As soon as he was released by Elizabeth’s mother, he reiterated what he had told Elizabeth regarding her money and property, as well as her response.
“There will be time to incorporate all of that once you bring me a draft settlement,” Bennet assured Darcy. “I assume you have not discussed a wedding date yet, have you?”
“No, we have not yet,” Darcy confirmed. “Are there any restrictions from your side?” Darcy asked as he looked from one Bennet parent to the other.
“Even had we wanted to, we would not have been able to delay the wedding past the fifth day of March of next year when Lizzy reaches her majority.” Bennet looked at his wife again who gave a wan smile and a nod. “No there will be no embargo of when you may marry our daughter. Discuss it with her, and then inform us when you two are in accord.”
“I think we should send a note to Netherfield Park and invite Elaine, Reggie, and Giana to join us to break their fasts, if they have not yet done so,” Fanny suggested.
Darcy looked at his fob watch. “It is about a half hour, a little more, before they will do so,” he informed his soon to be in-laws.
Fanny wrote a quick note and soon a groom was galloping towards one of the Bennets’ other estates witha message to be delivered to the Countess. Another was dispatched to Meryton to be delivered to the Philipses.
Elizabeth was called into the study where with great pleasure she accepted felicitations from her parents. She had never doubted they would approve of William, but the fact they had not put any restrictions in place regarding when she and her fiancé could marry, had been most pleasurable. She had agreed not to say any more to her sisters until Papa made his announcement upcoming.
“Papa, Mama, may William and I have a few moments to discuss some things?” Elizabeth requested.
“You have ten minutes and the door will not be closed all of the way, and Jenki will be in the hallway,” Bennet agreed after a nod from his wife. The Bennet parents had withdrawn and the door was partially closed after them.
Elizabeth told William of Mary’s and Richard’s agreement to share the date of their wedding.
Darcy agreed with alacrity. The sooner they never had to part one from the other, the better. “No one can say it is a patched up affair as the date is about seven weeks hence,” Darcy stated.
“I agree and I would not pay attention to such persons who had nothing better to do than create inuendo where none exists. Those who have an imperative to marry do not wait almost two months from the date of their engagement,” Elizabeth agreed.
She turned scarlet when she noted how intently William was looking at her lips. Given the lack of privacy after his proposal, Elizabeth was in great anticipation of her first kiss.
Seeing the implied permission in her look, Darcy lowered his head until his lips met hers as she turned her head up to meet him. When their lips met, the feeling was so much more than when he had kissed her wrists on OakhamMount. It was an electric shock, as if they had both been struck by lightning emanating from their lips, which they both felt throughout their bodies.
He pulled his head back to make sure his fiancée was sanguine with what he was doing. Elizabeth’s eyes were closed and her lips ready for him. He lowered his head and expressed himself in a way only a man violently in love could when his lips met those of his one and only beloved.
They broke apart on hearing Jenki clear her throat when the ten minutes were up.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Before the residents and guests made their way into the dining parlour to partake of the morning meal, they all met in the drawing room.
Bennet did not sit and called Lizzy and Darcy to stand next to him.
Giana clapped her hands together in anticipation. She knew William loved Lizzy, but she had no clue he would propose so soon after returning from the north. She would have a sister—no five of them!
“In case there is one who has not already guessed, it is my pleasure to announce that Fanny and I have granted our permission and blessings for Lizzy and William to marry,” Bennet managed before the storm of well wishes began. To protect himself from the enthusiastic young ladies who wanted to wish the newly betrothed couple happy, Bennet stepped back and joined his wife who was also off to the side.
Once the storm of congratulations, hugs, kisses, and back slapping was over, Darcy cleared his throat. “Thanks to Mary and Richard inviting us to share their wedding day, Elizabeth and I have decided to do so,” Darcy announced, “unless Bennet and Aunt Fanny have an objection that is.”
Fanny and Bennet looked at one another, silently communicating as those married and in love for many yearswere wont to do. “We have no objections,” Fanny stated.
After the family had their turn wishing the couple happy, the companions and Miss Jones took their turn. The last one was Mrs. Jenkinson who hugged Elizabeth. “Miss Anne is smiling down on you from heaven,” she asserted. Elizabeth just nodded.
The morning meal was an extremely exuberant affair that morning at Longbourn.
As was to be expected, news of the wedding upcoming was soon known among the happy servants who all liked Miss Lizzy very well. However, unlike many houses, it was not news which would be shared outside of Longbourn without express permission from the family. Fanny told Mrs. Hill to impart to the servants the news could be freely shared from that afternoon onwards.
Elizabeth looked to her fiancé who nodded. “Richard and Mary, as William has Darcy House, I find de Bourgh House will be left vacant,” Elizabeth stated. “At some point thedaughterof ours who will be given Rosings Park and the house in London will have need of it unless her husband has his own. Until then it is yours as you are the only ones without your own house in Town. If when this theoretical daughter marries and she has no need of it, it will become your property. It will remain de Bourgh house in memory of Anne and Uncle Lewis. And no, until then, you willnotbe paying us rent.” Elizabeth looked first at her father and then Uncle Reggie. “I assume as the trustees neither of you object to this?”
“I do not,” Matlock smiled. “Even if we did, if you remember the terms of my late brother’s will, as soon as you marry, it becomes moot.”
“It is an excellent idea Lizzy,” Bennet added.
