Beginning, Previous Section, Section IV
Jump to new as of October 20, 2002
Jump to new as of October 31, 2002
Part the Twenty-first
The butler looked at Darcy in astonishment upon opening the door, before his mask of professional indifference slipped back into place. He held it wide for him to enter, saying, "It is a pleasure to see you Mr Darcy, sir. Unfortunately there has been some miscommunication, and I was unaware of your impending arrival. I regret to say that your room has not been readied. I will see that it is done immediately, sir."
"My apologies, Hawkins. I did not send word that I was arriving. I hope it is no inconvenience."
"None at all, sir," Hawkins replied with a stiff bow. "You will find Lady Catherine in the drawing room."
"She is still up?" asked Darcy, with an edge of disappointment to his voice. "Is Miss Anne with her?"
"She has already retired for the evening. Would you like me to announce you, sir?"
Just then a door was heard to slam, and quick footsteps sounded in the hall.
"Thank you, Hawkins. I think that will be unnecessary."
A raised voice met their ears. "Who has arrived? Hawkins! Why am I not informed? I must know what is going on." Lady Catherine swept into the entrance hall, a look of displeasure on her face. She stopped abruptly at the sight of Darcy, and her demeanour changed. "Darcy, whatever are you doing here?"
"Lady Catherine," he said, stepping forward and giving her a little bow. "I apologise for not forewarning you of my visit, and for my late arrival."
"Never mind all that now! Come here and greet me properly." She proffered her parched cheek.
Darcy gave her a perfunctory kiss and led her back to the drawing room.
"I am glad you have come, Fitzwilliam. I have been very badly treated indeed. My daughter has behaved in a shameless manner. She offers no excuses for her behaviour! She has entered into an illicit liaison with a creature not fit to wipe your boots. And she your intended! You must marry her at once! I will not have it any other way! You must save her from her own rash and wanton behaviour."
Darcy leaned against the mantle. He regarded his aunt through narrowed lids; the green was barely noticeable. "My cousin and I have no wish to marry, a point I had felt was made abundantly clear on my last visit. As for illicit liaisons and wanton behaviour, I find it quite unlikely that Anne is guilty of any such actions."
Lady Catherine could not sit still. She got up and paced around in agitation. "She has disgraced the family name! My own daughter has entered into correspondence with none other than the younger brother of that mealy mouthed, obsequious parson who has imposed himself upon my good nature and hospitality. After all I have done to further that wretch's career, he has twisted a knife into my very heart!"
"That your daughter has taken up correspondence with a young man, could indeed be looked upon as improper behaviour, but hardly wanton," said Darcy, thinking of his own note to Elizabeth. Had he compromised her in some way by sending it? "However the illicit nature of her conduct was only due to a fear of reprisals. She was afraid you would not look kindly on her engagement to Mr Collins. Your reaction proves her point."
"You . . . you knew of this?" cried Lady Catherine, her anger roused. "How many serpents have I harboured at my bosom? Is everyone conspiring against me to pollute the shades of Rosings? Mrs Jenkinson shall be let go without a reference, Mr Collins shall be ousted from the living of Hunsford, and you shall indeed marry Anne! How can you talk of her engagement? She cannot be engaged without my permission. That worthless fortune hunter had the great audacity to seek private counsel with me yesterday, and ask for her hand! The outrage! The upstart pretensions of a man without family, connections, or fortune to recommend him, wanting to drag my daughter down to his lowly sphere, without regard for her honour and credit. A connection to him would disgrace Anne in the eyes of everybody!"
"A connection to him is what Anne desires above everything. Why should her own wishes not be consulted in this matter?"
"He has bewitched her in some manner! Anne would never go against my wishes of her own accord. Fitzwilliam, you must talk to her and convince her to change her mind. Impress upon her the great hurt she has levelled upon me. How am I to survive the degradation of a faithless daughter? She has cut me to the quick. She must be brought to see reason. I will take her to the continent upon a repairing lease, and when we return the two of you must wed. It is my fondest wish. How can you deny it me?"
"My dear Aunt, as much as I want to cause you no distress, I fear I cannot do as you ask. I support Anne in her decision, and if I talk with her it will not be to convince her to act against the dictates of her heart."
"How can you be so obstinate and cruel, you who I have favoured above all my other nephews to turn your back on me in this way? I will brook no opposition!"
"Madam, I can only act in the manner that will constitute the happiness of my cousin."
"And this is your final resolve? I hoped to find you reasonable; but depend upon it, I will carry my point. If you refuse to marry Anne, I will see to it that Colonel Fitzwilliam does. He knows his duty. I will retire for the night now. I take no leave of you, and do not wish you a good night. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased!"
Darcy bowed stiffly as his aunt left the room. The interview had gone no better or worse than he had expected. He waited until he was positive that she was safely ensconced in her personal suite and then he quit the drawing room and quietly made his way to Anne's own apartments.
Anne rushed to Darcy with her arms out and threw herself upon him sobbing. "You are finally come! I had about given you up. Oh, cousin, what am I to do? He wanted to face mama, and obtain her consent. I told him how it would be, but Marcus is such a man of honour he deplored going behind her back. He was confident he could win her over. He has such an air about him, you see, and she had been quite taken with him. She had invited him to dine at Rosings twice in one week. Once he had declared himself, she hurled abuses at him and refused to listen to his suit. She had him removed from the premises, and ordered him out of the county! His brother would not let him back into his home. Now I shall be dragged off to the continent and never see him again."
She broke down at that point, and Darcy helped her over to her settee. He took her hands and looked directly in her eyes. "Do not despair, dear Anne. I am here to help you. All will be well."
"But mother has forbade our marriage! I cannot contemplate life without him, and he is lost to me!"
"Has he gone, then?" asked Darcy, hoping that her lover was not quite so weak-spirited as to let Lady Catherine dictate his future.
"No. He sent word that he is at the inn. He says that he will never leave me and will follow me wherever I go until my mother relents."
"There will be no need of that," said Darcy.
"Did you talk to my mother?" asked Anne, suddenly feeling a ray of hope. "Did she . . ."
"No, I have not been able to reason with her as of yet, but you must remember, Anne, that despite anything she tells you, you do not need her consent to marry."
"But I want her blessing. I want her to accept Marcus; to understand that marrying him would not lower me, but raise me to a life of fulfilment."
"All that can come with time. Even she can be worked on. But for now it must suffice that you have my blessing. How soon can you be ready to leave?"
Anne looked at her cousin in shock. "What are you suggesting?"
"It is the only measure you have left. I have had a long time to think about it, and believe me, sacrificing your own happiness for that of a loved one is not at all satisfying, no matter how noble it may sound."
"But we cannot elope! Marcus would never consent to it!"
"It will not be an elopement. Everything will be done within the bounds of propriety. You will travel with Mrs Jenkinson. Mr Collins will provide you escort to his mother's house. You will be married from there, under her aegis."
"I will be leaving under the cover of dark, without my mother's knowledge."
"I will inform her at the earliest opportunity."
"Then, what is to stop her from coming to prevent the wedding?"
Darcy drew a paper out of his pocket and handed it to Anne. "This. It is a special license. The marriage will have been performed before she has time to forestall it."
"But, I have no desire to enter into marriage through deceitful means. It would cast a pall over our life together," cried Anne, pulling her hands from Darcy's and searching for her handkerchief.
"Anne, you know how much I abhor deceit. I would not suggest this measure to you if I thought it truly designing. That is why I am staying behind. Your mother will not be lied to; I will tell her all that is within my power to tell. She will not be deceived, but I will not let her stand in the way of your happiness."
"But should my mother not be informed of our plans at once then?" Anne asked with trepidation.
"By rights she should, but she has already gone to bed. Lady Catherine has had a very trying day and I would not disturb her rest for the world," said Darcy with a smile.
"I am sorry to be such a trial to you, Fitzwilliam," said Anne, smiling for the first time. "I cannot express my gratitude for what you have done, and are about to undertake for me. I will call Mrs Jenkinson at once and we will ready ourselves, and word must be got to my beloved."
"I will go to the stable and order the carriage, then I will ride to the inn and inform Mr Collins. I will return with him in one hour, and meet you at the gate."
Anne stood on her tiptoes and kissed Darcy's cheek. "I wish you the same happiness that I have found."
The green of Darcy's eyes warmed as they looked down on his cousin. "I can safely say that your wish will very shortly be answered."
Convincing Mr Collins was as difficult a job as convincing Anne, but the incentive that Darcy offered him, of being happily married to Anne in so short a space of time, did much to outweigh the scruples of a man so deeply in love. Darcy was impressed by Marcus Collins' strength of character and cheerful optimism, which bolstered his own belief that assisting these two people in their union was just and right. That Mr Collins loved her for her own self, and cherished her happiness was evident in all his words and looks.
He saw the carriage off from the gate, and then slowly walked his horse back to the stables and brushed him down himself. He reflected deeply on all that had passed since receiving the express in the morning. Was it only this morning? I t seemed an age since he had reluctantly left Netherfield. The knowledge that he would never regret this day's work, gave Darcy the peace of mind to be able to lay his head upon his pillow and sleep, and let the trials of the day to come not oppress him. His last thoughts were of Elizabeth, her look as he had last seen her smiling shyly at him; the faintly fragrant smell of her that lingered within him; the feel of her skin as he gently held her hand, the warmth of it, its softness. He fell asleep with a tender smile upon his face.
Lady Catherine was already partaking of a hearty meal when he entered the breakfast-room in the morning.
"Well, have you reconsidered any of what you said last night?" she asked without preamble.
"I have something of great importance to tell you. I suggest that you hold any comments that you may wish to make until I have fully explained the situation to you."
"You explain the situation to me? I am perfectly cognisant of the situation. Nothing happens in this house that I do not know about!"
"Aunt Catherine, please can you hear me out. I do believe that you are as yet unaware of what I am about to inform you. Your daughter, Anne, left this house very early this morning."
"She has gone out walking so early in the morning? She will catch a chill!"
"She did not go out walking. She has taken the carriage, Mrs Jenkinson accompanies her." An explosive sound erupted from Lady Catherine. She held her lips tightly together; her face was turning puce. Darcy gave her a formidable glare. "They are being escorted by Mr Marcus Collins to his mother's home in Sussex. Anne and Mr Collins will be married at the soonest possible occasion."
"I must protest! Elopement! It is not to be borne!" Lady Catherine rose up from her chair and made to pull the bell rope. "My carriage must be readied at once."
Darcy was at her side in a minute, and prevented her summoning a servant. "There is nothing you can do to prevent this match. They will already be married by the time you get there. They are in all probability in the church at this moment."
"And you did nothing to stop them? Could you not save your cousin from this disgrace?"
"Madam, I organised the whole of it. I purchased the special licence. I overrode their doubts about marrying without your blessing. I urged them on their way. I have watched you all my life as you kept Anne beside you, making everyone including herself believe that she was sickly and ill, depriving her of her freedom and happiness at every step. I could stand by no longer. I am proud of what I have done, and I hope that one day you will be able to see that it was for the best, to all concerned."
"For the best? My daughter married in this unseemly way to NOBODY, and you have the brazenness to tell me I am at fault in raising my daughter? My own flesh and blood?"
"Mr Collins is not a nobody. He is a gentleman. He is to inherit an estate of three thousand pounds. He has the will and means to support Anne if you should choose to cut her off from her inheritance. And, more importantly, he loves her and has the capability of making her very happy."
"Three thousand pounds! That is nothing! It is an insult! She has Rosings and many thousands more than he could ever have! And his connections! His brother is a grovelling fool. His father had no estate; he was only in line for an entail. His mother may be something more, but I have never heard of her. Anne was to marry you, and combine the two estates! That would have been truly something grand."
"Aunt, I have all the fortune I could ever possibly want, and so does Anne. Why can we not be free to find our happiness where we wish? Why must society attempt to put such constraints upon us?"
"You would not be so foolish! You know your duty."
"My duty is to no-one but myself. I will follow my heart, and my heart is made up. Anne is marrying for love, and so will I, and there is nothing you, or anyone else can say to stop us."
"You are marrying? Just who is it that you are about to marry?"
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet, if she will have me."
Lady Catherine choked. Her colour was rapidly changing from puce to purple. "If she will have you? If? The scheming minx! She has had her sights set on you since you walked into the assembly in that shoddy little town where she lives. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on her that she was not to be trusted. So forward and outspoken! Brazen, brazen girl!"
"May I remind you that you are speaking of the woman that I love above anyone. The woman that I intend to marry," said Darcy, his voice cool and hard.
"She has ensnared you with her wiles. Her connections are even lower than those of Mr Marcus Collins. Her youngest sister ran off with a member of the militia. Her marriage was a patch up job. Did you know that? The whole family is ruined, disgraced! Of course they have hushed it up; they did not want to lose their hold on you."
"My dear Aunt Catherine," said Darcy in a voice devoid of feeling, "I know all about the marriage of Mr and Mrs Wickham. I was very instrumental in bringing it about. I seem to have a penchant for arranging marriages."
Lady Catherine regarded him in disbelief. This day was just getting worse and worse. First to learn that Anne was lost to her and the world, and now to hear that Darcy was about to sink himself below touch. It was beyond anything!
"Fitzwilliam, I do not know what kind of tactics have been used on you to cause you to act in such a reprehensible way! Have you no respect for your family honour? Have you lost all decency in your lust? This is an outrage to the very name of Darcy!"
"Aunt, you have insulted my future wife and myself in every way possible. I had intended to stay the day with you, conversing and offering comfort and understanding to help you come to the point where you could bestow your blessings upon Anne. I cannot remain and listen to your narrow minded, slanderous accusations. If you continue in this manner, you will find yourself ending your days a bitter and lonely old lady."
Darcy left the room and ordered his carriage. He walked through the shrubbery in an attempt to bring his temper under control. At least he had succeeded in his objective and stopped Lady Catherine from chasing after Anne, for the present at least. He did not see her again before he departed. She had ensconced herself in her parlour with her humble parson. In order to salvage a modicum of pleasure from the day she had decided to tear a strip out of Mr Collins.
The wind swept through Darcy's unkempt curls as he let his horses have their head. The road stretched straight before him; dusk was turning, and every furlong his horses covered soothed his temper as he was brought ever closer to Elizabeth. Soon he would see her, hear her voice, and feel her warm brown eyes upon him.
Part 22
When I first started writing this little story, I had imagined it was going to be quite a bit more frivolous and humorous than it has turned out. After I had written about six or seven chapters, I realised that the plan I had for the proposal scene at the ending was going to have to be scrapped. Instead of the humorous version I had envisioned, it was going to have to be sweet and romantic. Oh well, I can live with that. ;) I thought, though, that my readers might like a glimpse of what that other proposal would have been like, so, if you will bear with me, here it is for your reading enjoyment:
Lizzie and Darcy walked slowly up the path, letting Jane and Bingley outstrip them. They both knew full well their reasons for lagging back, and that knowledge only increased their nervousness.
Darcy glanced over at Elizabeth. If he did not speak now, she would soon begin to talk about the weather, and the moment would be lost.
"Miss Elizabeth, I . . . my affections and wishes are unchanged from what they were last April. If you feel the same . . . um, I mean . . . one word from you will make me the happiest . . ."
Elizabeth stopped and looked him straight in the eye, and then found herself overcome with confusion in his intense gaze. She stared down at her feet and tried to order her thoughts. "Mr Darcy, I am quite at a loss to understand you. Just what were your feelings and wishes last April?"
"Well, well . . . did I not . . ?"
"No, you did not, Mr Darcy. It was your cousin who proposed to me."
"Well I had been meaning to. If it was not for your cousin, I should have proposed the day before my cousin. But after you rejected him, how could I?"
"Is there a law forbidding it?" asked Lizzie, still looking at her toes.
This was not going quite as Darcy had planned. 'Elizabeth, have mercy on me!' "I did not want to be rejected as well."
Lizzie took his hand and peeked up at his face. "What makes you think you would have been rejected?"
Darcy found it difficult to breathe. The feel of her hand in his was overwhelming. "But - but . . . you always seemed to like him better than me. And the next morning you would not see me. What was I to think?"
Lizzie had the grace to blush. "I thought you did not want to propose to me . . . my connections, you know. You did warn your cousin against me."
"Of course I did. With his charm, I didn't stand a chance. I needed some way to keep him from stealing you."
"May I remind you that I rejected him."
"Yes, and that made it all the more hopeless!"
"There would have been more hope had I accepted him?"
"Yes - no - had he not proposed at all, then I would have had hope."
"You are making very little sense, sir," said Lizzie, giving him a saucy smile.
"It is hard to make sense with you so close to me, and your hand in mine. If you only knew how I have longed for this moment!"
"I have been trying to tell you that it was unnecessary."
"What? Proposing to you?" Darcy turned very white.
"No, longing for this moment. You could have had it ages ago. I would have said yes back then in April, before, after, or even during your cousin's proposal, had you but asked me."
The colour returned to Darcy's cheeks. His eyes took on a glow. "Then you will have me?"
"You have yet to propose. Just what were your affections and wishes last April?"
Darcy swept her into his arms, all his nervousness and apprehension gone. He kissed her deeply; the kiss left her reeling and clinging to his shirt collar. "You know quite well what they are. Much stronger, deeper, and infinitely more lasting than anything my fool cousin said to you. Now where is that blasted ring?" He felt all his pockets, but there was no lump. He looked down at the ground in concern. Just then a liveried servant ran up and handed him a small box. He took it and pulled forth a beautiful emerald ring, with a sapphire on either side of the deep green stone, and under the servant's interested scrutiny he slipped it on Lizzie's finger as they gazed adoringly into each other's eyes. "My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth," he sighed, and leaned down to kiss her again.
After a few minutes the servant coughed. Darcy looked up.
"Are you still here?"
The servant proffered a hand, and Darcy slipped a few coins into it. With a bow, the servant sidled away.
"Who on earth was that?" asked Lizzie, somewhat amused.
"My footman, Rita."
"FootMAN?"
"I am an equal opportunity employer. She is lobbying to change the name to Footperson, but these days political correctness is not in fashion."
Lizzie made a mental note to check into this footperson business. It did not sit too well with her for Darcy to have Rita always at his beck and call. She looked back into his mysteriously coloured eyes and immediately forgot what she was thinking about. "Tell me that dearest, loveliest part again," she sighed.
Darcy decided that there were better things to do than talking.
There you go. As you can see, it will need to be considerably altered to fit into the present story. Okay - no more of this shilly-shallying. It is more than obvious that your patience is wearing thin and you want me to go for the real one, so here goes:
(and Rita, before I forget, when Darcy calls his man to draw his bath later in this chapter it is not you. Nor is it Alicia, or Alyson, or any other of you hopefuls. It is his valet, Binks, an old family retainer who he would never even think of replacing.)
Part the Twenty Second
Caroline was quite pleased with her new gown. She had worn it this evening, even though Mr Darcy was not yet returned from his mysterious trip. Maybe he would arrive tonight; the sight of her in this creation couldn't help but catch his notice. It was very elegantly styled in the latest of fashions. The sleeves were long and the waist just that much lower than last year's style. The fabric was a crisp taffeta, with wide vertical stripes of bisque and bronze. She smoothed her skirt as she paced around the drawing room.
"Georgiana, won't you join me in a turn about the room?" she asked.
Georgiana had been engrossed in her book, but she laid it aside and politely joined her hostess. She had been pleased when Caroline, Louisa, and Mr Hurst had arrived the night before, because it had enabled her to stay and make friends with the Bennet sisters. Today she had found Caroline's company extremely grating. Caroline all but refused to visit the Bennets with Georgiana that afternoon, but Charles had insisted that she and Louisa show his betrothed the courtesy she deserved. The visit had not been as long as either Georgiana or Charles would have liked, and Caroline's superior behaviour at the Bennets' had made them both uncomfortable. Since they had returned home, her attempts to disparage all the Bennets, barring Jane, who was a dear, sweet girl, met with no encouragement. Even Louisa refrained from joining in on the subject. By the time Darcy arrived, she sorely needed someone to commiserate with.
Caroline and Georgiana were still strolling up and down the room when Darcy entered, tired and dishevelled. He knew he should really have made himself presentable first, but he was impatient to see Georgiana and ask her how Elizabeth had received the note, and he had forgotten the presence of Caroline and the Hursts. He apologised, and was about to leave the room when Bingley called out.
"You don't have to stand on ceremony with us," he cried genially. "You look perfectly presentable. Come in and join us in some tea."
Mr Hurst held up his glass of port and said, "No need to maudle your insides with tea," and then he downed a large portion of it.
Darcy passed his hand through his hair and went over to greet his sister, wishful to take her aside and ask her about what was uppermost in his mind. As Caroline was standing beside her, he could not approach the subject in a straightforward manner.
"I trust you had a good visit with the Bennets yesterday?"
Georgiana smiled and began to answer, but she was cut off by Caroline's quick reply.
"Oh the Bennets! Your sister can't seem to get enough of the Bennets, Mr Darcy, though I have no idea why," she gave him a flashing smile, and continued on before anyone else could speak. "For my part, I find them quite commonplace. I know you share my opinions in this regard." She looked over at Bingley as he began to sputter. "I will grant you, Charles, that Jane is lovely, but you must admit that your future mother-in-law is a harridan. I am sure you, Mr Darcy, would not want one such."
"One does not choose a wife for the mother-in-law," said Darcy shortly, with an edge to his voice that Caroline missed.
"Yes, poor Charles. But think, it is not only Mrs Bennet he is getting, but also the brash sisters! I was never more bored than this afternoon in their company! The mindless chatter - you have no idea. And Miss Elizabeth Bennet! She has become so coarse and brown this summer. I remember once you thought her eyes to be rather fine."
"I have never ceased to think them the finest eyes I have ever beheld."
Caroline was momentarily taken aback, and then continued on undaunted. "Am I to wish you joy as well?" She laughed a brittle laugh and looked directly in his eyes. "I remember a time when you were quite impervious to her charms. I distinctly recall you saying that her connections must materially lessen her chance of marrying a man of any consideration in the world. The very idea of a connection between Pemberley and Gracechurch Street is completely ridiculous!"
"And yet it is fact. I have been in love with Miss Elizabeth for quite some time now, and I fully intend to make her my wife. Her want of connections does not affect me in the slightest. I would rather spend time with her family than the best society in London." Darcy turned on his heel and left Caroline standing in the centre of the room, her face darkening with outrage. Georgiana slipped through the door after him.
The room had become deathly silent. Caroline turned and glared at Louisa. "Just what are you staring at?"
"Your face. It has become quite as orange as your dress," said Louisa, barely able to contain herself.
"My dress is not ORANGE! It is bisque and bronze. I never wear orange! I do not like orange! I wear mandarin, evening sunset, blushing rose, autumn oak, burnished fire, but never, never orange!"
Mr Hurst refilled his glass and sat back. He hadn't enjoyed an evening's entertainment at Bingley's quite so much before. But it was over all too soon. Louisa was no match for Caroline.
A cough sounded from where Bingley was standing by the fireplace. Caroline turned her seething face towards him.
"Well?"
"I think you should take yourself off to bed now, Caroline," he said firmly.
She stalked out of the room and slammed the door behind her. When Louisa went up to her own room a few minutes later, she heard the sound of rending fabric as she passed Caroline's bedchamber.
The next morning dawned clear and light, with just a hint of mist clinging to the open fields. Darcy stood at his window, staring out at the broad expanse of lawn that sloped gently down to the shrubbery beyond. Today had to be the day. He had already told his aunt, and he had blurted out his love for Elizabeth in front of everyone in the drawing room last night. That they should know before Elizabeth did not sit well with him, though at least he knew he could count on them keeping quiet on the subject. His first object for today was to find a moment alone with Elizabeth and share his feelings with her.
Darcy called his man to draw a bath for him, and then he contemplated his wardrobe. He had never been more concerned about his appearance than this morning, as if how he was dressed would make any difference. If she didn't love him enough to want to marry him, would the choice of a cream waistcoat over a grey really cause her to change her mind? Would brown breeches be superior than black for handling rejection? Binks disturbed his reverie with the information that his bath was ready.
He dropped his robe and climbed into the water, enjoying the feel of its cool silkiness on his skin. He soaped himself with a bar of sandalwood, and then motioned for Binks to pour a jug of water over his head. He lay back in the tub, just relishing the pleasure of being immersed in water, and then he finished lathering his curls with the fragrant soap. Another rinse from the jug and he was out of the tub, rubbing himself vigorously with a thick, rough towel.
Darcy went down to breakfast impeccably dressed in the cream waistcoat, brown breeches, a fawn topcoat, a crisp lawn shirt and an immaculately arranged neck-cloth. He was greeted by Bingley and Georgiana; the others were not yet up. Nothing was said about the evening before, or his trip. Bingley cheerfully discussed the day and his eager plans for an early visit to the Bennets. Georgiana happily agreed to all his plans, especially the one of leaving his sisters and Hurst to their own devices. Darcy listened and ate in silence, thinking only that soon he would again be with Elizabeth.
As Binks was clearing up his master's dressing room, he found a small box under one of the many rumpled neck-cloths that littered the bureau. He peeked inside to see what it contained, and then secreted it in the top drawer with a soft chuckle. It certainly did a lot to explain Mr Darcy's unusually fussy preparations.
Morning in the Bennet household was the usual mad rush of getting dressed and arranging hair, with Mrs Bennet fluttering from bedchamber to bedchamber to urge on the progress, changing her mind constantly about the hair ribbons and the lace trimmings. She barely had her daughters dressed and fed and sitting in the parlour when the visitors arrived.
Lizzie took up her stitching and eyed the door nervously. He was back! He had been announced and would enter immediately. As the door opened she looked up and was conscious of nothing but his presence. He looked so wonderful that he took her breath away. Somehow she greeted everyone and sat back down. He sat in the chair closest to her and smilingly asked how she had been.
Georgiana saw it all, and settled herself with Kitty and Mary, leaving Elizabeth to her brother. Mrs Bennet was all for organising the young people into couples, and when Mr Bennet entered the room she pressed him for his support.
"Mr Bennet, do you not think that it would be a good idea for Jane to show her Mr Bingley our delightful river walk?"
"Are you sure he has not seen it before, my dear? I could point it out to him from this window here, if you should like."
"Do be serious, sir. If Mr Bingley has already seen it, then I am positive Mr Darcy has not. Jane and Kitty could take Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy out to explore the beauties of the river. I shall need Lizzie here with me to get on with this mending, and Mary and Miss Darcy could play together on the pianoforte."
Darcy looked quite taken aback at the suggestion, and Lizzie blushed at her mother's obvious attempts at matchmaking.
"I have a much better plan," said Mr Bennet with a little smile. "The mending can wait. I'm quite sure Kitty has no desire to see the river. She does need, however, to improve her scant musical knowledge, so I suggest she join Mary and Miss Darcy at the pianoforte. I am sure Miss Darcy would not want to be parted from her just yet. Am I right Miss Darcy?"
Georgiana smiled at Mr Bennet and answered shyly. "I would indeed like to have the company of both girls."
"Then it is settled. Lizzie will have to undertake the chore of showing the river to Mr Darcy, and chaperoning our young lovers." Mr Bennet winked at Lizzie.
Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley both quickly agreed that the plan was a good one before Mrs Bennet could offer any alternatives. Lizzie quietly acquiesced.
The group of four made their way down to the river and entered the path that followed its meandering course. Lizzie and Darcy walked along in silence for a few minutes, just looking at the glittering surface of the water.
As a chaperone, Lizzie was doing a very poor job. She neither knew nor cared where Jane and Bingley had got to. As a guide, she did not do much better, as she did not extol the river's virtues, nor tell its history. She merely walked by Mr Darcy's side, glancing every now and then from the river to him, happy just to be close to him, and nervously apprehensive of what was to come.
Finally Darcy stopped and turned to her. She looked up at him expectantly and all his anxiety slipped away. He took her hand, and held her eyes with his.
"Elizabeth," he said very softly. "I have waited for this moment for so long. You are too generous to allow me to go on if you do not return my feelings. I love you more deeply than I can say, and want only to spend the rest of my life with you."
Lizzie looked up into his eyes. They were so close she could see tiny amber flecks in the clear green. She felt so overwhelmed with happiness that she did not know if she could trust herself to speak. "Fitzwilliam." It came out as a whisper.
Darcy heard his name on her lips and looked in wonder at her sweet face. He reached out and touched the soft curls that wisped about her forehead. That she was really his was more than he could believe. His fingers traced the contours of her face, and rested on her lips. He then gently took hold of her chin and said, "Will you have me?"
"Yes, my love. Now and forever."
Darcy pulled her to him tenderly and held her close in his arms. She felt like she was back where she belonged. He kissed her hair and laid his cheek against her head. She could smell the soft scent of sandalwood as she nestled closer in.
"Elizabeth, my heart."
Time had lost all meaning. They stood in each other's arms as the water rushed swiftly past them, unheeded. A light breeze tossed the leaves of the elms; birds sang high in the boughs.
Finally Lizzie raised her head and looked up at him. "We must go back," she said with some reluctance.
Darcy nodded. "I need to speak to your father."
"I need to speak to my mother." She laughed. "I think I will leave that till you are gone."
They lingered in each other's arms, not wanting to move, and then Darcy took Lizzie's hand and they started slowly back along the path. Just before they left the trees, Darcy turned to Lizzie. He ducked his head down and pressed his lips fleetingly to hers.
"Wish me luck," he whispered, and he strode off up the lawn alone.
Lizzie stood still in she shade, bathed in the feeling of his lips touching hers.
Part the Twenty-third
Darcy knocked on Mr Bennet's study door, opening it upon hearing a call of "come in". He peeked his head inside, and Mr Bennet motioned for him to enter.
"I would like to have a word with you, sir, if I may," he said diffidently.
Mr Bennet leaned back in his chair and glanced at his pocket watch. "I have been expecting you," he said with a smile.
"I beg your pardon, sir," said Darcy in confusion.
"I believe you wanted a word," said Mr Bennet, indicating a chair at the side of his desk.
"Yes, sir. Actually more than one word . . ." Darcy trailed off awkwardly, unsure how to proceed.
"The last time I had an interview with you, you were astoundingly forthright. Is the subject so very difficult to broach?"
"No sir. That is, I am about to ask for something you may be reluctant to grant me."
"Try me, my good man. You may be agreeably surprised."
"You know that I was just at the river for a walk with your daughter."
"And the river wasn't to your satisfaction?" Mr Bennet asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"Everything was to my satisfaction," said Darcy with no little feeling.
"I am glad to hear it. Now come to the point, young man. Even your friend Mr Bingley didn't go about it in such a round about fashion."
Darcy took a deep breath. "I would like to ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage."
"Elizabeth, is it?"
"Miss Elizabeth," amended Darcy, blushing. "I beg your pardon, sir."
"You do realise that Lizzie is my pride and joy. I will not part with her to someone who cannot prove his worth."
"I am well able to provide for her, sir. My estate of Pemberley brings me ten thousand a year."
"Yes, yes. I am well aware of that, but it is immaterial if you cannot promise me that you will make her happy."
"I believe I can, sir. I love her very deeply. My love is not of short duration; it has stood the test of time. Your daughter means so very much to me, and has made me indescribably happy by consenting to be my wife. I will always do everything in my power to ensure her happiness," said Darcy earnestly.
"You can rest easy, son. I will stop toying with you now. You have already shown me what lengths you are prepared to go to ensure Lizzie's happiness. I could not give my daughter to someone more worthy." Mr Bennet got up and clasped Darcy's hand, smiling at the look of joy that overspread the young man's face. "And now, I suppose we must get on with the troublesome talk of settlements and all."
It didn't take long to get through all the business part of the arrangement, and then Mr Bennet shook Darcy's hand once again and asked him to find Lizzie and send her to him. Darcy wasn't sure where to look for her, so when he popped his head around the parlour door and saw her ostensibly applying herself to her needlework, he was relieved.
She was not the only person in the room, however, so he could not just go up to her and deliver her father's message. Georgiana, Kitty, and Mary were still at the pianoforte. Kitty was being taught a new piece by the other two.
Lizzie looked up to see Mr Darcy hovering by the door. He looked so hesitant and vulnerable that her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if all had not gone well with her father. Then he gave her a soft smile that sent a warm glow spreading throughout her body and caused her to smile just as warmly in return. She suddenly realised that he would be feeling uneasy making his way about her house on his own, especially as their engagement was not going to be announced yet.
"Won't you come in and sit down, Mr Darcy?" she said graciously, with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
He crossed the room and made a great show of choosing a book from a number that were strewn upon a table, and then sat in a chair not too far from her. Georgiana looked up and smiled at him, but the other two kept their attention to the music lesson.
Darcy leaned forward and said to Lizzie in low tones, "Your father wishes to speak to you."
Lizzie put down her work and slipped out of the room as Darcy opened his book and pretended to read, though his eyes never left her until the door closed behind her.
Mr Bennet smiled quite smugly as he asked his daughter to sit down, causing her to blush nervously.
"I have taken a leaf from your mother's book today, and it seems to have served its purpose to everyone's satisfaction," he said with a grin.
"I'm afraid I don't follow you," said Lizzie, who had been expecting to have to explain the development of her relationship to Mr Darcy with her father, rather than talking obscurely about something her mother had managed to get her father to do for her.
"It appears love sends the intellect packing!" laughed Mr Bennet. "It affected your young man in the same way. He was quite a different adversary than the one I faced in London, when he rode roughshod over me and imposed all his plans for Wickham and Lydia's future upon me. I could have taken complete advantage of him this morning, and he wouldn't have batted an eyelash. I have eyes to see with, my dear, and the moment he walked into the parlour the other evening it was obvious to me which way the wind blew for the two of you, so I gave a little nudge. Your mother, bless her soul, unable to see what was staring her right in the face, was making plans to pair him off with our Kitty." Mr Bennet succumbed to laughter.
"Oh, father," said Lizzie, laughing despite herself, "I was so mortified, but then you . . . oh, I see." And she blushed again.
"It was evident that all you two needed were a few moments alone together, and so I contrived it for you. Aren't you going to thank me, Lizzie?"
Lizzie went over to her father and gave him a hug. He kissed her cheek and looked her in the eye. "So tell me how this all came about. You were a very secretive young thing keeping us all in the dark like that."
"There was nothing to tell, father. Would I tell anyone that I was falling in love with a man who was so far above me that I had no hopes?"
"Station in life aside, he is not above you, my love. You are his equal in every other way. Now I understand the melancholy I had noticed in you since your return from Kent."
"Father, I returned so despondent. I was positive that his pride would never allow him to accept my connections. But that is all over. I am so happy now to know that he loves me despite everything. How do you like him father? He is truly the most considerate, caring man I have ever met."
"I have a very high opinion of him, firstly because he appreciates all your estimable qualities, and secondly because I have come to have a great respect for his intellect and abilities. I believe that he may come to be my favourite son-in-law, ranked even above Wickham in my estimation."
"Do be serious, papa. His name and Wickham's do not even belong in the same sentence."
"So I understand you are waiting till the evening to tell your mother. Good thinking. We must initiate the young man slowly into the various pleasures of our household. This leaves but one thing for me to remind you of."
"Whatever can that be?"
"Aren't you and Mr Darcy supposed to be chaperoning Mr Bingley and Jane on their walk by the river? You are being very remiss in your duties."
"Oh my goodness! I had completely forgotten them."
"From the moment you and Mr Darcy stepped out the door together, I would surmise," chuckled Mr Bennet. "Off with you then girl, and take that gentleman back out into the garden to resume your task. But don't forget what you are about this time. You must find the two young lovers with all haste, although what type of chaperonage I can expect from the two of you, I don't know. I will have to have your mother accompany you all from now on!"
"You would not dare," said Lizzie as she left the room. She collected Mr Darcy from the parlour, unheeded by the others, except for Georgiana who cast a fond glance after them. "We are supposed to be chaperoning Mr Bingley and Jane," she whispered in his ear. As they entered the trees by the river, Darcy took Lizzie's hand and they strolled along in contented silence, wondering vaguely where the others could have gone.
"Would it be presumptuous of me to ask what your business was that took you away so suddenly?" asked Lizzie somewhat timidly.
"Not in the least. It is no secret; it just slipped my mind in the light of recent events." He stopped and looked deep into her eyes, while lightly stroking her cheek with his finger. "I have trouble thinking of anything but you, Elizabeth."
She reached up and tentatively touched his curls. "What were we speaking of, Fitzwilliam?"
"I have no idea." Darcy kissed his fingertip and then ran it down the bridge of her nose. "You have the most perfect little nose."
"If we were speaking of noses, I will have to say that yours is as near perfection as a nose can get," Lizzie replied saucily. "I can see it is I who will have to get the conversation back on track. We were talking about . . ."
"Your nose," he said, with a roguish twinkle in his eyes.
"Surely not. I would not have initiated such a conversation, and I am quite positive I initiated this one."
"I relent! We were talking of my sudden trip. I was merely trying to divert the conversation back to ourselves, but I see that I am no match for you. I went to Rosings. Do you remember when I told you of my talk with my cousin Anne, and that she was quite as unwilling as I to be engaged?"
Lizzie thought back to the conversation they had shared in the oak wood. That was the day she had truly given up fighting her feelings for him. "As much as I am deeply indebted to your cousin for giving you up, I do think that it shows shocking bad taste on her part. To me, you have always been irresistible."
"Always?" asked Darcy, quite taken with the idea, and not loath to be side-tracked again.
"Almost from the first moment," whispered Lizzie.
"Not the first moment?" asked Darcy in mock regret.
"You may remember what you said of me," teased Lizzie.
Darcy blushed. "Do not remind me. I was mortified when I realised you had overheard. I wanted nothing more than to apologise to you, but I couldn't for the life of me discover a way to broach the subject that would not make me look a fool."
"Now is your opportunity," said Lizzie, her eyes shining in mirth. "You have me so confused by love at the moment that I find it impossible to think you a fool, no matter how foolish you may be."
"Minx! You must know that I did not mean a word of it. I was in a foul mood, and Bingley would not leave me be. It was a very rude and thoughtless thing for me to say, and I have been sorry for it since the moment the words were out of my mouth."
"I did not let it affect me, at any rate. Upon reflection, it was obvious that you could not have meant what you said, or you were not in your right mind. I am well aware that I am more than tolerable!"
"So very much more. I find I can tolerate you quite painlessly."
"That is very gentlemanly of you sir."
"I am always a gentleman," he said, raising her hand to his lips. They became lost in each other's eyes for a moment, and then Lizzie shook her head.
"You are doing it again!"
"Yes, I know. Isn't it enjoyable? Do you know what it is like to finally be able to be alone with you? Do not upbraid me so with your eyes! I will continue. I swore that I would help Anne in any way she needed. I had this overwhelming desire that love should be allowed to conquer all obstacles. When I was about to come here for our excursion to Oakham Mount, I received an express from my cousin, requesting my help, and there was nothing for it but to go. I stopped in London and purchased a special licence, which took an inordinate amount of time as the bishop was on his rounds of the diocese, and I had to follow him about until I finally caught up with him. When I arrived in the evening to Rosings, I had to deal with my aunt, and then organise the bride and groom with a coach, and send them on their way."
"You masterminded an elopement?" Lizzie asked in astonishment.
"It wasn't precisely an elopement. Anne had reached her majority and didn't need her mother's consent. They had my blessing, and Mrs Jenkinson accompanied Anne to Mr Collins' mother's house, from which she was to be married the next day."
"Mr Collins? What had he to do with it?"
"I neglected to tell you that part. Anne was engaged to Mr Collins' younger brother Marcus. Don't look so disgusted, he is in no way like his brother. He has a different mother than your cousin, and he takes after her. He is most agreeable and amiable, and attractive, you have my word."
"How did your aunt take this development?"
"You can imagine her anger and disapproval. I stayed behind the next day to help explain the situation, and try to get her to see that it was the best course for Anne to take, but I'm afraid that I only made matters worse for Aunt Catherine."
"How so?"
"I informed her that I was planning to marry you."
Lizzie laughed at the image this gave her of Lady Catherine's extreme fury. "She must have been most seriously displeased."
"Yes, that is quite an understatement. It is suffice to say that after a few choice comments on her part, she was not the only one who was displeased, and I left without accomplishing my objective of reconciling her to either match."
"Oh dear!"
"Do not let it worry you, Elizabeth. She will come around in the end. She has no other choice. I refuse to let her whims compromise my or Anne's happiness."
Elizabeth looked up at him and placed her hand gently on his cheek. "I am very proud of you."
Darcy clasped her hand and brought it to his lips. Their eyes caught and held again as Darcy pulled her closer to him and lowered his head toward her face. The sound of someone approaching reached their dazzled awareness and they jumped apart with a suddenness that set them on the verge of laughter. When Bingley and Jane came upon them they were both struggling to regain composure.
"Whatever became of you two?" cried Bingley jovially. "Not that I am complaining, mind you." Jane blushed rosily. They both looked from Darcy to Lizzie and noticed their glowing countenances and relaxed demeanour. These were not the same two people that they had left by the river earlier in the morning. It was evident to both Jane and Bingley that something momentous had occurred since they had parted company. As if by mutual consent the groupings changed, and Darcy and Bingley lead the way back along the river towards the house.
Lizzie and Jane were soon outstripped, giving Jane the opportunity to question Lizzie, who was more than willing to tell her beloved sister all her most welcome news. The conversation was sprinkled with many exclamations from Jane on how secretive Lizzie had been with her feelings, and how happy she was for her. Of course in the last few days Jane had had her suspicions, and now she was overjoyed to find out they were correct.
Darcy and Bingley were at the same time sharing the news in much the same manner. Bingley had a good laugh at his friend's expense over the way he had been acting the last few days. He had witnessed Darcy's admission to Caroline the night before that he intended to marry Elizabeth, so the engagement did not come as a surprise to him. He had to admit that the earlier statement of intent had surprised him exceedingly, but he had known better than to comment on it until the proposal had been performed. He had for some time harboured suspicions that Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet might have a growing interest in each other, but when Darcy had flatly come out and told Caroline that he had been in love with Elizabeth for quite some time and planned to marry her, Bingley had been quite as astounded as anyone in the room. He had been so wrapped up in his own courtship that he hadn't given too much thought to anything else.
Both Jane and Bingley promised not to mention the engagement to anyone until the following day. They congratulated the couple while they were still in the garden, and then made their way back up into the house, to be greeted by a scene of pandemonium.
Mrs Bennet had just returned from a visit with her sister Phillips, and she was full of news. The Lucases had received a surprise visit from Mr and Mrs Collins and the rumours were running rife.
"They have been sent home in disgrace!" announced Mrs Bennet excitedly, enjoying this downfall of the ones who were eventually to deprive her of her home. "Mr Collins' brother has eloped with Lady Catherine's daughter! It is so shocking!"
"Mr Collins' brother?' asked Kitty. "I didn't know he had a brother! That is shocking in itself, another Mr Collins!"
"Mr Collins is a very upstanding man," said Mary severely. "I do not think he would have anything to do with something so immoral as an elopement. It cannot be true, Mama!"
"Oh, it is true! You mark my words, that man has lost his cosy parsonage at Hunsford to be sure!" There was a look approaching glee on her face.
Georgiana was standing in the middle of all this turmoil with a forlorn look upon her face. It seemed everybody had forgotten just whose niece and cousin she was. When she saw her brother enter the room she ran straight into his arms.
"Is it true, Fitzwilliam?" she asked in a woeful voice.
Darcy led her to the settee and sat her down. Lizzie sat beside her and took one of her hands.
"Don't worry, Georgiana," said her brother, "it is not as bad as it appears. She has not eloped, she has merely become married without her mother's consent. She has my blessing, and I hope yours too, when you know the particulars."
Georgiana let that sink in and then she asked, "Is that where you went?"
"Yes. I arranged everything for her and helped it come about. Aunt Catherine is not happy, to say the least, but she will come around in the end."
While this quiet conversation was taking place, the babble was going on all around them.
"Lady Catherine has cut her daughter off without a penny! What she will live on who can tell for she has married a penniless man who is a gazetted fortune hunter and will most likely throw her off in a week. And Mr Collins is the one who made it all possible, trying to worm his family's way into Rosings. There is no end to the man's deceit! I am happy that you didn't accept him after all, Lizzie."
"Do not forget, my dear," cut in Mr Bennet, "that Mr Collins' brother must also be our cousin, so we are disgraced just as much as he!"
Mrs Bennet suddenly stopped in mid sentence and looked on her husband in horror. Before she could say another word, Mr Darcy addressed her.
"I do not know from where you obtained your information, Madam, but I must remind you that Lady Catherine and her daughter are my and my sister's closest relatives."
A hush descended on the room immediately. Mrs Bennet looked positively stunned, and Mr Bennet had a slight smirk upon his face.
"It is important for the facts to be accurate when relaying information. I must inform you that Mr Collins was not a party to any of the proceedings involving Marcus Collins and my cousin Anne. There was no elopement, just a sudden wedding, as my cousin chose to marry without her mother's consent rather than take a trip to the continent that Lady Catherine was insisting upon to separate her from the man she loves. I am intimately aware of all the details of the case, because I was very instrumental in bringing the marriage about. It is also important to note that while residing at Hunsford at the present may be uncomfortable for Mr Collins, Lady Catherine does not have the power to remove him from the living. If you would ensure that when you are next discussing this interesting news with your neighbours, you refute the maligning gossip with these facts, I would deeply appreciate it."
Mr Bennet leaned back in his chair with a satisfied look upon his face. Here was the gentleman he had confronted in London! Mrs Bennet's look of shock slowly turned to one of abject apology.
"I beg your pardon, Mr Darcy," she said in a very timorous voice. "I meant no disrespect. I wish your cousin happy in her new marriage."
For the rest of the day, Mrs Bennet was very subdued, and treated Mr Darcy to such exaggerated deference that he hoped she would get over it very quickly. The evening passed quietly, with music and reading, and all too soon for Lizzie it was time to make her engagement known to her mother. She dreaded her mother's reaction, even though only family would hear, but she would be glad when the engagement could be openly acknowledged and she would not have to go through another such evening as tonight, having to be openly formal and distant with the man she loved.
"Well Lizzie, what is it that you want of me?" asked her mother plaintively as she entered her bedchamber. "I have the headache tonight and want nothing more than to lay my head on my pillows."
"I have some news for you."
"News! I want nothing of news! Look at the mess it landed me in this afternoon. After all that I said Mr Darcy will want nothing more to do with this family, and I was so counting on him falling in love with Kitty. I will never forgive sister Phillips for telling me such malicious falsehoods!"
"Mother, I trust my news will make you happy," said Lizzie with a smile. "I am engaged to be married to Mr Darcy."
"You are what? To who?" cried Mrs Bennet. "It can't be! Oh my dearest Lizzie, you are a fast worker. Who would have thought that sending you out with him to the river would have such prompt results! And you had him committed to you before I said such harsh things of his family, so he can't try to back out of it. Oh Lizzie, only think, ten THOUSAND a year! What clothes you will have; what jewels; what pin money! Jane's match is nothing to yours! Oh my darling, darling daughter." She threw herself on Lizzie's neck and hugged her fiercely. "Are you certain he meant marriage? You surely did not misunderstand . . ."
"He has spoken to father, Mama. All is agreed upon."
"You and your father are such sly things to say nothing of this to me! Oh, I shall go distracted! To think he wants to marry you! I knew you could not be so smart for nothing! Lizzie, you shall be so very, very RICH!"
Lizzie listened for some time to her mother's loud effusions, and then she managed to extricate herself and return to her own bedchamber, but she was not there for long before her mother came in talking of silks and satins, and refurbishing Pemberley. Jane smiled at Lizzie and whispered, "Poor Lizzie. This is worse then when I told her about Charles!"
Lizzie smiled back at her and turned to her mother, who was recounting how many footmen she would need to hire for her London house, and said calmly, "Mother, I must get my sleep How would it look if I were to greet Mr Darcy tomorrow all wan and pale, with black rings about my eyes?" Her mother saw the justice in this immediately, and wished her a swift goodnight, admonishing both her and Jane to get all the beauty sleep possible because she didn't want either one of them to look peaked.
The next day Darcy, Bingley, and Georgiana arrived as early in the morning as they had the previous day. Georgiana went straight to Lizzie and hugged her, wishing her all the best of happiness, and welcoming her as a sister. Darcy stood back and looked at them with a soft, pleased smile on his lips.
Mrs Bennet greeted him as a future son, and continued in her deferential treatment of him. Anything he desired, she was most willing to provide. What was his favourite meal, so that she could have cook prepare it? His favourite piece of music, so that the girls would learn it? He must sit in the most comfortable chair, read the most interesting books from the library, taste the finest sherry that the cellars could provide. A walk was suggested, and as he had missed the outing to Oakham Mount, she insisted that they go again today.
As soon as they found their way into the lanes, Darcy and Lizzie lagged behind the rest of the group. He took her hand in his and gently stroked her fingers as they walked along. They stopped under the shade of a great old oak, and turned to face each other.
"I have something for you, my love."
Lizzie looked up at him. "What more could you give me? I have everything I could possibly want already, having your love."
Darcy took his finger and trailed it lightly up her arm, across her shoulder and along her neck to her jaw-line. He traced the contours of her face, and said softly. "Three times before I was to propose to you, and I was forestalled for one reason, or another. On two of those occasions I had something in my pocket that I was hoping to give to you. Yesterday, it inadvertently was left behind on my dressing table, a good omen I believe, because nothing prevented my proposal at all. Now I would like to give it to you, to wear as a token of my love and esteem."
He reached into his breast pocket and took out the small box that had made those earlier trips with him. Opening it he showed her the ring. The emerald sparkled in the sun-streams that filtered through the leaves, the rich, blue sapphires glowed darkly. Lizzie had never seen such a beautiful ring. It took her breath away.
"Will you wear this for me, Elizabeth?" he whispered huskily.
She nodded, unable to speak, tears pricking in the corners of her eyes, and watched spellbound as he took her finger and placed the ring upon it. "It was my mother's, and my father's mother's before that."
Lizzie looked into his eyes, the clear green depths that challenged even the emerald for brilliance, the eyes that she wanted to lose herself in forever more. "I will always cherish it, Fitzwilliam." Her voice was as gentle and light as the whisper of the leaves in the breeze. She took his hand in hers and raised it to her lips, kissing it softly, all the while with her eyes on his. She reached up with her other hand and stroked his hair, ran her fingers through his dark curls. "I do love you so very much."
Darcy caught his breath. He gazed into her eyes and saw all the unfolding tomorrows that she would be with him by his side, sharing and fulfilling his life. And with a tightness in his chest, he felt joy well up and infuse his very soul.
They stood close under the tree, in the streams of filtered sunlight, aware only of each other. Darcy said one word. "Elizabeth." And she lifted her lips up to meet his. The wind rustled the leaves, drew wavy patterns in the grass, and continued on through the hedgerows. The sky stretched blue and endless.
The End