The Art of Apology (Happiness in Marriage)

Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

T wo days later, Bingley and Darcy escorted the Miss Bennets home to Longbourn. As Darcy had anticipated, Georgiana asked to accompany them; thus, she and Mrs Annesley completed their party.

Mr Bennet regarded both Bingley and him as soon as they joined the family in the drawing room and said, “Mr Bingley first, I think,” before leaving the room, Bingley quietly following him and giving Darcy an alarmed look over his shoulder.

Darcy took a seat next to Elizabeth and listened as she and Miss Bennet told their mother and sisters about their sojourn in London. No one asked why Mr Bennet and Bingley were speaking privately or mentioned that Darcy and Elizabeth’s hands were clasped together in the space between them on the sofa.

Bingley returned less than ten minutes later, and Darcy stood to go to the book-room, assuming he would find Mr Bennet there. Elizabeth offered him a supportive smile and mouthed the words, “I love you”. She had told him that her father would not be surprised when he requested permission to marry her, and he agreed. It seemed obvious to him that Mr Bennet had long ago guessed his feelings for Elizabeth, and if he had disapproved, he would have said something to warn him off. Nevertheless, his hands trembled as he knocked at the door and entered once Mr Bennet called out that he should.

Mr Bennet was seated behind his desk. He gestured for Darcy to take the chair across from him, and said, “So, you wish to marry Lizzy?”

Darcy was aware he was staring at the man, his mouth hanging open. It was the suddenness of the question. He softly cleared his throat and nodded. “I do.”

“Let us suppose I have asked you the usual things and you have answered in the usual manner. We are both satisfied that your feelings are what they should be, as are hers, and we both know you can support a wife, even one who does not bring her own fortune to the marriage. I could wish that you did not live so far from Hertfordshire.”

“Your family will always be welcome to visit whenever you like, either in Derbyshire or in town, sir,” Darcy said. “I have already told Mr and Mrs Gardiner that I hope they and their children will come to Pemberley in the summer.”

Mr Bennet gave him a look that appeared to combine a little sadness and, if he was not mistaken, the beginnings of fondness. “That is very kind of you, and I know that you mean it sincerely. You are a good man—far better than I thought when I first heard of you. ”

Darcy shook his head, intending to dismiss the sentiment. “I must thank you for reminding me to be the gentleman my parents raised me to be. My father would have been gravely disappointed in me, and if you had not demanded I apologise to Elizabeth, if I had not had to labour to earn her forgiveness, I would have lost?—”

“A prize beyond measure,” Mr Bennet interjected, his tone warm.

“One I shall always treasure,” he vowed.

Mr Bennet accepted this with a solemn nod. “Although your father might have been disappointed in his son the night of the assembly last October, his pride in seeing what you did afterwards would have been immense. He is not here to appreciate it, but I am. In another decade or so, I might even believe you are worthy of my darling girl. Sooner if your library at Pemberley is as magnificent as you say it is.”

He laughed heartily, and, seeing no other reasonable response, Darcy did likewise.

Elizabeth sat and waited—and waited—for her father and Mr Darcy to rejoin them in the drawing room. Mr Bingley had taken less than a quarter of an hour to ask her father’s permission to marry Jane. Twice that time had already passed. What could they be talking about? Surely, her father would not object; he liked Mr Darcy and had spent enough time with him to understand that he would make her a good husband. She did her best to smile and take part in the conversation about London and what the Bennets had done during her and Jane’s absence, but inside, she was quivering. It was unlike her to be this anxious. She had known since the Netherfield ball that this day would arrive, had thought that her father knew it too, and did not understand the delay.

Once they are here, Papa can announce that Jane and I are both engaged, then we can celebrate and begin to discuss the wedding. She and Jane had spent many hours speaking of it already. Their poor mother might find there was little left for her to suggest or decide, from what the day would be like to their gowns and the type of flowers they would have.

Even thinking of Mr Darcy brought warmth and happiness to Elizabeth’s heart. She wondered whether he was informing her father of Lady Catherine’s appearance at the ball. During the carriage ride to Hertfordshire, they had all agreed that they must tell the Bennets what had happened. They were sure to hear of it, and it was better to be honest about it at once than try to explain why they had kept it secret. If Elizabeth had not seen signs that her father liked Mr Darcy, she would wonder whether he had doubts about her marrying into a family with such a woman in it, especially when Mr Darcy had initially seemed to have a similar arrogant and cutting character.

For her part, Elizabeth truly was not bothered by Lady Catherine’s manner. Her arriving as she had and beginning to scold and make demands in the middle of the crowded room had been shocking, and Elizabeth had been insulted—far more than she had been by Mr Darcy—but the woman was nothing short of ridiculous, and she preferred to laugh at such people. How could anyone take them seriously? It said a great deal that Lord Romsley had called his sister vile. And Elizabeth had received a rather unique proposal in consequence.

Quietly, she chuckled to herself. What a tale it would be for her and Mr Darcy’s children! It had been quite the story already, but this addition to it surely made it unequalled. Yet, it is enough now. Oh, I hope nothing else so…noteworthy occurs at the wedding or for an extended period afterwards. Several years would do. I wish only to relish being Mrs Darcy and making my husband as happy as possible!

At last, the gentlemen appeared. Mrs Hill and a footman were behind them, holding a tray of glasses and two bottles, which Elizabeth guessed had come from her father’s not-so-secret store of fine wines reserved for special occasions. Mr Darcy returned to her side directly; she stood and held out a hand to him, which he took and kissed. He did not sit but stood beside her, while her father went to her mother, and, as wine was poured and glasses distributed amongst them, made the announcement.

“I would have been very disappointed had Jane and Elizabeth returned from London without ensnaring husbands,” he said.

Her father waved off Mrs Bennet’s protest of his little joke. “Our girls know I am teasing them, and if their gentlemen cannot bear it, they ought not to have proposed. But propose they did, and I am delighted to inform you all that I have given my permission to Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy to marry Jane and Elizabeth. May you all live long, contented, prosperous lives together. ”

Elizabeth was smiling too much to make it possible to even sip her wine. She smiled her thanks and approval to her father, smiled at Jane to tell her yet again how pleased she was for her, and smiled at her mother, three younger sisters, and Georgiana as they came to congratulate and embrace her.

Most of all, Elizabeth smiled at her Mr Darcy. Their eyes on each other, he kissed her hand once again, and she then kissed his. It was a compromise since she could not do what she longed to, which was rest her head against his strong chest and listen to his heart beating, wrap her arms about him and hold him close, just as she intended to do for the rest of her life.