We moved to the next valentine card that sat on a table beside a typewriter surrounded by roses. Lizzy picked it up and pulled the card from the envelope.
“When you risked your career by choosing not to write the article about Charles’s sister, I knew you had a loyalty and a kindness that were rare in this world. You were someone worth trusting, worth loving.”
Lizzy pressed her lips together. Her eyes flicked to mine, full of feeling as she extended the card to me. I took it, and the string around our wrists pulled even tighter. We moved on to the next one, which sat with a potion that released bubble hearts that rose into the air.
“When you came to tend to your sister without a second thought, without caring what anyone else might say, I saw the depth of your heart.”
Lizzy’s cheeks were flushed, but she held the card out to me. I didn’t want this to feel like an ordeal.
Instead of accepting it, I said, “If you don’t wish to keep going…”
“Just take it,” she said softly.
I took the card, and our string vibrated and shortened even more, tugging us closer together.
“Where to next?” she asked, looking around.
“That way.” I pointed toward the next table, which had cupcakes and other goodies from Cupid’s Confections resting on the surface.
Lizzy picked up the next valentine and opened it. “When we kissed at Cupid’s Confections during the play and it felt like the first time, I finally let myself admit that there was no getting over you.”
She gave me a sly smile and handed me the valentine. We walked over to the next one, the magical line now close together. This card sat beside the words “Thank You” written out in enchanted glitter. Lizzy lifted the note and opened it.
“When you stood beside me through the most excruciating news of my life, never judging, only holding space for me, I knewyou had the grace of a queen and a heart strong enough to carry both of us.”
She didn’t look up from the card, and my heart pounded in my chest. It was now or never.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the little black box and got on one knee. “When you stood your ground before my aunt, refusing to deny me, something inside me stirred. A hope I thought long extinguished came alive, and I couldn’t let you go. Not without trying one more time.”
A single word from her could silence me on this topic forever, but I had to ask. I opened the box, my heart in my throat. “So, Elizabeth Bennet, will you be my queen?”
Lizzy turned slowly, and I noticed the tears streaming from her eyes. She looked down at the little king chess piece lying in the box.
“What’s this?” she asked, confused.
“Touch its heart.”
She touched it. The heart of the king split open, and a rose bloomed out. In the center of it was a simple silver ring with a small diamond inlaid in the band.
“You have captured this king’s heart,” I murmured.
“Stand up,” she said, and feeling uncertain, I rose. Despite everything, I had one terrifying moment when I thought maybe I’d read everything wrong and she’d deny me. She stepped close, tipped on her toes, and kissed me.
The chord binding our wrists released us.
Reaching out, she lifted the ring from the box, then placed it on her finger. She wiped her eyes and gazed up at me. “Yes, Fitzwilliam Darcellion Valemont, I will marry you.”
“She said yes!” Lydia cried back at the entrance of Club Meryton.
She and her family had probably been spying on us through most of my proposal.
I shook my head, and Lizzy only smiled as cheers sounded, people pouring into the club. It wasn’t only the Bennets. Mayor Pembroke, Wickham, Frank, Riley, Charles, Ernesto, Anne, Georgiana, Ms. Bates… all of Austen Heights filled the club within minutes. Apparently the town celebration hadn’t been moved to a different location. They had only adjusted the starting time.
“You should have known they’d never leave us alone for this,” Lizzy teased, her voice light with amusement.
Everyone clapped and cheered around us, shouting their congratulations. I couldn’t help but kiss Lizzy one more time. I pulled her close. Her warmth washed over me, her lips soft, her taste of mint and chocolate sweet and wonderful. I slid my hand into her hair, loving the feel of its silken strands under my fingertips. The nerves inside me faded away, and in that moment everything felt right, perfect. This was the best decision I’d ever made.
“I’m glad you don’t hate me anymore,” I said after pulling back, breathless.
