A/N: Some readers might have felt that this story should have continued to include Fitz and Elizabeth's reunion, but this story was focusing on Fitz and his father and their need to bond and have Fitz's protective nature grow to include his father.
But to satisfy those who wish to see a rejoining of Fitz and Elizabeth I submit to you a somewhat bumpy journey to a happy-ever-after.
Botsey
Needs: A Pride and Prejudice Exploration
Of A
Happily-Ever-After
His father had accepted his fate well and Fitz noticed a liberated air about him. Fitz was finalizing his plans to return to Pemberley due haste, his one concession was to accompany his father to White's the day before his departure.
In transport with his son, George's conversation was almost thinking out loud,
"Firtz, I appreciate how supportive you have been. Indeed, the letter from Miss Bingley and the subsequent posting of the announcement regarding the breaking of the engagement seems to have revived my spirits. Actually, I feel no ill effects from that misadventure.
Fitz nodded and simply said,
"Father let us put that all behind us."
After the perfunctory activities required upon entry, Fitz and George parted ways with Fitz heading toward the stall to find an adversary, and George going to play cards.
Surprisingly, he again met with Mr. Gerald Venable and they greeted each other almost as old friends. Again, their match ended in a draw and then Mr. Venable requested Fitz to spend some time with him. He seemed a bit anxious and then eventually blurted out his concerns.
"I have been visiting Miss Bingley of late and find that now she has limited her company. Her engagement has been withdrawn and I wonder if she is suffering from heartbreak."
Fitz immediately thought to himself,
'One must have a heart to suffer such a consequence."
But on that matter, he remained silent. Mr. Venable continued,
"She certainly is a talented young woman, and although that is so, I hesitate to enter a serious relationship with her due to her family's history in trade. I am afraid my family would not approve."
If it were not for Fitz ability to exercise self-control, he would have collapsed with laughter thinking about how Caroline Bingley was now the victim of the same prejudices that she had held against his beloved Elizabeth's family. It appears that the proverbial 'hens had come home to roost'.
After that short conversation, Fitz saw his father coming in his direction and figured that they would enjoy this final meal together because he intended to leave at first light tomorrow morning. He would enjoy coffee and a muffin before departure and would request that the cook prepare a basket for the journey. He had already posted a letter
advising Elizabeth that he would come to Longbourne as soon as he had been able to confer with Pemberley's steward about some pressing matters
During their meal, several of his father's friends came to converse and it seemed the singular subject was his father's present state of freedom. Several made suggestions, recommendations and cautions, which his father accepted with good humor. He had not seen his father in such spirits since before his mother died. Fitz thought that that was a good sign, indicative of his father's eventual total recovery.
While on the way home Fitz mentioned that once he had checked on matters at Pemberley, he would be traveling to Longbourne to speak to Elizabeth Bennet's father. He revealed his engagement to Elizabeth in detail and informed his father of the details of the marriage contract and his father bestowed the greatest of gifts…his blessing on his plans to marry and with a twinkle in his eye said,
"Try to insure that next year this time I am a grandfather to a Master Darcy. That would bring me the greatest happiness."
"It would be so for me also, father."
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He had not yet spoken to Mr. Bennet but he carried the marriage contract with him. He was fully aware that Elizabeth was her father's favorite and he was about to wrest her from him, but he was certain the settlement upon Elizabeth and her family would be in some small way compensatory.
The thought of Mrs. Bennet's involvement in their lives did not leave Fitz in the best frame of mind, he was certain that time spent with Mr. Bennet would prove to be rewarding. After all, he had almost single handedly created the Elizabeth that he cherished. He saw no contribution from her mother other than education in domestic duties. It was quite possible that his Elizabeth was self-taught in those areas. He had come to understand that Mr. Bennet had also taught her a degree of management of the estate, the keeping of books, planting and harvesting techniques. Of course, these things were not usually what a young lady would be privy to, but he was certain that he would come to value that area of her knowledge and experience.
To give relief to any apprehension he held, he reminded himself, after all, a yearly congress with the entire family during the holiday season would put a strain on his patience. In addition, his knowledge of Mr. Bennet's attitude about travel would probably allow for one such visit a year. In reality, Fitz was putting the cart before the horse, for certainly the first step to securing his happily-ever-after was the securing of Mr. Bennet's parental blessing.
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It would be at least three hours before they would make their first stop so he allowed himself the luxury of closing his eyes and attempting a nap. Before he did so he checked the view from the carriage widows to ensure that his outriders were keeping abreast with the carriage. As he looked out each window each of the young men reached up and touched the brim of their hat, as a silent salute ensuring that they were alert and on their job. Both were armed and trained for such missions for they were paid escorts, many of them ex-soldiers who knew the roads, the location of the safe houses to stop and were privy to the latest criminal activity in the area that they were assigned to travel. To travel without such accompaniment was to throw caution to the wind.
With that survey complete, Fitz closed his eyes and before sleep took him, he envisioned Elizabeth's face with a teasing smile.
