The rest of the ride could not be over soon enough for three of the riders.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As much as Darcy wanted to speak to Bennet as soon as they arrived at Devonshire House, the meal was called very soon after the riding party arrived, and everyone had made their way to the largest drawing room.
Mary felt the same frustration. The sooner she spoke to her parents and begged them to lift the embargo on Richard declaring himself before next year, the happier she would be. She was relatively confident Mama and Papa would listen to her reasoning and not reject her request out of hand.
Thanks to the Cavendishes observing informal seating at family meals, Becca and Bennet were seated next to one another. Lizzy was next to her father, and Liam was beyond her, with Giana on his other side.
On her return to the house, Becca had not missed the way Lizzy was glowing with anticipatory pleasure. Added to the way Liam was walking with his head in the clouds, she was fairly certain Lizzy would not be single for much longer. She leaned close to her beloved’s ear. “Has Liam asked to speak to you about anything yet?” Becca asked in a whisper.
Bennet shook his head. Then he looked from Lizzy to Darcy. He knew that look. “However, I believe it will not be long after the meal before he comes to see me.”
Becca looked down the table and noticed the pensive look on Mary’s countenance. Richard was seated between Mary and Becca’s father, with Henry on Mary’s other side. She turned backtowards her third daughter and noted how deep in thought Mary was. When she looked at Richard, he looked no different than he always did; he was certainly not deep in thought like Mary. Whatever was on Mary’s mind was not a concern she had shared with Richard. Becca was sure when her daughter needed her parents’ counsel, she would seek them out.
As the meal was ending, Darcy leaned towards Bennet. “May I speak with you, please?” he requested.
“Let us retire to the family library,” Bennet suggested.
Seeing Papa leaving the family dining parlour with Liam, Mary resigned herself to waiting to speak to her parents. Could it be that Richard’s intention to give Liam a prod was superfluous?
“Do you intend to propose or ask for a courtship?” Bennet asked as soon as the door was closed.
“Am I so easy to read?” Darcy shook his head. “I suppose it is good that I am not a man who likes to play games of chance if my face gives away my secrets in this fashion. To answer your question, I intend to offer Elizabeth a courtship. I love her with all that I am, but I want to give her as much time as she needs to know the depth of her own feelings. This way, if she decides we will not suit, Elizabeth may withdraw without any negative connotations.”
“You would give her up so easily?” Bennet probed.
“Not willingly, and never easily. Regardless of my desires, if we do not both want the same thing, it matters not. My heart would shatter into a million pieces if that ever came to pass, but I have to believe it will not. It is because I love her so very much that I would never want to see Elizabeth trapped in a match she does not desire.”
“You will do. You have my permission to address Lizzy. You will have five minutes in this room. I will send her in. One ofthesmallfootmen will be stationed outside of the partially open door.” Bennet stood and shook Darcy’s hand. “If she agrees, you have permission and blessing for a courtship from both Becca and myself.” After making sure Darcy understood him, Bennet turned towards the door and exited.
A very happy looking Elizabeth entered a few minutes after her father’s departure from the family library. “Papa said youmaywant to speak to me.”
Darcy was still standing, as he had not seated himself since Bennet left him. He took one of Elizabeth’s dainty hands and led her to a settee. She sat at one end, and he at the other. “Elizabeth, when we spoke today, your answers gave me reason to believe that you too are seeking a deeper relationship between us, you taught me to hope like I had never dared to hope before.
“I know my own heart, but the very last thing I want is for you to feel pressured into something for which you are not ready. Hence, I would like to request a formal courtship. Elizabeth Georgiana Bennet, will you accept a courtship with me?”
“I appreciate that you want me to be sure of my feelings before you ask what I assume is a more serious question.” Darcy allowed it was so. “I believe I am close to the point where that next question will be received with pleasure. In other words, Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy, I will be happy to be courted by you.” She paused and gave him a saucy look with an arched eyebrow. “I know Mama and Papa have bestowed their consent.”
They stood, and Darcy took each of her ungloved hands into one of his own. He gently turned each one over in turn and gave a lingering kiss on the wrist of each, just above the pulse.
Elizabeth felt a frisson of pleasure radiate throughout her body from the wrist of each arm, as his warm and surprisingly soft lips were applied to one and then the other. She wasthankful he offered her his arm to lead her out of the family library, because Elizabeth was not sure her legs would have supported her on their own.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Once the well-deserved hubbub over the announcement of a courtship between Lizzy and Liam had died down to a dull roar, Mary decided it was the time to speak to her parents.
She passed Giana, who was still telling Lizzy how delighted she was to be gaining four sisters and two brothers when she and Liam married. Ellie, standing next to her future sister, was no less enthusiastic. Mary could not but smile when she noted Henry warning Liam what would happen to him if he ever mistreated Lizzy. Liam assured him that there was no worry of that ever happening.
Becca and Bennet were watching the celebration indulgently when they saw Mary standing before them. They gave one another knowing glances. Since Becca had conveyed her suspicion to her husband, they had been waiting for Mary to approach them.
With permission already gained from her father, Becca suggested they use Papa’s study. The ladies entered ahead of him, and Bennet pulled the door closed.
The Bennet parents took a seat on the large and very comfortable settee against one wall while Mary paced before them. “Mary, we could see something was causing you some consternation. What is it?” Becca enquired. “You know that you and any of our children may speak to us about anything whenever you feel the need, do you not?”
“You consider me a mature young lady, do you not?” Both of her parents agreed. “That I am not one to make rash decisions?” The Bennet parents nodded. “Then believe me whenI tell you I have considered what I want to ask from all angles.” Her parents indicated she should continue. “Mama and Papa, I know I am only eighteen, but I am also desperately in love with Richard. He told me earlier today he is to resign from the army so he will not be sent into battle again. Before you ask, he neither asked nor hinted that I should approach you; in fact, he knows not why we are speaking, or that I wanted to discuss anything with you. That being said, I beg you to remove the restriction on Richard declaring himself for me. If you agree, we will not set a wedding date before March of the upcoming year.”
Bennet looked at Becca, who shrugged back at him as they communicated silently. The agreement was quick in coming. Bennet turned back to Mary. “Your mother and I agree.”
