Chapter 19 #3
The request was granted and once they were alone talking was not necessary, they fell into each other’s arms and their lips met.
It started with some chaste kisses, but they soon became much more ardent and passionate.
The couple pulled apart, not wanting to take advantage of the trust that had been placed in them and Richard got down on one knee.
“Mary, you know I have loved you for many years, even before I declared myself when you were sixteen and not out yet. At that point, waiting was the only option, but now I find I cannot live without you by my side any longer. Mary Ingrid Bennet, will you put me out of my misery and be my wife. Please will you marry me Mary?” he pleaded, begged, demanded, commanded—all encompassed in a single question—and hoped as any man in his shoes would.
“Yes, Richard, a million times and more, yes. I have loved you for just as long as you have loved me, even longer, I daresay. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. Yes, yes, yes, absolutely and definitely, yes, I will marry you Richard,” Mary replied, choking on a sob of relief and happiness, startled to find it was far more intensely felt than her feelings of sadness.
Happiness was a far more powerful emotion.
She had not understood her mother’s promise that it was so until this moment.
Richard stood and they hugged tightly. Richard then opened the door and asked Mary’s parents to join them.
Consent and blessings were bestowed with alacrity.
When Mary hugged her mother, she whispered she now understood happiness was far more powerful and Fanny smiled knowingly, sorry she had caused her beloved daughter such pain but glad she was now truly happy.
Her other daughters had said they understood, but they did not yet. They would, one day.
“Are you sure you do not want to wait some weeks after Jane is married to have a day just dedicated to you, Mary?” her father asked, and Richard paused and was about to agree to it before Mary held up her hand to silence both.
“I want to be married to my Richard sooner rather than later, Father. Jane and I are so similar in tastes it will be my wedding as much as hers, and even better, I get to share the joy of my day with my beloved sister. Had you suggested I get married in a ceremony with Lizzy, I may have delayed,” Mary teased, and Fanny laughed as she squeezed Mary’s hand.
“That is just what your mother said,” Bennet chuckled, nodding that they were now assured she was happy.
And just like that, three Bennet daughters were engaged.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
During the conference in the study, Andrew Fitzwilliam returned to Snowhaven from Hilldale. He had completed everything he needed so now he could return to Marie’s welcoming arms with his conscience clear. In addition to his wife, he could not wait to hug his son David.
When the four returned to the drawing room, the looks of bliss on both Mary and Richard were enough for one and all to know what had transpired and the couple was surrounded by well-wishers even before Bennet made the official announcement.
Richard’s mother and father were not only overjoyed at officially claiming Mary as a daughter but were deeply relieved he would be soon selling out his commission and resigning from the army.
Without having to be prompted, the Colonel stated he had sent an express to General Atherton tendering his resignation and stating his intent to sell out his commission right away.
When they all headed back to Longbourn, Richard would instead go to London for the sale of his commission, also to have the marriage settlement drawn up.
Jane and Bingley were applied to and agreed with the request for a double wedding. Their acquiescence was applauded by all. It was never thought they would say no, but they appreciated being asked beforehand, not presented with a fait acompli.
That evening’s dinner at Snowhaven became a raucous and very happy engagement celebration.
There were many toasts to the felicity of all three couples and besides being over the moon at gaining Richard as a brother, Georgiana was even more pleased to see her jovial Richard back.
It was considerably later than normal when the carriages departed back to Pemberley.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Once the Pemberley party departed, the Earl, Countess, Bennet, and Fanny retired to the master suite sitting room. The gentlemen were sipping brandy while the ladies had sherry.
“Well, Thomas, we will soon share a son and daughter in addition to gaining Lizzy as a niece. It is long since we have considered all of you family, and now at long last it will be official.” Reggie winked at his Elaine.
“I could not be more in agreement with you, Reggie. What you say, Fanny and I feel as well, and we could not be happier. To gain an honourable son such as Richard would make any father happy. We know he will always treat our Mary well, and there can be no doubt in the shared love and respect they have for each other.” Bennet chuckled.
“I will advise him when she takes one to task it is for good cause, but he will not recover quickly. She inherited that from…” he paused when Fanny cleared her throat, “my mother.” Fanny’s laugh filled the room with Elaine’s lower one mixing in perfectly.
“Thomas, it is good that you and Fanny have decided you will no longer hide from the Ton,” Lady Elaine stated with a sly smile to Fanny.
“Once this engagement is announced following so closely on the heels of William’s marriage and Bingley’s betrothal all to Bennet girls, the excitement to associate with you that you saw when we were in town will grow a hundred-fold.
Your connections and wealth are no longer a secret, but we will have a larger force at work to keep the fortune hunters away from both Kitty and Georgie when they come out. ”
“You know what I was thinking, Elaine? As Kitty and Georgie are so close in age, what say you to our bringing them out together once they are both eighteen?” Fanny suggested, liking it even more now it was said aloud.
“That is an excellent Idea, Fanny. And I think the girls would love the scheme. Even before they were to become sisters through marriage, they were already as close as real sisters could be,” Elaine agreed immediately.
“Thomas, did I understand from Richard correctly that you and Fanny are gifting Netherfield Park to him and Mary after they marry?” Reggie asked seriously.
“That you did, Reggie. Fanny and I decided to do that even before their formal courtship was requested. It will give them a home without Richard having to use his funds he has built up so well over the years, and neither will there be a need to touch Mary’s dowry.
“With the close to six thousand a year from Netherfield Park, and more than four thousand from their combined fortunes, they will not want for anything. At least I hope they will be able to scrape by on ten thousand a year.” Bennet smirked as all three laughed at his joke.
“As we told Richard,” he nodded when they settled, “selfishly we will ensure that at least one daughter will be settled close to our home as the other two will already be closer to yours.”
“I will smother them enough to be mildly annoying at times,” Elaine promised, winning a laugh from the others.
For a moment, Fanny considered what she may have been like before her sons were born with a daughter settled so well close by and had to admit Mary and Richard were very lucky she was not the same person she had been prior to the birth of the twins.
That Fanny would have been at Netherfield Park every day, trying to direct their lives and giving them no space to grow as husband and wife.
Fanny would now visit when invited, give advice where asked, and make sure the couple had all the space they needed to live their lives as they saw fit.
She would not be a cause should they ever choose to move for their own reasons.
“I was elated when Richard informed us that he had already sent an express to General Atherton resigning from the army and asking the General to make inquiries to see if someone would like to buy his Colonel’s commission,” the Countess admitted with a supreme look of relief.
“You have no idea how it makes a mother’s heart sing to know her baby son will not be sent into battle again.
After the battles he was in, Richard was altered.
He was not physically changed, but I could see he was haunted.
It is only now his future is secure that I have seen my Richy return fully.
Thank you, Fanny and Thomas for granting his most favourite wish, and my most ardent one as well, that he will be safe from war and for making sure he has an occupation and a purpose. ”
“What do you think about us all returning to London after Lizzy and William wed?” Bennet suggested as he watched Fanny share in Elaine’s relief and pleasure, grateful she was his wife and as compassionate a woman as he could ever hope to find.
They had long feared for Richard as well, so they were almost as relieved.
Their Mary would not have recovered had he been lost to war.
“Yes, Thomas,” answered his wife, “we need to shop for a trousseau for both Jane and Mary, and I am sure Elaine would like to be with us as we set up our daughters. We will let their desires guide us, and you do not have to say it, Thomas, I promise not to push for too much lace.” Fanny winked lovingly at her husband.
“I am sure Anne will want to come to Town with us to purchase a new wardrobe, she hates the horrid fashions Lady Catherine used to force on her,” Lady Matlock opined. “She has ordered a number of dresses and other items of clothing from Lambton, but she needs to visit Madame Chambourg as well.”
“My niece Anne is always welcome, Elaine,” Fanny arched a brow and Elaine laughed brightly as she nodded in concession.