Page 233 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Mary, I am not given to pretty speeches, so I will simply say what I came to say. I love you. I love your kindness to people who can give you nothing in return. I love your good sense, and I think you are very beautiful. What is perhaps more important is that you have not a trace of vanity about it. I want you beside me for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”

Tears filled Mary's eyes.

“Yes. I will.”

Alexander pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

Mary's hands came up to his shoulders, and she returned his kiss. His arms tightened around her before he finally raised his head.

“I love you, Alexander,” she said.

Alexander brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb and kissed her again, more gently this time.

Then he took her hand. “Come. Let us go to your father and ask for his consent and his blessing.”

They found Mr. Bennet in his study. He looked from their joined hands to Mary's flushed face and set aside the book he had been reading.

Alexander kept Mary's hand in his.

“Mr. Bennet, I have asked your daughter to marry me, and she has accepted me. I hope you will give us your blessing.”

Mary went to her father and kissed his cheek. “I love him, Papa.”

Mr. Bennet covered her hand with his. “But what of your mother's preference for Miss King, Alexander?”

“My mother has nothing to say about my choice of wife, sir. If she cannot learn to live in peace with Mary, I will lease another house until I inherit. I mean for my wife to be very happy, and I will do everything in my power to ensure it.”

Mr. Bennet regarded the young man before him. “If it comes to that, son, I will lease Longbourn to you. I believe Kitty will also leave me before very long, and I have often wished for more time with my books. Perhaps I shall take a smaller house at Margate or Ramsgate and take Lydia with me. We should do very well.”

Alexander looked at Mary, and she met his gaze and held it.

“Sir, Mary and Lydia have been doing good work in the parish. If you should decide to leave Longbourn, perhaps you would consider allowing Lydia to remain here with us. She would remain in her own home and continue serving her neighbors alongside Mary. I give you my word that we would take very good care of her.”

Mary leaned a little nearer to Alexander.

Mr. Bennet looked at the two of them. “Then come to me in the morning. We shall go to my brother Phillips's office and have the lease drawn.”

Mary's fingers tightened around Alexander's.

He raised her hand and kissed it.

“Thank you, sir.”

Chapter 59: Rosings Park

Elizabeth watched as the angry woman pointed a long finger at Fitzwilliam.

Lady Catherine was frowning at him, and both her hands were shaking. When he had shown Elizabeth the letter summoning him to Kent, he had warned her that his aunt could be difficult when crossed, but Elizabeth had never imagined the extent of her fury.

Lady Catherine's next words pulled her from her thoughts.

“You have made a grave mistake, Fitzwilliam.”

Fitzwilliam placed his hand over Elizabeth’s. “I am very happy with my wife, Aunt. I can assure you there has been no mistake.”

“You married beneath you. Had you married your cousin, you would have married into elevated bloodlines, fortune, and connections.”

Fitzwilliam took Elizabeth’s hand and laced his fingers through hers.