Approbation and Anxiety: Enlightening Mr. and Mrs. Bennet

by KaraLou

November 2002, Firthness Challenge Entry

Rated PG  

Mr. Bennet

Darcy and Elizabeth approached the Bennet home at Longbourn, each one preparing them self for the task that lay before them. As they had walked down from the mount, they discussed getting the word out as quickly as possible so not to allow any conjecture, any rumor, or encourage any gossip regarding the two.

Darcy was to go in and talk with her father immediately, seeking his approval. Elizabeth would have the daunting task to bring the news to her mother, knowing that while it would cause her excessive delight, it would unduly set her nerves on end. But it had to be done.

When they came to the door, the both paused before stepping inside. Darcy took in a deep breath and Elizabeth prayerfully closed her eyes; each one exhibiting their unique gesture they resorted to when facing a discomfiting prospect.

When they stepped inside, Elizabeth looked toward her father’s study and saw that the door was closed. “It appears that he is in his study. That is good. You can slip in there without anyone seeing and getting suspicious.”

“My dearest Elizabeth, are you worried about someone being suspicious? They shall know in just a matter of time.”

“I would just prefer that my mother does not see you.” She turned to him with a pained look. “I should like to tell her alone.”

She turned to go, and he reached out to stop her by taking her hand. “Elizabeth, please do not worry. Everything shall be all right.”

She smiled at him. “I know.”

She walked off, and Darcy strode to the door. It was easier said than believed. Was he really convinced everything would be all right?”

He reached up and knocked firmly three times, waiting for a response.

“Come.” The voice replied.

Darcy slowly opened the door and walked in. Mr. Bennet, in looking up and seeing who it was, suddenly tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Darcy, come in. Will you have a seat, sir?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Darcy sat down, but promptly stood up again. Mr. Bennet watched him in amusement, sensing his discomfort.

“Is there anything wrong, Darcy?”

“No, sir…that is…I have something I wish to speak with you about.”

Darcy watched as Elizabeth’s father looked down at the opened book upon his desk that he had been reading and firmly closed it. He tapped the outside of it a few times and then looked back up, waiting quietly.

“Sir, it is about your daughter…Elizabeth. I have asked her to be my wife and she has accepted.”

“Has she?” The two men were locked in a gaze.

“Yes, sir. I have come to secure permission from you.”

Mr. Bennet looked down and scratched his head. “Hmmmm,” was the only acknowledgment he offered.

Darcy waited a moment longer, not wanting to pressure Mr. Bennet, but desperately wanting permission secured and this whole meeting over with.

“So my Lizzie accepted you, has she?”

“Yes she has.”

Suddenly Mr. Bennet was intently looking directly into his eyes. “I understand that earlier you were informed of the proposal she received from Mr. Collins.”

“Yes, sir.”

“She refused him, you know.”

“For which I am grateful.”

“Mr. Darcy, I would be a fool to refuse such a man as yourself seeking my daughter’s hand in marriage. But I cannot help but think I would not be doing the proper thing.”

Suddenly Darcy felt himself grow a little tense. “And why would that be, sir?”

“Because I know how much she has disliked you from the moment you two met!”

In his greatest attempt at humility Darcy retorted, “I believe her feelings have changed.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Still, I cannot help but think that my Lizzie may have consented to be your wife solely because she did not want to turn down a second proposal for fear there would be no others.”

“I have all the assurance, sir, that is not the case.”

“And how can you be so sure, Mr. Darcy?”

“Because she has already turned down a second proposal. One made by myself months ago.”

Darcy noticed a look of utter surprise sweep across Mr. Bennet’s face.

“I do not know what you can be referring to, sir!”

Darcy reached out and put both hands on the table. “While we were at Kent, I proposed to her there, and she turned me down.”

In all Mr. Bennet’s life he had never been rendered speechless, but at this very moment he was.

At length he was able to say, “You proposed and she refused you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then why…”

“Why would I ask her again?”

Mr. Bennet nodded.

“Because I have never ceased loving her. When she refused me, I set out to attend those faults she told me that she found so offensive in me…even though I never had any assurance she would ever change her opinion of me.”

“But you say that she has.”

“Yes sir.”

Mr. Bennet looked up into Darcy’s face. “Sir, I find that I can do nothing, then but to give my approval. Where is my daughter?”

“She is speaking with her mother, letting her know.”

“Ahhhh!” Mr. Bennet held up his hand to stop any further conversation and reached for his pocket watch, opening it up.

“What, sir?”

“Just wait. Five… four… three… two… one…”

Just a few seconds after he had finished speaking, there was a loud shriek which came from another room in the house, followed by a bellowing, “Engaged? Elizabeth engaged to Mr. Darcy? Ohhhh, my nerves…my nerves! ”

Darcy looked at Mr. Bennet in astonishment. “That was quite impressive, sir. How did you do that?”

Mr. Bennet leaned forward as he looked at Darcy. “Young man, when you live in the same house with someone for as many years as I have, you come to know what to expect from them.”

Darcy laughed. “I suppose so.”

Mr. Bennet cocked his head at Darcy.

“My Lizzie, for example…”

Darcy’s eyes and body came to very alert attention at the mention of Elizabeth’s name.

“You will discover that within three minutes she can sketch someone’s character quite admirably. Within five minutes, most accurately.”

“I have been on the receiving end of that, sir.”

“But if she hears of any injustice, any cruelty, any wrong done to someone she cares about, she will bite her tongue for no more than five seconds before she explodes with a vengeance, letting her opinion be known.”

“I have also been on the receiving end of that, as well.”

At that, there was another outburst from Mrs. Bennet.

“Perhaps, Mr. Darcy, you should sneak out the front door and leave me to take care of my wife and daughter.”

“If it is all the same to you, sir, I should like to remain and go in with you.”

“Suit yourself,” Mr. Bennet said as he rose from his desk. “Shall we go?”


Mrs. Bennet

Elizabeth had left Darcy earlier at the door to her father’s study. She walked slowly into the drawing room where her mother sat, slumbering in a chair. She was grateful that her sisters were not here, as she needed to be able to thoughtfully convey this news to her mother without any distraction from them.

She stood for a moment watching her, tempted to leave her as she was and wait until the day before the wedding. How was she ever to give her this news without her making a scene that would definitely be heard in the study where her fiancé was? She decided she would arm herself with what her mother usually required at times like this; a glass of water, her smelling salts, and a fan.

Elizabeth gathered the necessary items, and returned to her mother’s side, ready to break the news to her. She chided herself for feeling so nervous, knowing her mother would be thrilled with the news, although she had always thought Mr. Darcy such a disagreeable man. But just the notion of him marrying one of her daughters would suddenly elevate him to the highest ranks in her opinion.

She sat down next to her, placing her artillery on the small table beside her. The small fan made a slight clamor as it fell from Elizabeth's hand, and Mrs. Bennet stirred. Immediately she brought her hands up to block her eyes from the bright sun that was peeking in the window at her.

She noticed Elizabeth. "Elizabeth? What are you doing here?"

She tried to sit up and bring her mind out of the dull fogginess it was in due to her napping.

"I have come to talk with you about something, Mamma." Elizabeth tried to smile, hoping it would calm and reassure her mother that everything was all right.

"And pray what is it you want to talk with me about? I hope it is something worthwhile, I was having such a nice nap!"

“I believe it is something very worthwhile.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. "You remember, mamma, that Mr. Darcy and I left to go out for a walk a while ago?"

Mrs. Bennet's eyes narrowed and she nodded her head. "Ahhh, yes, yes indeed. Was he terribly disagreeable?"

"No, mamma, he is definitely not disagreeable in the least!"

She suddenly seemed to come out of her stupor, and remembered the conversation she had earlier with him. "Perhaps he has developed a bit more civility. He certainly seemed interested in the conversation we had earlier about you and Mr. Collins! I bet he had a little talk with you about how you should not so particular in accepting proposals!"

"Yes, Mamma, in fact we did talk a little about that. Mamma," Elizabeth tried to speak as calmly and softly as she could. "Mr. Darcy has asked me if I would consent to be his wife."

Mrs. Bennet's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Elizabeth reached over and picked up the glass of water and fan. Mrs. Bennet took the glass and gulped down a few swallows of water. They she took the fan, opened it, and began fanning herself.

"Now, Lizzie, you know how much I detest being teased." She began fanning herself fervently. "You would not tease your mother with such nonsense, would you now?"

"No, mamma, I would not."

"Ohhhh. Lizzie, I cannot bear it any longer. What did you say to the man? You certainly did not turn him down, did you?"

"No, mamma. I told him I would gladly be his wife. He is now talking with father securing his approval."

"Engaged! Elizabeth engaged to Mr. Darcy? Ohhhh, Oh my nerves…my nerves!" And with that her head went back, her eyes closed and she went out like a light.

Elizabeth reached over and calmly picked up the smelling salts, administering them to her mother as she had so often done over the years.

When Mrs. Bennet came to, she looked at Elizabeth. “Ohhhhh!” Another cry escaped her. “This is all too much for me! To think, that fine Mr. Darcy to marry my Lizzie!”

Elizabeth gave her more to drink from the glass of water as her father and Darcy walked into the room. Darcy bowed before Mrs. Bennet, and then looked at Elizabeth and smiled.

“Well, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Bennet began. “I see that you have received the news that I just received. It appears as though we will be having another wedding!”

“Another wedding!” With that, her head fell back again.

Darcy remained a little while longer, just long enough to get some dates settled among them. They decided for a wedding to take place in just 3 weeks, which meant he needed to secure a special license.

As he left them, they walked outside to see him off. Mr. Bennet grasped his hand firmly and expressed with great satisfaction the joy he would have welcoming him into the family.

Mrs. Bennet could still barely utter one intelligible word she was so overtaken with the news.

As Darcy approached his carriage, Elizabeth walked over with him, thanking him for acting so calmly and cordially around her mother, despite her rantings and ravings.

He looked down at her and whispered. “There is nothing to thank me for, Elizabeth. I love you, she is your mother.”

“But still, the way she acted…”

Darcy drew his finger up to her lips to quiet her. “On the contrary, Elizabeth. The reaction your mother had to our engagement is nothing compared to what I will have to endure in informing my aunt of our engagement. Be assured, dear, that she shall literally bring the whole house down!”

As Elizabeth stood talking with Darcy, Mrs. Bennet finally was able to express herself to her husband.

“My dear Mr. Bennet, will he not make the most handsome, fine husband for our Lizzie. I always liked him you know. There were some that thought him proud, but I knew otherwise.” She sighed with great contentment. “And I always felt Lizzie had it within her to secure a husband of substantial means. Will he not be able to do great things for our Lizzie?”

“Mrs. Bennet,” her husband pointed out. “He will do far greater things for our Lizzie than you can ever imagine!”

Copyright held by KaraLou - 2002