Page 39 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
“What is this all about, Mr. Bennet?” Her eyes flitted between Mr. Darcy and Papa in confusion.
“Mr. Darcy has asked for the hand of one of our daughters, and I have accepted.”
“But, but...” Mama glanced askance at Jane and Mr. Bingley. “Is that not precipitous, I mean, what if her attentions are centered elsewhere?”
Shame, mixed with sad anger, washed over Lizzy. Even now, Mama still held firm that all men were drawn only to Jane - or Lydia. Could no other daughter of hers catch the eye of an eligible man?
“You have more than one daughter, Mrs. Bennet.” For the first time in her life, Lizzy heard true anger in her father’s voice. Oh, he loved to tease and make sport of Mama, but he never said a word in anger. At least Papa thought her worthy of some man’s attention.
“Mr. Bennet. I am very aware I have more than one daughter.” She turned her attention to Lizzy and gave her a sly wink. “I am beyond excited for you, my dear.”
Too late, Lizzy realized her mother had been teasing her father. How strangely absurd.
“What? Lizzy is engaged to the odious Mr. Darcy!” Lydia exclaimed. “What a laugh.”
To Lizzy’s great surprise, Mama rounded on Lydia and cried out, “To your room, Lydia Frances Bennet. If you cannot behave like the young lady you declare you are, you shall remain there for the rest of the day. Do I make myself clear?”
Lydia shot to her feet and glared at Mama before flouncing out of the room, without remorse and without apologizing. The other surprise, following Lydia’s outburst, was Mr. Collins rising to his feet, all color drained from his face.
“Pray, excuse me. I have some personal matters to attend.” He gave Mama an awkward bow and scurried from the room, not even acknowledging Papa or Fitzwilliam.
“Poor Mr. Collins,” Mama said. “First he’s refused and then his unrequited love comes forth with a more desirable man.”
“Mama, I am not his unrequited love. He has only known me for less than a fortnight.”
“You mock the sharpness of Cupid’s arrow. True love can pierce your heart the very second you see the person you’re destined to be with.”
Lizzy watched in fascination as all three men nodded in agreement. Of Bingley and Fitzwilliam she knew, but - her gaze slipped to Papa and she caught him looking at Mama - had Cupid’s arrow touched his heart when he first saw Mama? She mentally shook her head. Stranger things had happened in her life, so the fact that her parents were a love match was not beyond the realm of possibilities. However, she maintained that Mr. Collins never loved her, and never would. His problem was having another suitor appear for her hand so soon after his disastrous proposal, and the very thought of her accepting another had pricked the bubble called pride.
By this time, Mama had called for the champagne and the servant brought it and several glasses into the room. Fitzwilliam joined her on the couch and Bingley dragged a chair close to Jane. The bottle was opened and everyone, even Kitty and Mary raised a glass in congratulations. When Papa stood to leave, Charles leaned close to Jane and whispered a few words. Her cheeks flushed a bright red and she nodded.
“Mr. Bennet,” Charles shot to his feet and blurted out nervously. “May I ask for some time with you. Err... in private?”
Lizzy knew by the gleam in his eye that Papa was going to have great fun with Mr. Bingley before giving assent. Is that what took him and Fitzwilliam so long? Had he drawn out their conversation in order satisfy his Puck like humor and torment the man even though he’d agreed to the marriage the other night? When Papa cast a wicked grin over his shoulder toward her and Fitzwilliam, she knew he indeed intended to tease Jane’s intended. Poor Mr. Bingley.
Chapter Twelve
After Papa and Mr. Bingley left the room, Lizzy braced herself for Mama to behave in a most vulgar fashion. Those fears were raised further when a servant announced the arrival of Lady Lucas and her two daughters.
“Oh no.”
“What is it, my love?” Fitz asked quietly so no one would hear them.
“You may wish to rescind your offer of marriage after today.”
“Never. You aremine,” he almost growled. “And, I am yours.”
She raised her eyes to his and a shiver of delight rippled through her at his possessive tone. A slight squeeze of their intertwined fingers hidden beneath the folds of her skirt told him she was in agreement.
“Never say I didn’t warn you. Mama will be in raptures over the news we expect once Papa and Mr. Bingley return. You may wish yourself to be anywhere but here during that time.”
“The only place I wish to be is my bedroom. With you. Naked.”
She gasped and her whole body tingled. Now she understood how history could be changed because of one person’s desire for another. Even King Henry divorced his wife of almost twenty-five years in order to bed Anne Boleyn and altered the course of England’s history and religion. What would Fitzwilliam Darcy do for her, or she for him?
“Lady Lucas, I am so glad you have come.” Mama greeted her friend. “Kitty, ring for Hill to bring more tea.”
“Yes, Mama.”
