Chapter 31
Elaine Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock, was more than pleased with both of the ladies her younger son and her nephew were courting.
She had met Lizzy in London when they rid society of the Bingleys and Hursts.
Even then she had thought that if William could change his insulting ways, they would be a good match.
At that point, Lady Matlock had not been aware that William was already in love with Lizzy.
When she had met Jane, she was sure that Richard had been first attracted by her beauty, but she was pleased to discover that her future daughter was so much more than a pretty face. She was not as intelligent as Lizzy, but she was no empty-headed, vapid lady like so many in the Ton were.
The Countess was keeping a secret; one Richard had asked of her.
Before he departed Meryton with the libertine bound for debtor’s prison, he had written to General Atherton about his decision to resign from the army.
According to Richard, he had let it be known his commission was for sale, and there were four men interested, so at the very least, he would receive the maximum of five thousand pounds.
Just for the fact that Richard would never go into battle again—his posting at the training grounds was not permanent—she would have loved Jane as a daughter, but there was so much more to like about her than that.
When Richard had asked, Lady Matlock had told him to choose a ring from the Fitzwilliam jewels to present to Jane when he proposed, and she accepted him on his return.
She smiled as she thought about how Fanny had fought to maintain her equanimity when she had been introduced to five nobles.
The highest ranking of them was Marie’s younger brother, Franscis Russell, the Marquess of Tavistock.
He had accompanied Andrew and Marie into Hertfordshire and was the eldest of the sons and heir to his father, John Russell, the Duke of Bedford.
He would turn four and twenty on his next birthday.
According to Maddie, the Fanny of old would have been making vulgar utterances and trying to push one of her daughters at Francis.
Her eyes had got as large as crowns, but other than that, Fanny, who Lady Matlock had come to like, had behaved with decorum.
She had been vastly amused that Francis Russell had not found the young ladies of the house as he expected them to be based on his experience in the Ton.
Lord Francis Russell was used to young ladies throwing themselves at him, so being among the Bennets, who did not fawn over him, was a new experience. Granted, the two eldest were being courted, but he was titled and far wealthier than even Darcy. The two being courted treated him like anyone else.
The three younger sisters were always polite, and none of them showed him any deference out of the common way.
Two were not out, but Miss Mary was, and she intrigued him.
When they discussed any subject, the war, books, politics, to mention a few, if she disagreed with him, she was not shy about letting him know her opinion.
She was willing to defend her opinions with sound, logical reasoning, and, when she knew she was right, which to his chagrin was more times than not, she would not defer to him.
In those cases, seeing the rectitude of her arguments, he would have to amend his position.
Miss Mary did not go out of her way to seek him out, which led to him seeking her company.
When she beat him soundly at chess, he became interested in her, but when he heard her play the pianoforte, he was lost. For the days that Fitzwilliam was away, Tavistock made sure to spend as much time with Miss Mary as possible.
Lady Marie Fitzwilliam, née Russell, was amused.
Her brother had been assiduously pursued by huntresses in the Ton since before he graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge.
Never had she imagined when he joined her to get away from those who threw themselves in his path that he would be the one doing the chasing.
From what she already knew of Jane and Lizzy and their characters, she was aware that Mary was much like them.
She would only respond to Francis if she was sure there would be love and respect between them.
There was no need to worry, as both Francis and Mary were young; they had time.
Marie was certain that if things proceeded, her father, Lord John Russell, the Duke of Bedford, and her stepmother, the second Lady Georgiana, the duchess, would be happy for Francis.
Like her own late mother, the first Lady Georgiana, the Duke and Duchess wanted their children to be happy with their choices of those they desired to wed and would not demand a certain level of society as long as the lady was at least the daughter of a gentleman.
She missed her son and daughter, four and one, respectively, who were in the nursery at Netherfield Park, as she knew Andrew did as well.
They would be able to see and spend time with them soon enough.
As she finished her musings, Marie looked up and saw that Elizabeth and William were speaking with their heads close together. She watched as her cousin stood and made a request of Mr Bennet, which seemed to have been granted.
Although it had only been a few weeks that they had been courting, Darcy had the distinct impression that Elizabeth was ready to hear his proposal.
It was not like before when he had realised she did not like him when he had thought the opposite.
There were subtle signs, like the way she smiled at him in a way she did not at any other and how she would touch his arm when they were speaking and allow her hand to rest there longer than necessary.
His suspicion had been confirmed when he had requested a private interview with her, and she had agreed with alacrity.
As she would only be of age in March 1812, he had sought Bennet’s permission to address his second daughter.
Bennet was seated speaking to Lords Matlock and Hilldale, as well as Gardiner, when Darcy approached him. “I need to ask something of you,” Darcy stated. “Should we repair to your study?
Even though he no longer teased his wife and daughters as in the past, Bennet still enjoyed making sport at times.
“I am sure there is nothing you can desire to say that cannot be said in front of these men,” he drawled.
He knew he was attempting to discompose the stoic man who was courting Lizzy.
He deserved it, as he planned to take Lizzy to the wilds of Derbyshire.
“I have asked Miss Elizabeth if I may address her in private, and she has consented,” Darcy replied, not allowing Bennet to bother him. “We seek your permission for me to do so.”
The calm response was not what Bennet had expected.
Neither were the snickers from the other three men that his jest had not succeeded.
Knowing that Lizzy desired this, which the look she was giving him would have told him even had he not been sure already, Bennet did the only thing he could.
“Granted. You may use my study; the door will not be closed all the way, a maid or footman will be outside, and you have ten minutes.” As much as he wanted to say one or two minutes, Bennet remained reasonable.
“Thank you, Bennet.” Darcy bowed, turned, and strode towards Elizabeth.
“I can only imagine how I will feel when men come seeking Bea and Lilly’s hands,” Gardiner sympathised.
“The same for me and little Gigi,” Hilldale added.
“They will be good for each other,” Matlock opined. “Do not forget that Darcy has a library like few outside of the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford and the Wren Library at Trinity College. I am sure they will not object to your visiting whenever you choose.”
The four men watched as Darcy led Elizabeth out of the drawing room.
“It seems there is a lid for every pot,” Fanny stated as she watched Mr Darcy and Lizzy leave. “I know I used to not articulate my worry very well, but I was concerned that no man would want a woman who was more intelligent than he was.”
“Fanny, that will not be a concern with William. Like Lizzy, he is very intelligent, and no woman but your Lizzy would have suited him,” Lady Matlock stated.
“Look around the room Fanny; without any assistance from any of us, Jane will soon be engaged, and I suspect that Mary has a suitor as well,” Maddie observed.
“In that, Maddie, it seems you have always been far wiser than me,” Fanny responded.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy felt just a little intimidated when they entered Bennet’s study, as one of the Gardiner’s huge footmen, Johns, was standing in the hall near the study door.
The big man watched them as they entered the room, and only when Darcy pushed the door so it was three-quarters closed, was he unable to see the huge man.
“Elizabeth, when you told me that you were willing to hear my question, I was so pleased, and my heart began to beat in my ears. You have not changed your mind, have you?” Darcy verified.
“No, silly man, I have not,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I am exactly where I want to be.”
Not needing any more encouragement, Darcy dropped down onto one knee, taking one of her hands into each of his own.
“Elizabeth, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire, love, and respect you.
I thought I loved you before, but that is nothing to the strength of my feelings as they are today.
With each passing hour, no, each minute, they gain strength.
Every time I think that I cannot love you any more, I do.
“Not only are you intelligent and beautiful, but you are kind, compassionate, charitable, and fiercely protective of those you love.
You never treat tenants or servants with anything but gentle respect, which is one of the attributes which make you eminently qualified to be the mistress of my homes.