Chapter 9
On Tuesday, the gentlemen rode to Longbourn during proper visiting hours to ostensibly call on Mr. Bennet. After the required pleasantries and talk of hunting, horses and chess were canvassed, the subject of the Miss Bennets' health was alluded to.
"I believe Jane is right at rain and only worries about her sister." Mr. Bennet said, noting the relief on Bingley's face and the consternation on Mr. Darcy's. "So that's the way the wind blows here," he thought.
"Miss Lizzy will be well with a few day's rest, according to Mr. Jones, as he was here just this morning." Mr. Darcy's visage relaxed. "Are you gentlemen free for luncheon? I am sure Mrs. Bennet could provide a passable repast with little notice."
"We would be honored to join you for a meal, sir. If it is no bother," replied Mr. Bingley.
Mr. Bennet left them each with a glass of port as he went to talk to his wife. He knew she would be all aflutter with the news of the gentlemen staying to luncheon.
Luncheon was served quickly and both Jane and Lizzy were well enough to attend.
"Miss Elizabeth, you are looking well," said Mr. Darcy as she descended the stairs. She really was looking better. The color had returned to her cheeks and she held herself tall and straight, well as tall as a diminutive woman of five foot could be. His heart was calmed.
"Thank you Mr. Darcy. It is good to see you again." She smiled. His heart melted.
"Perhaps if you are feeling up to it, we might take a short stroll in the garden after luncheon."
"Perhaps," was all Elizabeth replied.
After Mrs. Bennet's bounteous luncheon, Mr. Darcy declared he needed a walk and asked the assembled ladies if any would like to accompany him. Mrs. Bennet and Miss Mary declined, as did Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia. So it was only Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth who took up the offer to walk the garden with the gentlemen, thus providing the appropriate chaperonage, according to Mrs. Bennet.
Once they had donned their outerwear and set out, the two couples drifted apart in the garden. Cognizant of her recent health, Mr. Darcy steered Miss Elizabeth to a bench in the garden. "I would not like you to get over tired, Miss Elizabeth, maybe we best rest here for a bit."
"Thank you sir for your consideration. This is the longest I have been out of bed in many a day. I am feeling better, but my strength is not what it had been. I doubt I would be able to walk to Netherfield just yet."
The mention of Netherfield put a pause to their conversation. Neither one knew how to discuss the story that had unfolded there.
"I hope you have recovered from your trials at Netherfield," Mr. Darcy hesitantly asked.
"I have spent some of the time I have been forced into inactivity to replay all the previous time I have spent there. To face my demons as it were. I think I have been able to put everything into perspective and have decided to only think of the past as it brings me pleasure. I have decided that the past can stay where it is and I will look to the future, whatever form that takes."
"I hope," Mr. Darcy started, then paused. "I hope that I might be able to see what form your future takes, Elizabeth. I hope that I might be able to influence what form your future takes." Neither of them noticed that he had dropped the proper salutation. He took her small hands in his. He caught her eyes with his. "May I court you Elizabeth?"
"I think I would like that, sir." She blushed.
"We should return to the house. You need your rest and I need to speak to your father." He helped her rise and tucked her hand in his elbow, led her back to the house slowly. No need to rush back to the company of others when he had all the company he wanted right here. "I wonder where your sister and Bingley have gotten off to?"
In a further part of the garden, Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley were strolling aimlessly.
"I wonder where my sister and Mr. Darcy have gotten off to?" Miss Bennet asked.
"I believe Darcy was hoping to speak to your sister privately this morning," answered Bingley.
Miss Bennet's eyes went wide. "I should have expected his preference after what I saw at Netherfield." Now Mr. Bingley's eyes opened wide. "No, nothing improper," she continued. "The day that Elizabeth took sick, I awoke in the evening, feeling better and I asked the maid where Elizabeth was. She said that Elizabeth had taken ill and was ensconced in the Blue room down the hall and that Mr. Jones had seen her. I donned my dressing gown and slippers and went to check on her."
"When I opened the door, I saw Mr. Darcy sitting next to the bed, holding her hand." Mr. Bingley's eyes grew wide. "There was a maid sitting in the corner; do not fret Mr. Bingley, nothing improper happened in your home. Mr. Darcy jumped up when I inquired after my sister's health and explained what had happened. I had never seen him so unsettled, with such feeling in his voice."
Mr Bingley added "I must admit that I expected something after his vehement anger over the way you and your sister had been treated by Caroline. She had been hoping that you would be leaving soon. After sitting up with you for two days, Miss Elizabeth took ill and could barely stand. Mr. Darcy got a room sorted out for her and had to carry her to her room. I later heard that Mr. Jones had to rely on him to help hold your sister still during her fever dreams. After that, he came to my study and was angrier than I have ever seen him as he related how your sister became ill. I am ashamed that my family failed you both so grievously. Please forgive us."
"Mr. Bingley, there is nothing to forgive on your part. You did everything in your power to take care of us. Your sister did not want us there, I understand her wishes, but I do not see her having any hope of procuring Mr. Darcy anymore. I think his attentions lie in a different direction."
"He will be a lucky man if he can convince your sister of his love. I have never seen him like this with any woman and I have known him a long time. If he is granted the courtship he is likely asking for right now, I will also be the lucky one, getting to spend time with you as proper chaperones for the pair of them," he paused. "I hoped that you might think I was a lucky chap for that reason." He looked at her intensely. She blushed.
"I think it is a job we are well suited for, sir. It will be a pleasant charge to have to accompany them whenever they wish to ramble; as you know my sister is quite the walker and Mr. Darcy will have no problem keeping up with her. We, however, are not the walkers that they are and will probably tend to lag behind."
"I think I will enjoy this new occupation immensely," said Mr. Bingley. "Perhaps we might be able to persuade them to be negligent chaperones to us also, Miss Bennet. That is, if you would allow me to court you."
"I think I would like that very much, Mr. Bingley. Perhaps we should meander back to the house. My father should be done teasing Mr. Darcy soon, then it would be your turn," she mused.
A dozen such luncheons and strolls in the garden eventually brought both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley to the point, as expected by everyone. Before Mr. Bennet would give Mr. Darcy his permission, he felt that they needed to discuss what had happened at Netherfield both four months ago and when Elizabeth stayed to take care of her sister. He was surprised to find out that Mr. Darcy knew the whole story and that it did not bother him one bit.
Mr. Bennet's permission was quickly obtained. Mrs. Bennet reacted just as expected with a fluttering handkerchief and a fluttering heart. Her smelling salts were always at the ready.
The double wedding two months later was followed by the most lavish wedding breakfast the county had ever seen. Mrs. Bennet always did set a good table.
Eventually Mr. and Mrs. Bingley decided to give up the lease on Netherfield as neither of them really felt comfortable there, knowing the demons in resident memory in the place. They never felt comfortable asking Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to visit them there. It really had nothing to do with Mrs. Bennet coming to call nearly every day. Really, it had nothing to do with that at all. Really.
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy retired to Pemberley only to be seen when absolutely necessary because they were deliriously happy there and saw no need to leave. They were both glad when the Bingleys bought an estate not 20 miles away from Pemberley and there was always a lot of coming and going between the two estates. Especially once little Darcys and Bingleys started arriving, ten in all.
The families stayed close through time and often told the somewhat abridged story of how the two couples came to be. It would not have been appropriate to tell stories about demons to young children so that portion of the story remained only in a few persons memories for all time, fading to insignificance as these things are want to do.
The End.