“Miss Elizabeth? What are you doing out here? Has something happened?”
Elizabeth turned around to see Mr Bingley approaching, Darcy frowning in concern at his side, and the rest of the gentlemen following behind them. She looked at him archly, certain from what Jane had begun to say that somethingof great interest had, indeed, happened.
“I rather think you already know the answer to that.” His expression confirmed it. Elizabeth pushed open the door, allowing all the gentlemen to hear Jane conclude her statement.
“—tell you that Mr Bingley and I are engaged.”
“Are you?” cried both her parents, one on each side of the door.
Elizabeth felt a twinge of guilt for Jane’s surprise at inadvertently announcing her news to far more people than just Miss Bingley and Miss de Bourgh, though she did not worry that it would last long beyond the start of everybody’s congratulations, the commencement of which was heralded by a loud squeal of pleasure from her mother.
Elizabeth hugged her sister tightly, whispering how delighted she was by the news, then she clasped Mr Bingley’s hands and honestly and heartily expressed her joy in the prospect of his being her brother. But as the celebrations quieted, she became aware of how still Darcy was standing, and how intensely incredulity emanated from his rigid frame.
“When did you become engaged?” he enquired stiffly.
“On our walk to fetch the carriage yesterday,” Mr Bingley answered cheerfully. He leant around Jane to peer at Miss de Bourgh. “I must thank you for that, madam.”
Miss de Bourgh inclined her head and smiled knowingly.
“Scheming wretch,” Darcy muttered for Elizabeth’s ears alone. Aloud to his friend, he said, “Why did you not say anything?”
“Youdecided we ought to come back after the walk to save the horses, if you recall. Had you not done that, I should have gone directly to speak to Mr Bennet.” Mr Bingley nodded respectfully at his future father but otherwise looked so absurdly pleased with himself that Elizabeth began to question whether his engagement was his only present source of delight. “Why? What is the rush for me to tell anyone?” he added almost gleefully.
Elizabeth comprehended that they were discovered when she saw Jane bite her lips together against a smile. With a broadening grin of her own, she said quietly, “I asked him to wait until you were engaged before we said anything.”
“Said anything about what, Darcy?” Mr Bingley pressed slyly.
With a brief glance seeking her consent, Darcy announced at last, “Elizabeth and I are engaged.”
Therewasa gasp in the end, though it was not from Mrs Bennet. Miss Bingley, pale and frowning, fell heavily into the nearest chair and clamped her mouth closed. Nobody else made a sound.
“Well?” Elizabeth asked, looking around at her silent friends and family.
“We know,” Jane said quietly.
“Weallknow, Eliza,” Charlotte repeated. “It was not difficult to guess. A one-eyed partridge with a squint could see how dearly you both love each other.”
“I own, I, too, guessed you had come to an understanding, for I have never seen you happier, Brother,” Miss Darcy agreed.
“I would have guessed,” said Miss de Bourgh, “had you not admitted it to me yourself.”
Elizabeth looked at her father, who shrugged. “I thought it best to tell your mother in case something like this happened, and she made a scene.”
Mrs Bennet winced contritely. “And I might have told your sisters. Andmysisters.”
“And me,” said Lady Lucas.
Elizabeth began to laugh.
“You did notneedto tell me,” Kitty objected. “I guessed it would happen soon when Mr Darcy threw a snowball at Captain Carter for you. I nearly swooned when I saw it!”
“Mr Hurst and I guessed when Mr Darcy summoned Charles back to Hertfordshire,” said Mrs Hurst, drawing a small cry of disbelief from her sister.
“I am sorry, old fruit,” said Mr Bingley, chuckling. “You have been waiting all this time, and your big announcement was not much of an epiphany, after all.”
Not for a moment did Elizabeth worry that Darcy might begrudge the loss of fanfare. She took heart from his expression of supreme contentment, for she comprehended what it signified. He did not require anybody’s approval of their marriage, only that the world should know about it.
To be cherished in such a way, to be the object of such pride, was the most exquisite feeling. She almost laughed to consider how insufficient all her previous impressions of love had been. Until the moment Darcy had taken her heart into his keeping, she had never had the faintest notion what it truly meant.
