Page 120 of A Searing Acquaintance
“Not the most beautiful?” Ted asked in a teasing voice.
Where does he get this attitude? As though he deserves any credit for his daughters’ accomplishments.Darcy gritted his teeth. “I prefer to focus on her inner qualities, as it goes without saying that Elizabeth is the most beautiful and most interesting woman I’ve ever met. But as you should know, she also is one who shies away from such compliments.”
Ted nodded, though he looked surprised at Darcy’s statement. “Ah. And she is the reason for your cold call upon my door.”
“Of course she is.” Darcy leaned forward, determined to hold the man’s gaze. “I’ve known Elizabeth for nearly a year now, and I’ve loved her nearly as long. She loves me as well. We make each other happy, and I plan to ask her to be my wife.”
“Does she know this?”
“It’s unlikely to surprise her.”
“Are you here doing the proper thing, asking for my blessing so you may propose to her?”
“I’m here doing the proper thing, the twenty-first century thing, ofinformingyou that I plan to ask her in the future. I don’t know you well, and you don’t know me, but I believe in following certain customs.”
“Such as getting my blessing.” Ted removed his reading glasses and tapped them against his desk.
“In truth, I don’t need your blessing, and I dare say, neither does Elizabeth.” Darcy could feel his patience slipping. “But I do hope that she will not be hurt by your reaction, that you will be happy for her and express those feelings.”
“You presume quite a bit, Mr. Darcy.”
“Perhaps I do. But I know your daughter better than anyone else does. I know the depth and extent of Elizabeth’s feelings for me and for all of you, as well as the accompanying joys, hurts, and slights.”
Ted rubbed his chin and looked past Darcy. “So I should just accept the inevitable.”
“As there is no rational reason to say no, the answer, of course, is obvious: to accept, graciously and happily, that your daughter is loved well by a good man who will support her in her dreams and wishes. Because I do, and I will. Isn’t that what every father wants for his child?”
A look of resignation swept over the older man. “Yes, it is. And I believe you do. She deserves it, deserves you. Take care of her, Mr. Darcy.” He put his glasses on and picked up his discarded book.
Rather than feeling dismissed, Darcy felt all the awkwardness of the man before him, accepting not just the loss of his daughter but the recognition of how little his opinion now meant to her. He stood.
“Mr. Bennet, when she tells you—if and when she accepts me—I hope you’ll convey that sentiment to her as well.”
Darcy extended his hand. Ted nodded and grasped the younger man’s hand and shook it. He sat in his chair, staring at the closed door for nearly half an hour after his visitor left.
Two days later, during an after-dinner walk on a late October night, Darcy led Elizabeth to a pretzel stand in Central Park. He made a purchase and handed the bag to her. She shook her head, claiming that she was full from dinner, but upon receiving his mockingly exasperated look, she reached inside the bag to find two salt-covered tickets for skybox seats on the fifty-yard line for Saturday’s big University of Meryton vs. Ramsgate College football game. She squealed and threw her arms around his neck.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart. We’ll celebrate quietly as you wished. All right?”
She agreed but was soon to learn the man was not true to his word.
Elizabeth woke up on her birthday Saturday morning and reached for him, only to find a flat black velvet box on the empty pillow beside her and Darcy at the foot of the bed watching Yogi and Carmen bat at a garish birthday balloon. She laughed at the scene; he looked as expectant as a little boy on Christmas morning.
“Hey, Birthday Girl.”
She returned his smile. “I’m beginning to suspect you did a crashcourse at Birthday Fairy College.” She sat up, took a deep breath, and opened the box to find a simple but stunning necklace inside.
“Oh, my God. It’s too much,” she gasped, staring at the emerald offset by a pair of diamonds.
“No, never.” Darcy went to her and fastened the jeweled strand around her neck. “Your eyes are like emeralds; your light is like diamonds.” He blushed. “I’m no poet, but you know what I mean. Happy birthday, my love.”
“Oh, thank you, Will,” she croaked, her eyes moist. “It’s beautiful. But I think I need coffee,” she added suddenly. “I don’t want to cry.”
“Tears are no way to start your birthday,” he agreed quietly, his finger tilting her chin up. He tenderly kissed away a stray tear and smiled. “Coffee and waffles, coming up. We have a busy day.”
It had been easy coming up with the idea of taking Elizabeth to a UM football game. Not only were the Yankees out of the playoffs, but Meryton’s women’s soccer team was playing an away game. Besides, she’d confided weeks ago that she didn’t really like watching her old team play. Memories of her career-ending injury remained too raw.
It had taken no little thought and planning for Darcy to pull off the tickets and the rest of his plan. He’d found it a wonderful challenge, especially after Elizabeth had made his birthday so memorable with the unspeakably special gifts, the afternoon at the Frick, and a quiet celebratory dinner with Charles and Jane.
