Bennet inclined his head to acknowledge such. “I am Bennet. As I was saying, you did not send Hadlock here for my blessing because you knew I would make sport of him and then extract as much amusement from your mother as possible.” He saw the embarrassment on Jane’s countenance at the truth of his words. “You did the right thing; I hold nothing against you.”
“And I would have come to London tohelpyou, as much as you would not have wanted it. That was part of the reason no mention was made of your courtship, was it not?” Fanny verified.
Jane had changed, but she could not prevaricate to her mother, so she nodded, not looking directly at Mamma.
The two eldest Bennet sisters were taken aback by the positive changes they saw in their parents. When they looked at Mary sitting and quietly speaking to Anna, they noticed she was not very surprised by the adjustments their parents had made. They would need to speak to Mary later.
Fanny stood and came to stand in front of Jane. “Is he as good a man as he seems to be?” She saw Jane nod again. “And you will be happy with him?” Another nod. “Then, I could not ask for more for you.” She pulled her eldest into a warm hug. “You deserve a good man, and not one who does not know his own mind like Mr Bingley.”
“He is the very best of men, Mamma,” Jane admitted. “And I respect and love him,” she added insotto voce.
Hadlock was standing close enough to hear Jane. He felt excitement like he had never experienced before when he heard that she loved him. It had been some weeks since he had known he was in love with her. Respect had been present before the love. “Jane, Miss Bennet, may I address you in private?” Hadlock requested, his voice gruff with emotion.
“Yes, Jamey, I would enjoy allowing you a private interview,” Jane responded as she glowed with pleasure.
“You may use my study for no more than ten minutes. You will not close the door all the way, and Mrs Hill will be just outside of the door,” Bennet stated. He watched with an indulgent smile as the couple practically ran out of the drawing room.
“What happened to my serene, peace-making, eldest daughter?” Bennet wondered.
“Jane will explain later,” Elizabeth declared. Suddenly, she realised she had not seen her two youngest sisters. “Mamma, Papa, where are Kitty and Lydia?” she asked.
“In their lessons with Miss Jones,” Fanny replied.
Elizabeth remembered her words about ‘saving them’ and she wondered if that had something to do with the changes. “Miss Jones?”
Fanny explained who the lady was and what her position in the house was.
Darcy was also shocked. These were not the Bennets he had met when he was in Hertfordshire the previous time. He understood that criticism of the lady’s family had no place in a proposal, but the Bennets as they were then and the way they used to behave had led him to utter those ill-advised words. One thing he was thankful for was that no matter how much he had erred in his proposal, it had been before any of the revelations about the Bennets’ situation. Hence, no one could accuse him of only being interested in Miss Elizabeth because of the connections and wealth they had now.
“Lizzy, where did you gain the information which you shared with Mr King and Sir William?” Bennet enquired. He did not miss how his second daughter’s eyes alighted upon Mr Darcy. “Then, we owe you and Mr Darcy a great debt of gratitude. May I speak freely here?”
“Everyone here knows the truth, Papa,” Elizabeth related.
Between Fanny and Bennet, they explained how the timely information had saved Lydia and, by extension, the family. When they were informed that the miscreant was in Newgate, what he had done, and what his punishment would be, Bennet, Fanny, and Mary were greatly relieved that Wickham would never be free again.
Elizabeth lifted a prayer to on high that He had inspired her to write the letters.
In the study, as soon as the door was closed most of the way, Hadlock took his beloved’s hands in his own and dropped to a knee. “Jane Frances Bennet, as much as I know that eavesdropping is not gentlemanly, I cannot repine the fact that I heard your words to your mother. I respected you from the first time Priscilla’s clumsiness caused us to meet. It was not too many days later before I knew that I loved you. Seeing that I was determined not to rush or pressure you, especially knowingof your prior experience with an inconsistent suitor, I did nothing to signal my deep and abiding love for you. You are the perfect woman for me, and as such, I would have given you as much time as you needed before proposing. However, hearing your words to your mother made my heart soar. All that remains for me to do is to beg you to join your life with mine. Jane, will you marry me?”
“James Paul Carrington, you are the only man I would ever want to marry, and as you heard, I love and respect you.” Jane paused. “Before we proceed, I must admit something. You were not eavesdropping. I felt that you needed a sign from me, so I made sure my voice was of a volume you would be able to hear. If that does not make you think less of me, then yes, Jamey, I will marry you.”
“Think less of you? That you were willing to make me aware of your feelings only makes me love you more.” Hadlock was on two feet again in an instant. He leant forward seeking permission and found it as Jane tilted her face so their lips would meet.
Neither of the newly engaged couple thought it was enough time, but they pulled apart when they heard Mrs Hill cough close to the door. When Jane exited the study to call her father, she was unrepentant about her obviously swollen lips.
Bennet did not sport with his son-in-law-to-be and gave his blessing without delay. Then, he led a grinning Hadlock back to the drawing room where he had had his youngest two daughters summoned. After introductions, he made the announcement that surprised none except for Kitty and Lydia.
When the callers, including Jane’s betrothed, departed and made their way to Netherfield Park, the family’s new circumstances were explained to the youngest two Bennets. There was a fair amount of squealing, but on the whole, Kitty and Lydia did not misbehave as they would have in the past.
Elizabeth confirmed Mr Darcy and his family as the source of her information about Mr Wickham to Kitty and Lydia but never mentioned a word about Anna. Lydia hugged Lizzy warmly for saving her. Next, Elizabeth spoke of the refused proposal, and the vitriolic way she had rejected it. Other than raised eyebrows, regardless of the emotions stirred up, neither parent commented.
When her mother opined that such a proposal should have been refused, you could have knocked Elizabeth down with a feather.
As soon as Miss Jones led her charges back to the schoolroom, the remaining five Bennets explained the changes to their lives since they had last been in company.
Then, Jane told of her experiences in London with Mr Bingley’s sisters and how Aunt Maddie helped her change her outlook on life. As Jane spoke, her aunt blushed at the praise while her uncle preened with pride at his wife. She told how she and Jamey met and the way the relationship advanced. She also told of Miss Bingley’s call at Holder House and her subsequent banishment from society.
“That harpy ended up doing you a service,” Fanny opined. “It is good we will never see her again, although I would have enjoyed giving her a set down for the ages.”
