Elizabeth’s eyes were also heavenward like her fiancé’s. ‘Are you happy Annie? I am to marry William, just like you predicted.’
Just then a gust of wind whipped around Elizabeth’s head. She took it as Anne responding in the affirmative. It caused her smile to grow that much wider.
Chapter 38
Mary was sitting at the pianoforte with Richard next to her turning the pages when Elizabeth seemed to float into the music room on the wings of angels.
After she stopped playing, Mary turned to Richard and they exchanged knowing looks. “Lizzy, is there something you would like to share with us?” Mary asked.
“Not yet, he has gone to Papa,” Elizabeth averred dreamily.
“Did William propose to you?” Mary prodded. All Elizabeth could manage was a nod of her head.
Given how she had felt when Richard had proposed to her, Mary could well understand the state in which her normally rational older sister found herself at that moment.
“And here I was thinking my cousin was a confirmed bachelor.” Richard shook his head. “I suspected he had fallen under Lizzy’s spell.”
“It is mutual,” Elizabeth managed, “I am as much in his thrall as he is in mine.”
“As it should be. I am certain you two will do very well together,” Mary stated as she shook her head at her fiancé telling him it was not the time to tease Lizzy. “Richard and I give our heartfelt congratulations. We would love it if you and William would join us the day we marry, and agree to a double wedding.” She looked at Richard who nodded emphatically.
“The only thing better than marrying my Mary would be doing so in a joint ceremony with you two,” Richardinsisted. “You know William and I have always been as close as Andrew and I are.”
“Once William has Papa’s permission and blessing, I will discuss it with him,” Elizabeth responded. “Jane and I always imagined a double wedding, but having one with you and Richard will be perfect.”
“I do not think Bennet will refuse him,” Richard opined.
“It is my hope he will not,” Elizabeth replied.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy entered Bennet’s study on hearing the invitation to do so when he knocked on the door.
Bennet was sitting at his desk reviewing some correspondence when he looked up and saw Darcy standing nervously before him. He had a feeling he was about to lose another daughter.
He returned his quill to the inkwell and removed his spectacles. Once they were off, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I did not realise you came with Fitzwilliam this morning. Are you to join us to break our fasts as well?” Bennet asked as he tried to defer the inevitable question.
“No, I did not join Richard. In fact, I met Cousin Elizabeth on the path on the way to Oakham Mount as she had agreed to my accompanying her when I requested the pleasure yester-evening at dinner. I was well aware she would be chaperoned by Mrs. Jenkinson, Biggs, and Johns so I knew propriety would be observed,” Darcy related.
By now any doubt of Darcy’s purpose in seeking him out was banished from Bennet’s mind. He recognised the look of a man violently in love. He had seen it when Andrew requested Jane’s hand, and then again when Richard had requested Mary’s. If he were honest, he knew it was the same look which had been seen on his own face before he had proposed to Fanny all those years ago.
“I assume you have something you wish to ask me,”Bennet guessed. “If it is for Lizzy’s hand, allow me to have my wife summoned first.” Darcy nodded. Bennet rang for Hill and instructed him to request the mistress’s presence in his study.
A few minutes passed in awkward silence before the Bennet matron entered the room. She looked at her husband questioningly. As she followed his direction of vision she noticed William standing, shifting from one foot to the other and without being told, Fanny was sure she knew what his purpose was in being in her husband’s study. The fact he had summoned her as he had when Andrew and then Richard had asked for permission to marry Jane and Mary respectively, was another clue.
“Young Darcy here has something he would like to say,” Bennet drawled once his wife sat down on one of the armchairs in front of his desk.
Once she was comfortable, schooling her features, Fanny looked at William expectantly. She had hoped there would be more time before Lizzy would think of leaving home. However, Fanny knew from her own experience with her beloved husband, love would not be denied.
“Cousin Elizabeth and I spoke and discovered that our feelings mirror those of the other which led us to decide a courtship is not necessary,” Darcy began. “With her encouragement, I proposed to her and she accepted me.”
He looked at Fanny who gave Bennet a nod. “Fanny and I have been expecting this eventuality ever since we saw the way you reacted one to the other at the assembly in October,” Bennet stated. “I will not sport with your intelligence by asking you questions to which I already know the answers. All I will say is always treasure her. Welcome to the family, son, you have our hearty permission and unreserved blessing to marry Lizzy.”
Bennet stood and proffered his hand, which Darcy shook with gusto all the while his face was split by a widegrin of pleasure. When his soon to be father-in-law retracted his hand, Darcy noticed Aunt Fanny had stood. She pulled him into a warm, welcoming hug.
“You will always make sure our girl is happy, will you not William?” Fanny said softly next to one of her future son-in-law’s ears.
Darcy nodded knowing it was more of a statement than a question. Making sure Elizabeth was happy was not anything anyone would have to prompt him to do. He had no doubt that of the two of them he was the fortunate one. What a thing to win the heart and love of such an extraordinary woman.
