Chapter 8 #3
Now Lizzy was blushing from her hairline to the top of her gown.
This reaction told him she was not unaffected by or indifferent to him, so he continued on his path, feeling much encouraged.
“I have always scoffed at the notion of love at first sight, or at least I had until that first time I saw your countenance and your very fine eyes assessing me as you sat in your drawing room.” His colour heightened with the intense way she was looking into his eyes.
Elizabeth worried her lip and blushed into an even deeper shade of crimson.
“From that moment on I could feel my melancholy lifting.
The process had started when I had spoken to your father and felt comfortable enough to confide in him and telling him the tale lightened the load on my shoulders.
However, when I saw you that first time it was like you had lightened the burden on my soul.
“I must inform you that I am usually a very private person who does not like to lay his actions bare for others to see. Your father helped me understand what others had tried to tell me, that I was taking blame for the actions of others, that I had taken on blame not mine to take.” Darcy paused and looked introspective for a moment.
“Now that I have been able to lay the blame where it truly belongs, I find I can live with a positive outlook again, but as I look forward, I know my life would be empty and incomplete without you in it.
“You make me feel whole. You complete me.
It is as if I have been only surviving until I found you, and now I am anxious to live again.
I have never wanted someone who would just defer to me, and you have demonstrated time and time again in our lively debates that you have a very sharp mind of your own.
Nor do I want a mindless trophy wife who mindlessly clings to my arm.
“What I want, no, what I need like I need the air I breathe, is you.
My life without you would be meaningless and empty, would be bleak, and having existed in that state, I know what it means and will do all in my power to avoid such a fate.
Without you, my life will be empty and devoid of pleasure.
“With the intellect and vivacious wit that you have honed, you will challenge me and not back down when needed, I hope you will continue to debate with me even if sometimes you take opinions not your own, and you have said you too will be as happy with a good book in front of a fire rather than so-called polite society in London.
“My life will always be full and interesting with you in it. You are my soul mate. Everything I have seen here tells me that you would not hesitate to be my partner in every sense of the word.
“My parents’ greatest desire for Georgie and me was for us to find our match; the one who would love and complete us.
If they could have met you, they would have seen we were perfectly formed for each other, and you are the only one for me.
Elizabeth Bennet, it may seem quick to some, but please believe me when I say I love you. Most ardently.”
He did not know it yet, but he could not have declared himself with more convincing words which demonstrated his love and respect for Elizabeth. Further, his words helped her allow herself to be open to him in ways she was not sure she ever would be able to with any man.
“I had intended to only ask for a courtship today Elizabeth, but I find I have no questions for which a courtship would be needed to answer. I know I want you to share my life with me, the good and the bad. I know you have a large fortune, but I do not need it.
“I have more than enough for the two of us and any children we may have in the future.
Of course, if you accept me. I have told you how much I love and respect you, but your thoughts and feelings are much more important to me than my own.
I will live and die for you, Elizabeth, for only you, and will do all I can to make sure that in my care none of your days see you come to harm.
“If you, however, feel you are not in love with me yet and that you need to get to know me better, I will request a courtship for as long a period you feel you need. But if, as I truly hope that you do,” Darcy dropped down onto one knee, “if your feelings match mine in any way, then my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, again I confess my everlasting and most ardent love and would ask you make me the happiest of men should you consent to marry me, to be my helpmeet, to allow me the deepest of happiness by being my wife.”
Tears started to roll down Lizzy’s cheeks and at first, Darcy thought she was upset. He was about to apologise and stood up when she rose onto her tiptoes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. Darcy froze; not daring to hope that this meant what he thought it did.
“Yes, William, and yes again. I will marry you, yes, infinite times, yes.
I love you so very much, I could burst with joy.
Almost from our first meeting, I too have been falling in love with you.
When I see how patient you are with my brothers and sisters, your sister, and all the rest of the family, how genuine you are, I am lost. You have demonstrated respect for me in our debates and discussions, you have treated me as an intellectual equal rather than some silly girl to be merely tolerated.
“When we play chess, you really play to win, and I have never detected any animus when I won.” Elizabeth arched an eyebrow with an impertinent look that made him smile and display the dimples that she loved to see.
“Another thing that convinced me how worthy and honourable a man you are was seeing your interaction with the servants.
You treat them with respect, not disdain.
“With just these facts how could I not but love you? When you look at me, I see the love, respect, and esteem which I require my husband to regard me with within your eyes. So yes, William as previously stated, I will marry you. I too do not need a courtship to find out what I have known for a while, that you are the only man I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.” Elizabeth’s heart filled to almost bursting and she sniffled as any moment of great joy requires.
Darcy was overcome by her answer, so it took some moments for him too to regain his sensibilities. “Do you prefer Elizabeth or Lizzy?” he asked glowing with happiness.
“Either my love,” she replied softly, and her response sounded like music to his ears.
Their lips met again in a longer, deeper, and more passionate kiss heavy with the promise of more to come in the future, until a voice intruded and made them pull apart.
“Hey! Darcy and Lizzy, what do you think you are doing?” James demanded.
The newly declared engaged couple blushed with embarrassment for having forgotten the twins were not too far away in the park.
They looked up and saw both boys glaring at them as they strode closer.
“This better mean you are to be our brother!” Tom stated with authority as they reached the furiously blushing couple.
“I have just proposed, and Elizabeth has accepted my hand. Unless your father refuses my suit then yes, we will be brothers,” Darcy replied with the widest of smiles, one that displayed his dimples again and made his fiancée’s stomach flutter. His small Darcy family would expand exponentially.
“You should smile more often. You are so very handsome when you smile like that.” Elizabeth leaned toward him speaking softly so only he would hear.
“After you speak to Papa, I expect you to come to James and me and get our approval as well!” Tom smirked as he ribbed William as the twins walked the newly declared lovers back toward the house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr. Bennet entered the drawing room with a grinning Charles Bingley just as the four from outside arrived.
“Bingley here has requested a courtship with Jane, and she has accepted him, which makes the second today although we all expected Richard’s request this week.
” Bennet stood up proud and tall, glad his daughters were finding just the kind of men he hoped keeping their dowries secret would attract.
As everyone was congratulating the second newly courting couple, James went up to his father. “Papa, I think William wants to talk to you,” he stated quietly.
Bennet glanced at his Lizzy and surmised he was about to be asked for a third courtship, so he indicated for Darcy to follow him into his study.
Once in the study with the door closed, Bennet sat behind the desk while Darcy sat stiffly in front of it, guessing correctly that Bennet expected another courtship request.
Darcy cleared his throat and then started to speak nervously.
“Mr. Bennet, if you are expecting another request for a courtship, I must disabuse you of that notion.” He noticed a questioning look on Bennet’s face.
“I am here to ask for Miss Elizabeth’s hand in marriage,” Darcy stated plainly so there could be no confusion about his intent or desires.
Bennet and his wife had both seen this was inevitable, that Lizzy and William suited each other like a hand in glove, but Bennet had not expected this exact request today. “Her hand in marriage?” Bennet asked with no little surprise.
“Yes sir, I asked Eliza...Miss Elizabeth for her hand and she has granted my fondest wish and my deepest desire. She has honoured me by accepting me as her fiancé,” Darcy informed Bennet.
“I see,” Bennet said noncommittedly as he rang a bell. Hill knocked once on the door and opened it. “Please request Mrs. Bennet and Miss Elizabeth join us, and thank you, Hill.”
Hill silently closed the door and very soon it opened to admit Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy.
Once everyone was comfortably seated, Bennet turned to address his partner in life, his beloved Fanny.
“Darcy has not asked for a courtship like we speculated, my love. He asked for her hand in marriage and has told me that Lizzy accepted him,” Bennet explained.