Here it is! The last of the promised five :) It's a relatively short one, sorry!

I'm not sure when the next update will be because the next chapters aren't written yet :P Hopefully it will be soon! Thank you for all your reviews, you make my day 3

Mrs Bennet had no doubt contrived for the Bennet family to have to wait another quarter hour for their carriage after all the other guests had gone. Darcy and Bingley did not mind this in the slightest, for it gave them a little extra time to talk with their ladies. It was clear that Miss Bingley was most peeved at the circumstances. She spoke to no one, only occasionally deigning to throw scornful glances in the direction of Mrs Bennet and the three youngest daughters, and angry ones in the direction of Darcy and Elizabeth, who, like Jane and Bingley, stood off to the side slightly.

After about five minutes of waiting and quiet discussion, Darcy said to Elizabeth, 'If you will excuse me, I must speak with your father about something.'

'Wickham?' Elizabeth asked worriedly.

Darcy merely smiled, and pressed her hand reassuringly. 'I will be back in a moment.'

He strode over to Mr Bennet, anxious as he saw a knowing smirk spread over the older gentleman's face.

'Might I have a word with you, Mr Bennet?'

'You may,' Mr Bennet said, amused.

Darcy waited, but he did not move out of the room. Suddenly realising who Elizabeth had received her impertinence from, he hid a smile and inquired, 'In private, sir?'

'Very well.'

They went out of the room together and walked in silence until they reached the library.

'So, you have finally come to ask for my daughter's hand,' Mr Bennet said after Darcy had closed the doors and turned back to face him.

Darcy's face was a picture. He gaped for a moment, and then closed his mouth, running a hand through his hair and pacing back and forth in an agitated manner. Mr Bennet watched him with amusement.

'Yes, I love Elizabeth, and I will ask for her hand.' It was Mr Bennet's turn to gape. He had suspected some regard on the gentleman's part, but not love. 'I have not yet, as I know she wishes to marry for affection, and I am not certain of hers.' Darcy stopped pacing. 'She will be cared for to the best of my ability. She will want for nothing.' Here, Mr Bennet snorted.

Darcy looked up at him in question.

'I am sure you realise Elizabeth is not the wife society expects of you.' Mr Bennet did not add that he did not wish to see his favourite's spirit crushed, but Darcy seemed to understand anyway.

'I would never do anything to take away her vivacity or impertinence. I enjoy talking and arguing with her very much. Forgive me for saying so, but I believe she needs someone who will challenge her, for her intelligence is very great. If she accepts me, I am very much looking forward to roaming the country with her. If I had wanted a society wife, who is a mindless creature, only interested in herself, counting her coins, and the next ball, I would have married /spanMiss Bingley or someone similar.'

Mr Bennet was impressed. 'Well, you have my consent, sir, as long as I am assured by Lizzy that she will be happy. I am sure I could not refuse a man of your standing anything. And I am sure that even if I did not give you my blessing, you would wait until she has reached her majority and spirit her away then.'

Mr Darcy smiled. 'You are quite correct, sir. But please do not speak to Elizabeth of it. I want to propose when I am as certain as I can be of her affections.' He paused. 'That is not all I wished to speak to you of.'

Mr Bennet was intrigued. 'Indeed? Is this about Wickham again? I have warned my family against him.'

'No. No, it is not, although I am glad to hear that. I have invited your two eldest daughters along with Mr and Mrs Gardiner to stay at Pemberley with my sister and I over Christmas. I hope you will grant your permission for that too, sir. My cousin will also be there, and the Bingleys will join us over New Year, so we shall not be a small party.'

'Fanny will be ecstatic,' Mr Bennet said drily.

Mr Darcy took this as assent, and laughed.

When the carriage arrived back at Longbourn, Mr Bennet immediately requested Elizabeth's presence in his study.

'Is anything wrong, Papa?' she asked with a concerned frown.

'Not at present, my dear. I was simply informed by your Mr Darcy that he has invited you and Jane to Pemberley. I have given my permission, but I want your view on the matter.'

'He is not my Mr Darcy, Papa,' Elizabeth said, blushing fiercely, but she followed her father to his study all the same.

She sat in front of his desk as he looked at her expectantly. 'Well?'

'Well what, Papa?'

'What is your opinion on the man, Lizzy?' he asked impatiently. 'I assume you no longer dislike him, as you spent most of this evening with him!'

Elizabeth flushed, and twisted her hands in her lap. 'I was wrong about him, Papa. He is not proud, he is merely shy. The pride he does have is good pride, like his pride in his estate. He is dreadfully kind, especially when Jane and I were staying at Netherfield. We have many similar views and interests, and he is the first man I have met that is not affronted or intimidated by my love of nature and books and my knowledge of how an estate works. He is intelligent and has a great sense of humour once you get to know him. He is dreadfully handsome, and his dimples –' Elizabeth stopped short, slapping her hands over her mouth in mortification. 'Forgive me, Papa, I should not have –'

Mr Bennet was most amused. 'I take this to mean you would accept him if he offered for you?'

Elizabeth hesitated. 'Well, yes, perhaps. I am not quite sure of my feelings yet, but perhaps that is a good thing, for he shall never offer for me, Papa.'

'You sound so certain,' Mr Bennet said, raising his eyebrows.

'He informed me this evening that his heart was engaged already,' she whispered.

'Well, perhaps he was trying to drop a few hints,' Mr Bennet said slyly.

'Oh, Papa, do not put such thoughts in my head! No, I am resolved that we shall be great friends only.'

'Do not count your chickens before they hatch, Lizzy. Now, I am off to bed. Goodnight, my dear.' Mr Bennet left the study abruptly, leaving Elizabeth to try and puzzle through the end of their conversation. Still confused, she left for bed and to find Jane five minutes later.