Darcy paused for effect, uncertain whether what he meant to do was wise, but he proceeded anyway. “It is unfortunate she rejected my proposal, for I have much to offer a woman.”
Miss Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed, and Mr. Bennet released a loud laugh, but this served only to make Mrs. Bennet more agitated. Darcy knew her display would do no one any credit, so he acted at once to put her at ease.
“In answer to your unspoken question, Mrs. Bennet, if Miss Elizabeth is willing, my offer for her remains open. Perhaps,however, it would be best to allow us to come to an accord ourselves. Much of what passed between us was borne of misunderstanding—correcting that will do much to repair the situation.”
Though Mrs. Bennet had been poised to release an impressive rant, she blinked, her eyes wide, then she appeared to settle. “Yes, Mr. Darcy, I must agree. I shall...”
Whatever she would do remained unspoken—it seemed Mrs. Bennet had gained at least a hint of understanding. Whether that would allow her to watch and not interfere, Darcy could not know, but it was better than the woman playing matchmaker.
“That is excellent news,” said Georgiana, a measure of slyness Darcy had not seen before lighting her eyes. “I have always wanted to have a sister.”
Though a small comment, Darcy knew it had a profound effect in further settling Mrs. Bennet. The Bennet matron would now see Georgiana as an ally, increasing her confidence and, unless Darcy missed his guess, more willing to allow events to unfold. Darcy grinned at his sister, who returned it and then fixed her attention again on her conversation.
“Your comment is curious, Mr. Darcy,” said Miss Elizabeth, all trace of her embarrassment gone in favor of asperity. “It sounded like you intended to use my mother to force my hand. Would now be the appropriate time to reveal that my mother’s insistence on the subject failed to force me to marry Mr. Collins?”
Collins’s attentions to Miss Elizabeth at the ball, the one place where he had seen them together, had not crossed Darcy’s mind for some time, though they had been obvious at the time. The way Miss Elizabeth stood, eyes flashing, face set in a disapproving frown, did nothing to harm her in his eyes. If anything, it provoked his admiration to new heights.
“I recall your mention of it at Rosings,” said Darcy.
Miss Elizabeth raised her chin. “You should know that my father supported my right to make my own choice. Should you press your suit, he will allow me the same privilege.”
“Good girl, Lizzy,” said Mr. Bennet quietly enough that Darcy did not think anyone else heard him.
“Someday you must tell me the story, Miss Elizabeth,” said Darcy, “for I am most curious to learn of what happened. The notion that a buffoon on the order of Mr. Collins thought himself worthy of you is ridiculousness of the sort I did not think evenhewas capable.”
“And you consider yourself worthy?” asked she, this time with more than a little sauce in her tone.
“Perhaps I am not. But I believe I shall enjoy the chase regardless. Before that, however, I should make a few things clear. I have no interest in receiving you at the altar if your mother forces you there, Miss Elizabeth—in fact, I have a healthy respect for your ability to render my life miserable if you do not choose me of your own free will. With that clear, I wonder if you will allow me to make my case.”
The way Miss Elizabeth regarded him showed deep thought, but he could see the anger flowing away, leaving her contemplative. In time, she answered.
“If you will forgive me, Mr. Darcy, I confess that I find this all strange. According to your excellent aunt, you are destined to have a de Bourgh as your bride. Do you care to enlighten me?”
The mention of Lady Catherine and her absurd cradle arrangement was unwelcome—his aunt was a subject of which he did not like to speak at the best of times. That Lady Catherine would betray that matter during Miss Elizabeth’s stay was not surprising, though Darcy wondered about the extent of her knowledge.
“Lady Catherine is not precisely tactful.” Darcy grinned and added: “Yes, I know what you will say, Miss Elizabeth. Yet I had not thought she would speak of such matters.”
Miss Elizabeth colored and looked down. “That did not come from Lady Catherine alone, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Wickham spoke of it before I went into Kent, though I would have understood her wishes regardless. After you departed, she spoke at length of your growing attachment to Rosings.”
Darcy shook his head, trying to hide his disdain. “Neither point is surprising, Miss Elizabeth. In my family—and even outside of it because of Lady Catherine’s unrestrained ways—it has long been known that Lady Catherine has her heart set on a match between her daughter and me.”
“Then you disagree—of course, you must.”
“I do,” replied Darcy. “While I have no notion of the contents of my aunt’s discussion with my mother on the subject, I have never considered myself bound by her wishes.”
“And what of Miss de Bourgh’s opinion?”
Darcy could not help but shrug. “Anne is not forthcoming about her feelings at the best of times. Should her mother prevail enough to induce a proposal, I think she would accept, but it would proceed from a desire to avoid angering her mother than from any desire for a closer connection to me.”
“Very well,” said Miss Elizabeth with a nod. “I can imagine how your aunt would act should you ever successfully offer for me, but I have never been in the habit of allowing others to dictate my actions, and I shall not start now.”
“Does this mean you are open to the notion?” asked Darcy, feeling a slow smile spread over his face.
“It means that I am not opposed to coming to know you better,” said Miss Elizabeth. “For anything more, we must wait and see.”
Mr. Darcy grasped her hand and bowed over it. “Trust me, Miss Elizabeth—that is far more than I had hoped to obtain.”
Soon, the call to dinner arrived, and though Darcy escorted her mother as was proper, he kept hold of Miss Elizabeth’s hand and ensured she was seated beside him. Mrs. Bennet appeared pleased as he might have expected, and Miss Elizabeth did not appear opposed. It was a good start, though Darcy knew he still had much work to do. As any of his friends would attest, once he decided, Darcy was not in the habit of allowing anything to get in his way. Confidence bloomed in his breast, far more hopeful than anything he had felt, even when he had entered the parlor at Hunsford.
