Not ready to speak yet, Elizabeth nodded. When they exited the parlour, Mary and Richard were leaving the music parlour. Judging by the beatific smile on her sister’s face, the stupid grin on the former Colonel’s face, and the swollen lips both sported, the results of that interview had been as satisfactory as her own.
The cousins headed for the study and after hugging one another, the newly engaged sisters entered the drawing room.
Chapter 34
Fanny was about to launch into effusions about her daughters’ matches, the fiancés’ wealth, pin money, jewels, and carriages when she saw how Camile was watching her with raised eyebrows. She remembered her lessons and instead wished her two eldest daughters happy with all of the gentility she had learnt during the last almost six months.
“William has gone to speak to Papa,” Elizabeth reported.
“As has Richard,” Mary added. She was thankful her father would no longer use the opportunity to make fun of either her fiancé or Lizzy’s.
Mary had been correct about her Richard, and almost so about Lizzy’s William. Bennet granted his consent and blessing for Fitzwilliam to marry his second daughter without delay. He was momentarily melancholy when he thought how no one would ever be able to make the same requests for Jane. Then he recovered when Darcy took his cousin’s place before Bennet’s desk.
“I have the same request as Richard, except I am asking for Miss Bennet’s hand,” Darcy petitioned.
“I do have one condition before I am able to look upon your suit with favour,” Bennet stated with a deadpan look on his face. He did not miss the way Darcy blanched just a little bit. He was sure this was a man to whom very few would ever say no. “The first editions which used to occupy the two shelves behind me, are, I understand in your library, is that correct?”
‘Surely,’ Darcy thought, ‘he would not demand the books back for me to marry Elizabeth?’ Aloud he replied in the affirmative and waited to hear what his future father-in-law was about.
“My condition is that once Lizzy is married to you, I am permitted to come to Pemberley when I am able, and spend time in what my daughters have both told me, is a library to behold,” Bennet grinned as he saw Darcy relax. “That way I will be able to visit my old friends and make many more.”
“You and anyone else in your family will be welcome to visit us any time,” a relieved Darcy responded.
“In that case, you too have my blessing. Although you do not need it due to Lizzy having attained her majority, you have my hearty permission as well,” Bennet allowed. “Come, gentlemen, we need to make for the drawing room and make this official.” With rather wide grins on their countenances, both of his future sons-in-law followed Bennet out of his study.
By the way Lizzy and Mary were being congratulated by his wife and the younger sisters, current and future, Bennet could tell his announcement was superfluous, but nevertheless he made it official.
“Has either couple discussed when they want to marry?” Fanny asked after her husband’s announcement.
“Not yet, Mama, but if you will excuse us for a few minutes, we will retire to the parlour to speak on it,” Elizabeth requested. Her mother made no objection and the two newly engaged couples crossed the hallway to the same parlour where William had recently proposed to Elizabeth. Each couple sat on a settee. Unlike before they were betrothed, the man and woman in each couple sat close one to the other, practically touching.
“Lizzy, I know you and Janey used to speak of marrying in a double ceremony if you happened to become engaged toyour future fiancés at around the same time. If you would like, Richard and I,” Mary looked at her beloved who nodded, “would be happy to share the day with you two, especially as we have both become engaged on the same day.”
“Unless Elizabeth has an objection, I do not,” Darcy agreed.
“It would be perfect to marry in the same ceremony,” Elizabeth enthused. “Now what about the when?”
“For my part I would not like a lengthy engagement,” Darcy expressed.
“I am with my cousin,” Fitzwilliam added. “Our desires, however, are secondary to what the two of you decide.”
Elizabeth and Mary looked at one another. They both nodded. “We have waited long enough, so we have no desire to wait too much longer. What say you all to three weeks so the banns may be called?”
“We do not need that long if Richard and I apply for special licenses,” Darcy suggested. His cousin nodded enthusiastic agreement.
“As much as I…we…,” Elizabeth looked at Mary who nodded, “would prefer to marry sooner, the last thing we want is for people to have any questions regarding our marrying so quickly after coming out of mourning, and to begin calling it a hurried and patched up affair. Allow the banns to be called and then we can marry the week after the third one is read. It should help that the first one can be called on the morrow.” The two men nodded accepting the wisdom of her words. “I will bring the calendar from Papa’s desk, then we can decide on a date.” Elizabeth was back within a minute with the calendar in hand.
“What of the tenth day of May? It is a Friday. With the morrow being Sunday, it will allow for almost a full three weeks. No, we will need to wait until after the twelfth of May. It is an impossibility that Mr Parker will be able to call bannsin your parish by the morrow when he is in Derbyshire,” Mary rationalised.
“You forget sister-to-be, like Richard, I attend St George’s in London. I will send my courier with a note to the vicar there, on behalf of both of us.” With that, Darcy realised something. “We need to send notes to Matlock and Hilldale Houses. It will not do for the family to hear the banns called without foreknowledge.” He looked at his fiancée and her sister. “Are we agreed on the second Friday in May?”
“We are,” Elizabeth confirmed. “You two may go to Papa’s study and write your missives, we will inform Mama what we decided.”
Unlike she would have before, Fanny raised no objections to the timing of the wedding. She would plan what her daughters desired in the available time. Eschewing what she would have demanded in the past, she did not feel the need to plan the grandest affair Hertfordshire ever saw. Anything she did would be verified with her daughters, these were their weddings, not hers.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Reggie, Richard has done it,” Lady Matlock gushed.
