A Most Civil Proposal (12 page)

Mrs. Gardiner looked over at Jane, and it was immediately obvious that Jane did indeed wish to talk with him. And he did appear most earnest . . .

“Jane,” she told her niece, “would you be so good as to take your cousins to their room while I have a word with Mr. Bingley?”

“Of course, Aunt,” agreed Jane, standing and offering her hands to each of her cousins, and the three of them left the room, closing the hall door behind them.

Mrs. Gardiner turned back to Bingley and looked at him with an intensity that made him swallow in sudden discomposure.

“You will pardon me if I speak frankly, sir,” she said sternly, her eyes maintaining her fixed gaze. “I am familiar with your former acquaintance with my niece, and I do
not
wish to see her hurt further. You quitted Hertfordshire last autumn with no warning to her, no notes or letters, and from what I am told, at a point where all concerned had reason to expect a declaration regarding your intentions. The mortification of such treatment was, as you may well imagine, extreme. I must warn you that I will
not
have you again toy with my niece’s affections, Mr. Bingley!”

“I assure you that my intentions were and remain honourable,” Bingley said earnestly. “But mistakes have been made — most of them mine — and I am determined to right them. I beg you for the chance to do so.”

Mrs. Gardiner gazed at him silently for several moments, and his evident earnestness finally convinced her.

“Very well, Mr. Bingley, I will agree because I see that Jane also wishes to talk with you. But I will be in the next room, and I will leave the door open.”

“Thank you,” Bingley said in relief. He had known it was not going to be easy. If he had just come to call and talk of the weather and other trivialities, he would not have had to go through this, but he was finished with caution.

After Mrs. Gardiner sent for Jane to return, she stayed long enough to see Bingley seated in a chair across from her niece before exiting the room. For her part, Jane felt a surge of anticipation rise inside her opposed by dread that her hopes might again be dashed. Bingley’s words and manner had been uncommonly direct and forceful, and yet she was afraid to even have wishes.

“Miss Bennet,” he began, “I received a visit this morning that has completely overturned everything I thought I knew about our time in Hertfordshire. Before I get into that, however, I must confess that the primary mistake has been mine. When I left Netherfield in the autumn and did not return, I did so because I had allowed myself to be convinced of your indifference towards me.”

He saw Jane’s startled reaction and continued, “Yes, I see that this surprises you. And my mistake was that I was not firm enough to listen to my own counsel and allowed myself to be influenced by others. They talked to me of prudence, and to my shame, I listened and allowed myself to be convinced.”

He stood up suddenly in agitation. “But I was miserable, Miss Bennet, for I thought I loved one who did not return my love. Only this morning did I learn from Mr. Darcy that I was not alone in my misery — that you shared it.”

Jane was confused. “Mr. Darcy? How could he know anything about my feelings?”

“He had it from your sister, Miss Elizabeth, whom he met while visiting in Kent. I confess,” he said with a frown, “I do not quite understand how she came to tell him of this, but he assures me that it is true. It was he who acquainted me of your presence in London these months. I was completely unaware of it. He also told me you had called on my sister Caroline and that she returned the visit. I also knew nothing of that.”

He came to a stop in front of her. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to sink down to one knee in before her and take her hand.

“Miss Bennet, I have been counselled of prudence, and I have listened to that counsel, and I have been miserable. I will have no more of prudence! Your aunt said that I had made no declaration of my feeling in Hertfordshire; that is true, and it was my mistake. I am done with that also. Miss Bennet, I must tell you that I love you, I loved you in Hertfordshire, and I love you even more after these months of misery. When I entered this room and saw you, I knew I could never live without you. I would be the happiest man in the world if you would agree to be my wife.”

Jane was filled with overflowing joy, both by his declaration of love and by the overwhelming suddenness of it all, but she was unable to say a word as he continued, “I can well understand if you could not forgive me for my mistakes, for they are grievous. I allowed myself to be swayed by the arguments of others rather than listening to my own heart, and that failing has caused us both pain. But I will do my best to make amends. I will start, if you cannot accept me at this point, by returning to Netherfield and asking your father for permission to court you in the hope of convincing you of my steadfastness, for I do dearly love you, and . . .”

Jane tried to get his attention, but though he held her hand, he could not hold her eye as he continued to tell her of what he would do to win her love in the future. At last, she put out her other hand and placed her fingers over his mouth. “Please stop,” she said, and when she had his attention, she simply said, “Yes.”

“Yes?” he asked in surprise and incredulity.

“Yes,” she confirmed with a smile.

At that, Bingley, who had been so full of words just moments before, was struck dumb. Jane squeezed his fingers, the gentle, happy smile remaining on her face, and said, “Perhaps we should go to my aunt.”

Chapter 9

Monday, April 13, 1812

Just after noon on Monday, Darcy was working on his correspondence in his study when he heard a knock at the front door of his townhouse. Shortly, Stevens came to the study door. “Mr. Bingley asks for a moment of your time, sir.”

Darcy looked up in surprise. “Please show him in.” Before he could rise to his feet, he heard rapid footsteps in the hall, and Bingley literally burst through the door. Gone was the grim, baleful man of the previous day and returned was the effusive, amiable Bingley of yore, smiling widely, if somewhat sheepishly, as he approached his friend.

“Darcy, I have the pleasure to inform you that both our missions have been successful and I am engaged to be married! In fact, I am just back from asking Mr. Bennet for his consent.”

Darcy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “That was fast work.” He cocked his head at his friend, whose smile had just grown wider if possible. “In fact, it is
most
unlike the Bingley I have known for these past years.” Darcy held out his hand. “Congratulations, Charles.”

Bingley pumped the proffered hand enthusiastically.

As Darcy gestured Bingley to a chair, he ventured, “Do I dare hope that I am forgiven?”

Bingley could not help but laugh. “Certainly Darcy, certainly. For a while there, I do not quite know what came over me. I cannot remember ever being that angry before.”

“I am certain that I deserved every jot of your anger. I should not have presumed to interfere.”

“Never mind that. You made your mistake and then owned up to it when you discovered your error. Caroline, however . . .”

Darcy saw a cloud of anger descend on Bingley again, and he continued, “Caroline tried to keep lying to me, and I banished her to the charity of the Hursts. Until I am satisfied that she understands the gravity of what she did and affirms that she will not repeat her mistake, especially in her treatment of Jane, she can stay there.” He smiled wickedly. “I also suspended her allowance, and I am afraid she has already overspent her income for the quarter.”

“That is quite singular, Charles.” Darcy was surprised and pleased at Bingley’s newfound determination. “I am impressed. But now, may I invite my sister to join us? She will be most excited by your news.”

At his nod, Darcy rang for a servant, and when Georgiana knocked softly on the door, Darcy invited her to sit on the couch beside him. “Georgie,” he said with a smile, “Mr. Bingley has an announcement.”

Georgiana looked over at Bingley expectantly.

“Miss Darcy, I am engaged to be married!”

Georgiana sat forward in surprise. “That is most happy news, Mr. Bingley!”

She felt considerable relief since she had been made uncomfortable for some time by Miss Bingley’s obvious attempts to match her brother with herself. This news would certainly bring a halt to
that
. Now if it were equally possible to achieve a similar result for her brother . . .

“But you have not said who you are marrying,” she chided.

“Miss Jane Bennet. Your brother and I became acquainted with the Bennet family when we were at my estate in Hertfordshire.”

“She is a very nice young lady, Georgie,” said Darcy. “She is almost as amiable as Charles, if that can be believed.”

“I am on my way to her uncle’s house right now, Darcy. Would you care to join me?”

Darcy immediately accepted. As Mr. Gardiner was Mrs. Bennet’s brother, it might be well to be acquainted with what he would have to bear with equanimity when he came to call on Elizabeth. It would not do to react to her relations here in town as he had previously done with her immediate family in Hertfordshire.

“May I come also?” asked Georgiana softly. “I should like to meet Mr. Bingley’s intended.”

Darcy was surprised and somewhat apprehensive at exposing his sister to the society in Cheapside, but he could see that she very much wanted to come, and Jane Bennet was an appropriate acquaintance for his sister, even if her relations might not be of the finest calibre. Georgiana had so few friends, and he would much prefer she looked to the Miss Bennets as examples rather than to Miss Bingley, so he agreed quickly to her request.

* * * * *

Mrs. Gardiner was not surprised to hear that Bingley was at her door, but she was astonished to find that Mr. Darcy had accompanied him since, by Elizabeth’s previous account, there was an aversion on his part to the match. She was equally unprepared to learn that Miss Darcy has accompanied them, given Mr. Wickham’s information that she was exceedingly proud.

The gentlemen stood as she entered the sitting room, and she greeted Mr. Bingley warmly, giving no hint of concern regarding his companions, whom he immediately sought leave to introduce to her.

Mrs. Gardiner politely invited them all to sit down and then rang for tea. “I am sorry that Jane has not returned from her walk in the park with the children,” she told him, “but I do expect her back momentarily.”

Bingley was obviously disappointed, but she could see he was overflowing with good cheer, which he was quick to share.

“I have just returned from Longbourn,” he told her, “and Mr. Bennet has given his consent. He asked me to deliver this letter to your husband informing him of the arrangements.”

Mrs. Gardiner glanced at the letter then put it aside. “I will give it to Mr. Gardiner when he returns. Now, tell me all about your visit. I know Jane will be equally interested in all the arrangements, but you will just have to repeat yourself when she comes home, for I cannot wait!”

Bingley was more than willing to accommodate and happily related the details of his talk with Jane’s father.

“We have not settled on a firm date though we discussed the possibility of late May or early June before it gets too warm. But Mr. Bennet said that Mrs. Bennet might have another opinion when she arrives. Did I mention that? He suggested that Jane might remain here for several weeks more, which would allow Mrs. Bennet to assist her in shopping for wedding clothes.”

“I am sure that will be acceptable to all concerned,” Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “We have enjoyed Jane’s company these past months, and she is quite the favourite with my children. In addition, Jane’s sister Elizabeth will be returning from her visit in Kent this Saturday, and I am sure she will be most pleased to stay and help with the preparations.”

The conversation continued, but Darcy’s heart leapt at the thought that he might have more time with Elizabeth than he had previously imagined. He was unclear just how long she planned to stay before returning to Hertfordshire, but he thought it might have been as little as a few days. Several weeks would be much better.

Further, Darcy was thoroughly ashamed of himself for once again making hasty assumptions. Whatever he had expected to find here in Cheapside, he had not expected to find this household, and given his already mistaken assumptions regarding the wife, he determined that he would withhold any opinions of her husband until he met him.

For there his mistake had been early evident. While Mrs. Gardiner had been most charming and amiable as she conversed with Bingley and himself, she must have quickly recognized Georgiana’s painful shyness. Darcy observed how skilfully the older woman had, from the start, managed to include his sister in the conversation without demanding more participation from her than she was able to give. Their hostess was a charming and elegant lady, whatever her husband did in life, and Darcy was eager to meet him. Calling on Elizabeth in such a convivial environment exceeded his original expectations, and he very much looked forward to it.

“I wonder what can be keeping Jane,” Mrs. Gardiner said eventually. “I am afraid that the children may have taken advantage of her good nature to convince her to stay just a little longer. If they are not returned soon, I will send Hannah to the park to look for them. Mr. Bingley, we anticipated that you might again join us for supper. Do you think your companions might also be interested?”