Dinner was a very pleasant affair and later that evening before Jane could enter her chamber, her suite mate asked her to meet in the shared sitting room once she had changed and completed her ablutions. After Elizabeth was assisted by her maid, she sat down in the sitting room and awaited her sister. She did not have long to wait.
“What do you want to talk about Lizzy?” Jane asked innocently.
“Do not dare act all innocent with me,Lady Jane Bennet! You know exactly what I want to discuss. Do you have an understanding with Richard Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth asked archly.
“No Lizzy,” Jane blushed furiously, “I do not. He asked me for a set at our aunts’ ball.”
“Jane Bennet, how can you dissemble so?Oneset? Please do not try and pull the wool over my eyes, sister dearest, you know you cannot hide things from me.” Lizzy laughed as Jane blushed even brighter.
“You are correct, Lizzy. He requested the first, supper, and the final sets.” Jane was still blushing and now had a dreamy look on her countenance.
“That is some message he is sending! Are you ready for all of the questions and the talk that will be generated?” Lizzy asked her sister softly.
“He asked me if I objected to the statement that would be made with the third set, and I told him I had no objection. Oh Lizzy, he requested a private interview in the morning. He will be here at eleven o’clock. I love him Lizzy, I reallylovehim.” Her sister did not miss the truth of the statement from the intense and hopeful look that Jane was sporting.
“Will you accept an offer, or do you first want a courtship?” Lizzy inquired, wondering just how certain of her future Jane was.
“If he asks for my hand, I will accept him. If he wants a courtship first, that will be acceptable, but unneeded from my side. If he needs some time to be sure of his constancy, it will be so,” Jane stated quietly. She had no doubts, there was only one man for her, the man who owned her heart, Richard Fitzwilliam.
“Who are you and what have you done with my reticent sister?” Elizabeth was astounded at the difference now versus when Jane had believed herself in love with Bingley. “How long have you loved him, Jane?”
“I started to have tender feelings for him not long after that non-apology apology Mr Bingley made while we were staying at the Gardiners. He impressed me when he asked your pardon for his assuming that you had some interest in him. It showed me two things, he is a very honourable man who will not trifle with the feelings of a lady, and he is willing to accept responsibility for his actions without excuse or trying to shift the blame to others likecertainpeople are inclined.” When she spoke about Bingley, there was no warmth in her speech or look, just the steely resolve that she had displayed when she dispatched the man with his tail between his legs.
“Sister, I find that this version of you that is not afraid to show the resolve, that we all knew you had, as well as your feelings is one that finds much approbation with me. Please tell me more about your falling in love with a very worthy man.” Elizabeth offered her sister the chance to relieve the pressure within and share her happiness with someone who knew her best.
“Each visit after he made his apology, each time that we were in company together, I saw more and more of his constancy and character. It was not love at first sight, but it was not long before I could see the difference for my feelings for him versus those that I once believed I had had for the man who ran away like the scared little boy that he is.
“I now know that what I felt for Bingley was infatuation, not love. I was taken in by his attention and compliments, but with a little distance I saw just how vacuous the man is. He has no substance to him, and Richard is his complete opposite. He would walk through fire and back for me, not run at the first sign of trouble like some cowardly man. We will complement each other perfectly; of that I have no doubt. I am so happy Lizzy. How is it possible that anyone deserves this much joy?” Jane tried to reign in her overflowing emotions.
“You deserve this and more. Mr Darcy and even Bingley’s sisters really ended up doing you a great favour. If you do not deserve this, then there is no hope for the rest of us.” Elizabeth laughed when Jane shook her head and smiled sweetly.
“If only I could see you so happy, Lizzy. Are you in love with Mr Darcy? Is he the man that you could love? He is another man that wild horses would not succeed in breaking his resolve. Besides the look on Richard’s face when he looks at me, I have never before seen a man more besotted than Mr Darcy is with you.” Jane turned the conversation and now it was Elizabeth’s turn to blush.
“I am not there yet Jane, and yes, hecouldbe that man. I do not believe it will be too much longer. I just need my head to catch up to my heart. He is a good man, and he has not shied away from facing and correcting his behaviour. My head still remembers bits of him as he was, but I am confident that my heart will win the battle soon and the final barriers to my loving the man will fall,” Elizabeth admitted to her closest confidant.
“Remember you once passed on Charlotte’s advice that you should show more than you feel to secure a man?” Jane asked and her sister nodded. “You may have to give Mr Darcy a sign, as I am sure that he does not want to rush in again unless he knows that you are open to him paying you his addresses.”
“I will think on it, Jane. You may very well have the right of it. Talking of Charlotte, she sent me a note that she had safely arrived at Lucas Lodge last week. Until you mentioned her name, I had forgotten to tell you. Lucas Lodge is a much quieter place for her to mourn. It is a pity that society demands that a widow mourn for a year, even though for Charlotte his passing was a relief, not a tragedy.” Lizzy sighed, wishing that her friend was there with them. The sisters hugged and then headed to their respective bedchambers.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At Matlock House, Richard had just informed his family of his request for a private interview with Lady Jane in the morning.
“You will make the Bennets my sisters, oh thank you Richard!” Tiffany bounced in her chair with happiness.
“Slow down, young lady,” her mother admonished, “we do not know if Richard will be asking for her hand or a courtship. What will you request Richard?”
“If she agrees, I will ask for her hand. After our conversation tonight I am quite confident that she will accept me. She is not the kind of lady that would agree to the first, supper, and final sets otherwise. If she prefers, I will ask for a courtship, but it will be her choice,” he stated, feeling very pleased with himself.
“Jane agreed to three sets in full view of all of the denizens of theTon?” Marie gasped. “If that is the case, then I must agree with you, Brother. If you ask, I believe she will answer in the affirmative.”
“My only worry is that her father will think that I am a fortune hunter. As far as he knows I am a poor second son seeking a wife with a good amount of money. She is of age, but I would never ask her to go against her father.” Richard admitted with no small amount of melancholy in his tone as he tried to figure out how to work through the possible impediment.
“Your feelings do you credit son. You should know that Longbourn knows the truth, and has from the first that he saw your interest in her. He would have stopped you calling on his daughter long ago if that is what he thought of you.” As the Earl informed his son this, the melancholy that had gripped Richard quickly faded.
“Even I have seen how she looks at you younger brother, I believe that you will soon be betrothed to your love.” Andrew slapped his brother on his back as everyone stood to make their way to bed. “I can see that you love her as well, it is the best and only reason to marry. Take it from me, I could have had my pick of theTon, but I fell in love with the daughter of an untitled estate holder and there has never been a second of regret.”
Richard thanked his brother and took himself to his bedchamber to prepare for the night and dream of his love that he hoped would soon be his betrothed.
