The Gentleman & The Rake

A Man of Few Words: Chapter 11

Darcy Decides to Propose to Elizabeth (Again), and Takes Awhile Getting Around to It 

Pemberley was thankfully quiet. The Bingley sisters had gone to visit friends in Scarborough. Miss Bingley had angled, more tentatively than usual, for an extended invitation, but Georgiana, Darcy was pleased to learn, had resisted all pressure to agree. 

Charles remained. He spent days riding about the Derbyshire countryside and evenings playing fox and geese board games with Darcy and Georgiana in the library. 

A few weeks after Darcy returned from London, Charles shuffled into his study. Darcy finished checking a report from Max about Pemberley's orchards and looked up. 

"I've decided, I'm going to spend the shooting season at Netherfield," Charles said, his eyes aimed somewhere over Darcy's head. 

Darcy's pulse quickened. He and Max were almost caught up with estate business; Darcy could afford a few weeks away from Pemberley.

He opened his mouth-- 

"You'll come, won't you?" Charles said. 

"Of course." 

Charles's gaze swerved towards the study's curtains.

"The eldest Bennet sister is still unattached," he told the curtains. 

"Yes." 

Charles nodded to the curtains and went out. 

So Charles was still loyal to Miss Jane Bennet's memory. Of course. Regardless of Charles's zeal for spontaneity, he was faithful, unswerving, decent to his heart's core. Darcy knew that, had always known that. He should have relied on what he knew about Charles a year ago, the last time they were at Netherfield. 

This time, he would encourage Charles--if Charles needed encouragement. 

"We're visiting Netherfield," he told Georgiana. He couldn't invite her. Without the Bingley sisters, this was strictly a bachelors' hunting party, though if the sisters had been included, Darcy would still have resisted bringing Georgiana. She would likely not return to school; those days were over, but he wanted to give her more freedom, more relaxed days at Pemberley, before she joined the house-party circuit. The constant cycle of visits was nothing to look forward to. Marriage looked better to Darcy everyday. 

Georgiana appeared to think the same. "I like having Pemberley to myself now and again," she told him, adding demurely, "Give my best wishes to Miss Elizabeth." 

Darcy wished he could tell her there was hope. 

 * * *

Darcy and Charles arrived at Netherfield. They went shooting. Darcy walked the grounds and spoke to the new land steward. He seemed rather depressed, but Darcy couldn't summon up energy to badger Charles about Netherfield's property. 

"We should call on the Bennets," Charles said one morning as if the thought had just occurred to him. Darcy didn't cavil. They rode over after breakfast and found the Bennet women gathered in Longbourn's drawing room. 

As expected, Mrs. Bennet exulted in Charles's presence. He bowed self-consciously and sat down near Miss Jane Bennet. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. She had greeted him but was focused now on her sewing and didn't look up. He asked after the Gardiners. She answered in a stilted manner. 

Darcy sat on a hard little chair and felt miserable. What did I expect? She had suffered days of uncertainty when her sister eloped with Wickham. She knew how culpable Darcy was there, how much to blame for Wickham's behavior in the first place.