The door closes behind him and mr. Bingley turns to Jane, with a very nervous smile on his face.
"Ms. Bennet" he says, with his voice shaking slightly.
"Mr Bingley" she answers, in a tone even more soft spoken than her usual one.
"I have some things, nay, many things I would like to say to you. The first would be my apology. I am truly sorry for my actions in the past. The second would be my explanation that not even I find remotely pleasing." He looks at Jane, looking for an expression in her face. She looks slightly surprised, but there is nothing there to make it easier for him. He clear his throat before continuing on. "Firstly, I left Netherfield on the wrong basis. Or hopefully the wrong basis. I must tell you I did not leave Netherfield because I did not feel for you. I left Netherfield because I did not think those feelings were returned. My sisters and to some extent mr. Darcy's words told me that. However, I realize that I never quite tried to figure out your emotions on my own and thus I relied on them to tell me something most important for my future happiness, something I regret. Can you, ms Bennet, forgive me for listening to them instead of myself your yourself?"
"Yes" she simply answers, with a slight smile on her face. Not noticeable, unless one was as truly interested in reading her emotions as mr. Bingley was.
"Good. Now, for me not calling on you while you were visiting London. I did not know you were there. No one told me of it. In retrospect, I should have noticed the slight changers in manners of Caroline, but I did not. Can you forgive me ms. Bennet, for being so unobservant – once more?"
Now, she simply nods. He begins to fear it's because she does not fully accept his apology; it is, however, because she finds herself unable to speak.
"Good." he says again. Then, with hesitation, he continues speaking. "Now to the most important part of my speech" he laughs a little and get a more obvious but still small smile in return "Will you, Ms. Bennet.. Jane.. after all this be willing to accept my hand?"
Jane gaps at this question and can merely stare at him. For one moment, he feels all of the fear and hurt in the world. Then the biggest smile appear on her face and she is simply glowing, being more beautiful than ever. Being more beautiful than he thought anyone could ever be.
"Yes. Yes, yes, yes yes, yes. Oh dear. I can't stop talking. Yes, I would love to. It would.."
With her still talking, he moves over quickly to her side of the room and takes her hand. Suddenly she silences.
"What's wrong dear?" he asks, with a calm voice and releases her hand.
"When you touch me I usually have difficulty thinking straight. When I was already rambling on when you touched me, I could not think at all. But do take my hand again!"