“We do not have fortunes like the Bennets, even though Papa has said he is doing something about that now, so I am happy for Maria. As I said, that was my intent, but Mr. Elliot has requested an informal courtship to see if we suit, and if we both decide we do then he will request a formal courtship or more.” Charlotte laughed at the surprise of some being so greatly contrasted with the lack of surprise of others. She offered no resistance when Elizabeth drew her lifelong friend into a warm embrace.
“We had a suspicion you two would be a good fit. You were correct, William!” she offered as she hugged Charlotte tightly into her arms, grateful her best friend may have her own happy ending.
“As is usual, wife of mine.” Darcy winked at Charlotte; whose deeper laugh warmed the room.
“You teasing man!” Lizzy said playfully then returned her attention to her best friend. “So, what are the plans? Did Mr. Elliot tell you about Grace and his previous wife?” As his wife finished talking, Darcy headed off to go talk to his friend Elliot.
“I just realised something, Eliza. Papa sent a note with me for your husband allowing him to act in his stead. Did you and Mr. Darcy talk to my parents about Mr. Elliot when you were in Hertfordshire?” she asked in great surprise.
“We did send them a missive. Are you upset with us for our amateur attempt at matchmaking?” Elizabeth asked hesitantly, not wanting her friend to think anything malicious was at play.
“Not in the least. I think I will owe you and Mr. Darcy a debt of gratitude if all goes as I hope. I know I have always said all I needed was a good home and it was best to learn about one’s spouse after the wedding, but I may have been wrong. I think I will respect and esteem Mr. Elliot, and even come to love him.
“Yes, he told me about Grace, and I could see the love for his daughter clearly, which is one of the things I already esteem about him. He explained he was married before and his wife died after childbirth. Me, who always said love was not needed to make a good match! It seems the Bennets were correct in this as well as a lot of other things,” Charlotte admitted.
“Better late than never Charlotte, and I shan’t even tell you I told you so,” Lizzy teased causing Charlotte to smile.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy found Elliot sitting on his own, seemingly deep in thought. He took a cup of coffee and sat down next to his friend. “You will make my wife very happy if you end up marrying Miss Lucas and keep her close to Pemberley.” Darcy sipped his coffee.
“Sorry, Darcy, I was wool-gathering. What did you say?” Elliot started. Darcy chuckled and repeated what he had said. “Yes, well, I think unless one of us finds something wholly objectionable in the other, Mrs. Darcy’s friend will be a resident of the area and Gracie will have a mother. If I suspected for a second she would not be a good mother to my Grace, then I would not consider her, no matter my wishes.”
He looked over at Charlotte, his hands tight together and Darcy recognised his friend was far more physically attracted to their Charlotte than he even yet realised. He had used the same tactics to keep himself in check when so surrounded by others and without yet permission to keep his Elizabeth close every second.
“I think the two of you would do very well together,” Darcy soothed. “She would be an ideal parson’s wife. I agree with you and believe she will make your little Gracie a wonderful mother. She is compassionate, intelligent, and would help you take good care of your parishioners.”
“That was my thought as well, but would not be enough to get me to propose marriage, especially if I did not believe she would be a good mother to Grace. She has a lot of the attributes I would like in a wife, and I already esteem and respect her. So, unless she objects it is too fast or for some other reason, I hope she does not have, I intend to ask her to marry me once we know each other a little better.
“I will have to make the journey to Hertfordshire to ask her father for his blessing. I know she is of age, but I am sure she would prefer to have the blessing of her father,” Elliot stated resolutely, knowing Darcy would never deny him the request should he get a favourable answer from Charlotte.
“You will not need to do that. I have a letter from Sir William granting me authority to act in his stead. We had an idea you and Miss Lucas would be a good fit, though that is not why my wife related memories to you which only included her. Truly they are that close and were that close growing up, so many of her childhood memories naturally include Miss Lucas. If your suit is a success, then once you decide whether to marry here or in Hertfordshire, we will plan accordingly,” Darcy stated.
“Since when have you become a matchmaker?” Elliot looked him over to see if he was really talking to his friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy. “Just so you know I am moving, in anticipation of her accepting me. I will begin to move to the Kympton parsonage on the morrow as it is the largest of the three.” Darcy nodded his agreement with his friend’s plan.
“I do not see myself as a matchmaker, merely a facilitator of a meeting. The rest was and is entirely up to the two of you as I told you when first I mentioned Miss Lucas to you. You know what they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.” Darcy chuckled. “But I will tell you this. I do not know if it was divine intervention, or if an angel whispered in my ear, or if I just was imagining the moment, but the second I was introduced to her and saw her poise and love of my Lizzy with no resentment for her wealth while she herself had little, I was aware she was exactly the kind of woman you have long described, given your chosen vocation.”
A parson’s wife would not have all the finery that some of her neighbours would have, nor would she be as poor as others. The women who could be equally respectful and compassionate for both sides of that line were rare indeed.
He had just been blessed to find another one after his late wife, and it just so happened to also be a woman who stole his breath away from the moment she walked in. He had not imagined she would be the expected Charlotte Lucas, but he had been most grateful to learn she was. Eliot was suddenly aware he had let the silence go on too long.
“There is truth in that. I thank you and your lovely wife. Your facilitation could very well lead to a very happy outcome. I would still travel to go see her father, even though you have permission to act in his stead,” Elliot told Darcy, knowing full well his friend would do the same.
“Then go to it, Elliot,” Darcy agreed.
With that, Elliot crossed the drawing room where Miss Lucas was still with Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Bennet, asking if he could have another word with Miss Lucas who answered yes before either of her companions could respond. Charlotte excused herself.
“Did you know the Darcys arranged for us to meet?” she asked carefully.
“Darcy informed me when they returned from his wife’s sisters’ weddings. I am not vexed, in fact, I could not be happier, I hope you feel the same way.” Eliot searched her eyes for any sign of disapprobation.
“Yes, Mr. Elliot, I do. I most certainly do,” Charlotte admitted softly.
“May I be so forward as to request your final set at the Twelfth Night Ball on the morrow?” Elliot pushed his luck.
“My my, that is bold, and you will cause many tongues to wag. However, I believe our ages give us leave to do so without worry about causing a scandal. I will gladly grant you the last as well. Should you want to cause a great scandal claim me for a fourth,” Charlotte teased, pleased his rich, thick laugh echoed around her as he again lifted her hand to kiss it, pleased beyond measure she blushed.
“May I call on you tomorrow morning, Miss Lucas, so we can take a walk in the Darcys’ rose gardens?” he pressed his suit.
