by A K Madison
“Very well, Fitzwilliam. And since my heart is now in your keeping, you had best call me Elizabeth. Let us go and see what Mama has to say, but would you—could you—oh, I want one more kiss.”
Darcy was happy to oblige, and the two stood and made their way half-eagerly, half-reluctantly toward the house. Mrs. Bennet saw them from the parlor window, nodded in satisfaction, and sent her other daughters scattering to their rooms upstairs. When Elizabeth and Darcy entered, she was seated at the worktable over her embroidery. “Well, Mr. Darcy. You have brought our Lizzy back three minutes early. Punctuality is a virtue I particularly admire.”
Darcy settled Elizabeth on her sofa and covered her with the shawl. “Thank you, Mrs. Bennet. I wonder if I might have a word with you in private.”
“In private, you say? Why, certainly, Mr. Darcy. Lizzy, I shall have tea sent here. Mr. Darcy, we can be assured of privacy in my husband’s study.” Darcy followed Mrs. Bennet out of the room, throwing a comical look over his shoulder at Elizabeth. She, in turn, gave him a tiny wave.
They returned less than fifteen minutes later; indeed, Mrs. Hill had just left after bringing in the tea. Mrs. Bennet was beaming while Darcy’s face was a mixture of delight and relief.
“Well, Miss Lizzy, it appears you are to be married,” said her mother, leaning over to kiss her daughter. “I must say, you are so headstrong I despaired of ever seeing you settled, but our dear Mr. Darcy is anxious to take on the task.” She settled in her chair and began to pour the tea. Darcy brought a cup to Elizabeth and settled into the chair beside her couch. Mrs. Bennet went on. “I have given Mr. Darcy my blessing. You are one-and-twenty, and I do not believe you require anyone’s permission, but I can never keep all that straight. I have asked Mr. Darcy to call upon your Uncle Gardiner to discuss those dreary details regarding dowries and settlements and whatever else may be needed. Lord knows, we are now as poor as church mice, but your young man will overlook all of that. You are a fortunate girl, Lizzy Bennet. Very fortunate indeed.”
“Thank you, Mama. I know that.” Elizabeth smiled up at Darcy, and he smiled back in relief.
“I must go and tell your sisters now, and then your aunt Philips. And then there will be Lady Lucas, and Mrs. Goulding. I may go distracted before all of this is settled.”
“We shall not marry until you and the girls are well settled at Rose Cottage.”
“There is plenty of time to discuss that. Mr. Darcy, will you join us in a family dinner this evening?”
“I shall be delighted.”
“I am going up to your sisters now. Please leave the door to the parlor open, my children.” And with that, Mrs. Bennet was gone.
Darcy exhaled. “I am glad I shall never have to do that again. Your mother says she will write to Mr. Gardiner and tell him precisely what she wants to do. It is a blessing I have built up a solid working relationship with him.”
“I think you will find my uncle easy to work with. And Mama is right. I no longer need anyone’s permission.”
Darcy knelt on the floor beside her couch and leaned over to kiss her again. This time the kiss was deeper, more ardent, more passionate. He was elated to feel Elizabeth’s response, to hear the soft sound she made as she threw her arms around his neck. He knew the kiss must end, and it did, all too soon. But not before he had whispered against her lips, “I love you, Elizabeth” and heard her soft pledge in return.
He sat back on his heels, looked at his bride to be, and said, “Soon we will not have any more partings. But I must go back to Netherfield to help Bingley as I promised. The sooner we have him on an even keel, the sooner we can be together, my darling.”
Elizabeth twined her fingers in his. “I know. I keep imagining that by the time we marry, we can spend at least a little time relaxing in each other’s company. Until then, it appears our work is cut out for us.” She smoothed his hair, an activity she was beginning to enjoy, and gave his cheek a pat. “Hurry back for dinner, Fitzwilliam.”
“I shall be back in no time at all.” He stood, placed a kiss in the palm of her hand, and closed her fingers round it. Then he was gone.
Chapter 14
“Oh, yes. He proposed to her in the garden and came in almost immediately to ask my blessing.” Fanny Bennet, dressed in her best black bombazine, sipped her tea with an air of complacency. She was seated in the drawing-room at Lucas Lodge, where Lady Lucas, Mrs. Goulding, and Mrs. Long hung on her every word. She had been fortunate that Lady Lucas had received them as callers that day. It would save her the trouble of going from one house to the next. “He is such a handsome young man. And rich! Ten thousand a year, at least. And it may be more.” In short, she enjoyed the happiest afternoon she had experienced since before the loss of Mr. Bennet, and she returned to Longbourn with an air of great satisfaction.
Elizabeth was meanwhile receiving the congratulations of her sisters, which ranged from “I wish you much happiness, Elizabeth” from Mary to “Surely you will help us all find rich, handsome husbands” from Lydia.
Darcy, for his part, had letters to write, and when he arrived at Netherfield, he found that Jane was resting upstairs while Bingley and Emerson were out. He worked on his correspondence, but his mind and heart were elsewhere. Elizabeth Bennet had accepted his offer of marriage. He would see her every day, be greeted by her lovely smile, hear the warmth in her voice, hold her in his arms. She would be his, and just as importantly, he would be hers. He had not belonged to anyone, truly, since the loss of his parents. He gave himself a mental shake and returned to his letters. His tasks took him a great deal longer than they usually did, but he did not mind. When he had finished, he had two letters to dispatch to London and two to send to Pemberley. Only then did he permit himself to sit quietly and luxuriate in his dreams of the future. He imagined an intimate scene in the upstairs sitting-room at Pemberley. Candles would be lit, the fire would cast a glow on her features, and he would seat himself on the floor with his head in Elizabeth’s lap, and her fingers would stray through his hair in that pleasing way she had. It was an enchanting picture. He left his letters out for the post.
At Longbourn, Elizabeth wanted only to be alone. Lydia and Kitty buzzed around her, and she waved Mary off for a well-deserved hour of music practice. Finally, she begged them to allow her to rest so that she would not appear ugly and haggard to her intended, and each of them kissed her and went away laughing and chattering. Elizabeth closed her eyes, and soon she slept. She dreamt of being carried away from the church at Longbourn by Darcy on Sirdar, seated in front of her beloved on his saddle, and that they suddenly took flight and began to soar far above the land. And yet, in her dream, she was perfectly safe and content. She slept long and well, and Mrs. Bennet finally awakened her, urging her to make herself tidy for Mr. Darcy’s visit.
Darcy at last found time to sit with the Bingleys for a few quiet minutes in the afternoon while Mr. Emerson took care of some correspondence of his own. Their joy at his news could scarcely be contained. Bingley was jubilant. “You will not regret it, Darcy, old man. My only wish for you is that you will be as happy with your Elizabeth as I am with my Jane, and I do not doubt for a moment that you will be. She is a delightful girl in every respect, and she will be your perfect partner in life. You are too much alike for it to be otherwise.”
Jane was quiet but no less jubilant. “I shall be happy and honored to call you brother, Mr. Darcy,” she said, kissing him gently on the cheek. “Think of the wonderful times we shall all have as we watch our families grow up together. For me it is joy beyond belief to see my dear sister married to a man who loves and cares for her.”
Mr. Emerson arrived as Jane was ringing for tea, and there was little for it but to share the news with him. “Do not worry, Mr. Darcy, I will say nothing until you are ready to make the announcements,” said he with a smile. “The Bennet ladies are uniformly charming, and I have no doubt you will enjoy the greatest felicity with Miss Bennet when she becomes Mrs. Darcy.” He stood. “I must
go and write a letter concerning my estate in Kent, Willow Mere. I have neglected the writing for too long.”
Darcy regarded him with some astonishment, but Bingley spoke. “You own an estate in Kent? Why, then, are you working as a steward?” He realized that his questions had been both rude and abrupt, colored, and added. “I beg your pardon for my impertinence, Mr. Emerson.”
“No, no. Tis perfectly understandable. The estate became available separately after the young Earl’s unfortunate demise. I used money I had inherited as well as money I had earned and invested over the years to purchase it. It is currently leased to a retired admiral in His Majesty’s Navy who lives there quietly with his lady and enjoys the proximity to London.” Emerson settled himself more comfortably in his chair. “As to why I continue working as a steward, well—it pleases me to do so. I have no wife, no children, and no encumbrances. The work of assisting you to turn Netherfield into a profitable estate has meaning and value. I cannot bear to be idle. Willow Mere will be there for me when I am ready to retire, but I am vain enough to believe I am still in the prime of life.”
“And I am most fortunate to have you as steward and mentor, Mr. Emerson. I am looking forward to getting to work on Netherfield.”
Darcy said nothing, but his opinion of Mr. Emerson was further improved, and he rejoiced that the man would be working with and for his friend Bingley.
The Bennet girls were assembled in the drawing-room when Darcy arrived for dinner, and he had to admit they made a fetching portrait grouped around Elizabeth, who was settled in a comfortable chair reading to them from some new novel. He quite forgot himself when his bride-to-be smiled up at him, and he hurried to greet her, urging her not to get up on his account. Her sisters scattered, and soon everyone was seated. “Mama will be here shortly,” said Elizabeth. “She needed to oversee something in the kitchen.”
“Would you care to take another turn with me in the garden, Miss Bennet, or have you had enough exercise from your walk this morning?”
“I should enjoy a walk, Mr. Darcy. Kitty and Lydia may accompany us, and that will give Mary a chance to study for a while. She has been sorely deprived since my accident. Dinner will not be ready for an hour.”
Lydia and Kitty went, laughing, to fetch their cloaks, and Mary went gratefully to the small parlor where her books were set out on the round table. She opened her Bible to the portion of the Old Testament that had been appointed for reading in church the day before and began jotting down some of what she recalled from the sermon. However, a close observer would have seen that she was not attending. Her thoughts were not on the words of the Scriptures, nor did they dwell on the edifying sermon. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of the sonorous voice, blue eyes, and broad shoulders of the young curate who had preached it.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth left the house on Darcy’s arm with Kitty and Lydia, whispering and laughing, bringing up the rear. When they had left the gravel sweep and begun walking across the lawn, Lydia, still giggling, addressed Darcy and Elizabeth. “Since you are now a betrothed couple, Kitty and I are serving as your chaperones. You may walk about the garden as much as you please or sit on any of the benches. We wish to confer together over there on the swing, and we shall keep an eye on you from there.” She paused and thought for a moment. “Oh, and you should probably avoid the wilderness until we have asked Mama about it.”
Darcy bowed . “I understand you perfectly, madam. Were there any further instructions?”
“No, Mr. Darcy.” She could not suppress another giggle. “You are an honorable and trustworthy gentleman. I feel certain we can rely on you to look after our sister. Lizzy, perhaps you would like to show Mr. Darcy the hermitage.”
With that, the two girls went into gales of laughter and walked off arm in arm towards the swing.
“I am eight-and-twenty, but I do not believe I was ever that young.” Darcy smiled and shook his head. “Now, what of this hermitage? Is there a hermit?”
Elizabeth smiled up at him. “Hermits are expensive, Mr. Darcy. Our family’s resources dictate that we employ the hermit only on alternate Tuesdays during the warmer months. He is doubtless sitting by a fire somewhere else at present.”
“Then lead on.”
Elizabeth was still walking slowly, and they made their way to the edge of the property at a leisurely pace and in companionable silence. Darcy placed his gloved hand over her ungloved one, and she smiled up at him. “The garden is beginning to come to life,” observed Elizabeth. “It is a sight I have welcomed since childhood, but I suppose this is the last time I shall enjoy it in such detail.” She gently lifted her skirt away from a patch of crocus springing up beside their path. “My mother has put her heart and soul into this garden.”
“Do you think she will enjoy the garden at Rose Cottage?”
“I think it will delight her just as this one does. It is really too bad that my mother spends so much time on ladylike pursuits when she is always happiest out here or in the stillroom.”
“Rose Cottage does not have a stillroom. Neither does Netherfield, as far as I can discern.”
“Jane will rectify that before too much more time passes.” Elizabeth glanced at him. “What about Pemberley? Is there a stillroom there?”
“Oh, yes. Our housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, has the keeping of it, but there are two maids especially designated to tend to it. Even in these modern times, one cannot maintain an estate the size of Pemberley without a stillroom.” He stopped and looked down at it. “Shall you take an interest in it, Elizabeth?”
“I certainly hope so. But I will have much to learn. And look, here we are at the hermitage.” Elizabeth indicated what appeared to be an ancient, crumbling wall with a Gothic doorway set into it. She led the way around the end of the wall to a well-built, smooth stone terrace with wrought-iron benches and flower borders which would be beautiful later in the spring.
“Well done,” observed Darcy. He seated Elizabeth on one of the benches and sat next to her, daring to remove his gloves and take her bare hand in his own. She looked down at their fingers, intertwined, then looked up at him and smiled.
“I believe I must take some time to go to London, my dearest. I want to give my solicitor instructions for our marriage articles, and when they are completed, I must call on Mr. Gardiner to discuss them. By rights, you should be part of that discussion, but unless I miss my guess, your absence from Longbourn for a week would be keenly felt.
“That is so. Mary has taken on more than her fair share after my injury, and it is a shame. We had agreed to share the burdens more equally, and they have all fallen on her. I mean to make it up to her beginning tomorrow, as I should be fully recovered by then. The only thing I will be unable to manage is outings to Meryton.”
“I shall give myself the honor of escorting your sisters to Meryton tomorrow. Do they prefer to go in the morning?”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam. That is a true test of dedication, even for you. There is no need.”
“It will be my pleasure. I shall call for them after breakfast and bring them home in time for luncheon. I presume they will wish to shop at the milliner’s, perhaps call at the circulating library, and greet any friends they encounter.”
“You have learned our Meryton itinerary by heart.” Elizabeth placed her free hand over his. “Thank you. And I have thought about London. If my Uncle Gardiner approves of everything, he should sign the documents. You may go over them with me when you return. I trust you will provide for our children, and that is all I really care about.”
“I can do better than that. I will prepare a rough draft of the agreement and we can read it together before I leave.”
“What is that? What an unusual watch-fob. It is so small. May I see it?”
Darcy handed over his watch, which boasted Elizabeth’s farthing as its only ornament.
“A farthing. What an interesting ornament for a fine gold watch, sir.”
“Not just any farthing, Elizabeth. It is the farthing you ga
ve me in payment for the silver penknife. As such, it is the only memento I have of you, and therefore its worth is far more than its material value.”
Elizabeth had nothing to say to that, but she threw her arms around his neck and held up her face for a kiss. Darcy, happy to comply, was mere inches from her lips when they heard giggling from the other side of the wall. There was only just time to compose themselves before they heard Lydia’s voice. “Your chaperones have arrived. It is time for dinner.” She and Kitty peeked around the end of the wall and were disappointed to see their charges seated, a good distance apart, with their hands in their laps.
“You two are no fun at all,” said Lydia in mock irritation. “As for me, I plan to be betrothed before I am too old and stodgy to enjoy it.”
Darcy stood and gave Elizabeth his arm.
“Mr. Darcy, I am sorry my sister has just called you—what was it—stodgy. You could be forgiven for rescinding your offer.”
“What, his offer of marriage? Surely not.” Lydia appeared genuinely startled by this.
“No. His offer to accompany you two into Meryton tomorrow morning after breakfast. I am sure you would not wish to be seen with a stodgy gentleman.” Elizabeth sighed. “I am sorry, Mr. Darcy, there is nothing for it but for you to spend the time instead with your stodgy old betrothed.”
Darcy, who was fast learning how to deal with the Bennet sisters, was quick to reply. “Yes, my dear. I shall bring my ear trumpet if you promise not to forget your spectacles.”
Lydia was a quick study. “Never mind, dear Mr. Darcy. If you will oblige Kitty and me by escorting us into Meryton, we will shout loudly enough that you will not need your ear trumpet.”
