Chapter 10: The Kiss
"Will you not tell me who told you so?" Elizabeth began the next part of the play where Beatrice would upset Benedict.
"Oh no." Lord Devon cried. "You are going to ridicule me."
"You chose the part, my lord." Elizabeth then smiled, attempting to hide a laugh.
"Very well. Where is my copy." He paused to shuffle around his seat. Thankfully, he had remembered to use a feather to mark his place. "Here we are. No, You shall pardon me."
Mr. Darcy successfully hid his mirth as Elizabeth mocked Lord Devon in the name of Benedick, but he was truly enjoying this set down. Elizabeth was clearly made for the part of Beatrice. He only hoped he was no Benedick. Thankfully, no one could accuse him of using too many words. The rest of the party did not bother to remain calm, and the rest of the room was laughing. Those standing had to bow over to control their laughter. It was so bad that the colonel missed the ending of the scene and his next part. Mr. Darcy had to give him his cue.
"How did I end up playing the prince and his brother? I am to tell Claudio that Hero loves my brother, who is also me. How shall I keep a straight face?" He then began to seal Claudio's fate. Everyone else calmed enough to keep their lines.
"Alas, poor hurt fowl, now will he creep into sedges. But that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me! The Prince's fool! Ha, it may be I go under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I am apt to do myself wrong. I am not so reputed! It is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice that puts the world into her person and so gives me out. Well, I'll be revenged as I may." He scoffed. "It is myself I shall blame, but Miss Elizabeth, you cannot really think me so like Benedick. I make merry, but I have a serious side as well."
"Now, signior, where's the Count? Did you see him?" The colonel spoke quickly to avoid any rejoinder Elizabeth may have given. "Am I asking where my brother is?"
"No, you are asking after Claudio. You spoke to Hero and her father in Claudio's name, and you wish to bid him joy. Instead, he believes you spoke for yourself and stole his love." Elizabeth answered.
"Too many Counts to keep track of." The colonel mumbled.
Lord Devon, wanting this part of the play over, pushed in with his lines. He did not wish to be angry at Elizabeth, and his voice showed his disdain for this task. The colonel took pity and kept his lines just as simple.
Lord Devon huffed as the end of their exchange came. "O God, sir, here's a dish I love not! I cannot endure my Lady Tongue. And I leave. In truth I would not leave. I would have a good comeback and make my lady laugh. May she always be merry." He moved to Elizabeth and took her hand to bestow a kiss on her knuckles. Knowing he embarrassed her, he moved to the tea tray to claim a biscuit.
Elizabeth barely managed to roll her eyes at his obvious ploy. She doubted he really meant to woo her. She turned to the colonel and began her lines, eager for Claudio to confess his love to Hero.
Mr. Darcy brought the scene about with, "Count, take of me my daughter, and with her my fortunes. His Grace hath made the match, and all grace say "Amen" to it."
Elizabeth blushed in anticipation as she said, "Speak, count, 'tis your cue." When still nothing came, Elizabeth had to nudge Mr. Bingley's arm.
"Oh, right. I forgot." Mr. Bingley blushed as he read the next line silently to remember his part. He then looked directly at Jane as he said, "Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much." He paused and took Jane's hand. "Jane, Miss Bennet, will you marry me? I promise to make you happy all of our days."
The room had been chuckling, but now fell silent. Mr. Bingley still held Jane's hand as she blushed. Her face shined with joy, though she did not speak.
Elizabeth gave them a nudge with her next line. "Speak, sister, or, if you cannot, stop his mouth with a kiss and let not him speak neither."
Jane blushed further, but emboldened by her sister's words, she leaned forward and kissed Mr. Bingley's cheek lightly. Overjoyed, he put his arm to her neck to stop her retreat and pushed forward so that he could kiss her lips.
Lord Devon and the colonel began to whoop with joy. When they broke apart, Mr. Bingley rose to accept their congratulations as Elizabeth went to embrace her sister.
Miss Bingley looked like she might be sick, but she moved to Mr. Darcy and asked him quietly, "I suppose there is no stopping it, is there?"
"I doubt it. Your brother and Miss Bingley are enamored of each other. I hope it will last for all of their lives. You had best accept the inevitable, or you will anger Mr. Bingley while he controls your pin money." Mr. Darcy felt truly happy for his friend and moved away to tell him so.
The play soon came to a close for the day. Mr. Bingley desired to rush over to Longbourn to speak to Mr. Bennet without delay. Lord Devon and Mr. Darcy decided to go with him, and the party broke into smaller groups. Elizabeth took the time to speak with Miss Bingley about the tenant situations they had witnessed. Miss Bingley began to protest, but then she remembered she was trying to please Mr. Darcy. He would learn how good of an estate mistress she could be. They sat beside Jane and discussed the tenants while the gentlemen were gone. They would have discussed Jane's situation, but Miss Bingley drew the line at a discussion that involved a kiss from her brother.
Mr. Hurst slept in a chair while the rest of the gentlemen changed into riding clothes and left for Longbourn. The trip was short and did not leave time for any of the gentlemen to fully determine what they would say to Mr. Bennet. As they approached the front door, Mr. Bingley suddenly exclaimed, "What if Mr. Bennet refuses my suit? I am not a landed gentleman. My connections might not be enough for a family of longstanding."
Mr. Darcy laughed. "Once Mrs. Bennet hears of it, she will ensure Mr. Bennet comes around, you have my word. She has spoken of your engagement for days now, I am certain. She spoke of it at your ball, though I doubt you heard anyone but Miss Bennet. It would have been enough to put me off, but you are oblivious when you choose to be."
"I have to be oblivious to survive with my sisters."
This got a good chuckle out of Lord Devon before the door opened, and the butler led the gentlemen into the parlor. As they took their places around Mrs. Bennet and her younger daughters, Mr. Bingley stated that they each wished to speak to Mr. Bennet privately.
Mrs. Bennet beamed. As soon as the refreshments were served, she began, "It is such a pleasure to see you so soon after we visited at Longbourn. Something very important must have come up. I do hope you are all comfortable at Netherfield. My Jane is an angel and it is so sweet of you, Mr. Bingley, to be willing to host her. I would not wish an injury on anyone, but Jane is so undeserving it seems so misplaced. She really is the sweetest girl one could meet. Lizzy, on the other hand, is almost wild. I sometimes wonder if she behaves so just to vex me. If so, she is quite talented."
Mr. Darcy would have defended Elizabeth, but the butler returned to say that Mr. Bennet was ready to speak with Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley took a deep breath before following the butler. Lord Devon attempted to speak with Mrs. Bennet, but she kept bouncing in her chair and looking at the door to the study that it was nearly impossible to keep her interest.
At last, Mr. Bingley returned with Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bingley was beaming like a puppy given a bowl of cream, though without the dribbling. Mrs. Bennet could not remain in her seat. She sprang up and hurried to her husband, with the gentlemen rising out of politeness.
Mr. Bennet chuckled as he took his wife's hand. "Yes, my dear, Mr. Bingley has asked for dear Jane's hand in marriage, and I have accepted, as has she. You shall at long last have a son-in-law."
Mrs. Bennet squealed in delight, "Oh, Mr. Bingley. Welcome to our family! We are so happy. Where is Mrs. Hill? This calls for a celebration." As the door shut behind her, the gentlemen stood staring at the door while the ringing in their ears slowly abated.
Lord Devon was the first to speak. "Mr. Bennet, might I trouble you for a moment of your time?"
Mr. Bennet stared at the man for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and leading the way to his study. Mr. Darcy watched them depart in terror. Had Devon managed to speak with Elizabeth? Would Mr. Bennet give away his daughter without even speaking to her first? How did he even know Miss Bennet had accepted Bingley? He felt that he could not breathe.
Thankfully, Mr. Bingley did not need an active audience. Lydia and Kitty were speaking animatedly about how good it would be to have a brother. They were already planning the new ribbons they would buy to touch up their dresses. With one married sister, it must be their turn soon. Mrs. Bennet joined them as soon as she returned to the room, leaving Mr. Darcy to his own devices.
Lord Devon returned alone, looking rather pleased with himself. Nowhere near the ebullience that Mr. Bingley had projected. Mr. Bennet had not accompanied him for an announcement. What did that mean? Devon would be dejected should he have been denied, yet why not make another announcement if he had been accepted. Mrs. Bennet could not get any louder, and Mr. Darcy knew Mr. Bennet valued peace and quiet. Perhaps Mr. Bennet needed to speak with Elizabeth first. Did that mean he still had time to propose to Elizabeth? Air began to creep back into his lungs as the panic of lost love calmed.
Once he was master of himself again, he suggested it was time to return to Netherfield. Mr. Bingley, eager to return to Jane, agreed. Lord Devon calmly rose and offered Mrs. Bennet and the Misses Bennet his adieus. As they passed the door to Mr. Bennet's study, Mr. Bennet called out to Mr. Darcy.
Taking the opportunity, Mr. Darcy quickly entered and shut the door. He was about to explain that he intended to ask Miss Elizabeth to marry him when Mr. Bennet said, "You are a quiet, respected young man. Your friend, Lord Devon, is he to be trusted?"
That was a loaded question. Lord Devon was a rival, and he ought not be trusted around Miss Elizabeth. Was it his place to say such things? While Lord Devon knew how to flirt with ladies, he had never compromised one. While he did gamble more than Mr. Darcy thought proper, his estate was still prosperous. It certainly would be a splendid match.
"Mr. Darcy," Mr. Bennet stated, clearly annoyed that he had not been given a response. "Lord Devon is staying in a house that is also housing two of my daughters. Is he to be trusted to behave himself?"
"Yes, he is, as is Mr. Bingley." Mr. Darcy could not fathom lying to a father. The Misses Bennet would be perfectly safe at Netherfield. Mr. Bingley would make sure of that. And Lord Devon was no rake or ravisher, though he sometimes acted like it. And his sights seemed to be on Elizabeth.
Mr. Bennet sighed. "It is hard to see the culmination of years of watching a child grow up. I understand you are guardian of your sister, so perhaps you have some understanding of what I feel."
Mr. Darcy immediately thought of Mr. Wickham. "Rest assured, all at Netherfield will seek to keep Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth safe and secure. The servants seem to prefer them to, well, to others in the house. Miss Elizabeth is teaching Miss Bingley how to run a proper country home, and it is clear she has cared not only for your tenants but for the tenants of Netherfield as well. It is commendable. I have never heard so well of anyone by everyone I have spoken to."
"Well, almost everyone. There are some who choose not to be pleased." Mr. Bennet exclaimed. "You had better go before you are missed. Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for putting me at ease. I believe I shall attend the archery event in the morning after all."
Darcy left wondering what Mr. Bennet could have meant.
AN: I have decided to forego a quick finish and let my thoughts take me through to an ending. Darcy is as eager as myself to propose, but I don't want the "Hunsford" proposal to go too poorly. I have an idea for it if we can get through enough of the play. And the archery will be fun to write. I already know who will win.
Work is plodding through my time. All is well at home. Hopefully I have more time to write as I am doing a better job of keeping up with grading. As always, your reviews (for corrections as well as encouragement) keep me writing.