“And I expected you to flutter your lashes and simper at all Mr. Wickham’s lies and proclaim your violent attachment to a man who does not deserve it!”
Matters quickly worsened, and soon, Lydia was toe to toe with Elizabeth, screaming at her, while Elizabeth gave as good as she got. Kitty and Mary attempted to get in between them, but Lydia would not be moved, and Elizabeth was not about to allow her stupid sister to say what she would.
That it would draw others to the fray was no surprise. Mr. Bennet’s study was just down the hall from the entrance, so he emerged the moment raised voices disturbed his peace, and Mrs. Bennet, who had been above stairs, joined them only a moment later. Elizabeth prided herself on keeping her temper, but Lydia incensed her so much that she was most injudicious with her words. After emotions had settled, she wished that she had exercised restraint.
“You cannot even attract the attention of a man!” Lydia screeched, responding to a comment on her flirtation with the officers. “Even Mr. Darcy could not stand you, for you were only tolerable and not handsome enough to earn his favor. You should have accepted Mr. Collins, for he is the only man who will ever propose to you!”
“Is that so?” demanded Elizabeth, fury suppressing her caution. “At least I have hadtwoproposals. All you will ever inspire from a man is improper admiration for your wild ways.”
“Two proposals?” challenged Lydia, scoffing. “Has some other oily parson slithered out to propose to you, or have you lost your ability to count?”
Belatedly, Elizabeth realized she had said more than she should, but the damage appeared to be done.
“Two?” asked Mrs. Bennet as if unable to fathom what she was hearing. “Who else proposed to you?”
Though repentant for having voiced such a thing, from the looks she was getting from her family, Elizabeth knew she could not brush this off. Lydia’s challenging expression fueled the fire in Elizabeth’s breast, such that she could not refrain from revealing all.
“Yes, Lydia, I have receivedtwoproposals. The second was from Mr. Darcy when I was in Kent.”
Silence settled over them all. Mrs. Bennet stared at Elizabeth uncomprehending, and her sisters were little better, though Elizabeth noted the scrutiny with which her father regarded her. To Elizabeth’s detriment, Mrs. Bennet recovered first and displayed her usual want of understanding by drawing the wrong conclusion.
“Then you are engaged! Why, Lizzy, you never dropped a word. And to a man such as Mr. Darcy, a wealthy, prominent man, as excellent a position as we have ever seen. We are saved!”
“Mama—”
Elizabeth attempted to rein in her mother’s enthusiasm, but Mrs. Bennet was not to be deterred.
“That must be why you were secretive when you returned. Of course, your fiancé would tell you about Mr. Wickham—and it is a good thing he did. We must plan for the wedding at once. Tell me, Lizzy, when is Mr. Darcy coming to Hertfordshire? When he comes, we must do our best to impress him. What are his favorite foods? When shall you marry? Oh, there is so much to be done!”
“Mama!” exclaimed Elizabeth. “I amnotengaged!”
Had it been any other circumstance, Elizabeth might have found her mother’s utter shock diverting. Her father had no such restriction, his gaze traveling from his wife to Elizabeth as if to say: “You knew better than to say such a thing to your mother.”
“Not engaged!” cried her mother. “You foolish child! Did you reject another proposal, one that might have saved us all?”
“She is lying!” cried Lydia. “It is nothing more than an attempt to make herself appear more appealing.”
“If you accuse me of lying again, I shall not be responsible for my actions!”
It appeared the heat in Elizabeth’s voice pierced Lydia’s stupidity, for she blanched at the threat. That was when Mr. Bennet stepped in to exert control over the situation.
“While I must own to some delight at this farce, it is time to allow your tempers to cool.”
When Lydia turned a sullen gaze to the floor, Elizabeth offered a curt nod.
“Now, it seems there are a few matters of which your mother and I are not aware. Since Mrs. Bennet will allow nothing to take precedence over this business of a proposal, we shall discuss that first. Tell me, Lizzy—did Mr. Darcy propose to you in Kent?”
“Yes, Papa, he did,” said Elizabeth without hesitation. There was nothing left but to acknowledge the truth, though Elizabeth supposed her mother would make her life miserable, as payment for having spoken so injudiciously of such a matter in her hearing.
“And this proposal,” continued her father, “you refused. You must have, considering your admission about the lack of an engagement.”
“Oh, Papa!” exclaimed Elizabeth. “Do you suppose I could accept a proposal from Mr. Darcy, of all men? After I rejected Mr. Collins?”
“Mr. Darcy isnotMr. Collins!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “That gentleman is wealthy enough that we never would have wanted for a home or a means to put bread on our table!”
“Ifwe could persuade him to do it,” snapped Elizabeth. “Do you not recall that Mr. Darcy disdained us?”
“Enough, Mrs. Bennet,” said her father before his wife could say anything. “We will never know all if you persist in interrupting.”