“Oh.Forgive me, Fitz.My mind wandered.”
“Judging by the look on your face, I can guess where it wandered to.”
He ducked as Darcy lobbed a pillow at him.
“What is this news you were crowing about?”asked Darcy.
“I spoke with Mother.I told her I had met a lady I would like to court and wed, but that I could only do so if I knew I could provide for her after the wedding.She agreed to talk to Father.”
“Was he amenable?”asked Darcy, suddenly all attention.
“He said that as long as the lady is not embarrassing or awful, his words, not mine, he would give me the estate and wish us well.”
Darcy leapt up and slapped his cousin’s back while vigorously shaking his hand.“That is wonderful news!Have you decided on Miss Covington then?”
“I have called on Miss Covington twice now.I am certain she returns my interest, and my regard is as strong as it ever was.”
Darcy smiled broadly, moving to pour them a glass of brandy from the decanter.“This calls for a celebration.My cousin, the perpetual bachelor, has finally been caught.”
“You are one to talk!I at least have made myself useful in the army while waiting to wed.You have been lolling about for no good reason at all!”
Darcy laughed.“Only you would consider running an estate to be lolling about.”
They toasted Fitzwilliam’s future happiness, his new estate where he would be free to loll about to his heart’s content, and the ladies they had rather shockingly fallen madly in love with.
“You are different,” said Fitzwilliam.
“What do you mean?”
“I do not know.There is something about your face—you seem lighter somehow.”
“Are you saying my face usually looks heavy?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake, Darcy!Tell me what it is.You look like the cat who got the canary.”
“I proposed to Elizabeth,” he said simply, a contented smile on his face.
“And?”
“She accepted.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam whooped and leapt out of his chair.“It is about time you came to the point.When is the wedding?”
“We have not decided yet.I must speak to her father first.But we had thought we might join Bingley and Miss Bennet in a double ceremony.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head, a wide grin on his face.“I wish you happy, Darcy.Truly.Miss Elizabeth is the perfect match for you.”
“Thank you.I hope you will stand up with me when the time comes.”
“Of course!I wouldn’t dream of missing it.And you must return the favor for me.”
“You would not wish for one of your brothers to be your witness?”
Fitzwilliam guffawed.“My brothers are either too young and naïve or too old and cynical.”
“And I am just the right age?”
“It is more that you are just the right combination of innocent and cynical.”
