Page 139

“Do you witness your own proposal? If not, then it is the same for me. Did you see the moment when they both smiled at each other? I will tell you now, whoever catches the eye of Georgiana in a few years’ time in going to have work hard to beat the romance of that moment. But how are you? You have invested a lot of time this season in Miss Bennet. Are you happy?”

“It is an astute question Susan. I have two younger sisters and a younger brother. They in turn all have children who are married. And that is before I get into the extended family like Lord Roderick. Elizabeth is not a relation yet I feel closer to her than I do to most of my own nieces and nephews. From the first time I spoke to her, just before Christmas in ’09, there was something about Elizabeth. There was a sense of sacrifice, between her assisting her uncle’s family and rescuing young Louisa. She has kept me young, made this season most interesting and yet she remains almost stubbornly unaffected.”

“Both she and Darcy have spent a lot of time thinking of family. And it is still disconcerting that neither of them were aware of how they felt about the other. Richard came up with the best analogy to explain it. It has been decades since either of us have had to jump into a cold pond. You remember how each step made the cold water creep ever higher. Richard said Darcy and Miss Bennet just jumped right in. They got over the freezing shock and were fine.”

Lady Maria thought back to her childhood more than 40 years earlier.

“It is not perfect but I can see what he means. Rather than a long drawn out process they just jumped in. Although they did go through a proper courtship, just neither of them realised it.”

“Where is Miss Bennet?”

“Upstairs resting. She and Darcy spent hours walking round Hyde Park this morning. I think Elizabeth explained all the aspects of her background that he did not already know. The poor man looked dazed when he escorted her home. And he has to visit Sir Edward this afternoon to ask for his consent and blessing.”

“Consent?”

“She does not reach her majority until early June, and Sir Edward holds her guardianship.”

Lady Susan knew there was no way to ask all the questions she was intrigued to have answered.

“Will it be a short engagement?”

“We did not talk of it last night. Her birthday is in approximately two months, just nine weeks or so. That is not an unseemly rush leading to gossip and speculation, yet it is not a long drawn out affair either. My guess will be June just after her birthday.”

“Will you act as mother of the bride?”

Lady Maria pursed her lips and sighed.

“It will need to be discussed. I would like to be involved but I cannot deny her own mother if Elizabeth wishes her involved.”

“Have more faith. You know that is extremely unlikely. We can all tell that Elizabeth adores you.”

Lady Susan spent a few moments pouring fresh tea for them both, allowing her friend to compose herself and dab her eyes.

--

Darcy sat in his carriage returning to Mayfair. Elizabeth had sent a note to her uncle informing him of their news and assuring him that she was blissfully happy with their engagement. She also let him know that she had shared her financial situation with Darcy. The resultant interview was without rancour. Sir Edward had granted his consent and blessing without any histrionics but had then extensively quizzed Darcy regarding their compatibility. He understood his niece better than anyone, she was the product of his training. Darcy thought of himself on the other side of the desk responding to a request for marriage with his sister. Sir Edward knew his niece and even during his own questioning, Darcy vowed to be as prepared for his sister as Sir Edward was for Elizabeth.

“I would like to discuss Miss Bennet’s ownership stake in your firm.”

“Go on.”

“As you know, by law all assets become the property of the husband. I would like you to continue to hold this investment in trust for Miss Bennet. The income will provide her with significant freedom and independence, something we both know she will appreciate. We will have to consult lawyers for the exact and correct wording of the marriage settlement but in essence I would like this investment to be held in trust, ultimately to provide dowries to any daughters we may have. But the income you distribute will be Miss Bennet’s. I will meet with my lawyers later this week and will deliver a draft for your review early next week.”

“So rather than use her dowry to fund her jointure you will settle Darcy money upon her?”

“Miss Bennet will be set for life, access to the estate, use of the Dower House, all of the standard clauses. We will wait on lawyers for the right words but the Darcy estate will provide for Mrs. Darcy and any sons and Miss Bennet’s dowry will provide for daughters. She will have the legal right to the income, it will not be at my discretion.”

“I understand. I do not think Elizabeth could find a better match. You have my blessing for a long and happy marriage.”

There was nothing else to say.

20 minutes later Darcy was relaxing in his favourite chair, the heat of the fire warming him, aided ever so slightly by the glass of brandy in his hand. Now that the immediate demand upon his time, the interview with Sir Edward, was passed he could quietly consider all the revelations of the morning. At the time it felt like it was one bombshell after another but now that he could think of them separately he was not so sure.

The revelations about her family were not much of a surprise. He had sketched a pretty accurate portrait of the two older Bennets from his time in Hertfordshire. Given his own aunt’s performance the previous afternoon he was in no position to cast shade at another’s family. The only real concerns were the two youngest daughters. He suspected that if they were separated then the second youngest would not be much of a problem. But the youngest was the apple of her mother’s eye and was receiving no guidance at all. It was something to discuss with Elizabeth.

At the time discovering both her companion and personal footman carried knives on their person had been a shock. Yet under the seat of his coachman were a musket, a pistol and two cutlasses. Georgiana did not know but there was also a pistol hidden in the interior panelling of the coach. What was abundantly clear was Sir Edward took the safety of his niece very seriously. The control of the two people had passed to Elizabeth but she never considered leaving the house without their protection. Mrs. Smith had been a discreet but constant companion throughout the season, attending every event. Derbyshire was not the banks of the River Thames but Darcy did not think Elizabeth would relinquish her bodyguards. Their future was another thing to discuss with her. That the Smiths were moving to Derbyshire after her marriage was a given.

Darcy knew that Elizabeth was a woman outside the norms of society. They had talked of it many times over the season; she was comfortable in both society ballrooms and tradesmen’s offices. That she was able to straddle both worlds was a reflection of Elizabeth as an individual. Many of the revelations of that morning were as a result of her involvement in her uncle’s business.