Louisa’s eyebrows were raised in question. With the intense, smouldering way Mr Bennet was looking at her, she felt warm all over, hoping against hope it meant what she prayed it did.
Hildebrand Bingley could tell that something had changed for Mr Bennet. She lifted her eyes and begged God toallow her girl happiness.
“Miss Louisa Bingley, if you have the time, may I have a private interview with you?” Bennet requested. He turned to Bingley. “Do I need your permission to address your sister?”
“No, Bennet, you do not. Lulu has been of age for afewyears,” Bingley responded.
“I find I have time now and would be interested to hear what you have to say, Mr Bennet,” Louisa stated as she felt her heart beating at a high rate of speed in her chest. “We will use the study, Charles.”
“I will allow Lulu to determine how much time she needs to hear what you have to say, Bennet, but the doorwillremain partially open, and Iwillsend a maid to sit outside in the hallway,” Bingley stated. He too prayed this meant that his most deserving sister was finally going to get her heart’s desire of having her own family.
Bingley nodded to a footman who positioned himself behind the younger Miss Bingley and pulled her chair back as she stood.
“Shall we?” Bennet offered her his arm. He felt delight at her gentle touch.
They arrived at the study at the same time as one of the maids. She bobbed a curtsy to them and sat down in a chair not too close to the study door. On entering, Bennet closed the door three-quarters of the way. He helped Miss Bingley to the settee, and once she was seated, he paced back and forth a few times.
Knowing that Mr Bennet—Thomas—had to order his thoughts, Louisa sat on the settee as she waited for him to speak. Her hands were folded in her lap.
Bennet stopped and faced the lady he loved. “I have been a fool! I have been so insistent on following that nonsensical pledge I made to myself that I was too blind to see that myhappiness was right before my eyes,” he began.
“Yes, you were. But I knew that if I or any other person had pointed that out to you, that you would not see it until you came to the realisation by yourself. May I ask what changed?”
“It is the Collins effect,” Bennet stated sardonically.
“What is that?” Louisa enquired.
“You are aware of my distant cousin, the one who is the heir presumptive and was to arrive yester-afternoon?” Bennet saw a nod from the lady he loved. “Let me tell you about his very short sojourn at Longbourn…” He related all, including the way the man leered at his daughters and the conversation they had in the study which led to the corpulent halfwit’s eviction. He did not leave out how odiferous the man was. “When he left, I came to realise how I had ignored that which was plain to all who have seen us together, including my daughters.”
“I was worried you would not be able to get past your resolve never to marry again. I suppose in a perverse way, I should thank this cousin of yours for being who he is.” Louisa paused. “I know my birthmark does not bother you or your daughters, but what if others in the neighbourhood make derogatory comments? Oh, but wait, I am presuming too much…” She stopped speaking when Mr Bennet placed a finger on her lips.
“Louisa Bingley, once I allowed myself to see it, I owned that I had fallen in love with you. I swore that if I were to marry again it would be for mutual respect, compatibility, and love. At first, when I found what I was looking for, I was too blinded to see it, thanks to my prejudices caused by my first marriage. When the lady Iusedtolove died, it firmed my resolve to never marry again.
“Never did I think I would meet a woman like you who is my equal in every way. I could never imagine finding someonewho shares my intellectual interests and isalmostas good at chess as I am. I did, and you are that lady. Not only are you my equal, but I dare say you are my better in many ways. I am only sorry it took me so long to see that which was in front of my face.
“Before I proceed, allow me to address your question. No one who I value will make any negative or derogatory comments about your port-wine stain birthmark. Anyone who does will be cut from my life. That being said, am I presumptuous to think that you love me too? As soon as I was willing to open my eyes, I realised that I love you with all that I am.” Bennet looked at Louisa, waiting for her to respond.
“Mr Bennet…”
“Thomas, please call me Thomas, Louisa.”
“Thomas, no, you did not make a wrong assumption. I have been falling in love with you from the first day you called on us and treated me like anyone else. I, too, respect you completely. I can tell you that if you are debating which of two questions to ask me, that a courtship is completely unnecessary.
“Before you ask me what I suspect you want to ask, I have two questions.”
“Ask what you will; I will have no secrets between us.”
“The first one is about your daughters. Did you speak to them before coming to see me, and will they accept me as your wife…if that is what I will be?”
Bennet allowed a laugh to escape. “They asked me why it took me so long to realise you are perfect for me.”
Smiling at Bennet’s response, Louisa asked her second question. “The other thing I need to know is this: are you only thinking of marriage now because you need a son to break the entail? I understand that you cannot countenance thatridiculous man ever getting, what did you call them, hisgrubbyhands on Longbourn. If that is the case, I would understand, but it is better to be open with one another from the start.”
“If we never have any children, or only daughters, I will be just as happy to marry you. If that is the case, I will just have to outlive Collins. Given how obese he is, that may not be too difficult.” Bennet paused as he ordered his thoughts. “I am here because, thanks to his visit my eyes were opened. I respect you too much to have you become a broodmare for me. As much as I would love to have a son, without the deep and abiding love I feel for you, I would not want to marry you. Do you have more questions?”
“No, Thomas, I do not. I am ready to hear your question now.”
“Louisa, will you make my heart whole once again and agree to become my wife?” Bennet requested. He had thought about lowering himself onto one knee, but he was no longer a young buck.
