Falling for Mr. Darcy (9 page)

He reasoned with himself that even if she did not look forward to a visit from him with pleasure, he had another reason for accompanying his friend that was quite proper. Bingley had finally decided on a date for the ball, and it was scheduled for a week hence. Bingley wished personally to invite the Bennet family, and as his personal friend and guest at Netherfield, it was quite proper for Darcy to accompany him in delivering the invitation. Darcy was grateful that his friend did not appear to notice the lack of conversation during their ride as he whistled a romantic tune to himself.

Upon entering the gate and courtyard, Mr. Darcy looked around the house with discomfort. Where was Elizabeth and how did she feel about his arrival? He scanned the house as he pondered this and caught a glimpse of yellow at one of the upper windows. Immediately his gaze focused on the color, only to be arrested by one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. Elizabeth was sitting with her legs curled up to her chest, her beautiful curls framing her face, and looking down at him. He was so caught by her beauty, which struck him as even greater than he had remembered, that he thought, ‘
She is beautiful, and therefore to be woo’d. She is a woman, therefore to be won
’. He was stirred from his thoughts — and from the many other words Shakespeare might have used to describe her — by the tender smile she bestowed. All of his previous worries vanished as a glorious smile spread across his face.
Oh, I am beyond hope indeed!
he thought as he dismounted and prepared to enter the house.

* * *

Elizabeth, having nearly recovered from her injury, needed only occasional aid. Jane was her constant companion and always available to help. The two of them took a brief moment to take a calming breath before descending the stairs together. As they reached the landing, they could hear their mother’s excited chatter as she welcomed the gentlemen to the house. Elizabeth cringed as she neared the drawing room door and prepared for the mortification she was sure to feel upon entering the room where the gentlemen waited with her mother. The two sisters looked at each other, and Jane gave Elizabeth’s arm a gentle squeeze for support. Together, they opened the drawing room doors and entered.

Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley immediately stood at their entrance, and Mr. Darcy, seeing the slight hobble in Elizabeth’s step, moved towards her to offer assistance before he stopped, realizing she did not need it. He and Bingley bowed to the ladies as Elizabeth made her curtsy. He felt foolish for his impulsiveness and wondered why he felt it was his place always to be assisting her.

Elizabeth smiled to herself at the sight of Mr. Darcy coming to her aid. She liked the idea that he felt compelled to help her and enjoyed his protectiveness. She and Jane lowered themselves to the sofa and smiled as the gentleman came over to make their greetings.

“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, we are come to enquire after your health,” said Mr. Bingley as he swept his eyes from Elizabeth and rested them on Jane.

“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth.” Mr. Darcy bowed again.

“Thank you, sir,” replied Jane, sweetly. “As you can see I have quite recovered from my illness. You are most kind in your inquiry.” This pleased Bingley, and after briefly stating to Elizabeth his concern about her injury and his happiness in seeing her moving around so well after such a short time, he took the opportunity to occupy the seat near Jane, and they began conversing.

Mr. Darcy shifted on his feet and, with a slight blush, looked down at Elizabeth’s expectant face. “Miss Elizabeth, may I ask how your ankle fairs?”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy, it is nearly recovered. I very rarely need assistance from Jane and look forward to being quite myself again soon.”

Mr. Darcy took the seat next to Elizabeth and replied stiffly, “I am glad to hear it.”

The two of them sat quietly for a few minutes, each wondering what they should say and feeling too many emotions to decide on any one particular topic. Mrs. Bennet’s loud outburst actually came as a relief. “Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, we are glad to see you both this morning. Please excuse my two youngest daughters as they have set out on a walk to Meryton to visit their Aunt Philips.”

It was apparent that Bingley was too distracted with Miss Bennet to notice her mother’s comment. “Yes, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Darcy replied. “I believe we saw them when we made our way through town on our journey here. We did not stop as they were in conversation.” Mr. Darcy felt a twinge of jealousy at the other couple’s easy conversation, and he glanced quickly to Elizabeth, wondering what had made it easier for them a few days earlier. Returning to the current conversation, Mr. Darcy recollected that he had seen Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty talking to a group of two officers and another gentleman. He frowned as he thought of their ceaseless flirting and lack of decorum. He remembered now that the gentleman with them was not in uniform and had his back to him, but Mr. Darcy thought his stance and figure looked familiar. He quickly dismissed the thought for another more agreeable one as he turned to speak to Miss Elizabeth.

His efforts were interrupted, however, because at that moment, a stout clergyman entered the room, and Miss Bennet made the introduction.

“Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, please allow me to introduce our cousin Mr. Collins.” The stout clergyman bowed to the gentleman and placed himself, much to the astonishment of the guests, on the sofa right between the ladies. Elizabeth and Jane clearly were unhappy with their cousin’s proximity and immediately adjusted themselves to occupy the smallest amount of space at the furthest distance away from him. Mr. Darcy was inclined to dislike the cousin as it was obvious that Elizabeth was unhappy and did not welcome his familiarity. This newly developed sense of protectiveness provoked him uncharacteristically to intercede.

“Mr. Collins, would you be more comfortable in my seat? I would be happy to release it and sit elsewhere.” Mr. Darcy gestured to the armchair across from the sofa. He really did not want to sit across the room from Elizabeth, but her cousin sitting next to her was desired even less.

“Mr. Darcy, I thank you for your concern, but I assure you, I am quite comfortable,” Mr. Collins replied, with a sideways smile at Elizabeth and a tilt of his head in her direction. “Although my dear cousins and I have known each other for only a short time, we are already quite as close as any family.”

Mr. Darcy watched as Elizabeth forced a smile in return and attempted discreetly to move even closer towards the edge of the couch. He was not pleased with the proximity of the man to Elizabeth and was even more displeased with the way he smiled at her.

“My cousin has recently come to visit us from his parsonage in Kent,” Elizabeth hesitantly spoke to Mr. Darcy. He could see she wished to be elsewhere, and he hoped it was not because of his presence but the other man’s. Before Mr. Darcy could comment, Mr. Collins’s enthusiastic voice stalled him.

“Indeed, sir. I have just come from Hunsford parsonage, where I am most fortunate in my placement by one of the most illustrious ladies of the land. Perhaps you have heard of her; she is none other than the esteemed and favored Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” This last part was spoken with such a reverence as to insinuate the lady was perhaps a deity. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Mr. Darcy’s expression to his friend warned him against voicing the connection to the lady.

With an air of indifference, Mr. Darcy replied, “Yes, sir, I have heard of the lady.” Mr. Darcy glanced briefly at Elizabeth and noticed the small smirk on her face, and he realized she had seen his strange interaction with Bingley.

Mr. Darcy sat back, stunned, when Mr. Collins erupted in excitement. “I am so glad to hear it, sir. My cousins had not heard of the lady before I arrived, and I am glad to meet with someone acquainted with her. I had not thought I would. Is she not the most gracious of ladies?” Mr. Collins did not pause for a reply and continued, “Indeed, she is! For just last week when I was preparing for my journey here, she condescended to stop her barouche at my gate and remind me as to the proper reading material for a clergyman to bring on such a journey and to advise me in all the particular delicacies that I must attend to in my visit with my relations. Is that not most gracious? I attest that it is, and I said to her, ‘Lady Catherine, you are most gracious! I thank you for your solicitous concern over my comfort and your most suitable advice for the cultivation of my mind with your suggestions for my reading. You are everything proper.’ I often deem it necessary to pay such compliments to her ladyship as she is always most attentive to me.”

Elizabeth coughed into her handkerchief in an attempt to hide her mortification at her cousin’s absurdity. She colored in embarrassment until she saw Darcy glance at her and hide a humorous smirk behind his own hand. Seeing Mr. Darcy’s attempt to curb his humor, Elizabeth decided to tease him and shot him a reproachful look but did not hide the laughter in her eyes.

Jane addressed her cousin at that point, causing him to turn towards her and Mr. Bingley and join their conversation, much to the relief and thanks of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.

With humor still in her eyes, Elizabeth took the opportunity to speak to Mr. Darcy. “Sir, would you be so kind as to tell me: how is your great black beast?”

It took Mr. Darcy a moment to realize she was referring to his horse and was pleased about the allusion to their morning together. “You are most kind, Miss Elizabeth,” replied Mr. Darcy with a hint of a smile at the edge of his lips. “My horse is quite well, though he seems to miss his new favorite rider.”

Elizabeth laughed softly and shook her head as she responded, “Oh no, sir, I will not be fooled by that. I am sure we, neither of us, miss each other too much.”

Mr. Darcy smiled kindly at her and, after pausing for a moment, leaned in to say softly, “Miss Elizabeth, you look well this morning. I am glad to see you so recovered.”

Elizabeth colored beautifully at his comment and murmured a soft, “Thank you.”

Mr. Darcy enjoyed seeing her thus affected and, ignoring the stammering of his heartbeat, boldly continued, “Though I must admit you are correct. My horse is not the one who misses riding with you.” At this, he sat back in his chair watching her discomposure and savoring the brightness her blushing cheeks gave her complexion.

Elizabeth was momentarily stunned by Mr. Darcy’s boldness and could do nothing but try to calm her rapidly beating heart. After a short time, she recovered enough to retaliate in her own attempt at discomposing him. Raising her shoulders and chin, she looked at him with one eyebrow raised saucily and, pausing to make sure she had his full attention, opened her mouth to speak. Her look of flirtatious challenge was delicious to Mr. Darcy, and his eyes lit with excited anticipation of her response. She was so beautiful, and it was that same impertinent look that first put him in her power.
What do you have to say to me, you minx!

“Mr. Darcy —” she began.

“Cousin Elizabeth, I forgot to mention that I have found a passage in
Fordyce’s Sermons
that I really must insist you read. I assure you, you will find it most interesting.”

The look of fury that Mr. Darcy leveled at Mr. Collins at this interruption could have set ice on fire. His disappointment and subsequent frustration were not lost on Elizabeth, and she smiled to herself at their similar feelings. Mr. Darcy went from disliking the attentions Mr. Collins bestowed upon Elizabeth to wanting to remove the gentleman bodily from her presence. He was imagining with wicked delight the many ways he could physically remove the odious man, including a scenario involving his boot and the gentleman’s backside, when Elizabeth’s gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Thank you, Mr. Collins. You are most attentive to my education.” Although she said this to her cousin, Mr. Darcy saw the flick of her eyes towards him, and he was quieted by the look of disappointment in them.

At that point, Mr. Bingley remembered the other reason for his visit and announced to the room his invitation to them all to attend a ball at Netherfield Park in one week. The raptures that erupted from the ladies were numerous, and Darcy and Bingley both delighted in seeing the warm smiles their particular ladies bestowed at the news. Mrs. Bennet, of course, was beyond herself, and in her delight, accosted Mr. Bingley for some time with compliments to his person and appreciation for the invitation.

Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy, her eyes lit with excitement, and asked, “Mr. Darcy, sir, if I remember correctly from my time at Netherfield, some of the party there believed you would not welcome a ball. I hope that is not the case.”

“Indeed, no, Miss Elizabeth. While I cannot profess to be overly fond of dancing as my friend is, I do delight in the activity if I am acquainted with my partner. If I may be so bold . . . as to request . . . ” Mr. Darcy cleared his throat to continue when Mr. Collins yet again interrupted the important moment. It was Elizabeth’s turn to glare at her cousin.

“A dance is a splendid idea for the entertainment of young people. And even though I am a man of the cloth and of a nature inclined towards holier activities, I find nothing improper about a dance given by a man of respectability to people of upstanding virtues. I am so far inclined to think the activity not at all unworthy of a man of my profession, as to ask the hand of all my fair cousins for a dance throughout the course of the evening. I would like to take the opportunity, now, to ask my dear Cousin Elizabeth for her hand for the first dance of the evening.” Mr. Collins paused for her answer with a smile of great assurance.