Page 98 of Master of Himself

“I am a rogue for asking you to meet me here at this hour, and I’ll not do so again. We’ll find another way to steal a few moments together.”

“I must thank you for speaking to Sir William. I’ve lost all respect for him, but my mama is desperate to preserve the connection.”

“I believe he abhors any type of dispute and will make every attempt to mend the divide.”

After a few lingering kisses, he released her. “I dare not keep you outdoors any longer.”

With promises to arrive promptly for breakfast later that morning, he watched her walk away and disappear into the woods.

He might be a rogue, but unlike Wickham, he intended to lead this fair damsel to the altar, carry her way to his fortress, and protect her with his life.

After enduring hours of tedious morning calls at Longbourn, Darcy escorted the last neighbour to his conveyance. Although he despised this archaic custom of polite society, it had been absolutely essential to the restoration of the Bennets’ reputation in the community.

Mr Robinson leaned heavily on Darcy’s arm as he hobbled over the driveway. “I daresay you don’t need my advice, Mr Darcy, but you’ve found a precious jewel in Miss Lizzy, and you ought not to let anything prevent you from securing her hand.”

Darcy agreed wholeheartedly. “Indeed, Mr Robinson, and if it were up to me, the banns would have already been read.”

The elderly man quietly chuckled. “Thomas Bennet is a bit overcautious, but don’t worry, I put a flea in his ear.”

Darcy doubted that Mr Bennet had further reason to withhold his consent now that the neighbours had called, but this endorsement from a trusted acquaintance wouldn’t go amiss. “I’m in your debt, Mr Robinson, and hope we’ll soon have cause for celebration.”

Once the gentleman’s carriage had passed through Longbourn’s gates, Darcy made his way back inside. The Bennets had also received calls from Mrs Goulding, Mrs Harrington, and Mrs Long. While none of these fickle friends had offered ringing endorsements of Lydia’s present circumstances, they’d established a fragile accord with the Bennets, which was the best Darcy could hope for.

Upon entering the drawing room, Darcy requested a private audience with Mr Bennet, but the older gentleman declined.

“There isn’t the least need, Mr Darcy. I’m well aware of the debt I owe to you and Mr Bingley, and I give my hearty consent to your betrothal with Lizzy.”

Calamity ensued.

The ladies jumped to their feet, squealing with delight “Oh, happy day!” Mrs Bennet said in high alt. “What an excellent father you have, my dear girls.”

Elizabeth rushed to embrace her father. “Thank you, Papa,” she said, kissing his forehead, while Charles clapped Darcy’s back.

“Well done, Darcy.”

Relieved that he had finally secured his enchantress, he shook hands with everyone and accepted their enthusiastic felicitations with the greatest humility.

“Perhaps we might call on the parsonage,” Jane said, once order had been restored.

“Quite right,” Charles said. “We ought not to delay the banns.”

Eager for any excuse to get Elizabeth out of the house, Darcy agreed.

The moment Charles’s carriage had reached the lane, Darcy abandoned all sense of propriety, pulled Elizabeth onto his lap and gave his full attention to her lips. They reached the parsonage entirely too quickly, in his opinion, and he reluctantly released her.

After both couples had alighted, Charles instructed his driver to return to Longbourn. “It’s a fine day, and once we’ve finished our business with the vicar, we shall enjoy a leisurely stroll back to the house.”

“A capital idea,” Darcy said, in full agreement with this excellent suggestion, planning to use that time with his lady love to his best advantage.

When Darcy returned to Longbourn, an unwelcomed surprise awaited in the drawing room.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh rapped her cane on the carpet. “There you are, Darcy. You’ve been keeping me waiting this past hour or more.”

Despite his embarrassment, Darcy bowed to his formidable aunt. “I wasn’t expecting you, Aunt Catherine.” He was about to make introductions, but she abruptly forestalled him.

“I must speak with you immediately.”

Darcy was horrified as she laid hands on him and attempted to push him out of the parlour, as the Bennets looked on with some confusion.