Page 43 of When Elizabeth Said Yes

"Oh, I don’t believe that," Lizzy said. "What am I to do? Do I tell him I don’t love him? Do I break off the betrothal? Oh, but I’ve told Mama now and he’s told Lady Catherine. Can you imagine?"

"Do you want to marry him?" Jane asked.

"It’s hard to imagine it," Lizzy admitted, "but I suppose I don’t dread the idea."

Jane gave a soft chuckle. "Well, I suppose that’s a start. Although hopefully by the time you walk down the aisle, you will feel something a little warmer than not dread."

"Do not mock me, sister," Elizabeth said exasperatedly. "I thought I could rely on you for some words of wisdom."

"Ah, but when it comes to love, I know nothing, do I?" Jane said with a sad smile.

And Lizzy remembered why she had disliked Mr Darcy in the first place. She hated keeping anything from Jane, but how could she tell her that and not turn her sister against her future husband?

Jane seemed to ponder the situation for a while before she said, "I think you want to marry him. So perhaps you need to examine your heart more closely for why. Yes, it will be easier than the path that was laid before you… But that was also true of marrying Mr Collins, and you did not do that. I know you said you couldn’t respect him, and I’m sure that’s part of it. But if you respect Mr Darcy, perhaps think whether you could feel anything else for him…before you start admitting anything to him."

Elizabeth nodded. "I’m not sure you’re right," she said. "But I suppose I can think about it. Now," she said with a groan, "do you think this dinner is going to be a complete disaster?"

"Not a complete disaster, no," Jane said. "I’m sure Hill has been sent out to buy something suitable, and your threats to Kitty and Lydia will probably keep them fairly sensible. But Mama…"

Elizabeth sighed. "Yes. Mama," she said.

"Well, I cannot promise she will not say something inappropriate," Jane said. "But Mr Darcy loves you. It’s not like he hasn’t met her before. I’m sure he’ll overlook it."

Elizabeth nodded, and soon it was time to hurry away and get ready for the dinner.

After all, she wanted to make a bit of an effort with her appearance. She wasn’t sure why it made a difference when he had seen her in travelling clothes for the last two days, but it did.

Chapter Twenty-Four

With no one around to help him dress, Darcy had to struggle with his cravat alone, something which he had to admit he was not very good at.

He did not like admitting he wasn’t good at something, but it had been many years since he had regularly dressed himself, and the cravat was the one element that rather eluded him.

He checked himself in the looking glass, saw it was uneven, and sighed and tried again.

He wanted to make a good impression. His dealings with this family before had not always been smooth, and he did not want to start married life in an awkward way.

Whilst he thought Elizabeth would not want to live too near her family, she was also close to them. She certainly would not want there to be any discord between them.

At a quarter to six, he went out and found the stable lad, who thankfully had not been let go, for Bingley had left horses to be cared for, and had him saddle his horse.

It would probably be more prudent to take the carriage in case it rained, but he had been confined to it for the last two days and found he just wanted to feel the fresh air.

It was a short ride and he was early, but he would rather be early than late.

He strode up to the front door and tapped on it, and a maid answered with a bob of her head.

"Good evening, sir," she said. "Please come in."

She was clearly expecting his arrival, and she showed him into the parlour, where the entire family was already assembled, all in their black mourning clothes.

He hoped this was not an intrusion, but Elizabeth had invited him and they were betrothed. It wasn’t like he was just some guest. Soon he would be family.

They stood and he bowed his head, and they all responded in kind.

"Good evening, Mrs Bennet. Thank you for having me."

"You are very welcome," Mrs Bennet said, although he wasn’t sure he was.