A Most Civil Proposal (10 page)

“Ah, the gossip,” Anne said quietly but with a twinkle in her eye.

Darcy did not ask how she knew. The rest of her mother’s staff might be undeserving of employment in a household of note, but her own maid, Margaret, had served Anne de Bourgh all her short life, and the older woman was fiercely loyal to her mistress.

“Yes, the gossip,” Darcy confirmed, “none of which is true, by the way.”

“I never doubted it.” Anne’s eyes brightened as she reached for the letter. “I like Miss Bennet very much,” she said mildly though Darcy could read the interest in her expression. “You could not have made a wiser choice — or one so calculated to drive my mother into an absolute passion! Therefore, I will be pleased to assist you in this endeavour.”

“Yes, well,” Darcy stammered as an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach threatened his equanimity. “There is nothing settled yet, Anne, but I thank you for your assistance. There is one further request — when you write to Mrs. Collins, would you ask that she urge Miss Bennet to read the letter? Miss Bennet is, ah . . . very independent minded . . . and might well refuse to either receive or read it.”

“Why is that?” Anne was confused. “Does she not know of your intentions? Do not tell me that you have not the courage to declare yourself to her.”

“She knows,” said Darcy uncomfortably. “The question is not my intentions but her reception of them.”

“Oho!” chortled Anne. “Do not tell me she rejected you! Oh, this is too much. Our Miss Bennet is truly a gem among women.”

“Do you have to enjoy it so much?” Darcy grumbled, wondering whether all of his acquaintances would soon know what he would have much rather kept a dark secret. “We
are
cousins, you know. You might at least have a little consideration for my feelings!”

“Oh, by all means, I should,” said Anne with absolutely no contrition whatever. “But do you desire my consideration or my aid?”

“Your aid, of course. Will you give it?”

“Do you have to ask? To outmanoeuvre my mother while helping to foster a match between you and the lovely Miss Bennet — how could I not help you in this?”

“Thank you. Please have Margaret deliver it to Jennings, and I will leave it at the Parsonage,” Darcy said quietly. “I hope to have the opportunity to talk to Miss Bennet this morning in private. But if I am unsuccessful, I will trust in your letter. Thank you for your help. I hope that our next meeting will see you improved in health.”

“As do I, Cousin,” she sighed as he bent to kiss her hand. “As do I.”

She was already moving toward her writing desk as he left the room.

* * * * *

Elizabeth was alone with Charlotte in the drawing room when she was surprised to see the door open and Mr. Darcy’s tall figure stride into the room. His dark eyes brightened as he saw her, and she had to look down. She felt her cheeks redden, for even after another long night of thought, she remained as confused about him as ever. Needing more time to examine her feelings, she had deliberately stayed indoors in order to avoid any possibility of another meeting along the paths of Rosings. Oh, how she looked forward to being with Jane, with whom she might discuss all that had passed in the last several days!

“Please excuse the interruption, Mrs. Collins,” she heard him say, “but when I took leave of my cousin Anne this morning, she mentioned that she had a note for you, which I offered to deliver.” Elizabeth looked up as he handed the letter to Charlotte, and for the first time since she had known him, she was struck by how handsome he truly was. Always before, she had seen him through the eyes of amusement and dislike. But now, knowing his attraction to her, her viewpoint was altered, and she could not help but be impressed by his attractive features, his stature, and his well-built frame. As he made his farewell to Charlotte and turned to her, she recognized the open admiration in his eyes, and she had the feeling that he was fixing her in his memory, trying to store a recollection to be examined at a later time. The feeling of being so scrutinized was, surprisingly, not wholly unpleasant, and when he gave a small bow and bid her goodbye, she inclined her head in return. As he turned to the door, she caught one last look from him, and he was gone.

Elizabeth was lost in contemplation of this brief but unsettling encounter and did not see her friend frowning at the packet she held, wondering at its being so thick. However, when Charlotte opened it, she found a brief note from Miss de Bourgh wrapped around what appeared to be another letter.

Charlotte’s frown grew deeper as she read the note, and Elizabeth, who had returned to her sewing, peered at her in curiosity. She was surprised when Charlotte finally looked up from her perusal of the note and shoved a letter, folded and sealed, but with no writing on either side, along the table to her, saying, “It seems that this one is for you, Lizzy. Miss de Bourgh says that it is from Mr. Darcy and asks me to pass it on to you.”

“Mr. Darcy!”

“It appears so,” said Charlotte. Then, as Elizabeth showed no inclination to pick it up, she asked, “Are you not going to open it, Lizzy?”

“It is not proper for Mr. Darcy to send me a letter, Charlotte,” Elizabeth said slowly. “Especially after what I shared with you earlier. No, I shall not open it,” she concluded firmly.

Charlotte was troubled by this response. She knew her friend was right about the proprieties, but she was so firmly decided that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy would make a splendid match that she was determined to advance the prospect if at all possible. Finally, she decided to share Miss de Bourgh’s specific urging that Elizabeth accept the letter as the best way to convince her.

Elizabeth listened with considerable astonishment. The idea that the quiet, sickly Anne de Bourgh could not only take amusement in thwarting her mother and could even have conspired with her cousin was not at all what she had envisioned. When Charlotte had finished, she once again urged Elizabeth to take Mr. Darcy’s letter, and eventually, Elizabeth yielded—partly to Charlotte’s opinion and partly to her own curiosity.

Rosings, 10 o’clock of the evening, April 10

Miss Elizabeth Bennet,

Please forgive the mode of delivery of this note, but I was forced to resort to desperate stratagems in order to appraise you of distressing news that has come to me, news that concerns us both. Briefly, the situation is thus . . .

Elizabeth read the explanation of the unwelcome rumours with consternation and growing concern, well aware how slight an error could cause irreparable harm to a young lady’s reputation, damaging her chance of making a good marriage or of even being recognized in polite society.

The question now to be addressed concerns what is to be done in light of this situation. At this time, my cousin Fitzwilliam and I believe the greatest hazard is that this rumour may spread into open scandal, possibly among London society. If it were just your family, the salacious tales might die a well-deserved death, but my prominence in society, unwelcome as it is, makes such a fortunate conclusion less likely. The simplest and most convenient course of action to mitigate the damage of such an occurrence would be, of course, for you to reconsider my offer of marriage, but I believe I know you well enough to be assured that you are resolute in your refusal. Therefore, I have decided the best course is to inform you of what I have learned and to hope that the worst may be avoided.

I will journey today to London and visit Bingley on the morrow, after which I will wait to hear that you have joined your sister, remaining watchful as to whether this story spreads. If it does so, I will inform you immediately either by riding to Kent or by sending an express, for by that point, no delay may be risked, and any breach of propriety must be ignored. In case there might be any doubt in your mind, let me assure you that even open scandal would not affect my course. My affections and wishes are unchanged, and my offer of marriage remains open; I urge you to consider what I have related and also to consider your response should events take an unfortunate path.

I know this situation cannot be to your liking, nor is it to mine. I intend, if you are still willing to grant me the chance, to conduct a more traditional courtship in the hope of changing your opinion of me. I do not wish to have you come unwillingly to marriage, even though it would result in my union with one whom I hold most dear, but in the event that the more fortunate event becomes unfeasible, I hope that you will see the sense of it. In that event, and assuming your agreement, please be assured that you will never in the future have reason to doubt your financial security nor my love and my respect of you and our future family.

I remain, your most ardent and respectful admirer,
F. Darcy

Charlotte watched in distress as Elizabeth rose from her seat and changed colour as she read the letter with increasing agitation. She paced about the room, silently mouthing the words until she finally threw herself back into the chair with a muttered, “What an insufferable, arrogant man! The very nerve of him, to . . . to . . . oh, I am so very angry!”

At length, Elizabeth calmed down enough to read the letter through once more while Charlotte put her sewing aside and simply sat waiting for her to regain the ability to converse. When she judged that point had been reached, she ventured, “Then the letter
was
from Mr. Darcy?”

“Oh, yes, Charlotte. There could not be a more prideful, conceited man in the entirety of England than Mr. oh-so-proud Darcy!”

But as calm slowly returned, Elizabeth grew more concerned with the problem Mr. Darcy related rather than his solution to it. Could he be mistaken?

“Charlotte, Mr. Darcy makes mention of some . . . rumours . . . among the staff here and at Rosings concerning Mr. Darcy and myself. Have you heard of any such?”

When Charlotte would not meet her eye, Elizabeth’s stomach roiled. At last, Charlotte said, “Lizzy, I cannot talk of it. My husband has absolutely forbidden me to speak on the matter.”

Elizabeth reached over and took her hand consolingly, for Charlotte was quite distraught. “Mr. Darcy believes that Lady Catherine, still hoping to accomplish a marriage between her daughter and nephew, wishes to prevent the rumours from escaping beyond the bounds of Rosings. Has her ladyship commanded Mr. Collins to order your silence?” She could see the answer in the misery on Charlotte’s features, and she continued wryly, “It seems that, from what Mr. Darcy writes, Lady Catherine’s efforts may well be too late.”

Charlotte twisted her hands in anxiety for her friend. “Can I help, Lizzy? I would not go against my husband’s wishes, but if there is anything I can do that does not conflict with his orders, please tell me.”

Elizabeth sighed and tried to force a smile. “I am not sure anyone can do anything, but here is what Mr. Darcy relates,” and she quickly acquainted her friend with the outline of Darcy’s letter.

Charlotte’s spirits were lifted immeasurably. “It is not so very bad, is it, Lizzy? I must admit to a feeling of vindication that his regard for you is as I predicted. And now he desires to court you openly while assuring that you will not be ruined by scandal. Surely, you must see how fortunate is the solution he suggests? If he did not care, he could simply endure the embarrassment to himself instead of renewing his offer of marriage.”

“But that is the core of the problem, Charlotte,” Elizabeth said angrily. “
He
plots the course,
he
makes the decisions,
he
commands — and
I
must do as he wishes or else expose my sisters and my family to the humiliation of scandal! It is altogether intolerable!”

“But Lizzy, does he not say how much he loves you?” Charlotte tried to mollify her friend’s anger with rational advice. “Does he not say how he will ensure the future for you and your children? And does he not say that you will never doubt his love and respect for you? Do you have reason to doubt his sincerity in these regards? Are not these assurances beyond the realm of what most young women are presented when considering marriage? Oh, Lizzy, you must give some thought to the realities of life and not give over everything to your romantic notions! Does not Mr. Darcy express enough romance for any dozen impractical young men?”

Elizabeth was taken aback by the vehemence of Charlotte’s arguments, and she finally confessed that she did not doubt Mr. Darcy’s sincerity. She flushed in embarrassment as she continued, “I must admit that I have no present reason to believe him unprincipled or unjust. I have rejected my previous opinion of his character based on — I am embarrassed to admit — the vile charges made by Mr. Wickham. Even though his manners are proud and repulsive, I must accede that you are partly right.”

Charlotte was pleased at the concession. Elizabeth was so independent of mind that she was more than capable of defending her points against all arguments, but there were other thoughts she wished Elizabeth to consider.

“Lizzy, I want you to listen to me now,” she said, as she leaned forward to take Elizabeth’s hand. “I have never thought Mr. Darcy to be as prideful as you believe, but put that aside for now. I want you to consider that he is not the same as the young men we saw in Hertfordshire. He is not even the same as his friend, Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy has had many weighty responsibilities thrust upon him at an age when other young men think only of dances with the prettiest girls at the next ball. He has had the responsibility of managing a great estate in the country as well as maintaining a household in town. He has even had the care of a much younger sister. In all of these, he has acquitted himself admirably, even while being betrayed by his boyhood friend and pursued by every mother with an unmarried daughter in both town and country. Then, you tell me he was so inarticulate when he made his proposal that he had to pull out written pages to settle himself! If you would have my opinion, I think what you have been calling pride and conceit is more a mask of protective reserve to put on in uncomfortable social situations. Oh, I am sure that he does need to amend his manners in some regards, but that is a task that a good wife could accomplish.”