A Most Civil Proposal (29 page)

Elizabeth could not help but feel cheered by Lord Matlock’s words, and she willingly took his proffered arm with a dimpled smile, leaving the bemused Darcy staring at his cousin in perplexity.

“What came over your father, Richard? I have seen him tolerate so much from our aunt that I never thought to see him so forceful.”

Fitzwilliam shook his head as they left the study to return to their interrupted meal. “I cannot give you a good answer, but I do know that I am exceedingly pleased that I did not miss it!”

Chapter 20

Wednesday, April 22, 1812

Elizabeth and Jane were surprised the next morning when they heard the voice of their mother from downstairs. The two sisters looked at each other in confusion. Elizabeth had written both her father and mother, informing them of the day of her wedding, but her letters could not have arrived so soon, so no one was expected for several days. But their mother burst into the room before either girl could take more than a step towards the door.

“Lizzy, Jane, my dear girls!” she exclaimed. “Good gracious! Lord bless me! Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it? What clever, clever girls you are to have caught yourselves such rich and grand husbands!”

Both sisters looked at each other in dismay, and they could only be grateful that they were alone as they were not engaged to go shopping with Georgiana until one o’clock. Mrs. Bennet first embraced Jane, “Oh my dear, dear Jane! I am so happy; I have hardly been able to sleep since you wrote your letter! I knew how it would be; I always said it must be so. I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing!

“And Lizzy!” she continued, embracing Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it? Such a charming man! So handsome, so tall! Oh, my sweetest Lizzy, how rich and great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! A house in town! Everything that is charming! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! ’Tis as good as a Lord! And married by a special license! Two daughters married! Oh, Lord! What will become of me? I shall go distracted!”

Mrs. Gardiner had come into the room by this time, and she and her sister exchanged greetings though Mrs. Gardiner was unable to interject more than a word or two into Mrs. Bennet’s continuous commentary. They soon found out the occasion for her unexpected arrival—their father’s desire for peace, for his wife had evidently complained loudly and continually about his failure to notice Elizabeth’s wedding.

“I would not allow him to evade me,” she proclaimed proudly, “and I even followed him into the library to inform him of my opinion. He dropped many hints and even demanded to be left alone, but I would not relent until he eventually allowed me the carriage for travel.” Elizabeth easily could see how her father had been browbeaten into surrendering to achieve a modicum of peace, but it pained her greatly that he had to be forced into even that much. Meanwhile, her mother continued her ecstatic congratulations to her daughters at their skill in catching two such fine husbands.

Mrs. Bennet was quite loud in her condemnation of her husband for his treatment of Elizabeth and his denial of both the Longbourn chapel and of wedding clothes, though she was somewhat mollified by Elizabeth’s information that she had already ordered a gown at Darcy’s expense and that the church in the Gardiner’s parish had been arranged for the wedding.

“It will be quite an easy journey for all the family,” Mrs. Bennet said, “or at least for my sister Philips and the girls, but I am still most vexed at Mr. Bennet for his refusal to give you away, Lizzy! He tells me that he is quite angry with both you and Mr. Darcy, even though it is such an advantageous match, and he absolutely refuses to give me even a single reason for his refusal. But never mind,” she said dismissively, “it is of no significance. Two daughters married! Why, when I informed Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long of the news, they both were quite unable at first to speak, they were so astonished by my family’s good fortune. And your Aunt Philips sends her congratulations to you both. She is sure that your marriages will greatly benefit the other girls since they will often have the chance to meet other men of considerable wealth!”

Elizabeth looked at her sister helplessly as her mother lamented of the abuse suffered by her nerves and how she never would have been able to make the terrible journey had it not been her duty to assist her daughters in the many arrangements that must be made in the coming weeks. But when Elizabeth reminded her that her own wedding was scheduled in only three more days, she was dismissive. “On Saturday! What could you have been thinking of, child? That will not do at all! You must change the date, that is all there is to it. There are so many things to be done; two months at the least are needed to accomplish them all!”

“Nevertheless, Mama, it is already settled for Saturday. I will go to have my gown fitted this afternoon so that it will be ready by Saturday, and whatever is not done by the time of the wedding may be completed later. Mr. Darcy plans for us to stay in town for some weeks after we are married before we journey to Derbyshire.”

“But Lizzy! You must come home to Longbourn before the wedding! I know all your friends will want to see you and offer their congratulations! And you can talk to your father; he listens to you much more than he does me, and surely you will manage to cool his anger.”

Elizabeth smiled sadly. She knew that her mother dearly wanted to ferry her around to her friends in Hertfordshire to bask in the praise of such an excellent match for the Bennet family, but she no longer felt the need to try to change her father’s mind. She had realized from the night she learned of his refusal of his blessing and even more during the confrontation with Lady Catherine where her loyalties must be planted, and that transition was already virtually complete in her own mind. She no longer considered Longbourn her home, and if her father suddenly relented and gave his blessing and the promise of the Longbourn chapel, she would not change a single arrangement already made. She was not yet a Darcy, but she was no longer a Bennet daughter, and the thought was certainly bittersweet. She embraced her mother fondly, telling her, “The arrangements are already made, Mama. It will all work for the best.”

Mrs. Bennet was not satisfied, but Elizabeth changed the topic to Jane’s wedding, and her mother soon was energetically dwelling on the many and myriad preparations that must be completed before her eldest daughter surrendered the title of Miss Bennet.

* * * * *

Mrs. Bennet accompanied her two daughters and her sister Gardiner that afternoon when they kept their appointment with Georgiana, and she was uncommonly restrained when Elizabeth performed the introductions. And, though she was so awed by Darcy himself that she was hardly able to say a word to him, she was less restrained when Georgiana showed her about the Darcy home. She was greatly impressed by its size and elegance, and she made numerous observations and suggestions to her daughters.

Darcy returned to his work in his study and thus saw and heard only snatches of the tour through the open door. He was again surprised to find the excesses of Mrs. Bennet more amusing than repelling though he realized his relations might not agree with him. But there was nothing he could do about that, so he tried to concentrate on his work until he heard the party preparing to depart on their shopping expedition.

For her part, Georgiana did observe Elizabeth’s mother with some alarm, at least at first, but her concern receded somewhat when she glanced at her future sister, who only responded with a rueful smile and a shrug. Her concern was alleviated further when they were preparing to depart and she observed her brother’s tolerant amusement as he came out to see them off. She was quite familiar with her brother’s restrained demeanour and was better able to discern his feelings than those who were less familiar with him. So, if her brother was able to tolerate Elizabeth’s mother, she was not going to worry about it, especially since she was too overjoyed with his choice of a wife. She had been mesmerized the previous evening after their guests departed and her cousin Fitzwilliam gleefully recited the events that took place in Darcy’s study, placing special emphasis on the manner in which Elizabeth had refused to be intimidated by her ladyship. As she took Elizabeth’s arm as they left the house, she looked at her future sister with an emotion very close to heroine worship. Never again would she be intimidated by her Aunt Catherine. Elizabeth would not allow it!

Darcy saw the party off with some regret since he would have preferred to spend the afternoon in Elizabeth’s company. And when he returned to his work, he was further surprised to find the familiar silence of Darcy House far less comforting than previously.

* * * * *

Since Elizabeth’s gown would not be ready for its fitting until the evening, Mrs. Gardiner had earlier suggested visiting one of her own shops in order to look for a gown for Jane. While Georgiana continued to insist that much shopping for Elizabeth was needed, Elizabeth had been quick to agree with her aunt, since she would have preferred to visit with Georgiana and play the pianoforte in the Darcy home than to trek from warehouse to warehouse in search of apparel that she was convinced she did not need. She was only glad that she had not allowed herself to be talked into waiting longer to be married. She had hardly had any time alone with Darcy except that stolen moment in the entry when he had kissed her so delightfully, and she would not have minded a chance for a repetition. She had been most pleasantly surprised by her enjoyment of the impulsive kiss that she had brought on herself, and she again wondered how she could enjoy such an intimacy when her own feelings were more of contentment than a passionate regard. In any event, she had to admit that she was becoming quite comfortable with his company and would prefer more of it.

As well you ought,
she told herself wryly,
since you agreed to marry the man!

Elizabeth’s avoidance of Georgiana’s objective could not last longer than the several hours it took to settle on a suitable gown for Jane, aided by the advice of both Georgiana and Mrs. Gardiner and amid much embarrassing behaviour from Mrs. Bennet. But Georgiana refused to let herself be diverted from her goal of outfitting Elizabeth by her mother’s flutterings, and she again advanced the proposition that the expedition should now concentrate on what Elizabeth needed since little time remained before the wedding.

Elizabeth tried to argue that, having already ordered her wedding dress and accessories, her own wardrobe did not need any additions until after she was married. But Mrs. Bennet was enthusiastic in pointing out that she needed, at the very least, several new gowns as well as gloves, bonnets, stockings, and shoes, especially as Mr. Darcy was paying the bills, and Georgiana was quick to weigh in on her side

“Elizabeth,” Georgiana told her future sister firmly, “I assure you that you will need more than what you are considering. William told me this morning that he is surprised at the low cost of your gown and that he does not desire you to be quite that . . . economical.”

“Georgiana,” Elizabeth laughed, “you would not tell me the cost of my wedding gown, but it had to be beyond anything I ever dreamed. And I do not desire to require a caravan of wagons to carry my clothing when we travel to Pemberley! Surely there is plenty of time to expand my wardrobe as it becomes necessary.”

But the argument was also taken up by her aunt. “Elizabeth,” said Mrs. Gardiner seriously, “you will be entertaining much more than you have any idea, and it would not be unusual to require several changes of clothing each day. It is a more visible world you will be entering, and many eyes will be on you to see how well you conduct yourself. You should listen to Georgiana in this matter.”

Georgiana eagerly confirmed Mrs. Gardiner’s opinion, pleased to have her assistance. Elizabeth was so much more confident and knowledgeable than herself in most areas, but on this subject, she felt that she might usefully instruct her future sister.

“We have not even started on what you will need just for summer in town,” she said. “I know that William does not plan on entertaining extensively, but he will want to introduce you to his close circle before we leave for Pemberley. You will be hard-pressed to make do unless you have at least a dozen new gowns to start with in addition to what you will bring with you. And you should also remember that Pemberley is cooler than here, and you will need clothes that you will leave there. During the winter season, for one, you will require much warmer clothing than you are used to.”

Since this might have been the longest single speech that she had heard from Georgiana so far, Elizabeth was forced to capitulate with whatever grace she could manage. “Perhaps I did not really understand what being the wife of Mr. Darcy would entail,” she said with a rueful smile. “I am at your disposal, Georgiana.”

Chapter 21

Wednesday, April 22, 1812

Caroline Bingley tried to suppress her considerable sense of agitation as she and her sister waited for their brother to call. He had sent a note earlier asking if they were free to meet with him privately, and Caroline had not even the slightest idea of what to expect from his visit. Normally, she would have been supremely confident in her ability to manipulate him but no longer — not since that disastrous morning a week ago Sunday when he had shown astonishing determination and forthrightness as he ordered the servants to pack her belongings, personally escorted her to his coach, and deposited her and her trunks before the Hurst townhouse. Since that time, he had neither called nor sent word until that morning, and she was so unsure of what to do to mollify his anger that she had done nothing. She had seen the announcements in the
Times
of his engagement to Jane Bennet and of Darcy’s engagement to Elizabeth Bennet, but her explosion of rage on those occasions had no direction since even then Charles did not call.