“Do you know her dowry by now is over fifty thousand pounds?” Bennet asked Darcy, waiting for his reply.
“I, in fact, did not know the exact number other than themore than forty thousandwhich is publicly known, but it is immaterial to me,” Darcy stated. “My reported income is ten thousand clear a year, but that is just from Pemberley and is less than the actual. The truth is that my income from all my estates and investments with your brother Edward is over five and thirty thousand a year. Money is not a motivating factor in my proposal, only my deep and abiding love for Elizabeth. You have my unreserved permission to ask Mr. Gardiner yourself, as he is here at Longbourn. I have increased Georgie’s dowry to sixty thousand pounds, but as far as theTonknows she still has thirty thousand. Whatever Elizabeth brings to the marriage will remain hers to use as she sees fit.”
Bennet looked at Fanny and they again silently communicated, then he stood and extended his hand to Darcy. “Welcome to the family, Son,” Bennet offered then he looked to his second daughter. “I could never have parted with you to anyone less worthy, my Lizzy. You will be very happy together.” Bennet smiled sadly at his second daughter. He was happy she had found a man worthy of her, but sad she would be leaving his home.
Darcy, anxious to start the next phase of their lives, asked those present how long they would like the engagement to be, admitting for his own part the shorter the better. He wanted to never have to part from Lizzy again.
“I believe that six weeks would be sufficient,” Fanny allowed.
The newly engaged man requested there would be no public announcement in the papers until he had conferred with the Fitzwilliams about how to deal with the Lady Catherine problem. Bennet and Fanny, long knowing the issue, gave their amused agreement, offering their unreserved support.
The four rose from their chairs, and after hugs and handshakes were given and received, they headed back to the drawing room to share the news with the soon-to-be shocked, albeit very happy, party within.
As they entered the drawing room, Fanny saw her housekeeper and quietly asked her to have the butler bring champagne for the party, which was unobtrusively and efficiently done. Once all the glasses were charged, Bennet again asked for everyone’s attention.
“As you know, Richard and Charles have requested and been granted courtships with Mary and Jane respectively. I thought William and Lizzy were going to be the third couple to make such a request of me today, but I erred. In fact, William requested and was granted Lizzy’s hand, with both mine and Fanny’s blessing.” He smiled at the initial surprise on the faces of many in the room, and envy on more than just one, for skipping the courtship period.
Whatever else Bennet was about to say was lost in a sea of congratulations. Georgie threw herself at Lizzy and fell into her arms, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks as she hugged her tightly. “Oh Lizzy, I am to gain four sisters and two brothers! Thank you for making William so very happy,” Georgiana gushed as her tears made streaks on her cheeks and her smile made them almost brighter than diamonds.
“Well well,” boomed the Earl, “Andrew and Richard will finally have you and Georgie for siblings. Elaine and I could not be happier for you. I hope you know we have considered you more children than niece and nephew since Anne and then George died. We are very proud of you, William.” The Earl’s voice was gruff with emotion as his lady wife held and squeezed his hand.
“With us knowing Lizzy almost from birth,” added Andrew with a mischievous glint in his eye, “I do not know if you are quite good enough for our Lizzy, Cousin.” He winked at Lizzy and again turned a doleful stare on Darcy, making Marie smack his arm playfully.
“Do not tease poor William, Andrew. You know he will get you back when you least expect it.” His wife reminded him, winking at William who barked out a laugh that turned all in the room toward him, his lack of reserve worthy of being noted. Already he was changed for the better because of Lizzy.
“Yes dear, sorry William.” The Viscount cleared his throat and pretended to be serious.
“No slight taken, Andrew. But mark your wife’s words well, you never know when to expect me to return the favour,” Darcy jested in return.
“Now boys,” the Countess looked between the two, “there will be none of that revenge or retaliation business.”
“Yes mother, but you well know we were only teasing.” Andrew chuckled, marvelling that no matter how old he got, his mother could always make him feel like a boy again.
“It is true, Aunt Elaine. I was well aware Andrew was only ribbing, so no harm done,” William vowed solemnly. He felt his betrothed squeeze his large hand with her dainty and delicate one. His fiancée, how well that sounded.
Lizzy was hugged by her Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward, then swarmed by her nieces and nephews. “Our little Lizzy will be Mistress of Pemberley, Edward. Lizzy, you have no idea how beautiful the estate is, and you know I think Derbyshire to be the best shire in all of England.” Aunt Maddie smiled down at Lizzy.
“Have you been to Pemberley, Mrs. Gardiner?” Darcy asked in surprise.
“We are to be family in six weeks, so you must call me Aunt or Madeline, whichever you please. One harvest festival when I was but twelve, I had the pleasure of seeing Pemberley and meeting your esteemed, late parents, long before your late father started to invest with my Edward.” Aunt Maddie smiled warmly as she met Darcy’s eyes.
“Maddie has told me that she believes I would get lost fishing at Pemberley and forget to come back to the house,” Gardiner chuckled.
“When you are in the area next, you must stay at Pemberley, Mr. Gardiner, from now on you and any of our extended family have an open invitation to visit Pemberley at any time. It would be my pleasure to provide you with rod, reel, and tackle, and to show you the best places to fish,” Darcy invited with alacrity, already imagining more and more family around him and Georgiana than he ever fathomed before meeting the Bennets.
“I thank you for your offer, as I do so love to fish. Please call me Gardiner or Uncle Edward. Besides soon being family, we have known each other for years and we are now practically neighbours since Maddie and I moved the family to Portman Square.” Gardiner chuckled as he nodded at Darcy’s look of pleasure. “It surprises me that Maddie never mentioned seeing Pemberley to you before today, but as those times we saw each other were business meetings, that may explain it.”
The long-time family by choice and soon-to-be family by marriage celebrated well into the night and all seemed right with the world.
Chapter 9
It was right at four o’clock the next day when the threatened, unwanted visit of the hapless and dim-witted parson occurred. A gig pulled up in front of Longbourn at the exact time the letter had said he would arrive so the inhabitants thought the parson must have stopped and waited until the appointed time he had indicated.
The Bennets, who were outside to greet him, found him to be worse than any of them expected. He was greasy-haired, or at least what hair there was left was greasy, and the odour that wafted from him was definitely more than a day of travel’s smell. The repugnant smell preceded him as he descended from the gig. He was of middling height, had a large belly, and was sweating profusely which could not but add to the rank smell of one who had obviously not bathed in far too long.
Bennet and Fanny had stepped out to meet him and they could not help but notice the covetous way he looked at the house and park. “William Collins, at your service....” the parson started to bow but only got to the initial stages of the gesture when he was brought up short.
“Do you always invite yourself to a home of one you have never been introduced to, or arrive without any confirmation your presence is either welcomed or wanted?” Bennet demanded.
