Chapter 40
Hours Later
Elizabeth always enjoyed the boulanger, both because it was a graceful dance and because it marked the end of a ball. While she was an enthusiast of such events, she was invariably ready to go home and sleep by this hour of the night.
Tonight, however, she found herself in a very different frame of mind. She was partnered with her darling betrothed, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and was full of such joy, such energy, that she thought she would gladly dance for another few hours, so long as he was at her side.
The circle broke, and she and Darcy twirled around, fingers touching fingers, and then she was required, by the movement of the dance, to leave him for another gentleman, Mr. Bingley as it happened, and while Mr. Bingley’s movements were sure and his steps perfect, she felt a strange desolation at being separated, even for a minute, from her beloved Fitzwilliam.
She really was entirely besotted.
And she had never, ever, ever been happier.
***
Drawing Room
The Bennets’ Hired House
Norfolk Street
The Next Morning
Elizabeth sat in the drawing room, next to a small but well-built fire, and took a rapturous sip of tea. She had gone to bed very late but had woken up only four hours later, so excited that she had once more not been able to get back to sleep.
She did not mind, really. The last weeks had been so incredibly busy, and she had not had much time alone. Now, though her eyelids were heavy, and she yawned at regular intervals, she rejoiced at the opportunity to think about her future with her betrothed.
She had never seen Pemberley, of course, but the Darcys had spoken of it many times, and she already felt as if she knew it, at least a little. She would be mistress of Pemberley, and sister to the orphaned Darcy girls, and wife to her darling Fitzwilliam, who loved her with all his heart…
There was a knock at the front door, and she blew out a breath.
It was rather too early for visitors, but then again, money made gentlemen overly eager, and it was quite likely that a gentleman was calling early in the hopes of speaking to her alone, unaware that she was already engaged to the master of Pemberley.
The door opened, and a moment later, a familiar and much-treasured voice spoke. She was on her feet and out the drawing room door as quick as she could move, and she rushed forward to throw her arms around Mr. Bennet.
“Father!” she exclaimed, “Whatever are you … oh, Mary, Kitty, Lydia, Miss Trent. I am so glad to see you!”
The ensuing tumult was both noisy and delightful. Elizabeth found herself embracing her sisters one at a time, while Lydia tried to speak over everyone, and Kitty laughed, and even quiet Mary beamed joyfully.
“Husband, Daughters!” a voice said from the top of the stairs, and everyone looked up to see Mrs. Bennet, still dressed in her nightgown and cap, looking down on them from the upper floor with amusement. “I declare you are louder than a flock of roosters, and Jane is still asleep!”
“No, I am not,” Jane replied, wandering into view, “not with that cacophony of noise. Father, sisters, Miss Trent, it is wonderful to see you!”
“Elizabeth, take the family into the dining room and feed them, and Jane and I will be down as soon as possible,” Mrs. Bennet directed.
“Of course, Mamma.”
***
Dining Room
A Few Minutes Later
“Father told us that Mamma sent an express saying that you were engaged to Mr. Darcy,” Lydia exclaimed as she buttered a scone lavishly, “and that Mr. Darcy intended to ride to Longbourn today to ask for Father’s blessing. And then Mary said that…”
“I said,” Mary continued, “that we all ought to come to London to celebrate with you, and Father kindly said yes, so we packed yesterday evening and left Longbourn at first light.”
Elizabeth turned a grateful look on Mr. Bennet.
“Thank you,” she said simply, her face aglow. “I know you are not fond of Town.”
“No, but I am very fond of you, my dear,” Mr. Bennet said cheerily. “Moreover, given that you will shortly be marrying a wealthy man, I suspect that the settlements may be complicated.”
This was, Elizabeth mused, true enough. Her fortune, and his great wealth, and…
“When are you going to marry, Elizabeth?” Kitty asked eagerly as she cut up a slice of ham.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and admitted, “In truth, I have not even thought about it. We were only formally engaged yesterday morning. But I want to wed soon, very soon, so long as Fitzwilliam does not mind.”
“I do not mind,” a beloved voice said from behind her.
She turned in her chair and was on her feet in a moment, her hands outstretched. “Fitzwilliam,” she breathed, as her youngest two sisters giggled and made admiring sounds.
“My dear Elizabeth,” he replied, kissing her on the forehead. “Mr. Bennet, Misses Bennet, it is good to see you today.”
Mr. Bennet stood as well, and he said, “Mr. Darcy, I assume you received my note?”
“I did,” Darcy agreed, reaching out to shake his future father-in-law’s hand. “Thank you for coming to London, sir.”
“It is my pleasure, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps in an hour or two, we can talk about the wedding settlements?”
“That would be excellent,” Darcy said, releasing Bennet’s hand and smiling at Elizabeth.
***
Study
An Hour Later
The study in the hired house was small, but it faced south, which allowed the sun to warm it, and there was space enough for chairs for four people. Elizabeth sat next to Darcy, her hand in his, while Mr. and Mrs. Bennet sat across from the engaged couple.
“I have been thinking,” Elizabeth said, turning to gaze into Fitzwilliam’s eyes. “Pemberley had a very robust income, and my fortune is incredible. Fitzwilliam, do you think it would be appropriate if some of my fortune went to dowries for my sisters?”
Mrs. Bennet gasped and said, “Lizzy, that is not necessary.”
Elizabeth turned to smile at her parents and said, “It is not necessary, of course, but I have benefited from the love of my sisters my entire life, and would like nothing more than to support my sisters to find their own husbands.”
“We have saved a little for the girls,” Mr. Bennet said.
“How much?” Darcy inquired.
The older couple exchanged glances, and Mrs. Bennet said, “About three thousand pounds for each of the younger girls, while Jane has ten thousand pounds from her mother’s portion.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth, who looked back at him, and then he smiled and said, “Perhaps we could add seven thousand pounds to each of your younger sisters’ dowries? Ten thousand pounds would provide four hundred pounds a year in the four percents, which will give your sisters’ security.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I think that would be wonderful.”
“I am not certain,” Mrs. Bennet began, only to trail away at the determined look on her daughter’s face.
“I am certain,” Elizabeth declared. “I love my sisters and want them to be cared for properly and not have to worry or be pressured to marry due to a lack of income. Now, shall we talk about the date of the wedding?”
***
Drawing Room
Jane’s heart was aglow with joyful contentment as she poured five cups of tea and proceeded to add milk and sugar in five different familiar ways.
She was so very happy to have the rest of her family about her again, her dear beloved sisters reunited.
London had been diverting, indeed, with its parties and plays and operas and visitors, but nothing could replace having one’s own comfortably family nearby.
It was wonderful to see Mary and Kitty and Lydia and Miss Trent again, and she took special care to prepare all their tea precisely how they liked it.
“Do you have any suitors, Jane?” Lydia asked eagerly.
Jane passed a cup of tea to her youngest sister and said, “I do not know if they are suitors, exactly, but I have plenty of courteous gentlemen who pay me compliments and ask me to dance. I have never sat out a dance in London, not yet anyway.”
Kitty’s eyes widened. “Oh, how absolutely marvelous, Jane! Of course, you are so very beautiful that it is no great surprise!”
Miss Trent, who had been largely quiet since their arrival, now said, “I am not certain that your sister does think it is marvelous, Kitty.”
Jane turned a startled look on the family governess and then leaned back against her chair with a rueful smile. “You are very insightful, Miss Trent. Very little escapes you.”
“You are not happy?” Kitty demanded, her heart-shaped face wrinkled in confusion.
Jane pressed her lips together in a line and then said, “I am happy, yes. The problem is … and it truly is a problem, that I have so many gentlemen swarming around me that I cannot … that is … oh dear, that sounds so arrogant, that so many men are…”
She trailed off, strangely tongue-tied, and Miss Trent said kindly, “I think I understand. You and Elizabeth have both been great successes here in Town. Elizabeth is rich and has largely been pursued on that account. You are a remarkable beauty, along with being charming, and it is fashionable for young sprigs of the nobility and gentry to pursue you. It is hard, no doubt, for you to separate out the men who are chasing you because you are the latest rage, or because they actually care for you.”
Jane stared at the governess in wonder and said, “That is exactly it. Exactly. I do have men buzzing around me like bees around honeysuckle, and they all pay me pretty compliments, but it is all at such a surface level. I want to marry a man who genuinely loves me for me, not simply because he approves of my outward appearance, and how can I tell?”
“What of Mr. Bingley?” Mary inquired. “He pursued you before you even left Hertfordshire.”
Jane took a sip of tea and forced herself to think before she spoke. She liked Mr. Bingley, of course. He was honorable and gracious and handsome, but…