Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 13

Meanwhile, Darcy was busy with preparations of his own. His sister had written back to him, expressing her delight over the news that she was to gain a sister and wishing him well, although she could not fathom his insistence that she not be present for the wedding itself. She was to join them at Pemberley after the wedding, along with her governess, Mrs. Younge.

Now that his stay had been extended, Darcy sent for his valet to come, bringing Darcy’s coach and additional luggage he would need for the journey to Pemberley. Perkins also safeguarded the ring Darcy planned to give Elizabeth, having retrieved it from the family’s London residence.

Darcy hoped to find a moment to give it to her that evening. The Bennet family were to join them for dinner at Netherfield.

Darcy and Bingley were the first ones dressed and down. While they waited for the others in the library, Bingley surprised him with a novel idea for the wedding celebration. “I am thinking of throwing a ball, Darcy,” he said out of the blue.

Mr. Darcy's eyes shot up. “A ball?”

Bingley nodded as he poured glasses of brandy for them. “Yes. In honor of your wedding to Miss Elizabeth. ”

“I should think a ball would be the last thing on your mind, Bingley,” Darcy said, taking a glass from him. “After all, are we not trying to draw as little attention to the situation as possible?”

“Well, I had thought the same, initially,” Bingley said. “But it occurred to me that since the neighbors are already aware of the situation, it would be best to have some kind of celebration to legitimize the marriage in their eyes before you take Miss Elizabeth away to Pemberley.”

“I see your point,” Darcy nodded, “but do you think it will be enough time for your sisters to help you plan it? I do not wish to put them out.”

“Oh, you need not worry about that! Caroline will complain about it, surely, but there is nothing she likes better than to show off her skills as a hostess. She has been harping on me since our arrival to host a ball. I will simply tell her this is the only opportunity she may have. If Louisa and I help, it will be no trouble. I have already asked Mrs. Nicholls to begin making the white soup.”

“In that case, how could I possibly refuse! I am exceedingly grateful to you.”

“Anything for my friend.” Bingley smiled. “You know, you could stay here longer if you wish, Darcy. I plan to stay through the rest of the shooting season. You and your new bride need not hurry off to Derbyshire immediately.”

“Actually, I think it is for the best if we do,” Darcy said. “Already, there has been too much scandal surrounding this marriage. Your ball will go a long way to legitimize it, as you said, and help convince everyone it was a whirlwind love match. But when all is said and done, it will be much better if I take Elizabeth away from here. At least until the gossip has quieted down.”

“So you are calling her by her Christian name, now,” Bingley smirked, one eyebrow going up .

Darcy blushed. “Well, she is my betrothed, after all.” He would not admit it had been a slip of the tongue; thus far, he had only thought of her by her first name in his own mind.

Bingley finished off his drink. He leaned in closer, dropping his voice. “Was it truly an accident she ended up in your room that night?”

“You know it was,” Darcy retorted. “There may be many men who would invite a lady to their bedchambers without the bonds of matrimony, but you of all people should know I am not that sort. And neither is Miss Elizabeth,” he said, reverting back to her proper title.

“Of course, Darcy, I meant nothing by it. Only I have seen the looks you’ve given her. Are you sure there are no feelings, even on your part?”

Darcy swallowed. “What would it matter? It is clear she dislikes me. She is only marrying me because she has no choice.”

“But you are marrying her for more than that,” Bingley said softly.

Darcy looked at his friend, but said nothing more, as they were joined that instant by the ladies and Mr. Hurst.

S

As the Bennets’ coach drew to a stop in front of Netherfield’s grand entrance, Elizabeth realized it was the first time she had been there since her fateful stay. They were shown into the library first. The door to the adjoining dining room was shut, making the room feel smaller and more cramped than when they had gathered here during her stay. Elizabeth avoided Darcy’s gaze, keeping her head down when she curtsied her greeting. She hovered nearby as he discussed the wedding business with her parents. He informed them the minister had agreed to move the wedding date up to that Wednesday .

Elizabeth's heart sank when she learned it was to be so soon. She had counted on at least three more weeks while waiting for the banns to be read before she was to be ripped from her home and taken to some faraway place she had never before seen, all with a man whom she disliked.

“Three days is not a long time to plan a wedding,” Mrs. Bennet said, with a hint of irritation in her voice. “Could we not wait a little longer? I shall hardly have time to invite our neighbors.”

“I'm sure you can be at no loss to understand why our wedding must take place as soon as possible,” Mr. Darcy said. “In fact, I would undertake this sooner if the Reverend Carmichael was available before then,” Mr. Darcy told her.

“Do not worry, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Bingley intervened. “There will be no need for you to plan anything. I have undertaken the task of throwing a ball in Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth's honor. It will take place the night before the wedding.”

“The night before? That won't do at all. I had counted on giving them a lavish wedding breakfast following the ceremony,” she protested.

“I'm afraid that won't be possible.” Mr. Darcy said. “You see, I intend to take Elizabeth to her new home in Derbyshire directly after the wedding. My sister is to join us there, and it is my wish that they should meet.” He did not tell her of his desires to expediently remove Elizabeth from the neighborhood for the sake of gossip.

“Mrs. Bennet, allow me to do this for my friend, since it was under my roof that his engagement was formed in this manner,” Bingley urged her, “and do not concern yourself with any of the wedding details. I will take it upon myself to invite all the neighbors for the ball. The wedding the following day ought to be reserved for family and the couple’s closest friends. ”

“Well, if you wish it, then let it be so,” said Mrs. Bennet softly. “At least I shall have the pleasure of showing off my Elizabeth at your ball.”

Mr. Bingley smiled. “And a radiant jewel she shall be, I am certain, as will all your daughters.” His eyes were drawn to Jane, whose brilliant smile towards him would have dazzled even a blind man. Jane wore a blue gown with a neckline even more daring than usual, which served to keep Mr. Bingley's attention on her while they enjoyed their glasses of madeira. She spoke sweetly to Mr. Bingley, giving him smiles that, as only Jane could do, combined the angelic and the coquettish all in one. Mr. Bingley was entirely under her spell.

Mr. Collins, who up till this point had remained in the background, now made himself known. “Mr. Darcy,” he said, coming forward. “What a great honor it is to meet you at last, the nephew of my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” He bowed low before Mr. Darcy and then forced his handshake on him with great vigor, causing Darcy's head to bob up and down. “Forgive me, but I do not think we have been introduced,” said Darcy.

“Begging your pardon, estimable sir,” said Mr. Collins. “I am the Reverend William Collins, rector of Hunsford, which abuts Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s great estate, Rosings Park. You might not have yet met my wife, your fiancée's dear younger sister, next to her in age and beauty, I might say. This is Mrs. Collins, formerly Miss Mary Bennet.” Mary dutifully performed a curtsy for Mr. Darcy. She was dressed in a plain gray gown that did not show off any features. Her hair was tied back tightly in a bun, and with the glasses perched on her nose, she looked more like a schoolmistress than a married lady attending a dinner.

The Collinses were introduced to their hosts, who had witnessed the exchange with no small amusement, especially from Miss Bingley and her sister .

They were summoned to dinner, and Mr. Collins dominated the conversation during the meal, pandering the most to Mr. Darcy, but also to Mr. and Miss Bingley, peppering his speech with compliments on the fine furnishings and the courses which they were served, several times comparing them to the delights he had enjoyed at Rosings Park. Mary spoke less, but when she did, it was to recite an ill-timed proverb or remark upon something she had heard her husband mention in a sermon. Kitty and Lydia amused themselves by warming spoons with their breath and then hanging them from their noses in a childish display, while Mrs. Bennet spent the meal praising her daughters or commenting how wonderful it was that Netherfield Park was so excellently situated.

Elizabeth felt all the more ashamed for having such relatives. In a moment of mirth, she mused, Well, if Mr. Darcy is frightened away after all this and decides to call off the wedding, I suppose my family will have served a useful purpose!

S

Perhaps Jane believed her sister’s marriage might improve her chances with Mr. Bingley. Darcy observed she seemed a more ready conversation partner than before, less reserved, more relatable. She chatted amiably about Bingley’s favorite sports and whether he had shot as many birds as he had hoped during his stay.

Elizabeth, by contrast, was colder than ever. She did not speak to him or anyone else at the table, except by necessity, kept her gaze on her meal, and was so displeased to be among company at all that hardly anybody attempted a conversation with her, except for Darcy, who repeatedly tried to engage her, but without success .

When they repaired to the drawing room after dinner, Elizabeth stole onto the terrace. Darcy followed her. Hearing his approach, she glanced at him, but did not speak.

Darcy stood beside her at the railing overlooking the garden. The grounds were bare and lifeless with the approach of winter, almost as frigid as the woman beside him.

Taking a breath, he addressed her. “Miss Elizabeth, you have hardly spoken a word to me all evening. Are we to be strangers to one another then?”

“I would hardly call us strangers, sir,” she replied disdainfully, “given how intimately we are now connected. But I saw no reason for idle chit chat.”

Darcy's color changed “Is this how it is to be in our marriage then, with you barely speaking to me as we go about our lives?”

His comment caused her lips to tighten further. “I did not choose your company willingly, as you know,” she said.

“Yet, by necessity, it will be yours,” he stated. “I am not the sort of man who would live apart from his wife for the entirety of their marriage. I intend you should reside with me wherever I am at any given time during the year. I would not have society remark upon our absence from each other.”

“If that is your wish, then let it be so,” she answered, rather flippantly.

“Therefore, since we are to be housemates,” Darcy went on, “do you not think it is time you laid down your arms? After all, we shall have to be in each other's company much when we are married, and we shall have to play the part of the happy couple when we entertain and are seen in society. Otherwise, people may remark that you have a lover elsewhere. I will not be seen as a cuckold when I have done nothing to deserve it.”

“We could not have that,” Elizabeth replied sarcastically. She turned to go back inside, but he caught her arm .

“I would love to know what exactly I have done to earn your disapproval.”

“Too much to discuss in polite society.” Her eyebrow quirked. “But most recently, it is because you moved forward the date of our wedding without even consulting me.”

“I did that out of concern for your reputation,” he said, his eyes flashing in indignation. “The sooner we are married, the sooner your neighbors will forget about the scandal of your wandering into my bedchambers during the night.”

“My reputation was secured as soon as you signed the marriage settlement with my father. A long engagement would have been preferable to me, so I might delay the appointed hour when I shall lose my freedom and become the property of a man.”

“Is that how you suppose I shall treat you? Like chattel, with no liberties of your own?” He was growing quite angry now.

“Is that not how most husbands treat their wives?”

“Some, perhaps, but not all. And certainly, that is not how I intend for my wife to live. As the mistress of Pemberley, you shall have all the freedoms accorded to you that you like, provided you conduct yourself with propriety.”

“You mean, do not wander into other men’s bedchambers,” she scoffed. “I understand you perfectly, Mr. Darcy.”

“You willfully misunderstand me,” he argued. “Can you not see that I have no wish to control you? My only desire is for your happiness.”

“My happiness was lost to me the moment I mistakenly entered your room in my slumber.”

“If you cannot accept that I wish for your happiness, then at least know that I desire your comfort, your security, and that I wish to provide you with a respectable marriage and a home for the remainder of your life. Whether or not you choose to be happy in such a situation, only you have the power to determine. ”

Her voice softened. “Forgive me. It is not my intention to stir up contention between us. I know you are doing what you believe is the honorable thing. But you must excuse me if I cannot yet rejoice in my present situation.”

With that, she left the terrace to return inside, and this time, he did not hinder her. Sighing, Darcy put his hands into his pockets. His left hand bumped against a square-shaped box, bringing to his realization that he had yet to present her with his mother’s ring.