Page 26 of A Different Impression

A warmth Elizabeth had not expected spread through her chest. She could not remember the last time her father had defended her so unequivocally.

“Now, Mr Lucas, I think it best that you leave my home at once. I shall inform Miss Lucas that you have been called away and will not be waiting for her.”

Only then did Elizabeth notice that Mrs Hill already held Mr Lucas’s hat and coat. Without a word, the housekeeper stepped forward and offered them to him.

As Mr Lucas reached the door, Mr Darcy spoke once more.

“I recommend you not repeat your claim of an engagement to Miss Elizabeth. Should anyone attempt to impugn her honour by spreading such nonsense, it would be my pleasure to answer for it. I shall overlook your slight to me—this time.”

A chill ran through Elizabeth at the quiet menace in his voice. She had never heard William speak in such a tone before, and she had no doubt that he meant every word.

Mr Lucas looked from her father to Mr Darcy before giving a stiff nod. Without another word, he accepted his hat and coat from Mrs Hill and departed.

Silence lingered in the hallway for several moments.

“Elizabeth. Mr Darcy,” her father said at last, his voice considerably gentler than before. “Would you both come into my study? I think we ought to discuss what has just occurred.”

Elizabeth glanced up at William. He offered her a reassuring smile, and she found herself returning it despite the lingering unease of the encounter. Together, they followed her father into his study.

For the first time in many years, Elizabeth felt utterly certain that she was not facing her mother’s schemes alone.

CHAPTER 11

No Cause for Doubt

After the upheaval in the hall, Darcy was pleased to find that the conversation in the book room was mercifully brief. Mr Bennet merely confirmed that Elizabeth had accepted his formal offer of courtship before stating that he intended to inform his wife, thereby putting an end to her efforts to push their second daughter towards John Lucas.

Mr Bennet entered first, with Darcy and Elizabeth following. Darcy deliberately slowed, allowing Mr Bennet to precede them by several paces so he could lift Elizabeth’s hand and press a reassuring kiss to her fingers before they stepped into the drawing room.

Elizabeth’s fingers lingered in his for the briefest moment before she gently withdrew her hand. Darcy straightened his coat, hoping the composure he felt only in part appeared more convincing than it truly was.

Conversation in the drawing room ceased almost immediately as the three entered together. Mrs Bennet looked up expectantly, her gaze travelling at once to the doorway behind them, clearly anticipating someone else’s arrival. Miss Lucas, too, glanced towards the open door, evidently expecting her brother to follow.

When no one else appeared, both ladies frowned.

“Mr Bennet,” Miss Lucas began, “did John depart without waiting for me?”

“He did, Miss Lucas,” Mr Bennet replied evenly. “I do not believe the omission was intentional, though I suspect it was unavoidable. I am certain Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley will be happy to see you home. If you will indulge me for a moment longer, however, there is an announcement I ought to make.”

“What announcement?” Mrs Bennet cried, her expression already clouding with displeasure.

“That Mr Darcy has asked to court our dear Lizzy and that she has accepted him,” Bennet said.

A quiet sense of satisfaction settled over Darcy as Mr Bennet made the announcement. At last, there could be no misunderstanding of his intentions. He was free to pay open court to Elizabeth, and no one could question his right to do so.

Immediately, Jane, Mary, and Miss Lucas gathered around to offer their congratulations.

Bingley crossed the room and clapped him warmly on the shoulder, offering his congratulations. Darcy returned the smile, though his attention was already drawn to the increasingly tense exchange between Mr and Mrs Bennet.

“You cannot seriously mean to encourage this courtship, Mr Bennet,” Mrs Bennet demanded. “Lizzy is meant for John Lucas. They have been engaged since they were children.”

Darcy’s jaw tightened. Mrs Bennet could not know what had transpired in the hall, yet he found it difficult to believe she still clung so stubbornly to such an absurd notion.

“No, she has not, Mrs Bennet,” Mr Bennet replied, his patience sounding noticeably thinner than before. “That so-called proposal between children can scarcely be counted as an actual proposal, and besides, Elizabeth refused him even then. You cannot truly expect that children of five and ten can know what is best for them in the future. However, she is now perfectly capable of deciding for herself whom she will marry, and she has made her wishes abundantly clear.”

“But Mr Lucas⁠—”

“Has never sought my permission to court her,” he interrupted. “Mr Darcy has. One gentleman has behaved properly—the other has not.”