"Well, that is good to know," Gardiner said with a grin. "I believe you have already obtained her father's consent, have you not?"
“I have.”
“Then let me be the first to congratulate you!” He reached over and shook Darcy’s hand.
“Thank you!” Darcy said with a wide grin.
“I know you realize how special Lizzy is. Treat her well.”
“I will, sir,” he promised.
Chapter 31
After leaving Fitzwilliam with Uncle Edward, Elizabeth went to the parlor. Her aunt and sisters looked at her in anticipation.
“Fitzwilliam and I are engaged,” Elizabeth announced, her happiness clear to all.
They each jumped up to embrace her with exclamations and wishes of joy.
“Oh, let me see,” Aunt Madeleine said, taking Elizabeth’s hand to admire her ring. “Elizabeth, it is beautiful!”
Her sisters also took turns looking at it and complimenting her betrothal ring.
“My niece, the mistress of Pemberley!”
Elizabeth laughed. “Thank you so much, Aunt, for the support and advice you have given me.”
Aunt Madeleine hugged her again. “Oh, I am only glad I was able to help. Your uncle and I are so pleased you have found such an excellent man. He will love and care for you the way you deserve, I have no doubt. We could not be happier for you.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Thank you, Aunt Madeleine. Fitzwilliam asked me if I would be comfortable marrying a month from now. I know Mama will not like the idea at all. She will want to boast to her friends about having a daughter engaged to a rich man and parade the two of us around the neighborhood for as long as she is able. I am not opposed to marrying in a month, but I wanted to get your opinion. What do you think? Is it possible to get everything done in the space of four weeks?”
“Oh, certainly! When planning a wedding, there are some things that require only a week or so to accomplish, while other things like your wedding gown and trousseau will probably take longer. If the modiste can have your wedding gown and a few other things ready at least a handful of days in advance, the rest of the trousseau can be obtained later if necessary.”
“Not to mention I recently acquired quite a few new things thanks to you and Uncle, so I shall not be in dire straits in any case,” Elizabeth said.
“Very true! I suggest we visit Madame Dupont in the morning to learn her availability. I suspect whatever it is, she will not wish to lose the opportunity of designing the wedding gown and trousseau for the new Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley,” Aunt Madeleine said, quirking a brow. “Another thing that takes time is the reading of the banns. Everything else that must be accomplished for the wedding can easily be done in a week or so.”
At that moment, her uncle and Fitzwilliam came in to join them. Uncle Edward congratulated her while her aunt and sisters expressed their congratulations to Fitzwilliam.
“Perhaps Miss Darcy would like to join us this evening for a celebratory dinner?” Aunt Madeleine asked. “I expect your cousin will be here sometime today as well.”
“I am certain my sister would love to be here,” Fitzwilliam replied. “If I may have use of the escritoire, I will ask Fitz to accompany her.”
“Of course! Please, help yourself to whatever you need,” Aunt Madeleine said.
“Thank you.”
Elizabeth walked with him to the escritoire. He penned messages to both Georgiana and his cousin, then gave them to Fletcher. Afterwards, Elizabeth told Fitzwilliam that her aunt suggested she visit the modiste before settling on a date for the wedding.
"We shall visit the modiste in the morning. Perhaps Georgiana would like to come,” Elizabeth said.
“If I know my sister, she will definitely wish to accompany you,” he said with a grin.
Later, when his cousin and Georgiana arrived, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam told them of their engagement. His sister and cousin expressed their delight at the news and offered their congratulations. Georgiana also happily accepted the invitation to join Elizabeth in shopping for her wedding clothes.
A few days later, Darcy was in his study attending to correspondence when he came across an invoice from a modiste that his sister did not use. The note that accompanied it read:
Mr. Darcy,
