“If you wish it, certainly.”
“Thank you, William. I will rejoin Caroline, I think.”
Mr. Darcy watched his sister pat down her skirts and then walk briskly out of the room. She was becoming quite the grown-up young lady!
Mr. Darcy followed his sister downstairs and found Mr. Bingley awaiting him.
“Will you come into the drawing room with me, Darcy?”
“Of course.” Mr. Darcy followed his friend into the drawing room to find Miss Bingley and the Hursts already there. Mr. Bingley was evidently about to make a proclamation of some sort, so Mr. Darcy sat in a chair to await events.
“I have waited long enough!” he declared.
“Very well,” Mr. Hurst said. “For what?”
“To ask Miss Bennet to marry me! If there are any family objections, you may voice them now, but I warn you that I will not be deterred from my aim.” He looked around the room, his stance almost aggressive.
Mrs. Hurst spoke first. “Jane Bennet would be very welcome.”
Mr. Hurst nodded his agreement.
All eyes turned to Miss Bingley.
She smiled at her brother and said, “If you are happy, then so am I.”
“So – no objection to the match?” Mr. Bingley’s surprise was evident.
“Of course not. She is a perfectly lovely person, and I will be happy to call her my sister.”
There was a minute of silence, as everyone absorbed this unexpected show of support.
Mr. Bingley straightened up and said, “Right! I am off at once to speak with Mr. Bennet!”
“I will come with – “ Mr. Darcy stopped himself. Had he actually about to say that he would come with Bingley to speak with Mr. Bennet as well, asking permission to marry Miss Elizabeth?!
“Darcy?” Mr. Bingley turned to look at him.
“Never mind, Bingley. Good luck!”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Mr. Bingley galloped all the way to Longbourn. There was no doubt in his mind that he had waited long enough, far too long, in fact, and he was now in a fever to secure his beloved Jane! He all but leaped from his horse when he arrived at the estate, tossed the reins to the stable boy and dashed into the house.
He asked to see Mr. Bennet, not Miss Bennet, and that news spread through the house at once.
“Oh, Jane!” her mother said, her voice tremulous and her eyes filling with tears. Elizabeth hugged her sister, while Kitty and Lydia danced around the room, chanting, “Mrs. Bingley! Mrs. Bingley!”
Mary managed to hush them just before Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bingley came into the drawing room to make their announcement. Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. “My dears, Mr.Bingley has requested permission to speak with Jane privately; I have given it, as I understand that she would have no objection.”
Mrs. Bennet wasted no time in shooing everyone out, leaving Jane and Mr. Bingley alone. “The door will be open, of course,” she said, shaking a finger at a blushing Jane.
Mrs. Bennet had to be all but pried away from the door way by a stern Elizabeth. “Give them privacy, Mama. Come on, Kitty, Lydia. Mary, help me, will you? Heavens, leave them alone, they have waited long enough!”
She was successful in managing to get the family out of the doorway, past the entryway and on the other side of the staircase, but everyone rushed back into the parlour as soon as Mr. Bingley appeared in the doorway of the parlour, saying, “I am the happiest man in all of England!”
“Oh, my dear Mr. Bingley!” Mrs. Bennet cried, throwing her arms around him. “I knew how it would be, as soon as I saw you two together!”
Elizabeth was thrilled for Jane, of course, but she knew a moment of envy. If only she and Mr. Darcy…but no, she dismissed the thought at once and focused on expressing her genuine delight.
