“You are a good man, William,” Elizabeth said, looking at him with eyes full of her love for him. “Mama is sometimes too much even for me, and I should not have gotten so angry with you for saying what I have said about her often. I was already upset over what Colonel Fitzwilliam had revealed about you separating Bingley and Jane, and I allowed my tongue far too much freedom.”
“But she is your mother, and I should have been more sensitive to that. Without her, there would have been no Elizabeth Bennet. And, as I cannot imagine my life without you, I will come to love her for giving you to me,” William told her.
She stopped and turned to look at him before speaking. “I just may have to remind you of these words when we eventually return to Hertfordshire, William. But for now, I will relish the sentiment behind the words and tell you that I also cannot imagine my life without you. I look forward to being your wife and being able to always stay by your side.”
“If we were not standing in the middle of the street, my sweet Elizabeth, I would kiss you right now,” he whispered. “But I will content myself with being able to have you quite literally by my side right now.” He kissed her hand lingeringly, and they started walking again.
Arriving at the inn, he opened the door for her to enter, and she told him. “Wait here, please. I will go and find my aunt and uncle.”
“Mr. Darcy,” the innkeeper called as he stood waiting. “Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning, Johnson,” Darcy acknowledged. “How are you today?”
“Doing well,” Mr. Johnson replied. “What brings you in today?”
“I am visiting some friends who happened to be staying here for a day or two,” Darcy replied. “I am meeting with the Gardiners this morning.”
“Ahh, they do have a lovely niece,” Mr. Johnson said, having noticed the Master of Pemberley walking closely with the young lady through town just a few minutes before.
“Yes, Miss Bennet is charming,” Darcy replied earnestly.
Just then, Darcy saw Elizabeth in the doorway. “I believe the Gardiners are ready for me, Mr. Johnson.”
“Excellent, Mr. Darcy,” Johnson replied, wondering if the young lady would make Derbyshire her home before too long.
“Good morning, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Gardiner called out the greeting as the man walked into the room.
“Good morning, Mr. Gardiner,” he replied. “But, please, call me Darcy. We will be family soon enough, and I look forward to getting to know you better.” Gardiner nodded his acknowledgement of the change of address and offered the same.
“We are about to eat breakfast, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “Would you care for some?”
“Thank you, but I ate before I left Pemberley,” he replied. “I would like coffee or tea, if I may?”
Elizabeth prepared him a cup of coffee, adding a bit of cream, as she had seen him drink it that way often enough at both Netherfield and Rosings. She handed him the cup and smiled at him before taking up her own cup and sitting next to him on the settee.
“So, Mr. Darcy, would you like to tell my aunt and uncle what we discussed about the wedding?” Elizabeth said, smiling playfully at him.
He grinned back at her, and she coloured slightly. “I wrote a letter asking Mr. Bennet’s permission, but I also wrote to him of my desire to obtain a common licence instead of having the banns called. I have some concerns about my Aunt Catherine causing trouble regarding my engagement and marriage to Miss Bennet. Since my mother passed away more than a decade ago, she has convinced herself that it was my mother’s wish for me to marry my cousin. As much as anything else, I think it has been a ploy to keep Rosings, her estate in Kent, under her control, which my cousin would naturally gain control of when she married. She has always believed I would bring Anne here to Pemberley to live and leave her to control Rosings.
“She attempted to convince my father of this when he was still alive, but he would disagree. Just before he died, he told me definitively that my mother never wished for such a match. Anne and I have discussed it as well, and she has no desire to marry me or anyone else, as she has always been rather sickly and weak.”
“I have met Lady Catherine, and I would say she is rather formidable and rarely listens to the opinions of others, especially if they are contrary to hers,” Elizabeth interjected.
“But you were not cowed by her,” Darcy replied, his lips turning up into a slight smile. “Few have ever stood up to my aunt as you did, and it was interesting to watch.”
“Can she truly interfere?” Mr. Gardiner asked.
“She can create a scene and embarrass herself, but my Uncle Matlock will not let her cause too much of a ruckus. I will need to speak to him when we arrive in town, but the fact that he is already acquainted with you, Gardiner, will help,” Darcy said. “That is one argument in favour of us waiting a bit longer and participating in some events in town before things are officially announced, as much as I hate to admit it.”
Elizabeth smiled tenderly at him. “Just so long as the events do not involve dancing, am I right?”
William coloured slightly but smiled back at Elizabeth. “As long as I can dance with you, I think I could handle a ball or two.”
She put her hand on his arm. “And I can protect you from all the match-making mamas?” The entire group laughed at that.
Elizabeth spoke up to get the group back on topic. “I have written to both Jane and Papa, leaving both letters open so we can add any necessary details. I would like to set a definite wedding date in, say, two months, so early in October, but request that they not tell Mama until the last possible moment. I can return to London, and Mr. Darcy can escort us to the theatre and the museums, as well as a ball or two. He can introduce me to Lord and Lady Matlock so we can counteract anything LadyCatherine might try, and perhaps Lady Matlock would be willing to assist with my acceptance into society as needed.”
Darcy smiled at her. “That sounds perfect to me. Do you think your father will be amenable to the idea?”
