He handed in Mrs. Annesley then took his seat. Pushing the unworthy thoughts away, Darcy decided to enjoy the evening despite his lack of official connection to the object of his admiration. He would still have her company. That would have to be enough.
The evening went very well. Having put himself to the trouble of being sociable at the Goulding’s, he found it was even less trouble to be sociable now. Lady Lucas once again made much of his men going for supplies on the sledge. Sir William joined in the chorus, and even those guests who had not been as friendly began to warm to him under their approbation.
Dinner was pleasant enough, and he was pleased to be seated between Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary. Not only was the food good, the conversation was lively and cheerful. Mr. Collins's death had been mentioned before dinner, but no one dwelt on it after they were called in to eat. Instead they discussed the most current news interspersed with a smidgen of local gossip.
As expected, there was dancing after dinner. The party looked to Miss Mary to play, without even really asking her, but Miss Elizabeth stepped up and offered her services for the first few dances instead. While Darcy was sad not to dance the first with her, he understood her intent. He offered his hand to Miss Mary and took top place in the set while the other guests looked on in surprise.
Unlike a formal dance, they alternated partners after every song instead of dancing two to a set. Bingley took Miss Mary's next dance while Darcy danced with Miss Kitty. As they had hoped, one of the local men came forward to ask for Mary's third dance and she had partners for the rest of the evening. All the practice of the past few days stood her in good stead and she performed very well in addition to having fun.
Darcy stood up with Georgiana and then Miss Lucas followed by Miss Bennet, before finally having a chance to dance with Miss Elizabeth. Mrs. Annesley took Miss Elizabeth's place at the pianoforte when she stood up with Darcy, playing with both spirit and skill for a few more songs, at which point the evening began to wind down.
After dancing with Miss Elizabeth, Darcy felt he needed to sit down. He might have recovered most of his stamina, but he had never danced that much in a single night before and it left him somewhat winded.
As he sat near some of the other gentlemen, enjoying a glass of port one of them handed him, he heard an argument break out among the matrons nearby. He almost choked on the drink as he realized they were discussing him and his marital prospects. A comment by Lady Lucas was followed by a rebuttal from Mrs. Bennet.
"Yes, your Charlotte was engaged to Mr. Collins. After all these years someone was willing to take her," Mrs. Bennet said dismissively, "but I do not know why you would think Mr. Darcy would marry her now."
"Mr. Darcy did say that Mr. Collins's death left my Charlotte available for a better situation. And he noted how good a mistress she would be of any household. You all saw how attentive he was to her at the Goulding's dinner. I even hear they walked together in Meryton. Clearly he is attracted to her."
"No, you are wrong. He was simply being kind. What is clear is his interest in my Mary. After all, he went to the effort to help her learn to dance. You saw him with her this evening – the very first dance! He has encouraged her friendship with his sister and been ever so pleasant with all of us. Of course, he will marry her."
"He was merely being polite to his hostess," Mrs. Long broke in. "There are so many young ladies of good character in Meryton. He could choose from any of them. My nieces are both good girls and have better dowries than your daughters. They are just as worthy of a man of his status as Mary or Charlotte."
Even though he was only listening to the discussion, Darcy was feeling just as he had in his nightmare – pulled in all directions with no way to move or escape. He saw Mr. Bennet smirk and heard some of the other men chuckle. Then suddenly, just as had happened in the dream, it was Miss Elizabeth who rescued him.
"Mama, Lady Lucas, Mrs. Long, please calm yourselves. You must stop with all these suppositions. Can you not see how they embarrass the three of you as well as Mr. Darcy? In addition, all your assumptions are incorrect." She looked directly at Darcy with a smile before she added, "Mr. Darcy is officially courting me."
Chapter 19: A Courtship?
A bomb dropped into the center of the room could not have had a more explosive impact than Miss Elizabeth's seemingly simple statement. The surprise increased when she reached out her hand to Mr. Darcy. He almost spilled his port in his haste to set the glass down so he could walk to her and take her hand in his. He felt he must have resembled Bingley with the smile spread across his face.
Darcy noticed Mr. Bennet continued to smirk in anticipation of the entertainment that was about to play out in front of him. Everyone else, aside from Mr. Phillips who sat smiling in a corner, was looking at Miss Elizabeth in disbelief. An exited murmur of gossip began.
"Courting you, Lizzy!" Mrs. Bennet screeched over the sounds of the other guests making comments on the alliance. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said, Mama. Mr. Darcy asked me for a courtship, with marriage as his ultimate intent, and I have accepted. Papa knows all about it and has given his approval." She spoke calmly, but Darcy saw a twinkle in her eye.
Mrs. Bennet whipped her head around so quickly to look at her husband that Darcy was surprised she did not hurt herself. "You knew?"
"Why, yes, my dear," Mr. Bennet said in an amused voice. "Mr. Darcy and I spoke of the matter and I gave my approval, but Lizzy only accepted him today. This was not quite how I intended to announce it, but it works well enough. Are congratulations not in order?"
Miss Lucas had already stepped forward to support her friend and now she became the first to congratulate them on the courtship, even as the other guests gathered around. "I knew you would see his true worth one day, Eliza," she whispered before making way for the others who had stepped up.
Still struggling to get her wits about her and understand what she had heard, Mrs. Bennet gaped and spluttered as the couple received congratulations from several others. Finally, one idea became clear to her and she addressed Miss Elizabeth, who still stood hand in hand with Darcy and was now in a circle of her sisters, with Georgiana in place of Lydia, who was sulking to the side.
"But Lizzy!" she said shrilly, drawing everyone's attention, "You do not even like Mr. Darcy! He insulted you!"
"And he apologized, Mama," Miss Elizabeth replied firmly. "I have long since forgiven him."
"But...if his intent is marriage, why are you just courting and not yet betrothed?"
Miss Elizabeth looked to Darcy with a hint of her father's smirk and he could have sworn she winked before turning back to her mother. "The answer is simple, Mama. He simply has not had a chance to ask the all-important question."
Darcy did not know if that was his cue or a challenge, but he still took it for a sign. The master of Pemberley might be a very private person, but at that moment he forgot the room full of people. He forgot everything except the woman before him. Still retaining her hand in his, Darcy sank to one knee in front of her. He did not hear the surprised gasps from their sisters and many of the other guests. He was entirely focused on the desire of his heart.
"Miss Elizabeth, please believe I find you far more than simply tolerable. You are beautiful and bewitching. Your looks, intelligence and wit tempt me beyond all reason. I came back to Meryton because I knew my life would be empty without you. With you by my side I can be a better person. Will you do me the greatest of honors and become my wife?"
Miss Elizabeth looked at him with tears, he hoped of joy, glistening in her eyes. She tugged his hand slightly, indicating he should stand.
"Please stand up, Mr. Darcy. I must give you an answer as an equal not as a superior to a supplicant, for there was insult on both sides that has now been abolished."
He stood and looked at her with hope and trepidation. She did not let him suffer long. He heard the clock begin to strike as she said, "Yes, Mr. Darcy, I will marry you."
The witnesses cheered, and more than one voice exclaimed. "Midnight! The stroke of midnight! Kiss your love for good luck in the coming year!"
Darcy was too happy to really notice what was being said, but when Miss Elizabeth rose on tiptoe leaning towards him just as the last stroke chimed out, he responded with a gentle kiss. As he pulled back, he realized many people around him, at least those who were married or betrothed, had just been similarly engaged including Bingley and Miss Bennet. Even Mr. Bennet, it seems, had stirred himself to walk over and offer his wife a kiss to the cheek to start the new year off right.
Under the congratulations, cheers and other noise of people happily celebrating the end of one year and the start of another, Miss Elizabeth softly whispered to him. "I did not mean to place you on the spot like that. I was tweaking my mother's nose and forgot the company."
"I did not mind," he whispered back. "You gave me hope I did not have before. I hope now you do not regret your acceptance? It was not just a show for the witnesses?"
"Not at all, Mr. Darcy. You surprised me, but you have continually surprised me over the last three weeks. A new year is upon us now. Let us start as we mean to go on," she said, raising their still linked hands slightly.
"I look forward to spending the new year hand in hand by your side," he said. He was about to lean in for another kiss when someone clapped him on the back, startling him into remembering they were in the midst of a large company and ending even the illusion of a private conversation.
The rest of the party was something of a blur for Darcy. It felt like the number of guests had somehow increased exponentially after the chiming of the clock with the many times he was offered congratulations either on the betrothal or on his courage in proposing in such a public setting. Mr. Bennet joined the couple briefly, laughing as he did.
"You have my consent, the both of you, and my blessing as well. Lizzy, I think there is more mettle to this man than we could see beneath his pride before. I look forward to seeing what you make of each other."
He kissed his daughter on the cheek and clapped Darcy on the shoulder before leaving the field to his wife, who threatened to overwhelm them with her blessings. As they expected, Mrs. Bennet was loud and effusive in her congratulations, despite repeating many times that she did not quite understand how Mr. Darcy came to propose to Lizzy, of all people. Darcy noticed that her neighbors took her comments in stride, simply smiling or laughing at her noise. He also noticed Miss Elizabeth's blushes and sidelong glances at him, along with the way her hand would suddenly tighten on his, when her mother said something particularly foolish.
"Have no fear," he whispered to her, as Mrs. Bennet made a very silly statement to their hostess that caused Miss Elizabeth's cheeks to color brightly. "I am not judging. She is family now, or will be soon, and I accept her for who she is, just as your neighbors appear to do."
"I am glad of it," she replied. "She embarrasses me no end, but she is my mother. I could not stand it if you held her in disdain."
"I have seen her true worth," he replied teasingly, "and you have yet to meet my Aunt Catherine."
Miss Elizabeth chuckled. "The great Lady Catherine de Bourgh, of whom we have heard so much? Could I possibly be worthy of meeting such a paragon of condescending grace?"
"She will probably declare you are not. But in my opinion, you are greatly her superior in all the ways that truly count."
He basked in Miss Elizabeth's smile for the short time that remained before the party broke up and the carriages were brought around to return the revelers to their homes. Although technically he probably should not have, Darcy rode in the carriage with Miss Elizabeth, under chaperonage of Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana, Miss Mary and Miss Kitty, just as Bingley rode in the other carriage with Miss Bennet, her parents and Miss Lydia.
Ordinarily the carriage ride would have been fairly quiet after such a long party, but not after the events of this night. Georgiana, Miss Mary and Miss Kitty were still bouncing with excitement over the new betrothal. In addition, Miss Mary needed to share her delight at having danced so many times in one evening. She took it in good part when Miss Elizabeth teased her, asking if they had accidentally taken Lydia in their carriage instead of Mary.
"Are you certain you are not Lydia," Miss Mary asked her older sister in response to her teasing. "After all, you practically proposed to Mr. Darcy yourself this evening, not to mention kissing him in full view of all the company."
"It was midnight on New Year's Eve," Miss Elizabeth said, laughing, "And such a lovely proposal deserved a kiss."
Darcy sat in silence next to her, sinking back into his corner and hoping the dim light of the single lamp was not bright enough to betray his blush of embarrassment at all the teasing comments. He sat forward with a jolt at Georgiana's next statement.
"I wish we were not returning to Netherfield today. I have had so much fun at Longbourn. It is lovely to have sisters."
"Even Lydia?" Miss Elizabeth asked.
"Well," Georgiana said a little hesitantly, clearly fearful of causing offense even in the current company, "she is an enthusiastic dancer and very lively company when she is not sulking." The occupants of the carriage laughed.
"I am sorry you will be returning to Netherfield as well," Miss Elizabeth said seriously. Darcy silently agreed. He had forgotten they had planned to return that day and now he wished for a reason to delay. His agreement to the rest of Miss Elizabeth's statement was reluctant despite recognition of the truth of her words.
"We will be under far more scrutiny with a second betrothal in our household. What was acceptable with the accident of the snowstorm will no longer meet the dictates of propriety now that the snow has cleared."
"She is correct, Miss Darcy," Mrs. Annesley chimed in. "With the snowstorm, your stay was reasonable because of there being so many people at Longbourn to provide ample chaperonage for Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet after their betrothal was announced, no matter how lax the oversight sometimes was. However, two betrothed couples under one roof, even in a house so full, without a similar excuse stretches the limits of the acceptable. In fact, while your brother's proposal was a little scandalous in some ways, it is probably a good thing he made it in such a public venue. There will be fewer whispers of possible compromise and forced marriage with so many witnesses to his spontaneous and, if you will excuse me, sir, genuinely besotted declaration."
As the others laughed, Darcy wished he could disappear into the cushions. He suspected they did not need the lamp to see his blush, for he was surely glowing red. Miss Elizabeth squeezed his hand, which she still held in hers.
"I was very pleased with his proposal," she said staunchly. "I could not have asked for a better one, and it was all the sweeter for having so many witnesses to understand the truth of our commitment to one another."
"I am just so glad you did not turn my brother down," Georgiana said.
"He took a chance and placed his heart in my care. Under such circumstances only a fool would have torn it into shreds and dropped it at his feet. His bravery, along with all the illumination of the best parts of his character he has shown these last two weeks, deserved no less than my acceptance of his suit."
As Miss Kitty and Miss Mary chattered with Georgiana on the remainder of the trip, Darcy took the chance to whisper to Miss Elizabeth. "May I request then, as your brave knight, a token to take back with me to Castle Netherfield?"
"What token would you ask, Sir Knight?"
"One of the ribbons from your hair," he replied, with a gentle squeeze of her hand. "I have a fondness for that particular shade of green. I hope to see you wear it often."
"I cannot remove the ribbon now, but before you leave for Netherfield I will place your token in your hand."
"I thank you most humbly. Does my lady fair request any token of me?"
"I have your heart, given before witnesses. What greater token could I ask until I also wear your ring upon my finger?"
"That heart remains yours, ev
en after you receive the ring."
"As mine remains yours, even after you receive the ribbon."
No further words were needed. Darcy sat in happy silence, holding the hand of the woman he loved as she leaned her head against his shoulder for the rest of the drive to Longbourn.
Chapter 20: Necessary Settlements
The mood in the carriage back to Netherfield was subdued. None of them really wanted to leave Longbourn, not even Mrs. Annesley, who had enjoyed the company and seen what good it had done for her charge. It did not help that they were all very tired after the late night, having only had a few hours of sleep after returning to Longbourn.
Mrs. Nichols greeted them cheerfully. The channels of gossip must have been flowing full strength that morning, for she congratulated both men on their betrothals without prompting. Once they made the appropriate response, she accepted Bingley's request for a very simple dinner before leaving them all to their own devices.
Georgiana declared she would take a nap before dinner, leaving Mrs. Annesley free to do the same should she choose. The young woman's first party with dancing would have been an exhausting one even without the excitement of her brother's betrothal. As it was, even though she went to bed on their return to Longbourn and stayed abed as late as any of the others barring Lydia, who had not even bothered to come down to see them off, she had not slept well due to her joy at thoughts of finally having not just one sister but five through his marriage. Now, after assuring her brother once more of her pleasure at his successful proposal, she kissed him on the cheek then left for her room.
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