Chapter 31
On Monday night during Lord Holton’s last dinner at Pemberley, he cleared his throat grabbing the attention of his family and friends towards him, “Lady Anne, Darcy, Georgiana, Miss Bennet; Miss Lucas and I have an announcement.”
He reached out and took Charlotte’s hand in his.
Lady Anne smiled knowingly and asked, “What could that be?”
“Well, God works in mysterious ways,” he looked lovingly at Charlotte who blushed prettily.
He then kissed her hand in front of all, “Miss Lucas has accepted my proposal of marriage, and we are engaged.” He beamed. “She has made me the happiest of men.”
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open in a most unladylike fashion, “Charlotte?”
“It is true, Elizabeth, Lord Holton has made me the happiest and most fortunate of women.”
“We are so happy for you, Charlotte,” Lady Anne said smiling a very self satisfied smile.
“Why do you think I invited you to come to Pemberley with us after inviting Duncan to also come here on his way home? It was because of all my young acquaintances, I knew no better candidate to become the next Lady Holton than you.”
“Did you plan this, Aunt?” Holton asked dumbfounded.
The lady nodded unapologetically, “I certainly did. I know you, Duncan, and the little that I had seen of Miss Lucas in Hertfordshire had convinced me that no better lady would be found in the entire Kingdom that would match you more perfectly than her.”
“It was a bit of a gambit, Mother.” Darcy remarked, “But it seems you were right, whether by design or simple coincidence it is yet to be determined.”
“Coincidence? Preposterous!” Lady Anne laughed. She then turned to the young couple and raised her glass of wine, “to Lord Holton and the new future Lady Holton, Earl and Countess of Dundee.”
They raised their glasses and congratulations flowed readily from everyone.
Once they retired to their room for the night, Elizabeth invited Charlotte to her bedchamber for a little chat,
“How are you feeling, Charlotte?”
Charlotte smiled and looked younger and prettier than she had in many years, “Oh Elizabeth, I cannot tell you how happy I am. Could you imagine me, little Charlotte of Lucas Lodge with no beauty, no dowry, not even a genteel birth, would become the new Countess of Dundee?”
“Yes, I certainly could. I cannot imagine anyone more worthy, my dear Charlotte.”
Charlotte bit her lip and looked at Elizabeth intently, “you are not disappointed, are you? Duncan told me that he proposed to you only last week and you refused him.”
Elizabeth drew her friend into her arms in an affectionate embrace.
“Oh Charlotte, I could not be happier. Lord Holton only gained by transferring his affections from me to you. He is an intelligent and wise man and he knew what a diamond of the first water you were. I am only glad that he did not linger in doubt but acted quickly to secure his happiness.”
“Oh Lizzy, I think your happiness is also at hand.”
Elizabeth shook her head slowly, taking a steadying breath, “I think not. But this is not about me. I am so, so very glad that Lady Anne was astute enough to see things that we were all blinded to and to take action to unite two people who otherwise would have never met.”
“Me too,” Charlotte laughed happily.
“What are you planning to do now?”
“I have already written to mother and father, they should be coming soon and together we will travel to Dundee. We will get married in Scotland as soon as we are able.”
“Oh my dearest friend, how happy I am for you. I will miss you though.” Elizabeth said wiping tears. “With Jane married and now you, I will be very lonely in Hertfordshire and bereft of intelligent company around me.”
“I do not believe you will be in Hertfordshire at all. I think very soon, Derbyshire will be your new home.”
Elizabeth glared at her friend, “why does everybody keep on insinuating something will happen between Mr Darcy and me?” She said miffed, “I tell you truthfully, Charlotte, Mr Darcy will marry a rich, well endowed woman of rank, not an impoverished lady such as myself.”
“You are younger, prettier and richer than I am, yet I am marrying an Earl.” Charlotte said unmoved.
“Yes, but Mr Darcy is not Lord Holton and not everybody is as lucky as you.”
“Well, I shall say no more then. All I will say is please do not close your heart because you think it is a hopeless business.” Charlotte hugged her tightly, before continuing, “Sometimes, other people have a better understanding of our situation because they see things from a different perspective, which we miss because we are too close to it.”
Elizabeth held on to her friend and said no more. She simply refused to allow useless hope to take root in her heart. She would protect it at all cost.
***
On Tuesday morning, before he took his leave, Lord Holton met Darcy in his study,
“I thank you cousin, for your hospitality and your forbearance in having me at Pemberley.”
“Do not mention it Duncan, you are family and I am so happy that you found a lady that fulfils your heart’s desire.”
“Yes so am I. I am very glad that I did not allow my head to doubt what my heart already knew the moment I actually paid attention to her.”
Darcy frowned, “I thought you favoured Miss Bennet.”
Holton laughed, “oh yes I did, but she never favoured me and there is nothing less encouraging for the heart than seeing a lady whom you admire looking upon another man as if her entire existence is wrapped up in him instead.”
Darcy looked down to his scattered papers on his desk and feigned disinterest. “I see.” He said hoping his cousin would be fooled.
He was not.
“Do not misunderstand me; at one point I thought she would be happy to receive my proposals, but Miss Bennet is not someone whom you can impress with gold and silver, she is different and worthy of being pleased.”
“Were you in love with her?”
“I thought I was, but in a few days I was actually in love with another woman, so it cannot have been very deep, can it?” Holton chuckled.
Darcy nodded silently.
His cousin huffed, “I do not understand you Darcy; obviously you love the lady. This misguided sense of duty you seem to have that you can only marry a woman of your own sphere and consequence is utterly ridiculous.”
“What do you know of my heart and whom I should love and marry, Duncan?” Darcy responded hotly.
“Oh do not worry; nobody will force you to marry anyone. But one thing I will say before I leave; some men are lucky to fall deeply in love with a remarkable lady who loves them back. I have been that lucky not once but twice, but my situation is unusual; most men simply settle for the best they can find which sometimes is far below what they would choose or even deserve.”
Darcy sighed.
“She is better than most, Darcy, and I suspect your perfect match. Do not allow her to leave Pemberley without securing her hand, for you have already secured her heart. You will be a simpleton if you do, because that woman will not return to your house unmarried. She could have had her pick of men in London, but she is waiting for you - only God knows why - but I tell you now, she will not wait forever.”
They parted as amicably as they always had.
“Will you visit it us in Scotland?”
“Yes, Duncan, that I promise.”
In another sennight, Sir William, Lady Lucas and Maria arrived.
Then Charlotte hugged her friend and her hosts and took leave to go to Scotland and start her new life as the new Countess of Dundee, Lady Holton!
Charlotte had never looked as beautiful or as happy.
Lady Anne hugged her and promised to visit once they were settled.
Once the Lucas’ carriage disappeared around the bend, life at Pemberley returned to a more peaceful and measured rhythm.