Chapter Seventeen #2
“You are fortunate, Mr. Darcy,” she teased, “that your answer is so reasonable, and I am reasonable enough to accept it.”
He captured her hand. “Let us walk. I love being outdoors.”
“I am excited,” she said looking up at him, “to see Pemberley again. I wish to walk its many pathways.”
“I have much of our home I wish to share with you, Elizabeth.”
“Despite our contentious times at Rosings, our walks produced some fond memories. The field of wildflowers was beautiful!”
“You were beautiful, turning around and around in it. I had difficulty containing my ardor! That image has lulled me to sleep on many a night.”
“You did not think me foolish?”
“Elizabeth, you have no idea what effect you had on me.”
“Had, sir?”
He scoffed, “I am not the man I was then.”
“Thank goodness, neither of us are what we were then.”
They walked on in silence for a few moments. Finally, she tentatively began again. “I was eager to travel to Hunsford. Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins had placed a wedge in our relationship. I missed my friend, but I dreaded seeing Mr. Collins again.”
“Because of his proposal?” His knowledge of her private affairs surprised her.
“I cannot say, Elizabeth, that it gave me much pleasure to know I was in the same category as the colorful Mr. Collins. The only pleasure I received from its knowledge was you would not settle in a marriage. I must earn your love.”
“My mother wished me to marry Mr. Collins no matter how unsuitable a match.”
“Then how did you avoid it? Did your father, too, not insist?” Although he knew Mr. Bennet permitted Elizabeth the choice, Darcy asked the question.
Elizabeth fondly remembered her father’s support against Mrs. Bennet’s will. “No, sir, he did not. He simply said if I did not marry Mr. Collins, Mama would never speak to me again, and if I did agree to marry Mr. Collins, he would never see me again.”
Darcy laughed softly. “Hopefully, he did not say something similar to you about me, but I must thank your father for his insight. When I heard of the proposal I … I cannot explain … the revulsion of the idea … Mr. Collins and you brought about murderous thoughts.” His features darkened suddenly with the words.
Elizabeth soothed his brow with her fingertips. Fortunately, the approach of Bingley and Miss Bennet interrupted his apprehension. “We return to the house for some refreshments,” Jane began. “May we all go together?”
“Yes, it seems we have mutual plans to discuss.”
The couples sat together in the drawing room at Longbourn.
Mrs. Bennet graciously went into the village to spread the news of Elizabeth’s “conquest” to her sister Mrs. Phillips and to Lady Lucas.
She took both Mary and Kitty with her so the two couples served as each other’s chaperones.
Jane Bennet served the tea and the afternoon cakes and fruit.
“Mr. Darcy, I cannot tell you how happy Charles and I are that you and my sister have finally found each other. We have often spoken of the possibilities, but we never thought it would happen. We wish you the same happiness we expect for ourselves.”
“Yes,” Bingley added with a smirk. “Miss Elizabeth, we are relieved you are putting my friend from his misery.”
Elizabeth smiled. “It is my true pleasure, Mr. Bingley.”
“I offer you similar congratulations, Miss Bennet,” Darcy began. “Everything has come about so quickly, none of us have had time to reflect on our good fortune.”
“Darcy,” Bingley said with a smile, “it appears our brides have landed on an idea which requires our mutual approval.”
“They are artful women.”
Both ladies blushed slightly, but it was Elizabeth who recovered her voice first. “Jane and I are so close. William, you and Mr. Bingley are such great friends. Our idea was to share our wedding day.”
Darcy said cautiously, “I can think of nothing more pleasant than to marry you as soon as possible.” He squeezed the back of her hand. “But as Bingley is my dear friend, I would not wish to intrude on his day with your sister.”
“Nonsense, Darcy,” Bingley interrupted. “I can think of nothing I would enjoy more. We are friends. We will be brothers on the same day.”
Darcy hesitated before agreeing. “If you are confident, Bingley,” Darcy leaned forward to shake his friend’s hand. “I fully accept. It is settled between us.”
“May we set a date?” Miss Bennet asked.
“I would wish to marry before the Festive days,” Elizabeth added. She lowered her eyes, realizing how boldly she had spoken, but Darcy reached across the seat and captured her hand to bring it to rest in his lap. He would not have her ever to fear her opinions did not matter.
Jane Bennet reiterated her sister’s opinion. “It is nearing the end of the first week of October,” she summarized. “The earliest date we could consider with planning the ceremony and a proper calling of the banns would be early November.”
“November,” Bingley thought about it for a few seconds, “would be acceptable.”
“William?” Elizabeth turned to him. “I planned to speak to you privately, but this conversation leads me to it sooner than I intended.”
“Go on, Elizabeth,” he encouraged. “You need only to ask, and if it is in my power, it is yours.”
“I … I am ashamed to speak so in front of your friend,” she stammered.
“Miss Elizabeth, you are to be my sister soon,” Bingley responded. “I will not judge you ill for what you say among us four.”
“I really do not know how to broach the subject without appearing greedy or prideful.” Darcy’s light chuckle encouraged her. “When Mama heard of my marrying William, you can imagine her surprise.”
Jane Bennet snorted with suppressed laughter. “You will be happy to know, Mr. Darcy, the news literally silenced our mother for some time.” Darcy smiled at the playful wit of his new sister. It was something he had not expected to find.
Elizabeth began again. “Mama, in her ravings, said something I did not consider previously, but I will ask if it is possible. Mama suggested a special license.”
“Elizabeth!” Jane gasped.
Darcy’s eyes could not be diverted from the ill-at-ease look on Elizabeth’s face. “Is such your wish, Elizabeth?”
“The honor of a special license means nothing to me. I do not see it as a symbol of status, and I care not for a large wedding. Family and a few friends are all I require. A special license just means we must not wait so long.”
“I would wish for no more either, Charles,” Jane Bennet added.
“A special license? Can we arrange such a convenience, Darcy? I would need to write to the Earl of Griffin and …”
Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “A special license is rarely done beyond the aristocracy. The archbishop is quite adamant about such formality. I could likely … possibly … speak to the archbishop’s secretary. Canterbury is my godfather.”
“The Archbishop of Canterbury is your godfather?” Elizabeth gasped.
“Yes.” Darcy did not want to say it would cost Bingley a large bag of gold to achieve a special license, and, even then, it would likely not occur.
It would be necessary to emphasize Bingley’s thin connections to the Earl of Griffin.
“If Elizabeth wishes a special license, I will return to London and Doctors Common to apply for one immediately.”
“I simply wish to be your wife, William, as soon as possible, but I see no reason to travel to London for a special license.”
“There is no need for the banns,” he reminded her.
“Both Bingley and I can afford a common license, and this is the parish for three of you. Miss Bennet is of age, and I am assuming your parents will provide you permission to marry me. The license is good for three months, but it only requires a waiting period of seven days. An ordinary license would expedite the service and elevate our joining above a simple calling of the banns.”
Jane Bennet ventured, “I do not require my betrothed to go to such lengths simply to marry me. A bishop’s license will be adequate.”
“Mama must be satisfied with an ordinary license,” Elizabeth declared.
“Are you confident?” Darcy asked. “It would be no trouble.”
“I do not wish for your absence from the neighborhood, William. I feel we still have much to learn of each other.”
Miss Bennet said, “With that settled, what date will we choose?”
“Monday—a fortnight,” Elizabeth offered. “Enough time for planning and for Mr. Darcy’s and Mr. Bingley’s relations to arrive.
“Our poor mother,” Jane began. “Her nerves will be such a flutter.”
Realizing her mother preferred her other sisters, Elizabeth offered, “But she will only go through it once. Two daughters married on the same day and at the same time will permit our mother to have bragging rights over her friends, as well as preventing her from driving each of us to Bedlam.”
“I should make arrangements for Georgiana to join us. I may bring her to Netherfield, may I not, Bingley?”
“Assuredly, Darcy, you need not ask.”
Darcy turned to the man whose friendship he had never valued properly until of late.
“It seems our days are numbered, Bingley.” Darcy laughed lightly, but he squeezed Elizabeth’s hand to reassure her that his speech was in jest. “This evening at Netherfield, you and I will review the legal matters, the marriage articles, and the church. We should call on Mr. Williamson today. I will send for Georgiana. Are your sisters on their way?”
“They will arrive next week. I will wait to inform them of the change in plans. Their arrival will be soon enough.” Charles Bingley’s countenance displayed the angst he felt concerning his sisters. Jane Bennet, sensing his discomfort, interlocked her arm through his.
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy offered her a slight nod of the head, “you have earned the regard of one of the finest men I know.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” She smiled as Bingley caught her hand in his.
Elizabeth then showed her sister the lace Darcy presented her. “Is that not the same lace you wanted in London?”