“Well, we shall have to see about that.”
He raised her hand to his lips. “I shall not rush you, but pray remember how ardently I love you.”
She smiled to herself as she walked away.
Once she had returned to the parsonage, Elizabeth took the back stairs to her chambers.What am I waiting for? He assures me of his love and I know I love him. Shall I accept him tomorrow?A fresh bowl of water sat on the washstand, and she used it to clean her hands. She knelt before her trunk, looking for a clean pair of stockings, when she came across a book entitledRunawayby Jeff Bigler. She opened it to the first page and laughed aloud.It is a truth universally acknowledged that some couples go to great lengths to avoid planning a wedding.
Chapter 20: Runaway
by Jeff Bigler
Hunsford Parsonage, Kent
Tuesday, the 7thof April, 1812
MrDarcy called at the parsonage at Hunsford. He found Elizabeth in the sitting room and began without preamble, “You must allow me to tell you—”
“How ardently you admire and love me, or something like that?” she finished. “Is this the beginning of a proposal, MrDarcy?”
MrDarcy stared at Elizabeth with his mouth hanging open.I do not think I have ever seen MrDarcy speechless before,Elizabeth thought mischievously.It is rather becoming.
After a moment, he recovered most of his composure. “I did indeed have a speech prepared, one which I hoped you might have found quite to your liking. I should have preferred to have a chance to deliver it.”
She looked at him archly. “You may deliver your speech, but be warned that I shall stop you if it threatens to convince me not to accept you.”
Darcy stammered, “Are you saying what I think you are saying?”
Now that she had made her decision, Elizabeth could not resist toying with him. “I cannot read your mind, MrDarcy. I know not what you think I am saying.”
Darcy became even more flustered.
“Continue, MrDarcy. I await your every word with bated breath.”
“Elizabeth, you are taunting me with the very qualities that I admire most in you! I intended to say how much you have cometo mean to me, how you are the most handsome woman of my acquaintance, but how your wit and intelligence far surpass your appearance. And then, yes, I meant to ask you to relieve my suffering by consenting to be my wife.”
She gave him an arch smile. “Then please do so.”
“I do not understand. What is it that you would have me do?”
“You said that you were going to ask me to marry you. Well?”
Elizabeth did not know how a man could look exasperated, eager, and smitten all at once, but MrDarcy somehow managed it. She enjoyed every moment of it and looked forward to the many other ways she might sketch his character, using his face as the canvas.
“Very well.” He lowered himself to one knee and took her hands. “Elizabeth Bennet, would you do me the great honour of consenting to be my wife?”
“Yes, MrDarcy. I must admit that I expect to very much enjoy being your wife. I am pleased to accept.”
The consternation and frustration evaporated from Darcy’s countenance, and he beamed. “Please,” he finally managed to say, “call me William.”
“William?”
“That is what my sister calls me. Fitzwilliam is our cousin, the colonel.”
“Very well. William. That is a handsome smile,” she said with a twinkle in her eye, “but it is rather too wide for my purposes.”
Darcy began a reply, but the sentence died on his lips as Elizabeth captured them in a kiss.
When they broke apart, Elizabeth continued. “I am of the opinion that fate is playing games with our lives and shall continue to do so until we marry happily. I have thus resolved to marry you and to be happy about it. If I am correct, this shall be the last of your proposals that I shall have to endure.”
