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Lizzy gave a hollow laugh. "Not as surprised as I, I can tell you that."

"Oh," Charlotte said, her eyes widening. "Then there has not been some secret affair between the two of you? I rather thought perhaps the reason for a hasty marriage was—"

"No, Charlotte," Elizabeth interrupted. "I have not been ruined in any manner, I assure you. Mr Darcy’s declaration and his request for my hand was quite out of the blue. The only relationship we have had is that which you have seen before you."

She supposed that wasn’t entirely true. There was that one walk that she had not mentioned, but she didn’t think that could make much difference.

"And yet you are happy to accept him," Charlotte said, and Elizabeth was sure she was wondering why, when Lizzy had turned down Mr Collins, who owned their very home, she was willing to marry Mr Darcy.

He had more money, that was for sure, and was better-looking, but she did not think she was quite so vain as that. And yet she hoped Charlotte would not ask, for how could she say without causing offence what a distasteful prospect marrying Charlotte’s husband had been for her?

"I am sure he has only offered marriage because of the situation I am in, with father having passed away and mine and my sisters’ future so uncertain."

Charlotte frowned. "I think a gentleman, especially one of Mr Darcy’s wealth and position, is unlikely to propose marriage simply out of feeling sorry for someone," she said. "I think he must hold some affection for you, Lizzy, and I hope that you do for him also, for I know how much a marriage built on love was important to you."

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly and glanced away. Yes, it had indeed always been important to her, but now she rather found she had no choice but to humble herself. Maybe she should have humbled herself a long time ago, as Charlotte had done, and accepted that a good marriage was worth a great deal.

"I can’t imagine why else he would have offered marriage," Elizabeth said, omitting the fact that he had said he loved her.

But he couldn’t, could he? They did not know one another well enough for that, surely.

"But I believe that Mr Darcy and I will do tolerably well together. After a fashion," she said.

"You will do tolerably well," Charlotte said. ‘My, my, Lizzy, these are not words I thought I’d hear from you. I just want you to be happy. You know how terrible I feel that Longbourn will become my home—"

"You must not feel terrible, my dear Charlotte. It is the way of things. No one has made a conscious decision for it to be so. It just is. And Mr Darcy has asked me to marry him. And I have accepted. And I do believe that my life and the lives of those I love will be greatly enriched by it," she said, keen to reassure her friend that all was well.

She could not say she loved the man. She could not say at the moment she particularly liked him, considering what he’d done to Jane. But there was something. Something within him that she was willing to accept as a husband.

And she was willing to sacrifice her own future love match to make sure that her family would be provided for and could live the life that they ought to lead, the life they would have been leading had Papa not passed away so suddenly and without the necessary provisions.

"Very well, then," Charlotte said. "Well, I am happy for you if you are happy, my dear. Mr Collins is, of course, very concerned about what Lady Catherine will think."

Elizabeth laughed. "I’m sure he is. And I’m very interested myself to hear what she thinks of the news, I must say, although I doubt it will be in my favour."

"But still," Charlotte said, "Mr Darcy knows that and still wishes to marry you. He must love you a great deal."

Chapter Eighteen

Elizabeth tried again that evening to pen a letter to Jane and one to her mother. But she just couldn’t figure out what exactly to say.

Her mind was full of questions. Questions they would have and questions she did not have the answers to.

When would they marry? She was still in mourning, really. Society's expectations would dictate that they wait until she was out of mourning. And yet, if they waited that long, she wondered if she might not be putting her family in a difficult situation for longer than necessary.

This man had offered to marry her, presumably out of concern for her situation, and she had agreed to marry him because of concern for her family’s situation. So if she wanted them to get the very best out of this, then a quicker marriage would surely be prudent.

She went to bed that night feeling churned up. It didn’t seem real that she was to marry Darcy and that her father wouldn’t be there to see her wedding. That was hard to imagine, too.

The next day, she sat down again at the desk in her room after breakfast and forced herself to pen a short missive to Jane.

She could not bear to think that her sister did not know of this momentous change in her life. She would have to explain it all more fully in person. That was for certain. But for now, this handful of words would have to do.

My dearest Jane,

I have news that may surprise you, but I wished to tell you first. Mr Darcy, who you will remember from his time at Netherfield, has asked me to marry him and I have agreed.

I cannot answer any further questions, for I do not know the answers myself, but know that I am content with my decision and that he means to be a good husband.