“It is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen,” his betrothed whispered. She held out her hand so that he might slide the ring onto her slender finger. “Please thank the Countess for her thoughtfulness.”
A few minutes later, the couple entered the drawing room, both smiling widely, to accept the congratulations of her family.
“When? When shall it be?” Mrs. Bennet asked, eagerly.
“As soon as may be,” was his ready reply. “If the banns are first called this Sunday, we could marry soon after the new year begins. That will give me time to visit my solicitor to have marriage articles prepared, also to journey to my new estate to make certain all is in readiness to receive its new mistress. Would the twelfth of January suit, Miss Bennet?”
“I think you can safely call her Jane,” Lizzy said, laughing at her blushing sister.
“And I am Richard,” was his rejoinder. “You are all shortly to be my family, so I hope you will all call me by my Christian name.”
***
That night, as Jane and Elizabeth curled up together for warmth, Jane whispered what she had learnt from the Colonel about Miss Darcy. Lizzy could barely contain her shock. “Expecting? And marrying Mr. Bingley? It is unbelievable!”
“Shhh, Lizzy, you cannot tell anyone!”
“I know. Oh, that poor, poor girl,” Elizabeth whispered. But in her heart, she wondered anew if Miss Darcy’s situation would keep Mr. Darcy away forever.
Chapter Fifty-Four
As the Colonel sat in the Bennet parlour, Mr. Darcy used his phaeton to collect Mr. Bingley from Bingley House. The selection of the phaeton, rather than the carriage he generally used in Town, was deliberate. He thought it likely that Bingley and Georgiana would appreciate some time away from the Darcys and the Matlocks, and what could be more appropriate than for Georgiana to be seen gamboling about Hyde Park in an open phaeton with her husband?
“Hop on up, Bingley,” he invited his friend, who had been waiting at the front step.
“A phaeton? Are you taking me on a romantic drive, Darcy?” Bingley laughed.
Mr. Darcy recognised the laughter as nervous in nature, and so replied, “Nothing to be nervous about, Bingley.”
“If you are taking me on a romantic drive, then I would say there is a good deal to be nervous about,” Bingley replied, still chuckling.
“I have never known you to have such a sense of humour, Bingley.”
“No, it only happens when I am nervous – yes, hang it, Darcy, of course I am nervous!”
“Georgiana will not decline your offer, Bingley.”
“She is too good for me, Darcy. Your sister, after all!”
Mr. Darcy shot a quick glance at his friend. “Bingley, Georgiana is unmarried and five months gone, according to my physician. She should be thanking you on her knees, as should we all.”
Mr. Bingley shook his head. “To me, she is still Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
Uncertain as to whether his friend was a saint or a simpleton, Mr. Darcy held his tongue until they reached Matlock House.
“Any last-minute advice, Darcy?”
“Bingley, I – I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
But Mr. Bingley shook his head. “Darcy, you have always been a good friend and I shall be honoured to call you brother.”
Both men took deep breaths before leaping down from the phaeton and handing the reins to the waiting boy.
Mr. Bingley had been to Darcy House and to Pemberley, and so was not overwhelmed by the splendour of Matlock House. Caroline, he knew, would have been beside herself with joy to have been included in this trip. Then he shook his head. He had to stop thinking about his sister. He was about to have a wife and a child!
Mr. Robeson opened the door upon hearing the knock. He was glad Mrs. Wickham – no, Miss Darcy – was to have a suitable husband. He had never met Mr. Bingley himself, of course, but the servants’ grapevine said that he was a good man with a kind word for everyone. The grapevine also said that his harridan of a sister had been moved out for good.
He led the way to the drawing room and intoned, “Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley,” before withdrawing to spread the word that Miss Darcy’s new husband-to-be was in the house.
