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A full week passed before Mr. Darcy returned to Hertfordshire. He briefly stopped at Netherfield, to drop off various items he had brought from town, before Charles and he left for Longbourne.
Charles planned on asking Mr. Bennet permission to court his daughter, making him a nervous wreck.
"You are sure he will approve?" Charles asked, wringing his hat in his hands. He looked nervous, and had a tremor to him.
"Charles, calm yourself" Darcy told him. They left their horses with the stable hand, and walked to the door. Mrs. Hill appeared, and sighed at the sight of them. She ushered them inside with a smile. She was silently thanking the lord that the two men had arrived; Mrs. Bennet was swooning with nerves.
"Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy" She announced. Mrs. Bennet was sitting atop a settee, knitting what appeared to be a shawl. She dropped it as she hurried to curtsey. Miss Jane sat on a window seat, sketching the scenery, while Miss Mary tapped away on the piano in the corner. Miss Elizabeth, Kitty and Lydia were all missing.
"Oh, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise!" She trilled. Miss Jane blushed at her mother's shrill voice.
"Is Mr. Bennet in ma'am?" Charles asked quickly. Darcy almost smiled. Mrs. Bennet frowned a bit, but then put it together in her head. She smiled wider then Darcy thought possible.
"Of course! Why he is in his study now, reading some dreadful thing or another. Don't be shy, go knock. He welcomes a respite from his readings every once in awhile," Mrs. Bennet told him. Bingley nodded and left the room, leaving Mr. Darcy.
"Come now, sit down Mr. Darcy" Mrs. Bennet said. "You are to be family soon, we must acquaint ourselves with one another" He hesitantly sat on the sofa. Ribbons fell from behind the pillow, but he pretended not to notice.
"I shall call for tea when Mr. Bingley returns" Mrs. Bennet told him.
He nodded.
"I trust your travels went well?" Mrs. Bennet asked after a moment.
"They did ma'am, I thank you" He replied.
"Mr. Bingley invited us for dinner on the morrow, to celebrate. I believe he told me that your cousin would be in attendance, a Colonel in the military?" She asked. Darcy resisted the urge to sigh.
"Yes ma'am"
"And your cousin, has he a family we will meet as well?" She hinted.
"My Aunt, Uncle, and cousin are engaged on the continent for the month. They will not be able to attend the wedding" He replied. He saw Mrs. Bennet's eyes light up.
"And your sister, I believe she is around Lydia's age, will she be in attendance?"
"My sister is in poor health. She is unable to travel." He replied.
"Most unfortunate" Mrs. Bennet murmured. "Jane, dear, come show Mr. Darcy how well you draw. She is the only one with the natural ability." Jane blushed, but obeyed. She showed him a picture of the garden. It was actually quite good.
"Tis lovely Miss Bennet" He told her.
"Thank you Mr. Darcy" She replied. "I would not have started to draw had it not been for Lizzy. She pestered me into it actually" Jane told him, looking straight at him. He acknowledged her with a nod of his head. By bringing up Lizzy, he could now politely inquire as to her whereabouts.
"And where is Miss Elizabeth today?" He asked.
"She is ill" Jane said quickly before her mother could answer.
"Ill?" Darcy asked loudly.
"Oh nonsense, she is merely a trifle under the weather. She shall be better by the morrow, do not worry" Mrs. Bennet said before Jane could speak again. "Does Mary not play the piano exceptionally well?" Mrs. Bennet changed the subject, and the matter dropped. Darcy complimented Miss Mary on her playing, and was treated to a duo by her and Miss Jane, before Bingley finally returned. He looked ashen, but happy.
"It is such a wonderful day out Mrs. Bennet, perhaps I could tempt you ladies with a turn about the gardens?" He asked. Mrs. Bennet easily saw through his plan, and encouraged Mary and Jane to join the two gentlemen. Mary demurred, claiming that she needed more practice.
Darcy slowed his pace and allowed the two their privacy.
After several minutes, he heard what sounded to be a cry of laughter. Mr. Bingley appeared a second later around a rather large bush.
"She said yes!" He told his friend. Darcy smiled as Miss Jane came around the corner, blushing a spectacular red color.
"My congratulations' Mr. Darcy murmured.
"Thank you Mr. Darcy" Miss Jane replied.
"May I ask a favor of you Miss Bennet?" He questioned. She looked to Charles, who smiled and nodded.
"Of course Mr. Darcy" She replied. He pulled out a wrapped package from his coat, passing it to Miss Bennet.
"Will you give this to Miss Elizabeth?" He questioned. Jane looked puzzled and nodded.
"Yes, of course" She told him again. She hesitated, and looked as if she needed to tell him something, but instead suggested that they head back inside, as it was growing late in the day.
Later in the evening, Jane opened the door to her bedchamber, and watched as her sister stared into space.
"Lizzy?" She whispered. Lizzy turned and looked to her sister.
"Jane" She replied.
"Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley came by earlier" She told her, sitting on the bed next to her. "Mr. Bingley asked for permission to court me" Lizzy tried to smile, but it ended up looking more of a grimace. "Mr. Darcy gave me this to give to you" She passed her the wrapped box. Lizzy stared at it, sitting it in her hands. She would open it later.
Caroline Bingley was none to pleased that the Bennet family was coming over for dinner. She believed it to be in celebration of her brother's courtship with the eldest, Miss Jane. Had Miss Bingley gone into town, she would have realized that it was for Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but Caroline Bingley thought herself above that.
"I do not see why we need to have a dinner party to celebrate a courtship Charles," She stated as she meticulously placed the seating cards around the table. Charles made a mental note to switch them when she went upstairs to dress, which would be soon.
"We should not need a reason to dine with our neighbors Caroline," He told her. "And Colonel Fitzwilliam has arrived, we shall celebrate that as well"
Caroline rolled her eyes. Her brother was too friendly.
"I am going to dress," She announced. Charles nodded. As soon as he heard her footsteps on the staircase, he called Darcy in, who quickly scanned the place cards. Miss Bennet was as far away from Mr. Bingley as was Miss Elizabeth from him. They rearranged the cards, and quickly left to get ready.
Two hours later the Bennet's pulled up in their carriage.
The Netherfield party was assembled in the foyer, ready to greet them. Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty came through first. They were instantly besotted with the Colonel, who grinned at the attention. The rest of the Bennet's filed in greeting the Bingley's politely. Mr. Darcy was shocked when he saw Miss Elizabeth.
She had always been a thin woman, but she looked gaunt, and sickly. Her skin was pale, devoid of any color, save for a slight grey tint. There were dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in a week. The necklace he had given her, the pearl and emerald one that had been a favorite of his mothers, looked heavy on her neck.
"Miss Elizabeth" He greeted. She curtsied rather clumsily, and allowed him to press a small kiss to her hand.
"Mr. Darcy" She said softly. Her voice sounded hoarse.
"May I introduce you to my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam?" The Colonel smiled and bowed. "Richard, this is Miss Elizabeth"
"A pleasure to meet you" He smiled gently. Lizzy tried her best to smile back "I look forward to getting to know you" He winked as Caroline approached.
"Dinner is being served, Mr. Darcy, Colonel," She stated. She looked at Lizzy and frowned.
"Thank you Miss Bingley" The Colonel replied. Lydia and Kitty quickly came and claimed him as their escort. He was happy to oblige. Mr. Bingley and Mary came over to where he and Lizzy still stood.
"Miss Elizabeth" Mr. Bingley stated, smiling. "I am so happy" He told her, winking as the Colonel had.
Elizabeth, after the second wink, finally understood. Miss. Bingley did not know of the marriage! This put her in a slightly better mood, if only for a second. She smiled a tad bit easier then she had with the Colonel.
"May I escort you two to the dining room Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary?" Mr. Darcy asked after a pause. Mary leaned very lightly on his arm, while Elizabeth seemed as if she would fall over without it.
Charles had escorted Miss Jane, and his sister. Now, since they had rearranged the place cards, Richard was near Caroline Bingley at the way end of the table. Neither one looked too pleased about it.
The group chatted idly through the first and second course. Mr. Darcy noted that Miss Elizabeth barely ate.
"Are you well Miss Elizabeth?" He asked, knowing full well that she was not.
"I am but a little fatigued Mr. Darcy" She replied softly. "I thank you for the necklace, it is quite lovely" She told him quietly.
"You are welcome. It was a favorite of my mothers," He told her. "Have you tried the soup, it is quite exceptional" He told her. She nodded, but made no move to eat anything. He frowned.
Dinner went by quickly. He conversed politely with Miss Mary about the piano and the musicians he had seen in Italy. Miss Elizabeth was silent, barely eating her food. Mr. Darcy noticed the concerned looks Mr. Bennet sent his way. As the last of the plates were cleared away, Bingley stood with his glass of wine.
"I am so pleased to have everyone here together tonight" He started. "First, I want to thank the beautiful Miss Bennet, for allowing me the permission to court her, and her father of course" Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed loudly at this, to Charles' amusement. "Secondly, I would like to say what a pleasure it is to have you with us for the week Colonel" Here Richard raised his glass to Charles. Caroline looked on, a bored expression on his face. "And last, the reason we are all here today, I wish to congratulate my dearest friend on his engagement, Darcy, I know you and Miss Elizabeth shall be very happy together" Everyone clapped, Mrs. Bennet praised Mr. Bingley on such a fine speech, and Caroline Bingley shattered the glass goblet she was drinking from. Only the Colonel was witness to that, which made his evening all the better.
Caroline sat seething on the piano stool. Miss Elizabeth was not worthy of her Mr. Darcy. She was awful at playing the piano, and she was thin as a corpse. Why, her dress was hanging off of her at dinner. Caroline should have recognized the necklace she wore, it was a Darcy heirloom, centuries old. That was supposed to be her necklace. She was supposed to marry Mr. Darcy. This would not do.
Mr. Darcy was pleased that the wedding was approaching. Miss Elizabeth was clearly not getting any better, if tonight's dinner had proven anything. He adamantly hoped that Georgiana would be able to help her heal, and vice versa. He knew they would be great friends for each other.
He was also worried, for more then one reason. His Aunt had refused to fire the parson, but did approve of his denouncement of Longbourne. She was in need of a full time parson, not one who was destined to leave.
The next concern was Miss Elizabeth's feelings. She was clearly not in love with him, as he was with her. He had realized in London that he did indeed love Miss Elizabeth, despite all of her flaws. She was the first thing he thought of in the morning, and the last thing he thought of before he dreamt of her. It was maddening. But he knew that he would not force her to love him. Perhaps she would grow to love him, as his mother had grown to love his father.
He fell asleep with a smile upon his face as he dreamt of Miss Elizabeth, her arms encircling his waist, her breath upon his neck, and her lips pressed softly against his own.
Longbourne
Dinner at Netherfield had left her tired. She was starving, but anything she ate tasted like dirt and mud. She lay upon her bed, staring into the dark night. She was confused beyond belief. Mr. Darcy had seemed genuinely concerned for her at dinner, and the necklace was quite beautiful. He had mentioned it was a favorite of his mothers, surely that meant something?
"Jane?" She whispered, hoping reverently that her sister was still awake.
"Yes?" Jane whispered back across the blankets.
"Do you believe Mr. Wickham was lying when he told us about Mr. Darcy?" She asked. It was a thought that had plagued her mind since Mr. Darcy had saved her from marriage to the toad.
"Charles has warned me against Mr. Wickham as well Lizzy. I do not believe Mr. Darcy capable of such actions; he is too much of a gentleman. So yes, I believe Mr. Wickham was lying"
"I am so conflicted Jane" She admitted.
"All will be well soon Lizzy. Now please, try to sleep some" Jane begged. Lizzy made a noise halfway between consent and not.
Lizzy did fall into a fitful sleep. She was plagued by horrible nightmares. She dreamt that Mr. Darcy was the one chasing her, until Mr. Collin's caught her. It made the dream all the worse. She woke up; her heart beating out of her chest, just before she was wed to Collin's in the dream. She looked outside, it was still dark. Grabbing her morning coat, she tiptoed out of the room, and down to the library, where she tried to read until sunrise.