by Zoe Carter
‘And I am glad to be back, Papa,’ she said.
She turned to Jane, who was hovering in the background. The two of them flew into each other’s arms and Jane proudly showed off her beautiful ring.
‘Is it not adorable?’ asked Jane. ‘My dear Charles gave it to me as a token of his affection. Oh, Lizzy, I am so happy! You cannot think how happy I am!’
‘Yes, Jane, I believe I can,’ said Elizabeth with a twinkle in her eye.
Jane looked at her enquiringly, but Elizabeth could say no more. She had to greet her other sisters and give them the presents her aunt had sent, and then she had to listen to her mother’s effusions over Mr Bingley’s wealth, and his houses and horses and carriages, so that it was some time before she could get away.
But at last she and Jane managed to go upstairs together, and Elizabeth heard all about Mr Bingley’s proposal.
‘It was so romantic!’ said Jane dreamily. ‘We went for a walk in the garden and he went down on one knee. He said he had loved me since the Netherfield ball and he asked me to marry him. Oh, Lizzy, I am so happy. I only hope that one day you might be as happy.’
‘I already am!’ said Elizabeth.
‘Why, Lizzy, what do you mean?’
‘I mean that Mr Darcy has proposed to me, and I said yes!’
Then Elizabeth had to explain everything that had happened, leaving nothing out. Her sister Jane was the one person she could speak to openly about anything, and Jane had to hear it all twice. The first time she had been surprised and doubting and startled, but the second time through she was overjoyed and full of delight for her sister.
‘I am happy I have had a chance to explain it all to you, Jane. It will make it easier for me to explain it to Papa.’
Jane’s hand flew to her mouth.
‘Oh, Papa! He will be astonished.’
‘I think he will be horrified,’ Elizabeth admitted. ‘I did nothing but abuse Mr Darcy when I was here last. My father will need convincing that my feelings have truly changed, and that they have changed with good reason.’
Jane gave her sister a hug.
‘You will do it, Lizzy. You have always had a strong rapport with our father and if you explain it to him as you have explained it to me, then he will understand.’
‘I hope so,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I will marry my Mr Darcy whatever the consequences but I would like to do so with Papa’s blessing, and not without.’ She crossed her fingers. ‘Wish my luck.’
Jane kissed her on the cheek.
‘Good luck.’
Elizabeth went downstairs. She headed for the library, where her father spent most of his time. She took a deep breath and then she went in.
‘Ah, Lizzy,’ said her father indulgently. She was his favourite daughter. ‘So you have come to see me and tell me all about your adventures, without the interruptions of your mother!’
Elizabeth wished he would not speak so disrespectfully of his wife, but she was used to it and knew he would never change his ways. Besides, she had something much more important to speak to him about today.
‘I had a very interesting time at Rosings,’ she began.
‘No doubt Mr Collins kept you entertained. Tell me, did Lady Catherine live up to Mr Collins’s descriptions of her?’ he said with dry humour. ‘Was she truly wonderful?’
‘She was rather awe-inspiring!’ Elizabeth said.
‘I hear that Mr Darcy was there, too. Maria Lucas’s letters were full of him, though yours, I noticed, were not. He was too disagreeable for you to bother with, I suppose,’ said Mr Bennet with a chuckle.
Elizabeth felt her spirits sink. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.
She rallied her courage and said, ‘In fact it was quite the opposite, Papa. Mr Darcy improves on acquaintance. I had a chance to get to know him more fully in the weeks I spent with him and my feelings for him underwent a significant change.’
‘Oh?’ enquired Mr Bennet, looking at her over the top of his glasses.
‘In fact, Papa, they underwent such a change that I found myself in love with him.’
Mr Bennet laughed.
‘I have missed your teasing Lizzy.’
Elizabeth clasped her hands together and said, ‘I deserve that, Papa, after all the terrible things I said about Mr Darcy, but I beg you will believe me. I do truly love him.’
‘Elizabeth!’ said Mr Bennet, taking his glasses off and looking at her in surprise. ‘I do believe you are serious.’
‘I am, Papa.’
He shook his head in sympathy.
‘I am sorry, my dear. A man like Mr Darcy would never look at you in that way, he is far too full of his own importance, but I know you are too sensible to let this cast you down for long. He does not live in the neighbourhood and that is some consolation as you will not always be forced into company with him. You cannot avoid him altogether as he is Mr Bingley’s friend, and Mr Bingley is to marry Jane, but once the wedding is over I will take you away, if you wish it. I know your mother would like to visit Brighton, and although I refused to contemplate it, if it will make you happy then I will put my personal feelings aside and take you.’
‘No, Papa, you do not understand,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I love Mr Darcy and he loves me. He proposed to me in London and he is coming to see you, to ask for my hand in marriage. I asked him to let me speak to you first, since I knew you would be astounded. I wanted to explain it to you, to show you how my feelings for him changed and how I know he is the only man in the world who can make me happy.’
Her father looked at her open-mouthed throughout this speech. When she had finished, he said, ‘I do not know what to say. It is clear that you are serious and so I had better hear you out. Tell me all about it.’
So Elizabeth knelt on the floor by his chair and told him everything.
When she had done, he placed one hand on each shoulder and looked at her clearly in the eye.
‘And are you certain, Lizzy?’
‘Yes, Papa, I am.’
‘Then if you are sure, I will give my consent. I must confess, I always thought you took against him for trivial reasons, just because you liked to laugh. I did not correct you because I like to laugh, too, and nothing makes me laugh more than people’s foibles. Mr Darcy’s foibles were pride and conceit. But if you have corrected him, then I dare say I will come to like him. I might even like him as much as Mr Bingley!’
Elizabeth smiled.
‘Thank you, Papa,’ she said, taking his hand and kissing it. ‘I knew you would understand.’
‘When will he arrive?’ asked Mr Bennet.
‘Tomorrow,’ said Elizabeth.
‘Then you had better prepare your mother, so that she does not faint or explode when he arrives!’
‘I will, Papa.’
Elizabeth stood up and went over to the door.
‘When I hear the screams, I will know you have told her!’ said Mr Bennet with a twinkle in his eye.
Elizabeth laughed, then went off to tell her mother.
Chapter Twelve
Mrs Bennet did not scream at first. In fact, when Elizabeth told her the news she was struck dumb. She stood like a statue in the middle of the drawing-room, looking as if she would never move or speak again.
‘What you say cannot be true, Elizabeth,’ said Mary, looking up from her book. ‘Mr Darcy never showed any interest in you, and if he had, by any chance, liked you, he would never marry you. Gentlemen of his rank do not marry the daughters of country squires.’
At Mary’s words, Mrs Bennet unfroze. She was always quick to spot a compliment to one of her girls, and although the immense size of this compliment had temporarily rendered her speechless, she was not about to let Mary’s ungracious words pass.
‘Hush, Mary, who asked you?’ she said. ‘But can it be true?’ she said, turning to Elizabeth. ‘Can Mr Darcy really have asked you to marry him?’
‘Yes, it is true. He is coming here tomorrow to ask my father for my hand in m
arriage.’
Mrs Bennet had by now managed to take in this tremendous information and she gave a shriek of delight. Elizabeth chuckled as she thought of her father in his library, who had no doubt heard the scream and who would be chuckling just as much as she was.
‘Good gracious! Lord bless me!’ said Mrs Bennet, when she had recovered. ‘Only think! Dear me! Mr Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true! Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! How rich and great you will be!’
She was now as garrulous as she had before been silent and nothing could stop the flow of words from her lips. She talked of Elizabeth’s pin money, and her jewels and her carriages, until she tired herself out. Then she flopped down in a chair and fanned herself. But then a new train of thought occurred to her and she jumped out, shrieking, ‘Hill! Hill! Come here this minute! Miss Lizzy is to marry Mr Darcy and he is coming here tomorrow! What will we give him for dinner? It must be something special – he has ten thousand a year! Ten thousand a year! Good gracious! Lord bless us!’
And still exclaiming she ran from the room.
Mary turned back to her book, and Jane came forward and asked all about Elizabeth’s interview with their father. Elizabeth told her everything and the two of them hugged, both of them claiming they would be the happiest woman in the world when they married their respective husbands.
‘I hope he has not been leading you on,’ said Mary, shaking her head. ‘I will believe it when I hear it from Mr Darcy’s own lips.’
‘You will have a chance of doing that tomorrow,’ said Elizabeth.
The following day passed slowly for Elizabeth. She was delighted to see Mr Bingley in the morning, when he called to see Jane. She was able to give him her heartiest congratulations. He thanked her for them and he looked so happy that Elizabeth knew he was exactly the husband for Jane. They were both of them easy going and good humoured and they would make a wonderful couple.
In the afternoon, Jane went over to Netherfield Park with Mr Bingley. Elizabeth wandered in the garden, for the day was fine and the spring flowers were coming into full bloom. She could hardly contain her impatience as she was longing to see Mr Darcy again. At last she saw his carriage bowling down the drive. He stepped out of it and looked about him. Catching sight of her, he strode across the lawn to her side. Taking her hands in his he looked down at her and said, ‘Well, Lizzy? Have you spoken to your father?’
‘Yes, I have.’
‘And are you now ready for me to speak to him?’
‘I am.’
‘Then I will go to him at once,’ said Mr Darcy.
He kissed her hand passionately and then, leaving her reluctantly, he strode into the house. She lingered in the garden for a short while and then went into the house. As she crossed the hall she saw her mother standing by the library door.
‘Mama!’ she said in a low voice. ‘I cannot believe you are eavesdropping!’
‘I am doing nothing of the sort,’ said her mother. ‘I am checking the door for woodworm. Go into the drawing-room, Lizzy, and sit with your sisters.’
Elizabeth was too happy to protest any further. Her mother was incorrigible and so she went into the drawing-room, where her younger sisters were trimming their bonnets with new ribbon. She made some suggestions and was busy helping her sisters when the door opened and Mrs Bennet entered the room, closely followed by Mr Darcy.
‘Come away, Kitty, Lydia, Mary,’ said Mrs Bennet, winking at her younger daughters.
‘Why?’ asked Kitty.
‘So Mr Darcy can kiss Lizzy!’ said Lydia, scrambling up and running over to the door, her bonnet trailing from her hand.
‘That is most improper,’ said Mary.
‘Not if they are to be married,’ said Kitty.
Still squabbling, the three young girls were hurried out of the room by their mother, who also left the room and then closed the door behind her with a decided thud.
‘I have never thought your sister Lydia a sensible girl, but I see I was mistaken, for today she seems very sensible indeed!’ said Mr Darcy.
He bent forward and kissed Elizabeth on the lips. This was so delightful to both of them that he swept her into his arms and kissed her with greater intensity. Elizabeth’s arms went round his neck and she kissed him back with equal fervour. They only parted when Lydia ran back into the room for a piece of forgotten ribbon, and then, laughing, ran out again.
‘It was probably a good thing she came in,’ said Elizabeth. ‘We are not married yet!’
‘No, but we soon will be. Your mother has been talking of a special licence. What do you think, Lizzy? Would you like me to get a special licence so that we can be married without delay, or would you rather we had a ceremonial wedding in a few months’ time?’
‘I think a special licence is a very good idea,’ she said.
‘So do I!’
He pulled her into his arms again and they enjoyed another warm embrace.
A cough at the door parted them. It was Mr Bennet. Elizabeth blushed and Mr Darcy stepped back as Mr Bennet came into the room.
‘Did I hear mention of a special licence?’ he asked.
‘You did, Sir,’ said Mr Darcy respectfully.
‘I take it the marriage will take place at the earliest opportunity?’ he asked.
‘It will, Sir,’ said Mr Darcy.
‘And what are your plans afterwards?’ Mr Bennet asked.
‘If Elizabeth is agreeable, I would like to tour the country so that she can meet the rest of my relatives.’
He turned to Elizabeth.
‘I would like that,’ she said.
‘And then,’ said Mr Darcy, ‘we will be returning to Pemberley.’
Pemberley! Elizabeth’s heart swelled at the sound of it. She would be the mistress of Pemberley! But, most importantly, she would be the wife of her beloved Mr Darcy.
Epilogue
There were three weddings of note that year. One was the wedding of Miss Jane Bennet to Mr Charles Bingley. One was the wedding of Miss Anne de Bourgh to Colonel Fitzwilliam. But most splendid of all was the wedding of Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Mr Darcy. It was conducted without pomp or ceremony in the small Meryton church, but the love that radiated from the happy couple lifted the hearts of all who witnessed it. Jane and Mr Bingley were there, together with all the Bennets as well as Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle Gardiner, and her aunt and uncle Phillips. Mr and Mrs Collins were there, having travelled from Rosings for the occasion. Lady Catherine refused to attend such a monstrous wedding – ‘My nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy, to be caught by that hussy!’ were her exact words - which was just as well because she was not invited.
The church bells rang and everyone in Meryton crowded into the small church, or stood outside if they could not squeeze inside, hoping for a glimpse of the bride and groom.
Never had a young couple looked happier as they walked down the aisle, arm in arm, when the rector had pronounced them man and wife. They emerged from the church in a shower of confetti made of fresh rose petals and then went over to Mr Darcy’s sumptuous carriage, which was pulled by four white horses. He handed Elizabeth in and then climbed in beside her. They waved to their friends and family as the carriage pulled away, and continued waving until the carriage had turned out of the drive and onto the road. Then Mr Darcy pulled down the blinds and turned to his wife.
‘I have been longing to do this for a very long time,’ he said, as he took her into his arms.
‘You kissed me only yesterday!’ she teased him, for indeed their kisses had been frequent since their engagement.
‘Yes, I did. But this time is special. Because this time I will be kissing you as Mrs Darcy.’
Their lips met and their kiss was the start of a long and happy life together. There had been many obstacles in their way but they had overcome them all to become Mr and Mrs Darcy.
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