“As such and seeing my daughter has not refuted your assertion she granted your request, I see no reason to deny your application. You have my permission and blessing to court my second daughter,” Bennet granted.
“Thank you, Bennet,” Darcy gave a half bow to the man he hoped would be his father-in-law one day in the not too distant future.
“And I add my gratitude Papa,” Elizabeth beamed happily.
She realised how fortunate the apology for the slight at the assembly had been. Without it she would have abused Mr. Darcy to her family giving them the impression she hated the very sight of him and she may have ignored her own logic when listening tothatman’s lies.
“Away with you now. Allow me to return to my work…wait a minute if you please. Darcy, do you employ crop rotation at your estates?” Bennet enquired.
“For a few years now,” Darcy averred.
“If you have the time, please remain so we may talk,” Bennet requested.
Even had he wanted to, after Bennet just permitting the courtship to Elizabeth, there was nothing the man could have asked for which he would have refused. The added benefit would be the gaining of a deeper friendship with Bennet.
“I will leave you two to it,” Elizabeth stated pertly as she exited the study.
“You will join us to break our fasts.” It was a statement from Bennet not a request. “I will announce the courtship then. If my wife has happy effusions, you will be there to share them.”
“I am at your disposal,” Darcy responded.
Jesting was put aside as the two men began to go over the finer points of crop rotation.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Jane, Jane! I think I understand how you felt the day Mr. Bingley asked you for your hand,” Elizabeth sighed dreamily as she twirled around in their shared bedchamber.
“Lizzy, did Mr. Darcy propose marriage to you?” Jane exclaimed excitedly.
“Not yet, but he requested and I granted a courtship. He loves me, Jane! He loves me!”
“And why would he not? You two match each other as well as Charles and I do. And you said you could never have the same happiness as me.”
“In my defence, when I said that, I believed it. But now everything has changed.”
“Lizzy, do you love Mr. Darcy?”
“No…I do not believe so. It is why he suggested the courtship so I can see if my feelings grow to match his own as I come to know him better.” Elizabeth paused. “Has your Charles told you all about London yet?”
“He told me we would find time to discuss everything when we visit Netherfield Park today. Charles did share about Carol…Miss Bingley being banished from his household so she will never interfere in our lives again.”
“In that case, I will wait until you speak to your fiancé. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything with me after, I will be here for you.”
“There is one disadvantage to your not being engaged yet,” Jane stated as she changed the subject slightly.
“What is that Sister dearest?”
“Have you forgot our girlhood dream of marrying our grooms in the same ceremony?”
“Oh, I did not recall that, but now you mention it I do,” Elizabeth owned. “I am sure Mr. Darcy intends to give me sufficient time to know my own mind, so I am positive if he proposes, it will not be with enough time for us to marry together.”
“Talking of weddings, did you hear Charlotte and her Colonel are to marry the day after Mary?”
“I must admit I have not been as good a friend to Charlotte of late and did not know. I will make sure to spend time with her at Lucas Lodge on the morrow.” Elizabeth got a dreamy look on her countenance again. “Mr. Darcy is assisting Papa in the study; I assume he will join us when we go to break our fasts.”
“My suggestion is you share your news with Mama now, so she is not taken unawares when Papa makes the inevitable announcement.”
“You have the right of it, Janey. Even with all the changes they have made, Papa still enjoys his jokes. At least they are no longer at anyone else’s expense.”
