“Elizabeth, I stand before you with the strong desire to ask one of two very important questions. For me I do not need a courtship to know that I love you most ardently. You have bewitched me body and soul, and these weeks spent courting you unofficially have proven my fervent desires correct. To my unending joy, you have completely captured my heart. However, if you are not ready for that step yet, I am happy to wait as long as you need and instead, offer you an official courtship.”
“I was not completely sure until my heart raced, and my breath hitched when I saw Zeus at the base of the hill. I was so excited that you were here that I finally acknowledged a truth that my heart has been screaming, and my head was not ready to hear, I too love you, William, so a courtship is not necessary.”
He lowered himself onto one knee, all the time still holding her hands.
Seeing what was about to occur, Johns walked down the path until he could no longer see the couple. He would not allow them unlimited time, however.
“You are the most compassionate, generous, warm, and intelligent woman I have ever known,” Darcy began. “Yourcharacter is above reproach. You are good, kind, and worthy of the highest praise. Even though your beauty is unsurpassed, you grow more beautiful each time I see you. Your fragrance intoxicates me, and your very presence overpowers me with a longing to be ever by your side. You see before you a man who is without hope unless you consent to become his wife, for only you can complete me, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. I love you with every part of me; with every beat of my heart, with every breath that I take. I am yours in every way, and as time goes by I become more and more yours. I would forever walk the desert of despair without a lifetime spent with you. You are my love, my heart, and my life. Elizabeth Rose Bennet, will you end the ache in my heart for you? Please say you will marry me?”
The sentiments William expressed were almost overwhelming. But there was only one response Elizabeth’s heart and head would allow. “I love you too, with all that I am, William. Yes, of course, I will marry you as you are theonlyman in the world I could be prevailed upon to marry.”
In the blink of an eye, Darcy was on his feet, his fiancée’s hands still held in his own. He stared at her to gain permission for what he desired to do next.
Elizabeth looked up and was so caught up in the look of intensity which she understood was a silent request. She could only nod her head in the affirmative. He released her hands, leaving them feeling bereft, even through the gloves they both wore, of his touch. Instead, he then drew her very close to him until they were almost touching.
Her mouth suddenly felt dry, and Elizabeth’s heart thumped almost painfully in anticipation of her love’s first kiss.
Darcy whispered her name sensually, causing her to lift her head and look into his eyes. He was moving very slowly until she felt the light, chaste pressure of his lips on hers. Suddenly, she felt very hot as he pulled her even closer as hishands had snaked around her back.
Elizabeth’s arms, which seemed to have a will of their own, found their way to his shoulders, and she pulled him to herself. The next time their lips met, they both groaned, but rather than pull away, the kisses deepened, as did the urgency. Their mouths opened simultaneously, and their tongues duelled vigorously. The sensations this action caused were exquisite. Elizabeth was not sure why she had met his tongue with her own, but she would never be sorry that she had. The kiss lasted until they had to stop to breathe, and they reluctantly pulled away from each other. She felt breathless and she was standing on legs which felt leaden. They both looked at each other with silly smiles on their faces. No sooner had they caught their breath and were about to begin kissing again when they heard a loud clearing of a throat.
Johns had waited ten minutes before walking back up to the summit. Seeing Miss Lizzy in the embrace with Mr Darcy told him the man had proposed and been accepted, but he would not allow any more impropriety, so he cleared his throat. He kept his features schooled when the couple jumped apart and looked rather sheepish.
Neither Elizabeth nor Darcy had seen the sun peek above the horizon, they had been much more agreeably engaged and neither repined missing it. With Johns, who was hiding a smile, following, the newly engaged couple floated down the path on the wings of love.
They mounted their horses. Darcy had a question to ask Mr Henry Bennet.
Chapter 32
“Uncle Henry, will you meet with William and me in the study?” Elizabeth requested when they returned from Oakham Mount.
“I suppose an advantage of my aging is my rising so early each day,” Henry teased. “Where are you, Lizzy? I need your arm to find my way to the study.” He stood and waited until his great-niece touched his arm. Henry took her arm and walked with Lizzy. He could hear William’s footfalls behind them. He was relatively sure he knew to what the request his late friend’s son was about to make pertained.
In the study, Elizabeth led Uncle Henry to the chair behind his desk. As soon as he was seated, she joined William, and they took their seats in front of the desk.
“I am ready,” Henry stated.
“This morning, we, Elizabeth and I, met on Oakham Mount. It was not planned but a happy happenstance,” Darcy stated. “Once I ascertained she was ready to hear my proposal, I offered for her, and she honoured me by accepting me as the man she wants to marry. We seek your consent and blessing.”
“Lizzy, my great-niece, are you certain? You are not out of your senses are you, to be accepting William? I know you have been friends since you met, and he is a good man who sees the error of his ways with regards to his improper pride.” Henry was grinning.
Elizabeth and Darcy released breaths that they had been holding as soon as they understood that Uncle Henry was teasing them. Unlike the banished Thomas Bennet, Henry’sjesting was not malicious.
“Of course I have no objections, but Lizzy, have you told William?” Henry enquired.
“Told me what?” Darcy asked as his eyebrows met in question.
“No, Uncle Henry, I did not.” Elizabeth turned to William. “I am Uncle Henry’s heir. I do not know if this will make you change your mind, but my wedding settlement will leave the bulk of the fortune under my control.”
“In other words, you will be far wealthier than me?” Darcy verified.
“That is correct,” Elizabeth confirmed. “Will that be problematic for you? If it is, I am more than willing to request Uncle Henry choose another heir. As long as we have enough to live on, I care not about such vast wealth.”
“And that, Lizzy, is another reason I know you are the only one who should be my heir,” Henry insisted. “William, while you think, know this. Netherfield Park will go to Felix one day, while Lizzy will own Sherwood Dale and the house across the green from you on Grosvenor Square. A little more than a million pounds will be bequeathed to family members and charity, but that will still leave a significant sum which will belong to Lizzy.”
Darcy cogitated for some minutes. It was well known that he always considered things carefully, especially weighty issues, such as this. “Even had Elizabeth come to our union with little or no dowry, I have more than enough for us, for our children, and for their children. As such, I am sanguine with Elizabeth controlling what she inherits from you. I love her, not what material goods or wealth she can or cannot bring to our union. As long as she will have me, nothing has changed for me.”
“With that settled, you have my hearty permission and blessing,” Henry allowed. “Just so you know, Lizzy willhave a dowry of one hundred thousand pounds, the same as her sisters and Fee’s granddaughters separate from her inheritance. That sum will be available as dowries normally are.”
