He knelt before her and asked, “Miss Charlotte Lucas. You gave me back my life, despite my best efforts. Now I wish to return it to you. Will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”
Her answer involved a vigorous nod and more than a few tears.
Some little time later, his aunt handed him a note.
~~~
Richard,
If you are reading this, it means you are engaged to Miss Lucas, and coincidentally that Lady Catherine owes me a crown. I imagine she probably had to propose to bring you to the point, or perhaps I need to procure for her yet another new workbox, but either way I am incredibly happy for you.
Do not get too attached to Pemberley, and pay particular attention to the accounts at Rosings.
Give your intended everything you have, as you will never meet another like her should you live a thousand years.
Darcy
~~~
The last sounds of Beethoven’s Pathétique gradually faded away, and Elizabeth Bennet finally returned to herself. The day’s session had been particularly uplifting, the music raising her seemingly to the very heavens. She thought she might very well die quite happily, but as always, she had to return to earthsooner or later. As she finally became aware of her surroundings, she drew in a gasping breath, realising she was not alone.
She called out, louder than usual, “Who is there? Please identify yourself.”
An unexpected chuckle sounded, and the even more unexpected words, “I am staring at you, Elizabeth.”
“Mr Darcy!”she squeaked.
“Correct. I am incredibly happy to see you.”
“But… but… but… what are you doing here? I hardly expected to run into you on this small island. How improbable! What are the odds?”
“Slim, but perhaps fate has lent us a hand.”
“I am all astonishment.”
“As am I. I am also curious.”
Elizabeth furrowed her brow in perplexity, which the man found to be quite enchanting, and waited for his question.
“How did you always know I was staring at you before, when you do not now?”
“You are surprised a blind woman cannot identify you?”
“That is not surprising at all. It has been well over a year and a half. I always wondered how you did it before.”
“Oh that… may I assume you have a new valet?”
“I do… and I had quite decided to kill this one on the trip over, but perhaps I shall spare him now.”
Elizabeth laughed in good humour. The man had always affected her, but he said the oddest things.
“I could not identify you because your new man prefers a different boot polish.”
“Boot polish?”
“Yes sir. Before, you had quite a distinct smell. That is how I always knew you. It is just a parlour trick, only useful when you are downwind.”
He chuckled, a soft laugh she joined. She had nearly forgotten what a pleasure it had once been to laugh with him.
