Dear Lizzy,
The impossible has happened! I am engaged to be married, and to the best, nicest, kindest man imaginable! Mr. Fitzwilliam, who is actually the Viscount Worthing, has proposed to me! I accepted at once, of course, though with great trepidation that his parents would oppose the match!
But instead, the Earl and Countess came at once to meet me! They are completely delighted that their son, whothey long thought would never marry, found a bride! The Countess wanted the ceremony to be held someplace quite elegant and fashionable in London, but Reginald – yes, I call him Reginald or Reggie! – is completely opposed and much prefers that we be married from our little church here in Meryton!
Lizzy, can you believe it! I am to marry a man I love! And be a Viscountess, and someday a Countess! I feel as if I have fallen into a fairy story!
Dearest friend, will you stand up with me? I suppose I should ask Maria, but I really would very much prefer it to be you! Please say that you will! The first of the banns are being called this Sunday, the second on the fifth of January, the third on the twelfth of January, and we will marry the following Tuesday, the fourteenth!
I know why you went away, but please, please come back for my wedding!
So much love, dearest friend!
Charlotte
Elizabeth lay on her bed for a long time, staring at the ceiling. Finally, she went downstairs and handed both letters to Mary.
Mary read them both, and then looked up at Elizabeth, her face knotted in confusion. “I hardly know how to react,” she said. “I am, of course, utterly delighted for Charlotte, who truly deserves every good thing that happens to her. But I am simply baffled that our parents could do such a thing to Jane.”
“They have no choice,” Elizabeth said, dully. “They would never do so if they could think of an alternative. You cannot imagine that Mama would be pleased to have her mostbeautiful daughter married to some unknown merchant or banker.”
“What are we to do?” Mary asked. “Lizzy, think of something! Mama always says that Jane cannot be so beautiful for nothing; so now I say that you cannot be so clever for nothing!”
The two sisters stared at one another. Then Elizabeth said, slowly, softly, “I have an idea.”
Chapter Seventy-One
Charlotte could not wait to read Elizabeth’s letter! Had she convinced her? Would Eliza come to stand up with Charlotte on the fourteenth of January, the most important and certainly most unexpected day of Charlotte’s life??
Dearest Charlotte,
There are no words to express my delight at your news! You will make the very best Viscountess and Countess in all of England! You must invite me to your mansion, wherever it may be!
As for standing up with you, you must know that I would be honoured and delighted, but I am not certain that I will be able to get there. As you must know, the Collins have no carriage. If Lady Catherine attends, as your betrothed is her nephew, perhaps I might come with her. Does he plan to invite her, do you know?
And now, dearest Charlotte, I must ask you for a favour. Things at Longbourn are quite bad. Papa has given Jane a fortnight to winkle an offer from Mr. Bingley. This stricture was issued on January the second, so that gives Jane until the sixteenth of January. I am convinced that he loves her, Charlotte, but I think he is so overwhelmedwith the guests at Netherfield Park that he is delaying. The problem, quite obviously, is that he may delay too long and Jane will already be in London by the time he makes up his mind to propose.
Your betrothed is staying at Netherfield Park; might he not drop a hint to Mr. Bingley to get on with it? I would be forever grateful, as would Jane!
And do let me know if Mr. Fitzwilliam will invite his Aunt Catherine?
With love and great joy for you!
Eliza
Charlotte bit her lip in consternation. Mr. Fitzwilliam and his parents had departed for London the day before, and he was to go on to Matlock Estate in Derbyshire. She could send him a note, of course, which was permitted to betrothed couples. But would it reach him in time?
Chapter Seventy-Two
Jane could not sleep. It had occurred to her, quite suddenly, that it would be terribly, terribly wrong to marry Mr. Bingley and then immediately present him with a demand for three thousand pounds! He would hate her forever as a fortune hunter, and who could blame him? How had she not realised this before?
She could imagine the look on his face, the disappointment in his beautiful, clear, honest blue eyes! She would never be able to convince him that she had married him for love, and their lives together would be miserable.
No, she would rather not marry him at all! For it would be horrible to marry him and then have him look at her with disdain forever after. Let him find someone who could marry him without needing to ask for money! As difficult as this was, Jane knew she should go to London at once and try her luck there. Better not to marry for love at all than to marry for love and have it immediately turn sour!
She would have liked to write to Lizzy right then and there, to pour her sorrow and disappointment and anger out on paper, but she was no longer permitted to use candles for anything other than emergencies, so it would have to wait until morning.
Chapter Seventy-Three
