"I will certainly accompany you to Gracechurch Street to share our good news with your father, Elizabeth," Darcy could not restrain himself from taking Elizabeth's hand as he spoke, and punctuating his remarks with a kiss to her knuckles.,"but might I first suggest a slight amendment to your plan?"
She turned her hand in his and clasped his hand warmly. "What do you have in mind, my love?" she asked.
The smouldering warmth he felt at such an avowal of her affection near distracted him from his purpose, but with a visible effort, he brought his focus back to the conversation at hand: "I have wanted to visit Bingley and apologise for my unwonted interference in his affairs, but have been hesitant to do so knowing that Miss Bingley would be present, no doubt attempting to listen to eavesdrop. If we were all to visit now, we could accomplish two things at once - we could announce our engagement, which would make it even harder for your father to later object, and you and Mrs Gardiner could keep Miss Bingley company while Mr Gardiner and I seek a private meeting with Bingley about a business matter. You will remember Miss Bingley took particular interest in your relatives in trade? She will readily believe that Mr Gardiner's business with Bingley is of a commercial rather than a family nature, and will disdain to show any interest in such affairs. This will give us the peace we need for a difficult conversation. If I am lucky, Bingley will forgive me, and decide to re-open Netherfield Park at once. I hope that Miss Bennet might be pleased to see him again?"
"Indeed she might, although he will have some apologising to do himself, I suspect," Elizabeth replied. "I thank you for undertaking the mortification in risking his displeasure, though."
Darcy said firmly, "It is the right thing to do, and should have been done sooner. I cannot be comfortable with our friendship when it rests on such a deception." Then, with a smile, he added, "But my purpose is not entirely selfless: If Bingley goes to Netherfield, I will ask to go with him, and will thus have an excuse to return to Hertfordshire when you remove there."
"I must admit, I would like to meet the famous Mr Bingley," offered Mr Gardiner. "I am not at all sure he deserves Jane, after the way he disappointed her last winter, but if you both think he should be given another chance, I am willing to reserve judgement. Is his house far from here?"
"Not as far as Miss Bingley would have us think," quipped Darcy, and Elizabeth snorted. Darcy's horse was by now rested and fed, but he chose not to ride. Mr Gardiner kept a small open coach at his place of work, and this was ready for departure in a matter of minutes, with Darcy's horse tethered behind. Mr and Mrs Gardiner sat together to allow the engaged couple to share a seat. The clear affection between the young lovers, and their obliviousness to their surroundings, reminded them of their own courtship, and they shared a knowing smile before Mrs Gardiner demanded her future nephew's attention.
"Mr Darcy," she said, "I approve of your idea of announcing your engagement to Mr Bingley. Nothing could be more natural than to share such happy news with your friend. Perhaps we might take the idea a little further, though. What say you to placing a notice in the Times?"
"Of course," said Darcy. "It is the proper thing to do, after all! I shall draft a notice while we are at Bingley's and ensure it is sent off directly. And while I am attending to the proper things to do on one's engagement," and here he drew a small box from his coat pocket, "I am afraid I was a little overcome by the press of events a little while ago." He turned to face Elizabeth and opened the box to reveal an engagement ring. "I would be pleased if you would wear this in honour of our engagement."
"I would be delighted," she said, offering her hand for the purpose. Darcy slid the ring into place on her finger, taking the opportunity to caress her hand as he did so. Elizabeth held her hand up to examine the ring more closely, admiring its elegant design, before showing it off to her aunt and uncle.
It was not long before they arrived at the Bingley town house, where Darcy handed down both the ladies before Mr Gardiner had a chance to step down himself. The older man laughed at the younger's enthusiasm, and happily offered his arm to his wife, leaving Darcy to walk with Elizabeth.
The Bingleys' staff were decked out in a rather ostentatious uniform. The two footmen standing at guard at the front door appeared to be largely ornamental, as they did not stir to assist the visitors, but waited at stiff attention as an indoors servant arrived to open the door and usher them inside. After they were divested of hats and bonnets, they were shown with more ceremony than strictly required into a parlour where Miss Bingley and her brother were at tea. The scene reminded Elizabeth of her arrival at Netherfield Park the year before when Jane had been ill. Then she had also disturbed the Bingleys at their morning tea, and their surprise at her arrival was was echoed today: Mr Bingley was all delighted welcome while Miss Bingley was sneeringly shocked. But this time, Elizabeth arrived in company with Mr Darcy, and even the presence of Elizabeth Bennet and her Cheapside relatives could not long distract Caroline Bingley from bestowing her full attention on that gentleman.
"Mr Darcy," she cooed, "what an unexpected pleasure to see you. You have caught us at tea, as you see. Could I prepare you a cup?"
Darcy was too preoccupied by the interview he anticipated having with Charles Bingley to pay much attention to his sister's slight of Elizabeth and the Gardiners: he simply noted it as one more mark against that lady and continued as though it had not happened. Only Elizabeth noted, with some amusement, the slight clenching of his jaw before he spoke: "I have the honour of introducing you to Mr and Mrs Gardiner, of Gracechurch Street. Mr Gardiner, may I present Miss Caroline Bingley and Mr Charles Bingley. Of course, everyone already knows Miss Elizabeth." Once the niceties had been completed and the requisite bows and curtseys exchanged, he continued: "I apologise for intruding without notice, Miss Bingley, but there is an important matter of business I wish to discuss with your brother, and Mr Gardiner kindly agreed to attend and offer his expertise."
Charles Bingley took the hint, and asked the gentlemen to withdraw to his study while the ladies amused themselves in the parlour. Caroline Bingley's huff at being left in the company of Eliza Bennet and a tradesman's wife was clearly audible, but she recovered her manners sufficiently to invite her guests to take a seat and to offer them refreshments. As Elizabeth reached out her hand to accept the proffered cup of tea, Caroline's eyes widened as she noticed the expensive ring she wore. Clearly the Bennet chit had secured a proposal from a man of means, if that was the sort of bauble he gave her. Burning with curiosity but trying to maintain an air of nonchalance, she complimented the ring, asking, "Do you have some news to share, Miss Eliza?"
Elizabeth smiled demurely, considering how to prolong the suspense. "As it happens, you will be the first to hear my news, Miss Bingley, as it was only settled this morning. Who would have thought to receive a proposal of marriage in a warehouse in Cheapside? It was not the stuff of novels, I suppose, but the location did not matter to me: only the gentleman involved. As you may know, I have refused proposals in the past, when I was not sure the gentleman and I would suit. I can only be grateful that I did so, for it meant I was free today to accept the hand of a man I truly love." She paused to allow Miss Bingley the chance to catch up - for her eyes were still bulging at the idea of a proposal received in a warehouse.
Caroline had only the vaguest idea what a warehouse was like - her father had owned one, but she had never visited it, and wild horses would not drag her into one now. After a moment to consider the additional surprise that Elizabeth Bennet had already rejected previous suitors when she herself had never had a single proposal to accept or reject, she asked, "Who is the lucky man? Is it anyone I might know" She thought not - she did not move in the sort of circles that might frequent warehouses, let alone choose one as the place for a marriage proposal. She assumed that for all Miss Elizabeth's protestations of love, the match was a matter of business - perhaps she had been offered up to sweeten some deal between tradesmen - that would at least explain the locale. Satisfied with this speculation, she waited eagerly for Elizabeth's answer.
When it came, however, it shocked her to her core: "Indeed, it is. He is a dear friend of your brother's, and I believe you consider him quite a close acquaintance. I am the happiest of women. I have the very great honour to be the future Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy."
Elizabeth felt slightly guilty at the pleasure she felt in Caroline Bingley's dismay, but only slightly. She had been subjected to unrelenting barbs and cutting remarks from that lady throughout their acquaintance, and it was only fair to return the favour a little. She watched calmly as Miss Bingley paled and swayed in her seat, before gripping the chair arm firmly to support herself in the face of such terrible news. It was a full two minutes before she recovered sufficiently to speak, and with only a slight tremor in her voice to betray her disappointment, she offered her congratulations, which were politely received.
Mrs Gardiner, having some knowledge of the history between the two ladies, observed the exchange with interest, but then took the reins of the conversation, maintaining a light discussion of innocuous topics - everything from the weather to the fact that Lady Havelock and her two eldest sons were said to have returned to town after their year in mourning for Lord Havelock, and that the new Lord and his brother were said to be looking for wives. Thus the next half hour passed in idle chit-chat which did not tax any of the participants, and carefully avoided revisiting that topic which was foremost in their minds.
Charles Bingley was not himself. He had not been himself for nigh on eight months. He had been persuaded to leave Hertfordshire to protect his heart, but in doing so had sacrificed that very organ. His sisters assured him that in time he would forget the young lady he had left behind, would regain his joie de vivre, would find someone new to love. Unfortunately, time had proved them wrong. He could imagine no path out of his current despondency that did not involve Miss Bennet. The only thing that kept him from rushing back to throw himself at her feet was the conviction that she did not care for him as he cared for her. He could not reconcile himself to making her unhappy by imposing his suit upon her against her wishes. So here he was, sitting in his parlour in London, pretending interest in whatever nonsense Caroline was wittering on about, and counting the minutes until he could politely retire to his rooms where he could indulge himself in his misery. As it was still mid-morning, it would be a long wait.
He did not expect his friend Darcy to be announced, let alone with Miss Bennet's younger sister, Elizabeth in tow, together with the famous uncle and aunt from London. His astonishment was complete. He stood, confused and a little taken aback, while Darcy batted away Caroline's foolishness and took command of the introductions. He mastered himself enough to offer bows when appropriate and to murmur the usual platitudes of welcome, before Darcy claimed a need to speak to him about business, and practically ushered Bingley and Gardiner towards Bingley's study. He had compared notes on potential investments with Darcy from time to time, but found it difficult to believe that any investment so urgent as this one seemed to be would attract the interest of the ever cautious Fitzwilliam Darcy. His curiosity aroused, he put his ill humour aside for the moment and played the part of gracious host.
Bingley's study contained a desk, since that was considered an essential accoutrement for such a room, but in truth he barely used it. He preferred to work at a table set closer to the window, surrounded by four chairs. His business matters involved many meetings and consultations, and he found it conducive to sit as an equal in such gatherings, rather than looming behind his desk. It was to this table that he led his guests today, himself sitting at the head while Gardiner took a seat with his back to the window.
Instead of sitting, however, Darcy began to pace restlessly about the room. "For goodness sake, sit down, man," his friend said with fond exasperation. Bingley was familiar with Darcy's habits when there was some matter on his mind, and knew that he would eventually learn whatever it was Darcy had come to say, but he was never blessed with an excess of patience and was not above prompting his friend to come to the point before they all grew too much older. "And tell me what this business is that couldn't wait, and what it has to do with the Bennets."
Darcy did not sit, but at least he ceased pacing. Standing at the fireplace with one hand resting on the mantlepiece, he looked earnestly at Bingley and said, "It will not do. Too long have I borne this shame. I must tell you what I have done, Charles, and I do not know if you will find it in yourself to forgive me. But I abhor secrecy, and neither of you deserve to be treated so shabbily."
"You are not making much sense," observed Bingley, assured above all else by Darcy's use of his Christian name that his friend was in earnest, "but whatever it is will not get any easier to say for all your pacing. As your friend, I will hear whatever you have to say, and I will tell you exactly what I think."
"That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Darcy. He gazed for a moment out the window, then strode to the table and took the seat facing his friend.
"First, I must explain the presence of Miss Elizabeth and her relatives. I renewed my acquaintance with Miss Elizabeth while she was travelling with Mr and Mrs Gardiner this summer. Their travels took them to Derbyshire, where we met quite by chance. But it was a happy chance for me, as it gave me an opportunity to improve Miss Elizabeth's opinion of me, and she has done me the great honour of accepting my hand in marriage. The notice will be in the paper tomorrow. She is currently staying with the Gardiners in town, and we have come directly from Cheapside to tell you the news."
Bingley looked more sad than otherwise at this news, but stirred himself to offer his congratulations. "I have always thought highly of Miss Elizabeth, but had no idea you thought likewise, Darcy. I dare say she will suit you very well. The two of you are always debating something or other, and while you confound the rest of the room, you both seem to enjoy the activity." Then, as he pondered the implications a little more, "But this will mean you are related to the Bennets. For all Caroline and Louisa's warnings that the Bennets were beneath me, Miss Bennet will soon be sister to the Darcys and have connections to an Earl. Ha! That will make Caroline choke on her porridge, I have no doubt."
"My engagement is not the main thing I have to tell you, Charles," his friend replied sombrely. "It concerns Miss Bennet."
"If you are here to warn me against your new sister, I do not wish to hear it!" Bingley said, an uncharacteristic flash of anger in his tone.
"Quite the contrary," said Darcy, holding out his hands placatingly. "Quite the contrary."
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