Chapter 31 #2
The courting couple returned to the drawing room, and Gigi and the three youngest Bennets agreed they would also like some time in the park. The companions were thankful they were not needed to join their charges in the cold.
It did not take long before all six had donned their outerwear to protect against the chilly air and headed out of the front door towards the park. “Cousin William, when will Arthur and the Hursts arrive?” Tommy asked as they walked towards the grass, which was now brown and dormant.
“I believe they and Bingley will be here around midday. Arthur had some lessons this morning, but I know he is in anticipation of being with you.” Darcy turned to his beloved. “I am sure you are aware Tisha cannot wait to see you.”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded that she knew Tisha would want a story, preferably one which included a fairy princess in it.
Regardless of what their father would have preferred, Catherine and Lydia led Gigi and Tommy to the swing suspended under the oak, leaving Lizzy and William to speak where no one could hear them.
Elizabeth knew she would need to thank her younger sisters later.
It was time to be bold, so to that end, she led William into the little wilderness area in the park.
The shrubs and bushes were all stark now, having shed their leaves already, and they could be seen from where the swing was; however, they had relative privacy.
“William, the aim of a courtship is to determine if a couple wants to marry, is it not?” Elizabeth queried.
“It is,” Darcy replied, somewhat nervously, as he knew not what she meant.
“And do you have any doubts that you want me to become your wife?” Elizabeth continued.
“None whatsoever!”
“As I too am sure that you are the only man I could ever agree to marry, what are you waiting for? It is normally the province of men to ask and for us delicate ladies to either accept or refuse. William, if you are nervous to ask me that particular question, would it be simpler if I asked you?”
Darcy’s whole countenance lit up as he beamed a smile which displayed his dimples fully. It seemed that his dream of having Elizabeth as his wife was about to come one massive step closer. “I would like to hear what you want to ask,” he returned.
“William Alexander Darcy, I find that I love you with all that I am and could not imagine a version of my future which does not include you, even if I wished it. You are honourable, compassionate, and generous. If I knew nothing else about you, the way you treat Gigi would have been enough for me to love you, but there is so much more. As you are the only man for me, William, will you marry me and agree to be my husband?”
“Yes, Elizabeth Rose Bennet, I love you most ardently with my head, heart, body, and soul, and like you, I could never marry another. Yes, I will marry you, and I will be your husband.”
As much as both wanted to seal their new understanding with a kiss, with them being in view of their sisters and Elizabeth’s brother, they fought their inclination and did not allow their lips to meet.
The smouldering look which passed between them promised that as soon as they had a moment of privacy, they would correct that oversight.
While Tommy was swinging, the three young ladies were shooting surreptitious looks at Lizzy and William. “I think William did it,” Georgiana gushed.
“Did what?” Tommy demanded, his eyebrows knit in question.
“We think William asked Lizzy to be his wife and that she accepted him,” Catherine explained to the youngest Bennet.
“Lizzy will leave just like Jane did,” Tommy said with a pout.
“It is the way of the world, Tommy. We girls eventually marry and leave our father’s home for our husband’s,” Lydia stated soothingly.
“Mary and Catherine, will also marry and leave one day?” Tommy asked tremulously.
“By the time Lydia and I do, you will be at Eton, and even possibly Cambridge. Mary may be sooner than that,” Catherine replied.
Tommy looked very thoughtful as the smiling couple approached those around the swing. “I think we should return indoors; it is rather cold out here today,” Elizabeth suggested.
“We thought you and William may say that,” Lydia smiled. “Is it because William needs to speak to Papa on a particular subject?”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth managed as she blushed scarlet from the roots of her hair to where her neck was covered by her thick winter coat. She recovered her equanimity somewhat. “I cannot say!” She lifted her nose in the air like she had seen Caroline Bingley do.
The three girls giggled. No one objected to making for the warmth of the house.
Once divested of their outerwear, the four young ladies and Tommy made for the drawing room while Darcy headed to the study to see Bennet. He knocked on the door and was bade to enter.
Bennet looked at Darcy expectantly.
“I am before you to beg your consent and blessing for Elizabeth and me to marry,” Darcy requested.
The shock of the request made Bennet’s eyebrows shoot up. He had seen them through the windows looking out over the park and had been satisfied when he had seen the three youngest girls and Tommy with Lizzy and Darcy. “How did you manage to propose with the others so close?” he queried.
“I did not propose,” Darcy said cryptically.
“You did not propose? If that be the case, is it not premature to request my permission? Surely you must know that Lizzy would not be happy if you came to me before speaking to her.” Bennet leaned back, interlacing his hands across his belly, feeling much relieved.
“When I said that, I did not propose that was the truth. However, I never said that a proposal was not made and accepted,” Darcy responded. Knowing how much Bennet enjoyed making sport, he was happy to return the favour.
“Then how…” Bennet was confounded until it hit him. “Elizabeth proposed to you!”
“Indeed, and I happily accepted her. Hence, I am here seeking your approval and blessing.” Darcy felt very satisfied by the shock on Bennet’s countenance. The man looked flummoxed.
“With Lizzy, I should have realised it would not be a traditional proposal.” Bennet shook his head.
“Although I would love to hold onto Lizzy, as well as all of my daughters, for many more years, I am not so selfish as that. Yes, Darcy, you have my permission and blessing to marry Elizabeth. I would appreciate a six-week engagement at a minimum. We do not need anyone speaking of a patched-up affair.”
“We have not discussed a wedding date yet, but if I were to guess, Elizabeth will want Jane at the wedding, and I believe it is still at least two months before Jane and Andrew will agree to travel with Robert, and I am certain that they will not leave him at home.” Darcy paused.
“I will have a draft settlement for you within a sennight.”
“Do you not need to know about Lizzy’s dowry for that?”
“I have heard that it is around two thousand pounds, but that matters not. I have more than enough money already, and I plan to use the same settlement for Elizabeth that my father used for my mother. Elizabeth will never want for anything, even if I meet an untimely end.”
“What you heard is what I wanted to be known in order to ward off fortune hunters. Last time I spoke to Gardiner, the dowry was around eight and twenty thousand pounds. Not for all four remaining unmarried girls; rather, it is each,” Bennet announced.
“It will be left under Elizabeth’s control,” Darcy insisted once the surprise wore off.
“That talk is premature. Do not forget Lizzy will have something to say on the subject.” Bennet stood and extended his hand. “Welcome to the family, Son.”
When the two men walked into the drawing room, they found that an announcement was superfluous. Fanny had not missed Elizabeth’s dreamy look, and it had not taken her long to wheedle the information out of her second daughter.
It was into this celebration that the Hursts and Bingley walked.