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Book 3 Chapter 9

Fitzwilliam Darcy’s courtship of Elizabeth Bennet was straightforward. Because he stopped getting in his own way with pompous thinking and pronouncements, and instead was just himself. He was never going to be the sort of gentleman who dominated a room, a ‘hail fellow well met’ sort of chap. He could not be that person, even pretend to be that person. But what he was an excellent landowner who knew all the details of his estate, a thorough command of even the smallest of matters. And though he did not know it at first, he had a charming blend of confidence and earnestness. Elizabeth had confessed already to him that her head was engaged. Once Darcy started to court her, wanting to see Miss Bennet smile just for him, it was easy. Darcy went out of his way to make Elizabeth happy and, again without knowing it at first, this reminded her of the way Sir David had treated her sister. As soon as Elizabeth made that mental connection there was only going to be one outcome.

When Darcy had confessed that he was courting Miss Bennet to his sister he had been delighted at her reaction. It was an excited squeal of happiness from a young woman. Suddenly Georgiana had a purpose to her hosting and her nerves lessened substantially. She could talk to Mary Bennet, they had found a common love in music, and the two of them were sitting at the piano within minutes. That it allowed Darcy and Elizabeth sufficient privacy to talk quietly to each other was nothing but a happy coincidence.

“It is an odd question, but should courting not be more awkward? I do not wish it to be so, but given my stupidity back at the end of the summer I would have thought we would be less relaxed with each other?”

Elizabeth parsed Darcy’s words.

“It is too easy?”

She liked honesty so Darcy was honest.

“Yes. Every day I meet you is a great day. When I see you smile at me, I find myself having to stop preening in satisfaction.”

He puffed his chest up and Elizabeth burst into laughter.

“Exactly. It is just as well that male humans do not have the same physiology as peacocks. Every time you smile at me you would be treated to an immodest display.”

“Oh Mr. Darcy, I will never look upon you the same way again. Puff out your chest for me please.”

Darcy was happy to oblige, gently mock himself, all to see Miss Bennet smile. And he ruthlessly suppressed any thoughts of asking the same. He schooled his features into a more sombre mien.

“You knew my intentions when I asked to court you. Thinking back on it, I suspect I was ready to ask the final question at that moment. It would not have been fair to you however. I am still ready to ask the question, are you ready to answer it?”

Elizabeth’s heart beat faster. She was almost disappointed in herself for surrendering her heart so easily, almost. Darcy was charming, cared for her, took great delight in making her smile, and did so with alarming ease. She had been properly courted, long before it was acknowledged officially, and even his initial behaviour had been forgiven. She liked that he had not been perfect, he was still not perfect, but he was perfect for her.

And the marriage of Jane had changed her parents. Mrs. Bennet was beside herself with excitement but had calmed considerably. The continued construction of the dower house was a wonderful distraction. The location visited by the matron every week to see the progress. As for her father, he was down off his pedestal. She still loved him, but as her father not as the Master of the Longbourn estate. That was long gone.

“Mr. Darcy, I am ready to hear the question. I would like you to ask me in the morning when you visit me at Longbourn. It will allow you to gain the consent and blessing of my father and will make my mother very happy.”

Darcy had a thought, the interview with Bennet coming to mind.

“Your father made reference to your majority when I asked to court you. He said it was seven months away. I took that as a warning not to do exactly as I plan, return less than a month later and ask to marry you.”

At the rate they were going there would be not much point in the private interview in the morning! Elizabeth sighed and smiled at her about to be fiancé.

“We will do this ‘properly’ in the morning but I wish to discuss matters with you. Ask your question, and do not get down on one knee, you can save that for the morning.”

It was hardly the most romantic of moments but Darcy did as he was bid.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet will you marry me?”

It might have been strange but Elizabeth’s smile transformed the moment.

“Yes.”

The two of them sat there with huge smiles on their faces. Unwittingly providing entertainment for two younger sisters. Mary and Georgiana were struggling to contain their giggles at the scene before them. They had to revert to looking for another score to hide their excitement.

“We have time this morning, we are here for luncheon, it will allow us to talk without interruption.”

“What would you like to discuss?”

“The date of our wedding.”

“Do you have a preference?”

“Yes, but we need to talk to each other about our responsibilities, and inevitably yours will be more pressing than my own. My sister Jane, Lady Carruthers, is with child and the baby is due at the end of February. My mother was with her at the birth of her son but so was Sir David. He kept Mama under control, you have seen what she is like, she tends to get excited when dealing with the unknown.”