A Most Civil Proposal (13 page)

Darcy looked at Georgiana. She usually was uncomfortable in formal social situations, but Mrs. Gardiner had made her feel most at ease, and she gave him a small smile and a nod. Turning to Mrs. Gardiner, Darcy said, “We have no engagements for the day, Mrs. Gardiner. We would be pleased to accept.”

Mrs. Gardiner watched the small interaction with interest. She had not found Mr. Darcy as intimidating as she had been led to believe, and she was now convinced that the opinion she had received of the sister was completely wrong, for the girl was perfectly charming and polite, just so shy that she could barely respond beyond a few words. Certainly, Darcy was a most solicitous brother, for he had not even considered accepting or rejecting the invitation without first gaining her thoughts. She would have to speak with Elizabeth about Mr. Wickham and his information, for her suspicions of
that
man were now aroused.

At that moment, the sounds of voices floated up the stairwell, and a moment later the two older Gardiner children burst into the room, followed by Jane. Both gentlemen rose to their feet, and Jane’s face lit up with happiness when she saw Bingley. She did not have to be told the result of his errand; she could see it in his wide smile as he crossed the room to take her hand. As he raised it to his lips, he confirmed, “Your father has given us his consent, dear heart.”

“I never doubted it, sir,” she told him quietly, filled with a sublime joy that now her dreams were brought to fruition, and there were no more impediments.

Darcy waited until Bingley had delivered his news. “Miss Bennet,” he said, with an earnestness that surprised her, “Please accept my sincere congratulations and my best wishes for your future happiness.” And, to her further surprise, he also took her hand and bent to kiss her fingers lightly.

Unsure of the cause of this excess of civility from this reserved and distant gentleman, Jane could only nod and thank him quietly.

“Miss Bennet,” Darcy continued, turning toward his sister, “allow me to introduce my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana, Miss Jane Bennet.” Jane was rather surprised to finally meet Darcy’s sister, and she was further surprised to see that the girl appeared so retiring that she kept her eyes cast downward as she returned Jane’s curtsey.

“Miss Bennet,” Georgiana said hesitantly, forcing herself to speak, “I am very pleased to meet you. I hope you and Mr. Bingley will be most happy.”

Jane thanked her and then escorted Georgiana to a small couch with just room for them both to sit. Bingley contented himself with sitting in a comfortable chair beside them.

Meanwhile, Darcy walked over to Mrs. Gardiner and the two attractive children sitting politely beside her. That he clearly desired an introduction could not fail to please a loving mother. “Mr. Darcy, this is my oldest child, Benjamin, and my daughter, Felicia. Benjamin is eight years old, and Felicia will be six next month.”

Darcy offered his hand to the boy, an action that gratified the boy at being greeted as an adult. Darcy then bowed to kiss the hand of the young girl, causing her to blush and giggle as she attempted a curtsey. Then, introductions complete, Mrs. Gardiner directed them both to the nursery to prepare for supper and turned to Darcy with a pleased smile.

“You have certainly won the hearts of at least two of the Gardiner household, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy returned her smile, but then his expression grew sober. “I do have some experience with smaller children, Mrs. Gardiner, though I would wish it otherwise. My sister was about the same age as your Felicia when my mother died, and though more than ten years older, I often struggled to comfort her when she was so confused and saddened. And I have had almost the sole care of her since I buried my father beside my mother five years later. I cannot see a young child without remembering my many experiences with Georgiana.”

Mrs. Gardiner looked at Darcy with even greater respect. “That was a considerable responsibility for a young man to assume,” she said quietly.

Darcy nodded his head in acknowledgment, and thankfully the conversation then moved to happier subjects. He was soon surprised to discover that Mrs. Gardiner had spent many years at Lambton, near Pemberley, and they were able to find a number of interesting topics to canvass. When Elizabeth’s name came up, Mrs. Gardiner was surprised to find that Darcy had spent considerable time with her in Kent. Elizabeth had, of course, mentioned that Mr. Darcy was visiting his aunt while she stayed with Charlotte, but she could not recall more than a passing reference to meeting the man. Yet he made several comments that indicated Elizabeth had dined at Rosings a number of times while he was there and had at other times been in company with him and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Her curiosity being aroused, Mrs. Gardiner ventured to inquire further, asking how Elizabeth found her ladyship and whether he believed that she was enjoying her visit. To this, Darcy replied in a positive but noncommittal manner that was in contrast to his earlier easy and forthright conversation. To the question as to whether he himself had a pleasant stay, he replied that he had, though he ventured nothing more. Having heard enough to interest her but not enough to warrant further inquiry, Mrs. Gardener passed on to other topics until Mr. Gardiner returned home.

After introductions were made, Darcy regarded the man with intense curiosity but soon established that the husband measured up to his wife’s politeness and civility in every regard, and he soon found himself once again engaged in pleasant conversation. He had been cheerfully describing the beauties of Pemberley and the work required to manage it for some time before he became aware of the skilful manner in which Mr. Gardiner guided the conversation with sage questions and comments that kept him expounding on one of his favourite topics until dinnertime.

Dinner was an equally pleasant, though thoroughly informal, affair. Seating was not by cards but by chance, and he selected a seat with Jane on one side and Mr. Gardiner on the other while Georgiana sat across from him. Mr. Gardiner proved quite adroit at conversing with his sister, though his host had to do much of the talking until he discovered her love for music and engaged her by soliciting her opinion of various composers and whether she had visited the opera or philharmonic.

As dinner concluded, Bingley ventured, “Mr. Gardiner, I must apologize that I am not able to return your hospitality by tendering an invitation to dine at my house. My sister is at present staying with my other sister, Mrs. Hurst, and is unable to act as hostess.”

“That is quite understandable, sir. There will be other occasions, I am sure.”

“Charles,” Darcy said, “since you are inconvenienced at the moment, perhaps I could offer the hospitality of my own table in your stead?”

“That would be most welcome, Darcy!” he replied with pleasure — and no little surprise.

Darcy turned to Mr. Gardiner. “Then perhaps your family might join us — and Mr. Bingley — for the evening meal, sir? On Wednesday?”

Mr. Gardiner quickly responded affirmatively, and a time was agreed on. Later, when the Darcys and Bingley were in the carriage back to Darcy’s house, Georgiana was open in her praise toward Bingley’s intended.

“Miss Bennet is very nice and kind, Mr. Bingley,” she told him. “I do hope that you will be very happy.”

“I am sure we shall,” Bingley beamed, his eyes distracted in memory.

Georgiana turned to her brother. “William, I invited Miss Bennet to spend the morning with me tomorrow. I meant to ask your permission, but I quite forgot.”

Darcy smiled, pleased to see that Georgiana had indeed gotten on with Jane Bennet as well as it had appeared. “It is of no significance, dearest. I quite approve, but soon you shall be choosing your own friends, whether I approve or not.”

The reference to her coming out into society caused her to worry rather than to celebrate, and she passed the rest of the ride home in silence while Darcy and Bingley conversed.

Chapter 10

Wednesday, April 15, 1812

When the maid brought the mail on Wednesday afternoon, Elizabeth felt a small thrill of excitement when she saw that it included a letter from Jane. She thought that it might contain good news, but not even her most optimistic feelings could have prepared her for the contents:

Dearest Lizzy,

I have the most wonderful news! Dear sister, Mr. Bingley has called today most unexpectedly and did not wait even a half-hour before he professed his love for me and asked me to marry him! Is it not too unbelievable?”

Elizabeth intently read Jane’s detailed and excited description of events, with her sister quick to excuse and forgive all of Mr. Bingley’s faults and missteps. She smiled often as she pictured the scene in her mind, and the only thing tempering her happiness at the news was the predictable ending of the letter:

I must admit that I was puzzled by what Mr. Bingley said about Mr. Darcy, but Charles confirmed that his information did indeed come from Mr. Darcy and that you were the source of that knowledge. Though I am certainly grateful, you must write and tell me how you ever could have told this to someone you had previously disliked so!

But that puzzle can be solved in time. I am so full of joy at the thought of how happy my mother and the rest of my family will be, but most especially am I overjoyed by knowing how this news will be received by you, my dearest sister. You cannot know how much your love and care have meant to me these many months. But now I must close and write to my mother. I am, as I always will be,

Your most loving sister,
Jane

Elizabeth was unaware that she had sprung to her feet and exclaimed aloud at the most happy news in Jane’s letter until Charlotte was at last able to attract her attention.

“Lizzy, what is it?” Charlotte asked. “I know it is not bad news, for you look as if you are about to burst out laughing, but you must not keep us in suspense!”

“Oh, Charlotte,” Elizabeth said gaily, leaning over and embracing her friend. “It is the most wonderful news! Jane writes that she is engaged to Mr. Bingley!”

Both Charlotte and her sister were thrilled by the news and demanded all the details. Elizabeth consulted the letter to tell them what she could, but she did not mention what Bingley had said of Darcy, and Charlotte was left to wonder if what she had learned earlier from her friend was related to this blissful news.

* * * * *

Thursday, April 16, 1812

Elizabeth received another letter from Jane on the following day, just after she had returned from a very long walk. The tension in the Parsonage house was worse than ever, with Maria lamenting that there had been no invitations to Rosings, though she was at a loss to explain why. Both Charlotte and Elizabeth were well aware of the reason they were being shunned by Lady Catherine, and Elizabeth was relieved to avoid the company of that formidable woman. Her cousin also shunned her, and she would have ended her visit early except that her uncle had already arranged to send a servant and a coach to meet them on Saturday. But hearing from Jane so soon after the previous happy letter cheered her immensely, and she excused herself to read it in her room. It began with the expected news that Bingley had obtained their father’s consent; then it moved to more surprising news:

When Mr. Bingley arrived, he brought Mr. Darcy and his sister with him. Mr. Darcy was very gracious in congratulating me on my engagement, and I am still wondering how you came to talk of me to him. Do not think that you will be able to use your cleverness to keep from telling me, Lizzy! You are being very sly about something, for you hardly mentioned him in your letters, yet you had taken him into your confidence. I will know everything, sister, and you shall not sleep until I do!

Elizabeth eagerly read Jane’s long description of the visit with both interest and amusement until she came to the joyous conclusion:

I am happy that you will be joining me in less than a week; we have so much to talk of. Is it possible that, only three days ago, I was so downhearted and unhappy? So much has happened in so little time! Hurry home, Lizzy! Until then, I am,

Your most loving and curious sister,
Jane

Elizabeth smiled at the renewed image of Jane’s happy state and at her jesting — but still serious — threat to know the truth about Mr. Darcy. And she was surprised, nay astonished, to hear that he had gone to Gracechurch Street and had evidently enjoyed himself when there. Previously, she would have thought that his pride would have prevented either, and she could not but wonder if this moderation in his manners was due to her. The thought was certainly gratifying, but she could not forget the arrogance behind his distant and haughty behaviour in Hertfordshire. It remained a barrier between them, though perhaps it was not the impassable obstacle that she once believed, and she was in good humour as she reread the letter. This time, Jane’s description of Miss Darcy provided a renewed sense of astonishment. It did seem that every single thing Mr. Wickham had related concerning the Darcy family was the most arrant falsehood. She could recall his words perfectly —
It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy. But she is too much like her brother
—
very, very proud
— and she was again most heartily ashamed of having allowed herself to be so misled.