Page 51 of The Sole Love

It was not a lie, although it did not contain the whole truth, and that made her feel rather uncomfortable. She detested not being honest with her future husband, and a constant battle raged within her between telling him the secret and keeping it.

“Miss Bennet will marry. She is far too beautiful and accomplished not to find a man worthy of her. And do not forget that Bingley is expected to arrive. Perhaps their story is not over. For everyone to be so worried about someone like Miss Bennet seems excessive to me.”

Yet the entire day passed under the same sense of tension, which Darcy could feel but not entirely explain.

“You are all making me feel terribly guilty, if Miss Jane is truly so unhappy,” he told Elizabeth later.

“No!” she said vehemently. “It has not been your fault for some time now. That happened in November…and it was not entirely your fault even then. Mr Bingley must bear some responsibility for his own weakness.”

“I would like to see all of you happier. And I do not know what to do.”

“Perhaps you could kiss me,” she said with a boldness she had only lately begun to discover in his company. Yet the words still made her colour a delicious pale pink.

“It is all I want as well,” he whispered.

∞∞∞

“I still have not received a proper proposal,” Elizabeth complained to Mrs Gardiner when at last they found a moment to walk alone towards the delightful pond, which glittered beautifully in the morning sun.

“Elizabeth Bennet! I do not know what sort of proposal you are still expecting. Everyone around you already seems to consider you the future mistress of this house. I saw Mrs Reynolds talking to you earlier.”

“She asked whether the apartment was as I wished it to be. There was nothing special about that.”

“It was very special. You were the only one she asked such a question. It was her way of approaching you. She could hardly come directly to discuss the menus with you before you are even engaged, but I am certain that in a few days she will.”

“The menus?” Elizabeth almost cried, startling the birds on the pond.

“The menus, my dear young lady. As is customary in any household.”

“Mr Darcy asked me why all of you are so tense—”

“So it shows.”

“Of course it shows. Mama, who six months ago was preparing for a wedding that did not exist, now seems incapable of understanding that I may marry the master of this house.”

“Mr Haskett has written again—”

“Oh,” Elizabeth sighed. “How is it that I know nothing about it?”

“Jane told no one. Lydia saw the letter, and you know how curious she is. She wanted to discover everything about this new suitor of her sister’s and told Mrs Bennet, who nearly fainted. Fortunately, I was nearby and took Lydia aside. I explained that, this time, she had better hold her tongue if she wanted a new gown and pelisse.”

“And did it work?”

“I hope so. She has probably told Kitty, but Kitty is no danger.”

“Did she see what he had written?”

“No, but what else could it be? He is probably saying that he intends to come as soon as possible.”

“And Mr Bingley is late.”

“Yes. Mr Bennet and your uncle are already preparing to write to David’s father.”

It was indeed a terrible situation.

“Elizabeth, your only concern now is yourself. Leave the rest to us, for once in your life. When everything is settled, you may return to being the defender of the family.”

The slightly teasing tone did her good. She smiled at Mrs Gardiner, and they walked back towards the house.