“Oh, William, of course! I would never have consented to the marriage if I did not love you.”
“You love me!”
His delight transformed his face entirely. Elizabeth had always considered him the handsomest man of her acquaintance, but now his appearance truly stole her breath away. “I do love you, William,” she said, shyly.
She stood on tiptoes; he bent down. Their lips touched, and in that moment, it was as if the small Longbourn garden had been transformed into paradise.
***
“Look, Mary, do.” Mrs. Bennet was almost incandescent with delight as she peered out the kitchen window that overlooked the garden.
“Mama! Spying on them?”
“I want to make certain Lizzy is happy,” Mrs. Bennet said, virtuously.
“Spying!”
“Chaperoning!” her mother retorted.
***
Mr. Darcy was invited to stay for dinner, of course, and he was happy to accept. He was in no hurry to return to Netherfield. He asked Mr. Bennet if he might send a message to Mr. Bingley informing him of his decision to dine at Longbourn.
“I imagine you also want to be certain that Miss Bingley has left,” the older man said, shrewdly.
“You are quite right,” Mr. Darcy replied.
“Joe, the stable lad, will be happy to carry your message to Netherfield and await a reply.”
In just an hour, Mr. Darcy had been assured that Miss Bingley had already departed.
The conversation around the dinner table was entirely of the wedding; indeed, no other subject could be of interest. When Mr. Darcy mentioned his titled relatives, Mrs. Bennet put a hand to her heart. “An earl and a countess!”
“It is not certain, Mama,” Elizabeth said, quickly, hoping to forestall any further effusions. “They may not approve of Mr. Darcy’s marriage.”
“Or they may already have plans,” Mr. Darcy said, quickly. “They have rather full social schedules.”
“But a nephew’s wedding, surely they will come!” Mrs. Bennet would not release the idea of such august guests so readily.
It was agreed that the couple would marry on the twenty-fifth day of May. “I will leave for London tomorrow,” Mr. Darcy said. “And I will return as soon as I have the marriage articles in hand. Is there anything you might wish for from Town, Elizabeth?” He relished the opportunity to use her name in front of her family.
“No, but you have reminded me that I have relatives of my own to invite,” Elizabeth replied.
“Ah, I recall that you have an aunt and uncle in Town.”
“Yes. And…” Here she hesitated.
“Yes?”
“Well, I would normally invite Charlotte. But given the situation…”
“I think it would not be a good idea to alert my Aunt Catherine to our impending marriage,” Mr. Darcy said, hastily.
“I agree.”
“He proposed to Lizzy first, you know,” Miss Lydia interjected.
“Who?”
