Page 29 of When Elizabeth Said Yes

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They waited to speak until they had returned to the parlour at Hunsford. Elizabeth was well aware that both her cousin’s and her friend’s eyes were focused on her. She had not expected him to announce it immediately, but then, she supposed there was no reason for him not to.

She had consented, after all.

But from the look on Charlotte’s face, she was going to have to explain why.

"My dear," Charlotte said as soon as the three were alone in the parlour, "I am aghast. I mean, congratulations, of course, but—"

"Cousin Elizabeth," Mr Collins cut across his wife. "I must implore you to think again about your acceptance of this man. Oh, Mr Darcy is a fine man. There is no doubting that. But this is not a match that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, will look upon kindly, I am sure of that. And in truth, one cannot blame her, for the connections of his family are such that if Darcy were to marry you. Well—"

"You are bordering on insulting, Elizabeth, Husband," Charlotte said gently.

"Indeed. I mean no insult," Mr Collins said, although Elizabeth wasn’t sure how else she was supposed to take his words.

But then, it was the second time that she had been insulted about the inferiority of her birth in the last hour alone. Perhaps it was something she ought to get used to.

"I merely wish to impress upon my cousin that she ought not make an enemy of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, for she is a kind and benevolent woman, and a powerful one, and I do not think it would behoove her to push ahead with a match that is deemed imprudent."

Unable to conceal her irritation any longer, Elizabeth interrupted him.

"I thank you for your concern, Cousin," she said angrily. "But as Mr Darcy said, I believe the approval of the match – considering we are both of age – is only the concern of Mr Darcy and myself. And as we have both consented, then I can only hope that Lady Catherine offers her nephew her best wishes. Please excuse me. I am rather tired."

And with that, she hurriedly exited the room.

She knew Charlotte would want to talk soon. She knew that there would be details to share and then arrangements to make, letters to write.

But she needed to be alone and come to terms with the fact that she had somehow, this afternoon, agreed to become Mrs Darcy.

Chapter Seventeen

Even though he knew his aunt was not going to respond well to the news he came bearing, his heart and his footsteps were still light as he made his way back to Rosings.

She had said yes. The only woman he had ever envisioned in the role of wife was going to step into it.

The walk was far too short, and when he entered Rosings, he handed his hat to the butler and forced himself not to appear too jolly, for everyone would surely wonder at his sudden good mood.

Besides, he did not think it would do well for Lady Catherine’s ire for him to appear too happy about the situation.

He was informed by the footman that his aunt and both his cousins were taking tea in the library, and so he made his way there, wondering if he should announce it to them all or speak to his aunt alone.

When he opened the door, his aunt’s eyes were on him immediately.

"Darcy, where have you been? No one has seen you all morning."

"I went for a walk," he said, which wasn’t wholly untrue.

"Walking is indeed very good for the mind and the body," his aunt agreed, seeming to accept his tale.

"I would have accompanied you," the Colonel said from an armchair by the window. "You must have been gone early. I broke my fast before everyone else, and you were not present."

He did not like the interrogation. It was true, he had been up early, nervous and excited about his plan for the day. He had walked for a long time before he had made himself turn towards the parsonage at Hunsford.

"Tea?" Cousin Anne asked, and when he nodded, she waved over a footman to serve it.

He could have very well poured it himself, rather than getting the staff too, but he did not wish to disagree with her action in front of everyone. She was rather a sickly girl, and he supposed perhaps it was too much for her to get up and pour the tea, and maybe that was why she assumed Darcy incapable.

Or maybe it was just a privilege of her rank that she believed she didn’t need to.