presume?"

Darcy nodded. "I see no reason to delay now we are engaged. Miss Bennet is to go about town and order her trousseau tomorrow, and it is my intention to procure a license on my return from Hertfordshire. I expect we can be married in as little as a week."

"Well then, my dearest nephew, we have but one thing left to do," said his uncle. "We must go and tell the rest of the family that one of society's most eligible bachelors will soon be a bachelor no more."