Mr. Bennet had had enough dealings with Darcy to know he was an intelligent, honorable man, but that did not mean he was happy about this turn of events. Drumming his fingers upon his desk, he finally sighed in resignation. “Very well,” he grumbled.
Darcy exhaled and took a seat in one of the two chairs across the desk from Elizabeth’s father. “Thank you, sir.”
“Yes, well, what else can I say? I fear I am only too familiar with the consequences of marrying in haste. I would not wish that upon my Lizzy or her future children, not even with a man I know to be as honorable and intelligent as you. I yield to you, sir. Elizabeth shall have two months in which to become better acquainted with you, but I must caution you not to misinterpret my ruling, Mr. Darcy. Should any scandalous gossip result from your unguarded behavior, stemming either from the ball or from some future incident, I will be forced to take action and insist upon my daughter accepting you whether or not she has acquired the feelings you desire for her to have.”
Darcy extended his hand to Mr. Bennet, who clasped it firmly in his. It was at that moment that Mrs. Bennet burst into the room.
“Oh, Mr. Bennet! We are all in an uproar! You must come immediately and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins!”
Darcy visibly paled. “In God’s name, whatever for?” he demanded.
Mr. Bennet looked in astonishment, first at his guest, then at his wife. It was short-lived, however, as expectancy intervened. Without a doubt, the situation promised some unanticipated amusement for him, and he settled in comfortably. “Forgive me, Mrs. Bennet, but I do not have the pleasure of understanding you. To what are you referring?”
Mrs. Bennet was clearly exasperated. “To Mr. Collins and Lizzy! Lizzy has declared she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say he will not have Lizzy!”
“Thank God for that!” Darcy muttered under his breath and, with relief, fell back into his chair.
Mr. Bennet looked thoughtfully at his wife. “Let me rightly understand you, Mrs. Bennet. Am I correct it is your wish that Lizzy accept Mr. Collins?”
“Yes. I insist you make her marry him.”
“Very well.” Here, Mr. Bennet turned to Darcy. “I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, we seem to have stumbled upon yet another impediment, so to speak.” He enjoyed seeing the look of alarm that had transformed Darcy’s usual calm demeanor into one of absolute horror.
Darcy could hardly believe what he was hearing, his shock apparent as he protested loudly, “An impediment! Mr. Bennet, you cannot seriously be considering—?”
“For Heaven’s sake!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. “What does Mr. Darcy have to do with Mr. Collins and Lizzy?”
“Well, nothing with Mr. Collins, to be sure,” replied her husband evenly, “but, as I have just granted Mr. Darcy my consent to court Lizzy for the purpose of marriage, I would imagine he might have a few words he would like to interject on the subject.” Mr. Bennet looked back at his wife, quite pleased with himself.
So stunned was Mrs. Bennet by this declaration, she could not speak for a full five minutes. After only two, however, her husband took pity upon his agitated guest. “In light of this recent information, Mrs. Bennet, do you still wish for me to prevail upon Lizzy to accept Mr. Collins, or would you prefer to remain forever silent on the subject?” Seeing his wife did, indeed, plan to remain silent on the subject, he addressed Darcy. “If I am not mistaken, Mr. Darcy, Lizzy should be extremely pleased to have you join her at this time. That is, if your wishes remain unchanged.”
I believe, Mr. Bennet, there is nothing anyone could say or do that would ever change my mind regarding your daughter, he mused, but aloud said, “I see no reason for any alteration at present.” The corners of Darcy’s mouth turned upward as he bowed and made to leave. Mr. Bennet, having had enough diversion for one morning, waved him on his way.
Chapter 9
The following morning saw Bingley and Darcy out of the house and on their way to Longbourn before the rest of the Netherfield party had even come down to breakfast. After several weeks of careful meditation about Caroline and her plans to separate him from his angel, Bingley was determined not to waste another day dawdling about in courtship. Today he would ask Jane Bennet to become his wife, and if all went well, he would return to Netherfield that evening engaged and the happiest of men.
Though enticing thoughts of matrimony pervaded Darcy’s mind as well, he knew to act upon such would be jumping too far ahead of the good fortune he had so recently found with Elizabeth. He was more than willing to take her as his wife without the delay of an additional heartbeat, but he was also well aware of the fact that any tender regard she now felt toward him was still quite new.
But Elizabeth did desire him. The reality of it was enough to cause his heart to soar with pleasure, but that she did not yet feel love for him left much still to be accomplished. He would take his time and go slowly—well, as slowly as their passion for each other would permit. With a wry grin, Darcy struggled to push the delicious image of Elizabeth as his wife from his mind. For today and, he supposed, countless weeks to follow, he would have to content himself with the pleasures of courting her. At least I am now at liberty to do so with her father’s blessing.
When they reached Longbourn, the gentlemen were shown into a cheerful parlor where they were greeted graciously by Mrs. Bennet while Jane smiled demurely, Mary engrossed herself in a book, and Kitty and Lydia giggled over some private joke of their own. To Darcy’s concern, Elizabeth and Mr. Collins were noticeably absent. After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Darcy mumbled an excuse about checking on his horse and went on a quest to find Elizabeth.
After searching for some time, he finally discovered her in one of the gardens toward the rear of the house. Elizabeth was so preoccupied with her feelings of disgust over Mr. Collins’s continued perseverance in his pursuit of her, despite her pointed refusal of his offer of marriage and Darcy’s prior interest, that she failed to hear Darcy’s approach.
Standing much closer than propriety would ever allow, he said, “When I did not find you in the drawing room with the rest of your family, I feared Mr. Collins had carried you off to Gretna Green.”
Elizabeth turned to look at him with an arch smile Darcy had come to recognize well. “I would not yet put it past him, sir; however, you will be happy to know I am prodigiously capable of defending myself against any such attempt.”
He took her gloved hand in his and raised it to his lips to bestow a lingering kiss. Rather than releasing it, however, Darcy yielded to temptation, allowing his gloveless fingers to trace the skin of her exposed wrist while he gave her the barest hint of a teasing smile. “I am very relieved to hear it. Otherwise, I would certainly find myself in the uncomfortable position of having to call out my aunt’s clergyman. I am a very possessive man, Elizabeth, when it comes to you.”
“Are you, Mr. Darcy?” Her voice quivered from his ministrations. He nodded almost imperceptibly, his fingers continuing to caress her wrist in a most delightful manner. Elizabeth felt weak from his touch. Striving to lighten the mood, she smiled unsteadily and said, “Then you must tell me, sir, how I might reassure you of my fervent desire for your society.”