‘Thank you, sir. I shall speak to her this evening.’ He grinned, recalling the stratagems employed by Mrs Bennet to leave them alone last night. ‘I am certain I shall be given ample opportunity to make my offer.’
Charles offered his hand and Mr Bennet shook it warmly. Neither man had any desire to kill further game birds so, tucking their shotguns under their arms, they spent the remainder of the morning wandering around Longbourn getting to know each other better.
* * * *
Jane toyed with her food and was relieved when the maid removed her plate. Her mother led the ladies into the drawing-room and they were followed almost immediately by Charles and her father. Elizabeth had a letter to write and went into the breakfast room after tea whilst the others got out the card table.
Charles spoke quietly to her. ‘I have no desire to play cards, Miss Bennet, I have something most particular I wish to ask you.’
Jane knew what it was and was as eager as he to have the card players remove from the room. It was her turn to stare pointedly at the door and Kitty, whose behaviour had much improved since Lydia was no longer there to influence her, smiled and instantly got to her feet.
‘Mama, I have the headache and think I would feel so much better if you and Mary were to walk with me in the garden for a short while.’
Her mother glanced up and understood the situation perfectly. ‘My poor dear, of course we will accompany you.’ She gripped Mary by the elbow and Jane watched with amusement as the girl found herself bundled unceremoniously from the room.
The door closed behind her family and for a moment she was at a loss as to how to position herself to make things easier for Charles. ‘Shall we be seated, Mr Bingley? I certainly shall feel more comfortable that way.’ Never having received a proposal of marriage before she was unsure what would happen next, but rather thought being seated the best way to go.
Immediately he joined her sitting far closer than she was accustomed to. ‘Look at me, my love, I wish to see your lovely face when I ask you my question.’
She turned her head and gazed, radiant, waiting him to speak.
‘I have loved you since the day I first met you at the Meryton assembly last year. I wish I had had more confidence in my ability to win your affections; then I could have asked you this last year.’ He reached out to take her hands and held them gently in his own. Jane stared down; her fingers trembled at the intimacy.
‘My darling girl, will you make me the happiest man alive? Will you do me the inestimable honour of becoming my wife?’
‘I will, there is nothing I should like more. I have loved you this age; I have been so miserable since we have been apart.’
‘I hope you can forgive me for not speaking to you after the ball last year; if I had known how you felt, nothing could have stopped me coming to your side. I had no idea you were in London, my sister and Darcy kept the information from me.’
Jane reached out and tenderly touched his face, he stopped talking and his hand came up to stroke her hair. ‘I do not care about any of that, it is in the past, we shall be together and that is all that matters.’
‘There is more, I shall keep nothing back. I wrote a letter telling you how I felt and Caroline kept it from you. I came down to Meryton to speak to you in January only to find that you had gone away. If I had known it was to London I should have sought you out.’
Jane did not care about the past – she was enjoying the present too much and she had her future to consider now. His proximity would give rise to comment if anyone were to come in and see them, but more importantly she knew herself to be in danger of doing something decidedly indecorous. The closer Charles was to her and more she wished he would kiss her.
‘I think that we should walk around the room. I hope you understand, I would prefer to inform my mother before...’ Her words trailed away and her cheeks flushed. How could she have been going to say something so indelicate?
He smiled and her knees trembled. He held out his hands, for a moment she hesitated, then placed her own in his and he pulled her gently to her feet. They moved towards the fireplace where Jane halted. To her astonishment his arms came around her waist and he drew her closer.
‘Now that we are betrothed, my darling, I believe that I am allowed to kiss you.’
Jane was not sure he was allowed to do any such thing, but she tilted her head and felt the gentle pressure of his lips on hers. She had never experienced anything so wonderful, she had a strange desire to close the remaining gap between them. He did not take advantage of the situation, immediately releasing her, but remaining so close she could almost feel his heart beating.
The door opened and Elizabeth appeared. Instantly he stepped away and she knew her face revealed what had taken place. They both sat down, not knowing what else to do. Jane could think of nothing appropriate to say, so for a moment they all waited in awkward silence.
Then Charles stood up, bending down to whisper in her ear. ‘I spoke to Mr Bennet this morning, I shall go at once and tell him you have accepted me. We have matters to discuss, settlements to make, and the sooner we do it, the sooner we can be married.’
Jane watched him hurry out and immediately scrambled to her feet and ran across to embrace her sister. ‘Lizzy, I am the happiest creature in the world. It is too much! I do not deserve it. Oh! Why is not everybody as happy?’
‘I cannot tell you how delighted I am, Jane. He is an excellent man and will make you a good husband. I could not have chosen a better brother if I had searched all year.’
‘He has gone to speak to Papa; he asked his permission this morning but is now gone to talk about arrangements. All the sadness of the past few months is as nothing; I did not know it was possible to feel such joy. How I wish you could experience the same, dearest Lizzy.’
‘You must not worry on my account, I shall share in your happiness and that will be enough for me.’
‘I have so much to tell you, you would not believe what Charles has said. But I cannot do so now, I must get instantly to my mother. I would not any account keep her waiting for the good news. I shall not allow her to hear it from anyone but myself. Oh! Lizzy, to know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear family! I do not know how I shall bear so much happiness!’
* * * *
Charles left the library with the arrangements made. He returned quickly to the drawing-room to find that Jane had gone and only her sister was there.
‘Where is your sister?’
‘With my mother upstairs. She will be down in a moment, I daresay.’
‘Miss Elizabeth, has Jane told you our good tidings? I hope that you approve her choice of husband. I know that you are very close and she would not wish to do anything that upsets you.’
‘Mr Bingley, my only quibble with you is that this matter was not settled months ago. I am delighted that finally you have resolved your differences. I am certain that you will be happy together.’
Charles walked over and offered his hand and they shook with great cordiality. ‘I can promise you that I shall make your sister content. We shall be the happiest couple on this earth. I insist that you are not a stranger to Netherfield. My dearest Jane will not wish to be apart from you for long.’
She indicated that they be seated and he was grateful for her consideration for his legs had taken to trembling like a blancmanger. He told her that he believed his marriage would be a happy one because her sister and he were so much alike and she agreed most heartily.
He hardly knew what he was saying for his eyes were fixed on the door waiting for his beloved to return. When she did she was accompanied by Mrs Bennet and her two sisters. He was aware that there was a glow of such a sweet animation on Jane’s face that she looked handsomer than ever.
* * * *
Jane spent the remainder of the evening in a daze of happiness. She did not mind that her mother spoke her approbation and approval without a pause for breath for more than thirty minutes. She hardly not
iced that Kitty simpered and smiled and whispered loudly to Elizabeth that she hoped it would be her turn soon.
When her father joined them at supper he did not allude directly to the engagement but she could tell from his voice and manner how happy he was. When Charles eventually left, promising to return first thing in the morning, Mr Bennet turned to her.
‘Jane, I congratulate you. You will be very happy woman.’
This was exactly what she wished to hear, she went to him instantly, kissed him and thanked him for his goodness.
‘You are a good girl, and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unalike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income.’
She smiled at his jest. ‘I hope not so, sir, imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me.’
Mrs Bennet took the matter seriously. ‘Exceed their income! My dear Mr Bennet, what are you talking of? Why, he has four or five thousand a year and very likely more.’ She beamed at Jane. ‘Oh! My dear, dear, Jane, I am so happy! I am sure I shall not get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it would be. I always said it must be so at last. I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as I ever saw him, when he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was that you should come together. Oh! He is as handsome a young man as ever was seen!’
Mary immediately joined in the conversation. ‘I do hope, Jane, that you shall allow me the use of the library at Netherfield? I am sure there must be hundreds of books that I have not read before.’
Jane nodded. ‘You may all come as often as you wish, after all we are only three miles away from Longbourn. I am not going far.’ She had been about to mention Lydia’s departure with Wickham to Newcastle, but thought it better not.
Kitty, not to be outdone by her sister, immediately demanded that there should be several balls held at Netherfield during the winter and Jane said she would discuss it with Charles once they were married.
Chapter Twenty-one
Longbourn was a home filled with excitement and anticipation. Jane had little time to spend with Elizabeth that evening and they had so much to make up for after their long separation. After everybody else had retired, she finally had time to share what she had learnt from him.
‘Lizzy, he has made me so happy, he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring. I had not believed it possible.’
‘I suspected as much, but how did he account for it?’
‘It was his sister's doing. They were certainly no friends of his acquaintance with me, which I cannot wonder, since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects. When they see, as I trust they will, that their brother is happy with me, they will learn to be contented, and we shall be on good terms again; but we can never be what we once were to each other.’
‘That is the most unforgiving speech that I have ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley’s pretended regard.’
‘Would you believe it, Lizzy, when we went to town last November, he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent, would have prevented his coming down again!’
‘He made a little mistake to be sure; but it is to the credit of his modesty.’
‘Charles is a not a proud man; he is everything that is good and amiable and is constantly telling me he cannot believe his good fortune in having me love him.’
‘I suppose it will not be long before news of your engagement will be all over the neighbourhood. You must brace yourself for visits and congratulations.’
‘I shall not mind at all, Lizzy. I am in good humour with the whole world. I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed. Why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above them all! If I could see you as happy, if there were but such another man for you.’
‘If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself; and perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet another Mr Collins in time.’
* * * *
Charles was tempted to disturb Nicholls when he returned that evening, but restrained himself. He would gather the staff on the morrow and make a formal announcement. After all Jane would be their mistress now, it was to her they must defer on all domestic matters.
Darcy would be returning that afternoon as well, he could not wait to share his news with his dearest friend. He smiled in the darkness of his bedchamber, maybe it would not be so long before he was congratulating Darcy on his engagement.
At eight o’clock he was in the hall with his servants assembled, he had also summoned the outdoor staff to hear his announcement. He stood on the stairs and surveyed them, they were shifting uncomfortably, especially those not used to being inside. He noticed the outside men had been obliged to remove their footwear, Nicholls would not allow mud on her pristine floors.
He smiled and cleared his throat, every eye swivelled to stare at him. ‘Thank you for coming in so promptly. I have important news that I wish to share with you. Yesterday I became engaged to Miss Jane Bennet, who is known to all of you, and she will be mistress of Longbourn before Christmas.’
His announcement was greeted by a second of silence and then the hall erupted in a roar of congratulation. Caps were hurled into the air and several of the girls embraced each other. He could not have hoped for a better reception, Jane was obviously much loved by all who resided at Netherfield.
The butler waved his hand and instantly there was order. ‘Mr Bingley, sir, may I offer you, on behalf of the entire staff our sincere congratulations. Miss Bennet will find us all eager to work with her.’ He snapped his fingers in the air and there was a rousing cheer, rapidly followed by two more.
‘Thank you, Miss Bennet and I shall make this our principal home, and I am sure that we shall entertain all our neighbours when we return from our wedding trip.’ He nodded to the butler and like magic the crowd of people vanished about their business. ‘Nicholls, I should like to speak to you after I have had my breakfast.’
He intended to discuss the possibility of holding an engagement ball or some such celebratory event. He did not wish to do anything that might offend his future mother-in-law, and his housekeeper would know what would be appropriate in the circumstances.
* * * *
That afternoon Darcy arrived and Charles was waiting in the hall to greet his friend. ‘You are to congratulate me, Darcy, on my good fortune. Jane has made me the happiest of men.’
‘I am delighted and wish you every happiness with your lovely bride. I am hoping that you will be able to offer me congratulations of a similar sort very shortly.’
‘I knew it! You are going to offer for Elizabeth; I know you have been interested in Jane’s sister almost as long as I have been in love with Jane. Does your arrival here have anything to do your aunt’s visit to Longbourne three days ago? ‘
Darcy grinned and slapped Charles vigorously on the back. ‘It does indeed, Bingley. I shall tell you the whole. I proposed to Elizabeth when she was at Hunsford but she turned me down. But when she came to Pemberley I thought I could persuade her to reconsider.’
‘Let us repair to the library, we can be private there. I am astounded that she should have turned you down.’
‘It was a salutary lesson, well learned I can assure you. My damnable pride got in the way, as usual, and I made a complete mull of the whole business. I am surprised she is still speaking to me.’
Charles walked over to the table and poured them both a generous measure of brandy. He offered one to his friend who took it gratefully. ‘Here, Darcy, drink this. You are in need of a restorative.’
He sat and his friend fol
lowed his lead. ‘I was able to be of some assistance to the Bennet family and this, I believe, stood me in good stead with Elizabeth. However, I was not brave enough to consider trying my luck a second time until Lady Catherine’s visit.’ He sipped his brandy lost in thought and Charles waited patiently him to continue his extraordinary story.
‘My aunt tried to persuade Elizabeth to renounce me totally; when she refused to do this I knew it was probable that she had changed her mind and would receive my second proposal favourably.’
Charles was puzzled. ‘I do not see how this would make you think she had reconsidered.’
‘I know her so well; if she had no interest she would not have hesitated in agreeing to renounce me. The fact that she refused to do so has given me hope. Wish me luck, my friend, tomorrow I hope to have the opportunity to speak to her alone.’
‘I shall propose that we all go for a walk and then Jane and I shall lag behind and you can walk on with Elizabeth. Hopefully, Mary shall not wish to join us on the excursion, and Kitty can be persuaded to visit her friend Maria Lucas. I suggest we walk in that direction.’
This scheme was declared by Darcy to be exactly what was needed; Charles arranged to meet his friend first thing next morning to ride to Longbourn.
It was a fine morning ideally suited for taking a long country walk, Charles thought happily. ‘Darcy, I wish you good fortune this morning. I want you to be as happy as I am.’
‘I think that an impossibility. I am more reserved than you, cannot show my feelings as easily.’
He smiled and Charles could see the difference in Darcy, his friend no longer had an austere look, his expression was relaxed, there was a definite spring in his step. ‘That does not mean you do not feel as deeply. Come, the horses are outside and I cannot wait to see my betrothed this morning.’ He loved being able to use that phrase; Jane was going to marry him, he was the luckiest man on the planet.
Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley Page 24