Section I, Section II
Jump to new as of June 22, 2002
Jump to new as of June 26, 2002
Posted on Saturday, 29 June 2002
The orchestra began to play the first bars of music, and the dancers began to form up for the first set. This was the moment that Elizabeth had been dreading since yesterday. Mr. Collins had finally closed his mouth after Darcy walked away, but it appeared as if he was about to open it again. Indeed he did:
"Cousin Elizabeth, I believe this is our dance?" She grudgingly took his extended hand. Not surprisingly, she felt only a longing for Darcy's touch. He led her roughly to the floor and fulfilled her every anticipation of misery. They were dances of mortification. Awkward and solemn, apologizing instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, he gave her all the shame and distress she had imagined. The moment of her release from him was ecstasy.
During the dance, when she was able, she looked around for Darcy, to see if he was watching her with Mr. Collins. But fortunately, she was never able to see him. That did not mean he did not see her, but at least she had the satisfaction of believing he did not.
Should it ever become known to Elizabeth, great would be her disappointment to know that Darcy had not missed a single moment of her dance with Mr. Collins. He had lost himself in the crowd of observers. It satisfied him to see her cringe each time she had to touch Mr. Collins's hand. He did feel sorry for her when the heavy Collins walked over one of her feet. Collins kept turning left when he was to turn right, bumping into other dancers. Darcy nearly laughed. Collins and Elizabeth attracted quite a bit of attention to themselves by this display of ineptitude. Darcy thought her cheeks beautiful by the added charm of a continual blush.
When the dance was over, and Darcy thought back to his feelings about watching Elizabeth dance with Collins, he grew ashamed of himself. He realized he had not watched on with compassion for her, but with envy for Collins. Darcy had to admit he was jealous of the time anyone else spent with Elizabeth. But jealousy could now give way to delight. He moved through the crowd to where she was standing, alone, of course. Collins had not attended her to any acquaintance of hers but had left her standing on the edge of the dance floor, having run off to talk with someone else or return with refreshments for Elizabeth. Darcy could not bear the thought of anyone else being attentive to Elizabeth's needs but himself.
As Darcy walked towards her, she happened to turn her head and caught sight of him walking across the ballroom. She could not help herself - she broke out into a beaming smile - she was so happy to see him. She had been looking forward to this all day, and after the horror of Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy looked even sweeter as he came towards her. Darcy was dressed in black tonight. He seemed to be a little taller. His glance took in every curve of her body then locked onto her eyes. He saw nobody else. They were alone. Instinctively she raised her hand when he drew near her. He grasped it with both of his. What a shock! The feelings that coursed through her body when he touched her were incredible. How was she to find words to describe the warmth? He began to gently squeeze her hand and caress her palm. She thought she would go wild! When she looked back at these moments with him, she was not sure why this did not embarrass her, but she was too caught up with the pleasure of the sensations he was causing to think of anyone else. The music began again. He tucked her hand under his arm and led her to the dance floor.
They did not talk much through either dance. Each was too full of thought for much conversation. Elizabeth tried to stifle the nagging question: Does he return my regard? The more time she spent with him, the more convinced she was that he did like her, but how much, she did not know, and dared not speculate on. Only time would tell. But if patience was a virtue, then she was certainly not virtuous. She was convinced that she loved him. How that had happened she could not tell. It was wrong and she knew it. To have such feelings for a man in so high a station in life, of such wealth, style, and position was laughable. Does he return my regard? Indeed, how could I ever think of it. Yet, why does he seek me out? Why is there so much that is gentle and soft about him? Why did he kiss my hand? Is he just trifling with me? Am I an amusement to him to pass away his time while he remains in Hertfordshire, to be forgotten after he leaves? But he seems so sincere, I cannot help but trust him. Oh, what have I done to myself? What folly it was to ever approach him like that at the Meryton assembly. But would I trade this for the world?
Darcy's thoughts were more agreeably engaged. He was thinking how beautiful she looked this evening, and wondering how it was that each time he looked at her she seemed to be prettier this instant than the last. There was nothing about her he could not admire, could not love, could not praise. She lifted his spirits; she made him happy. His best hopes for the night had already been accomplished by the favor she had shown him. Back and forth, across and around they went, hands touching, shoulders brushing, and eyes locking as they moved down the dance, everyone and everything else forgotten.
All too soon the dances were over and Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the side of the ballroom. He praised her on her dancing,
"Miss Bennet, I have enjoyed our dances very much. Let me compliment you on your grace and style."
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy, but a lady cannot dance alone, you know."
"Indeed, it would be strange if she did."
Elizabeth laughed, "Yes, and it would not give half as much pleasure."
Here they were interrupted by Mr. Collins and the spell between them was shattered. Without thinking, Elizabeth stepped closer to Mr. Darcy who fought every impulse to put his arm around her waist and pull her close to him. Darcy felt very protective of Elizabeth and for some reason, Mr. Collins represented a threat to her.
"Mr. Darcy, let me congratulate you on very superior dancing. You are of the first circles, no doubt, and seem to dance well with my fair cousin, Elizabeth." Mr. Collins had to clear his throat. "Miss Elizabeth, you seem very fond of dancing."
"I am very fond of dancing, sir, and I enjoyed my dances with Mr. Darcy very well. He is quite gallant and led me down the dance very admirably, don't you think so, Mr. Collins?
"Well, uh, yes, I suppose so."
"Mr. Darcy seemed to know all the dances quite well and did not make any mistakes. It is always a relief to a lady not to have to worry about her partner moving in the wrong way."
Darcy had to walk away, unable to maintain a straight face. Collins was grateful to see him go. He had some unfortunate suspicions regarding Darcy and Elizabeth and so was determined not to let her out of his sight for the rest of the ball.
"It seems to me, Miss Elizabeth, that there are such a large number of dances, that it is difficult to know them all."
"I am sure, Mr. Collins, that in your situation in life, as the rector of an important parish, that you do not have much chance for dancing amidst all your other many duties, and so are unable to remain current with all the many new dances which are in vogue. Under the patronage of Lady Catherine De Bourgh, your duties must lean in a bent far away from such worldly pursuits as dancing."
"Indeed, Miss Elizabeth, the rector of a parish has many responsibilities. First, he must make an agreement for tithes that will be beneficial to himself but not disagreeable to his patron. He must write his own sermons; and the time that remains will not be too much for completing his parish duties and the care and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making as comfortable as possible. And I do not think it of light importance that he should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards those to whom he owes his preferment. So yes, I suppose you are right, a rector is quite busy enough without the added burden of dancing too often."
"That puts the rector's wife at a disadvantage, particularly if she is fond of dancing.
Mr. Collins was not quite happy with the way this conversation had ended and decided that perhaps it was time to leave his beloved alone for awhile, after all.
Posted on Saturday, 29 June 2002
Elizabeth took this as her chance to get away and was grateful for the opportunity to escape from the marked attentions of Mr. Collins by running behind a curtain onto a small balcony off the main hall of Netherfield. She found his society to be irksome and unpleasant. Moreover, his constant attendance on her had made it impossible for her to dance with anyone else, including Mr. Darcy, should he have wanted to dance a second time with her. This only served to confirm her suspicions regarding Mr. Collins' intentions towards her. She could not think how to avoid the turmoil it was going to cause. She would not be prevailed upon to accept Mr. Collins under any circumstances. She did not and could not love him. He was repulsive to her. Any regard he felt for her must be imaginary. Her mother, she knew, would demand that she accept Mr. Collins. Her father had first instilled in her the ideals of marrying for love, and so she counted on his support in her refusal of Mr. Collins. Her mother would point out the advantages of the match, the fact that Mr. Collins was next in the entail of Longbourn, and that if Mr. Bennet should die soon, the future of her mother and sisters would be secure. Very true, but what of my future? There was no reason to expect her father to die soon, and she would not be her mother's sacrificial lamb in the name of having a daughter 'well married.' Elizabeth could now expect that Jane would soon be married in a match of affection within the next three or four months. My mother will have to be content with that.
"It is a beautiful night, it is not, Miss Bennet?" asked Darcy quietly.
Elizabeth gasped at the sound of his voice, and hoped he did not hear her confusion. He had followed her onto the balcony. She thought she had slipped out of the ballroom unseen; she did not know how long he had been there.
"I enjoy the stars, Mr. Darcy, but also the seclusion at this moment."
"Oh, forgive me for intruding." Darcy smiled, but did not make a move towards leaving.
"Please, do not think that I meant that I did not want ..." Please do not think I meant you. Please do not go. I only meant Mr. Collins.
He took a step towards her so that they were both standing next to the railing. The air between them seemed to have the glow one sees just before lightening strikes.
"Miss Bennet, I believe I left Mr. Collins talking with your sister and Bingley."
She sighed.
"You are perceptive, sir. I am not ungrateful for your company," Elizabeth said with a blush, unseen in the darkness of the evening.
"When I was very young, my father and I would spend summer evenings laying on the front lawn at Pemberley watching the stars gradually appear in the sky as the sun set. At those times my father seemed larger than life, and I felt so small. He would tell me the names of the stars and the constellations and the stories and legends behind their names. He told me about the North Star, and how it is used for navigating and as a point of reference against which all things are measured. He told me to be like the North Star, to be constant in integrity and honesty and to be a standard against which other people measure their own lives. He would not tolerate lying, deceit or disguise in any form. I think that is why he was so blinded to George Wickham's character. He could not bring himself to face the fact that his own godson lived a life of nothing but lies and dishonesty. All too soon, it seemed, I was sent off to school, and the days of watching stars were over. But I will never forget those occasions, some of the sweetest memories I have of my childhood."
She extended her hand to briefly touch his arm; she meant it as an emphasis to the expression of sympathy which she was going to say to him regarding the pain that Wickham had caused him in his life, so she was quite unnerved when he caught her hand in his, and held it firmly, but gently. She had to take a quick breath to help herself recover from the sudden wave of emotion she felt. And it was not just any emotion, but the feeling of love, the deepest love for him. She instinctively closed her other hand over his in an effort to retain her balance. Her skin felt hot and flushed. She wanted to say something to him, anything, but was at a complete loss for words. She did not want to interfere with the closeness of this moment between them, though she was not completely comfortable with it. Well, Mr. Darcy, you came to me and led me into this intimacy, you may speak first whenever you are ready.
Mr. Darcy was not yet ready to speak. It had not been three hours ago when he decided that he was in love with Elizabeth Bennet, but unsure of what he should do about it, and that the only way to find out was to leave her behind in Hertfordshire for a period of time to sort out his feelings. Now, here he was with her, on a secluded balcony, holding her hands, feeling her gaze upon himself, fully prepared to propose marriage to her and then gently kiss her lips. After that, it did not matter. He would ride to Longbourn in the morning and speak with her father. I cannot remember, oh yes, I was concerned about her lack of wealth. I have a huge fortune. I do not need any money from her and mine gives me no pleasure alone. What else? Society. I do move in different social circles than she does, and from what I have been able to see, it is time I get out of my circles some of the time, and get in to hers. And she will be safe when she moves within mine, I will see to that. Expectations. Perhaps it will cause some gossip amongst the ton that the elusive Mr. Darcy has married a penniless country girl, but it will not last long, not any longer than when they see her. The world at large will not care. Family. Georgiana will love her. She and Elizabeth will truly be sisters and respect and support one another. Lord Matlock. He and Lady Matlock have never felt that I would meet the right woman in the usual manner of balls and evening parties during the season in town. They will be pleased to know that they were right. Colonel Fitzwilliam. He will be concerned that Elizabeth is a fortune-hunter, but when he comes to know her, he will be satisfied. Lady Catherine. She will not be happy unless I marry my cousin Anne, so I suppose it does not matter who I marry, because if it is not Anne, she will be furious. And the fact that Elizabeth has no fortune or connections will make the supposed 'slight' even worse, in Lady Catherine's mind. But so it must be. If I never knew Elizabeth, I would still never marry Anne, and I would still offend Lady Catherine. But what of Elizabeth's family? They are coarse, to be sure. She has not the highest connections. But should that mean anything to me? Surely I bring no advantage to the match with Lady Catherine. And I am eternally indebted to the family that raised such a daughter as Elizabeth, regardless of their shortcomings. Elizabeth has taught me love, and I will love them. They will visit us at Pemberley and I will provide them with the connections they lack.
"Mr. Darcy?"
"I am sorry, I have been lost in thought."
"And do you dare share with me those thoughts?"
Darcy smiled, "They concern you."
Elizabeth tightened her grip on his hand.
"I hope, then, that they were pleasant thoughts, sir, and did not disappoint."
"You could never disappoint me."
"I would not want to."
"Elizabeth is the name of queens and princesses," he paused. "Will you let me open my heart to you?"
"Oh," was all Elizabeth could get out before her knees went soft and she leaned against Darcy for support. Her chin rested against his shoulder and he half-whispered in her ear,
"My thoughts have been with you not just now, but almost continually since our meeting at the Meryton assembly. I have thought about the sweetness of your temper, the playfulness of your manner in approaching me after I behaved so abominably to you. You completely overpowered me when we danced. I cannot forget your scent, that lavender fragrance...you are wearing it again tonight. You were wearing it at Oakham Mount this morning. When you took my hand for that first dance, my heart stopped for a moment. I felt as I have never felt before, and I knew you felt the same way. I knew we had reached each other on a deeper level than voice or sight can ever go. Am I right?"
"Yes," she said breathlessly.
"You have bewitched me, Elizabeth. You have brought joy to my life when I thought never to feel it again. You have given me hope, that perhaps with your love, Pemberley can be a home again; that the warmth I see in your eyes now, while I whisper in your ear, might become something I enjoy every morning when I wake up, and that burning sensation I enjoy when I touch you and look at you will be something I can take pleasure in every time we are alone."
The night air seemed to grow more silent as he continued by reminding her,
"You told me that you would only marry for reasons of the deepest love and affection. Please, Elizabeth, I am begging you to love me, and asking you to trust me when I say that I love you with all my heart. That your cares are my cares, your hopes are my hopes, your pain is my pain and that all I have is yours, and that I am yours in every way, and that without you I am incomplete. Please allow me to tell you how ardently I admire, love and respect you. Please consent to love me in return and to be my wife." I have done it. I have pledged myself to her. Leaving her was impossible, and I knew it and thank Heaven I acknowledged it before I tried. What would she have thought of me? Now that I have declared myself, loving her seems so easy. How could I have ever imagined being insecure in my decision? There is only one choice in this world, and that is to love her. Her home is at Pemberley, with me. I now await her judgment.
Elizabeth could hear the music and laughter of the dance permeating the curtain that separated her private world on the balcony from the public notice of everyone else's world. Every so often she thought she could discern a voice that she recognized. But as distant as these sounds were, they came as a complete shock to her, as her being able to hear them meant that Darcy had stopped speaking. And what words he had spoken!
She bent her head back just slightly so she could look at him in the eyes, her eyes brightened by an unspent tear. A curl at the end of her lips bent them into a smile and she looked upon him fondly. She released a hand from his grasp and slowly reached up and brushed a curl away from his forehead, letting her fingers glide across the skin on his face and neck until she rested her hand on his shoulder.
She continued to look at him, to drink in the sight of his eyes. His passion for her could not be mistaken in his fine, dark eyes. The truth of his words leaped out to her, arced across the space between them to communicate his sincerity and affection, and pleaded with her to accept him.
Her smiled deepened. She lifted her hand off his shoulder and moved it up behind his neck. He responded to her smile with one of his own, his own heart lightened by the expression on her face. She had yet to speak a word. She gently pulled down on his neck and reached up on her toes and kissed him gently on the lips, answering his every wish in the only way she knew that would express all that she felt.
Posted on Monday, 8 July 2002
The next morning was a sunny, warm day, but Darcy had no thoughts of Oakham Mount, and Elizabeth had not the time. As early as politeness allowed, Darcy mounted his horse and rode to Longbourn with a full heart prepared to seek Elizabeth's hand from Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth had assured him that he would approve of Darcy. Elizabeth would be busy at the same time with Mr. Collins, who would choose this morning to make his declaration of love to her and propose marriage.
The housekeeper answered the door.
Darcy handed her his card and said, "I am Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a guest of Mr. Charles Bingley of Netherfield Park. I have come to speak with Mr. Bennet on a matter of urgent business. Is it possible for me to see him?"
"Please come in, Mr. Darcy," she said, taking his coat and hat, "I will go to Mr. Bennet and let him know that you are here."
Darcy was not a man who was easily intimidated by other people. But today he was nervous. His future happiness depended on the outcome of this interview. His love for Elizabeth only increased after her acceptance of his proposal. She told him how she had fallen in love with him at the same time he had with her, and that accepting him was as natural to her as breathing, or her heart beating. He was humbled by her confession. He had felt she had returned his regard in some manner, but that she could be as much in love with him as he was with her was beyond his belief. What a risk it was for her to fall in love with someone beyond her social sphere. And she had taken that risk for him. She told him that it was better to love him from a distance, and accept whatever notice of her he would give her, than to not love him at all. He then kissed her, with all the ardor and passion that he felt, with all the emotion and feeling that had been building for her since she had touched his hand at the Meryton assembly. Her response to him was all he could imagine. They held tightly to one another to verify that the dream was indeed reality, and parted from each other, and from that balcony, only at the end of the ball. As she took his arm and they walked through the curtain, they knew they would never be the same. It was amazing to them that no one who looked at them seemed to know the difference.
"Mr. Darcy, please come with me into my library where we may enjoy peace and privacy, and you can tell me why you have come to visit me this morning."
Mr. Collins was determined that today was the day that Elizabeth would agree to become his wife. All he needed was an opportunity to speak with her. Seeing Mrs. Bennet with Elizabeth after breakfast he thus addressed her:
"May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit the honor of a private audience with her in the course of this morning?"
Elizabeth knew that Darcy would be coming this morning to speak with her father, but she did not know that he was in the house at this moment, nor did she feel it appropriate to announce her engagement without her father's consent. She knew what was coming, but she did not know how to stop it. After a moment's reflection, she thought it wisest to get it over with as soon and as quietly as possible. She thought for a moment of Darcy and of the last kiss they shared.
Mrs. Bennet answered, "Yes - certainly, I am sure Elizabeth can have no objection." And gathering her work, she hastened away.
Mr. Collins turned towards Elizabeth, favored her with a crooked smile, and began,
"You can hardly doubt the purport of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble; my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the companion of my future life..."
"Mr. Darcy, please have a seat, sir. Are you well? You do look a little pale, if you do not mind my saying so. It is a little early in the day, but I am going to enjoy a glass of port. Would you care to join me?"
"Yes, sir, I believe I would." Mr. Bennet poured out two glasses and handed one to Darcy who gratefully received it.
"Well, Mr. Darcy, did you like the ball last night? For myself, I am indifferent to those sort of things. I usually just watch my daughters dance and see who they spend their time with. I noticed that you danced two dances with Elizabeth. She seemed to enjoy herself well enough, though she did have a strange expression on her face. I looked for her after that, but I never saw her again until after the ball was over. But come to think of it, I did not see much of you after that, either."
"You surmise correctly, Mr. Bennet. Miss Elizabeth and I walked out on a balcony after that and had a conversation, and the purport of that conversation is the reason why I am here." Darcy started to fidget in his chair. He was not sure if Mr. Bennet approved of the idea of his being alone with Elizabeth.
"Very well, Mr. Darcy, please go on."
"I asked for your daughter's hand in marriage, sir, and she accepted my offer. I am here to obtain your consent."
"Mr. Collins, accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible of the honor of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them."
"I am not now to learn," replied Mr. Collins, "that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their favor. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the alter ere long."
"Upon my word," cried Elizabeth, "your hope is an extraordinary one after my declaration."
"When I do myself the honor of speaking to you next on the subject, I shall hope to receive a more favorable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present. You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for believing it are briefly these: It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy of your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bourgh, by relationship with your own are circumstances highly in my favor. It is also by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you."
Elizabeth could not suppress a smile and a gentle blush at this.
Mr. Collins continued, "Your portion is unhappily so small, that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall chose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females."
"I assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you again and again for your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every way forbid it. Can I speak plainer?"
Every moment with Mr. Collins made her more grateful for Darcy. Mr. Collins did not love her, and he certainly did not respect her.
"You are uniformly charming! And I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of being acceptable."
Elizabeth silently left the room for her own bedchamber, frustrated at his willful deception. She looked forward to the evening when her own engagement to Darcy would be announced and the pleasure of courtship would begin.
"Mr. Darcy, you do realize that you are asking me to give away my favorite daughter? I assume that you will take her away from here into Derbyshire."
"I also have a townhouse in London. We will visit both Longbourn and Netherfield and you and your family will always be welcome at Pemberley."
"I suppose I do not need to ask if you are financially capable of supporting her. But are you aware, sir, that she has no dowry, that I can give her nothing? Does not this go against the grain?"
"I have a large fortune, sir, and do not require any money from her. Perhaps it is an imprudent match as to fortune, on my part, but it is a very prudent match as to love, which is all I am concerned with. She will receive a very generous settlement, with all the rights and respect due to the Mistress of Pemberley. I love your daughter very much, sir, and would do anything for her. My fortune is nothing compared to her and can give me no pleasure without her."
"What of your family, Mr. Darcy. Would they approve a match with a country girl, rather than a young lady of the ton?"
"I do not need the approval of my family. My mother would have wanted me to marry for love. It is true that my aunt Lady Catherine De Bourgh expects me to marry my cousin Anne. I will offend her. But it cannot be helped. My uncle and aunt Lord and Lady Matlock will be grateful I have married at all. My cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam will love Miss Elizabeth nearly as much as I do. My parents loved and respected one another, Mr. Bennet. In marrying your daughter, I hope to be able to have that same type of loving, caring relationship as they did. I could not live any other way."
Mr. Bennet sat quietly in his chair behind his desk meditating on what he had been told by Mr. Darcy. Darcy sat wondering what Mr. Bennet was thinking. Mr. Bennet knew the day would arrive when some young man would come seeking Elizabeth's hand. He had always expected that it would be at a later date, not now. However, he knew her happiness depended on his answer to Darcy, and her happiness is all that he ever wanted. From his interview with Darcy, he knew that he would be giving her away to someone who loved and cared for her, who could take care of her, would be generous with her, and would not prevent her from seeing him.
"Very well, Mr. Darcy, I give you my consent to marry Elizabeth."
Mrs. Bennet had waited outside the breakfast room door for Elizabeth to leave. As she walked out, Mrs. Bennet walked in to congratulate Mr. Collins and herself on their nearer relationship.
"I know her refusal was just out of bashful modesty and that when I speak to her again, she will of course accept me."
Mrs. Bennet was shocked by this revelation, and not at all confident that this would be the case.
"But depend upon it, Mr. Collins, she shall be brought to reason . I will go to Mr. Bennet and we will speak to her this minute."
"Thank you, sir, please be assured that she will be happy and safe with me."
"Well, sir," said Mr. Bennet, "please see to that. I am trusting you with my dearest treasure."
They were both interrupted by a loud cry outside the door, the sound of skirts flying and the door being opened and closed with a slam.
"Oh Mr. Bennet, we are all in an uproar. You are wanted immediately. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows that she will not have him, and if you do not make haste, he will change his mind and not have her," cried Mrs. Bennet, out of breath from a quick run from the breakfast room.
Mr. Darcy had retreated to a window at a corner of the library. He was unable to believe what he was hearing. That clergyman, Mr. Collins, has proposed to my Elizabeth? Does he really believe she could accept him? And her mother is here insisting that she marry him? Of course, Elizabeth could not say anything of our engagement because we did not yet have Mr. Bennet's consent.
"And what am I to do on the occasion? It seems an hopeless business?" replied Mr. Bennet.
"Make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins."
"Troublesome child, let her be called down, and she shall hear my opinion."
Elizabeth demurely walked into the library, stopping just inside the door. She glanced around the room and saw her mother standing to the side of her father's desk, her father sitting behind his desk, and her lover standing quietly by a window at the back of the room. Their eyes met. He favored her with a smile filled with love and passion, and in that instant she knew that all would be well.
"Yes, papa?"
"Come here, my child." Elizabeth walked to his desk and he took her hand. "I have called you down on a matter of great importance. It seems that you have received an offer of marriage," Mr. Bennet paused to clear his throat and throw a quick glance to Darcy, who was incredulous, "from Mr. Collins. Is this not so?"
"Yes."
"And you have refused this offer?"
"I have, sir."
"Now we come to the point. Your mother insists on your marrying Mr. Collins. Is this not so, Mrs. Bennet?"
"Yes, or I shall never see her again."
"Mrs. Bennet, are you sure you wish to be estranged from your daughter? For I will not make her marry Mr. Collins if she does not wish it."
"But you must, Mr. Bennet. It is a good enough match for her, I dare say, and there is the entail to think about, and what will become of us of you should die, which could happen at any time, you know. I cannot take of her or any of the other girls, for that matter. She must marry Mr. Collins, you must see that."
"I do not see that. But I agree, she must marry. But do not forget, Mrs. Bennet, that I warned you. Elizabeth, from this day forward, you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do. But I do agree with your mother that you must marry, and to that end, I have given my consent to your marriage with Mr. Darcy."
"Oh, thank you, father." She bent down and kissed him on the forehead, then walked over to Mr. Darcy and took his hand.
"Mr. Bennet, how can you talk so, Mr. Darcy indeed..." Mrs. Bennet had not noticed Darcy in the room until Elizabeth had walked over to him.
"Oh, Mr. Darcy, I did not see you there." She paused, with a shocked looked on her face. " Please ... I ... uh ...I ...of course ... you wish to marry Lizzy ... what a fine thing ... forgive me ... I did not mean ... Mr. Collins need not ... I am delighted." Mrs. Bennet then did something totally unexpected. She stood there in silence.
"Mr. Darcy, you will stay for dinner today?" asked Elizabeth's father.
"Yes, thank you, sir."
"Lizzy, does Mr. Darcy have a favorite dish?" asked Mrs. Bennet.
"I am not sure, mama, but you would do well to have treacle tart and custard. Is that right, sir?"
Darcy gently squeezed Elizabeth's hand and replied with a smile.
Posted on Monday, 8 July 2002
It was beautiful and warm on the day that four best friends were married, Jane and Bingley, and Elizabeth and Darcy. Mr. Darcy could not say enough about the beauty and charm of his new bride. Their eyes and thoughts were never far from each other during the wedding breakfast, and as soon as possible they made their hasty exit for his, or I should say, their, townhouse in London.
They made two visits to Netherfield while the Bingleys were living there, and on both occasions returned to what they thought of as 'their' balcony to renew their vows and maybe even spare a laugh for poor Mr. Collins.
They were not long at Pemberley before they found a balcony of their own.