Vol 2, Chapter 14
The previous month plus had confirmed Elizabeth’s love for Darcy a number of times over.
As would be expected, he returned to Pemberley now and again to take care of issues that needed his attention, and to complete the plans for the autumn harvest with his steward.
Whenever he was not present, Elizabeth felt as if a piece of her heart were missing.
Each time Darcy went to Pemberley, Georgiana remained at Longfield Meadows.
Maria Lucas had departed with her family, but there were still three young ladies in residence as the Carringtons had arrived, bringing Ally with them.
Not long after the Marquess and Marchioness arrived, the Earl and Countess of Jersey too joined the family in Yorkshire, though the Gardiners returned to Town days after the Lucas’s departure.
The three-month mourning period for the late Duke had ended on the first day of July for all except his widow, who would only go into half mourning after a full year.
With the younger generation out riding and the men on a bird shooting outing, Priscilla was in a family sitting room with her mother, Lady Rose, her sister, and Yvette Jamison.
“I would have to be blind to have missed the looks that pass between young William Darcy and our Lizzy,” Lady Sarah observed. “Given their less than auspicious beginning, I would not have imagined such a thing.”
“Once they got out of their own way, they started to get closer and closer, Mama. I believe it started when Lizzy was visiting at Hunsford and William apologised before he was aware of anything about us beyond what he knew in Hertfordshire,” Priscilla stated.
“Do we know the state of my niece’s feelings, Cilla?” Lady Marie enquired.
“That we do. She has confided in both Jane and me that she is very much in love with William,” Priscilla replied.
“When will Mr. Darcy return to Longfield Meadows?” Yvette asked.
“Elizabeth informed me that Gigi was steadfast in her mission to let her know that William will arrive later today,” Lady Rose reported with a smile.
“What news is there from Hilldale, Priscilla?” Lady Sarah changed the topic to her older granddaughter.
“In the one letter I received from Jane since her wedding, she seemed most contented,” Lady Marie related.
“That, sister dearest, is an understatement. My eldest could not be happier if she tried to be. When they arrived here before Charlotte’s and Richard’s wedding, it was almost impossible to separate them one from the other. In each other they have found the perfect match,” Priscilla opined.
“Speaking of Charlotte and Richard, how are they?” Lady Sarah asked, unable to help but do so at their very own love triumphing over all story which would be shared for many generations to come, she was certain.
“Lizzy told me they too sound deliriously happy based on the last letter she received from Brookfield.” Priscilla considered her next words carefully.
“I love my friend Sarah, Lady Lucas, but the ideas about matrimony and selecting one’s life partner she imparted to Charlotte could have sentenced her daughter to a lifetime of misery. ”
“I do not want to sound too critical, but should she have not spent more time in mourning before marrying Richard in case she was with child?” Yvette asked carefully.
“Had her marriage been consummated, she would have,” Priscilla stated blandly, if effectively closing that line of discussion.
More than one in the family sitting room stared at her in surprise.
Lady Pricilla smiled when Yvette’s amazement grew as Lady Sarah expressed her pleasure of such a happy outcome for a most deserving couple.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The six in the riding party were allowing their mounts to trot after a lengthy gallop across some fields.
The grooms, companions, and footmen-guards, while being vigilant, gave the six space, the riders themselves in sets of twos.
The leading pair were Esther and Ally, followed by Tom and Georgiana, then were Lizzy and Robert.
“It seems I have been replaced as a favourite cousin,” Robert quipped as he inclined his head toward the pair of riders ahead.
“And I thought I was Gigi’s favourite Bennet. Tom has usurped my position,” Elizabeth sighed dramatically as she placed the back of one hand on her forehead in playful exaggeration.
“I have never seen any of the fairer sex garner so much of Tom’s attention,” Robert observed.
“If anything serious develops, it will be in a number of years,” Elizabeth remarked, and Robert could only agree. “Besides, I see Ally took your place next to Esther!” Robert had the decency to blush.
Just then the riders all halted and looked behind them as they heard the sound of galloping hooves.
Elizabeth watched both Biggs and Johns for their direction, relieved when they relaxed as they identified the horse and rider.
Elizabeth’s heart quickened considerably when she too saw Zeus galloping toward them, his master the only man who could make it do so.
Robert gave his horse’s flanks a kick and surged ahead to join Esther and Ally as Darcy slowed his horse and took up station next to Mercury and Elizabeth. “William!” Elizabeth exclaimed with obvious pleasure.
“Hello, Elizabeth, I trust you are well,” Darcy returned. The pleasure of seeing the way her green eyes were locked onto his made his heart race.
“I am well, and all the better for seeing you, William,” Elizabeth stated meaningfully. “How did you know where to find us?” she asked before he could react to her forward statement.
“When I arrived at the stables, I noticed Mercury and other horses were not in their stalls, so I asked the stable master who informed me you and others were out riding. He was able to point me in the right direction,” Darcy explained.
“Did you accomplish all you hoped to at Pemberley, or will you need to return again before we depart for the little season?” Elizabeth asked.
“Unless there is some sort of emergency that demands my attention, I see no reason why I will have to leave your estate again before we are to London,” Darcy informed his riding partner.
“That news pleases me greatly,” Elizabeth owned as she blushed.
“Elizabeth, do I have your permission to request a private audience with you from your father?” Darcy asked hopefully.
“William, are you asking my permission to ask my father’s permission to talk to me?” Elizabeth arched her eyebrow as high as she was able.
“Yes, I suppose I am. I want there to be no misunderstandings between us, Elizabeth, and I do not want to seem officious,” Darcy clarified.
“In that case, yes William, you have my consent to make that request of my father,” Elizabeth gifted him with the tinkling laugh he loved and Darcy smiled, both of his dimples on full display.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Enter!” Bennet called, responding to the knock on his study door. “What may I do for you, William?” he asked, although he was sure he knew the purpose of the younger man’s presence in his study.
“I am seeking your permission to have a private audience with your second daughter, Elizabeth,” Darcy stated plainly.
“What is it you would like to discuss with Lizzy, William?” Bennet asked, knowing full well Darcy’s aim.
“To ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage and failing that a courtship; I will leave it up to her to decide which,” Darcy informed the man he hoped would be his father-in-law sooner rather than later.
“If we were still the Bennets of Longbourn,” Bennet started to reply, and Darcy almost panicked.
Was he being refused as not being good enough for a Duke’s daughter?
“Then I would not have stood in the way of Elizabeth choosing between a courtship or a betrothal. We are, however, no longer just the Bennets of Longbourn. I grant you permission to request a courtship.” Darcy visibly relaxed as he was not being refused permission to address his beloved Elizabeth.
“If she accepts, and if you both desire to move forward, you may request her hand in no less than three weeks. At that point, should she accept you, there will be a minimum of a two-month betrothal period.”
“I thank you, Bennet. I was concerned you were about to refuse permission for me to pay my addresses to Elizabeth at all,” Darcy admitted.
“No, Son, notwithstanding your past behaviour, I know you to be a good and honourable man. If you are Lizzy’s choice, then I will be the first to welcome you to the family,” Bennet stood and held out his hand which Darcy shook vigorously.
“Slow down there,” Bennet ribbed, “I am not as young as I once was.” Bennet grinned widely. “I will summon Lizzy.” Bennet looked at the door and back at Darcy.
“Yes, I know, door is to remain partially open,” Darcy pre-empted Bennet.
“And a companion will be seated outside in the hallway,” Bennet grinned. It was good to see that William Darcy had a sense of humour.
“My father informed me you would like to talk to me, William; it came as such a surprise,” Elizabeth teased as she entered the study ahead of her father.
“I will leave you to it. You have ten minutes, Darcy.” With that, Bennet turned and left the door half open on his way out.
“The last time I was granted a private interview with you, I requested permission to call on you,” Darcy began.
“I do remember the request,” Elizabeth smiled at the memory.
“As I told you before one of my trips to Pemberley, I have come to love you most ardently. You are my other half and complete me in every way. As much as I would like to ask for your hand today, I am requesting a formal courtship so you may discover if I am your perfect match, and you, at least in some small measure, feel the way about me as I feel about you,” Darcy requested as he took her hands in his.