“Yes, Thomas, I will most certainly marry you,” Louisa replied. Some tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.
Taking his betrothed’s hands, Bennet sat down on the settee next to her. He leaned forward, and rather than kiss her lips, he first kissed her cheek, all over her birthmark. “It is part of you and to me you are a very beautiful lady, so on you, the birthmark is part of your beauty.” Next, Bennet placed his hands on either of her cheeks and bent forward to kiss her lips.
When Thomas’s lips had caressed her birthmark, Louisa’s heart had soared. That was nothing to the feelings his lips on her own elicited within her body.
Bennet sat back a little pleased at the pout his ceasing his kisses had caused. “I do not want to take too much advantage of your brother’s goodwill and abuse his trust. Now, I have two questions for you. Do I need to speak to your brother, and howsoon will we marry?”
“As soon as possible! Seeing that I will turn two and thirty at the end of this month, other than my own, you need no permission from anyone. If you request his blessing, I am sure that Charles would enjoy it though.” Louisa smiled as she thought of something. “If Charles and Jane marry, he will be my brother and son-in-law. Additionally, he would be a son-in-law and brother-in-law to you.”
“If and when those two come together, we will puzzle out the ‘who is what to whom’ then. Thank you, Louisa, you have made me a very happy man. I think we should go see the others who are, I am sure, speculating in the breakfast parlour.”
After helping his affianced to stand up from where she had sat on the settee, Bennet offered her an arm. “Before we leave, do you prefer Louisa or Lulu?”
“I answer to both, but Lulu has always been used by those who love me and are close to me.” It pleased her that he had not mentioned one word about a dowry. Louisa wondered if she should tell Thomas about her dowry now or wait for Charles to discuss it. She chose the latter option. This moment had been too special to cheapen it with talk of money.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Hildebrand saw the couple walk back into the breakfast parlour, both glowing with pleasure, especially Lulu, she jumped up, as fast as her old bones would allow her, even before the footman reached her chair, and was soon in front of her girl. “Lulu, tell me I am correct! Are you to marry Mr Bennet?” She demanded excitedly.
“As you are to be my aunt, please call me Thomas.” Bennet looked at Bingley. “Before your aunt guessed our news, I intended to request your blessing first.”
“Lulu, is this what you want?” Bingley queried as he stood.
“Charles, I have never wanted anything more,” Louisa responded as she looked up at her betrothed with love shining in her eyes.
“You know I could never deny you, even had I desired to, which I do not. Lulu and Bennet, you have my blessing. Welcome to the family, Bennet.” Bingley came around the table, hugged his sister and shook his future brother-in-law’s hand.
The two Darcys and Fitzwilliam added their wishes for a bright future for the newly engaged couple, while Mrs Annesley remained seated.
When the others had reseated themselves, Hildebrand beckoned Bennet over; she was standing a little away from the table. “I do not believe you will ever mistreat Lulu, but if you do, you will answer to me. That girl has been the daughter I never had,” she warned insotto voce.
“That,Aunt, is something you will never have to worry about,” Bennet stated.
“Good,” Hildebrand replied succinctly. “Thomas, will you sit with us? I am sure you and Charles will need to have a discussion after the meal.”
“Thank you, I will. I broke my fast at Longbourn, so if I may, I will have some coffee,” Bennet said as he sat down in a chair next to his betrothed. He was engaged to this wonderful woman. How great that was!
“Charles, we should have a ball to celebrate Lulu’s engagement. It can also act as a way for you to thank your neighbours for receiving you so warmly,” Hildebrand suggested. She did not miss the moue of distaste on Mr Darcy’s face. “Do not concern yourself, Mr Darcy, I will not send aninvitation to Kingston Hall for any of the Kingstons. You are not the only one in the area who eschews their company.”
“Who are these Kingstons, and how did they offend you?” Fitzwilliam questioned.
“Do you remember I told you of my deplorable behaviour at the assembly when I insulted Bennet’s second eldest daughter?” His cousin and sister both nodded. “The lady Miss Bingley mentioned attempted to foist her daughters on me to dance with them.”
“The father is an inveterate gambler, and not a good one, The mother is so keen to marry off her three daughters that she pushed them out into society at the ripe old age of fourteen! There are no sons, but their estate is not entailed away from the female line. The family is not welcomed at the homes of many in the area. Since they tried to force me to marry one of theirchildren, it is well known in the neighbourhood that I will not attend an event where they have been invited. They know better than to approach me at a public gathering, like an assembly.” Bennet turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam. “If you ever suffer the misfortune to be introduced, as soon as Mrs Kingston discovers you are the son of an earl, she will throw her daughters at you too.”
“Like Darcy here, I will never gratify a compromise,” Fitzwilliam stated. “I have faced the Corsican’s army; I am not afraid of a matchmaking mama.”
“There is honour among soldiers; the Kingstons have none,” Bennet stated.
“Then, I will have to hope I never have the misfortune of meeting them,” Fitzwilliam returned.
“When I am Mrs Bennet, Kingston Hall will not be one of the estates included in my calls,” Louisa decided. She looked around and saw no one was still eating or drinking. “If we are all sated, then, Charles, will you meet with Thomas and me inthe study?”
“I am at your disposal, Lulu,” Bingley stated as he stood.
“I will go practise on the pianoforte until we all depart for Longbourn,” Anna informed her guardians. After nods from both, she and Mrs Annesley exited the breakfast parlour.
“Richard and I will go for a ride,” Darcy stated after verifying what his cousin wanted to do.
