Darcy hoped that feeling had not won out over prudence.
CHAPTER NINE
Elizabeth found Mr Collins and Mary together in the breakfast room. Her sister appeared to be encouraging him to read and improve himself by such an example as hers.I doubt that would make him an agreeable companion.She felt a perverse satisfaction about the communication she was about to make; her news would certainly end the dreariness she had felt with life at Longbourn.
“Mr Collins, I had hoped that Mary would invite my friend Miss Darcy and her brother to your ball. I am now to learn that Miss Darcy is too ill for even a carriage ride, let alone a late evening, but I would like you to extend an invitation to Mr Darcy. I know how you wish for me to feel that Longbourn is as welcoming to my friends as it is to yours.”
“Mr Darcy has a terrible reputation, and Miss Darcy is ill with consumption!” Mary cried before her husband could answer. “I refuse to extend an invitation to anyone from whom it would be an insult for me to receive an invitation. Do you not agree, Mr Collins?”
“Yes, unnatural or unrestrained indulgence of the sensual passion is fully demonstrated in the consumptive, I have read.”
“She is his sister, not his mistress!” Elizabeth cried. Mr Collinsgrimaced at her emotion. She took a calming breath and lowered her voice. “Georgiana is my friend.” She hesitated. “And so is her brother.”
“Providence designed women for a state of dependence, and consequently of submission. You must be grateful that my dear Mary and I allow you to extend any courtesy to this girl at all. As for inviting Mr Darcy to our humble ball, why, it is an encouragement of vice to give him attention.”
“What vice? Heisrude, and arrogant for a man in his position, but I know of no irreligious habits. I am friends with his sister, you called on him when he arrived and he returned your call, you played whist with him at a party—you are acquainted,” she said firmly. “And I—and he asked me to marry him, and we are engaged. He intends to apply to my mother tomorrow.”
This information startled them both, much to Elizabeth’s amusement. She held back her grin at their slackened jaws and while they sputtered in indignant confusion.
“Your mother will not sanction this union!”
“And neither do I!” Mary added.
“Is that because you will regret my leaving your home, Mary?” Her sister, naturally, drew back at this. “In any event, I am one-and-twenty so no one’s approval is required but my own.”
“What dependent female would act so strangely! Cousin Elizabeth, whether or not such blessings and sanctions are necessary in the legal sense, you would not dare go against the expressed desires of your only living parent and align yourself with a family of dubious reputation. You only have one mother?—”
“One is enough for me!” Elizabeth cried as she left the room. She need not defer to Mr Collins any longer.
Her mother was in her apartments writing to Kitty, who would be leaving Portsmouth now that Captain Redmond had made post and received his orders, and she was to stay with her husband’s parents and sister in Cheshire. Lydia was calling out for her mother to write the things she wished Kitty to know immediately, but they were clearly not important enough for Lydia to trouble writing her own letter.
After preparing them for good news, Elizabeth said, “I am to marry Mr Darcy. I am not certain as to his income, but it is comfortableenough that he can provide for me, and his sister is my particular friend. He would like an audience with you tomorrow.”
Mrs Bennet sat quite still, unable to utter a syllable. Lydia, however, was absolutely incredulous. “You are joking, Lizzy. Engaged toMr Darcy? No, no! Good Lord, how can you tell such a story? This cannot be!”
“It can be. I have spent a lot of time with his sister, and he likes me enough to marry me to secure my permanent presence in his home. We agr—He asked me to marry him, and I accepted.”
Lydia did not have an ashamed bone in her body, but with Elizabeth’s avowal, she stopped shrieking her disbelief. “I congratulate you, but he is uncivil and silent and peculiar, and his mistress might be living in the same house.”
“Georgiana is hissister. And I have every expectation of happiness at Netherfield Lodge.” That was not a lie; she would be happy there with Georgiana, and she would have purpose, too.
“You have been very secret if you have any affection for Mr Darcy. When I ever form an attachment—with a wealthy man, of course—it shall not be long a secret from you. However, I do not blame you for taking whatever chance came your way.” Lydia offered another loud and indifferent congratulations and left. It affected her in no other way than it was a piece of news to spread in Meryton.
During these minutes of discussion, Mrs Bennet had finally comprehended what Elizabeth told her. “Lizzy, I am not in general hesitant to credit any lover to any of my daughters, but shall you be happy with such a man? The only thing in his favour is that he lives in your neighbourhood, and he is tall and handsome.”
“His reputation does not concern me.” She had no doubts about Mr Darcy’s character. “He has enough to marry on, and his sister is fond of me.”
“Then I congratulate you. Well, goodness me, another daughter married! Oh, since Jane was fifteen, I have had such luck in getting my girls married! Such a comfort in my time of life, especially since your father is dead. We can ask Mr Collins to advance some money for your wedding clothes, but you know how he and Mary are. Oh, dear me, a wedding breakfast?—”
“Mamma, I want Mr Darcy to be invited to Mary’s ball. He has been unsocial because of his sister’s ill health, but he would like to be known by our neighbours and to know my family.” He would hate it, but it was necessary for appearances. Her mother knew what courtesies were due for the sake of doing what was right by one’s family and neighbours. While she had no hope that the Collinses would give her any money, Elizabeth had no doubt her mother would soon have Mary’s agreement about Mr Darcy’s attendance at the ball.
“I wonderat Lizzy not calling today,” said Georgiana. “Had she been allowed to visit, she would have arrived by now.”
“Miss Bennet was required at home this morning, but she intends to visit at the earliest possible hour.”
The question of how he could have known that arose, and now Darcy had to make the most awkward communication that would produce a great deal of happiness for his sister. His conference with Mrs Bennet earlier today had been brief and to the purpose. “Georgiana, I know that Miss Bennet has become your dear friend and, for that reason”—he sighed—“for that reason, I hope you will wish me joy when I tell you that I am engaged to Miss Bennet.”
Georgiana instantly embraced him, and with more force than he thought her capable of. As he wrapped his arms around her, he realised how thin she had grown. “I do congratulate you! I had no notion that you loved her as much as I! I wish you joy, Fitzwilliam!”
