Chapter 17

Seventeen

Elizabeth, Darcy, and Kitty went to town as arranged. Her sister was overly excited, in Elizabeth's opinion, but she began to see what her mother meant about Kitty being away from Longbourn. Seeing how other people lived and behaved and understanding there was a much larger world beyond their small Hertfordshire neighbourhood would be to her benefit. Kitty's undisciplined manner was not tolerated or considered charming by her aunt and uncle Gardiner, and even after a few days, Elizabeth saw improvements in her sister. It made her more determined to see that Mary and Kitty spent time with her or Jane once they were settled in their new homes. Darcy was amenable; when Elizabeth shared her thoughts with him, he admitted to noticing that Kitty was ‘calmer' and keenly interested in every opportunity to see something new.

What surprised Elizabeth the most about their brief sojourn to London was how well Darcy and the Gardiners got along. She noticed it when Darcy escorted her and Kitty to Gracechurch Street the day they arrived. The couple and Darcy greeted each other warmly, and her aunt and uncle appeared almost as pleased to see him as they were to welcome their nieces. Elizabeth was grateful for their generosity, but as the encounters increased and it became evident they were more comfortable together than their too-short time in Derbyshire warranted, she asked first her aunt and uncle and then Darcy about it. They told her an extraordinary story about Darcy following them south in August, searching for Lydia, and arranging her marriage when it was plain no other alternative would do.

To say Elizabeth was shocked was not going far enough. She stared at them, speechless, for what felt like a quarter of an hour. Her love for Darcy at that moment brought tears to her eyes; he truly was the best man in the world, and she could not account for her good fortune to have won his devotion.

The Gardiners permitted them short visits in the parlour without a chaperon, as long as the door remained open, and when they were alone, she asked him why he had not previously told her.

He shrugged, and his cheeks took on a dusting of colour. "I was embarrassed and angry at myself for not doing more to prevent Wickham from harming other ladies and their families. I did what I knew was right in going after your sister. I only wish I could have convinced her to leave him, to allow your father and uncle to make other arrangements for her, such as marriage to a better man. I would have helped, if they had permitted it. But she would not be persuaded to abandon him. At first, I did not want you to know, afraid you would feel obligated to me. Perhaps that is doing you an injustice. If it is, I apologise. Later, since we came to an understanding, my mind has been engaged with happier thoughts, and when it occurred to me, I was not sure how to broach the topic."

Elizabeth kissed him. She had quickly become accustomed to doing so and had learnt the many messages a kiss between lovers could represent. In this instance, it was understanding and acceptance of his explanation. As her surprise wore off, she realised what he had done was exactly like him; it was an excellent representation of his character.

Kissing was also a great deal of fun, and she was happy to take every opportunity to indulge in the activity. Those moments when their passion grew, and the air about them seemed to heat and thicken, she understood the danger and promise of a connexion such as theirs. Once they were married, the former would recede, and they would be free to explore all the joy of being young, in love, and fortunate enough not to have worries about their well-being.

After a long, slow kiss, Elizabeth whispered, "It is rare that I cannot find the words to say what I mean, but to describe all that you mean to me, is difficult. You are a wonderful, caring, kind man, and I will forever be grateful for the gift you have given me in offering to share your life with me. I promise to strive to deserve it."

"I am the fortunate one, my darling, loveliest Elizabeth. We shall have an extraordinary life together. That is a promise I will never cease attempting to fulfil." He ran his fingers across her cheek.

During the ten days they remained in town, Elizabeth met a few members of Darcy's family and several of his friends. She, Kitty, and Mrs Gardiner went shopping, and—displaying one of the improvements Elizabeth witnessed in her—Kitty refrained from whining about not getting new things for herself. Instead, she enthusiastically assisted Elizabeth in selecting her wedding clothes. Kitty remarked that it would be her getting married one day; until then, she would celebrate her sisters' good fortune and anticipate being an aunt. She did not speak of Lydia, unless it was to disparage the way she had found a husband.

By far, Elizabeth's favourite parts of the trip were those occasions she could be with her beloved. They walked in the park, went to a concert and a museum, talked about their future, learnt more about each other's pasts, and dreamt about their children. Every possible moment they could, they found ways to express their love and dedication.

Returning to Longbourn, they knew they would have to dive into preparations for the wedding and Elizabeth's removal to Derbyshire. Darcy and Mr Bingley dined at Longbourn the first evening, and Elizabeth looked about the table, experiencing a pleasant, quiet sort of contentment. Some members of her family would likely always drive her to distraction—such as her mother—but since they all shared a genuine love for each other, it hardly mattered. Kitty spoke at length about her adventure in London, and insisted Mary must go too.

"Lizzy has spoken to me about making a visit to her and Mr Darcy next spring," Mary admitted.

"You have?" Mrs Bennet said.

Elizabeth nodded, saying to Kitty, "I hope you understand. You will have your turn."

"Mary is older, and I have just been to London. Besides, there is always Jane. She might like to have me or Mary with her this winter," Kitty said.

"Of course I will," Jane said in her usual sedate tone.

"We shall always be happy to have one or both of you! Any of you!" Mr Bingley, a wide smile on his countenance, looked at each person about the table.

"Unless you build a library to rival what Mr Darcy tells me he has at Pemberley, I am afraid you will have to do without my company." Mr Bennet spoke as though serious, but he was not. He winked at Elizabeth, who promptly rolled her eyes.

They spoke briefly about Mary, who had decided to embrace the opportunity to take a holiday from her usual life and accept Elizabeth's offer. After that, in a voice loud enough to ensure everyone was listening to him, Mr Bennet addressed Darcy.

"I wonder, have you heard from Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the esteemed patroness of my delightfully ridiculous cousin and heir?"

"I have." With him sitting beside her, Elizabeth felt Darcy stiffen. Lady Catherine had taken the news of their engagement poorly. She had written him a letter containing so much abuse that he burnt it at once and severed the connexion.

"Would I be mistaken in saying she is not pleased with your choice of Lizzy?"

Darcy cleared his throat before admitting, "I regret to say she is not. I expected nothing different, and I assure you, I will not allow my aunt or anyone else to insult Miss Elizabeth."

Mr Bennet waved this away. "Of course you will not."

Mrs Bennet spoke at the same time he did. "How could you know that? And what are her objections to my girl? Lizzy is good enough for anyone?—"

"Yes, my dear, on that, we agree. Unfortunately, the world is full of people whose views are not as liberal as ours. As to how I know"—Mr Bennet pulled a sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket and held it aloft in triumph—"I have had a letter from Collins."

It transpired that her father had written to Mr Collins to tell him about his daughters' engagements. "I suspected it might cause a bit of mischief, but he would learn our happy news through one means or another, and I did want to assure him my girls, especially you, Lizzy, would be happily situated before long. I cannot forget that he said you were unlikely to receive another offer of marriage."

"Mr Collins proposed to you?" Darcy said to Elizabeth, his lip curling in disgust.

Elizabeth laughed, and she, Kitty, and her mother recounted that tumultuous morning. No one mentioned that Mrs Bennet had threatened never to speak to Elizabeth again if she did not marry the man, something the lady herself had apparently—and conveniently—forgot.

As they walked to the drawing room afterwards, Darcy whispered to Elizabeth, "I cannot imagine you married to such a man. The thought of it makes me ill."

"I would never have accepted him, and Papa would not have asked it of me or any of my sisters, even though it would have provided security for my mother. I am grateful for that."

Once they were all comfortably seated, Kitty asked her father to tell them about Mr Collins's letter.

"I shall spare you his exact words—his letters are truly tedious—but the long and the short of it is that he is full of indignation, his patroness is furious, Lizzy has tricked Mr Darcy into proposing, I must not allow it, and, to my shock and horror, apparently Mr Darcy is engaged to Miss de Bourgh."

Darcy's expression hardened, though Elizabeth did not believe her father was the subject of his anger. "I am not, nor have I ever been engaged to my cousin."

"Of course you have not! What nonsense! Anyone who sees you together can tell in an instant that you and Lizzy are formed for each other. That woman! That man! You hear me, Mr Bennet, your heir or not, Mr Collins will never be a guest in this house again as long as I am mistress of it. To speak so of my daughter? Ha!" Mrs Bennet averted her chin, lifting it high as though Mr Collins was there to see her snub.

Elizabeth pinched her leg to stop herself from laughing out loud. Several others regarded her mother with expressions of shock.

"I promise you, my dear, I shall not ask it of you. Our daughters are fortunate to have a mother who will guard them against such insults." Mr Bennet spoke more kindly than he usually did.

Her mother sniffed but remained silent.

"I heartily agree, Mrs Bennet. I have never seen Darcy so pleased with himself as he was when he told me Miss Elizabeth had agreed to marry him, and watching them together since, I am convinced that, next to me and my dear Jane, they are the most suited couple in the kingdom and will be extremely happy together," Mr Bingley said.

Saying good night an hour or so later, Elizabeth and Darcy stood just outside the entrance. The evening was chilly, but she did not mind, because it meant they could be alone for several minutes.

"In seventeen days, we shall be married. I cannot wait to be your wife. I promise never to give you cause to regret your choice." She laughed. "Well, not frequently."

"I will never doubt that I made the best possible decision. The nineteenth of November cannot come soon enough." He kissed her.