Page 89 of Roses from Pemberley
“And then?”
“He said I was uniformly delightful and assumed that I would accept him once my father sanctioned the match. I asked him why he still would not believe me and he told me that I could not possibly mean to refuse him because my prospects were quite meagre and that another offer of marriage would likely never be made to me again. Naturally, I left.”
“And Darcy?” asked Diana.
“What about Darcy?”
“Will you tell us howheproposed? I would greatly like to know.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I shall not tell you because it is between him and me.” She took a glance at Darcy and added,“But it was sweet and to the point and I cannot imagine a better proposal.” She smiled reminiscently at those words that had haunted her dreams during the first part of her illness.
“Hmm…” said Mrs. Bennet, whose attention was now solely focused on Elizabeth. “I suppose you are allowed your secrets, Lizzy.”
Later, when she stood under the portico with Darcy as his party said their farewells just inside the house, he asked her a question.
“You said my proposal was sweet and to the point?”
She smiled. “Yes, I did. Do you not agree with me?”
“Are you referring to my proposal in the drawing room of Rosings?”
“No, I am referring to the one in Hunsford.”
“Hunsford!” he cried. “But that was atrocious.”
“Not all of it was.”
“Which part?”
“‘I love you and wish to marry you,’” she quoted.
He laughed. “Truly? But that was just before you told me I was deluded. That of course you would not - ”
“Please, Darcy,” she interrupted, “do not repeat what I said that day. At least not that part. You do not know how much I regretted it.”
“Very well, I shall endeavour not to mention it again.”
They walked forward and waited further up the drive. She saw that Bingley, Diana and Georgiana were now outside the house talking with a few members of her family.
“Nevertheless,” she continued, “if you could take those words, and forget everything that came before them, then you might even describe the proposal as simple…and eloquent.” She grinned. “You might even say that it was…perfect.”
“Hmmm…” he said. Then repeated, “I love you and wish to marry you. It does have a nice ring to it.”
“So much better than telling me that I have been singled out as the companion of your future life.”
“Yes,” agreed Darcy. “Mine has so much more simple eloquence, as you say. Is that why you accepted me instead of Collins?”
“No,” she answered. “It was because Itooloved you and wished to marry you.”
CHAPTER 39 Walk in the Mist
The next few weeks went by quickly. Purvis Lodge was purchased and renovations began. The Bennets slowly began the business of packing and letters were sent between Hunsford and Longbourn. Thankfully, Lady Catherine was able to convince Mr. Collins not to go to Longbourn till the Bennets had moved out. He was only too happy to comply. Among Darcy’s relatives, only Diana and Georgiana remained, both preferring country life to London. Mr. Gardiner had also left by then and would only see Darcy when he went to London to attend Lydia’s wedding.
As the day for Darcy’s trip to London approached, Elizabeth grew more and more despondent. She chided herself for it many times in a day, but still could not help but dread his impending departure.
It was another misty day when they walked to Oakham Mount together - the last time they would be alone till Darcy returned from London. Elizabeth felt many different levels of regret. It was bad enough that her sister had run off with a man and had almost ruined their family. But what was worse was that she would now have to marry George Wickham, the man whom Darcy likely considered to be his greatest enemy. Furthermore, Darcy himself had to leave Elizabeth just to undertake themortifying task of ensuring that the marriage actually took place. They had already talked of this many times, and he’d reassured her that nothing was too much for him to do. But was it? His responsibilities at Pemberley awaited him, yet he was constantly plagued by undertakings which he would not even have were it not for her.
“You have been rather quiet this morning,” he said, as they ascended the winding path. “Is there anything on your mind?”
