Disdain, Agony, Hope, and Love #Wattys2020

Chapter 61

"I see," said Mr. Bennet. There was a look of worry on his face that Darcy did not like. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"My friend Bingley and your eldest daughter, Jane Bennet." When Mr. Bennet did not reply, Darcy continued earnestly, "Please sir, do not question my love for Elizabeth or my motives in proposing marriage to her. I truly love her as I have loved no one ever before. I will always love her, care for her and protect her. I know that your opinion of me is not as high as I would like it to be but -"

"Come now, young man," said Mr. Bennet cutting off his flow of words. "Do sit down."

Darcy did so. There was an amusement in Mr. Bennet's features that quieted Darcy more than anything else had. Once he was seated. Mr. Bennet spoke.

"I must admit, Mr. Darcy, that your application has taken me quite by surprise, even with the prior information I received from my cousin Mr. Collins. I had no idea that three of my daughters would become engaged in such a short space of time. You must understand that I wish for my daughters to marry only men who are worthy of them, though in Lydia's case there was little room for argument. Forgive me for asking, but your aunt, what says she to your engagement?"

Darcy grimaced slightly. "She is not happy, though I believe she will eventually come to accept it."

Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair. "Yet despite her disapproval, you are still willing to marry Elizabeth." A statement, not a question.

"Yes, despite her disapproval, despite the censure of the world if need be," replied Darcy firmly.

Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows at the younger man's declaration and sat thoughtfully for some moments.

"Have I your approval?" asked Darcy.

Mr. Bennet stood up and after the briefest second of hesitancy, extended his hand across the gap between them. "If that is the way your feelings lie," said he, "then I can do nothing more than give you my . . . congratulations, and every wish for your future together."

Darcy smiled, the last of his worries falling away, too exuberantly joyful to notice anything other than the fact that Elizabeth was to be his wife.

"Thank you, sir," said he, shaking Mr. Bennet's hand.

"Yes, yes, be off with you now," chastised Mr. Bennet waving him away. Darcy walked quickly to the door. Just before he opened it, Mr. Bennet asked, "Send Lizzy in here would you please, Mr. Darcy? I wish to speak to her."

"Yes, sir."

Darcy exited the library and proceeded towards the drawing room where the rest of the Bennet family was seated, talking over cups of tea. Elizabeth immediately turned towards him, her worry plainly seen on her face but it was relieved by his smile. She was sewing at the table, her sister Catherine beside her. Darcy walked over to her, and, while pretending to admire her work, whispered, "Go to your father, he wants you in the library." She was gone directly, and then it was his turn to wait anxiously

Though Mr. Bennet had given his approval, Darcy was certain that the man hesitant about letting Darcy marry his daughter. Darcy could well understand Mr. Bennet's feelings and wryly agreed that if such a man had asked to marry Georgiana, he also would be unsure about the prospect. But though he could understand Mr. Bennet's misgivings, it didn't make it any easier for him not to worry.

Elizabeth did not return for over half an hour, a period of time in which Darcy's feeling of foreboding grew and grew. Just at the time when he was about to knock on Mr. Bennet's door for a second time, Elizabeth returned to the drawing room and gave him a smile that told him that everything was settled and there was nothing to worry about.

Mr. Bennet had also come in to join them, much to the surprise of everyone. Darcy was even more surprised when Mr. Bennet voluntarily sought his company and engaged him in conversation. He could only venture that Elizabeth had told her father everything and Mr. Bennet was now taking pains to amend any past relations, and to become acquainted with his future son-in-law. To his even greater surprise, Darcy found that he quite enjoyed the older man's company, for his dry humor and quick wit made any conversation a pleasure.

Everything was too recent for real gaiety, and for the most part, the evening passed tranquilly away. There was nothing material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time.

Darcy did wish that he had the liberty of displaying a more affectionate farewell to Elizabeth, as Bingley did to Jane, but was comforted by the fact that tonight was the last night they had to conceal their relationship.

"From Mr. Bennet's behaviour towards you, I take it that your suit has been successful?" asked Bingley as they rode in the moonlight back to Netherfield.

Darcy smiled but said nothing.

Bingley sighed in exasperation and reigned in his horse. "Darcy, come now, lighten up a little! Surely you can display more emotion than that!"

Darcy stopped as well. "I am sorry, but I am not quite sure what I should be feeling now, relief or happiness or both."

"Why must you think about it?"

They began to ride again, coming to the field below Oakham Mount. Suddenly Darcy urged his horse into a gallop, drawing in front of his friend and calling back, "If that is the way you want it, then I shall race you back to Netherfield!"

"Give a man some warning before you start, Darcy!"

Laughing with the gaiety of those who had begun their lives anew, the two friends chased each other back home.