Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

"What is this ?"

The screech could be heard, Elizabeth imagined, in St Albans. She had gone to her mother's room alone, dressed in the lace gown, in the hope of both lessening Mrs Bennet's shock and dampening her reaction to the change. "Mama, Jane decided she wished for a simpler gown and I?—"

Mrs Bennet stood abruptly, and her maid, who had been halfway through dressing her hair, yelped as the curls fell out of her hands. "To marry in some sort of common-looking gown?—"

"Is what Jane wants," Elizabeth finished firmly. "Mama, Bingley hates lace!"

Mrs Bennet observably thought about that. "No, he does not," she decided. "I have seen the lace on Miss Bingley's gowns, and I do not care what you think of her, she is a very elegant woman, always well dressed?—"

"Yes, but Bingley does not choose her gowns, does he? And he would hardly wish for his wife to look like his sisters, would he?"

Mrs Bennet opened her mouth to protest but then closed it again.

"And I hear that Mr Darcy quite likes lace," she continued. "A lot of lace."

In truth, Darcy had no opinion on lace, in abundance or not. He had not truly seen the problem with Jane's original gown but thought it a fine example of sisterly affection that Elizabeth had switched for her sister's happiness.

"We all know that Mr Darcy has no good opinion of you," Mrs Bennet retorted. As she said so, she sank back into her seat and gestured to the maid to continue with her hair. From that, Elizabeth thought the matter mostly settled.

"I have reason to think he might have changed his mind," she replied. "Who knows? If I wear a gown he thinks elegant…" She gave a little shrug and tried to look exaggeratedly hopeful.

"Oh, Lizzy." Mrs Bennet sighed. "It is so like you to need to follow in Jane's footsteps! I do not see that you can reasonably expect a man like Mr Darcy to have his head turned just because he sees you done up in a bit of extra lace. After all—if he was truly so fond of lace, he could have had Miss Bingley quite some time ago!"

That her mother would say such things had ceased to sting years ago, but it did not follow that it did not vex her. "That is true," Elizabeth conceded. "Nevertheless, I really do think I might have a chance. Perhaps enough of a chance to place a wager upon it?"

Mrs Bennet glanced at her in the mirror. "You want to bet me?"

"Not a real wager. Nothing of any significance," Elizabeth replied nonchalantly. "But what if I said that should I ever find myself engaged to Mr Darcy, I shall be permitted to have any small nothing of a wedding I should wish for."

"Small nothing of a wedding?" Mrs Bennet snorted. "My dear, you have no idea… Why, these people of the ton have five hundred people lined up outside St George's! Grand balls and dinners and all manner of celebration and?—"

"Supposing I could secure him, then that would be the wedding I insist on. A wedding by licence, perhaps even in his house in town."

"And if I should win this wager, what do I get?" Mrs Bennet asked.

"If you win," Elizabeth said, "then whomsoever I marry, I shall marry in this gown, and you may plan things to your heart's content. We have our witness right here to confirm it."

She gave the maid a little wink, and the maid seemed to suppress a smile as she agreed.

When Darcy left Longbourn following Jane and Bingley's wedding breakfast, Mrs Bennet was no doubt quite certain she had won her wager with Elizabeth. She seemed less sure, however, when he reappeared two days later and asked to see Mr Bennet. He was shown into the master's study immediately while Mrs Bennet and her daughters straightened themselves and began sending eager but questioning looks around the room, save for Elizabeth who avoided any telling expressions.

"If it was Colonel Fitzwilliam," said Mrs Bennet, "I might have been more certain. He seemed to be paying her a bit more attention, but I put it down to her being one of the few from Hertfordshire that he was acquainted with."

Elizabeth who had just then risen to quit the room, smiled to herself at that. "As it is," she told her mother, "the colonel was quite taken with Lady Harriet Thorpe. Who knows how many weddings might spring forth from Jane's?"

She entered her father's study moments later to see him regarding Darcy somewhat dubiously. "Do not look like that, Papa," she said as she took the seat that Darcy helped her into and accepted his hand around her own. "I have already told you that Mr Darcy and I have found we were much more in accord than ever we suspected."

She was grateful she had spoken to her father privately on the subject the day prior. Phrases such as ‘have you gone mad' and ‘thought you hated him' would not have been well met in the present circumstance. Mr Bennet was nevertheless somewhat disgruntled and unhappy-looking as Darcy explained to him how much in love he was.

Darcy's declarations were undoubtedly no little source of astonishment. To hear a man who was widely believed to be taciturn and disagreeable tell her father that she was a woman most worthy of being pleased, that he was in no way her equal but would spend the rest of his days trying to make her happy, that he would every day and in every way feel his good fortune in having her—it was almost too much to bear in its sweetness.

About halfway through these expressions, Mr Bennet appeared to lose some of his churlishness and, indeed, almost smiled when Mr Darcy concluded by saying, "I can only assure you, sir, in the most violent of terms, that I love her more than I have ever loved anyone or anything. Many men say they are the happiest of men when a woman they love accepts their offer, but I truly mean it."

"And you, Miss Lizzy?" Mr Bennet asked. "Can you give me any such guarantees?"

"I can," she said softly. "I promise you, Papa, I do not wish to marry to be like Jane, or to become the wife of a great man. I have no thought for wealth or position or any such trivial thing. I have accepted Mr Darcy because I love him and, in truth…" She turned to look at her intended and concluded, "I find the idea of living without him quite insupportable."

Darcy did not exactly smile when she said that, but his countenance warmed and softened, and she had no doubt that her words meant a great deal to him.

"Well then." Mr Bennet cleared his throat. "I suppose this means more lace and finery is in order."

"There will be very little lace or finery needed at all," said Darcy.

They finished each other's sentences as they explained their plans. A licence would be obtained and, as the Season would be soon at its completion, most of Darcy's acquaintance would be leaving town for their country seats.

"And therefore," Elizabeth concluded, "any excess of balls or parties would be undesirable."

"A small breakfast for family," Darcy added. "And following that, a wedding trip. After that, with your permission, Elizabeth would like to have her younger sisters come to Pemberley for the autumn."

"All of them?"

Elizabeth nodded.

Finally, Mr Bennet smiled genuinely. "You have my blessing."