Flushed cheeks. Bright eyes. A lightness in her step. Mr. Bennet watched from his library window as Elizabeth turned from the gate and strolled through the gardens with her usual carefree grace, accompanied by a smile so pure and sincere his heart nearly broke. He might be an old man, but a look such as that was unmistakable. He watched for a few moments longer, wondering what had most upset him: discovering her alone with Mr. Darcy - under circumstances one could only describe as compromising - or the idea of many a night spent without the company of his favorite daughter to soothe the nerves of her mother and conspire in his mischief.
Returning to a cluttered desk and stacks of ledgers, his melancholy was soon displaced with meditations on what such an advantageous marriage would mean for his wife and remaining daughters. Only last night his wife lamented that, though "Jane's Mr. Bingley is rich enough - I suppose - he is nothing compared to Mr. Darcy!" And "why has not Lizzy caught him yet, isn't she supposed to be the clever one!" Oh - the hysterics that would soon overtake that woman. He hoped that Elizabeth would allow him to make the announcement but suspected she would rob him of the pleasure.
Clearly, his Lizzy had outwitted everyone - including her dear mother - this time. Feigning indifference to such a man as could change the destinies of not just one small family of daughters, but those of an entire village. A man with the good sense to see in Elizabeth a prize that no bank account could equal. Yes, he could give her up to such a man. Clever girl indeed!
As the family gathered at breakfast, Mr. Bennet smiled at the masterful performance his second eldest put on. Slowly approaching the table, she yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Pulling a shawl around her shoulders, she drowsily poured herself a cup of tea. Quietly visiting with Jane at the end of the table, they made plans for a trip to Meryton to survey the local shops' silks and laces, hoping they could satisfy their mother that a trip to London was not required.
"Why Lizzy, you are getting a late start this morning. I suppose that you, like the rest of your silly sisters, were so caught up in this wedding business that you could not sleep. I say, it is a very good thing you were all tucked safely in your beds this morning. There was a suspicious looking man outside the gate earlier; I would hate to think what would have happened if any of you girls had crossed his path wandering out on your own as you are so want to do."
Kitty looked up, eyes wide with alarm. Mrs. Bennet nearly fainted and called for Hill to bring her smelling salts. Lydia immediately began to pepper her father with questions - how tall was he, what color was his coat, what direction did he head? - until he fiercely interrupted.
"I am putting my foot down, none of you shall step a foot out of doors without one of your sisters by your side. You will spend your mornings improving your minds, not dashing across the countryside risking your lives or - worse - your reputations!"
Elizabeth looked suspiciously at her father just in time to catch his stern frown momentarily replaced by a wink and a raised eyebrow in her direction. She knew she was caught and would have to forfeit her peaceful morning trysts - for now at least. Thankfully Mr. Darcy would be speaking with her father this evening and, if all went as planned, they would be married within weeks.
The Bingley's were engaged to dine with the Bennets that evening. Caroline, however, was determined that she was still not well enough to be in company. Much to the disappointment of her brother, not even the prospect of visiting her future sister and offering congratulations could change her mind. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst concluded that they also must stay behind - for to be left alone was a cruelty they could not subject poor Caroline to. Georgiana felt no such obligation and nearly ran to her room in excitement when it was finally time to get dressed and ready for the carriage that would carry the small party to Longbourn.
Dinner was a curious affair. Mrs. Bennet had also extended invitations to the Lucases, anxious as she was to share her eldest daughter's news with their neighbors. The reactions to Jane's engagement was just as she had hoped - Sir Lucas expounded on the great honor to the neighborhood and the hope to have Mr. Bingley more permanently settled at Netherfield soon; Lady Lucas gave her icy congratulations and looked to Charlotte and Mariah with unmet expectation.
If she had hoped to see Mr. Collins affections renewed in the company of her young daughter, she would have been disappointed. Lydia was so occupied with Mariah and Kitty that not once did she acknowledge the clergyman. His assiduous attentions, once so sensibly directed to Lydia, were transferred for the whole of the dinner to Miss Lucas whose civility in listening to him was a relief to all, accepting only Colonel Fitzwilliam. That gentleman, finding himself seated between Charlotte and Kitty, was left to choose between two equally tiresome conversations and found himself in considerably lessened spirits when the gentlemen retired to the library as the tables were cleared.
Mr. Darcy quickly secured a place near their host and complimented the man on his well curated, if not monumental, collection of books. The two soon found themselves deep in discussion on the merits of a favorite author and were surprised at the pleasure one another's company brought.
Fitzwilliam listened with revulsion as Mr. Collins expounded upon the great condescension bestowed upon him by the highly esteemed Lady Catherine de Bourgh. "She is all affability, and I pride myself that under the particular advice and recommendation of that very noble lady I will return to Rosings Park engaged. Miss Lucas, I assure you, is sensible of what an honor it is to be in her service."
The Colonel looked in disbelief at the man in front of him. "I had heard that you made an offer to Miss Bennet's youngest sister. I must have misunderstood."
"I have come to realize that Miss Lydia would be unlikely to contribute much to my felicity. Happily, I have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as when the blessing denied begins to lose some of its value in our estimation."
Colonel Fitzwilliam was keenly aware that his cousin and Mr. Bennet were within earshot and had turned to him with concerned looks. Duty and honor prescribed that he should end the conversation and move to a more suitable topic, but the sensations of loathing and disgust that Mr. Collins incited were too strong to overcome, thusly he continued, "and so Mr. Bennet has denied your request?"
Darcy stepped in closer, alarmed and hoping to change the direction of their discourse. Mr. Bennet, not just a little amused, walked toward the window pretending not to hear.
"Perhaps I am taking liberties accepting the dismissal from the daughter's lips instead of her father's. I have certainly meant well throughout the whole of the affair. My object has only been to secure an amiable companion for myself, with due consideration to the happiness of your Aunt in my selection, I assure you. I am convinced that, by withdrawing my pretensions, the family will not consider me showing any disrespect."
"Yes, yes. You might be right on that account; Mr. Bennet seems a fair and thoughtful man. And though I am less confident Lady Catherine will accept the manner of your resignation without reprehension, I applaud your willingness to bear her displeasure. To be sure, she will not look kindly upon the retraction of any offer of marriage when the parents had not the opportunity to accept or refuse. Herself a mother with an eligible daughter, she would demand that the lady's family be treated in a manner above reproach. Wouldn't you agree, Darcy?"
Mr. Collins flinched at the thought of angering his benefactress. Darcy looked askance at his cousin, failing to understand the meaning of his attack. Fitzwilliam had his enemy flanked and prepared to make his final offensive.
"Surely, you cannot expect that Mr. Bennet, who has only just entered into a marriage contract with Mr. Bingley, would burden his wife with two weddings at the same time, diverting her attentions from the most deserving eldest Miss Bennet. With a family of five girls it seems highly improper for the youngest to be married - nay, even engaged - before her eldest sister has left on her wedding tour. But of course, I would not speak for Mr. Bennet here. It is only as much as I have heard my Aunt express on several occasions."
Turning to Mr. Bennet - who was now just steps away from the three guests - with a hard look, Fitzwilliam expected the gentleman to concur with his assessment of the situation.
Mr. Bennet pondered the Colonel's words and searched for the motive behind them. Why would this man encourage Collins to pursue his silly young daughter? Priding himself as a man of intelligence, he knew there must be an explanation - one that he was determined to get to the bottom of. He also recognized that now was not the time to lose oneself to reflection. The Colonel was offering an elegant solution to two most vexing problems.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam is correct that until Jane and Bingley have said their vows, I am obligated, out of respect for both my daughter and her mother, to delay the engagements of any of my younger daughters. I heartily regret that you are so willing to retract your offer, especially considering the disappointment it will cause your esteemed patroness; but I am not a man to hold a grudge or prevent another from following the course of their happiness."
In a most verbose and artless fashion, Mr. Collins retracted all his earlier statements, claiming that he merely intended that which would satisfy his dearest Lydia and her parents. The mortification from learning that his proposal would diminish the importance of Mr. Bingley's nuptials or that Lady Catherine might discover he had considered withdrawing an unanswered proposal had shaken him to his core. Upon concluding his effusion of apologies and excuses he took a seat near the window and was silently for ten minutes complete.
Mr. Bennet acknowledged that he could only delay the inevitable, but he was not a man who sought out delayed gratification if he could find happiness in the present. He congratulated himself on not only suspending any decision on Lydia's engagement but also on keeping his dearest Lizzy home a short while longer. The second of these two consequences was not lost on Darcy, and the heat rose to his temples as he glared at his cousin. He pulled at his collar and rushed out of the library and into the gardens in search of the cold evening air. Colonel Fitzwilliam joined him soon thereafter.
"Damn you, Richard! I knew that you did not approve of my attachment to Elizabeth - but to stoop to such levels." He sputtered out angrily. "What next? Have you sent a letter to dear Aunt Catherine? Are you to appeal to my sense of familial duty to Anne!" He turned away from his cousin and marched towards the stables, barely sensible that he was being followed. "You, of all people, I thought I could trust to accept that I am my own master. Does it pain you too much to see me happy; has your jealousy finally made you a bitter man?"
Richard flinched at the accusation, hurt and confused at Darcy's outburst. Trying to make sense of it. "Darcy, I have no idea what you mean by this!"
"I had every intention of applying to Mr. Bennet for Elizabeth's hand this evening, in fact, without your interference we might be engaged already. If you think I can be persuaded to give her up you will be disappointed."
Slowly the repercussions of his intervention dawned on Fitzwilliam, and he was heartily ashamed. "Darce, I gave no thought to how my actions would impact you and Miss Elizabeth. I merely meant to protect Miss Lucas from that abhorrent fool."
It was Darcy's turn to be shocked. "Protecting Charlotte Lucas? Surely you jest! Mr. Collins, to be certain, is neither intelligent nor agreeable; his society is irksome, and any attachment to her was imaginary. But he would offer her a comfortable home and protection from a cruel world. She is sensible of the advantages of such an offer, and I did not detect from her any protest to his advances. You cannot doubt me when I say she feels all the good luck of it..."
Nothing could have prepared Darcy for the solid left hook that connected squarely with his jaw. He had fought with his cousin before, but not since they were boys and never with such emotion behind the act. Colonel Fitzwilliam also seemed surprised by his passionate reaction. After some time, Darcy smiled and patted his cousin on the back. "I see that not even you are immune to the attractions of Hertfordshire."
"Darcy, you misunderstand me. I have no desire to be better acquainted with Miss Lucas. She is too good for a man such as I. I have nothing to offer and nothing to gain from knowing her better. I merely meant to spare her the misery of a lifetime spent with a man who could never recognize, much less appreciate, her worth."
"Unfortunately for Miss Lucas, you may also have seized from her the only chance at the relative security and independence that marriage brings to a woman in her position."
Silently the two cousins rejoined the gentlemen, neither satisfied with results from their separation from the ladies. As they reentered the dining room, Darcy headed toward Elizabeth, his disappointment apparent. Charlotte watched with confusion as Mr. Collins slid silently past her in the direction of his youngest cousin with all the determination and ambition that only hours ago had been aimed towards herself. Fitzwilliam resisted going to her, certain that any comfort he might offer would be misinterpreted by both the lady and his cousin.
Forcing his eyes to abandon their object, he scanned the room only to be confronted with the looks and smiles of lovers and their well-wishers. Determined to extricate himself from the endless theme he excused himself, returning to Netherfield Park alone in the darkness. As he walked he recalled the words that had, up to this point of his life, guided him through many a dark and weary night - let me live, well if possible, and die without pain.