Chapter 19
“Jane, take the Viscount to my study; the door will remain partially open, and you have ten minutes. Lizzy, same rules. You may use the small parlour, that is, if you both wish to grant these interviews,” Bennet stated.
He had an idea it would not be long until he would lose his three oldest daughters to matrimony.
Having Charlotte as a companion became even more gratifying with the prospect of his daughters leaving home.
“I am more than happy to hear whatever Mr. Darcy has to say,” Elizabeth allowed. No one missed Georgiana’s little squeal of joy she attempted to contain under her hand.
“Same for me, Papa. I have no objection to hearing what the Viscount has to say,” Jane confirmed. Jane led Andrew to the study while Darcy followed Elizabeth to the parlour, his heart racing as he hoped Elizabeth’s was racing too.
Once she closed the door halfway, Jane turned to face the Viscount. Remembering what Charlotte had told her, she gifted Andrew with a beatific smile that conveyed the warmth she felt for him.
Andrew did not misinterpret her smile and the signal it sent him, for it was proof that the lady was open to his suit.
“Miss Bennet, may I call you Jane?” Jane nodded her acquiescence.
“Jane, when we first met, I was taken by your beauty,” he saw her face fall somewhat and understood she felt like an object, thinking men like Bingley only saw her outer appearance.
“But, for me, outer beauty is not the most important factor, not even close to it.” Andrew was gratified to see her relax.
“You, Jane, are generous, compassionate, and charitable, a lady in the best sense of the word.
You are kind to one and all, and I have noted how you try and see the best in life, while not being blind to the evils of the world.
Anyone who thinks you are biddable and that you do not think for yourself, is dead wrong.
“I enjoyed our discussions and appreciated the fact you would not change your position to agree with mine. You never fawned over me; you see me, not my title or my family’s wealth.” Andrew paused for breath.
“I know you want to marry for the deepest love, and so do I. I will not tell you I have feelings I do not yet possess, but I will tell you I have tender feelings for you. I would like to request a formal courtship, to see if our feelings will grow and we might recognise we want to spend the rest of our lives together.” Andrew waited while Jane considered her answer.
“It pleases me more than I am able to articulate that you see all of me, and not just my superficial looks. You are correct, I will not marry for title or fortune, only for love. I do not object to the former if the latter is present before I accept a proposal of marriage. I do not love you—yet. I would not accept a courtship unless I had tender feelings for you—and I do.” Jane gave him another heart-warming smile.
“So, if I may call you Andrew…,” he nodded rigorously, “then if that be the case, Andrew, I would be most pleased to enter into a formal courtship with you.”
Andrew took both of Jane’s hands, kissed the top of each and then turned them over and placed a lingering kiss on each of her wrists.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth partially closed the parlour door, then turned to face Mr. Darcy. “May I call you Elizabeth?” he requested, and she nodded once to indicate assent. “In that case, please call me William,” Darcy offered.
“Why, William?” Elizabeth asked.
“You know my first name is Fitzwilliam,” he confirmed, and she nodded.
“I ask to be called William because of Gigi. When she was young, she had a hard time pronouncing my full name, Fitzwilliam, so she called me William and it stuck. I prefer it because it reduces confusion when I am with my cousins. My family has had the tradition of naming the first-born son by the mother’s maiden name for generations.
I suppose I am lucky my mother’s family was not named Snodgrass. ”
“I dare say you are correct. I imagine if your mother’s maiden name had been Titts-Bottom it would have been even more problematic,” Elizabeth smiled at the thought.
“As amusing as the naming conventions of the Darcys are, I have a particular reason for my request to speak to you today.” Darcy approached Elizabeth and stood as close to her as he dared without an understanding between them.
“Did you want to talk about the reason you mentioned my name in every letter you wrote to Gigi, even the one when Miss Bingley would not leave you in peace for more than a minute at a time?” Elizabeth asked with an arched eyebrow.
“It is, Elizabeth. Seconds after my ill-advised slight of you at the assembly, I truly looked at you for the first time, and what I saw was the opposite of what I claimed. You know now what was perturbing me that night, but that does not excuse my words.
“As much as my pride and head fought against it, I started to fall in love with you after the night at Lucas Lodge. Your refusing to dance with me only increased my ardour. The day you walked to Netherfield Park to nurse Miss Bennet, I was lost to you. It was then I realised how specious were the arguments my head was using to counter the arguments of my heart. I had thought myself above you, but as we are both born of landed gentlemen farmers, we are equal. Next, my head tried to tell my heart my family would not accept you; that was wrong, for the only one who would object was Lady Catherine. We know she would have objected to a princess if I were not marrying her daughter as she demanded.” Darcy paused as he looked deeply into the fine eyes which were a window to Elizabeth’s soul. What he saw reflected back was—love!
“You have my stepmother to thank for my reconsideration of my wrongheaded prejudices against you. Once I began to see clearly, my pride let go of the prejudices I held and I was able to see you for who you are—one of the best men of my acquaintance,” Elizabeth informed Darcy as both their hearts sped up, neither knowing they were beating in time with one another.
“I came here today willing to ask one of two questions. The one I will ask depends on you, Elizabeth. I must tell you I ardently love and respect you. If your feelings are not at that point yet, as I know only true love will tempt you into matrimony, I would request a courtship. If, however, your feelings tend toward love, I would ask the question I long to ask.” Darcy held his breath when Elizabeth cocked her head to one side, making a show of cogitating.
“The truth is, I was never indifferent to you. I believed, no, I tried to convince myself I hated you. If I did not care about you and your thoughts, what you said at the assembly would not have affected me to the extent it did. Once I allowed myself to know the real you, my feelings progressed from acquaintance to friend, and from friendship to tenderness. I am not sure when it happened because I was in the middle before I realised I had begun, but I love you too, William. Most ardently.” Elizabeth said the words Darcy dreamed of hearing.
Darcy dropped onto one knee while still holding her left hand, retrieving the ring from his pocket.
“Elizabeth Bennet, I love and respect you. I want to debate with you for the rest of my life; you are the only woman in the world I could ever marry. Will you grant me my heart’s desire and be my wife, my partner in life? ”
“It seems there is no choice William,” Elizabeth said saucily. “You are the only man I would agree to marry, so yes, William, yes I will absolutely marry you.”
On receiving the answer he had dreamed of; Darcy slid his Grandmother Darcy’s ring onto the ring finger of her left hand. The ring held a cluster of four emeralds perfectly matching the colour of her eyes, which were surrounded by a ring of small, brilliant diamonds.
“William, it is a perfect ring, but should your mother’s ring not go to Gigi?” Elizabeth asked as Darcy rose to stand.
“My mother’s ring is Gigi’s. All my mother’s personal jewellery was bequeathed to Gigi.
The Darcy jewels will belong to my wife, and unless your father refuses us, that will be you.
This was my Grandmother Darcy’s ring. Like you, she had green eyes, which I believe was the impetus for my grandfather presenting her with this ring.
” The look Darcy gave his betrothed told her the last thing he wanted to do was talk about jewellery at this moment.
Elizabeth moved toward him until their bodies were as close as possible and lifted her head expectantly. Her betrothed did not disappoint her as he brushed her lips with his own. As he did, Elizabeth drank in his masculine scent of sandalwood and spice.
He deepened the next kiss, captured her lips, and proceeded to demonstrate his passion for her.
Even though it was Elizabeth’s first kiss she pressed into him and sighed with pleasure when his lips captured hers.
The following kisses were slow and deep, soft, and stirringly thorough.
His hands explored the tresses of her hair, knocking out some pins.
He had long dreamed of being allowed to touch her hair.
They would have lost all sense of propriety, time, and place had they not heard the clearing of a throat in the hallway.
They jumped apart and tried their best to put themselves to rights. There was a light knock on the door and Charlotte entered. “If my estimation is correct, I think you need to wait to talk to my husband after your cousin,” Charlotte stated as she looked from one blushing person to the other.
“Yes, Mrs. Bennet,” Darcy bowed his head and after one last longing look at his betrothed, made a quick exit from the parlour.
“If that ring is anything to go by, you are betrothed, Eliza. He is a good and honourable man who is worthy of your love. I know he loves you, and I assume you reciprocate the feeling?” Charlotte asked.