Chapter Sixty-Two
Netherfield Park
Upon Mr. Darcy’s return to Netherfield, he was immediately accosted by his sister. “Well?”
“Well what?” he asked, teasing her.
“She said yes, did she not?”
“Well…” he replied, drawing out the word. But seeing her sudden look of concern, he smiled at her and said, “I apologise for teasing you, Georgiana. I am now betrothed to Miss Elizabeth.”
“Oh! Oh! I am the happiest girl in the world!”
Mr. Darcy chuckled. “Kitty and Lydia are vying for that title. It seems this is a match that suits everyone.”
As he spoke, he wondered if this was actually the case.
Would his aunt and uncle, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, be as pleased as the Darcys and the Bennets?
His aunt had specifically told him to marry, but he suspected that she had hoped he would marry…
well, better. In his mind, there was no one better than Elizabeth Bennet; but his society-minded aunt and uncle might not agree.
It would be best that he tell her at once.
Dear Aunt Ellen,
I have taken your advice to heart, and have engaged myself to a Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Elizabeth is the second of five daughters. Hers is the family that has been so very kind to Georgiana.
Elizabeth has no connections and no dowry to speak of, but her birth is unexceptional.
More importantly, she is utterly captivating.
She is lovely, intelligent, warm-hearted; she is more than I ever imagined a woman could be!
Georgiana is completely delighted at the idea of being Elizabeth’s sister.
I could go on and on, but I suspect you would rather that I did not. We will wed on the fourteenth of January, in a double ceremony with Bingley and Elizabeth’s elder sister, Jane. I very much hope that you and Uncle Henry will attend.
We will then proceed to London with Georgiana to participate in the Season. I can only hope that your idea will bear fruit, but I will be happily married either way.
Your affectionate nephew,
Darcy
***
Richard,
I am to marry Miss Elizabeth Bennet on the fourteenth of January. I hope – nay, I expect! – you to stand up with me.
Darcy
P.S. No doubt Miss Mary would enjoy thanking you in person for your gifts.
***
At dinner that night, Mr. Bingley stood up and announced Mr. Darcy’s engagement to Elizabeth Bennet, adding that there would be a double wedding on the fourteenth of January.
“Will we go home to Pemberley after that?” Georgiana asked.
“No; we will go to London.” Seeing her look of first shock and then concern, he added, “We will talk about it later, Georgiana.”
***
Later that night, Mr. Darcy showed Georgiana the letter he had received from their aunt.
“Is this why you offered to marry Elizabeth?” Georgiana asked, brow wrinkled. “Are you getting married because of me?”
“No,” Mr. Darcy answered, promptly. “I very much wished to marry Elizabeth; this simply set the timeline.”
But Georgiana would not be reassured. “You would have married a very different young lady, had it not been for me. Caroline was right when she said that neither of us would make important marriages now.”
“Georgiana, do you not realise that if I had wanted to make an important marriage, as you put it, I would have done so by now? I never found anyone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, until I met Elizabeth. It is true that before – well, before Ramsgate, I would have hesitated to propose to Elizabeth. Her lack of connections and dowry would have made that a difficult decision. But our current circumstances, coupled with this letter from our aunt, allowed me to propose to her with no misgivings or hesitations.”
Georgiana’s smile bloomed. “So this is a silver lining!”
“It is, and one for which I am deeply grateful.”
“Does Elizabeth know that we are going to London after the wedding?”
“Not yet; I will talk to her about it tomorrow.”