A Most Civil Proposal (27 page)

Tuesday, April 21, 1812

Darcy arrived at Gracechurch Street on Tuesday at one o’clock to keep the appointment he had arranged with Mr. Gardiner to review the wedding agreements drafted by his solicitor. As he was shown in to Mr. Gardiner’s study, Elizabeth was sitting with her uncle waiting for him, and as usual, he felt his heart turn over in his chest when she smiled at him in greeting. He was still so new to actually seeing a true light of welcome on her face that each new occasion gave him a thrill of excitement and a chill of disaster narrowly averted.

Mr. Gardiner sent for coffee for himself and Darcy as well as tea for Elizabeth before he turned to the rough draft of the wedding agreements that Darcy handed him. He went through the documents quickly while Darcy and Elizabeth waited quietly. He was impressed with the clarity of the documents, with Darcy’s generosity, and with the completeness of his preparations, especially for a rough draft. Elizabeth’s personal income — what his sister inelegantly referred to as ‘pin money’ — was quite generous, and provisions were made for the dowry of any daughters and the income of any sons prior to their majority. There were provisions for any children in the event of a death of either husband or wife and for the inheritance of the estate — to the eldest son, if there were sons, or to the management of the eldest daughter otherwise, to then be inherited by her eldest son. He continued through the documents, ticking off the items: income for Elizabeth after the estate was inherited, remarriage of either spouse after the death of the other, management of the estate if Darcy died before the heir was five and thirty. At length, Mr. Gardiner put the documents down and inspected the young man across from him with enhanced respect.

“This is very impressive, Mr. Darcy,” he said earnestly. “Not only are the terms most generous to my niece, but, more importantly, they are quite complete. I must compliment you, sir. I have seen many families torn apart because the proper arrangements were not made in language clear enough to prevent misinterpretation.” Darcy thanked him, and the three of them huddled around his desk as Mr. Gardiner set out to review the document with Elizabeth.

The first item he discussed was her dowry—her share of her mother’s fortune of five thousand pounds when her father died. Darcy’s documents made no mention of this dowry since Mr. Bennet had not mentioned it in his letters. Mr. Gardiner indicated that whether or not Elizabeth ever received it was completely at her father’s discretion in his will. However, she was amazed at the income provided by Darcy.

“So much, William?” she asked in bewilderment. “Why should I ever need so much?”

He smiled. “It is not inappropriate to our station in life, Elizabeth. There will be expenses you have not considered, and it would not do for you to have to ask me for funds every time a new dress is needed. The solicitor set down the values” — he pointed out the section in the document— “and I can assure you that the sum for clothing alone is only slightly larger than what is available for Georgiana. I think your uncle understands the calculations.”

Mr. Gardiner agreed. “It is generous, Lizzy, but it does not appear inappropriate for Mr. Darcy’s fortune, which is, I would estimate,” he said dryly, “to be rather more substantial than what is widely advertised.”

“Please, sir,” Darcy said with a wince. “What was bandied about was enough to have every mother in London busy pushing her daughters in my direction since I was of marriageable age!”

“I am sure.” Mr. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth looked at Darcy with wonderment. She was suddenly conscious of just how widely their spheres actually differed, and she was struck anew by the incongruity of his choosing her from all the many daughters who were dangled before him, every one of those daughters more than willing to accede to his every suggestion and to flatter him at every opportunity. How he could have rejected all those agreeable and acquiescent girls and chosen an impertinent creature like herself was a complete mystery.

As her uncle continued the review, she was further surprised by the complexity and the completeness of all the provisions. By the time he finished, she felt overwhelmed by all the detail. “I confess I had never considered all the possibilities that had to be provided for,” she said. “It seems complete to me, but I must rely on your advice, Uncle. Are you satisfied?”

“With the general intent of the document, yes,” he said seriously. “While I have some suggestions regarding specific language, the areas covered are as comprehensive as I think possible. To start, this statement could use a modest change to make sure there is no confusion. If I might suggest . . .”

The three spent half an hour discussing areas in which Mr. Gardiner and sometimes Elizabeth had questions, some of which occasioned an adjustment of language in order to make the intent perfectly clear and remove any ambiguity. At the end, Darcy thanked them and said that he would have his solicitor incorporate the revisions before returning the documents for Mr. Gardiner’s signature.

Darcy was disinclined to leave immediately and toyed with the idea of asking Elizabeth to take a walk, but he had to have the draft documents back to his solicitor as soon as possible for the final copies to be drawn up. So reluctantly, he made his farewell to her uncle while Elizabeth accompanied him down the stairs to the front door. He turned around to tell her goodbye, standing on the floor by the door while she remained on the first step, and he was astonished as she leaned forward suddenly to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

He looked at her while she looked back, merriment dancing in her eyes, and he smiled slowly. “I did warn you, Miss Bennet,” he said softly as he reached out for her. She did not pull back as one arm slid around her waist and the other around her back as he pulled her close, though she did nervously lick her lips with the tip of her tongue. Even though she stood on the first step, he was still taller than she was, and she watched him as he lowered his mouth to hers.

At the first touch of the exquisite softness of her lips, Darcy felt the most sublime sense of completion come over him as his mouth claimed hers, and their kiss deepened as he pulled her fully against him. He felt her hands come up to grasp his lapels as his right hand explored the wonderful slimness of her waist, marvelling at the beautiful symmetry of her figure and the warmth and softness of her flesh under her dress. He felt her kiss him back, and a thrill went down his spine as dreams that he had despaired of ever seeing fulfilled were finally realized. He opened his mouth as he kissed her even deeper, pressing harder against her yielding lips, feeling her respond, and his left hand came up to the back of her slender neck to stroke his fingers along her velvety soft skin. She raised her arms and put them around his neck, pulling him down to her, urging him on, and he felt her shiver as his tongue slipped into her open mouth, caressing those yielding lips from the inside. At last, he lessened the pressure, gradually pulling back, though he still nibbled her lower lip with his own lips and tongue while he felt her quiver again. Finally, he drew back completely, seeing her eyes half-closed, and the thought that she could feel passion for him, when added to his own desire for her, made him suddenly long to explore all the hidden secrets of her body right there in her uncle’s entry.

I can wait
, he told himself firmly, pulling her close in an embrace, and tucking her head on his shoulder while his hand stroked the silky softness of her hair. He felt her quickened breath slow to its normal rate though his own breathing was far from even.

“Elizabeth,” he murmured into her hair, drawing in the clean scent of her with just the slightest hint of perfume.
If she only knew how much I want to pull out her hairpins and let that mass of curls fall naturally to her shoulders, she would flee up the stairs this moment.

“I almost believe that I am dreaming when I think that we shall be married in just four days,” he said softly. “I am the most fortunate of men.” The tickle of her warm breath on his neck was exhilarating, as was the feel of the slim line of her back as his hand moved slowly up and down its length from waist to shoulders. Finally, regretfully, he loosened his hold on her and stepped back to look into her eyes. They were no longer half-closed, they were wide open and sparkling, and the hint of a smile on her lovely face was such that Darcy determined that he must somehow capture that look in a portrait.

“I told you that I would depend on it, sir,” she said lightly, and he laughed as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

“I must go, but I do thank you for your faith in my promise. I look forward to seeing you tonight.”

“Yes, tonight.” She suddenly looked worried.

“What is it? Surely you cannot be feeling any anxiety about meeting my uncle and aunt?”

“But your uncle
is
Lady Catherine’s brother, is he not? I suppose I fear that he will be like her.”

“He is not. Remember,
your
uncle is your mother’s brother, and he is completely unlike
her
, is he not?”

“True, true.” She sighed. “Poor Mama.”

“Elizabeth, please do not take this badly, but I met your mother in the hallway at Longbourn after leaving my disastrous meeting with your father, and I found that mere silliness was a refreshing contrast and actually quite welcome.”

“Yes.” She sighed again. “Poor Papa. I thought that at least I could depend on him. Perhaps I should have sent a letter with you, but I confess I never anticipated the need.”

“Nor did I.” He chuckled. “And not a single prepared note anywhere on my person!”

She laughed lightly, and at that, he departed with one last look at her standing on the step, still with that delightful little smile on her face.

* * * * *

Dinner that night began most agreeably with Lord and Lady Matlock greeting their future niece and her relations with grace and civility. However, shortly after the parties sat down to table, that most decidedly changed. The first intimation came as Darcy heard the sound of raised voices clearly though the closed dining room door. He frowned, pausing with his soup spoon partway to his mouth as he listened

Soon the raised voices grew louder, obviously coming down the hall, and his concern was instantly replaced by alarm. Quickly putting his silverware down, he excused himself abruptly. A sharp rapping sound was clearly audible as he strode toward the door, but he was not yet halfway to it when it suddenly flew open. Every eye in the room turned to see Lady Catherine de Bourgh framed in the doorway with Darcy’s butler visible behind her, almost wringing his hands in agitation.

Darcy stopped dead still, He realized the sharp sound in the hall had been her ladyship’s walking stick slamming in anger against the wood floor. Displeasure was obvious in her face. Clearly, she was enraged beyond anything Darcy had ever seen, having pushed her way past Stevens, ignoring his attempts to waylay her until he could announce her arrival.

“Darcy!” Lady Catherine cried in a ringing, strident voice. “I have come to talk to you this instant, and I will not be gainsaid by that lackey at your door!”

“Lady Catherine,” Darcy said coldly, trying to control his anger at her complete breach of decorum, “I have guests at table, and you will remember proper manners or you will leave.”

But his aunt was past the point of remembering manners or being able to read the understated threat in his voice. “I will not be ordered about! I will talk with you immediately; do you hear? Immediately!” Her voice grew even higher and shriller. She suddenly saw Elizabeth still sitting at the table and pointed her stick. “And that woman! How could you? How could you forget yourself for that . . . that fortune hunter!”

Elizabeth was shocked by the cold fury evident on her face.

Can nothing between William and me ever be calm and simple,
she wondered, but that was quickly followed by,
How could I ever have thought William was like this woman?

At that point, Stevens had emerged from behind Lady Catherine. “I am sorry, sir. I told her ladyship that you were at dinner and asked her to wait in your study while I informed you of her arrival. But she demanded to see you at once and shoved her way past me. I was unable to dissuade her from interrupting your dinner.”

“That is quite all right, Stevens. I do not expect that my staff should have to physically manhandle members of my family who appear to have forgotten all good manners. That will be all.” Stevens bowed and vanished back through the door.

“And now, Lady Catherine,” Darcy turned back with a glare, “we
will
proceed to my study instead of continuing this unseemly display in front of my guests.” His voice made it clear that he would brook no dispute. Lady Catherine glared at him and then glared at Elizabeth, appearing as if she indeed intended to argue the point right there, but, after a moment, she nodded jerkily and left the room, her walking stick resuming its harsh clatter. Darcy followed, closing the door behind him.

Elizabeth looked around the table. Shock and mortification was universally displayed on the faces of the others. Lord Matlock’s face was flushed dark red. “Disgraceful, just disgraceful,” he mumbled in embarrassment since Lady Catherine was his own sister, after all. Georgiana was visibly upset, and Lady Matlock spoke quietly to her. The others were just sitting, looking down and saying nothing. The previously enjoyable conversation had been totally destroyed by the shocking display.