Janet Aylmer: Darcy’s Story

And so it was settled, and the arrangements put in hand.

Georgiana wasted no time in replying to her brother’s letter. The joy which she expressed on receiving the news of their forthcoming wedding was so great that four sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight.

On the same day as her letter was received, the family at Longbourn heard that unexpected visitors were suddenly come from Hunsford to Lucas Lodge—Mr. and Mrs. Collins.

The news from Mrs. Collins that his aunt had been rendered exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew’s letter did not trouble Darcy. Elizabeth soon heard from Charlotte that, although herself very happy about the match, she had decided that it would be very wise for them both to get away from Kent for a time. The reason for the Collinses’ arrival was soon confirmed by a letter for Darcy, which arrived from Lady Catherine by the next post. It was angry and abusive of Elizabeth to the highest degree, and he resolved to send no reply.

Darcy could see that the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, though having Mr. Collins parading and addressing Darcy with obsequious civility was a trial which the latter did his best, for Elizabeth’s sake, to bear calmly.

He found Mr. Collins no more wearing than Sir William Lucas, who complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel in the country every time they met, and expressed his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St. James’s. Elizabeth’s aunt in Meryton, Mrs. Philips, was a greater tax on his forbearance. Though she regarded Darcy with too much awe to speak with the familiarity which his friend Bingley’s good humour encouraged, yet, whenever she did speak, she must be vulgar.

Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from these embarrassments, and was anxious to keep him to herself, and together with those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification.

However, Darcy was aware that her concern about the uncomfortable feelings of all this took away for her from what should have been the pleasures of courtship. They both looked forward to the time when they should be together at Pemberley.

Matters continued in this fashion until, one morning a few days later, and about six weeks before their wedding, Elizabeth came to him.

She spoke rather hesitantly.

“My father tells me, Sir, that you are intending to make a most generous settlement on me on the occasion of our marriage.”

“My dear, it is no more than you deserve, or than I would wish for your comfort and security,” he replied, taking her hand.

And then an idea came to him. He wished nothing more than to be in her company every day, and a few days away from Hertfordshire would not be unwelcome.

“Elizabeth, it is several weeks since I saw Georgiana, and she is still in Derbyshire. She will, of course, be at our wedding. But a thought occurs to me. I must instruct my attorney to draw up your settlement, and your father says that Mr. Phillips can act for him on your behalf.

“However, rather than my travelling to town alone, Mr. Bennet could use your uncle Gardiner’s man in London, who was of great assistance to us in the matter of Lydia and Wickham. Would you be willing to accompany your father, if he is agreeable, to be in town for a few days, whilst these matters are settled? If so, I could write to Georgiana, and she could join me from Pemberley. Would the Gardiners be willing to receive you? I could then also show you our house in London.”

The manner of her reply left him in no doubt.

“Oh yes, Sir! And I am sure that my father would be very happy to be away from Longbourn, and all my mother’s preparations—although no doubt she will have some commissions for both of us to execute whilst we are in town.”

As Elizabeth had anticipated, her father greeted the suggestion with what in him amounted to alacrity, and the course of a few days brought happy confirmation of the welcome awaiting Elizabeth and her father in Gracechurch Street.

Darcy at the same time sent word to Derbyshire, and Georgiana confirmed that she and Mrs. Annesley could be in town within the week.

It was a happy reunion for Darcy and Elizabeth with her uncle and his family when the coach called at the Gardiners’ home to deliver Mr. Bennet and his daughter for their stay in town.

Georgiana was expected in London the same day. It was arranged that Mr. Bennet and Darcy should meet with the attorneys on the morrow, and that Georgiana should then go with them to the Gardiners’ home for luncheon.

His sister’s meeting with Elizabeth was all that Darcy had hoped. It was clear that they would become more than the best of friends, and the two young ladies were soon in earnest conversation about the commissions which Mrs. Bennet had given on Jane’s behalf, for various furnishings were needed at Netherfield.

Mrs. Gardiner undertook to direct her brother and her niece to the nearest warehouses to choose samples for despatch to Hertfordshire, and it was agreed that Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth should then go to Darcy’s house for the rest of the day.

Mrs. Bennet’s requests having been dealt with, Darcy and his sister welcomed Elizabeth and her father on their arrival. Mr. Bennet was quick to accept Georgiana’s invitation to view the library.

“It is much less, Sir, than I have at Pemberley, but you may find something of interest,” Darcy observed, as Mr. Bennet and Georgiana left the drawing-room.

“Where would you like to go first?” he asked, turning to Elizabeth.

“There is something I would like to ask you, before we go round the house,” she replied, “if I may. It concerns Charlotte. It may be difficult, at least for a while, for us to visit Rosings, and you would not want me to stay at the parsonage at Hunsford. Neither of us would seek out Mr. Collins’ company, I know, but she was—indeed still is—a dear friend of mine. Would you object if, from time to time, she called in to see me here on her way to her family in Hertfordshire? She told me that she carried a message to you from Lady Catherine earlier this year.”

“Yes, indeed. She warned me of the reason for Lady Catherine planning a visit to town, and I was most grateful to be able to escape to Essex, to see my cousin, as a result!” said Darcy with feeling. “You are welcome to invite her to stay overnight here at any time, just so long as we can always be certain that Mr. Collins will be detained in Kent and unable to come with her!”

She thanked him warmly.

He turned as though to show her the room, but then stopped, and said, rather urgently, “Tell me, my dear, there is something that your sister Kitty mentioned to me last week at Longbourn that puzzled me, concerning Mr. Collins... about my being your second proposal.”

“Kitty ought not to have mentioned that. Although it was absurd as far as I was concerned, Mr. Collins did make an offer for my hand shortly after the ball at Netherfield. He had good intentions, at least in part, so that the entail giving Longbourn to him after my father’s death should not wholly disadvantage the rest of my family.”

Then she added, in a more lively tone,

“So, you see, I might have been subject to a daily sermon, not to mention a regular discourse on the state of Mr. Collins’ cabbages, such as my dear friend Charlotte has to bear. That would have been a heavy burden indeed, would it not?”

And she turned back with a quick smile to look at Darcy, until she saw his expression.

“Why, Sir, what is the matter?”

Darcy’s emotion at hearing her reply was so strong that he had to struggle to compose himself before he answered. Then he spoke vehemently, and with much less delicacy than perhaps was appropriate.