If Only In His Dreams Page 4

  “She sounds like quite a unique woman.” Elizabeth stated, laughing at many of the same descriptions she had heard used to describe herself.

  “She is my ideal of an accomplished woman.” Darcy smiled. “For the past three years, I looked at every woman to see if they measured to my ideal woman. I found some who had her hair, or similar eyes, or a bit of impertinence to her manner. But none ever measured up to my lady. In my dreams, we married and had begun a family.” Hearing Elizabeth gasp, Darcy realized what he had said. “Forgive me that was very forward, you must think me a cad.”

  “No, it was just shocking to hear you admit such thoughts.” Elizabeth had blushed brilliantly.

  “So now you see my dilemma. I feel entirely familiar with you as you are everything that my lady from my dreams is. As soon as I saw you, heard your voice and laugh, I knew that it was you. I would hazard to guess that if I were to ask your brother, he would agree that you are very intelligent, well read, and even impertinent.”

  Elizabeth laughed out loud. “Oh, Alex would tell you that I am completely uncontrollable in regards to my impertinent ways.”

  “I am pleased to know this. Unlike most men, I prefer that my wife be this way.”

  “Ah, yes, your preference for your wife. And that brings us back to your arrangement with my brother, with no regard to my opinion.” Elizabeth stated with sarcasm dripping from her words.

  “Miss Elizabeth, I know that I was rash last night in my desire to secure your hand. I have never been so before in my life. It was only that I did not wish to risk losing you. I am well aware that we have jumped past a courtship, I plead for your generosity of nature in forgiving me.”

  “It will be some time before I will admit to forgiving you, Mr Darcy. And it will require much atonement to deserve such forgiveness.”

  Darcy could not believe her words. Had she forgiven him? Had she decided to accept his hand willingly? “Miss Elizabeth, you brother insisted on a long engagement. During that time, we will be able to become more comfortable with each other. Mr Bennet asked for at least six months, preferably a year, before we wed. Does this meet with your approval?”

  Surprised that she would be included in the decision, Elizabeth looked up into his eyes. “That would be preferable to me, Mr Darcy. Though you believe you know me, I am afraid you may be disappointed with the reality before you. My brother and sister have told me over the years that I need to work harder on being an accomplished young lady rather than reading some of the subjects that I have.”

  “The truth is, Miss Elizabeth, this is one of the aspects I find appealing in you. I do not wish for a proper young lady who can net a purse but cannot hold a decent conversation. What good is painting a screen to me if the woman painting it cannot bring me joy by playing a brilliant game of chess or some other challenge to my mind?” Darcy stood again and began to pace. “I see those sorts of women whenever we have been in Town; the sort of young lady who knows how to do trivial, unimportant things; though unable to speak rationally in regards to the state of issues which are important in life. I wish to have a partner in life, not someone who decorates my arm and my home.”

  Elizabeth was surprised to learn this, as she had not expected to have a gentleman accept a wife who was intelligent. This was the sort of husband she would be happy with. But then again, there was the matter of Mr Darcy and Alex making an agreement that would change her life forever; an agreement which was made without her opinion. How dare he sit here speaking to her in this manner when he had disregarded her opinion on the most important decision of her life?

  “Mr Darcy, you claim to desire a partner, yet you make decisions with no regard for your future partner. Is this the sort of relationship you expect to have? When it is convenient, you will ask your partner’s opinion, and when it is not convenient, you will make the decisions without her?”

  Darcy blushed profusely. “Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth, I realize that last night I was anxious to secure your hand and did not stop to remember that this was the flesh and blood woman who did not know me. I plead far too great a joy in finding you caused me to forget myself.”

  “And in the future, will you continue to forget yourself?” Elizabeth asked.

  Shaking his head, Darcy looked into her eyes. “Miss Elizabeth, I have lived my life making decisions that would affect the lives of a great many. I cannot promise you that I will not make a slip from time to time, but I beg you to have patience with me and, when I do make a mistake, you will speak with me so that I may correct my behavior.”

  Elizabeth watched him carefully. “I will take this under advisement and we will begin today. Mr Darcy, rather than announcing our engagement, I would prefer to announce your courtship of me. You and my brother have your agreement, and as my brother has the authority to make the agreement in my behalf, I will honor it. But I would prefer for the time being that no one outside our families know the truth of the engagement.”

  Darcy looked as if he had his favorite treat taken away from him. “You wish to dissolve the agreement; I will speak with your brother and find a way to do so for your sake.”

  “Mr Darcy, here, again, you make a decision without consulting me. I said that I would honor the agreement. I only wish, for appearance sake, to have everyone else believe that we are courting first. It would appear as if you had compromised me for us to announce an engagement so quickly upon meeting.” Elizabeth stated, hoping that he would see the truth in this statement.

  A smile grew on Darcy’s face, showing for the first time a beautiful set of dimples. Elizabeth nearly gasped from the sight. Reaching forward, Darcy took hold of her hand. “You are saying that you wish to continue our engagement, though in private, for appearance, not that you wish to have your brother break the agreement. Is that correct?”

  “Yes, Mr Darcy. That is correct.”

  Raising her hand to his lips, Darcy placed a kiss lightly on the back of it. “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I pray that I am worthy of your respect.”

  “Now, I believe you have an appointment to speak with my brother, to go over the details of the agreement. Shall you escort me to the house or would it be far more proper to have you make your way there separately?”

  A small chuckle came from Darcy’s lips. “Normally I would agree with you, Miss Elizabeth, and make my way there on my own, for propriety’s sake. But as I have never been to your home, I would ask the pleasure of being able to escort you home.”

  “Very well, Mr Darcy, let us make our way there before my brother sends out a search party for me.” Elizabeth smiled slightly as she placed her hand lightly on the arm that Darcy offered to her.

  Chapter 5

  “Lizzy, Alex has been waiting for you to return.” Jane said to her sister when Elizabeth entered the door of the house. “Mr Darcy is expected any time and Alex wished to speak with you before they meet.” Just as she finished, the tall figure of Fitzwilliam Darcy stepped through the doorframe.

  “Jane, Mr Darcy and I met while I was on my morning walk, and as he has never been to our home, it was only polite for me to escort him here.” Elizabeth said politely as her sister stared at her. “Mr Darcy, I am certain I can offer you some refreshments, as you most likely missed breaking your fast at Netherfield.”

  “Perhaps I should inform your brother of my arrival, and then I would enjoy a cup of coffee if there is any available.” Darcy spoke softly.

  Elizabeth returned her view to her sister. “We do have some coffee available for Mr Darcy, do we not?”

  “Oh, well, yes. I will see that some is made ready for you and our brother. Elizabeth, would you be so kind as to show our guest to our brother’s study?” Jane managed to sputter out her words once the shock of her sister’s behavior wore off.

  “Certainly, Mr Darcy, if you would please follow me.” Elizabeth showed Darcy to the door near the stairs leading to the upper level of the house. “This is my brother’s study.” She explained as she knocked on the door.

  �
��Enter.” The Master of Longbourn called out. “Ah, Lizzy, I have been waiting for your return to speak to you. I am expecting Mr Darcy to arrive…”

  “It appears that I have already arrived, Mr Bennet, though I am later than expected.” Darcy exclaimed as he entered the room. “I came upon your sister and we have been discussing matters and then, as I am new to the area, she was kind enough to escort me to your home, seeing as I did not know where it was located.”

  “Welcome, Mr Darcy. I am pleased that you and my sister have had a chance to speak. I pray that she has remembered her manners and offered you some refreshments.” Alex was nervous at this critical moment in the relations with Darcy.

  “Your sister has been the utmost of proper behavior and has asked your other sister to see to some coffee for me. It has been a pleasant morning, Mr Bennet, allowing me to know your sister better and for her to have a better understanding of me as well.”

  “And there is no difficulty between you? Elizabeth, have you accepted the arrangement with Mr Darcy?”

  Darcy took the lead after glancing at Elizabeth. “We have decided that, while you and I have agreed to an engagement, we would prefer that information be kept private for the time being. I would not wish to sully Miss Elizabeth’s good name by announcing a sudden engagement, as it would appear as if she were compromised. Instead, we would prefer to announce that we are courting, with the intention of marrying at a later time.”

  Elizabeth looked at Darcy with a raised eyebrow. “You have made a slight alteration to our agreement, Mr Darcy.”

  Smiling so that his dimples showed, Darcy nodded. “I still wish for the world to know that I have made a claim for your affections. It would not be right for any young men to think that they stand a chance of stealing you from me. And I wish to be able to give you gifts, for I am quite fond of giving gifts to those I care for.”

  Again, Elizabeth gasped. This time, it was at the intimacy that was clearly written in Darcy’s eyes.

  Alex watched the interaction between his sister and her betrothed. “So you both agree to the arrangement; you are engaged, even though you prefer to have others believe you are simply courting?”

  Darcy looked at Elizabeth’s expression and when she looked towards her brother, she nodded. Once he had her agreement, Darcy nodded as well. “I will send a letter to my solicitor to begin drafting the marriage contract, even though it will not be needed for some time to come.”

  “Very well, Mr Darcy, and though you did not inquire last night, my sister’s dowry is twenty thousand pounds.” Alex stated clearly for Elizabeth’s sake. “If you would not mind, Mr Darcy, could I have a few moments of my sister’s time? We have not had a chance to speak since returning home last night.”

  “Certainly, Mr Bennet; if you do not mind, I will have the coffee that Elizabeth asked to have prepared for me.” Darcy left the room, closing the door behind him.

  “Lizzy, please take a seat.” Alex motioned for his sister to take her preferred seat in his study. “This is quite a change of opinion, Lizzy. May I ask what led to this?”

  “Alex, are you disappointed that I have agreed with the arrangement that you had already determined for me? I know that I have no alternative, so I am attempting to make the best of the situation. Mr Darcy and I spoke a great deal this morning and I believe I know him a little better than I did last night. Not that I am allowing either you or him off the hook for your deciding my fate without any input from me, for you will need to atone for that at a later time. I was the one who requested to announcement be that we are courting for the time being, for you know Mrs Long, she would have everyone believing we were caught in a compromising manner which demanded to have me engaged quickly. I will not have people believe that of me or of Mr Darcy. So, you know that the agreement is in place and soon the papers will be prepared and signed, and that will be that. In the meantime, I am being courted, so that I can become more acquainted with my fiancé. So this should please you to know that I am obeying you.”

  “It pleases me that you will have a wonderful future, Dear Sister. I wish for you to know that it was difficult in some ways to make such a decision, though knowing of Mr Darcy and his family, and his estate in Derbyshire, before all of this makes it easier to do so with confidence that you will be taken care of.”

  Elizabeth walked to the window and looked at the outside world. “I am still not pleased with decisions that were made without consulting me, Brother, though I will do my best to live up to the agreement you made to Mr Darcy.”

  “Lizzy, you know that I love you dearly. I want what is best for you and for Jane. It was left for me to see to your futures and I made this agreement, as I feel that it will be most beneficial for you. And perhaps for Jane, for Mr Darcy is connected to many men, one of which may be the perfect husband for our sister.”

  With an impertinent smile, Elizabeth turned and looked at her brother. “Who knows, Alex, you may find a young lady who would even accept you amongst Mr Darcy’s friends; perhaps a sister of a friend or business acquaintance.”

  Alex nearly choked on his sister’s comment. Though it had, of course, been a thought, Alex had made a decision that he would attend to making his sisters his first priority, before taking a wife of his own. He had not found any of the young ladies in the neighborhood to be to his liking. “There is no hurry to marry me off, Lizzy. Men can father their heirs when they are a great deal older. I prefer to ensure that you and Jane are well settled before I pursue a marriage of my own.”

  “Of course, dear brother, though I am certain that Jane will agree with me that we would not wish to see you alone here at Longbourn when we are moved away to begin our new families.” Elizabeth gave him an impish grin before she quickly made her way out the door of the study.

  Shaking his head, Alex could not help but realize that his sister was telling him, in her own unique way, that she was still displeased with his making decisions for her, even if she had agreed to do as she was told.

  Darcy was in the dining room, enjoying a cup of coffee and some biscuits that Jane had requested brought to him. She had left the room to see to some household issues, so Elizabeth found him in the room alone. Before stepping into the room, Elizabeth quietly watched the man who would become the most important man in her life. He was tall, muscular, with dark wavy hair. If she had to admit the truth, she did find him to be quite handsome. His dark eyes seemed bottomless when he gazed at her, and his dimpled smile sent shivers down her spine.

  Sitting his cup down, Darcy stood up and began to move towards the door where Elizabeth stood. “Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth, I had not heard you.”

  A blush began to creep onto Elizabeth’s cheeks. “I just barely arrived at the door, so it is not surprising that you did not hear me. My slippers are extremely quiet on this flooring.”

  “You have not had a chance to enjoy any refreshments, would you like me to remain with you so you are not alone?” Darcy offered a chair which he had pulled out for her.

  “My thanks to you, Mr Darcy, you are a very kind gentleman.” Elizabeth stated as she stepped to the chair and took a seat. Mrs Hill had entered the room to check on Darcy and she inquired if Elizabeth wished for food along with her normal tea. Elizabeth became self-conscious about eating in front of Darcy, but she decided that she needed something on her stomach. “Some toast and preserves would be wonderful, Mrs Hill.”

  Alex entered the room to find a very harmonious feel between the two. Thinking to himself that he was correct in his thoughts that they would make a solid, loving couple, Alex moved to pour himself a cup of coffee and take his customary seat at the table. When Mrs Hill returned to the room with a plate of toast and a jar of preserves, Alex asked her to have Jane join them in the dining room.

  Jane made her way to the room a few moments later. Seeing that Elizabeth appeared calm, as did both of the men, Jane entered and sat next to her sister.

  “Ah, Jane, it is a pleasure to announce that our sister has agreed to
the arrangements to marry Mr Darcy. There will be a long engagement, and for the present time, we are announcing that they are courting. We would not wish for anyone to make a mistaken notion that there was anything inappropriate, as there has not been.”

  “I believe this is much better, as Lizzy will have time to become comfortable with the notion over some time before the engagement is announced. I am quite pleased for you both.”

  “Thank you, Jane. Your support and love is important to me.” Elizabeth stated. “And having his own sister, I am certain that Mr Darcy is also grateful to have the support of my sister in this decision.”