Page 20 of A Different Impression

The two parted and made their way back to their homes.

A few hours later, Darcy arrived at Longbourn and asked to see Mr Bennet.

“So, Mr Darcy, Lizzy tells me you inherited your estate five years ago when your father passed away. Is your mother still living?” Bennet enquired pleasantly.

“No, sir, she passed away several years ago, when my sister was young,” he replied. “Since I have been the master, my estate’s profits have increased by nearly twenty per cent in that time.”

“Really,” he said, genuinely interested now. “What did you do to effect such a change?”

And so, Darcy and Bennet began an earnest conversation about steps to take at Longbourn that could have an equal impact. Bennet had thought the request a clever ruse to get the young man into his office so he could learn more about him, but he ended up with more than he expected. As they talked, they sketched out a specific plan to increase the profits of Longbourn to allow Bennet to invest the profits for his daughters’ and wife’s futures. With the plan outlined by Darcy and a minimal investment on his part, Bennet came to believe it was possible to increase Longbourn’s profits by a significant amount over the next several years.

“So, Darcy, you have done me quite a turn. What can I do for you in return?” Bennet teased.

“You could give me Miss Elizabeth’s hand,” Darcy replied seriously.

Bennet gulped. “Explain yourself,” he demanded of the younger gentleman, displaying outrage as he intentionally misunderstood Darcy’s meaning.

“I want to marry your daughter, sir,” Darcy told him earnestly. “Most likely, I would have had this same conversation with you regardless, but since you asked what you could do for me, I thought it would be good to let you know my intentions. Since that night at the assembly, I have been impressed by your daughter, and even though we have only known each other for a few days, I already know that I want to marry her. I will give her as much time as she needs to be comfortable with the idea, but when I leave Hertfordshire, I intend to take her with me.”

“You are very confident,” Bennet observed.

“I am well known for making a decision and sticking with it. I am not impulsive. I am deliberate and methodical. Yet, nearly as soon as I met Miss Elizabeth and saw the small kindness she bestowed on another, I knew I wanted her as my wife, as the Mistress of Pemberley. I made that decision in an instant, I think, and I will do whatever it takes to win her,” Darcy contended.

“Why her?” Bennet probed.

“I love her,” Darcy said simply, his voice assured and confident.

“Does she love you in return?” Bennet asked.

“I have not asked her that,” he admitted. “I intend to give her the time she needs to know that for herself.”

Bennet shook his head. “Love is a fleeting emotion. There is no guarantee it will last.”

“Perhaps in some cases, but I do not believe what I feel for her will be fleeting. Not only do I love her, but I also admire her strength and respect her for her wit and intelligence. My wife will be my partner in all things, and from my few conversations with her, I think she is more than capable of being that. Her kindness recommends her. She is intelligent; our conversations yesterday confirmed that. I think we have similar interests, although I do hope to coax her into learning to ride, as that will be a necessity for her on my estate. I know she loves to walk, and Pemberley has many paths to walk, but it is very large, and she would more easily traverse it if she could ride,” Darcy said to him.

“I make no promises, nor will I force Lizzy into a marriage she does not want,” Bennet said. “She needs to understand what marriage to someone like you will mean.”

“What do you know of what marriage to me will entail?” Darcy countered.

“My wife told me the rumours that circulated about you that first night at the assembly,” he replied. “You own half of Derbyshire; you are worth ten thousand a year; you are arrogant and above your company, although she also mentioned that you danced with several of my daughters.”

“My income is above ten thousand a year, although I will not share the exact amount until the marriage settlement is prepared. Pemberley is large, but I am not sure it encompasses half of Derbyshire, although it is one of the largest estates in the region. I am sorry I was perceived as arrogant at the assembly, and I know that I was in a poor mood when I first arrived, but before the night was over, I danced with several of the local ladies, including two of your daughters. I also danced with Miss Elizabeth twice and spoke to her whenever she was not dancing,” Darcy countered.

“I will not give my consent for you to wed Lizzy for at least a month. You should court her first, and I insist that you do so properly. I know you met yesterday morning during Lizzy’s walk, but such meetings cannot continue. It would not do to have her reputation damaged while I am attempting to prevent one of her sisters from doing the same. You may call upon her, and you may take chaperoned walks together. No letters, no liberties, nothing that goes beyond the bounds of propriety. I expect you to behave as the perfect gentleman, sir,” Mr Bennet said firmly.

“I agree,” Darcy replied at once. “I have a younger sister, and I will court Miss Elizabeth precisely as I would expect any man who one day courts Georgiana to do.”

Mr Bennet regarded him for a moment before nodding. “Very well. Do nothing that would endanger my daughter’s reputation or give the neighbourhood legitimate cause for gossip.”

“No, sir. Whatever speculation arises will come only from the fact of our courtship,” Darcy assured him.

Mr Bennet scowled as the young man took his leave. He had not thought things would move this quickly, and he did not like it. He wanted Darcy’s help; he simply had not expected that accepting it might mean losing Elizabeth so soon.

CHAPTER 9

A Courtship Begins

Darcy entered the drawing room and saw that Bingley had arrived. Immediately, he sat on the sofa next to Elizabeth and spoke quietly to her. “Do you think we could walk in the garden with your sisters chaperoning?” he asked.