Chapter 14

It was decided that the party would return to Elizabeth's home county, Hertfordshire, in their separate conveyances. It was partly to avoid arousing suspicion when they arrived, but mostly at Mr Gardiner's request, having seen the manner in which his new friend had been regarding his niece throughout the duration of their stay in Pemberley. Mr Darcy and his sister were disappointed to be deprived of the lively conversation when Elizabeth climbed into the Gardiner carriage. In truth, the mood was substantially less morose than the siblings' journey to Derbyshire from Ramsgate all those months ago, but it was rather subdued. Both siblings were contemplating different attitudes towards the upcoming weeks. Mr Darcy was grumbling over the necessity of this formality when there was so much fun to be had with Elizabeth in Pemberley. His sister, on the other hand, was overcome with excitement and anxiety to finally meet all of the sisters and friends she had heard so much about. She was desperate to finally see the view from Oakham Mount, and to go dancing with the younger Bennet girls, and to spend an afternoon in the Longbourn parlour, whiling away some time with girls her age. And she was truly looking forward to reconnecting with Mr Bingley, her brother's curious Cambridge friend who had stayed with them at Pemberley and in town on a number of occasions. He was very lively - jovial indeed - so the following two weeks appeared to be bright.

Elizabeth spent most of the carriage ride anxiously concerning her companions with imagined scenarios under which her darling Mr Darcy was not accepted by her family and friends. She so desired their good opinion of her fiancé, but was anxious that it would not be freely given. The uproar that had followed her cousin Mr Collins' ultimately unsuccessful proposal had cemented in her mind that her mother would marry her off to any man who was breathing, so she was not worried about her refusing Mr Darcy - quite the opposite. She was concerned by how effusive her mother could be when she smelled a whiff of anything close to fortune - something her Mr Darcy had in excess. No, she was worried that Mrs Bennet would scare her dear Mr Darcy into the hedgerows for all of her fawning and praise.

Her father, on the other hand, was disposed to be disagreeable towards any gentleman who looked her way. She supposed he was protective, or something close. And it had previously been welcome - indeed it had aided her in her rejection of Mr Collins - but now she harboured a tendresse for the gentleman, she would rather her father be indifferent than opposed. It was truly vexing. As much as her aunt and uncle tried to console her, she continued her catastrophizing. Her uncle, exhausted from the anxiousness radiating from his niece, slyly feigned sleep before accidentally falling into a nap and emitting a light snore.

They eventually arrived in Hertfordshire; the Darcy carriage alighting at Netherfield Park, and the Gardiners at Longbourn House. Elizabeth's family were all waiting on the threshold to welcome their wayward member back into Longbourn life. The Gardiner children were overjoyed to see their parents again, and were even more delighted to receive the small gifts that Mrs Gardiner had set aside from her trip to Lambton. "Edward the terrible," who harboured a particular affection for his older cousin, and commanded a great deal of her attention upon their immediate arrival. He inquired after his damsel in distress, and was informed that the lovely blonde was well and had long since recovered from her foiled kidnapping.

All of the Bennets and Gardiners of a youthful disposition enjoyed some garden games for the duration of the autumn afternoon. The Gardiners stayed past dinner, much to the general satisfaction of all involved. Elizabeth did not mention her rather monumentous news until the Gardiners had embarked upon the short journey back to their townhouse in Cheapside, London. Indeed, she waited until such a time as her younger sisters had retired for the evening, and she sought out a private audience with her father in his study. Such a thing was not at all out of the general order of things, for Elizabeth was a particular favourite of her father's. They frequently sought out each other's company to discuss the latest treatise or piece of literature. Elizabeth respected her father greatly, which was most of the source of discomfort for her when she considered that their upcoming audience may not proceed smoothly. However, much as she worried and prevaricated, such an audience was a necessary obstacle on her road to happiness.

"Papa," she began, with true affection in a kiss to his hand, "I had the most enlightening time in Derbyshire." She let out a trembling breath, and her father gave her an arch look. "As you know, we stayed with my friend Georgiana and her brother, Mr Darcy, at their country estate, Pemberley. Such a gorgeous house, with much to keep us entertained. And the library," she gushed, "oh papa I have never seen anything to equal it in all of my years. There were thousands of books, as far as you could reach."

"Well, that does explain the accomplished nature of your friend," Mr Bennet remarked, reflecting on the character Lizzy had painted of Miss Darcy after his daughter had returned from Ramsgate.

"She is such a dear creature," Elizabeth said softly, with great affection. "I do hope we shall host her over the course of the coming weeks? She is staying with her brother and his friend, Mr Bingley of Netherfield Park." She asked, in the sweet tone that daughters often use on their fathers when they are desiring a particular outcome.

"I do not see why not," he said gruffly, "though I regret that your prior acquaintance with the party precludes my being useful, for once, and making a proper introduction. That would have put me in your mother's good graces for a month," he harrumphed.

"There is another way in which you can be useful," she replied nervously. And then, with characteristic wit, "and I dare say it will put you in Mama's good graces, as you so call it, for at least a month."

"I am intrigued," he hummed.

There was a pregnant pause..

"Well… do proceed, child," he encouraged impatiently, his curiosity begging a quick response.

"This is rather untoward, but I cannot rest until I have your blessing. Father. When I was in Derbyshire, my dear Mr Darcy asked me to be his wife, and I am certain that nothing in the world could make me happier."

Mr Bennet turned a curious shade of pale, and shock registered on all of his features. Aided by her earlier catastrophizing, Elizabeth presumed the worst.

"You have to understand, he would have asked for your consent had he been able - indeed, I believe he spoke to uncle. He is an upright man, he never would have presumed consent without asking. By all means, write to Uncle Gardiner, he will be —"

She was cut off by a large finger to her lips and a soft chuckle from her father.

"Elizabeth, my darling child, do not forget to breathe."

Well, what was that supposed to mean? She thought, confused.

"I shall not deny my concern, my dear Lizzy."

"But he is all that is good and moral and he has the means to take very good care of me."

"You have only known him properly for a few weeks, you said so yourself."

"Not really. We were first acquainted in the spring in Ramsgate, and I have known him through Georgiana's letters these many months now. Seeing him in his natural home in Derbyshire only confirmed to me the affection which had been growing throughout the late summer. Papa, I-"

"Letters through the eyes of a sister who admires him very much," Mr Bennet challenged.

"Letters also between myself and Aunt Gardiner, who is connected to him through his friendship with my uncle. She and my uncle both believe Mr Darcy to be a true friend and honest man, to the extent that Mr Darcy recently became a partner in the Gardiner business. I know you may not respect my opinion of him, clouded by affection as you have professed before, but you must see the sense of Mr Gardiner."

He placed a calming hand on her shoulder and bade her to quiet.

"I suppose your mind is made up on this matter" he said slowly, a question in his voice.

"Very much. Papa, I love him."

"Hmmm," he pondered for a moment. "I cannot say I am pleased with the manner of these matters resolving themselves-" Elizabeth made to interrupt, to defend Mr Darcy, but her father silenced her and continued. "But knowing you as I do, I do not suppose that anything I shall say will dissuade you. You will rant and storm as all young lovers are wont to do, and it will bring me no joy to witness the fact that I have been usurped in your heart. So allow me to caution my consent -" here Elizabeth squealed in delight. Following a serious look from her father, she schooled her features into a more neutral expression. "Allow me to caution my consent with the following condition; that I will observe you and your Mr Darcy for the duration of his stay in Meryton. We will arrange for an evening with the Lucases and you may invite your beau and his sister. You may announce your engagement during the festivities - as you and the man in question see fit - but only if he is uniformly understood to be of good character by myself and the rest of your family. Let this extended time in the presence of familiar society reassure you of your feelings before you make any rash announcements which you cannot take back. You have not known him long, and I could not live with myself if you were unhappy with your choice."

He added, so softly that she was uncertain whether she had heard him correctly - "at any rate, he cannot be any worse than Mr Collins."

Elizabeth was not particularly happy with this turn of events. She knew that Mr Darcy was all that was charming, handsome, and dreamy, but to win over all of her family… she hoped that he would still feel such tender feelings towards her by the end of the week. And she very much doubted that a secretly engaged couple would be provided any time truly alone in all of those ten days.

She grumbled her agreement to her father's conditions, and they began talking of less consequential matters, such as the details of Pemberley's magnificent library. Mr Bennet felt his eyes wetting when she said goodnight and left him alone in his study. He was not ready to let go of her just yet, even to such a man as Mr Darcy, of whom he had heard so much and yet knew so little. He was quite the enigma.

~.~

The much-anticipated meeting between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth's family occurred almost unsociably early the following morning. Neither Mr or Miss Darcy was willing to accept the blame of being the impatient Darcy who forced the meeting earlier than was strictly polite, but both had awoken with the sun and were in a rush to depart for Longbourn.

It was no indictment on Mr Bingley's good tastes, for Netherfield Park was a delightful estate - not quite so fortunately situated as Pemberley, but certainly an adequate first investment for the gentleman. However, staying with them at Netherfield were Mr Bingley's sisters and his brother in law, all of whom were not particularly admired or respected by the Darcys. The elder of the sisters had harboured designs on Mr Darcy for as long as they had been acquainted, and it made the habitually reserved Mr Darcy very uncomfortable to receive her open flattery. He would much rather pass the day flattering, and being flattered by, his fiancée. The older Miss Bingley had on occasion also tried to encourage affection between her brother and Miss Darcy, much to the distaste of them both.

Suffice to say, the Darcys were hoping to leave before they were accosted by the Bingley sisters. They broke their fast in relative solitude, only interrupted by Mr Bingley as they were finishing their coffee. They excused themselves to call on Georgiana's friend. Bingley recognised the uncharacteristic energy in his friend. He smiled, and couldn't help but comment on the fidgeting with his cravat that accompanied the tentative smile which broke across his features at regular intervals.

"Goodness, Darcy, you are rather cheery this morning," he commented in his friend's direction.

"It is amazing what the prospect of a day spent with new friends can do for a person," came the uncharacteristically chipper reply.

"I have never seen you so animated," Bingley noted. "Am I correct in assuming that the term new friends pertains to Georgiana's particular friend from her time in Ramsgate?"

Darcy had the good grace to blush at his friend's directness, but was nonetheless honest in his reply.

"Indeed you are correct, we are visiting Georgiana's friend this morning. Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, of Longbourn House. I believe her father's estate abuts your own. And she has four sisters." The last was said with mischief, and a suggestion in Mr Darcy's tone that reminded his friend of more promiscuous times at Cambridge.

"I am sure she does herself credit, to have piqued your interest."

"I have been informed that my judgement is distorted, for she very likely saved my life. So I could not possibly comment," came Mr Darcy's arch reply. He answered his friend's questioning look with an explanation of what had transpired on the peaks at Eyam, as well as a vague comment towards her aid to Georgiana in Ramsgate, not trusting himself to mention the affair with Mr Wickham in front of his sister. Bingley was shocked at the truly terrifying events, and to see his friend so altered from the sombre fellow he had passed the winter with.

"Be that as it may, Darce. Perhaps I ought to host a ball such that I might meet Miss Elizabeth and her sisters?"

"Far be it for me to quash any of your merriment, Charles."

"Caroline should be able to arrange such an enjoyable evening within the fortnight. I am guessing that you are on your way to Longbourn now, if your fidgeting is of any indication."

"You guess correctly," came the brusque reply.

"If I may stall you for just a moment, I shall write to the inhabitants of Longbourn House to request an introduction and invite them to our welcome ball the week after next. Perhaps next time you visit your particular friend I could accompany you," Bingley requested.

"Of course," came the pointed reply from Georgiana Darcy. "I do love music and dancing, and what a fantastic way for you to put your best foot forwards," the latter was aimed at her brother. He shrugged and requested that they be going in the following five minutes.

Four minutes and forty five seconds later, Mr Darcy was handing his sister into their carriage and tucking a hastily writ invitation in his greatcoat pocket. Mr Bingley had decided to err on the side of politeness rather than curiosity, and remained at Netherfield to look after his sisters and do some business with his steward.

Georgiana recognised multiple nervous tics in her brother's behaviour. The carriage ride took less than twenty minutes, but he was notably impatient, brushing invisible dust from every inch of his clothing and not uttering a word to her for the entire duration of the journey. For his part, Mr Darcy was not consciously fidgeting. He was rather busy having a silent conversation with himself, considering all of the plethora of ways in which the next few hours could deviate from his favour. He presumed that Elizabeth would have talked to at least some of her family the previous night, but he did not know enough of them to know how they would react. He reminded himself of his earlier promise to be charming. It had been a while since he had tried to impress strangers. And he had never done so with so much of his future happiness on the line. His default approach was to pretend to be disagreeable to prevent the matchmaking mamas from looking his way. Was Elizabeth's mother a matchmaking mama? He suddenly worried, and then reminded himself that Elizabeth was not mercenary, so it did not much matter what her family thought.

When they alighted from their carriage, she could not distinguish his nerves from his excitement, seeing only heightened energy wherever she looked. He handed her down impatiently and they both made their way to the door.

When they knocked on the door, they were surprised when a young gentlewoman answered, rather than a servant.

"Good morning," she said in an unaffected manner, as if they were the post-people. "Hill," she called behind her as a middle aged housekeeper arrived. She muttered to the woman in what she apparently thought was a whisper; "how do you speak with visitors?"

Mrs Hill apologised for the mystery Bennet, whom she introduced as Lydia - the youngest of the five girls at thirteen years old. "Good morning, we were not expecting visitors this morning, do you have a calling card that I may present to Mr Bennet?" Here she gave a pointed look at Lydia.

Mr Darcy replied that he did indeed have a calling card, and a note for Mr Bennet from his friend Charles Bingley of Netherfield Park, and placed both into the outstretched hand in front of him.

There was a great amount of scurrying and clamour as soon as the identity of their early morning visitors was announced to the female members of the household. Word had been circulating around Meryton society of the illustrious Charles Bingley with his five-thousand-a-year, and the idea of Netherfield guests calling at Longbourn was enough to send Mrs Bennet into a frenzy - calling her daughters into a line in the drawing room to ensure they were presentable, and then encouraging them all to find some useful employment. The sisters all pestered Lydia for a description of their visitors - desperate to know whether it was Mr Bingley, come to make himself known at last - save for Lizzy, who had an inkling to who might be visiting so early in the morning, and for Jane, whom she had spent much of the previous night updating on her latest news - much to both sisters' delight. Their suspicions were confirmed when Lydia told them of a tall, posh-looking man and his blond-haired, beautiful companion.

Lizzy commanded her sisters' attention with a cough, and proceeded; "shush all of you, please." She waited until they were all looking her way.

"Our two visitors this morning are my very dear friend Georgiana Darcy, who you all remember I met in Ramsgate this summer, and her brother Mr Darcy. They are both very kind and accomplished, if a tad on the reserved side. I beg of you not to embarrass me in front of my friends." She looked around pleadingly at her family. "I mean it, Kitty, Lydia - no gushing over officers, no talking out of turn. Be welcoming, please. Georgiana does not have any sisters or female friends her age, so she might find us all a bit," she searched for an inoffensive way of phrasing herself, "a bit overwhelming," she settled on. They all nodded distractedly.

"Is he handsome, Lyddie?" Kitty asked and giggled. Lizzy groaned. She admonished her sister, but not before Lydia had gotten out an "oh yes, very" in response. She blushed scarlet at her sister's brazenness and the truth in her proclamation. When Lizzy reflected on it, she had found him handsome before she had even known him, so she could not blame her sister's gushing.

"Do you think Georgiana has read Fordyce's sermons?" Asked Mary at the same time as Kitty asked about the brother.

"Let's not ask her today, Mary - she will want to feel comfortable around us before having a heavy debate," Jane said sweetly, remaining ever diplomatic.

Mrs Bennet had been slightly hysterically preening her daughters, and Lizzy hoped desperately that the stream of consciousness that was erupting from her was her mother's method of getting it out of her system before their guests joined them.

"Guests of Mr Bingley, of Netherfield Park!" Mrs Bennett exclaimed in a shrill voice, asking Lizzy "do you think they are very rich, my dear girl?"

"They are very kind, and both quite shy, mama," she avoided the question.

"Oh of course," Mrs Bennett calmed. "Well, at least come here and let me brighten your cheeks with a quick pinch. Whether they are rich or not, your friendly connection with a Netherfield guest may help one of you secure our wealthy neighbour, Mr Bingley."

"Mama," Lizzy groaned, lengthening the word to huff her annoyance. "Please, do not talk to them about their wealth. Georgiana is my dear friend and it will make her most uncomfortable."

"As you wish, Lizzy." The answering exhale spoke of Lizzy's relief.

"Thank you, mama." Her mother nodded and pinched her cheek, before pressing a small kiss to her hairline.

"Such an intelligent girl, I knew it wasn't for nothing. To have collected a dear friend who is a Netherfield guest!" her mother muttered in a hushed yet excited tone. Lizzy groaned and turned to face the door. She did not want to miss the moment when her beloved reached her.

~. ~

Georgiana couldn't help but overhear the general excitement on the other side of the door, and returned into the nervousness that she had inhabited before Elizabeth had brought her out of her shell. Taking a few deep breaths and reminding herself that she would be seeing her friend when the door opened, she managed to turn her nerves into excitement. Much like her brother, the physical manifestation of her mood this morning was pure energy - such that no one else could tell which was which.

Mr Bennet had met the surprise guests at the threshold, though he was not particularly surprised when he saw who it was. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that they were a sensible pair, who did not exhibit a need to speak more than was required, nor any particular awkwardness. The girl did seem a little nervous, but he allowed that any young person would do so when faced with the prospect of meeting all five of his daughters in one room.

"Good morning, Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy," said Mr Bennet in a brusque tone.

"We are pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Bennet. Thank you for receiving us at this early hour. My sister has anticipated meeting your family for quite some time, ever since her meeting with Miss Elizabeth at Ramsgate," and I could not bear to be apart from your lovely daughter for another second, he finished silently. For in truth, that was the real reason why they had foregone what was proper and arrived before the polite meeting times. He had, in the short time they had been at Pemberley together, grown accustomed to Elizabeth always being around, and had discovered that breaking his fast without her was not an experience he wished to repeat more than he had to.

Mr Bennet turned to invite them through the threshold and rolled his eyes when his back was turned. Having spoken to Elizabeth last night, he did not believe for one moment that Georgiana was the driving force for their being here.

"Welcome to our home," he said instead of admonishing the young man. "I shall introduce you to my family if you will follow me through to the parlour."

"Oh how exciting," Georgiana gushed, full of childlike glee. Mr Darcy smiled tightly in agreement.

Mr Bennet took his time opening the drawing room door with his guests in tow to ensure that his wife had time to settle their brood before entering. He felt rather than heard Mr Darcy take a deep breath as the room's contents were revealed to them.