Elizabeth really wishes to marry you, then you may have
my consent and my blessing. But I want to hear it from
her own lips. Send her to me.’
I left him and went to Elizabeth. She saw from my
face that he had given his consent.
‘He wants to speak to you.’
She nodded, and left the room.
Mrs Bennet, who had been talking to Jane and Bingley, looked up at this.
‘Where has Lizzy gone?’ she asked Jane.
‘I do not know,’ Jane replied, though from her face I
could tell she had guessed.
‘She has made an excuse to leave the room, being
tired of talking to that disagreeable gentleman, I suppose,’
said Mrs Bennet, not taking the trouble to lower her
voice. ‘I do not blame her. Now, Jane, you must have a
new dress for your wedding. What colour do you think
it should be? I was married in blue,’ she said,‘in quite the
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 286
2 8 6
A M A N D A G R A N G E
most beautiful dress, not like the fashions nowadays. It
had a wide skirt, and a pointed bodice. We must make
sure you have something equally fine. Satin, I think, or
Bruges lace.’
Jane cast me an apologetic look at the start of this
speech, and then attended to her mother, but I scarcely
heard Mrs Bennet’s effusions. I was wondering what was
happening in the library. Elizabeth seemed to be gone for
a very long time.What was her father saying to her? Was
it really taking her so long to convince him of her feelings for me?
‘I have often observed, that the finery of the weddinggown has no bearing on the happiness of the marriage,’
said Mary, looking up from her book.‘Such things are all
vanity, set to entrap the incautious female and lead her
down the path of temptation.’
‘Oh, hush Mary, be quiet, no one asked you,’ said Mrs
Bennet, annoyed. ‘When you find a husband, you may
prose on the nature of wedding gowns as much as you
like.’
Mary was silenced.
‘When I marry, I will have a satin underskirt and a
gauze overskirt,’ said Kitty,‘and I will not run off with my
husband and live with him in London first.’
‘Kitty, be quiet,’ said Mrs Bennet. She turned to Bingley with a smile. ‘What will you wear, Mr Bingley? A
blue coat or a black one? Wickham was married in his
blue coat. My dear Wickham!’ she said with a sigh.‘Such
a handsome man. But not nearly as handsome as you.’
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 287
M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 2 8 7
I caught Bingley’s eye. It was probable that, if Wickham had had five thousand a year, he would have been
allowed to be as handsome as Bingley.
‘I will wear whatever Jane wishes,’ he said.
Where was Elizabeth? I felt my impatience growing.
At last she returned to the room and smiled.All was well.
The evening passed quietly. I received a cold nod from
Mrs Bennet when I left, and I wondered what her reception of me would be on the morrow. I saw lines of strain
around Elizabeth’s mouth, and I knew she was not looking forward to her interview with her mother.
‘By this time tomorrow it will be done,’ I said.
She nodded, then Bingley and I departed.
‘Her father gave his consent?’ asked Bingley, as we
returned to Netherfield.
‘He did.’
‘Jane and I have already set a date for our wedding.We
were wondering what you and Elizabeth would think of
a double wedding?’
I was much struck by the idea.
‘I like it. If Elizabeth is agreeable, then that is what we
will do.’
Wednesday 8th October
Bingley and I were at Longbourn early this morning.
‘Mr Bingley,’ said Mrs Bennet, fidgeting as she welcomed him. She turned to me, and I felt Elizabeth grow
tense. But her mother merely looked at me in awe and
said: ‘Mr Darcy.’
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 288
2 8 8
A M A N D A G R A N G E
There was no coldness in her tone. Indeed she seemed
stunned. I made her a bow and went to sit beside Elizabeth.
The morning passed off well. Mrs Bennet took the
younger girls upstairs with her on some pretext, and
Elizabeth and I were free to talk. When luncheon was
served, Mrs Bennet sat on one side of me, and Elizabeth
on the other.
‘Some hollandaise sauce, Mr Darcy?’ said Mrs Bennet.
‘I believe you like sauces.’
I cast my eyes over the table, and saw no less than six
sauce-boats. I was about to refuse the hollandaise sauce
when I caught sight of Elizabeth’s mortified expression
and I determined to repay Mrs Bennet’s new civility
with a civility of my own.
‘Thank you.’
I took some hollandaise sauce.
‘And béarnaise? I had it made specially.’
I hesitated, but then put a spot of béarnaise sauce next
to the hollandaise sauce.
‘And some port-wine sauce?’ she said.‘I hope you will
take a little. Cook made it specially.’
I took some port-wine sauce and looked at my plate
in dismay. I caught Elizabeth’s eye and saw her laughing.
I took some béchamel sauce, mustard sauce and a cream
sauce as well, and then set about eating my strange meal.
‘You are enjoying your luncheon?’ asked Mrs Bennet
solicitously.
‘Yes, thank you.’
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 289
M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 2 8 9
‘It is not what you are used to, I suppose.’
I could honestly say that it was not.
‘You have two or three French cooks, I suppose?’
‘No, I have only the one cook, and she is English.’
‘She is your cook at Pemberley?’
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Pemberley,’ said Mrs Bennet. ‘How grand it sounds. I
am glad Lizzy refused Mr Collins, for a parsonage is
nothing to Pemberley. I expect the chimney piece will be
even bigger than the one at Rosings. How much did it
cost, Mr Darcy?’
‘I am not sure.’
‘Very likely a thousand pounds or more.’
‘It must be difficult to maintain,’ said Mr Bennet.‘Even
at Longbourn, it is difficult to keep up with all the repairs.’
We fell into a discussion about our estates, and I found
Mr Bennet to be a sensible man. He might be negligent
where his family are concerned, but his duties in other
areas are carried out responsibly.
I have to forgive him the former
