Page 81 of Master of Himself

He cringed at this well-deserved reminder. “An unfortunate error for which I have begged and received her pardon.” Well, at least Charles had done so on Darcy’s behalf, but he fully intended to see to the matter himself.

Mr Bennet leaned back in his chair to contemplate the matter. “Well, I have no objections to the match, but I fear a precipitous engagement announcement so soon after Lydia’s escapade will be misinterpreted, especially by our gabble-mongering neighbours.”

Darcy couldn’t disagree. “The community would undoubtedly assume that Elizabeth was being sacrificed to save her sisters.”

“We could have kept the whole thing quiet, if not for my self-righteous cousin,” Mr Bennet said, clenching his hands. “But if you’ll agree to a courtship, a short delay might be more palatable.”

Darcy considered this alternative. To be perfectly honest, Elizabeth knew little of his true character. Her first impression of him had been as an arrogant, prideful snob. They had since enjoyed each other’s company, but at the time, he’d been inhabiting another man’s body. She’d had little opportunity to become better acquainted with him in the past fortnight; certainly not long enough to make such a momentous decision. “A courtship is an excellent suggestion.”

Mr Bennet rose to shake Darcy’s hand. “If you’ll wait in the library, I’ll send her to you.”

He paced while he waited, wondering how best to present this idea to her.

Some minutes later, Elizabeth entered wearing a sombre expression, and dipped a curtsy, but kept her focus on the floor. “Mr Darcy, I beg you to overlook the liberty I took in writing to Mr Bingley, but Mr Wickham told me of your prior connection in Derbyshire, and I hoped you might have some knowledge of his whereabouts,” she said, then finally met his gaze. “I can’t thank you enough for your kindness. Lydia’s enrolment in a reputable seminary and Wickham’s transfer to the army benefit them far more than they deserve.”

Alarmed by her anguish, he cradled her soft hand in his, hoping to comfort her. “You need not thank me, Miss Elizabeth. I only did what I thought to be right and just. Unfortunately, I didn’t anticipate your cousin’s involvement in the matter.”

Her eyes flared with fury. “Mr Collins is a malicious gossip, unworthy of the office he holds. I gather my father has told you what he has done.”

He nodded gravely. “I wouldn’t have thought it of him – a man of the cloth.”

She stepped back, clenching her fists at her sides. “Nor I,” she said, her lip curling in disgust. “His stinging rebuke was made even more insulting when he announced his regrets for ever having considered me as his future wife. I knew he was planning to address me, because he’d been overly attentive since he arrived. But after we discovered that Lydia had run away, he vowed that he would never stoop so low as to align himself with a fallen woman.”

“Only a vile, repulsive man would insult his own family. I assure you that he shall hear from me on the matter,” he said, already planning that letter, but then recalled the reason for this meeting. “I’ve come here today to humbly ask you to enter into a courtship with me.”

Confusion crossed her brow. “Courtship?”

Apparently, Mr Bennet hadn’t advised her of his intent. “In all honesty, I originally planned to address you, but your father wouldn’t permit a betrothal so soon after Lydia’s disgrace.”

“But our acquaintance is of such short duration, and besides, my family is ruined. Why would you attach your good name to mine?” she inquired.

“Do you have any objections to me?”

When she hesitated. He guessed the reason. Charles had apologised on his behalf, but he had yet to make proper amends. “Once again, I humbly beg your pardon for insulting you at the first assembly. I was insufferably rude, arrogant, and prideful that night. I have since come to think of you as one of the most handsome women of my acquaintance.”

She shook her head. “You need not repeat your apologies, Mr Darcy. I have already forgiven you for that slight.”

He took this as an encouraging sign. “Then, will you consider a courtship? We may use the time to become better acquainted.”

She averted her eyes. “I’ve heard some…reports…that you are already betrothed to Miss de Bourgh.”

He supressed a groan, cursing the despicable parson. “You may call it a rumour, as it most certainly is one. Your gossip-prone cousin would have been sure to repeat it, since my aunt especially desires the match, but I assure you, there’s no truth to it. I’m not engaged to my cousin, nor to anyone else, for that matter.”

She nodded her understanding. “Well then, I agree to a courtship,” she said, without much conviction.

Although he hadn’t anticipated her reserve, he suspected that recent events weighed heavily on her mind. “Believe me, Miss Elizabeth, I will endeavour to be worthy of you.”

“Has Mr Bingley returned to Netherfield?” she inquired.

He explained Charles’s ongoing business matters, but then remembered the letter in his pocket, which he had yet to deliver. “I have a missive intended for your elder sister,” he said, withdrawing the note.

She inspected the letter. “Is this from Miss Bingley?”

“It’s rather from her brother, hence the subterfuge.”

Tucking it into her pocket, she vowed to deliver it privately. “Will you stay for supper?”

“I would be delighted.” Although he hadn’t accomplished his goal, he was confident that he was well on the way to securing Elizabeth’s hand.