Page 22 of A Different Impression

“Yes, but that is only because someone must, and you will have the final say in managing our homes and servants,” he agreed. “When I need your help with the estate, or you need mine with the household or tenants, we will work together to come up with the best solutions. I hope you will participate with me as a partner when we marry.”

Elizabeth considered this. “No matter how many times you ask me, Papa will not give you permission for us to marry until next month,” she reminded him.

“And we will marry as soon as possible after that,” he whispered in her ear, the warmth of his breath playing with the curls that hung there. “I love you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”

She blushed profusely and for a moment, Darcy wondered whether she had any notion how lovely she looked when she did so.

“You, sir, are… something. I am not even certain what to call you. Are you a flirt? A rake?”

“A man in love?” he suggested.

She smiled. “Fine then, a man in love.”

“With you,” he murmured.

“With me,” she repeated softly.

Her eyes widened, and she fell silent, looking at him as though she saw him differently than she had only moments before.

“We need a new topic,” she said after a moment. “What books have you read recently?”

She appeared flustered. He found the discovery oddly gratifying—not because he wished to embarrass her, but because it suggested his feelings were not entirely one-sided.

He laughed at her segue into a safer topic but allowed it, and the two discussed books they had read recently. They shared similar tastes, but there were several he had read that she had not. He offered to allow her to borrow them and promised to bring them when he called the following day. Every new similarity he discovered felt less like coincidence and more like confirmation that Providence had led him to Oakham Mount.

“You intend to visit again tomorrow?” she asked archly.

“Of course,” he replied. “I will come every day unless you tell me to cease. And even then, I will attempt to persuade you to allow my visits. I want first your love and then your hand in marriage. And I will not settle until I have acquired both.”

“You are persistent, sir,” she told him, repeating an earlier conversation.

“William,” he reminded her.

“You are persistent, William,” she repeated, ignoring his satisfied grin. “And perhaps a tad too confident.”

“I am confident I will win you, Elizabeth. You are already falling; you just need a little more time,” he told her.

“You have a month, William,” she teased, emphasising the use of his Christian name, and then she laughed at him again.

A month suddenly seemed an unconscionably long time. Yet if waiting patiently was the price of winning Elizabeth’s heart, he would count every day willingly. He had already learnt that there were many varieties of her smile, and he found himself absurdly pleased each time he discovered another.

Seeing that Bingley and Jane were ready to return, the two couples went back inside for tea, and the gentlemen stayed to visit for another half hour. They took their leave then, although they would return in a few hours for dinner. As they rode back to Netherfield, Darcy began to acquaint Bingley with a few important facts about the estate.

The three eldest Bennet daughters joined their parents and the gentlemen for dinner. Kitty and Lydia were prohibited from joining them, which Mrs Bennet lamented several times during the meal. Although she was clearly unhappy with Mr Bennet’s decision to send Lydia to school and hire a governess for Kitty, she had resigned herself to the fact that he intended to carry it through. He also informed her that they would need to economise to pay for both, which displeased her nearly as much.

This discussion allowed Mr Darcy to mention to Mrs Bennet his aunt’s advice about too many daughters out at once. “My aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, insists that too many daughters out at once will confuse potential suitors. When a man has too many options, he may struggle to decide. When he is presented with fewer options, he has less to consider and ultimately can make a decision much more easily.”

Darcy met Elizabeth’s eyes for only an instant. The corners of her mouth twitched, and he knew she had understood his meaning. Mrs Bennet, fortunately, appeared to notice nothing.

“Indeed, Mr Darcy? Are most men so easily distracted?”

Darcy attempted to hold back a laugh. “I have often found that too many choices can confuse matters,” he acknowledged.

Mrs Bennet grew uncharacteristically quiet for several minutes. Darcy took a careful sip of his wine to conceal the smile threatening to appear as he suspected his aunt’s supposed opinions had given her something to consider. Finally, she asked, “Mr Darcy, what does your aunt say about the education of girls?”

“She takes a firm stance on all girls being educated,” Darcy said, knowing this to be only partially true. His aunt had a firm stance on everything but actually thought little of most girls being educated as, in her opinion, only girls in the highest levels ought to be taught. “I have heard her advise many ladies on the importance of hiring a proper governess for daughters and ensuring that all daughters display proper decorum in public. I believe she would applaud your and your husband’s efforts to ensure your daughters’ futures.”

Once again, Mrs Bennet considered these words. When the ladies left the table, Mr Bennet’s tone was dry enough that Darcy could not immediately determine whether the gentleman was praising him or mocking him for his efforts with Mrs Bennet.