Chapter Twenty-Three #3
Aunt Lydia rose and began gathering Bella's sisters and their possessions, cajoling them noisily out of the room, though Bella could see she was herself bursting with curiosity. At last, only the four of them remained and footsteps and chatter receded down the hall.
Bella was very aware of George beside her, sitting very straight and still. After a moment he rose, which made her look up at him in surprise.
"What are you doing?"
"I feel I ought to stand for this," he said quietly. Her mother looked down, plainly trying not to smile, while her father remained stony faced.
George drew in a slow breath and faced them both. "Mr Darcy, Mrs Darcy, I am aware that my conduct where your daughter is concerned has not always been what you might have wished."
Bella's father made a strangled sound, and her mother immediately laid a restraining hand on his arm. "Let the man say his piece, William."
George glanced at Bella before continuing.
"I also know that Miss Darcy and I have known one another for only a short time, and under circumstances that are…
unusual at best. What I feel for her is very real, but I would not insult her, or either of you, by pretending that a few extraordinary days together are the same as knowing how we might suit in the ordinary course of life. "
Bella looked up at him, unsure of the direction his speech was taking.
"I would like..." George paused and tugged at his cravat, which suddenly appeared too tight.
"I would like your permission to court your daughter.
I know I am not of her rank and that she is superior to me in almost every conceivable way, but I have seen her bravery and kindness, her cleverness and honesty, and the goodness in her that I think she herself does not always recognise. "
Bella felt her throat tighten.
"If, after spending more time together, her feelings continue to match the strength of mine, as I very much hope they will, I should like to offer her marriage.
" He took another breath. "I currently have a sum of five thousand pounds invested in the Four Percents, and I have been offered a good position which would allow me to add considerably to that.
I would not be required to take up the post for another three months and, if you were willing, sir...
" He looked towards her father with a little more uncertainty now.
"I would hope that you might consent to remain in Falmouth a little longer, so that I might come to know your daughter and your family better, and so that you might come to know me. "
Her father said nothing, and George pressed on, speaking quickly now. "I can assure you there will be no more running about in the middle of the night or exposing your daughter to the dangers of smugglers. I know how much she loves you both and how much your blessing would mean to her."
Bella could remain seated no longer. She stood and went to George, taking his hand in her own before turning towards her parents.
"Mama, Papa, I love him. I love him so dearly.
He is such a good man, and I know that when you come to know him better, you will love him too.
Papa, he is very like you. He is good and honest and honourable, and I wish very dearly to have your blessing in this.
" She tightened her fingers around George's.
"But if you do not give it, I will be of age next year, and George will still have my heart. "
Her father did not answer at once. His gaze dropped to their joined hands and remained there for several long seconds before he looked back at Bella. She could feel George tense beside her, but she tightened her fingers around his and held firm.
At last her father stood and came towards them. Bella searched his face, trying to read something in the familiar lines she knew so well, but he looked more tired than angry now.
"You have both given me a great deal to think upon today," he said, his attention moving from Bella to George. "And I will admit that perhaps I allowed my fear for Bella to influence me more than it ought."
Her mother smiled faintly from her chair but said nothing.
Her father continued, looking directly at George. "I am not prepared to give my blessing to a marriage between two people who have known one another for such a short time, regardless of what you have endured together. But I have no objection to your coming to know one another properly."
Bella's heart gave such a leap that she almost forgot to breathe.
Her father looked towards her and gave a small nod before turning to her mother. "And you, my love? My wife's mind has always been entirely her own, and I would not presume to answer for her."
Her mother rose and came to stand beside him, slipping her hand through his arm. "You know very well that I give my blessing, William. And I suspect a summer spent on the Cornish coast would not be too great a hardship. A little sea bathing would set me up forever."
Her mother and father shared a small private smile.
And her father's expression went soft as he looked down at his wife before turning back to George.
"Then you have my consent and my very best wishes, Captain.
We shall remain in Falmouth for a little while longer, and I daresay that will give us all the opportunity to become better acquainted. "
George let out a breath. "Thank you, sir. Mrs Darcy."
Bella released his hand and crossed to her father, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Papa."
Her father held her close at once. "You frightened me and your mother half to death, sweetheart, these past weeks."
"I know." Bella pressed her cheek against his chest. "And I am sorry. Truly."
He kissed the top of her head and kept her close for a moment longer. "Then we shall say no more about it tonight."
Bella drew back enough to look up at him. "And when we return home, I will attend my lessons properly."
His brows lifted so sharply that Bella laughed gaily. "I mean it," she said. "I will attend. There is no manner of estate business that will escape my undivided attention."
"I shall remind you of those words when Samuels produces the quarterly accounts."
Bella made a face. "I said I would attend, Papa. I did not say I would enjoy them."
That finally brought a smile to his face. "There you are. That sounds rather more like my daughter."
Her father released her and turned towards George, who had remained respectfully apart while they spoke.
For a moment Bella wondered whether he meant to say something further, but instead he held out his hand.
George took it at once, looking more relieved than Bella had seen him since he climbed through her window and landed on her bedroom floor.
"I look forward to learning more about you, Captain," her father said. "And I hope, in time, you will give me no cause to regret my decision."
"I shall do my very best, sir."
"That is all any of us can promise where Bella is concerned."
"Papa," Bella protested, although she could not help smiling as George's deep dimple appeared.
Her mother rose and declared that they had endured enough serious conversation for one evening and that she would ring for tea. George began to protest that it was late and he should probably take his leave, but Bella caught his sleeve before he could go anywhere.
"You scaled a building to see me. You may at least stay for tea." The moment the words left her mouth, Bella clapped a hand over it.
Her father looked from her to George. "Scaled a building? This building?"
George's colour rose. "I climbed the drainpipe, sir."
Bella's mother gave a startled laugh, while her father continued to stare at George with a mixture of disbelief and resignation.
"You climbed to my daughter's bedchamber by way of a drainpipe?"
George shifted beside her. "Yes, sir. Though I can assure you nothing improper occurred."
Bella winced. "In fairness, Papa, I did let him in, so that fault lies as much with me."
Her father closed his eyes for a moment. "I do not think that improves matters, sweetheart."
Her mother was still laughing softly as she reached for the bell. "Tea, I think. Before we discover any further breaches of propriety and good sense."