Janet Aylmer - Darcy’s Story

“Only, if you consider it essential, to tell your father, so that he may not trouble your uncle about repayment.”

Elizabeth then reserved to herself passing on the news to Mrs. Bennet, once it was certain that her father had agreed, saying only that she believed that she would always be happy at the prospect of a wedding for any of her daughters. That reminded them both of Wickham and Lydia, and they changed the subject quickly, to happier topics about the future. 

That evening after dinner, Darcy followed his host when he left the party to go to his room.

Seeing him, Mr. Bennet said, “Can I assist you, Sir? You are very welcome to borrow one of my books, for when the other entertainments, that are on offer, pall?”

“Thank you, but I have no need of a book for that reason. But there is something that I should like to discuss, if you would be kind enough to allow me a few minutes.”

Mr. Bennet looked surprised, but said nothing, and he led the way into the library, then inviting his guest to sit down.

But Darcy walked over to the fire, and turned, taking in the room with comfortable furniture and lined with books, in in which he knew that his host spent much of his time.

He began, without delay.

“I have an application to ask of you, Sir, that is of the utmost importance to me. Your daughter, Miss Elizabeth, has done me the greatest honour in telling me that she is willing to accept my offer of marriage, subject to your consent.”

His host appeared to take several moments to comprehend the import of this request. His countenance turned slowly to astonishment and then to concern. At last, Mr. Bennet said, “You have asked Lizzy to marry you...and she has accepted?” He spoke as though expecting a reply in the negative.

Darcy replied simply, “Yes, Sir, she has done me that honour.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Darcy,” said Mr. Bennet, “but I had no idea that you... that she... that you and Lizzy were well acquainted enough to...?”

Darcy waited for a moment, and then, as his host made no move to continue, he said,

“Your daughter has told me, Sir, that you may have little knowledge of our meetings in Kent and in Derbyshire earlier this year. You may wish to speak to her about that.”

Mr. Bennet was still silent.

“All I should say for myself now is that it is my dearest wish that she should be my wife.”

Darcy hesitated for a moment and then, as Mr. Bennet still gave no reply, he added, “I can assure you, Sir, that it is my intention to make a most generous settlement on her in the event of our marriage. She shall not want for anything.”

This last remark aroused Mr. Bennet into speech, although not on the lines that Darcy had anticipated.

“I do not doubt your ability to provide for her . . .” he said.

But he went on, in a tone that was almost puzzled, “I had no idea that there was any mutual feeling between you and my daughter. And I must confess that I was completely unaware of your intentions.”

“Forgive me, Sir,” said Darcy, “if I say that Miss Elizabeth and I are perhaps less open, more private in our emotions and behaviour than my friend, Bingley, and your eldest daughter, Miss Bennet.”

“Yes, yes,” said Mr. Bennet, almost testily, and he then lapsed into silence.

Darcy was not sure how to interpret this reaction, especially since he had noted in the past that Elizabeth’s facility with words was inherited from her father.

After a pause, he said, hesitantly, “Are you willing to give me your consent, Sir?”

Mr. Bennet looked at him for a moment, and then said slowly, “Yes. But, if you agree, I should like to speak with Lizzy before . . . before the news is passed on to anyone else in the family.”

It was not difficult for Darcy to guess who he had in mind.

“Of course, Sir. Thank you. I know that Elizabeth . . . that your daughter greatly values your opinion.” And with that, Darcy went out of the library, and returned to the drawing-room.

His absence did not seem to have been noted, except by Elizabeth, since most of the others were busily engaged playing cards. He smiled at her when he was sure that the others were occupied and, after a few minutes when he could do so without being noticed, he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty.

While pretending to admire her work, Darcy said in a whisper, “Go to your father, he wants you in the library.”

* * *

His anxiety in her absence was hard to bear, and it seemed to him a very long delay before she returned.

After so many difficulties over the past few months, he was far from complacent that her father would agree to the match without demur. There might well yet be some objection that he might put to his favourite daughter, which could carry some weight with Elizabeth.

At last, when the evening was almost over, and it was close to the time that he and Bingley must go back to Netherfield, she returned to the room and resumed her seat. When the time came for them to leave, Mrs. Bennet and the rest of the family were busy with Bingley and Jane, and Darcy took the opportunity to speak to Elizabeth.

“Your father...,” he began, sounding more anxious than he had intended, and finding that he could not go on.

Elizabeth answered the unspoken question for him. “He is willing to accept my assurances,” she said simply, and then suddenly smiled so happily that Darcy nearly forgot the others in the room standing close to him.

For once, he was grateful for Mrs. Bennet’s intervention.

“Mr. Bingley is waiting for you in the coach, Mr. Darcy,” she said sharply, and he took his leave.

After saying goodnight to Bingley, Darcy went to his room at Netherfield, but found himself disinclined to sleep.

The events of the past two days had given him little time for reflection.

Although not of a disposition which relied on the approbation of others, he wished at that moment that he had someone to whom he could confide his joy in the happy future which now lay before him.

Bingley was a good friend, but he was not someone to whom Darcy had ever displayed his innermost feelings, and his cousin Fitzwilliam was elsewhere. Then he recalled his conversation with his sister when they were last together.

She had been so much more perceptive than he had expected when she had asked him,

“You need to return south, do you not? Is it to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Is she likely to become someone you... more than value?”

He had paused, before deciding to answer her honestly.

“That is already the case, in truth. But as to her views, I am not certain...I do not know, Georgiana. I do so wish that I did. But it is a possibility. Would you wish me well in that direction?”

He recalled his surprise when she at first made no reply, but instead came across the room and took his hand, and then said,

“There is nothing I would like better. But do not worry, I shall keep your secret, whatever happens.”

Perhaps Georgiana would be more than the young sister he needed to protect from now on. Someone who would be close both to himself and to Elizabeth. Darcy drew up a chair to the desk, took paper and pen, and began to write.

The clock in his room had struck the hour before he concluded the letter,

...I hope, therefore, my dear sister, that you will wish us both well, and happy.

Should you hear from our aunt in Kent, do not be surprised if Lady Catherine takes a different view. I shall also be writing to her.

I will send this to Pemberley by the post tomorrow, and will write again, as soon as there is more news to tell.

Your affectionate brother,

Fitzwilliam Darcy.

The following day, Mr. Bennet had made the announcement to the rest of his family before Darcy arrived with Bingley at Longbourn, and he and Elizabeth were the centre of many happy congratulations.

Mrs. Bennet appeared to be so in awe of her intended son-in-law, that she ventured not to speak to him, unless she was able to offer him some attention, or mark her deference for his opinion. She confined her conversation to such queries as “Tell me, Mr. Darcy, what dish you are particularly fond of, so that we may have it this evening?”

Soon after their arrival, his host took him aside into his study.

“I understand from Lizzy that you took the major part, Sir, in bringing about the marriage between my youngest daughter, Lydia, and that fellow Wickham. I am most exceedingly obliged to you for your trouble. You must let me repay you, as soon as maybe.”

Darcy had given some thought to how he should reply to this request, should it arise. He had concluded overnight that it would give him the best opportunity of convincing Mr. Bennet of his real attachment to Elizabeth, of which her father had seemed to be in some doubt on the previous day.

“I have, as I believe you know, Sir, more than sufficient means, so that the expenditure is of little concern to me. But even if I had been in a different situation, I would have done every thing just the same, for Elizabeth’s peace of mind. In all that I had to do, to bring the marriage about, she was always in my thoughts. I did nothing without her being foremost in my mind. And without her beside me, there can be no happiness for me in the future. So let there be no more talk of repayment, I beg of you. Your consent to our marriage is more than enough compensation for me.”