Page 162 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Darcy placed the letter on the table. “This morning?”

“This morning.”

Georgiana looked up. “Then you should not keep Miss Bennet waiting.”

Bingley smiled despite himself. “Darcy said the same thing.”

“I did not,” Darcy said.

“You would have.”

Darcy rose. “I shall accompany you as far as Longbourn.”

“Only as far?”

“That depends upon how welcome I find myself.”

They left within the hour. The air held the cool promise of autumn, and the hedges had begun to lose the uniform green of summer. Bingley spoke little during the ride, but his silence held no indecision, and Darcy let it remain unfilled.

Mrs. Bennet saw them before a servant reached the door. By the time they entered, she had arranged Jane near the best light, moved Kitty away from the chair beside her, and informed Lydia in a fierce whisper that any mention of officers would bring consequences. Elizabeth sat near Jane with a book open in her lap, though her attention moved to Darcy as soon as he entered.

Bennet appeared from his library before Mrs. Bennet’s preparations could extend to the furniture.

“Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy.” His gaze moved from one man to the other. “You have the air of gentlemen who have remembered important business.”

Bingley colored but held his ground. “I hope to speak with Miss Bennet.”

“So does her mother, from dawn until sleep rescues the household.” Bennet turned toward Mrs. Bennet before she could protest. “My dear, perhaps you might discover whether Hill has ordered enough sugar to survive the morning.”

“I know how much sugar Hill has ordered.”

“Then you possess knowledge too valuable to remain unshared.”

Mrs. Bennet looked from Bingley to Jane, understood the purpose of the visit, and gathered Lydia and Kitty with promises of news soon enough, while Mary followed because Bennet asked her to find a volume he was not about to read.

Elizabeth rose from the sofa. Sarah, who had slept beneath the table, lifted her head.

“Sarah needs exercise,” Elizabeth said.

Darcy looked at the dog. “I would be glad to assist.”

Bennet opened the library door. “You may assist me first, Mr. Darcy. A father who leaves one daughter unattended should at least pretend to guard another.”

Elizabeth concealed a smile and went outside with Sarah, leaving Jane and Bingley alone.

For several moments, neither spoke. Bingley had imagined this conversation often enough to believe the words would come when he needed them. Instead, he saw Jane’s hands folded in her lap and remembered every occasion on which she had offered him patience when certainty would have served her better.

“I have allowed too many people to influence me,” he said. “I will not do so now.”

Jane raised her eyes to his.

“I love you. I should have trusted what I knew instead of listening to other people.” He moved closer but did not take her hand. “Will you marry me?”

Jane’s eyes filled. “Yes.”

Bingley released a breath that became a laugh. “I had prepared more.”

“You said what matters.”