“I hope to, yes.”
“Then I would be decidedly in the way!” she giggled.
Mr. Darcy could not recall the last time he had heard his sister giggle; he shook his head in some bewilderment and muttered, “Very decidedly!”
“But once she says yes, I will meet her properly, will I not? And get to know her?”
“Most certainly, Georgiana.” He bent down, kissed her cheek, and motioned to Howard that his carriage was required at once.
***
Of course, it was Kitty, sitting in her usual seat at the front window, who saw Mr. Darcy first. “That’s odd,” she said aloud.
“What is odd?” her mother asked.
“It is Mr. Darcy, come alone in his carriage. Quite dressed up he is, as well.”
Mrs. Bennet saw Jane shoot Elizabeth a quick look, and then saw Elizabeth blush. “Oh, my,” Mrs. Bennet whispered. Then she said aloud, “Oh, my goodness!”
“Mama,” Elizabeth said, warningly. “I beg you not to make a scene!”
“Me? A scene?” Mrs. Bennet demanded, indignantly, now fanning herself furiously.
“Lizzy and Mr. Darcy? Impossible,” Lydia declared.
They heard Mr. Darcy asking to see Mr. Bennet, and then all four ladies covered their mouths so that their sounds of glee would not escape.
***
Mr. Bennet had not been at all unhappy to have Mary wed to Mr. Collins, and having Jane marry Mr. Bingley had been a necessity, of course. But to have this man, practically a stranger, come to ask him for his Lizzy, was an entirely different matter.
“Do I even know you, Mr. Darcy?” he began, quite coldly.
“Certainly we have met, Mr. Bennet,” Mr. Darcy replied, equably.
“But do Iknow you?”
“Who among us can say that we actually know our fellow man?” Mr. Darcy returned. “We are enjoined first to know ourselves, are we not? Or so says Plato.”
“Ah, a scholar?” Mr. Bennet enquired.
“A student of the classics, at any rate,” Mr. Darcy said.
“Well, that is something, I suppose,” Mr. Bennet grumbled.
“Mr. Bennet, I am well-educated, well-connected, and well able to support Miss Elizabeth and our children.” Mr. Darcy tried not to sound impatient, but it was difficult. Was this man, who had all but run his estate into the ground, truly questioning his worth as a suitor?
“Is that all?” Mr. Bennet asked, staring at Mr. Darcy over his glasses.
“Is that not enough?”
“Lord! And you call yourself a student of the classics! Of course it is not enough! Come, man, why are you here?”
“Because I love her desperately, passionately, and can never be happy if she is not by my side,” Mr. Darcy blurted.
Mr. Bennet studied him in silence. “Very well,” he sighed, at last. “You have my permission to speak with her alone.” He rose to his feet and motioned for Mr. Darcy to follow him.
The two men left Mr. Bennet’s study and headed for the parlour, Mr. Darcy still rather shocked at his own admission and Mr. Bennet’s reaction.
