“I hope that public display of affection means that the two of you are engaged,” said Mrs. Gardiner, severely.
Elizabeth grinned. “Yes, Aunt. It most certainly does! I am to marry Mr. Darcy.”
She was looking deliciously flushed.
Mrs. Gardiner put her arms around Elizabeth in a tight embrace. “I am very happy for you both,” she said.
Darcy turned to Georgiana.
“Well? Are you satisfied now?”
She went up to the tips of her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “Of course, Brother. I have been hoping for this to happen.” She turned to Elizabeth. “I am very proud to be able to call you sister.”
Elizabeth put her arm around the young girl. “I am looking forward to it. And I should warn you, you have acquired four more sisters!”
Mrs. Gardiner interrupted. She had the stern expression she normally used when she was herding the children so they could go somewhere.
“It is time to go.” She turned to Mr. Darcy. “May I remind you, after that performance to a crowd, that you do not yet have either Mr. Gardiner’s nor Mr. Bennet’s permission. Miss Bennet is not yet of age. She is not yet nineteen. You are still not officially engaged.”
Darcy’s jaw dropped in astonishment. It had not occurred to him that there might be any doubt in the matter, but once again, he had taken matters for granted.
“I— yes, of course, Mrs. Gardiner. I must speak to Mr. Gardiner at once.”
“Let us make haste, then, before the news spreads all across London.”
Darcy had thought Mrs. Gardiner would insist on the proprieties, and they would not be allowed to be alone until official consent had been given. To his relief, when the carriages arrived, Mrs. Gardiner asked Georgiana to join her, leaving Elizabeth to go with him in his own carriage. He took it as a good omen.
“It is a short journey to Gracechurch street,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “Do not delay.”
The door of the carriage shut, and they were alone. Darcy turned to Elizabeth and grasped her hands. He could feel the tremblingin her fingers. It matched his own. He could hardly believe this was happening. He bent toward her, breathing in the scent of her nearness, and she raised her face towards him. He kept the kiss light, a gentle brush of the lips, full of joy and longing, knowing they would be arriving soon. Her hands left his and curled around into his coat, pulling him closer, demanding more, and he was almost undone.
Mrs. Gardiner’s words helped him resist the temptation.
“Elizabeth,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “Not now.”
With a sound of protest, she let go. They leaned towards each other, foreheads touching. Darcy closed his eyes, savoring their closeness, content to do nothing more than hold her, full of wonder and joy. This was all he had hoped for and more. He had never known such happiness.
“Do you know something?” he murmured. “It all started right here, in this seat. This was where I fell in love with you. We were both dipping wet, but somehow, I knew that my life was about to be transformed.”
She chuckled. “And to think it almost did not happen. If I did not insist on taking you up in the carriage, we would not be here now.”
A calm certainty seized him. It was the hand of destiny that had brought them together. It would have happened, whatever the circumstances.
“The reasons do not matter,” he said, worried that she meant to argue the point. “What matters is that we have found each other. I am the happiest man alive. I love you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“So am I,” she said, then laughed. “I mean, I am the happiest woman alive.” Her expression darkened. “I thought I had lost you. I thought I had driven you away.”
“Hush,” he said. “Let us not talk of the past. Let us enjoy the present.”
“I love you, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” she said.
A wide smile spread out from deep inside him, filling him with exuberance. She loved him! His happiness was complete.
He drew her closer. Their love settled around them like a warm blanket, spreading into the space around them.
Then the carriage stopped, and the door was thrown open.
“Come,” he said, taking her hand firmly in his own. “This is the beginning. Let us face the world together.”
