Chapter 15

Fifteen

Before breakfast the next morning, Elizabeth went to her mother's room to announce her engagement. She had avoided being alone with her the night before, not wanting anything her mother said to disrupt the joy she felt. Darcy intended to be at Longbourn early, along with Mr Bingley, and he would talk to her father as soon as possible. Elizabeth viewed it as a formality; he would not refuse his consent or blessing.

With Felly on her lap, the cat's purrs guarding Elizabeth against an excess of vexation, she said, "Mr Darcy asked me to marry him, and I accepted."

Mrs Bennet's exclamation almost woke the elderly feline, but Elizabeth had long ago determined she was accustomed to the loud noises her mother made and was immune from being startled by them.

Mrs Bennet slapped the arm of her chair, and with a self-satisfied grin, said, "I knew how it would be. I could see it at once. The very first day he and Mr Bingley called, I told myself I would soon see two girls married. You will share Jane's wedding day next month."

"Mama—"

"I have it all sorted out. Mr Darcy will have to obtain a licence, but I am sure he knows how to go about that."

"Mama," Elizabeth said again, this time at a slightly louder volume. "Even if we were to marry the same day as Jane and Mr Bingley—and that is not a decision I can make on my own, the three of them must be consulted—there would be time for the banns to be read. It is almost six weeks away."

"No, Lizzy, I have decided. You and he will marry by licence. Tomorrow, we shall go into Meryton and order your clothes. I have a list of what you need, and I have my eye on some fabrics that will suit you and your new station in life wonderfully. Ten thousand a year! The very mention of it gives me such shivers all over my body. I am certain he has many fine jewels to gift you, ones that have been in his family for generations, besides what he will purchase for you. I must just give him a hint that rubies and sapphires would be best with your colouring."

"I pray you would not." Felly nudged her hand, and Elizabeth began stroking her, wondering if the cat realised she needed to engage in a soothing activity. The commingling of embarrassment and irritation made Elizabeth want to leave the room before she began an argument with her mother.

It was unlikely Mrs Bennet heard her; she continued talking, enumerating the number of gowns Elizabeth would need. "I do not believe we shall find everything you need in Meryton. I shall write to my sister Gardiner today and ask that she send some silks and velvets. It might be better if we were to go to town ourselves." Her tone became more speculative, and she looked beyond Elizabeth. "Jane's wardrobe is not such an issue. To be sure, Mr Bingley is rich, but he does not have fine relations who will expect her to have gowns from the most celebrated dressmakers, no matter what impression those sisters of his wanted to give." She huffed. "Not that they have bothered to even send a note of congratulations to my dear girl. I say Jane is too good for them, no matter what Lyd— Well, enough of that."

Elizabeth gaped. Had her mother been on the point of saying something unkind about Lydia? Once it was announced Lydia and Wickham would marry, Mrs Bennet had been all smiles, acting as though she had forgot how disgracefully the couple had acted. That her mother had criticised two fashionable ladies and her youngest daughter at once was shocking to say the least.

Mrs Bennet's gaze returned to Elizabeth. "We will make a decision about going to London today, and I shall write to your aunt, either to say we are coming or that she needs to send fabrics for you. Hmm… Perhaps Mr Darcy will want to take you to town to introduce you to his family and show you off as his betrothed. Mr Bingley and Jane will go as well, and if we remain no more than ten days or perhaps a fortnight, we can do all your shopping, attend an amusement or two, and return to Longbourn with more than enough time to finish preparing for the wedding. I have another list for it, arrangements and such. Where is it?" She stood and began shuffling through novels, magazines, and various pieces of paper.

"You are arranging Jane's wedding, Mama. Mr Darcy and I have not yet discussed it, but I think it would be best to leave any consideration of our wedding until after Mr Bingley and Jane's. I would not want to take any attention away from them."

Mrs Bennet scoffed and regarded her with a furrowed brow and puzzled expression. "Whatever are you talking about? I told you I knew how it would be. I have been planning for you to share the day from the very beginning. So much less fuss that way, which you know will please your father, and it means both of you girls will be settled before Christmas. With Mr Darcy living in the north, he will want to be at his estate before the weather becomes too much of an impediment to travel. By the by, one day, when I am not so distracted with everything that goes along with seeing two daughters married to such rich gentlemen, I expect you to tell me the truth about you and Mr Darcy. There is a great deal I do not know, and I am your mother. It is my right to know all your concerns."

Elizabeth bit her lips together to avoid laughing. Tell her about Darcy's disastrous proposal in Kent, their subsequent bitter exchange, and his letter? Never! It was also impossible to believe she would ever want to explain her slow realisation of her fallibility when it came to determining someone's character. She stood and carefully placed the cat on the chair.

"We should go downstairs. The gentlemen will arrive from Netherfield soon, if they have not already, and it must be almost breakfast time."

"Oh, yes, yes, let us go down." Mrs Bennet immediately walked towards the door, talking and waving a sheet of paper as she did. "I must offer Mr Darcy my congratulations and tell him the dishes I selected for the wedding breakfast. He might have others he wishes to add. How many of his family do you think will come? His uncle is an earl! Can you imagine having an earl attend your wedding? Oh, my dear girl! I am more excited than I have ever been. Ten thousand a year! He must speak to your father at once, and then, after breakfast, I shall go tell my sister and Mrs Goulding of our success. They were such a help, you know?"

There was nothing Elizabeth felt capable of saying in response to any part of her mother's speech. Soon, Mrs Bennet would be calmer and even, if they were fortunate, slightly more rational. Then they could decide how to proceed with the wedding and everything necessary to prepare her to embark on her life as Mrs Darcy.

As for today, Elizabeth thought as she descended the stairs, I refuse to allow anything to vex me! I intend to do nothing more than rejoice in the love my darling Darcy and I are now free to share.