Mr. Livesay grinned. “I sent him a letter a few days ago. I hope to speak to Charlotte privately this afternoon.”
Fitzwilliam laughed. “Yes, I think we could arrange that. Perhaps a common license would be better than waiting for the banns to be called? We would not have to remain at Netherfield as long that way.”
“That depends on Miss Lucas, I am afraid,” Mr. Livesay replied. “I would not want to rush her into a wedding if she prefers something different.”
“I suppose not every woman is like my wife; it was she who suggested we marry a fortnight after I proposed. Granted, it ended up being longer than that, but that was because of my mother’s insistence,” Fitzwilliam shared. “Although my wife and Miss Lucas have many things in common, so perhaps …”
“But you are forgetting the mother’s influence,” Mr. Livesay relied. “From what I know of Lady Lucas, she will not be happy with a mere week to plan. She may try to insist on a much longer period, but I hope I can convince Charlotte to make it a short engagement.”
Fitzwilliam laughed at his friend. “Good luck with that,” he said. “Let us join the ladies, and I will see what I can do to help you find that time alone to propose.”
Elizabeth was pleasedto leave her friend alone with her suitor for a few minutes. Upon their return, Fitzwilliam whispered what Mr. Livesay requested in her ear, and she quickly invented a reason for the two to leave the room. The Darcys stood in the hallway just outside while Fitzwilliam shared their discussion regarding a possible wedding with her.
“Oh, Fitzwilliam,” she whispered. “I am so happy for Charlotte. I hope she can be persuaded to have the wedding quickly though, as I would not like to stay in Hertfordshire long. I am certain Mama will try to pretend a relationship exists between us, and I do not like the idea of you being that close to Jane for any length of time.”
“Would Miss Lucas agree to a short engagement?” he asked.
“She will, but Lady Lucas will not acquiesce,” Elizabeth sighed. “She will want to make it a big celebration and will likely want to rub it in Mama’s face. Perhaps, though, we can convince her that we can only remain in town for a short time and use that to encourage a quicker wedding.”
Hiding his face in her shoulder, Elizabeth felt more than heard his laugh. “What is so funny about that?” she demanded.
“I imagine your mother and Lady Lucas battling it out. I can imagine the two of them trading barbs as they attempt to get the advantage over the other,” Fitzwilliam teased. “Can you imagine what would happen if one of her daughters were to marry her son? That would be a wedding to remember.”
Elizabeth chuckled quietly at the image his words created. “They would perpetually be trying to outdo the other, and the wishes of the children in question would be ignored entirely. It would be a cacophony of sights and sounds.”
Fitzwilliam leaned down and kissed her for a long moment. When he released her, her eyes slowly opened, and she stared at her husband momentarily. “Not that I do not appreciate that, my dear Fitzwilliam, but what was that for?”
“I am inordinately pleased to have found you, my love, and more so that you have married me. I love your wit and wisdom—you are my perfect match,” he whispered huskily.
She sighed into his arms. “Fitzwilliam, as much as I would love to continue this, I believe we have left my friend alone with her suitor long enough. Should we return and allow them to share their news so we might send them all away?”
He laughed, loud enough this time to be heard in the room. This noise was enough to break the new couple apart, and when the Darcys entered, Charlotte and Mr. Livesay separated, and their happiness was clearly written on their faces.
“So, what have the two of you concluded?” Elizabeth asked as they entered the room.
CHAPTER 21
The Youngest Bennets
As always seems to be the case, “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley.”
The Darcys intended departure from London took an additional week to manage, but soon, they were prepared to depart. Arrangements had been made for Mr. Livesay and the Darcys to stay at Netherfield, and a few other friends of Mr. Livesay would accompany them. Several of these gentlemen would stay at Netherfield even after the wedding, hoping to take advantage of the cooler weather of the country to engage in sport.
Letters had been carried between London and Lucas Lodge, announcing the engagement and requesting that the wedding occur within a few weeks. After another visit to the modiste, Charlotte returned to Lucas Lodge to work with her mother on the plans for the wedding and wedding breakfast, while the entire Darcy family, including George Darcy, Lady Anne, Georgiana, and the newlyweds, would travel to Netherfield the week before the wedding would take place. Mr. Livesay would travel to Lucas Lodge with Charlotte at first, returning to finalise details related to the wedding settlement and their wedding tour.
Unbeknownst to the Darcy family, George Wickham had already arrived in Hertfordshire. Upon discovering the residence of the newlywed Mrs. Darcy’s family, he journeyed there and initiated his mission to tarnish the Darcy family’s reputation in the village. This campaign began once he learned thatthe Fitzwilliam Darcys had returned to London. Regrettably, the only individuals receptive to his allegations were the Bennets, particularly Mrs. and Miss Bennet, who took pleasure in entertaining unfavourable opinions about Elizabeth’s new family. Wickham was pleased with how effortlessly he could persuade these two individuals to view the entire Darcy family negatively.
Meryton was such a small village, and its inhabitants so enamoured of gossip, it had only taken Wickham a brief time to discover all there was to know about the Bennets. The break between that family and nearly all the others in Meryton was frequently discussed at the pub, and Wickham quickly learned all he could about the family. Learning the eldest daughter was jealous of the new Mrs. Darcy made it easy for Wickham to determine his path.
One evening, just before dinner was to be announced, a knock was heard on the front door of Longbourn. A dusty and weary gentleman stood there, requesting assistance from the household. He claimed to have been thrown from his horse and left stranded some ways away and that he had walked until spotting this house after what felt like hours. After speaking with Mr. Bennet, several servants were sent out to search for the wayward horse, as the gentleman expressed concern that the horse may have been injured when he was startled and bolted.
“Well, sir, I am pleased to offer whatever aid I might,” Mr. Bennet said. “Would you care to join the family for dinner? It is nothing fancy, but I dare say that any food will taste good after all your exercise.”
Wickham smiled. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the assistance and the offer of a meal. Will your family mind my rather dusty appearance?” He asked.
“Here, let me call my man,” Bennet offered. “He can brush your coat and help you wipe some of that dirt from your breeches. But first, I supposed I should introduce myself. My name is Thomas Bennet, and I am the master of Longbourn.”
“George Wickham, sir,” Wickham said with a bow. “Lately of London, but originally from Derbyshire.”
