Chapter Thirty-Five #2
Elizabeth fell to her knees before him and hurled herself forward into his embrace, kissing him so thoroughly that they nearly tumbled over into the damp grass that lined the lake. When at last they parted to draw breath, Elizabeth leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Yes, my darling.”
They rose and collected themselves after a few more increasingly adventurous kisses, and walked together back to where the rest of their party engaged in a variety of games and other frivolities.
Elizabeth’s happiness was complete, but bittersweet.
“I know that Jane shall soon be as happy as me, and so too shall Emma, but I worry for my parents; I truth I hardly know if it is right for me to know such joy before I have achieved my first purpose in coming to Highbury, and I worry I shall not accomplish it at all,” she confessed.
“I have faith in you, my clever nymph, but I hope you know that your parents are always welcome at Pemberley, whatever the outcome of your schemes. Your mother and grandmother might live in comfort for the rest of their days, if they ever wish to quit the village where they are so beloved, and your father is welcome to haunt my library as often as he chooses, if his fate is a bride who makes Netherfield unhappy.”
“I thank you for that, but I hope I am not foolish to cling to some little hope while there is still time.”
“I believe Mr. Knightley is as much a champion of our cause as anybody. Your mother told us earlier that she wished to include us in the family dinner for your birthday tomorrow, for she was quite smug in declaring that we shall soon have the honor of calling her mother. When she fretted that she could not accommodate us at the cottage, your future brother offered to host us at Donwell Abbey.”
“Oh! How wonderful! Jane has exchanged a sniveling villain for a prince among men! I hope it is not long before their courtship is an engagement.”
Mr. Darcy took her hand in his. “Whatever happens, Elizabeth, I hope you remember that you set out to bring happiness to two people, as well as yourself and your sister – and since coming to Highbury, you have brought immeasurable joy to everyone we hold dear, in ways that shall last a lifetime. Do not discount that, my love.”
Elizabeth was so moved by his reassurances that she knew only one way to thank her beloved, and she cared not a whit that they were in full view of all their friends as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
This predictably raised a merry outcry amongst those of their party who observed this brazen display, and the congratulations that then flowed forth lasted for the rest of the day.
Only one of their number did not share in the myriad reasons for celebration, and her displeasure was compounded as it went largely unnoticed.
***
The next evening, the twins celebrated their birthday a few days early with an intimate dinner at Donwell.
In addition to their parents and grandmother, the two sisters each spent the evening in the blissful company of the gentlemen who loved them, and hoped to soon join their family.
Charlotte had told Mr. Bingley of her intention to dine in her room that evening, and to ask the same of Georgiana and the colonel, so that he might have the opportunity to speak seriously with his sister.
Mr. Bingley had in turn appealed to Mr. Knightley, who obliged him by including Charlotte, Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam in their family party.
The atmosphere was exultant and full of a surety that they would spend many such occasions in such familial comfort.
Jane and Mr. Knightley were so obviously enamored with one another that they began to hint at a shared wedding with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Georgiana and the colonel had grown so comfortable with Elizabeth and all her relations that they laughed and carried on as if they were long-standing acquaintance – the colonel’s irreverent style of humor matched Elizabeth’s japery very well indeed, and Georgiana’s shy, giddy enthusiasm was just what Jane’s had been in the earlier days of her acquaintance with Elizabeth, promising to blossom into the same easy intimacy.
Even Miss Bates and Mr. Bennet appeared as content as any couple could be. Elizabeth still cherished a hope that all would be made right for them in the end, but her faith in this outcome was tested when her mother, after several glasses of wine, laughingly spoke of receiving an unexpected visitor.
“Miss Bingley came to see me the night before last, when I might have expected you all to be at dinner,” she told them.
Elizabeth gasped. “That is why she left the table before dessert was served – and I had thought it merely because she drugged the custard.”
“Drugged?” Mr. Bennet nearly spat out his wine. “Is that why Darcy and I were obliged to send for an inordinate amount of coffee to continue our discussion?”
“You might have simply tortured me a little less,” Mr. Darcy chided him with a grin, sending his cousin into a fit of hilarity.
Miss Bates proceeded to describe her encounter with the harpy, as Mrs. Bates interjected with sardonic comments she could not keep to herself.
Miss Bingley had vented her displeasure to Miss Bates in a massive outburst of threats and lamentations, disparaging Jane and Elizabeth’s future happiness, accusing them of far greater mischief with their friends than anything they had actually aspired to, and finally begging Miss Bates to cease all contact with Mr. Bennet henceforth.
When Miss Bates recited her own heated refusal to comply, Elizabeth thought her father looked near to swooning.
“It is all my own block-headed fault,” Mr. Bennet sighed.
“I confronted her that afternoon, having overheard her say some remarkably appalling things to my Lizzy – quite an unaccountable coincidence that she should speak so maliciously to our dear girl at the very moment they happened to be walking together under the open library window, where I was within, reading. I was exceedingly angry with her and threatened to end our engagement, no matter the disgrace it should cause her. I am sorry she saw fit to vent her displeasure upon you, but I daresay you rather enjoyed giving her just as much trouble as she gave you.”
Miss Bates patted his hand and smiled brightly. “A lady ought to have some kind of interesting hobby to occupy her.” Mr. Bennet caught her hand in his and gave a merry guffaw, his eyes full of admiration for the mother of his daughters.
And then, an unexpected visitor was announced at Donwell.
Elizabeth braced herself for the worst after hearing of Miss Bingley’s tantrum – but Lady Gresham was shown into the parlor where their party had adjourned after supper.
“I apologize for my intrusion; I called at the cottage, where your charming butler Martin informed me where I might find you – I believe I interrupted a most interesting moment of romance between him and Bessie Hill.”
When Lady Gresham had been informed of every joyous development since she had parted with her nieces in Weymouth, she gave the two couples her hearty congratulations, and thanked Charlotte for being a most obliging accomplice to the twins.
She then privately whispered to the young ladies that she had come to Highbury for the express purpose of seeing their last great birthday wish made manifest; she had a plan.