Page 27 of A Promise Made

“Somewhere in all of that, perhaps you will find time to stand up with me at my wedding,” Darcy suggested.

“You asked?” Bingley asked, his smile enormous, as if he had not had his heart broken less than an hour before.

“I asked, and she said yes, but soon I will face the hard part—gaining permission from Mr Bennet. I will let you know of the wedding date, once it is set, so you may make your plans.”

“Congratulations, sincerely, Darce. I know you have known Miss Elizabeth a long time, and you will surely do well together.”

* * *

Mr Hill promptly showed Darcy into the study, and Mr Bennet’s face lit as he returned Darcy’s bow.

Darcy had brought his dispatch box with the marriage documents. “Moroccan leather?” Mr Bennet asked.

Darcy laughed, remembering that those were almost the first words he had ever heard from the man. He replied now as he had then: “Yes.”

“I hope we are not about to discuss grim history.”

“No. I am here on behalf of the future,” Darcy replied.

“Well, do get to it, then.”

“Sir, I am certain you have noticed that your second eldest daughter, Miss Elizabeth, has captured my eye, my mind, and my heart. Today, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”

Just as he had expected, Mr Bennet frowned. But Darcy continued: “I have here the settlement papers for you to look over and sign. I am positive you will not wish to amend them, and you know as well as anyone that I am not stingy.”

Mr Bennet could not help but agree. “Far too generous, I am sure,” he said, tapping the papers that Darcy had handed to him.

“I am not too generous. My fortune can bear it. I am fairly certain you are contemplating how difficult your life will be without Miss Elizabeth here to help you, but you must know that your current prosperity could afford a secretary who can tend to your correspondence.”

Mr Bennet said, “When I first introduced you to the family, Lizzy was very set against you. I do not see how you and she have become such good friends.”

“When I first arrived, you must understand that it was a very odd thing for a stranger to arrive and work so hard on the behalf of an unconnected family’s estate. The fact that Miss Elizabeth alone, of all the ladies in your family, asked why indicates her intelligence, not her negativity towards me.”

Mr Bennet took off his glasses, polished them, and responded, “She is definitely more curious than most folks—and that is not praise. But your kind words do not explain why she called you arrogant and stuffy.” He put his glasses back on and stared pointedly at Darcy. “She laughed at your tendency to blush, and she seemed to think blushing was not something that men ought to do.”

“Miss Elizabeth and I have already discussed every insult she ever made and every far-fetched theory about my motive to help the Bennets. She has apologised, and if forgiveness is necessary for such tiny transgressions from years ago, I assure you that I do forgive her. You, sir, choosing to stand against us here and now hurts me far more than anything she ever did.” Darcy held Mr Bennet’s gaze, willing him to do better, to be better.

Mr Bennet opened his mouth, then closed it again. He heaved a sigh and said, “I have been wishing I never introduced the two of you, but you are correct, I can hire a secretary and allow Lizzy to have her life. After all, how could I ever refuse you anything which you condescended to ask?”

“Thank you, sir.”

Half an hour later, Darcy left the study with the all-important signature. He found Elizabeth in the parlour and whispered in her ear, “We have his permission.”

“You, sir, are a miracle worker!” Elizabeth’s smile was dazzling.

Mrs Bennet looked up, sensing some change. All Elizabeth did was nod and smile at her mother, and the woman began to crow, “Oh, Lizzy, you clever, clever girl! How rich you will be! Ten thousand a year!”

Darcy blushed and chuckled, Elizabeth winced and laughed, and Mr Bennet pouted as he entered the room. “Did the celebrations precede the announcement?” he asked in a testy voice. He called out, “Come to the parlour, girls. I have something to say.”

Miss Bennet and Miss Mary entered the parlour from the music room, and Misses Lydia and Kitty clattered down the stairs and entered from the other door. Mr Bennet looked around the assembled family and said, “Mr Darcy has proposed marriage to Lizzy, and she has accepted him. They are engaged.”

The happy babble of voices congratulating Darcy and wishing Lizzy happiness indicated that the sisters were not surprised by the news—as, indeed, who could be?

Darcy could hardly bear to move his gaze away from Elizabeth. He wished he could magically transport them back to the top of Oakham Mount for another kiss. He felt confident that further practice of the activity would improve…. Well, the already-perfect kiss did not actually need improvement, but he supposed they would need frequent practice to ensure that their kissing would maintain its high quality.

He could hardly wait.

Epilogue