Vol 2, Chapter 14 #2
“Before Jane and Andrew wed, I asked Jane how she knew she was in love with Andrew.
I knew I already held you in tender regard, but I did not think, or know, that I was in love with you—yet.
Jane told me to think of my future, and if you were not part of any version of it, I imagined, then I was not in love with you.
“I have done much soul searching, and when you declared your love for me, I had answered most of my questions, but that separation clearly highlighted for me how empty by life would be without you in it. I was able to unequivocally answer for myself there was no future for myself I could see or wanted to see that does not include you by my side, so yes, William, I will accept a courtship with you as I also love you, and most ardently,” Elizabeth concluded.
Throughout her speech, William’s expression grew happier and happier.
By the time she reached the end and declared her love for him, he felt as if, were he not holding her hands, he would be floating among the clouds.
Without thinking, Darcy leaned forward and brushed Elizabeth’s upturned lips with his own for their first, chaste kiss.
Both felt a fission of tingles when their lips met, and they gasped, allowing also for this first instance of breathing one another in.
There was no question that they both would have preferred more, but they instead rested into one another so their foreheads connected, and they could continue to share the same breath.
“I have long dreamed of hearing those very words from you, Elizabeth. Yes, they are three small words in syllables, but they are the most powerful words in the world when spoken to one another by two who are genuinely in love,” Darcy murmured.
“If you are looking for a debate, you will get none from me on this subject, William. I find I am completely in accord with you,” Elizabeth smiled widely.
“Ahem,” Bennet cleared his throat as the couple stepped back. Each one felt the deprivation of the warmth of the other’s hand as the physical contact between them was broken. “Am I to assume you accepted William’s offer of a courtship, Lizzy?”
“Yes, Papa, I did. Can I assume asking for a courtship was a restriction imposed by you?” Elizabeth countered.
“It was.” Bennet walked to his desk and rested against it as he explained the reasoning he had given to Darcy to his daughter.
“Three weeks is such a small amount of time in the context of our lives, Papa. I understand your reasons and look forward to our relationship growing to the next level.” Looking at Darcy as she said the last, he could not have been happier at her statement.
“I suppose we should inform the family,” Bennet stated as he led the courting couple out of his study.
Everyone in the drawing room had been anticipating such an announcement, but the expectation did nothing to reduce the warm reactions to the news after Bennet informed them of Lizzy’s accepting a formal courtship with William.
Georgiana hugged Elizabeth tightly. “I knew how it would be! You two could not be so in love for no reason. I will have a sister, many sisters!” Georgiana enthused.
“I suppose we were more transparent than we thought we were,” Elizabeth admitted as she returned the younger girl’s hug. Georgiana was not the only one in the room to nod their agreement with her rhetorical observation.
Bennet was standing next to his own beloved wife as he watched the couple receive wishes for their future from the rest of the family. “Was I wrong to impose a courtship before a betrothal, Cilla?” he asked quietly.
“No, Thomas, I think it a wise decision on your part. Forget about the Ton and what they may or may not say but given the beginning of their relationship this additional time will not hurt them as they grow to know one another better,” Priscilla agreed.
“I thank you for you continued and unstinting support, my love,” Bennet kissed his wife’s cheek.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Andrew, Lizzy and William are courting!” Jane enthused after reading the happy missive from her sister the following day.
“Only a courtship? After we saw them in May and June, I was sure when the time came, William would ask for her hand,” Andrew frowned, wondering how he had read them so wrong.
“He wanted to, but Papa had other ideas. He told them he wanted a three-week formal courtship followed by at least a two-month betrothal,” Jane laughed as she re-scanned the missive for the facts as written by her younger sister. “It seems we will be gaining William and Gigi as brother and sister.”
“So it does, my Jane. Now if we can go look at that issue in the bedchamber I mentioned to you this morning,” Andrew stated with a deadpan expression.
“What issue—Andrew Fitzwilliam you are insatiable!” Jane gave her husband a playful slap on the arm.
“Only when it comes to you, Jane, I can never have too much of you,” he growled, and in hearing it Jane decided a trip to view the issue in their bedchamber was, in fact, most necessary.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Charlotte Fitzwilliam joined her husband in his study as he was going over information from the horse breeding programme. “There is news from Lizzy, Rich,” Charlotte informed her husband after first kissing him until he sighed in contentment.
“Did my cousin finally work up the gumption to propose?” Richard asked with a grin.
“They are formally courting,” Charlotte clarified.
Seeing her husband’s questioning look she explained the restrictions that Bennet had placed.
“In my opinion, it is part the change in their situation, and the other part of it is he recently lost his firstborn to our brother. I think he is trying to make sure that Eliza does not leave their house too soon.”
“There may be some truth to your conjecture,” Richard allowed, then pulled his wife onto his lap and showed her how much he loved her again, and again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Two days later, Anne de Bourgh informed her mother that William was officially courting Elizabeth.
Even knowing that was inevitable, Lady Catherine felt a pang of regret of opportunities lost. She had settled into her new role as mother of the mistress of Rosings well enough, but that did not mean from time to time she did not have maudlin thoughts about what might have been.
Anne was extremely happy for her cousins finally moving forward together. She looked around her home and was even more pleased by the way it looked now all of the uncomfortable furniture had been replaced by the elegant and comfortable pieces that had been delivered.
Even more pleasing was Mr. Gardiner’s company’s success in selling all of the gaudy pieces and ostentatious furniture.
They had sold every last piece so, in the end the redecoration of her home had cost no additional funds, not even with the commission which had been paid to Gardiner and Associates.
Lady Catherine had long acknowledged that Anne had done a remarkable job with the changes to the manor house. Privately, the former mistress also admitted the servants performed far better when treated fairly and with respect than they had under her stingy, iron fist.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On many estates owned by members of the Ton, plans were being made for October when the little season would commence. The object of their machinations was Lady Elizabeth Bennet. With the younger sister not out yet and the brother at university, she was considered the catch of the season.