“Elizabeth, you have no idea what effect you had on me.”
“Had,Sir?”
He scoffed,“I am not the man I was then.”
“Thank goodness, neither of us is what we were then.”
They walked on in silence for a few moments. Finally, she tentatively began again. “I was anxious to go to Hunsford; Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins placed a wedge in our relationship; I missed my friend, but I dreaded seeing Mr. Collins again.”
“Because of his proposal?” His knowledge of her private affairs surprised her.“I cannot say, Elizabeth, it gave me much pleasure to know I was in the same category as the colorful Mr. Collins. The only pleasure I received from its knowledge was you would notsettlein a marriage. I would have to earn your love.”
“My mother wished me to marry Mr. Collins no matter how unsuitable a match.”
“Then how did you avoid it? Did your father, too, not insist?” Darcy asked the question although he knew Mr. Bennet allowed Elizabeth the choice.
Elizabeth remembered fondly her father’s support against Mrs. Bennet’s will. “No, Sir, he did not. He simply said if I did not marry Mr. Collins, Mama would never speak to me again, and if I did agree to marry Mr. Collins, he would never see me again.”
Darcy laughed softly. “Hopefully, he did not say something similar to you about me, but I must thank your father for his insight. When I heard of the proposal, Elizabeth, I . . . I cannot explain . . . the revulsion of the idea . . . Mr. Collins and you broughtabout murderous thoughts.” His features darkened suddenly with the words.
Elizabeth reached up to soothe his brow with her fingertips; fortunately, the approach of Bingley and Miss Bennet interrupted his apprehension. “We were going to the house for some refreshments,” Jane began.“May we all go together?”
“Yes, it seems we have some mutual plans to discuss.”
The couples sat together in the drawing room at Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet graciously went to town to spread the news of Elizabeth’s “conquest” to her sister Mrs. Phillips and to Mrs. Lucas. She took both Mary and Kitty with her so the intendeds served as each other’s chaperones, allowing them to speak openly. Jane Bennet served the tea and the afternoon cakes and fruit. When she finished, she turned to her sister’s choice for a husband. “Mr. Darcy, I cannot tell you how happy Charles and I are you and my sister have finally found each other. We often spoke of the possibilities, but we never thought it would happen. We wish you the same happiness we expect for ourselves.”
“Yes,” Bingley added with a smirk, “Miss Elizabeth, we are relieved you are putting my friend out of his misery.”
Elizabeth smiled. “It is my true pleasure, Mr. Bingley.” She sipped on her tea.
“I offer you similar congratulations, Miss Bennet,” Darcy began.“Everything has come about so quickly, none of us have had time to reflect on our good luck.”
“Darcy,” Bingley began, calling his friend’s attention back to him, “it seems our brides landed on an idea which needs our mutual approval.”
“They are artful women.” Both ladies blushed slightly, but it was Elizabeth who recovered her voice first.
“Jane and I are so close. Fitzwilliam, you and Mr. Bingley are such good friends. Our idea was for us to share our wedding day.”
“Elizabeth,” Darcy began,“I can think of nothing more pleasant than to marry you as soon as possible, but as Charles is my dearfriend, I would not want to intrude on his day with your sister.”
“Nonsense, Darcy,” Bingley broke in, “I can think of nothing I would like more.We are friends; we will be brothers on the same day.”
“If you are sure, Bingley,” Darcy leaned forward to shake Bingley’s hand.“I fully accept; it is settled then.”
“May we set a date then?” Jane put in shyly, not used to asserting herself in company.
“I would like to do so before the festive days,” Elizabeth added. “I know this sounds impetuous and probably a little demanding, and I do not mean it to seem so.” She lowered her eyes, realizing how boldly she spoke. Darcy reached across the seat and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lap and pulling her closer to him.
Jane Bennet reiterated her sister’s opinion, but not so boldly. “It is the first week of October,” she began. “The earliest date we could consider with a proper reading of the banns is early to mid-November.”
“November,” Bingley thought about it for a few seconds, “will come soon enough.”
“Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth turned to him, “I wanted to ask you something privately, but this conversation leads me to it sooner than I intended.”
“Go on, Elizabeth,” he encouraged her.“You need only to ask, and if it is in my power, it is yours.”
“I am ashamed to speak so in front of your friend,” she stammered.
“Miss Elizabeth, you are to be my sister soon,” Mr. Bingley responded. “I will not judge ill of you for what you say among us four.”
