The way Mr. Darcy regarded her sent a thrill up Elizabeth’s spine. “You do not? Why, Miss Elizabeth, open your eyes a little more, for you might see its like where you least expect it.”
“That is curious, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, “for I thought you were unmoved when you came in the autumn.”
“That is because I have always been adept at withholding my true feelings.”
Though Elizabeth studied the gentleman, she could see no trace of disguise in his features. “Tell me, Mr. Darcy, are your feelings so developed as this?”
“I was fascinated within days of making your acquaintance, Miss Elizabeth. To own the truth, I had thought that I was nothing less than blatant in my admiration. Did you see nothing of it?”
Elizabeth looked away, a little shy, and said: “Charlottedidobserve that you looked at me often. I thought you were looking at me to find fault.”
“Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy with mild reproof, “that is nothing less than nonsensical. Tell me, if you find a man unappealing, do you stare at him to catalog his faults? Take Mr. Collins—you have not said so openly, but I had the distinctimpression at the ball that you did not care for him. Was he justified in thinking you were in love with him because you looked at him to excess?”
“When you put it that way—”
“I do put it that way,” interjected Mr. Darcy, though not unkindly.
“All I can say is that it made sense at the time.” It was not Elizabeth’s purpose to insist on her interpretation of events, but for whatever reason, she felt it important that this man understood. “Our interactions at the first assembly did not help.”
“And for that, I must blame myself. I hope you do not misunderstand my interest now.”
“If I were to misunderstand now, it would be willful. I am not one to make the same mistake a second time, Mr. Darcy.”
“Then I hope you will allow us to begin again.”
Elizabeth offered the gentleman a warm smile. “We already have, Mr. Darcy.”
With Mrs. Hurst’s coming, the discourse between the two estates became easier. Georgiana, who was not so confident, relinquished management of the estate to Mrs. Hurst without complaint. Elizabeth thought she was eager, as it allowed her to spend more time in the company of Elizabeth and her sisters. Mrs. Hurst proved a welcoming and capable hostess, and the Bennets dined at Netherfield again the day after she arrived from London. Jane, who had remained a little hesitant in her company, soon lost her inhibitions, and the two ladies became close as befitted future sisters.
With Mrs. Hurst, Elizabeth soon became closer, though she did not suppose she would ever become as comfortable with the woman as Jane was. Elizabeth was not marrying into the family, so there was no reason to repine the lack of a close association. Mrs. Hurst even made every effort to tolerate Mrs. Bennet’sways, though it was clear she found her trying at times. Elizabeth could not hold that against her, as she had often felt the same for her mother.
Soon the time arrived for Mr. Collins’s return, and the parson came—welcomed by no one. If the family’s tepid reception displeased him, he said nothing. The very day of his arrival, he made his excuses and flowery apologies for his incivility and repaired at once to Lucas Lodge to attend his future wife and family, dining there that evening and not returning until late. No one in the family regretted his going; his incivility was celebrated more than resented.
The wedding was scheduled for only two days later, and preparations moved forward in a frenzy, though those at Longbourn were spared the greater part of the bustle. As Elizabeth was to stand up with Charlotte as her bridesmaid, she spent more time at Lucas Lodge than anyone in her family. Elizabeth had reconciled herself to the match by then, and while she still thought Charlotte was making a mistake, she would not say that to her friend, knowing it was not her place.
It could not be supposed that Mr. Collins would fail to learn of Mr. Darcy’s continued residence in the neighborhood from almost the moment he arrived. Even if Sir William, who was loquacious at the best of times, had not boasted of it, Mr. Darcy and the rest of those at Netherfield were often at Longbourn in those days. The parson was as ridiculous to Mr. Darcy as he had been from the first moment of their acquaintance, and Elizabeth did not wish to think much about his absurdities. Mr. Bennet, of course, found it hilarious. What Elizabeth could not have expected occurred the day before the wedding.
“Mr. Darcy,” said the parson in his usual pompous tones, “I beg your pardon, sir, for I would not intrude upon your notice lightly. I find myself in the most peculiar position of marrying onthe morrow but having no one to stand up with me. Might I beg your indulgence in this matter?”
Mr. Darcy regarded Mr. Collins, not hiding his curiosity. “You wish me to stand up with you at your wedding?”
“If you agree, I will be honored to have your support.”
Though the gentleman did not respond at once, and Elizabeth thought he would refuse, she caught the exact moment when his eyes darted in her direction. Mr. Collins did not seem to catch the significance of his glance, but to Elizabeth it was no less than clear. For that matter, Charlotte seemed to understand it too, and she did not hesitate to fix Elizabeth with a knowing smile.
“Very well, Mr. Collins,” said the gentleman. “I shall stand up with you.”
Mr. Collins’s raptures upon receiving Mr. Darcy’s consent were not a surprise and did not bear mentioning. Mr. Darcy bore it all with a grace Elizabeth had not attributed to him, and though she knew she was the only reason he had accepted, Mr. Collins remained oblivious. When Elizabeth asked him about it, Mr. Darcy did not hesitate to confirm her conjecture.
“It truly is no trouble, Miss Elizabeth,” said the gentleman. “I had not intended to attend Mr. Collins’s wedding, but it costs me nothing other than a few hours, time for which your company will more than recompense me.”
ACCEPTING MR. COLLINS’Srequest had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, yet Darcy could not repine it. Standing across from the woman who enflamed his imagination, Darcy found it impossible to look anywhere else. She was so lovely in her dress, holding flowers and supporting her friend, that Darcy thought a man must be made of stone to overlook her allure. It alsoheartened Darcy to see that Miss Elizabeth looked at him often, and her glances were not indifferent.
The wedding proceeded as such occasions do, and soon it ended, allowing Darcy to escort Miss Bennet to the doors, where Mr. Collins and the former Miss Lucas signed the register. Then the party made their way to Lucas Lodge for the wedding breakfast. Even then, Darcy found he could not relinquish Miss Elizabeth’s company to anyone else. Like a moth to a flame, Darcy hovered near her, never straying far, engaging in her conversations, marveling at the brilliance of her character.
Perhaps it was too much to hope, though Darcy had thought Collins was not an observant man. That Lady Catherine would not keep family business to herself—especially those matters that existed in her mind alone—Darcy had never expected. Lady Catherine had trumpeted the supposed agreement between herself and her sister for too long now to be expected to keep it from a new and captive audience. Given Collins’s veneration for Lady Catherine, it was also unfathomable that he would keep the matter to himself.
As the breakfast progressed, Darcy could see that his attention was on Miss Elizabeth far more than even his own new wife, so blatant that his behavior was almost gauche. That he did not focus on Darcy himself, he knew, was a matter of Collins’s inability to confront Lady Catherine’s dear nephew. If he could not voice his concerns to Darcy, he would choose the next best recipient—the woman who had caught his attention.
