Chapter 26 #2
Once inside the library, he took Georgiana into his arms and then, gesturing towards Elizabeth, said, “My dear sister, may I present your future sister-in-law?” And when Georgiana seemed not to understand, he added proudly, “I have asked Miss Bennet to marry me, little sister!”
In the end, they scarcely knew who was happier, the future bride and groom or Georgiana, who had hoped from the moment she met Elizabeth that she would marry her brother. At last, she would have the sister she had always dreamed of.
For the last time, Georgiana took her place at the head of the table opposite her brother, though only because Darcy could not imagine having his betrothed seated so far from him.
Seated at his right hand, Elizabeth shone with happiness, whilst Darcy could not take his eyes from her.
The guests already suspected that a joyful announcement would be made that evening, particularly when dinner failed to appear at the appointed time.
Darcy tapped his knife against a crystal glass, and the noise abruptly silenced the room.
“Dear family and friends, beloved Georgiana, when I invited you to this dinner, I did not know that we would have a celebration. The most important celebration of my life.” He looked at Elizabeth, who blushed with happiness, then took her hand and invited her to stand beside him.
“Miss Bennet and I are delighted to announce our engagement.”
A general exclamation of joy broke the silence. Dinner was forgotten, everybody eager to congratulate the newly betrothed couple.
One of the last to speak was Mr Kendall. There was a strange look in his eyes, yet Elizabeth, too happy to notice, did not pause to consider it.
“I think our betrothal ought to be celebrated with a ball,” Darcy said to Elizabeth, loudly enough for some of the guests to hear. Again, joyful exclamations greeted his words.
“Yes, a splendid idea,” Thomas Bennet agreed. “But the wedding breakfast and the ball will take place at our house.”
Then, in front of everybody, he kissed the duchess’s hand.
“My dears, Her Grace and I also have an announcement to make. Three weeks ago we lost a Miss Bennet,” he said with a smile for Jane, “but our family gained another Mrs Bennet. However, as the last Duchess of Beauford, the Regent has graciously granted my wife permission to retain the title for the remainder of her life.”
Applause followed, though this time admiration and nostalgia accompanied it. A love story that had begun fifty years earlier was flourishing anew beside a younger one.
They might all have forgotten to eat had Mr Bennet, with his customary humour, not intervened.
“If anybody wishes to announce another engagement or marriage, pray postpone it until the end of the meal, as I am starving.”
A burst of laughter greeted his words, and everybody finally began to eat.
Only Mrs Bennet examined the table with a critical eye.
She had at last grasped that her daughter was about to become the mistress of this house, and a second marriage in only two months seemed such an achievement that she found herself incapable of eating.
∞∞∞
Later that evening, whilst Georgiana entertained the guests at the pianoforte, the duchess, the Bennets, and the newly betrothed couple gathered upon the terrace to enjoy their happiness amongst themselves.
“How did he ask for my hand, Papa?” Elizabeth wished to know.
“I hardly understood what he wanted at first,” replied Mr Bennet in his usual manner. “Fortunately, I had some experience with Mr Bingley, and from his garbled speech I eventually understood that he wished to purchase Netherfield… but the house was taken, so I deduced he wanted Jane's hand.”
They smiled kindly, looking towards Mr and Mrs Bingley seated in the midst of the gathering, yet seeming entirely alone within the enchanted circle of their affection.
“And not to mention that I did the most difficult part,” Thomas said. “I had to promise Darcy five Moroccan stallions to marry you.”
The astonished amusement in Elizabeth’s eyes made him laugh, so he continued, “Yes, I suggested camels, as the Bedouins do, but the gentleman was unfamiliar with the custom, and I was obliged to exchange them for horses.”
Everybody laughed at his words except the duchess, who looked genuinely shocked by her husband.
“Mr Bennet, how can you say such things?”
“Your Grace, you have married a sarcastic and playful man,” Elizabeth replied with amusement. “It is how I grew up, surrounded by jokes and mockery, and I do not think I have exchanged it for anything better by promising to marry this gentleman,” she added, looking at her betrothed with affection.
“Is he always like that?” asked the duchess.
“Yes, madam, he makes fun of everything.”
“Enough,” Thomas said cheerfully. “Do your duty, Mr Darcy, and introduce this marvellous young lady to her new home.”
As the newly betrothed couple departed, the duchess’s expression altered and became troubled. Her husband noticed the change and raised her hand to his lips.
“I forbid you to worry,” he said, and Mr Bennet nodded. He did not know the whole story, yet he had confidence that his uncle would discover a solution.
Their eyes turned towards Mr Kendall, seated between Lydia and Kitty in the last row of chairs.
“Yes, Uncle Thomas is right; no harm has been done.”
“Are you certain of your man's findings?” the duchess asked Thomas, still unable to master her concern.
“Yes, I have complete confidence in him. But, dearest, let this evening conclude upon the glorious note upon which it began. Tomorrow morning I shall discuss everything with Mr Kendall, and I am certain we shall reach a satisfactory conclusion.”
“What am I to do?” asked the duchess.
“Nothing. From now on, I shall take care of everything.”
At last, Henrietta sighed with relief. Never before had she known what it meant to be protected, yet with Thomas, they faced every difficulty together.
She wondered what it would have meant to enjoy such a feeling throughout an entire lifetime.
Elizabeth had shown far better judgement than she herself had possessed fifty years earlier when she chose a respectable and trustworthy man with whom to share her life.
Bravo, Elizabeth, she thought as she took the arm of her own man.
Fifty years of suffering seemed cancelled by the endurance of their love.
Above all, hope flourished in her soul, completing the happiness she had finally found.