by Jenni James
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Twelve Drummers Drumming
Jane was relieved to see Charles laugh. “That’s awesome. I’d love to hang out with your parents, and eventually, I’ll have to introduce you to mine too.”
A small shot of anxiety zipped through her. “Wow. This is really happening, isn’t it?”
“I hope so,” he said.
“Well, I guess if you can survive my family, I’ll love yours.”
They continued to talk a little longer until Charles’s phone alarm went off. “It’s time. It’s midnight.”
“Is something supposed to happen?”
“Yep. It’s the twelfth day of Christmas. Come here and get your present.” He held his arms out, and she gladly snuggled back into him.
“Mmm… I think this is my favorite gift so far.”
He reached over and collected the blanket on the chair next to them, then gently placed it over her. Then he quietly said, “Do you hear that?”
She nestled her head right on his chest. “The only thing I hear right now is your heart.” Its deep thud, thud calmed her.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Listen to it.”
“Boom-boom. Boom-boom.” She lightly tapped two fingers against his chest in rhythm. “Boom-boom. Boom-boom.”
“I was going to get you tickets to see the Blue Man Group when they come in February. I figured that would be the most fun drumming performance we could see. I was even planning to fly back over from New York just for the date.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Well, we could still do it if you’d like. But for now, I’ve found another drum for you.”
“Your heart?”
“Exactly. Listen to those beats. They’re for you. Every single one. I love you, Jane Bennet, and I promise to care for you, and be there for you, and be your voice of reason—just like you’re mine. I promise to shelter you, laugh with you, play with you, and hold you when life gets rough. Will you marry me, Jane? Will you marry me and prove that forgiveness is the greatest gift man could receive?”
Boom-boom. Boom-boom. This was what this felt like. This was security. No big lights or wild proposals in front of everyone. This was a man asking the woman he loved to marry him quietly and alone. Boom-boom. She slowly raised her head from the gentle reminder of his heart and met his gaze. “Yes.”
He scooped her up and kissed her then. Long and tingly and perfectly.
“This is definitely my most favorite gift yet.”
Charles laughed. “I would hope so!”
Later that day after they went ring shopping at a few places—without any luck—Jane pulled out her present to Charles. “It’s pretty silly and meaningless after all of the last twelve days, but here it is anyway.”
She watched a bit ruefully as he opened the forest green handmade scarf and hat that she’d worked hours on. Why hadn’t she given him something better? She’d had all those days to buy him a better gift—why hadn’t she?
“Did you make this?”
“Yes.” A hundred things would have been a better choice.
“Are you kidding me? This is so cool! I love it. Not only are you beautiful and smart, but you’re talented too.” He wrapped the scarf around his neck. “I haven’t had a nice thick scarf like this for years. Not since my grammy made them for me when I was a boy.”
She flushed, still embarrassed. “Really?”
He put on the hat and modeled it for her. “Aren’t I the most dashing man you’ve seen all day?”
He did. He was so good-looking, her heart somersaulted. “Yes.”
“How did you know green was my favorite color?”
She didn’t remind him that she’d known for months now. Instead, she grinned at his profile and felt her heart lift and warm as she studied how good the gift looked on him. “It suits you better than I thought it would.”
“Do you know why?” His eyes sparkled into hers.
“Why?”
“Because I’m so hot.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed him away. “You’re probably really hot in that scarf.”
“Come kiss me and see for yourself.”
* * *
“Hello, Mrs. Bennet.” Charles offered his hand and was crushed into a hug instead.
“Welcome! My, isn’t this such a fun surprise?” The woman gasped and then squealed as she moved past him and hugged Jane. “Eeeh! I can’t believe it. Both of my girls, married! It’s just so exciting! And to such handsome, wonderful men!”
Jane laughed and attempted to pull out of her mom’s strong embrace. “We’re not married yet.”
Mrs. Bennet clasped her hands together. “I know! But soon. And think of how fun it’ll be to plan another wedding. I can’t wait to call all of the family!”
Mr. Bennet leaned over and held his hand out for Charles. “Welcome to the family, son. It’s good to have you.”
Jane walked toward the kitchen. “I thought you would’ve told all the family by now. I mean, I let you know three hours ago.”
“Ha! I meant all of the rest of the family.”
Charles and Jane’s dad followed them into the nice eat-in country-style kitchen.
“But I need to warn you, Mom.” Jane put her hand on her mom’s shoulder. “I really don’t want a huge wedding. Charles and I have talked about inviting maybe fifty people or so. Nothing like Eliza and Will’s guest list of five hundred. It was ridiculous.”
“You know what’s ridiculous? Believing we can actually pull off a wedding thinking we could only invite fifty people and not offend the rest. And then there’s Charles’s family too. He’ll want to invite people.”
“Mom.”
“What?”
Charles sat down in the nearest chair he could find. “Mrs. Bennet, this smells amazing. Jane is lucky to have such a great cook for her mom.”
Thankfully, Mr. Bennet took the hint and sat down too. “It does smell good, hon. Are you two going to keep arguing, or will we actually get something to eat before it gets cold?”
The older woman waved her hands and shooed Jane to a seat. “Gah. You’ve got me all flustered. Now sit down. Let’s say grace and enjoy some of this grub. Your dad needs to eat or he’ll start getting grouchy.”
“This is true.” He leaned back and patted his stomach. “If I don’t get fed, ain’t no one happy.”
Jane smiled weakly over at Charles as if to say, Sorry. This is my life.
But he just shook his head and grinned. Honestly, she’d never met his family. He had at least seen hers from time to time at business events through Eliza. But poor Jane—she had no idea what she was in for. His family… now, his family was a bunch of—well, snobs, to put it nicely.
Except Anne. His little sister Anne was amazing. But with Caroline and Olivia and his parents’ crazy attempts at cosmetic perfection, yeah, he was grateful to have at least this bit of normalcy in his life.
When Charles thought about it, he knew they’d never approve of Jane, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t marrying the love of his life to please his family—he was doing it for himself.
For the first time in his life, he wasn’t going to wait to hear what someone else had to say—he was going to do what he knew was best. And heaven help anyone who thought they knew him, or knew Jane better than he did. He’d already learned that lesson, and he wasn’t ever going to give her up again.
The End
If you’ve enjoyed Jane and Bingley, don’t miss out on the other novels in the Countdown to Christmas series.
The next Austen in Love, My Persuasion:
Caroline and Olivia Bingley convinced their sister Anne to reject Rick Wentworth’s marriage proposal years ago, believing he wasn’t good enough for their family. But now that Anne’s older brother Charles is finally getting married to a girl his family doesn’t approve of, it gives Anne hope. Maybe she’ll have a chance at seeing Rick again—that is, if he could ever learn to forgive her.
About the Autho
r:
Jenni James is the author of over twenty-five books. She lives in the tops of the mountains on a farm in a gorgeous cottage with her fairy-tale hubby and many rambunctious children. Life is good and full and everything wonderful, and those darn books just keep coming . . .
Table of Contents
Jane and Bailey: Austen in Love #2
Table of Contents
JANE & BINGLEY —
This book is dedicated . . .
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The next Austen in Love, My Persuasion:
About the Author: