“Mary Eloise Bennet, I could make a long flowery speech, but I do not think one is needed. Neither do I believe you to be someone who would require such.” He watched as she nodded her agreement without speaking. “Mary, I love and respect you with the whole of my being. You are the first and only woman who has interested me romantically. That being said, Mary, will you do me the singular honour and agree to be my wife? Mary, will you marry me?”
“As your question was not a long one, I will reply in kind. Yes, Richard, I will marry you, andonlyyou.”
Even though his knees were not what they once were before he had ridden his charger into and out of battle, Fitzwilliam stood relatively quickly. He tugged on Mary’s hands, and she was soon standing before him. It was not long before their lips met in mutual desire and agreement. The advantage of not making a long speech was that there was more time to shower his beloved Mary with kisses, which she returned with as much, if not more, passion.
They still lost track of time and jumped apart with the deep bass resonance of the man outside clearing his throat. Mary informed her betrothed it was Johns on duty in the hall. She stepped back and opened the door, letting Johns know that all was well within.
Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam fought to make the reaction to kissing Mary shrink.
“Richard, I will go call Papa. I assume you need me to walk slowly?” Mary asked saucily as she arched an eyebrow.
All Fitzwilliam could do was nod.
Thankfully, before Bennet entered the study, Fitzwilliam’s problem was no longer evident. Thanks to the conversation they had before the interview, permission and blessings were bestowed with the minimum of teasing from Bennet.
The two courting couples had just arrived back at Longbourn and entered the drawing room when Bennet walked in, followed by a widely grinning Fitzwilliam.
“Mary, join me.” Bennet held out his hand to his middle daughter. “I am pleased to tell all of you that Mary has accepted Fitzwilliam, and they are officially engaged,” he announced as soon as Mary joined him.
While congratulations flowed freely, three men looked at the ladies they were courting longingly. Bingley believed that Jane was ready to hear him propose, but he would wait until the ball. Darcy hoped that Elizabeth would accept him, but he was not sure yet, so he decided he would see if she would give him some sort of signal at the ball. Franklin Lucas knew that Mandy would agree to be his wife, but her uncle had insisted on a two-month courtship. Because of that, he still had a little more than one month before he was allowed to propose.
Anna had been very vocal about how happy she was at gaining a Bennet sister as a cousin. Once the cacophony of good wishes calmed, she had looked at her brother and intimated she would love to have all of them as sisters.
Fitzwilliam approached Bennet. “Bennet, may I take Mary to Netherfield Park to share the good news with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law?” Fitzwilliam requested.
“I have no objection, as long as one of the companions is with you,” Bennet agreed.
With Mrs Dudley as chaperone, the newly engaged couple departed soon.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Matlock and Hilldale had been playing billiards while the ladies, including Anne, went over the arrangements for the ball. The gentlemen would be summoned to tea shortly.
“Everything is as it should be,” Lady Matlock announced. “Hildebrand has done a capital job, especially seeing as she has never planned a ball before.”
Before Hildebrand could respond to the compliment, a beaming Mary and Richard walked into the drawing room, followed by Mrs Dudley. All conversation ceased, and every pair of eyes swung to the newly arrived couple in anticipation.
“Mother, Father, Marie, Andrew, Anne, and Aunt Hildebrand, it is my distinct pleasure and honour to tell you that I proposed to Mary and she has accepted me. Bennet gave his consent and blessing so it is official,” Fitzwilliam announced to everyone, even though they had all divined what he wanted to say before he opened his mouth to deliver the good news.
Lady Matlock, like she did when she first met Mary, moved speedily to pull her future daughter-in-law into a warmhug while Matlock and Hilldale clapped Fitzwilliam on his back.
“You will call me Mother from now on, will you not?” Lady Matlock stated. “And my husband will be Father because you call Thomas, ‘Papa’, do you not?”
“I will be happy to call you both such,” Mary agreed. “Yes, I call him Papa.”
Marie and Anne soon hugged Mary, welcoming her to the family. Lastly, Aunt Hildebrand offered her hearty congratulations.
Hildebrand turned to the other ladies in the room. “The ball should celebrate Mary and Richard’s engagement as well as Lulu and Thomas’s marriage.” She saw Mary was about to object. “Mary dear, I will speak to them, but I am certain that neither of them will object. Could you imagine either Lulu or your father saying they do not want to share the honours with you and Richard?”
“No, I do not suppose they would,” Mary conceded.
“We are all to have dinner together; I will speak to Lulu and your father then so that we do not make assumptions. I am so happy for you and Richard, Mary,” Hildebrand enthused.
“Aunt Hildebrand, I know you normally do not dance, but on the morrow will you make an exception if a certain clergyman who just returned to his parsonage should ask you?” Mary asked slyly. “Do not look so surprised. You are not the only one who is able to spot couples in love.”
It had been many years since she had, but Hildebrand blushed deeply. She nodded her head that she would dance if asked,
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
