Chapter 10
The next morning he knew he was being a bit too obvious, but he did not want to wait further. She found him waiting at the edge of the shrubbery, just on the edge of the treeline on the path to Oakham Mount. "Good Morning, Miss Elizabeth," he said cheerfully. "I hope you slept well."
"Oh yes, Mr. Darcy. I slept very well and now I need a spirited walk to start my day. Do you think you can keep up with me?" she joked.
"I rarely feel that I can keep up with you, Miss Elizabeth, but I will do my best." He smiled as they set off, arm in arm, for Oakham Mount at a pace he would never expect out of such a diminutive lady. She barely came up to his shoulder but her pace would please a Centurion. They did not speak as they walked. He spent the time pondering his companion. He had always assumed that at some point, he would need to choose a lady from the Ton, with a good dowry and noble connections and begin to fill his nursery. Being an only son, he needed to continue the Darcy name, hopefully with a half dozen strapping sons. He glanced over at his partner who seemed to be in her own deep contemplation.
The poets make all sorts of references to lightning striking, Cupid's arrow finding your heart and other flowery platitudes, but the truth of the matter is that when love strikes, sometimes it can be a very subtle thing. Sometimes, you just know, without any fanfare, that this person is the one who can fill in the voids in your life. He did not need a lady with a dowry or connections, he needed a woman who could challenge him, who would not meekly agree to everything he said, someone who would keep him on his toes. He believed he had finally met his match.
He was wondering what she was thinking about. He could not detect either angst nor glee from her countenance. Maybe they were walking too fast and she was merely trying to keep pace with him. They slowed their pace as they reached the base of the Mount. He pulled her up short, turned to her and said, "Shall we conquer the heights, my lady?"
"Absolutely sir. The view from the top will be its own reward. Tally ho!" On the way to the top, he was thinking of a different reward. Could he? Should he ask her? They had not known each other long, but as he seemed to have made his decision, he thought it best not to tarry. She was a beautiful woman and as he found out at the assembly, she could have other suitors, even if Mr. Lucas himself was not in the race.
He decided that he needed to know her feelings better before he could broach the subject. Once they reached the top, admired the view and settled on their log with their scones and the tea he had brought in a flask, he began his inquisition.
"Miss Elizabeth, have you always lived at Longbourn?" began Mr. Darcy.
She thought this was a strange way to begin a conversation, but she answered anyway. "Yes, although both Jane and I have had the chance to spend a month with our Aunt and Uncle in London, well, Cheapside anyway, from time to time. They are my favorite relatives and I have seen what a happy marriage looks like from them. He owns Gardiner Imports and he supplies the most beautiful imported fabrics to high end modistes, drapers, tailors and haberdashers. The fabric for Miss Bingley's dress at the assembly came from his warehouse. I saw it there the last time I visited them; I thought it was prodigiously ugly." As an aside, she said to him, "Do not tell her that. She would have a fit." He was thinking that he was unlikely to be telling Miss Bingley anything, at least for a long time, and he was quite happy about the thought.
"Have you traveled at all? Are there any sights you would like to see?" he continued his questioning.
"My father hates to travel, so I have not had the chance. My Aunt and Uncle were talking of taking me with them on their tour of the Lakes next summer, but nothing has been settled. I have seen a bit of London, but I would love to see the Sea. I hear Brighton is the place to be in the summer. I have also wanted to see the ruins at Bath and the cathedral at Canterbury sounds amazing. I do not suppose I ever will see any of them, unless I marry an itinerant artist or salesman," she said with a frown.
"Or you could marry a man with an inclination and means to travel to see such sights," he said. She began to laugh.
"Oh, Mr. Darcy, you are so funny. Me, marry a man of means? Really, you are too funny. As I have been told that dowries do not grow on trees and I can not conjure up an august relation, I believe I need to set my sights a bit lower. A gentleman would be nice, for my father, a well to do man would be nice, for my mother, but I would rather find an intelligent man who respects me than live comfortably without companionship and possibly, admiration. Beggars can not be choosers." She went quiet and stared out at the distance, her posture showing her sunken mood. He felt bad that he had lowered her spirits so.
"You would never be a beggar, Miss Elizabeth. You are intelligent, witty, kind, solicitous of others, handsome," he trailed off, then set a smile on his face and continued. "No, Miss Elizabeth, you will never have to beg for a proper husband. There are plenty who would see the value in such a wife; never doubt it."
She was staring at him, unbelievingly, and knew not what to say. She finally looked down and softly said, "You are too kind, Mr. Darcy. I appreciate you trying to buoy my spirits. Thank you." She stood and turned to make her way down the path.
He stood and addressed her, "Miss Elizabeth, I am not speaking so just to placate you. I truly believe that you are a worthy woman and will make a brilliant match. Do not sell yourself short. I know your mother crows about the beauty of your eldest sister, but you, in my opinion, are a handsome, nay, beautiful woman and you can also have your pick of suitors." He paused. Should he continue? He was going to wait to address the issue, but thought he needed to begin to make headway before she doubted him. "Including me."
She had stopped and now she turned to him. She could not speak. Was he really declaring his intention to court her? She must have misheard him. She dared not hope. He was possibly the most handsome man she had ever met. She had enjoyed her time in his company and he had certainly been more attentive to her than any other young lady in Meryton, but hinting at a courtship? Surely she misunderstood him. "Sir?" was all she could say aloud.
He stepped closer to her, gently took her hand and with a firm voice said, "Yes, Miss Elizabeth, I really did just ask you for a courtship. I had hoped that you understood my attraction from our meetings over the past few weeks. You do not have to answer me now; I know this seems sudden, but it is not the work of a day. I believe I have been attracted to you from the very first time I saw you, at the assembly, when you were talking with your younger sisters, giving them a lecture about the Bard as well said as any I received at Eton. I will delay going to speak to your father if you would prefer. I am in no hurry. As I think Bingley will be staying in Meryton for a while, also, actually for the very same reason, we have all the time in the world for you to make up your mind. My mind is made up, but I will answer any questions you have that will help you decide if we should proceed."
She paused, thoughtfully. "Well, that explains your questions today. I thought they were disjointed, but now that I know your intentions, they make perfect sense; you sly man. I think, um, I think I would not mind you speaking to my father. We might want to prevent my mother hearing about your intentions for a bit. She does tend to get a bit worked up whenever the subject of matrimony is raised."
"That sounds like an excellent plan, Miss Elizabeth. May I escort you to Longbourn? Do you think your father would be available for a conference?"
"This might be the best time. He hides out in his bookroom until luncheon, reading, so he should be available. If you let him beat you in chess, your quest is assured," she quipped.
"I believe I can assure him of my ability to maintain a wife and a brood of children in a proper manner."
"Oh, he will not care a fig about that. He may ask you the size of your library and what type of port or brandy you can assure him of on his visits to said library, but mostly he will want to sport with you. You are the first man brave enough to ask him for a courtship with one of his daughters. I believe he has been preparing for this event for the past three and twenty years. Fair warning!"
They slowly made their way back to Longbourn and Elizabeth escorted him to her father's bookroom.
