“Then do not,” she declared and smiled encouragingly.
“I must speak to your father, but I would rather address him on the morrow if you do not mind.”
“I do not mind,” Elizabeth hastened to agree. “It is rather exhilarating to keep it between us for a while longer.” Not because she was concerned her mother’s effusive exclamations would frighten Mr Darcy away; she firmly believed that nothing would scare the gentleman. No, it was the joy of contemplating her future without having to answer tedious questions about wedding fripperies that attracted her.
“I shall arrive early. Will you be awake before breakfast? Bingley has business to attend to, and he is leaving for London tomorrow morning. I shall accompany him to—”
“You are leaving so soon?” Elizabeth interrupted her future husband. Fortunately, he did not take offence but looked rather pleased.
“Yes. To arrange for the marriage settlement and return with due haste.”
“I shall attempt to be patient.”
“I have not left yet,” he remarked, wiggling his brows.
“Then I suggest you kiss me.”
“You could kiss me…”
“Surely not…”
“Truly, it would please me.”
Elizabeth grabbed his lapels and tugged him closer whilst she strained on her toes to plant a swift kiss on his lips. She lowered herself to her heels when Lady Lucas, whom Miss Bingley had chosen as the evening’s leading lady, called the third set.
“Heaven forfend! I have completely forgotten Mr Collins.”
Darcy let out a low rumbling growl from the back of his throat, but she scarcely had time to appease him. “I am greatly anticipating our supper set, but meanwhile I shall have to suffer my cousin’s two left feet. Pray that he at least knows the steps.”
“I do not even believe our dear Lord could help you in that regard,” Darcy grumbled.
Elizabeth rose on her toes to kiss him again. She missed, and her lips landed on his firm chin before she hastened to endure two embarrassing dances with her cousin. She recovered during the supper set. It was fortunate that Mr Darcy paid her rapt attention throughout the meal because her mother boasted loudly about her expectations regarding three advantageous marriages, and how that would put her two remaining daughters in the path of other rich men. At the latter statement, a ghost of a grimace clouded Mr Darcy’s handsome countenance, but it disappeared so quickly she could not be certain she had not imagined it.
Elizabeth and Mr Darcy’s third set drew considerable attention from her neighbours; it was fortunate the evening ended and the chaos of donning coats and fetching carriages saved her from responding to too many probing questions. The Bennets’ equipage was the last to arrive, and she and Mr Darcy spoke quietly between themselves, making plans for their future.
Chapter 5 Love Inestimable Despite Flaws
“I love him, Papa!”
“That is not love, Lizzy, but if you are absolutely certain that you will have him…?”
“Imagine what you like about my incentives—” Mr Bennet shook his head whilst one corner of his mouth turned upwards; he was wrong of course.
Mr Darcy had come as promised, though significantly later than breakfast. He had whispered a pardon in her ear; apparently Mr Bingley was not an early riser by nature and not at all after a late-night ball. Elizabeth had admittedly fretted the hours before his arrival, concerned that he might have changed his mind. Her mother’s hysterics following Mary’s refusal of Mr Collins had done nothing to alleviate her misgivings. When Mr Darcy finally arrived with Mr Bingley, asking for her father whilst his friend begged for a private moment with Jane, she swore that nothing would prompt her to doubt him ever again. It was fixed: she loved Mr Darcy, and no one else would do. “Papa, I am quite determined that no other gentleman could ever compare.”
Mr Bennet looked only mildly hurt by her insinuation that Mr Darcy was the best man she had ever known. His expression turned wry ere long.
“I see… I gave him my blessing, of course. I would never dare to refuse such a man, and I wish you very happy.”
Elizabeth met Mr Bingley on her return to the parlour, where Mrs Bennet was loudly lamenting Mary’s rejection of Mr Collins. When she entered, Mr Darcy was offering for a distraught Mary, who until this day had never opposed anything her parents had ever demanded, to join them in London once they had returned from their bridal trip. Being subjected, for hours on end, to her mother’s scolding had reduced her most stoic sister to tears. Mr Darcy’s compassion was humbling; he resolved every problem he encountered, in stark contrast to her father, who hid in the book room to avoid Mrs Bennet.
“I cannot impose upon a newly married couple. I am certain Lizzy will not approve.”
“Then you are mistaken,” Elizabeth assured her. “I do not mind.” She would like to say that Mary was welcome to visit whenever she wished but feared that she and Mr Darcy would never have a moment of privacy. She was eagerly anticipating being quite alone with her future husband if the kisses they had shared were anything to go by.
“Mary will never marry a lord, being so plain, but a second or third son with an unmarried older brother would do nicely. Or better yet, take Lydia to town instead. Her beauty and liveliness will surely attract a baron, at the very least.” Mrs Bennet’s thoughts never strayed long from marrying off her daughters.
Elizabeth held her breath and fervently wished her mother would retire to her bed. It was fortunate that Mr Bingley offered a convenient distraction by returning from Mr Bennet’s study. She had hoped to relate their news to the matron in private, to spare Mr Darcy from her exaggerated effusions and embarrassing comments upon his wealth and consequence.
