The Engagement

by Ola Wegner

  Darcy leaned back in the armchair, raising his fist to his mouth. “Bingley, I will be honest with you. Elizabeth does not want to see Caroline, of that I am certain. I do not wish to upset my wife.”

  “Caroline is here.”

  “Here? At Pemberley?”

  “She came with us but stayed behind. She is at the inn in Lambton. She understands that you may not want to host her.”

  “Why did she come here in the first place?” Darcy enquired angrily. “She was not invited.”

  “You must remember how stubborn she can be. She insists on apologizing to you and Elizabeth.”

  Darcy stood up. “Bingley, you are my friend, but Elizabeth is my dearest wife. I will do nothing to upset her. I do not care if your sister wants to clear her consciousness. I am pleased for her recovery, but she is no longer welcomed at Pemberley.”

  “Will you talk to Mrs. Darcy about it at the very least?”

  Darcy hesitated. “I cannot promise anything.”

  “I understand. Thank you. Thank you, Darcy.”

  Darcy nodded but said nothing more. He valued Bingley’s friendship, even more now when they were married to sisters. Nevertheless, his wife’s wellbeing was of the most importance to him. In her delicate condition, Elizabeth was overly sensitive and emotional. He had no intention to allow Caroline Bingley to come to Pemberley if it meant upsetting his wife.

  ***

  Elizabeth watched her husband from the corner of her eye. He had clearly been upset about some matter since last evening. She guessed that it was his conversation with his friend that had brought this change. She wondered what Bingley had said to him. They had shut themselves inside the library for quite some time after everyone had retired last night.

  “What are your plans for today?” she asked, coming to stand next to Darcy as he was adjusting his cravat in front of the mirror. She leaned against him, touching her cheek to the sleeve of his white shirt.

  He glanced down at her. “We have guests. I am pleased to see Bingley and your father. I look forward to spending some time in their company. I want to ask their opinion on the plans for the new stable.”

  Elizabeth locked her eyes with his, waiting for him to say more. He wished to share something with her, she could see it in his eyes and expression. “Is there something you wish to discuss with me?” she enquired at last.

  Darcy turned to face her. “There might be.”

  “Might be?”

  “It is not my intention to keep matters secret from you, but at the same time I wish to spare you unnecessary concern and worry.”

  “It must be something that Mr. Bingley told you last evening.”

  “It is.”

  “Well?” Elizabeth asked, feeling more and more impatient. She did not appreciate being kept in the dark. Jane as well seemed upset, but refused to confess anything. Were the Bingleys in trouble? Did they need their help?

  “I talked with Bingley about his sister,” Darcy blurted out at last.

  “His sister? Mrs. Hurst?”

  Darcy shook his head.

  “Caroline? Is she sick again?”

  “On the contrary. Miss Bingley is at Lambton. She wishes to speak with us. She wants to apologize to you and me.”

  Elizabeth stepped back from him. “I do not need her to apologize to me,” she said.

  Darcy nodded. “Very well. I will repeat that to Bingley.”

  Elizabeth began pacing the room, her steps becoming faster and more agitated with every second. “She should not have come here! We invited Jane, Mr. Bingley and Papa, certainly not her.”

  “I will tell Bingley that we will not see her.”

  “I do not trust her.”

  “Neither do I.”

  “If she wished to apologize, she should have written a letter.”

  Darcy caught her arm, stopping her in place. He drew her to him, placing his hands on her shoulders. “She will not come here. You are Mrs. Darcy and it is your decision who is invited to our home. Try to forget that I ever mentioned it. Remember about the babe. Your agitation is not good for it.” One of his hands moved to her midsection. “I should have told Bingley straight away that his sister is not welcome here.”

  “I would not wish for you to hide this from me,” she said, her voice and expression calmer.

  He nodded. “I guessed as much.”

  Elizabeth squared her shoulders, lifting her chin. “It seems that we have plans for this morning after all. Ask for the carriage to be prepared. We are going to Lambton.”

  “We? You wish to speak to her after all?”

  “Caroline Bingley wishes to apologize. Very well. I will allow her that courtesy. Later she can return to where she came from. I want to enjoy my family’s visit. I do not see it possible with her in the company.”

  “I will go alone,” Darcy offered. “I do not wish for you to become even more upset.”

  “To be completely truthful, I am not in the mood to see her.”

  “You have me, dearest, to help you and protect you. It is my right and duty. I do not trust Caroline Bingley. Charles thinks that she feels better and that she regrets her bad behaviour, but I remember all too well how she acted the last time she saw you. I will not take more risks.”

  “Will you go to see her all alone, then?”

  “I will ask Bingley to join me. He will be my witness. Miss Bingley might be tempted to fabricate some details of our meeting if I talk to her alone.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Very well, Fitzwilliam. Thank you, my knight in shining armour.”

  After such words, not much was left for him but to kiss her with all his love and devotion.

  ***

  The meeting in Lambton with Caroline was short. Bingley and Darcy met her at the inn in the private room downstairs. Darcy explained that although Elizabeth and he accepted her apology and wished her all the best, she was not welcome at Pemberley. Caroline was silent. Darcy said his goodbyes quickly. He left Bingley behind alone with his sister, hurrying to see his wife.

  Later that day he learned from Bingley that Caroline would be returning to London the following day. Darcy welcomed the news with relief. He sincerely hoped that it was the last time his friend’s sister attempted to make contact with their family.

  Epilogue

  Elizabeth closed her eyes against the bright sunlight, enjoying the warmth on her face. The beautiful summer had almost ended, and she was determined to enjoy the last sunny days. It was becoming more and more difficult for her to move, and she preferred to sit on the terrace. Not to mention that her husband was beside himself with worry every time he saw her going for a walk. The midwife had said to her a week ago that the baby could be born any day. Since then, Darcy had been watching her like a hawk.

  She heard the familiar steps coming from the house but she did not open her eyes, pretending to sleep.

  A large, warm hand touched her face shortly before resting on her enlarged midsection.

  Opening one eye, she saw her husband kneeling beside her, his attention focused entirely on her belly.

  He caught her eyes, saying, “You are awake.”

  She smiled, yawning into her open palm. “I am enjoying the sun. I feel much too lazy to do anything more than lounge around.”

  Darcy rose from his knees to sit on a nearby chair. He took her hand, holding it within his. They were silent for a long moment, enjoying their own company accompanied by peace and quiet, admiring the view of the lake and hills spread in front of them.

  “Do you know what day it is today?” Darcy asked.

  “Monday,” she answered, her head lolling to the side.

  “The twentieth of September.”

  “And?”

  He chuckled. “And I heard that women, not men, were sentimental, always remembering the anniversaries.”

  She frowned, concentrating. “September the twentieth,” she repeated. “Help me. I do not remember.”

  “This day last year I asked you about your opinion o
f me and your feelings towards me.”

  “Ah, yes, of course!” She laughed. “The anniversary of our engagement. This baby makes me forget everything.”

  Darcy leaned forward, placing his cheek against the top of her belly. “Do you hear, my child? I proposed to your Mama exactly a year ago, and this time she accepted me. I was mighty proud of myself that day. She did not make it easy for me for the next three months, tempting me daily to misbehave myself. It was a sweet torture, though.”

  Elizabeth combed her fingers through his dark locks, a caress which he especially enjoyed, as a smile played on her lips. Suddenly the smile disappeared from her face and a frown marked her countenance. She shifted in place, moving her hand from her husband’s head to the side of her stomach. Darcy did not notice anything and kept talking to the baby.

  “Fitzwilliam, I daresay that the twentieth of September will mark yet another anniversary in our lives.”

  He looked up at her. “Why?”

  “Because I think that the baby is coming.”

  His face went pale. “What?”

  “The baby is coming now,” she repeated.

  Slowly, Darcy rose to his feet, his eyes focused on the wet spot at the front of her dress below her extended belly.

  “Will you help me to my room?” she asked. “I need to change.”

  In response Darcy stared at her, perfectly immobilised.

  She lifted her hand in his direction. “Fitzwilliam, will you help me, please?”

  Finally he moved. With great care he helped her to her feet. Slowly they walked inside the house.

  “Do you think that our child will be born today?” he enquired, his strong arm supporting her back.

  “Or tomorrow,” she breathed out.

  “Better today.”

  “Why?”

  “It is a good birthday, the twentieth of September.”

  “I will do what I can,” Elizabeth murmured dryly, feeling the tightening in her stomach growing stronger and sharper with every second.

  ***

  Thomas George Darcy did not grant his father’s wish, and was born close to three in the morning on the twenty-first of September. Elizabeth insisted that the boy had a mind of his own, and in the future it proved to be a good description of his character. Darcy was deeply grateful to the Lord for the safe delivery of his firstborn as well as his wife’s quick return to health.

  Little Thomas thrived under the loving care of his parents and aunt Georgiana as well as the entire staff at Pemberley. The many relatives came to admire him, including his grandparents and aunts from Hertfordshire as well as the Earl of Matlock, who had himself become a proud grandfather to a fine boy earlier this year. Only Lady Catherine de Bourgh refused to acknowledge the happy news, ignoring the letter Darcy sent to her.

  With the end of the year sad news came from Rosings Park, forcing Lady Catherine to search for a new parson. Mr. Collins died unexpectedly while working in his garden. His wife was relieved to hear from the physician that he did not suffer much.

  Mrs. Collins decided to return to Hertfordshire. Her son, William Richard, which she called Richie, was now the sole heir to Longbourn. But as Mr. Bennet was in excellent health, Charlotte was welcomed back into her parents’ home with open arms. Lady Lucas and Sir William enjoyed having their grandchildren under their roof very much indeed, especially little Lizzy, as she was a bright and engaging child.

  Rather surprising was the fact that Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived with a visit to Netherfield even though Jane and Bingley were in the process of terminating the lease and moving up north. He stayed for longer than anyone expected, accepting Mrs. Bennet’s invitation to Longbourn. He lived there for nearly two months before his duties called him back to his regiment. From her mother and Jane’s letters, Elizabeth could safely assume that Colonel Fitzwilliam was discreetly courting Mrs. Collins, paying regular visits at Lucas Lodge, never forgetting to bring a gift to little Lizzie and Richie. Darcy thought that his cousin was biding his time, waiting with the official proposal for propriety reasons only because of the required mourning period.

  As for Caroline Bingley, she never again tried to visit Pemberley or come close to Darcy, Elizabeth or Georgiana. The Darcys were invited to her wedding to a gentleman from Ireland, but they made their excuses and were absent at the ceremony. In her conversation with Elizabeth, Jane insisted that Caroline changed much and for the better. However, Elizabeth was not in the least interested in requiting their acquaintance. She liked to paraphrase her husband, saying that her good opinion, once lost, was lost forever.

  The End.