Chapter 3
Dressed and ready for dinner with her aunt's friends, Elizabeth sat in her room, attempting to write the letter to her father. Despite her status as his favorite daughter, Elizabeth rarely discussed with him any personal information or anything in regard to her feelings. Most often, their conversations were limited to books and tenant issues, but rarely personal things. She was not sure how to write a letter to him telling him how her view of Mr. Darcy had changed over the last several months. As she considered this, she realized would need to write a more detailed letter to Jane explaining how this came about.
After several minutes of contemplation, she found herself writing a different sort of letter all together. She had received a letter once from Mr. Darcy, and now that they were engaged, it was appropriate for her to write to him. Shyly, she began a letter telling him how glad she was to have come across him that afternoon and expressing her changed feelings for him. She conveyed some of her fears regarding her return to Hertfordshire and her mother in light of their engagement and apologized in advance for the mortifications they would no doubt experience once her mother learned of it. She told once again how much she loved him and how she looked forward to this period of getting to know him more here in Derbyshire and in London.
Elizabeth signed and sealed the letter and tucked it into her reticule. She hoped to be able to pass it onto someone who could deliver it to Pemberley before they left for their night out.
At Pemberley, Darcy found himself having similar thoughts. He was trying to think about how to ask his future father-in-law, a man he only knew as an indolent landowner and father, for permission to marry his favorite daughter. He imagined how he would feel if it were Georgiana and a man he barely knew was requesting his permission and blessing to marry a favored daughter and take her far away from him. He shook his head, remembering how he had acted in Hertfordshire and realized the man knew little of him and most of that was likely negative –mostly due to his own actions and the arrogance he had displayed there. He ran his fingers through his hair and thought about Elizabeth. He had written her a letter once, but not one he would want her to remember. Putting off his letter to her father, he took out a fresh sheet of paper and began again.
My dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth.
In his letter, he conveyed his love and adoration for her and show much he enjoyed just being in her presence. He thanked whatever power had brought her to Pemberley that day and had made him ride ahead of the others to arrive in time to see her in his gardens. There was much he would like to say, but he ended the letter telling her how happy he was that she had accepted his proposal and once again expressed his words of his love for her. He signed and sealed the letter asked a footman to deliver it to the inn as soon as possible.
At the inn, Elizabeth managed to hand the letter to a maid as they left, and the maid noticed the footman in Pemberley livery arrive soon after. She took the letter and asked him if he were returning to the estate that night. When he said he was, she handed him the letter and thus, both parties received their letters that very evening. When the footman arrived back, he took the note directly to Mr. Darcy, who was very pleased to see that their thoughts had been running in a similar vein.
Somehow, that assurance made it easier for him to write his letter to Mr. Bennet and with renewed determination, he wrote his note, apologizing for the offenses he had caused in the past and expressed his desire to marry Elizabeth. He asked for his blessing to marry Elizabeth and wrote him of his intention to apply for a license when he returned to London. Since his aunt was sure to protest, loudly, but without justification, he related that it would simply be easier to be married with a common license rather than by calling the banns.
He signed this letter, but did not seal it, wanting to talk to Elizabeth about his idea before sending it to Mr. Bennet. There were several things they needed to talk about – including the claim Lady Catherine de Bourgh made about his 'cradle betrothal' to his cousin. Neither he nor Anne wished for such a marriage, but he needed to make sure Elizabeth and her family knew that. Darcy also considered what Elizabeth said in her letter about not informing her mother just yet and wondered if he needed to add anything about that in his letter.
Darcy went to sleep that night happier than he had been in months. He planned to ride to Lambton after breakfast in the morning and talk with Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle before returning to greet his guests when they arrived. At some point tomorrow, Elizabeth would arrive at Pemberley to visit for a week – or perhaps longer. He wondered if her aunt and uncle would agree to let her stay longer and then he and Georgiana could escort her to London at the end of the month. Darcy also briefly wondered if there was some chance of them simply obtaining a common license and marrying from Pemberley.
Elizabeth received his note after the dinner out, where she had heard much good spoken of Darcy. She also laughed at their similar turn of minds and realized his note helped her to know what to write to her own family. She was easily able to write her note to her father although left it open include details about the wedding date and her travels and so she ended it without signing it and left it open.
Her letter to Jane was both easier and harder to write. In it, she related him coming across her in the garden, of their conversations and finally his proposal. She shared her thoughts about them going directly to London to begin shopping and of her concerns over how her mother would react. Elizabeth encouraged Jane to talk to Papa privately about this and asked her to reassure her father that all was well. This letter she also left open so she could include the necessary details after they had been discussed and readied herself for bed.
The next morning, each awoke early, as was their custom. Elizabeth dressed quickly with the help of the maid and asked her aunt and uncle for permission to take a short walk before breakfast. They gave her permission but asked her to take a maid along with her. The maid from the inn was glad to accompany her and they walked though Lambton. As they walked out of the inn, Elizabeth heard a horse approaching and looked up in time to see Mr. Darcy dismounting.
"Good morning, Mr. Darcy," she called, smiling broadly at him.
"Good morning, Miss Elizabeth," he answered, smiling back.
He tied his horse to a hitching post in front of the inn and offered Elizabeth his arm. "I received your note last night," he began. "Somehow that was the impetuous I needed to write my letter to your father. I was struggling with what to say and after I read your words, it was so much easier to write my own."
"Your note had the same effect on me," she said, looking up at him shyly. "I have written my letter but left it open so we can include any additional details about our wedding plans or travel plans."
"I left mine open as well, because I wanted to talk to you about it before I sent it," he said. "I suggested that I would obtain a license when we return to town instead of calling the banns. You have met my Aunt Catherine – she will inevitably protest the marriage with her claims about the 'cradle' betrothal between myself and my cousin. While there is no truth to it – it has only even been in her own mind – but she could make a pest of herself if the banns were called. Both Anne and I have told her often enough that we would never marry, but she insists that my mother wished for it. While I was only 15 when my mother died, she did tell me that she wanted me to marry for love, as she and my father had done."
"I have no objection to a license, sir," Elizabeth said. "Mama will be ecstatic about the idea of a daughter being married by a license; I am sure."
"Please, love, call me William like my sister and cousin do," Darcy said. "Fitzwilliam if you must, or Darcy, but most definitely not 'sir'."
"William," she breathed. "I think that name suits you. Fitzwilliam is stuffy and seems like a name to call you when I am cross with you. How did you come by such a formal name any way?"
"It was my mother's maiden name," Darcy said. "It has been a family tradition to name the first son after the mother's maiden surname. If we follow the tradition, and have a son, he would be Bennet."
She colored. "And what if we only have daughters?" she asked shyly.
"Then I hope they are all as lovely and witty as their mother," he replied tenderly, looking down at her and covering her hand on his arm with his free hand. "And if they all have your eyes, I will be a lost man indeed."
The stopped and looked into each other's eyes for a long moment. He started to lean toward her, but then stopped himself, and clearing his throat, they began to walk again. "Pemberley is not entailed, so there is no worry about a female child inheriting. My eldest daughter's son could inherit, provide he took the Darcy name."
"The entail on Longbourn and Mama's inability to have a son contributed greatly to her obsession with her daughters marrying and is why she chose to push all of us to be 'out' far too early. I realize Hertfordshire is very different than town, but 15 was too early for Jane and myself to be out and I'm afraid that it is much too early for Lydia and Kitty. Lydia, as the youngest, has been too often indulged and has been allowed too many privileges. I'm ashamed to say my father let her to go to Brighton this summer with Colonel Forester's young wife as chaperone. I tried to warn him against it, but I hesitated to reveal too much of what I knew from your letter. Papa was more concerned about keeping the peace than about ensuring that Lydia would not do something foolish," Elizabeth told him, feeling embarrassed about the confession.
"And it worries you that she is there with the militia?" he asked.
"Jane and I have tried to check her, but Mama only encourages her, and Papa ignores her," Elizabeth said. "Yes, I'm worried about her."
He drew her to a stop. "I love you, Elizabeth. Nothing will change that."
"Apparently not even my hurling insults at you will stop you," she smiled up at him. "Now, enough maudlin thoughts. Let us go speak to my aunt and Uncle and make plans. My trunks are packed, and I am ready to return to Pemberley. I am looking forward to spending time with you, William."
Darcy smiled at the thought. "I am looking forward to that too. I want Georgiana to meet you before I tell her that we are betrothed. She, um, she already knows a great deal about you from my letters, I think. I did not realize how much I had written to her about you until a couple of month ago when she asked me about you."
She grinned at him. "What did you say about me in your letters? That I argued with you constantly? Or my tendency to walk the countryside and turn up, uninvited, with my skirts covered in mud and my hair blowing about my face like a hoyden."
"I told her of your dedication to your sister when she was sick and how your fine eyes were brightened by the exercise in walking across the country to tend to your sick sister," he explained. "I told her how much I enjoyed conversing with you on all manner of subjects and how you had Miss Bingley tied up in knots to contradict herself to prove how 'accomplished' she was. I told her how you were unintimidated by our Aunt Catherine and how you stood up to her time after time. I also told her how much I have enjoyed your playing and singing."
"If I had only seen your letters, I would have known how deeply in love you were," Elizabeth teased. "Only a man in deeply in love could have seen good in all of that, and especially enjoyed my inauspicious playing and singing."
"Richard also complimented your playing and singing at Rosings," Darcy interjected.
"Yes, but there was no one else to listen to there," Elizabeth rejoined.
"If we were not on a public street, I would kiss you right now," he said softly. "I enjoy your teasing me."
She blushed. "I think you fell in love with my impertinence, William," she said. "You were tired of all the Miss Bingley's of the ton hanging on to your every word and agreeing with you at every turn and you were wildly attracted to my arguing with you."
He laughed. "There is truth to that, I believe, Elizabeth," he said, "but only a bit. I fell in love with your liveliness of mind and your ability to have an independent and intelligent thought. Your eyes drew me in, but I enjoyed our conversations and debates as well. We did not always argue."
She laughed at that and then turned the conversation back to their engagement and ideas for their wedding. "If I had not argued with you so much, we might have already been engaged and married by now," she sighed. "William, I do not want to wait several months. If Mama is planning the wedding, she'll go on and on about your wealth and will want a wedding that matches her ideas of what a man of your 'status' must want. I prefer to keep things far simpler, and I believe you will prefer small and simple as well."
"You know me well, Elizabeth," he said. "I dislike large gatherings and being the center of attention. I like things simple and quiet, without a lot of fuss."
"Which is why I think waiting to tell Mama the wedding date until the last minute may be best," she said. "My letter to Papa and Jane conveys this idea and asks they not reveal the truth of the matter until the last possible moment. I can stay in London to purchase any clothes that I need for the wedding without Mama's knowledge – while avoiding those arguments – and you will not be subjected to the endless array of parties and dinners that Mama would deem necessary."
"Elizabeth, you do not have to shield me from your mother," he interjected. "I will be perfectly content to be with you in whatever company you desire."
"I'm not shielding you," she laughed. "I'm shielding myself as well. Mama will be in raptures that I 'caught' a rich man. She will drag me all over Meryton to tell everyone and anyone about what nice things I, and by extension, she will have as a result of our marriage and will embarrass me on a daily basis. I know what you think about my Mama, William, and I think it too, much to my shame at times. I positively dread her reaction to our news. I love her because she is my mother, but I do not want to think about how she will respond."
"Elizabeth," William began, "you are who you are in part because of your mother, for better or for worse." He grinned. "I did not mean to criticize those you love when I was in Kent and, as you know, I have my share of relations who embarrass me at times. I do not relish visiting every home in Meryton, but, love, I will gladly do whatever you ask as long as you are beside me to help me through it."
"You are a good man, William," Elizabeth said, looking at him lovingly. "Mama is at times too much even for me and I should not have gotten so angry with you for saying what I have said about her often."
"But she is your mother, and I should have been more sensitive to that. Without her, there would have been no Elizabeth Bennet. And, as I cannot imagine my life without you, I will come to love her for giving you to me," William told her.
She stopped and turned to look at him before speaking. "I just may have to remind you of these words when we eventually do return to Hertfordshire, William. But for now, I will relish the sentiment behind the words and tell you that I also cannot imagine my life without you. I look forward to being your wife and being able to stay always by your side."
"If we were not standing in the middle of the street, my sweet Elizabeth, I would kiss you right now," he whispered. "But I will content myself with being able to have you quite literally by my side right now." He kissed her hand lingeringly and they started walking again.
Arriving at the inn, he opened the door for her to enter, and she told him. "Wait here, please. I will find my aunt and Uncle."
"Mr. Darcy," the innkeeper called. "Good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Johnson," Darcy acknowledged. "How are you today?"
"Doing well," Mr. Johnson replied. "What brings you in today?"
"I am visiting some friends who happened to be staying here for a day or two," Darcy replied. "I am meeting with the Gardiners this morning."
"They have a lovely niece," Mr. Johnson said, having noticed the Master of Pemberley walking closely with the young lady through town.
"Yes, Miss Bennet is very lovely," Darcy replied.
Just then, Darcy saw Elizabeth in the doorway. "I believe the Gardiners are ready for me, Mr. Johnson."
"Very good, Mr. Darcy," Johnson replied, wondering if the young lady would be making Derbyshire her home before too long.
"Good morning, Mr. Darcy," Mr. Gardiner called out the greeting as the man walked into the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Gardiner," he replied. "But, please, call me Darcy. We will be family soon enough and I look forward to getting to know you better."
"We are about to eat breakfast, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Gardiner said. "Would you care for some?"
"Thank you, but I ate earlier," he replied. "I would like coffee or tea if I may?"
Elizabeth prepared him a cup of coffee, adding a bit of cream, as she had seen him drink it that way often enough. She handed it to him and smiled at him, taking up her own cup and sitting next to him on the settee.
"So, Mr. Darcy, would you like to tell my aunt and uncle what we discussed about the wedding?" Elizabeth said, smiling archly at him.
He grinned back at her and she colored slightly. "I wrote a letter asking Mr. Bennet's permission, but I also wrote him of my desire to obtain a common license instead of having the banns called. I have some concerns about my Aunt Catherine causing trouble in regard to my betrothal and marriage to Miss Bennet. Since my mother passed away more than a decade ago, she has convinced herself that it was my mother's wish for me to marry my cousin. As much as anything else, I think it has been a ploy to keep Rosings, her estate in Kent, under her control, which my cousin would control when she married. She has always believed that I would bring Anne here to Pemberley and leave her to control Rosings.
"She attempted to convince my father when he was still alive of this, but he would not agree and told me definitively that my mother never wished for such a match. Anne and I have discussed it as well, and she has no desire to marry myself or anyone else, as she has always been rather sickly and weak."
"I have met Lady Catherine, and I would say she is rather formidable," Elizabeth interjected.
"But you were not cowed by her," Darcy replied, his lips turning up into a slight smile. "Few have ever stood up to my aunt as you did, and it was interesting to watch."
"Can she truly interfere?" Mr. Gardiner asked.
"She can create a scene and embarrass herself, but my Uncle Matlock will not let her cause too much of a ruckus. I will need to speak to him when we arrive in town, but the fact that he is already acquainted with you will help," Darcy said. "That is one argument in favor of us waiting a bit longer and participating in some events in town before things are officially announced, as much as I hate to admit it."
Elizabeth smiled tenderly at him. "Just so long as the events do not involve dancing, am I right?"
William colored slightly but smiled back at Elizabeth. "As long as I can dance with you, I think I could handle a ball or two."
She put her hand on his arm. "And I can protect you from all the match-making mamas?" The entire group laughed at that.
Elizabeth spoke up to get the group back on topic. "I have written to both Jane and Papa, leaving both letters open so we can add any necessary details. I would like to set a definite wedding date in, say two months, so early in October, but not tell Mama until the last possible moment. I can come to London and Mr. Darcy can escort us to the theater and the museum, as well as a ball or two. He can introduce me to Lord and Lady Matlock so we can counteract anything Lady Catherine might try, and perhaps Lady Matlock would be willing assist with my acceptance into society as needed."
Darcy smiled at her. "That sounds perfect to me. Do you think your father will be amenable to the idea?"
"How will we handle your going home, only to return immediately to London with us? What will your mother say about that?" Aunt Gardiner asked.
"You said that Mr. Bingley is joining you today, did you not?" Elizabeth turned to William.
"Yes, he will be arriving with his sisters and Georgiana this afternoon." William replied slowly, wondering what Elizabeth was thinking.
"Well, we could invite Jane to come along to become reacquainted with Mr. Bingley. I will, of course, need to come as well because …" Elizabeth paused.
"Because I need help with the children while I am increasing," Mrs. Gardiner supplied.
Elizabeth turned to look at her, grinning. "You are?"
"Yes, the newest Gardiner will be arriving some time in the new year," Mr. Gardiner said. "We had not planned to announce it just yet, but it seems like a good reason for you and Jane both to come along."
"Leave your mother to me, Lizzy," Mrs. Gardiner said. "We will ensure that both you and your sister are in London for the month of September. Although you may be assuming too much with Mr. Bingley, but we will see."
"I will speak to Bingley later this afternoon about Miss Jane Bennet," Mr. Darcy said. "He has spoken of her several times on this trip north and I feel certain he would like to become reacquainted with her."
"But she was in London for months and he never called on her!" Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed.
"I am sorry to say that he was never informed of her being in town. I think that Elizabeth has told you both of our quarrel in Kent and this was one of things that we had argued about. I am not certain that Bingley has recovered from his admiration of Miss Bennet and had already planned to confess all to him while he was here at Pemberley," Darcy admitted.
Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm and looked at him. He looked regretful, the Gardiners noticed, but Elizabeth just looked sympathetic and understanding. He patted the hand on his arm, and it was clear that there was an unspoken exchange between the two. This more than anything else, helped to convince the Gardiners that this was the perfect match for their niece.
A few more details were exchanged, and it was decided that the letters would be posted – not sent express so as not to alert Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth added a mid-October wedding date to the letters and other details were added. The letters were sanded and sealed and sent to be posted. The Gardiners were ready to remove to Pemberley and as Mr. Darcy had arrived in his curricle, he asked for and was granted permission to escort Elizabeth to Pemberley. The trunks were loaded into the Gardiner's carriage, and they all set off.