The travellers blew in from London on a wind that spat tiny shards of ice upon them as they disembarked before Netherfield. The footmen hurried them inside, where their hosts and Darcy waited with hot tea and warm smiles.
Georgiana curtseyed to Mr Bingley and Mrs Hurst, before clasping hands with the latter. “I am so very sorry for your loss, Mrs Hurst. How are you?”
Mrs Hurst smiled. “I am tolerably well, Miss Darcy, and all the better for having you here.” Mr Bingley also expressed his delight at her presence and, having done her duty by her hosts, Miss Darcy presented Mrs Annesley to their acquaintance and was at last able to reunite with her beloved brother.
Colonel Fitzwilliam bowed to Mr Bingley and Mrs Hurst, to whom he was known, and they spoke for some minutes after the requisite pleasantries had been canvassed, allowing the Darcys some little privacy.
“Georgie, you do look well,” Darcy said when his sister came to him, her companion remaining a discreet distance behind.
“As do you, Brother. We have brought with us everything you requested,” she informed him with a smile, “and I am glad we left town so early this morning, for our cousin says it is going to snow, and you know that he is rarely wrong on the subject!”
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Charlotte and Elizabethgreeted each other in the churchyard after services on Christmas Day, and spoke quietly of the small events in their lives in the past week until Elizabeth chuckled and bent her head towards her friend’s, murmuring, “I believe your young man is desiring my absence.”
Charlotte cast a glance over her shoulder and smiled at Mr Jones, who waited patiently nearby. “He is to escort me home.”
“As he has after every service for the past month,” Elizabeth replied teasingly. “Do not keep him waiting on my account, but do call on us this week if the weather allows.”
“Thank you, Lizzy. Merry Christmas.”
“A very merry Christmas to you, Charlotte.” They clasped hands warmly for a moment and separated, Elizabeth to join her family party, and Charlotte to approach Mr Jones, who offered his arm along with his greetings and best wishes for the holiday.
They turned their steps towards Lucas Lodge, feet crunching through the scatter of frozen leaves alongside the road, propriety maintained by the constant stream of carriages, wagons, and walkers moving away from the church.
“Miss Lucas,” he said, after they had spent some moments in quiet enjoyment of each other’s company, “I have been wondering if you are yet ready to hear my question.”
Happiness roared through her like fire; he still wished to ask! It had not been only the desperation of grief! She required a few seconds to master herself before she could answer, “I believe I am, sir.”
He positively beamed at her, such an expression of delight as she had never expected to have directed at her alone. “There is something I wish to tell you first.” He looked at her earnestly. “I have not much now, but I do not intend to be a village apothecary forever. My aspirations have only been delayed—I save very constantly, though not much, and one day I shall complete my training and become a physician of the Royal College. If you decide that you will have me, I have every hope that in five years or so I may begin to offer you a better life.”
Charlotte considered this for a moment, and found that she did not really care whether he ever became more than an apothecary, except that failure would be a great disappointment tohim. She looked him directly in the eyes, just as modest maidens are urged never to do, and said, “Ask your question.”
He stopped and stood before her, gathering her hands into his. “Miss Lucas, will you do me the very great honour of granting me your hand in marriage?”
“Thank you, Mr Jones, I will,” she answered, her sedate tone belied by her broad smile and the moisture welling in her eyes.
He stared at her in wonder for a moment, rendered briefly immobile by the pleasant shock of having got all he wanted so easily.
They turned again towards her parents’ home, walking more slowly and closer together.
Charlotte, incapable of being impractical for long, ventured, “I am to have five hundred pounds upon my marriage. Will that assist you in realising your ambition sooner?”
“Dear Charlotte, we shall manage. I have some hope that your father will be able to advise me on the running of my shop, and help me to earn a little more from it. He is reputed to have been a canny businessman, in his time.”
“He was, and he knew how to please his customers,” she agreed. “And of course, when we are married, you will not be required to close when you are called away to a patient.”
“What do you mean?”
She smiled. “Only that I am not too proud to stand behind the counter and assist your customers while you are away. Indeed, I may be a help to you in other ways. I know my way around a stillroom, and if you would teach me to make some of the simpler remedies, you may devote your time to other things. I can keep accounts as well as any tradesman’s daughter, too. You may find I make you more money than I cost.”
“You would do all this?” He gazed upon her as though she were some strange and magical creature come to grant him his deepest wishes. “When shall we marry?”
“As soon as possible, please!” she answered eagerly, and blushed crimson. He laughed, tucked her arm into his own, and pulled her towards the Lodge at a great clip.
“Let us waste no time making our announcement, then!”
* * *
