Mr. Fitzwilliam put out a hand. “Darcy, I am not an idiot.”
“I do not think you are an –“
“Evidently you do. I am a good deal older than you, Darcy, and I have had a good many years to contemplate my future. I have always known that I would have to marry and set up my nursery, and thus have spent a good amount of time thinking about the qualities I would want my wife to have. I would want her to be kind, gentle, able to manage an estate, willing to be honest with me and help me in social situations. Miss Lucas has all the qualities I hoped for. The tingling of the fingers, and elevated heart rate are all confirmation of the fact that Miss Lucas is the perfect wife for me.” He leaned forward and went on, “And, Darcy, she appears to like me, which is absolutely astonishing!! You are going to write to my mother, are you not?”
“You know that I must.”
“Of course; she would never forgive you if you did not. I only ask that you wait until tomorrow to do so. Now be a good fellow and tell me what I should do next in order to secure Charlotte’s hand.”
Mr. Darcy stared at his cousin. “Just like that? No interest in her dowry, her connections, her ancestry?”
“None whatsoever,” his cousin promptly replied.
Mr. Darcy sighed. “She is of age, so does not require her father’s permission to marry, but nonetheless, requesting Sir William’s permission to marry his daughter would be the gracious thing to do.”
“Excellent. And then?”
“And then you ask him for permission to speak with his daughter alone.”
“Very well. And then?”
“And then you tell her that you have her father’s permission to speak with her alone and then either ask everyone in the room to leave or take her outside in order to be alone with her.”
“And then?”
“Good heavens, man! And then you get down on one knee, tell her how you feel and ask her to make you the happiest man in all of England by consenting to be your wife!” Mr. Darcy felt ready to explode.
“Is this what you will do with your Miss Elizabeth? Oh, no, I forgot; she left for Kent.” Mr. Fitzwilliam gave his cousin a hard look and then stared out the window for the remainder of the short journey.
Mr. Darcy dropped his head into his hands and wondered, not for the first time, if his cousin was an idiot or a bloody genius.
Chapter Fifty-Six
The Bennet family had, for the most part, managed to pretend that Elizabeth’s departure was entirely expected, and even smiled at everyone’s looks of surprise, but after all the guests had left, the pretense fell apart immediately.
Mrs. Bennet was in tears, thinking that the family’s pursuit of Mr. Bingley – for so it must be termed – was in danger of failing. Mrs. Gardiner said, again and again, that she would bet good money on Mr. Bingley proposing to Jane in short order, but Mrs. Bennet refused to be comforted. Kitty and Lydia were engaged in some sort of squabble that no one cared to understand.
Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet fled to the study as soon as possible to escape the commotion. For the same reason, Jane went up to her room and threw herself onto her bed. There she remained until she was called down for dinner.
***
It was not until that evening that Jane found Elizabeth’s letter. It had been tucked into a drawer beside her hairbrush. Elizabeth would have known her sister would find it when she prepared herself for bed.
Dearest Jane,
If Mr. Bingley cannot make up his mind between us, then someone must make it up for him. I am simply removing myself from the competition. Put it about that Mary asked me to accompany her to help her set up her new home, and I shall be gone for an unknown amount of time. If I am right – and I am quite certain that I am! – Mr. Bingley will offer for you quite soon.
I could not warn you of this, Jane, as you would have begged me not to go and you know I can refuse you nothing. Or you would have told Mama who would have locked me in my room! No, there was nothing to do but to make it a fait accompli.
But, Jane, you must write and tell me what happens!!
All my love,
Lizzy
From the moment the coach had trundled out of sight, Jane had suspected this to be her sister’s motive. She wished Elizabeth had confided in her, but doubtless Elizabeth was right; she would have talked her sister out of it. Elizabeth had taken this necessary step, despite parental disapproval; it was now up to Jane to finish the task. She could not imagine what she was to do, given that she had made her preference for Mr. Bingley as clear as any young lady could manage without being too forward, but she would do her best.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
