Chapter 31 #2
“When I came to Meryton, I did not know how to please a woman who deserved to be pleased, and I was stupid enough to utter those vile words at the assembly which were patently untrue.
It was by the next time I saw you that I admitted to myself that you are so much more than tolerable, that you are the one who gives me consequence, and not the other way around.
You had bewitched me body and soul before I realised it.
“Elizabeth, I used to think that a brilliant match meant one of status and wealth, but now I know it is the connection and compatibility of our hearts.
By that measure, I am hoping to make the most brilliant match possible.
I am only sorry my parents are not here to meet you.
Like Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie do, they could not have but loved you.
“All that remains, my dearest, loveliest, most beloved Elizabeth, is to pray that you are willing to join your life with mine as I beg you to accept me as your husband. Elizabeth Rose Bennet, will you marry me?”
It took Elizabeth a few moments to digest all of William’s words.
He loved, cherished, and respected her. There was only one answer she could give.
“They say that love and hate are two sides of the same coin. I have recently come to know myself better and saw that your slight hurt like it did because I found you extremely attractive as soon as you entered the assembly hall that night.” Elizabeth saw William was about to protest. She raised her finger and placed it over his lips. “There is more, William.
“After our mutual apologies were proffered and accepted, I began to see you for who you truly are, and the man I saw, and fell in love with, is the only man who could ever make me happy. So yes, Fitzwilliam Alexander Robert Darcy, I will marry you, and only you.”
With her acceptance, Darcy was up on his two feet in the blink of an eye, never relinquishing her hands. He looked at her with desire and passion in his eyes, seeking her permission.
Elizabeth looked up and was so caught up in the look of intensity that she could only nod her head in the affirmative.
He released one of her hands, leaving that hand bereft of his touch, but he drew her very close to him until they were almost touching.
Her mouth suddenly felt dry, and her heart thumped like a drum, threatening to burst out of the confines of her chest. In shyness, she allowed her head to tilt down towards the floor.
He whispered her name, and as she looked up, it seemed as though he was moving very slowly until she felt the very light pressure of his lips on her own.
They both pulled back slightly. Suddenly, Elizabeth felt very hot as William pulled her even closer, and her arms, which seemed to have a will of their own, found their way around his neck.
She closed her eyes again as his head neared hers for a second time.
This time their lips met, and they both groaned, but rather than pull away as they had after the first, rather chaste kiss, they could not get enough of each other.
The kisses deepened, and soon their mouths opened simultaneously, and their tongues duelled vigorously.
The sensations this action caused were exquisite.
The kiss lasted until they had to stop to breathe, and they reluctantly pulled away from each other.
Elizabeth felt breathless, and it seemed that she was standing on legs which felt leaden. She had always dreamed about and imagined her first kisses, but the reality exceeded the dream many times over.
They both looked at each other with passion in their eyes. No sooner had they caught their breath then, by silent mutual agreement, their lips met again.
These kisses were anything but chaste, and Elizabeth felt as if she floated upon a sea of sensation; unlike anything she had ever imagined.
In her fugue of passion, random impressions drifted across her consciousness.
There were strong arms wrapped around her, supporting her, making sure her weakened legs did not fail her; warm lips teasing hers; a soft tongue dancing the dance of love with hers; his hair, soft under her fingers; her breasts crushed against his solid chest; … something pressing upon her hip.
Before Elizabeth could think about what the bulge was, they both heard Johns clear his throat to let them know their ten minutes were past. Neither wanted to break their contact with the other, but they knew they needed to before the enormous man opened the door.
To let Brian know all was well, once she had stepped back from her betrothed, Elizabeth opened the door more than halfway.
Darcy was embarrassed that his appendage had reacted with a mind of its own.
He was worried what his betrothed must think of him.
But there was something he needed to do before he forgot.
He extracted a velvet pouch from his coat pocket and the ring box from within.
From the box, Darcy removed a gold ring which had four stones, two emeralds and two diamonds, alternating one after the other.
He slipped it onto the relevant finger of her left hand. It fit like it had been made for her.
“William, it is lovely, and I thank you. Now how long do you need to put yourself to rights?” Elizabeth asked.
“Five minutes should suffice,” Darcy replied. He was thankful her eyes were on his face and not lower down his body. Even better; she had not referred to his problem at all.
“I will wait five minutes before asking my father to join you here,” Elizabeth said matter-of-factly. She raised herself onto her tiptoes, kissed his cheek, and was gone.
He knew the quickest way to make his appendage shrink was to think of the most objectionable woman possible. He considered the Bingley sisters, which had an immediate effect.
Elizabeth took her time looking at the paintings of Bennets past in the hallway before she entered the drawing room and requested her father make for his study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the time Mr Richard Fitzwilliam returned to Hertfordshire, he had already been apprised of the fact that his cousin had proposed to Lizzy.
Rather than be jealous that he had not already done the same with the Bennet sister he loved so dearly, upon arriving back at Netherfield Park, he had been effusive in his congratulations for William.
Other than his mother and father, no one else had known that he intended to resign and sell out while in London.
Due to his letter, by the time he entered the offices, General Atherton’s adjutant had all the paperwork ready, and all Fitzwilliam had had to do was sign.
In the end, thanks to the number of men wanting to purchase his commission, it had sold for two hundred and fifty pounds more than the usual maximum.
Rather than take one of the rings his mother had offered to him, Fitzwilliam had gone to Rundell and Bridges, the jewellers both the Fitzwilliams and the Darcys patronised, and purchased a ring for his Jane.
The next morning, Fitzwilliam wasted no time before he was in a carriage on his way back to Longbourn.
As much as he loved Invictus, this was one morning he did not want to arrive sweaty and smelling of horse.
On being shown into the manor house, he made for Bennet’s study and received permission to address Miss Bennet.
He found her bottling some scents she had created in the still room. His nose told him it was the gentle rosewater she, her mother, and Miss Mary wore.
“You are come back!” Jane exclaimed.
“Just like I promised you I would,” Fitzwilliam replied. “I am not one to allow anyone to warn me off that which I know is right for me…” He ceased speaking when his beloved placed a dainty finger on his lips.
“Not even for the smallest measure of time did I ever think you would not return; I am just exceedingly happy to see you,” Jane stated boldly.
“How appropriate it seems to speak to you in the still room, given how much time you dedicate to work here,” Fitzwilliam said as he lowered himself down onto one knee. Thanks to a minor injury received in battle, he did so deliberately. Then he took Jane’s hands in his own.
“Jane Frances Bennet, I am not one for long, flowery speeches; I am but a former soldier who is far more direct. Jane, I love you with all that I am and respect you just as much. Will you make me the happiest of men and agree to marry me?” Fitzwilliam requested.
“In that case, I will maintain the brevity of my reply. Yes, Richard Anthony Fitzwilliam, I will marry you and none other,” Jane accepted. “Wait, did you say former soldier?”
“Indeed, I am no longer in the army,” Fitzwilliam confirmed.
Then he slipped a gold ring with a large sapphire in the centre and smaller diamonds either side of the centre stone on the relevant finger of her left hand.
“This I purchased just for you; when I saw it, I was reminded of your sparkling eyes.” He stood back up.
“It was not necessary, but that being said, I love it.” Jane extended her left hand and admired her betrothal gift.
Their heads moved one towards the other. For the next few minutes, they expressed themselves with their lips like lovers violently in love are wont to do. Neither wanted to part, but they knew they were pushing the bounds of propriety. Together they went to see Jane’s father.
As Jane was already of age, like he had with the courtship, Bennet gave his unreserved blessings to the couple.
The Gardiners sat, enjoying the glow of both Jane’s and Elizabeth’s happiness.
After consultation with Charlotte Lucas, who would marry in a few weeks, the two engaged couples had decided to marry in a double ceremony on the first day of February 1812, a month before Charlotte and her colonel would depart the area, and well after Twelfth Night had been celebrated.
It was more than six weeks in the future, so no one could accuse them of having a hurried, patched-up affair.
“We did some good here,” Maddie said softly to her husband as she watched the ongoing celebrations.
“We always hoped we would not have to take charge as we did, but it has worked out for the best so far,” Gardiner agreed. “I am regretful we cannot remain for Miss Lucas’s wedding in a fortnight, but we will return for Christmastide and again in late January.”
“I was surprised, but pleased, that Lydia asked to travel to London with us so Mrs Mulberry may begin her long-overdue education. I think our youngest niece will do very well,” Maddie opined.
The Gardiners fell silent as they watched the joy around them. They rightly felt proud of what they had achieved.