“No,” Mrs. Gardiner was quick to reply. “She, well, she did get rather upset at the idea, but that is our Lizzy. She does not do well when big changes are sprung on her, and while she had grown to care about Mr. Darcy very much, she was surprised at his mentioning marriage as though it were already decided. He had just learned of the inheritance and spoken to you and my husband about it. It was a settled thing in his mind, but it was rather a shock to her. Lizzy does not react well to surprises, and had my husband informed me of the topic before letting them speak; I would have warned your son to go more slowly. Instead, he shocked her, and it led to quite a display of temper. She just needed the time to come to the conclusion herself. Perhaps the necklace is an indication of her decision.”
Lady Anne nodded slowly. “That would make sense,” she replied. “Either this indicates he has asked, and she has accepted, or she was to signal when she was ready to be asked. Either way, do you think we have given them enough time?”
Mr. Gardiner heard most of the whispered conversation while keeping his eye on his niece and her suitor. “They have scarcely spoken a word to each other and have their heads in the clouds. It is almost too bad we are in such a public setting, and they will not have a chance to be truly alone for quite a while,” he said.
“You suggested a licence, did you not, Mr. Gardiner?” Lady Anne asked. “Although, at this point, your niece has been in residence with you for nearly a month.”
“Yes, very nearly, and of course, Darcy is a resident. If he waits another week, we could begin having the banns called, or he could purchase a common licence. I have not heard much from Longbourn, though I still think it best Lizzy marry before we inform her parents and Jane,” Gardiner replied.
“Fitzwilliam shared a bit with me about her family,” Lady Anne mused. “I cannot understand how a rational person would not value Elizabeth. She is a wonderful person, so warm and intelligent. She is the perfect match for my son as she will encourage him to look beyond himself and his books, as is his tendency when left alone.”
“And his steadiness will be good for her,” Mrs. Gardiner replied. “They are well suited.”
“And Lady Anne, there is a flaw in what you said. You cannot understand how a ‘rational’ person could not value Elizabeth as we do; well, that is because my sister is not rational,” Mr. Gardiner countered. “At one point, I believed Bennet to be, but he has become less so as he has become more and more absorbed in his books. I wonder how Longbourn will survive without Elizabeth or Mary caring for the tenants, but it is unfair to either of them to insist they remain at that house where theywere so unappreciated. I look forward to bringing Mary here and will insist Bennet give me her guardianship permanently.”
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt when Lady Anne heard her name. “Lady Anne,” came the shrill voice, “how lovely it is to see you again?”
Rolling her eyes at her guests, she turned to speak to the newcomer. “Lady Thornhill, how are you today? Might I introduce you to my companions?”
The lady glanced at the other couple before ungraciously acknowledging them. She was a tall, imposing lady of a similar age to Lady Anne. The Gardiners got the impression from their host’s reaction this lady was an inveterate gossip. “Certainly, Lady Anne,” she cooed.
As Lady Anne conducted the introduction, Lady Thornhill’s eyes wandered the room, clearly uninterested in the couple she deemed unimportant. After briefly acknowledging them, she turned her attention back to her quarry. “I thought I saw your handsome son with you here tonight. Was it your eldest son with you, or is he still rusticating in the country?” It was obvious that learning his location was the purpose of her approach.
“George is still at Pemberley and will remain there until the spring planting is completed. My younger son, Fitzwilliam, escorted me tonight,” Lady Anne replied.
“Oh,” replied a disappointed Lady Thornhill. “Your sons do look alike, do they not?”
“They share a few traits; they are both tall and have dark hair like their father,” Lady Anne agreed. “However, I think that is where the similarities end. Now, if you will excuse us, my son has likelyalready arrived in our box, as he was ahead of us. We need to join him and his young lady.”
“Oh, is he engaged?” Lady Thornhill inquired, suddenly curious.
“No announcement has been made at this time, Lady Thornhill,” Lady Anne replied.
Nodding, Lady Thornhill rushed off to share this lateston ditwith her friends. Knowing this, Lady Anne sighed. “It will be all over the theatre before the evening is over, and undoubtedly, the story shared will be nothing close to the truth. I do not know if she will interpret that as an engagement is forthcoming or something else entirely.”
“Well, perhaps now we have given them enough time to come to some kind of understanding. They have been on their own for much longer than intended,” Mr. Gardiner stated.
The ladies agreed and quickly made their way to the box, where Darcy and Elizabeth stood together, lost in conversation. Judging from the smiles on their faces, things between them had been settled. As soon as they entered the box, Darcy turned and saw them and stepped immediately to Mr. Gardiner.
“Sir, might I speak with you for a moment?” he asked quietly.
“No need, son,” Gardiner answered just as quietly. “You know you have my support, and I have already concluded you and my niece have reached an understanding. So long as you tell me later about that lovely pendant, all will be well. Is it safe to assume you already have the settlements drafted?”
Darcy grinned. “Yes, although there are some details I need your help to fill in, especially regarding Elizabeth’s dowry. You mentioned twenty thousand pounds, but I was unsure of theexact figure. There are also other details related to the legacy from my grandfather I will need, but I thought we could probably add it later since I will not actually inherit until I am wed.”
“And how soon will that be?” Gardiner asked.
“Elizabeth suggested we marry in a fortnight,” Darcy replied. “She is also of the mind to keep the news from her parents until it is done. I know you said the same, but I am still amazed a family of five girls would not be pleased to see a daughter well settled.”
“But you see, if Jane knew about you, both your attractive person and now the estate, she would think she was entitled to your attention, not Lizzy,” Gardiner said, laughing lightly at his companion’s obvious embarrassment at his words. “It was taken for granted Jane would marry well and ‘save the family’ while Lizzy was told she would never marry since she could not attract or keep a man’s attention. I know Lizzy has said some of this to you, and while I know it is nonsensical, it is what both of them have been told their entire lives.”
When Darcy realisedthe rest of the party had been delayed, he knew he had been granted an opportunity to speak to Elizabeth privately. Hurrying them to the box, he escorted her inside, moving in a way that made it difficult for others to see them. Taking her hand in his, he quickly sought confirmation of her meaning in wearing the necklace.
“Dearest, do you recall what we spoke of when I gave you the necklace?” he asked.
She turned her beaming smile at him. “I do,” she replied.
“Then, Elizabeth, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Please end my suffering and consent to be my wife,” he whispered. “I know we have not known each other long, but when I met you, my heart spoke, telling me you were the one I was meant to be with for the rest of my life. In this last fortnight, I have spent more time daydreaming than ever before, and I have been jealous of the time you have spent with anyone other than me. Ridiculous, I know, but I wanted all your time and attention. I know your aunt and uncle have been generous with the time we have been granted, but I wanted more. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, my dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth.”
