Author's Notes: Every time I thought I had something settled in the writing of this, another thought came to mind, hence its ending up being more than twice as long as originally intended.
And while I tried to stick to M/W/F, I'm too impatient to keep to that, so now I'm reverting to my more usually M-F posting schedule. The rest of the chapters go up this week, and the Epilogue should be up next Monday.
Also thank you for all the responses to chapter 7.
Chapter 8
Answering the Question
Elizabeth had been almost relieved to return home the next day, as after a restless night, she found herself rather discomposed around Darcy. Everything about him seemed so much sharper in contrast. Even the smallest smile seemed to make her want to blush. She wanted just a little distance to be able to regain some equanimity in her dealings with him. However, while when she was with him she found it hard to think rationally, when she was away from him it seemed almost impossible to think about anything other than him.
Of course, coming home to more of her mother's flutterings about Mary's wedding, did nothing to turn her thoughts away from Mr. Darcy and his proposal, and as she considered her answer, she was struck with a sudden concern about how Mary might be affected by another of her sisters getting engaged so close to her own wedding. Mary had been too often overlooked by her family, and right now with her engagement to the heir presumptive of Longbourn she was firmly at the center of attention. Would she want to remain there or would she welcome a diffusion of focus?
Well, the only way to find out would be to ask, so after breakfast on the morning after Jane and Elizabeth's return from Netherfield, Elizabeth spoke with Mary as she went into the music room for her morning practice on the pianoforte.
"Mary, there is something that I would like to ask you, though it is rather awkward."
"I am used to awkward," Mary said, with a slight trace of humor which surprised Elizabeth.
"Well, then I will be blunt, which is another trait I believe the entire family is used to to one degree or another," Elizabeth said, with a smile. "I wonder would it trouble you if another of your sisters were to become engaged before your wedding."
Mary looked at her shrewdly. "You and Mr. Darcy, perhaps?"
Elizabeth blushed. "I could be referring to Jane and Mr. Bingley."
"You could, but I do not believe you are," Mary said. "In either or both events, I can hardly say that not only would I not mind, nothing could please me more. I have thought that Mr. Darcy admired you for some time, and you seem to admire him, and I do not think you could find a more suitable match, and I do not refer to the mere material advantages. Also, I would be more than pleased to have my mother's attention focused on more than myself. With no disrespect meant, the wedding preparations seem more elaborate than needed."
"I see, and you believe that a distraction would be in order," Elizabeth said slyly.
"I would not have you agree to wed to serve as a distraction, but if he makes you an offer, and you wish to accept it, then yes, I would be delighted. How could I not wish to share my sisters' joy as they share mine?"
Elizabeth felt a bit ashamed of her lack of consideration for Mary. "I am very happy for you, Mary," she said. "It seems I have not seen you as you are for far too long, and soon you will be married and away from here."
"I have not been easy to know," Mary said. "But I must know, do you expect Mr. Darcy to make you an offer soon?" Elizabeth's face flushed, and Mary with sudden insight said, "Or has he already made one?"
Not willing to say too much, Elizabeth said, "He has made his intentions clear; I believe that he is only waiting for me to be sure of my own." That was not particularly duplicitous.
"And are you sure yet?" Mary asked.
"I think so," Elizabeth said, with the realization that she actually was entirely sure despite the speed of the change in her feelings. "Or as certain as a woman should be on such a large issue. Now I have only to make him aware. Whenever that time may come."
"I hope it is soon," Mary said.
"So do I."
~o~O~o~
George Wickham stood in the tailor's shop being measured to within an inch of his life. After consulting with Mrs. Montcraven's solicitor (he knew of no other that he could either trust or afford), while he was not entirely satisfied (how could he be when he would be depending on her generosity for any expansion of his funds?), he realized that it was unlikely he would find a better offer before his finances became overly strained, and despite the restrictions, he would be living the life of a leisured gentleman, mingling with the classes he knew he always should have belonged to. Perhaps it was not ideal, but it was currently the best deal he could get, and once married she would be required to care for him all her days; that much he had made absolutely certain of. And who knows he might convince her sooner than that ten years she mentioned to make sure he was cared for all his days.
So he had gone from the solicitor's to Mrs. Montcraven's and made his acceptance with all the charm and grace he could manage, whereupon she had almost immediately introduced him to Drake, his new valet who had been valet to the first Mr. Montcraven and who had apparently in the interim served the late Mr. Montcraven's uncle who had recently died, just in time for Mrs. Montcraven to regain his services for her next husband.
"It is most fortunate," she had said, "as Drake already knows precisely what I require of a husband. I would hate the bother of training a new man for the position." She had looked George up and down and added, "And the first thing he will have to do is get you fitted with a proper wardrobe. What you have was adequate for your prior station, but you will require superior clothes as my husband."
So accompanied by his new valet, George was directed to the very exclusive tailor that had served Mrs. Montcraven's father and husband. He had expected them to be quite staid because of this, but apparently they managed by dressing both the conservative and the dandies, and Drake was obviously directed to make sure that his wardrobe fit Mrs. Montcraven's own standards.
"Mrs. Montcraven believes that a gentleman should be as brightly colored as the peacock," Drake had said as the selections were placed before them. "She dislikes black except when it is absolutely required."
His opinion ignored, all he had to do was be measured and examined and told what items of clothing he would be getting, and the same happened with his haberdasher and bootmaker. He was allowed to make no selections on his own, and in fact, he stopped trying to make any opinions known when it seemed that Drake would dismiss any deviation from his list even if it was in the same spirit as some other choice. His valet was all that was polite and apparently deferential, but he made it most clear that it was Mrs. Montcraven who was his employer rather than George. Of course, as the wardrobe he was acquiring was really very fine, the finest he would ever had possessed, he really had no cause for complaint, which was vexing. Nothing his valet did could be called into question, but he was starting to dislike the man.
In any event having had a full day, he still had to go to his betrothed and express his gratitude for the great gift she was bestowing. Unfortunately, when shown into her study, he was faced not just by his betrothed but also her solicitor and his clerk.
"I am pleased to see that Drake managed to get you at least one proper outfit immediately,"she said, "as well as getting you back in good time to for you to be able to sign a few papers in relation to the wedding. It's important to have everything in order."
Sighing, he glanced through them not really making much sense of all the legal vocabulary, but as he already understood exactly what he would and would not be receiving, he saw no difficulty in signing everything, the sooner he was legally bound to Maria Montcraven the better.
Once everything was properly signed and witnessed and they were alone, George did his best to show his gratitude to Mrs. Montcraven. It took him some time, as she apparently felt her generosity had shown no bounds, and it was quite late when he returned to his temporary new lodgings, as Mrs. Montcraven had insisted he needed to be in a better neighborhood until they were wed.
The ubiquitous Drake went with him, ostensibly to begin his duties and prepare him for his role as Mr. Montcraven, but Wickham suspected that his job was to see that he did not get up to anything that Mrs. Montcraven disapproved of. Not that Wickham planned to do any such thing; not when he was so close to getting everything he wanted. All he needed was a little patience. Just a little. He was going to be perfectly behaved. For now.
~o~O~o~
Not unexpectedly, Elizabeth soon found herself in the company of Mr. and Miss Darcy as they came to visit with Mr. Bingley and Col. Fitzwilliam. It was, unfortunately, not really an atmosphere conducive to a private talk, which she found quite vexing as having made her decision, she was not in the humor to defer delivering her answer. However, neither would she neglect Miss Darcy's comfort on her first visit to Longbourn, knowing how overwhelming her family could be.
It was with relief that some fifteen minutes into the visit that Miss Darcy managed to become comfortable enough with Mary to get into an intense discussion of their favorite composers and music. Mrs. Bennet was mostly focused on Mr. Bingley and Col. Fitzwilliam as were the rest of her sisters, and Elizabeth wanted to take advantage of the opportunity given.
"Mr. Darcy," she said, gathering her courage and her wits in order to say what she needed to say in a room where there was only a minimal amount of privacy.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth," he said, a slight smile of pleasure on his face.
"There is something I would like to say," she started, then hesitate, "but it is hard to know how to say it."
"You have never struck me as one who has difficulty expressing her opinions," he said.
"Yes, but this is one thing I would rather be able to say in private rather than public, but I do not know when I might get that opportunity."
His expression barely changed, but she noticed a brightening in his eyes as he seemed to take her meaning about the topic she would speak of. He looked around the room.
"Perhaps you could show me the view from that window," Mr. Darcy said, indicating the one farthest from the rest of the room's inhabitants. "I believe the weather may be changing."
"We should check," Elizabeth said, thinking that it was unlikely to change in any direction that would do her any good for the near future, but she would take the opportunity he was giving them to try to get the words out.
They both moved to the window, unnoted by the rest of the room.
"I think we may speak without being overheard," Mr. Darcy said quietly as he looked at her from the corner of his eyes while ostensibly staring out the window.
Elizabeth watched his reflection in the glass and finally drew up her courage to speak. "Sir, I was considering the question you posed to me recently in the Netherfield library."
"Yes..." There was a hesitation in his voice and expression that gave her pause. "I believe you wanted time to consider it."
"Apparently, I needed very little time, sir," Elizabeth said, looking down at her hands which she had clasped in front of her.
"Indeed?"
"Yes," she said. "I mean if you have not reconsidered the question, my answer to it is 'yes.'" She took a deep breath to try to calm herself as she waited for his response which seemed to be an age in coming.
"There is no possibility of my reconsidering the question, Elizabeth," he whispered, repressed passion in his voice. "The only thing I could wish for is that we were in private so I could properly express the joy that answer brings me."
"I wish it as well," she said softly. "But having made my decision I did not wish to wait for an opportunity that might not come for some time."
"It is true then," he said, looking around to be sure that they were still unheard, "you do agree to marry me?"
"Yes," she answered. "I do, very much."
"May I go to your father today?" he asked. "Now?"
"Yes," she said.
"The loveliest word I have heard in quite some time," Darcy said. "I assume he is in his book room."
"Yes, we can see if he will see you."
As casually as possible, they made their excuses, and Elizabeth managed not to smile until they were safely out of the room and partially down the hall. Once they were alone, Darcy stopped and turned towards her.
"Elizabeth, this seems almost unreal. You do wish to marry me?" he asked, taking her hands in his.
"I do," she said. "I found the thought of not marrying you too inexpressibly painful to give you any other answer. My heart has quite overthrown any concerns my head may have posed."
"I hope you know that you will never have cause to regret this choice. You can trust me."
"I know," she said. "I find it incredible yet I do trust you." She looked up into his eyes trying to let him see what she could not yet say. However, she knew that they could not stay in the hall indefinitely and she was suddenly feeling slightly abashed at the intensity of his stare. "Unfortunately— no, that is not quite right— rather I believe it is time to face my father."
"You are correct," Darcy said, looking around as to be sure that they were still unobserved. "However, before we do... would you permit a kiss?"
Elizabeth barely nodded as she lifted her face to his. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a brief kiss; Elizabeth barely returned the pressure she felt before he drew back, yet she could not imagine a first kiss more sweet.
"Now, I believe I am ready to speak to your father," Mr. Darcy said softly.
Elizabeth breathed dreamily. "I know I'm ready for you to."
~to be continued~
Next Up: Chapter 9 - Good Fortune for Some
End Notes:
The initial scene with Mary was one of the later unexpected additions to the story, as I suddenly wondered should Elizabeth be concerned with how Mary would feel about the topic. I mean I already knew that since Mary had done her own bit to try to forward the match that she would be quite happy (also that Mary was getting a bit worn down by the attention from their mother), but I thought that Elizabeth should give a thought to her feelings. Hence the scene, which also helped in Elizabeth making up her mind.
I did want to do something a little different with Elizabeth's answer, and I had rather liked Elizabeth and Darcy's original conversation at the window, so I thought it would be an appropriate place to stage her acceptance.
I hope no one minds that I did not include the conversation with Mr. Bennet here. It's just that this story has kept expanding as I've worked on it, and it was really meant to be a relatively brief tale, but I kept thinking of things to add in, but I still did not want it to end up as a 100,000 word novel, as I have other stories that really should have been taking higher priority, including a P&P crossover that is near and dear to my heart and a sequel to my one BBC Robin Hood story that really will be quite long (it's already over 40,000 words and nowhere near completion). In any event, I really could not think of anything to particularly make the scene interesting to me, much less the reader, so it is perhaps for the best.
Also, I hope that Darcy and Elizabeth's first kiss is not too disappointing in its innocence, but as I see them at this point anything more would be out of character, especially since they aren't guaranteed more than a moment alone. It was hard enough having Elizabeth manage to give Darcy his answer the way she did. She may not have thought long, but she did think hard, and I think she has an impulsiveness in her nature to match his and would not wish to wait.
And the fact is that I prefer chaste heroes, greatly admire men with vast amounts of self control, and loathe the sexual double standard with a passion (trust me; I could rant for hours on the absolute unfairness of it; if women are expected to be chaste, then so should men be), so this Darcy isn't a man of experience when it comes to romance— more like a man of experience in avoiding it, which I think would be true no matter what his level of sexual experience, as I don't see him as a man who's ever had to court or try to please a woman, as it would most likely always have been the other way round. A man being chaste may not be historically the most likely scenario, but nonetheless I don't believe it is impossible either, and I know I'm not the first one to write an innocent Darcy, not that I go into detail in the story. It's pretty much all in the backstory (that vast thing that only an iceberg's tip of it makes it into any tale).
In any event, I don't particularly believe that mutual innocence indicates a lack of passion, just a lack of experience, and once they marry innocence will definitely be replaced by experience (from lambs to tigers perhaps; I do prefer William Blake's "The Tyger" to "The Lamb" when it comes to poems after all— don't ask me to be overly consistent, I really have quite scattered tastes).
Anyway, a final note, for some inexplicable reason, up until the week before the chapter went up, the scene with Wickham was at the end, until good sense prevailed and I moved it to the middle the better to end the chapter with Elizabeth giving Darcy the answer to his question. No idea what I was thinking at the time.
To Chapter 7 Guest: That's an interesting take on Mrs. Montcraven, and I do agree that she is to the point when she is going after what she wants, and I suppose she can be amiable enough among those who are her equals (not unlike pre-Hunsford Darcy really). I can't help but see that in some ways she really is if not cold certainly icy, but then I know the scenes to come, but now I'm curious to know how she'll appear to you then. And while I am the author, I do find it interesting when people see the characters from a different angle than me, especially as I am sometimes surprised by the characters and how they don't always fit neatly in the boxes I am trying to put them in.
As always all feedback is very welcome. I really do want to know what you think.
