desk and placing me across from him, Darcy thought wryly. Would that I could be as amiable! Were that fortunate circumstance true, I would not be so concerned about this interview.
“It is probably best if I start at the beginning. I have been absent while visiting my aunt for several weeks. Do you remember a Mr. Collins who came to your ball at Netherfield?”
“I remember him a little. He was that foolish, clumsy man who tried to dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. And he also rather insulted you, as I remember, by presuming to introduce himself to you.”
Darcy was rather surprised that Bingley remembered either of those details since he had thought him totally consumed by his attentions to Miss Jane Bennet. However, he only nodded. “That is the man. He is, if you remember, my aunt’s parson, but I was surprised to learn that he married Miss Charlotte Lucas, the elder daughter of Sir William Lucas, after we left Hertfordshire.”
“Really! That is rather surprising. I did not see him pay Miss Lucas any attention.”
“Nor did I.”
“However, I did see him hovering around Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I had an idle thought that he might make an offer to her.”
“That is a rather dismal thought!” Darcy said feelingly.
“True, but you know the financial situation of the Bennet sisters. He might have thought Miss Elizabeth would have to accept him in order to provide a home for her mother and sisters. It is interesting he chose her friend instead.”
“Very.” Darcy thought it completely ludicrous that such a man could presume he was suitable for such a young lady as Elizabeth. “But Miss Lucas did marry him and moved into the parsonage house near my aunt’s estate.”
“That must have been a surprise when you visited.”
“I did have some warning from one of my aunt’s letters. What did surprise me — in fact, astonished me — when I arrived at Rosings was to discover that Mrs. Collins’s good friend, that same Miss Elizabeth Bennet, had been visiting for a fortnight.”
“Oho!” Bingley said, laughing out loud. “That must have been entertaining! The two of you struck sparks whenever you were in company, and your arguments were highly entertaining. Why, I remember several evenings at Netherfield when…”
Something in Darcy’s expression caused Bingley to stop. “What is it? Have I said something to offend you?”
“No,” Darcy said slowly, wondering how Bingley seemed to remember those times he and Elizabeth matched wits as “arguments.” I did not consider them arguments, he thought. I believed she was teasing me because she had detected my attraction to her.
“No,” he said, his voice stronger. “But, if you thought I was arguing with Miss Elizabeth in the autumn, you will likely find my news more surprising than I anticipated since we are now engaged to be married.”
Bingley’s jaw dropped, and it was several moments before he regained control of himself. He peered closely at Darcy. “You are serious, I presume?”
“Never more so,” Darcy said cheerfully.
“I do remember Caroline teasing you about Miss Elizabeth’s ‘fine eyes.’ but I considered it one of those cunning remarks she so often made, trying to gain your attention.”
“What she did not know is that I appreciated more than Miss Elizabeth’s ‘fine eyes,’ and that appreciation only increased while I visited Rosings. Before I left, I made an offer of marriage, which she accepted.”
Bingley’s smile had been growing as Darcy spoke, and he now threw back his head and laughed delightedly.
“Now I see why you asked whether Caroline was visiting! Oho! What a marvellous surprise! Let me offer my warmest congratulations, Darcy! Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Oh, Caroline will be incensed — first, at learning of the failure of all her machinations, and second, at learning who has actually won your regard!”
Darcy was pleased by his friend’s congratulations, of course, but he was more pleased that his news
“It is probably best if I start at the beginning. I have been absent while visiting my aunt for several weeks. Do you remember a Mr. Collins who came to your ball at Netherfield?”
“I remember him a little. He was that foolish, clumsy man who tried to dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. And he also rather insulted you, as I remember, by presuming to introduce himself to you.”
Darcy was rather surprised that Bingley remembered either of those details since he had thought him totally consumed by his attentions to Miss Jane Bennet. However, he only nodded. “That is the man. He is, if you remember, my aunt’s parson, but I was surprised to learn that he married Miss Charlotte Lucas, the elder daughter of Sir William Lucas, after we left Hertfordshire.”
“Really! That is rather surprising. I did not see him pay Miss Lucas any attention.”
“Nor did I.”
“However, I did see him hovering around Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I had an idle thought that he might make an offer to her.”
“That is a rather dismal thought!” Darcy said feelingly.
“True, but you know the financial situation of the Bennet sisters. He might have thought Miss Elizabeth would have to accept him in order to provide a home for her mother and sisters. It is interesting he chose her friend instead.”
“Very.” Darcy thought it completely ludicrous that such a man could presume he was suitable for such a young lady as Elizabeth. “But Miss Lucas did marry him and moved into the parsonage house near my aunt’s estate.”
“That must have been a surprise when you visited.”
“I did have some warning from one of my aunt’s letters. What did surprise me — in fact, astonished me — when I arrived at Rosings was to discover that Mrs. Collins’s good friend, that same Miss Elizabeth Bennet, had been visiting for a fortnight.”
“Oho!” Bingley said, laughing out loud. “That must have been entertaining! The two of you struck sparks whenever you were in company, and your arguments were highly entertaining. Why, I remember several evenings at Netherfield when…”
Something in Darcy’s expression caused Bingley to stop. “What is it? Have I said something to offend you?”
“No,” Darcy said slowly, wondering how Bingley seemed to remember those times he and Elizabeth matched wits as “arguments.” I did not consider them arguments, he thought. I believed she was teasing me because she had detected my attraction to her.
“No,” he said, his voice stronger. “But, if you thought I was arguing with Miss Elizabeth in the autumn, you will likely find my news more surprising than I anticipated since we are now engaged to be married.”
Bingley’s jaw dropped, and it was several moments before he regained control of himself. He peered closely at Darcy. “You are serious, I presume?”
“Never more so,” Darcy said cheerfully.
“I do remember Caroline teasing you about Miss Elizabeth’s ‘fine eyes.’ but I considered it one of those cunning remarks she so often made, trying to gain your attention.”
“What she did not know is that I appreciated more than Miss Elizabeth’s ‘fine eyes,’ and that appreciation only increased while I visited Rosings. Before I left, I made an offer of marriage, which she accepted.”
Bingley’s smile had been growing as Darcy spoke, and he now threw back his head and laughed delightedly.
“Now I see why you asked whether Caroline was visiting! Oho! What a marvellous surprise! Let me offer my warmest congratulations, Darcy! Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Oh, Caroline will be incensed — first, at learning of the failure of all her machinations, and second, at learning who has actually won your regard!”
Darcy was pleased by his friend’s congratulations, of course, but he was more pleased that his news
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