When she dashed into the house her emotions could not be contained, she hugged the first member of her family whom she encountered. ‘Papa, I am to be married,’ she cried.
Mr Bennet returned the embrace and responded, albeit a little sadly, ‘I wondered how soon I would lose you too.’
When her face fell a little, he said in contrition, ‘I am sorry Lizzy. I did not mean to take away from your happiness. Please forgive this selfish old man who loves your company. I truly am happy for you.’
He gave his daughter another little squeeze before he asked with a brighter smile, ‘When shall I expect Mr Darcy to call on me?’
‘This morning when he and the rest of his party come to call.’
‘Ah, yes. Mary’s young man will also want to speak to me. Perhaps I should install a revolving door to my library so that my daughters’ suitors do not collide with each other.’
~T~
Mrs Bennet was on her best behaviour albeit a little subdued when the party from Netherfield arrived. After all, she had never before entertained a duchess before in her home.
After the introductions which included the whole Bennet family, Lady Isabella soon put her hostess at ease. The visiting gentlemen sought out their ladies, while Georgiana was delighted to meet two young ladies her own age. Mrs Gardiner joined the matrons in support of Mrs Bennet if she should have need of it. Mr Gardiner and Mr Bennetsat together and watched the interactions of the three couples, while everyone partook of the refreshments Mrs Bennet had arranged.
Gradually Bennet became reconciled to entrusting his daughters to the care of these apparently estimable young men.
Once Fitzwilliam had finished his coffee, he approached his host. ‘Mr Bennet, could I have a word in private?’
‘I suppose we had better,’ Bennet sighed before he rose and led Richard to his library.
Ten minutes later, Fitzwilliam returned with a smile on his face. He approached Darcy and told him, ‘It is your turn.’ After a moment’s hesitation, he added quietly, ‘Careful, he likes to tease.’
~T~
When Darcy sat down at Bennet’s invitation, the gentleman commented with a smirk, ‘I guess you being here means that you find my Lizzy tempting after all.’
‘Yes, Mr Bennet. I have fallen in love with Miss Elizabeth and would like your permission to marry her.’
‘So, you wanting to marry my daughter is all well and good, but did Lizzy accept your proposal?’ Bennet asked in an attempt to tease.
‘No, sir, she did not,’ Darcy said firmly with a straight face.
Bennet’s brows rose as far as they could go, and he looked shocked. ‘She did not?’ he exclaimed. ‘I was under the impression that you two were agreed.’
‘We are agreed, sir, but our marriage requires your permission.’
‘How can you be agreed if she did not accept your proposal.’
‘Because, since I did not propose to Miss Elizabeth, she could not accept a proposal.’
Bennet spluttered, ‘How can…’ before he stopped himself as he suspected Darcy was making sport of him. ‘I suggest you tell me how it came about that you and Lizzy are agreed to marry when you did not propose.’
‘It is really very simple, Miss Elizabeth proposed to me, and I was happy to accept.’
‘You whelp,’ spluttered Bennet, but after a moment he started laughing. ‘I was supposed to be the one teasing you, not the other way around. It seems that you and Lizzy are perfectly suited for each other.’
Darcy smiled mildly as he said, ‘I believe that is the case. But to get back to my question. Do we have your permission to marry?’
Bennet leaned back in his chair. ‘Very well. You have my permission and I wish you luck. You will need it,’ he said with a grin. ‘And you may as well call me Bennet instead of sir.’
‘Thank you, Bennet.’ Darcy reached into his pocket and extracted a document. ‘I may have been a little premature, when I had this drafted, but I like to be prepared,’ he said as he handed the papers to Bennet.
Mr Bennet glanced over the marriage articles and his eyebrows moved upwards again when he saw the figure Darcy planned to settle on Elizabeth. ‘You are generous.’
‘Elizabeth deserves everything I can give her, and the amount is the same as my father settled on my mother.’
