Mr. Darcy's Proposal (17 page)

“I am told that sometimes I can be a little too outspoken,” Elizabeth confessed.

“You should not change that for anyone.”

Elizabeth was surprised to find that her cousin was turning out to be nothing like the sickly young woman she had met in Kent. “I have forgotten my manners. You must be tired from your journey, Miss de Bourgh. Would you like me to ring for some tea?”

“I would enjoy that very much,” Anne replied, “And please, call me Anne. We are cousins now, are we not?”

Elizabeth was surprised at this gesture but acknowledged it warmly. “Of course, Cousin Anne. And you must call me Elizabeth.

While they waited for tea, Elizabeth told her she hoped someday she would be able to visit Rosings and enjoy its beauty again. Then they talked about the Park and the way it changed over the seasons.

“Mostly, I watch the turn of the seasons from my window as I am not often allowed out of doors. There is one particular view from my sitting room that is a favorite with me. On sunny days, it is almost as though I can see all the way to the next county.”

“I had a special window at my home, too, where I used to sit and contemplate the world. I am hoping to find such a place at Pemberley,” Elizabeth confessed feeling an unexpected kinship with Anne.

“You have never been to Pemberley before?”

“No, but we will be traveling there in a few weeks. Everyone talks about how beautiful it is. I am anxious to see for myself.”

Anne turned to Elizabeth and said, “I am glad we have had some time to talk. I believe I understand why my cousin married you. You are not at all the fortune hunter that my mother has taken you for.” And then as if she remembered herself, she added, “Please forgive me for speaking so plainly. I hope I have not given offense.”

Elizabeth realized she had no idea how Anne might be feeling about their marriage. He had told her Lady Catherine still stubbornly clung to the belief that he would marry Anne although that had never been his intention.

“I suspect you have been wondering if I was distressed because William chose to marry you?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“Let me put your mind at ease. You need not worry about my feelings. My cousin and I reached a special understanding on that topic long ago, and it never included being married in spite of what Mama may have said. The engagement was always her wish, never mine, and certainly never his.”

“Oh, I see,” said Elizabeth relieved to be learning this directly from Anne. “So the two of you have talked of this in the past?”

“Yes, and we understand each other perfectly. Mama and I had quite a disagreement before we came here when I told her I was happy about your marriage. She was very angry with me, but I think she will recover.” She leaned over toward Elizabeth and said quietly, “I would just love to be a fly on the wall right now so I could hear what they are saying in the other room.”

They both laughed and looked at each other with a new understanding. Just at that moment, the door to the drawing room opened, and the great lady herself swept in dramatically with Darcy close behind. Elizabeth rose to greet Lady Catherine and gave a curtsey as she approached. Checking Darcy’s face, she thought he looked very composed considering what must have occurred in the other room. He walked over and stood beside her, putting a proprietary arm around her waist.

Lady Catherine would neither look at Elizabeth nor address her. In fact, she acted as if she were not even in the room.

“Anne, come along. We must depart. Darcy, you have not heard the last of this from me,” she said, shaking a boney finger at him. And with that, she left the room without even the courtesy of a farewell.

Anne rose and turning to Elizabeth, she took both her hands. “Remember what I have told you,” Anne said very softly. “This storm will pass.”

When they were alone, Darcy kept his arm around her waist in a protective manner. “I believe I would like a drink before supper after that experience,” he said. “Will you join me?”

Darcy kissed Elizabeth on the forehead and then went to the cupboard where Bingley kept his liquor. She was not sure if she was more surprised that he had kissed her or that he had offered her a drink. Still a little stunned, she agreed something fortifying might be just the thing at that moment. Darcy poured Elizabeth some sherry and a brandy for himself. Sherry was not her favorite but after a few sips, the warmth from the golden liquid had traveled all through her body, and she finally thought herself brave enough to ask about the substance of his encounter with his aunt.

“What did Lady Catherine have to say that was so important it brought her all the way to Hertfordshire?”

Darcy reached over and squeezed his wife’s hand. “There was quite a list,” he confessed. “I married without her permission or approval; I married you when Anne and I have been engaged since childhood; you were not the right sort of person for me to marry—shall I go on?”

Darcy leaned back and took another sip of his drink. “Anne and I never intended to marry each other. We made a pact when we were quite young that we would never be forced into something we did not want. Everyone treats my cousin as if she was not even in the room, but she is an intelligent and sensitive young woman. I feel very sorry for her having to put up with a mother like that.”

“I do not think Anne feels sorry for herself,” said Elizabeth. “We had an opportunity to talk this afternoon while we were waiting for you. Much to my surprise, I liked her, and I think she liked me, too.”

“That pleases me very much.”

“Do you really think Lady Catherine will continue to be angry with you?”

“Nothing I said made the slightest difference. I doubt she even heard me. She only gave up because she saw I was not about to back down to her. I suppose she will either get over it or find some other way to irritate me. Now enough about my family. How is your mother doing today? Is she almost ready to move?”

Elizabeth was surprised by his question but welcomed the opportunity to change the subject nonetheless. “I think she may be ready to move to the new house by Saturday.”

“So we will be able to leave for home by next week, then? I am very anxious to show you Pemberley,” he said, smiling.

“Home. How strange that sounds,” said Elizabeth. “I have been without a real home for weeks now since we have been living at Netherfield. I am very ready to be away from here. I have been wondering how long it will take before Pemberley feels like home to me.”

“Do not worry. I am certain that in a very short time you will love it as much as I do.”

Elizabeth hoped he was right.

Twenty One

As Elizabeth walked along the path, she attempted to calm herself. She had been helping with the preparations to move from Longbourn to the new house in town but her tolerance for her mother was wearing very thin. Her mother was being so indecisive that almost nothing was getting done. The walk back to Netherfield was a welcome respite and a chance to clear her mind.

Just as she was leaving the road to take a short cut across a field, she saw a rider approaching in the distance. Hesitating for a moment to see who it might be, she was uncomfortable when she recognized the horseman as George Wickham. Her next thought was she was very thankful Darcy had urged Georgiana to return to London so there would be no chance of an encounter between them.

Although dreading the idea of having to speak with him, he was close enough that she could think of no polite way to walk on without at least acknowledging his presence. As she waited by the road for him to pass, Wickham waved in greeting. Then he startled Elizabeth by dismounting beside her.

“Well, well, Mrs. Darcy, what a delight to see you again,” he said tipping his hat to her politely.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Wickham,” she answered rather stiffly. “I had been under the impression that your regiment had already removed to Brighton.” Elizabeth kept her hands clasped tightly together to prevent Wickham from seizing one of them and kissing it as he had done several times in the past.

“Yes, but I had to return for some…um…shall we say unfinished business in the area, but that is of no consequence. I was very sorry to hear about your father. Please convey my condolences to your mother and sisters. I was hoping to call on them, but I am afraid urgent business takes me elsewhere today.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Now if you will excuse me, I am expected at Netherfield.” When she started to walk away, Wickham continued to address her.

“I have not had the opportunity to congratulate you on your marriage to my old friend Darcy,” he said with a bit of sarcasm. “What a surprise! You certainly underwent a remarkable change in your attitude toward the man, but then your circumstances have changed significantly since we last met.”

Elizabeth hesitated, unsure how to respond. Uncomfortable with the man’s underlying innuendo, her every thought became focused on how to leave his company as quickly as possible. “He has not changed. I have simply come to know and understand him better,” she said.

“Indeed!” cried Wickham with a look of mock surprise.

“I have found him to be the most generous and honorable man of my acquaintance,” she replied defensively.

“I wondered if perhaps given how your circumstances have altered that you were the one who had changed.”

“My circumstances have nothing to do with it,” she said in an attempt to signal that the subject was closed.

Wickham’s face betrayed a moment of alarm, but quickly his charming manners returned. “Well, then you are very fortunate indeed to be so happily married,” he said dryly. “And when are you going to Pemberley? I declare it is the most beautiful estate in all of England! I do so wish to see it again, but that will surely never happen.”

“Of course, I am very anxious to see my new home.”

“When you go by Kympton, think of me. It is the living I ought to have had.”

“And how would you have liked making sermons?” Elizabeth asked, incredulous that he should bring this up as if she would not have learned the circumstances from Darcy by now. Was he testing to see if she knew what had happened or did Mr. Wickham believe his own stories?

“I am sure giving sermons would have been one of the best parts of that position,” he said confidently. “A quiet life in a country parish would have been very satisfying, but some people had other ideas. Ah, well. It was just not to be.” His geniality sounded forced.

“If I am not mistaken, there was a time when you declared you would never take orders. In exchange you received generous financial compensation in order to pursue the law as a career instead. What happened to that plan? I suppose it was just not to be either.”

Wickham became a little flustered at her comments but attempted to smooth over the rough place by applying the full force of his charms. After this exchange, however, Elizabeth only talked about the weather, and finally, seeing she was not inclined to say much more, he began to lose interest. After making his excuses, he mounted his horse, and with a dramatic flourish of farewell with his hat, went on his way.

Elizabeth stomped her foot in fury at Wickham and also at herself for ever believing a single word he had said those many months ago. Now that she knew him for what he was, it was so easy to see through his false and ingratiating manners. She was embarrassed to think she had ever believed him amiable or admired him in any way. Elizabeth walked along briskly and by the time she had reached Netherfield the exertion of her walk had at least partly wiped out her irritation at the encounter.

One concern that weighed upon Elizabeth’s mind was whether she should acquaint Darcy with the circumstances of meeting Wickham. Finally, she concluded that to keep it from her husband would be worse than the reaction it might elicit. That evening as they were walking to their rooms, she broached the subject as delicately as she could.

“As I was walking back from Meryton today, I was quite surprised to see George Wickham riding along the road. I had no idea he was in the neighborhood.”

Darcy froze. “Wickham? Still in the area? I certainly hope you did not speak to him.”

“Since he had already seen me, I did not feel I could escape at least greeting him, although I tried to keep the conversation as brief as possible.”

“The militia has left Meryton. What was he doing here?” snapped Darcy.

His reaction startled Elizabeth. She had never seen him this upset. “He did not volunteer much except to say he had returned to take care of some business in the area. I am certainly glad Georgiana has gone back to London. It would have been very uncomfortable for her to have somehow encountered him.”

Darcy took her by the arm and abruptly pulled her into a nearby unoccupied guest room closing the door after them. His eyes were bright with emotion. “I do not want you ever to speak to that man again, do you understand?” he hissed.

His intensity made her uncomfortable. Although she had no intention of ever finding herself in Wickham’s presence again, she did not appreciate Darcy telling her what she could and could not do. She had never responded very well to ultimatums. Neither did she appreciate the way he was holding on to her arm.

“It was an awkward situation, and in my best judgment I did not believe it would be proper to just walk off and ignore him. It would have been unforgivably rude of me. Now please let go of me,” she said sharply, trying to pull away from him.