Chapter Fifty-Seven
Mr. Darcy found himself unable to settle after returning to Netherfield Park.
Would she accept his offer of a courtship?
Should he have waited until they had spent more time together?
Perhaps he had rushed his fences! But it was too late now; there was nothing to do but to wait.
He went into Netherfield’s library, hoping – quite irrationally – that new books had appeared magically on the shelves.
“Brother?”
He turned his attention to his sister, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression on her face. “Yes, Georgiana?”
“I have been speaking to you for the past five minutes! I suppose I have been speaking to myself.” She sounded exasperated.
“I apologise, Georgiana.”
“You have something on your mind, I suspect.”
He sighed.
“What is it, Brother?”
“I went to Longbourn today to ask Mr. Bennet for permission to court Miss Elizabeth.”
She clapped her hands, her delight writ large on her face, but then stopped. “Oh. What did he say? Surely he did not say no!”
“He said he would have to ask her first.”
“There is no problem, then.” She was satisfied.
“You sound quite sure, Georgiana.”
“Oh, I am, very sure indeed.”
A footman knocked on the library door and then entered, holding out a silver salver to Mr. Darcy. “This just came for you, sir.”
Mr. Darcy,
You have my permission to court Elizabeth.
Thomas Bennet
An expression of heartfelt delight crossed Mr. Darcy’s face.
“See? I told you,” Georgiana crowed, smugly.
“Would you be happy to have Elizabeth as a sister?”
“Happy? Happy! I should be the happiest girl in the world! And perhaps Mary could come and stay with us at Pemberley! And then Kitty and Lydia could visit!”
“It is just a courtship, Georgiana.” Mr. Darcy tried to speak sternly, but he could not help laughing with his sister.
“Oh, I know how it will end!” she said, clapping her hands for joy. “A sister! At last!”