Charles stared at his friend for several minutes. “What?” he sputtered.
Darcy laughed bitterly, which caused his friend to appear even more surprised. “Charles, I have been a terrible friend to you over the last few months. I most heartily apologise, and I hope you will listen while I tell you a story that explains how terrible a friend I have been and what I hope to do to make amends.”
He began to explain his misunderstanding of Miss Bennet’s feelings and the tactics he had used to keep the two separated. Charles grew angry when he told him of her visit to London and how Jane had called on his sisters, and they had decided to keep it a secret from him, and he had agreed. Then he told him about meeting with Elizabeth in Kent and his offering for her and their quarrel and his letter. He concluded with their meeting the day before at his home and his subsequent proposal being accepted.
“Elizabeth told me today that she believes Miss Bennet still cares for you if you are still interested in pursuing her. We thought to bring you both to London to meet there as Elizabeth shopsfor her trousseau. Elizabeth wants to avoid her mother knowing of our engagement as long as possible to limit the fuss she can make over the wedding.”
Charles was quiet for several minutes after the retelling. Finally, he spoke, “You are serious about marrying Elizabeth Bennet?”
Darcy laughed, feeling slightly relieved at his friend’s reaction. “Yes, I am. I love her. I… I will admit that I have loved her for some time—I think I was already gone the day she arrived at Netherfield to care for her sister. Miss Bingley went on and on about how her skirts were covered in mud, and all I could think about was how well she looked with the exercise and how caring she must have been to walk the three miles to care for her sick sister.
“I fought it for a long time, but I finally realised that I hated everything about the debutantes of thetonand how marrying someone whom I cared for and cared for me was more important than marrying for connections or fortune—both of which I have in abundance.” He laughed deprecatingly.
“Darcy, I am not certain I have ever heard you laugh as often as you have in just this conversation,” Charles said. “If this is Miss Elizabeth’s influence, then it is clear she will be perfect for you.”
“It is her influence, Charles,” Darcy admitted. “She makes me happier than I have ever been,” he said. “Oh, and we are not sharing this news just yet. I want her to get to know Georgiana a little bit before we announce our engagement. We have sent letters to Longbourn to Mr. Bennet and Miss Bennet, asking both of them to keep it a secret from Mrs. Bennet until the last moment. We also plan to obtain a license, so my Aunt Catherine cannot interfere.
“Now, what do you plan to do about Jane Bennet?”
“Well, I guess we will leave for London in a fortnight or so, and I will call on her at the Gardiners and pray that Miss Elizabeth is correct.”
Soon, the entire party, other than Miss Bingley, were gathered on the terrace for tea. Georgiana was sitting with Miss Elizabeth, and the two were conversing quietly. It had not taken long for Elizabeth to put Georgiana at ease, and the two had found much to discuss. Darcy was speaking with Gardiner, and the two were making plans for a fishing expedition the following day. Bingley was speaking to Mrs. Gardiner about some of the places they had visited on this trip. Mr. Hurst was drinking, and Mrs. Hurst was playing with her bracelets. After a little while, she excused herself to rest before supper, as did Mrs. Gardiner. Bingley joined Darcy and Gardiner in their conversation.
When the bell rang to dress for dinner, the party broke up and headed to their respective rooms. Darcy smiled when Georgiana and Elizabeth headed inside arm in arm. He joined them, offering his arms, which both ladies accepted, and then escorted them to their rooms. He followed Georgiana into her sitting room, but not before catching Elizabeth’s eye. An unspoken question passed between them, and she nodded and smiled.
“What do you think of Miss Bennet?” he asked.
“She is lovely, Wills,” she gushed, calling him the name she had as a child. “I like her very much, and I am so glad she is joining us at Pemberley for the next fortnight. You had written about her often while in Hertfordshire, and Richard had mentioned her a time or two while you were both at Rosings. I have wanted to meet her for some time,” she said the last sentence almost shyly.
“How would you feel about acquiring Miss Bennet as a sister?” Darcy asked.
Georgiana looked at him, confusion written on her face. “A sister?” she asked.
“Miss Bennet and I are engaged, sweetling,” Darcy said, smiling gently at his sister.
“How did this happen?” Georgiana asked. “Did you meet her here on purpose, and is that why you rushed ahead yesterday?”
“Georgie, I came across Miss Bennet quite accidentally yesterday afternoon when I returned to Pemberley,” he replied. “I did not expect to see her here. In fact, the last time I saw her, last April in Kent, we quarrelled rather vehemently. She misunderstood my character—I had not represented myself well in Hertfordshire and only slightly better in Kent. My efforts to court her were so clumsy she did not understand my intent.
“And because I am rather an idiot at times, especially with a woman I admire, I offended her greatly when I offered for her the first time. However, I have managed to fix things between us, and hopefully, I will gradually become less of an idiot. I proposed marriage to Miss Bennet again yesterday afternoon and was accepted. We sent letters to her father this morning and plan to marry in mid-October if all goes well.”
“Is that why you were in such a terrible mood when you returned from Kent? Because you had quarrelled with Miss Bennet?” Georgiana asked.
Darcy laughed. “Well, Aunt Catherine has that effect on me usually, but, yes, my quarrel with Miss Bennet no doubt made that black mood last longer than usual. I apologise for my behaviour then, Georgie.”
Georgiana looked at Darcy timidly. “I think I will like having Miss Bennet as a sister.”
Darcy grinned at her. “We will announce the engagement tonight, I think, after dinner. I’ll speak to Mrs. Reynolds after I dress to arrange a proper celebration. Her uncle approves, and she is of age, but we have still asked for her father’s blessing on the marriage.”
The two separated shortly after to dress for dinner. Darcy hurried through his preparations and headed downstairs to speak to Mrs. Reynolds. He arrived in the drawing room early and was pleased to find the Gardiners and Elizabeth already there. He greeted them and pulled Elizabeth aside, kissing her hand as he led her to the window.
“Georgiana is very pleased, my dear. She is looking forward to knowing you better,” Darcy began.
“William, your sister is precious. She is very shy, like her brother can be,” Elizabeth winked at him. “I look forward to getting to know her better and hopefully drawing her out. A companion is wonderful, but I wonder, does she have many friends her own age?”
William frowned at that thought. “The events of last summer hurt her tremendously and have caused her to be even more timid than she was before. Her experiences at school, I am afraid, did not help either. She was too much in company with girls similar to Miss Bingley—always sniping and biting—and Georgiana struggled to find real friends. She overheard some girls speak about befriending her only to gain access to me. All of these experiences have made it more difficult for her to be willing to open up to others. And the lack of girls her age nearPemberley has prevented her from forming friendships nearer to home.
“I am hoping your influence will help her find and make some real friends—not people like Miss Bingley but other women like you who are open and honest. Anne is my only female cousin, and she’s never been to town—and Aunt Catherine makes visiting difficult. She and Georgiana exchange letters, but Anne is not the easiest correspondent either.”
