Author's Note:
Hi, guys! Thank you for your comments! You say this fic makes your isolation better, well, your reviews make mine better! Now... the Darcys are coming! Here's some family bonding, some kissing and some banter! I know Darcy might be a little OOC here, but since I focused so much on all the challenges he went through, his mental transformation, and his sorrow, I thought this Darcy might be a little different. My Darcy now is more open and more teasing than the original Darcy at the end of P&P. Aaaaand... also because I enjoy writing this Darcy a lot more! (I'm not gonna to lie to you)
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Stay safe and healthy!
Jen
She chuckled and said mischievously:
"Then you shall have to kiss me again."
"Impertinent woman!" he exclaimed smiling, and he indeed kissed her again.
21.
"My family will be coming tomorrow," Fitzwilliam told Elizabeth the day before their arrival as the couple entered Longbourn after their walk.
"Oh, I am so happy they shall join us. Will they stay until we are married?"
"Yes, but they will come with us to London too."
"I spoke to Mama about London, and I convinced her to leave as soon as we can after my birthday. It may take some time before our dresses can be made and it will be better to have too much time than too little."
"Oh, Mr. Darcy!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed as they entered the parlour. "Come here, do sit down. Do you wish for tea, sir?"
"Yes, thank you, Madam," he replied with much civility.
"Oh, such a fine and polite gentleman. How well you did, Lizzy!" she said embarrassing her daughter.
Since finding out that he was to be her son-in-law—and her richest son at that—Mrs. Bennet was all civility and attention. Elizabeth, who knew this was only because of their marriage and his money, was praying that her mother would not embarrass her too much in front of her new family.
"I am the one who is very fortunate, I assure you," Fitzwilliam smiled at his future mother-in-law.
"Oh, yes, Lizzy is a very good girl," she replied and Elizabeth blushed and looked down.
Fitzwilliam had been trying to implement his fiancée's philosophy to be amused by the ridiculous, and so he merely smiled and asked:
"When will we leave for London, then, Elizabeth? You said soon."
"October 15th."
"Oh, such a disagreeable thing to have to recover from such a gathering in barely two days and then go straight to London!"
"You can stay here, Mama, and Aunt Gardiner will help us."
"Stay here?! And not accompany my daughters? Lizzy, do not be ridiculous! I must go, and I must prepare a very grand double wedding right in the meantime. Oh! A birthday assembly, a trip to London, two weddings! How shall I ever do it? My nerves will not survive it."
"Mrs. Bennet," Fitzwilliam stood up and walked to her seat. "Do not distress yourself. You have always been an excellent hostess and if it begins to feel as if it is too much for you, I am sure my mother will be happy to help you."
Mrs. Bennet was speechless for a second—something that Elizabeth had rarely seen before—at being treated with such kindness by a man she had thought to be proud and arrogant.
"You are very kind, sir," she finally said.
"Not at all, I have only stated the truth. Let me know if there is something I can do to relieve your distress."
"I shall, Mr. Darcy," she nodded. "I am feeling much better indeed."
"I am happy to hear it. I should be leaving for Netherfield before it grows too late."
"You must stay for dinner," Mrs. Bennet said.
"I should like that, for you set an excellent table, but I fear that to-night, and possibly tomorrow night, depending on how exhausted my family is, will not be possible. Besides, I would not wish to add to the many things you already have to do, but I shall hold you to that invitation for some other time."
"Of course! You need no invitation!" she blushed. "Only let me know and come when you wish it!"
"Thank you, Madam."
Elizabeth who had silently watched the whole interaction, suddenly said:
"May I walk Mr. Darcy to the stables, Mama?"
"Of course!" Mrs. Bennet repeated. "Do walk him out, my dear. Goodbye, Mr. Darcy," she curtsied.
"Goodbye, Madam," he bowed and followed Elizabeth outside.
They walked silently until Elizabeth grabbed his hand and pulled him behind the stables. Before he could ask what was happening, she threw her arms around him and pressed her lips against his. Fitzwilliam reacted instinctively and wrapped his arms around her waist. He marvelled at the soft curves he could feel there through her dress as he held her close. Despite being a gentleman, he had never failed to notice how plump and voluptuous her figure was, how full her bosom and hips were compared to the smallness of her waist. Now, he felt it. When he started thinking about how they would feel without her dress, he pulled away.
"My Lord, Elizabeth. You shall be the death of me," he panted, holding his forehead against hers as he regained some control before he pulled apart when he seemed to realise something. "Your uncle was right! You are a wood nymph: a beautiful spirit of nature who lures me into the woods with her playful and seductive charms and leads me straight to my doom. Is that your intent, Madam?"
"You have found me out," Elizabeth chuckled and blushed. "No, I was pleasantly surprised by the way you handled Mama."
"That was the reason of such a delicious attack?"
Elizabeth blushed redder at her boldness. In the heat of the moment it had not seemed so bold as it truly had been. But Fitzwilliam had not been offended the first time, and had not thought her wanton.
Meanwhile, her fiancé was wondering what he had done. He had treated Mrs. Bennet as he believed he should always have treated her: with the respect due to the mother of the woman he loved. He realised three things: it had not cost him much to do so, Mrs. Bennet had reacted better than he could have imagined, and he had not lied. His future mother-in-law was indeed a good hostess and she did set a good table. He had merely focused on Mrs. Bennet's positive aspects instead of the negative ones.
"I only treated her with the respect due to the mother of the woman I love," he told her. "But if you shall always reward me in such a way I will be completely and utterly charming to her."
Elizabeth laughed and finally led him to the stables.
Mr. George Darcy descended the Darcy carriage at Netherfield before handling his wife and daughter out. Georgiana's feet had barely touched the ground when they left it again as her brother held her up in the air in a crushing hug and spinned her around. Georgiana giggled as she always had when her brother used to throw her around when she was a little girl. Lately, it had happened so very rarely that she had forgotten how fun it was.
Lady Anne and Mr. Darcy watched amused as their children laughed and embraced.
"Oh, Fitzwilliam, I am so happy for you," his little sister said.
"I am happy for myself," Fitzwilliam chuckled, beaming and glowing in such a way that no one could deny his happiness. "Do you believe then, that I have fulfilled your request, Georgie? Are you satisfied with your new sister-to-be?"
"Oh yes! I am so happy for myself, too," she laughed.
"Mother, Father," Fitzwilliam smiled at he kissed his mother's cheek. "Thank you for coming. I am very happy that you are here. Do not think that the reason escapes me, you have come to show your support, have you not?"
Mr. Darcy smiled at his son's perception. "That, and to celebrate Miss Bennet's birthday and to become more acquainted with her family."
They walked a little closer to the house where Mr. Bingley had been waiting for them and giving them some privacy.
"Mr. Darcy, Lady Anne, Miss Darcy," he bowed, smiling. "You are very welcome to Netherfield. Please, come inside. My servants will take your things to your chambers."
"It is a very good estate you have here, Bingley," Mr. Darcy said. "'Tis a good size and seems to be in good shape."
"Thank you, it is. Of course, Darcy has helped me a lot in choosing it and bring it back to life. It had been inhabited for some time when we arrived."
"Have you decided if you shall settle here permanently?" Lady Anne asked as they entered the parlour for some refreshments. "I understand that you are leasing it."
"Yes, I have not yet bought it. And I am not sure at this point if I will," Bingley replied as they sat down. "For you see," he beamed, "now that I shall be married I will have to decide it with my wife."
Mr. Darcy laughed. "Oh, yes, of course. Although I am sure Miss Bennet would like to be close to her family, would she not?"
"Well," Bingley hesitated. "I believe that if she had to choose, she would prefer to be near her favourite sister."
"Oh, I see," Lady Anne smiled. "And Derbyshire is a long way to Hertfordshire."
"It is, indeed. In any case, I have renewed the lease for another year, so we will see after that."
They drank some tea before the Darcys declared their intention to change and rest before their dinner at Longbourn that evening. Fitzwilliam walked them upstairs and there he said:
"I should warn you that Mrs. Bennet is a little more... effusive and attentive than what you might be used to, but she means well."
"We shall be fine, Fitzwilliam," Lady Anne gave him a look that warned him about abusing his future mother-in-law.
"I merely wanted to let Georgiana know, for you know she is shy and silent, and I would not want her to be surprised and overwhelmed. Elizabeth and Jane do their best to calm Mrs. Bennet's nerves, but they are not always successful. Elizabeth is embarrassed enough as it is, I would not want her to be more nervous about your meeting her."
Lady Anne softened at the realisation that he was caring for his intended's feelings and did not mean to disparage her mother.
"I shall be fine, Brother," Georgiana said. "Elizabeth has written about her family, so I have an inkling of each of them. I thought they all sounded... happy and lively."
"Oh, that they are," Fitzwilliam chuckled.
Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne were astonished by their son. He seemed to be much more relaxed that they had ever seen him and there was an expression of pure joy and peace on his face.
"Will you be going to Longbourn now?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"If you do not mind, Bingley and I shall go for an hour or two before we come back to change for dinner."
"We do not mind," Lady Anne replied. "We shall be resting, so do not let us keep you from your lovely fiancées."
"I will see you in a few hours," her son said and left them to follow the servant to their chambers.
Bingley, who had spotted Jane tending to some plants in the garden, disappeared before Fitzwilliam even had time to unsaddle. He chuckled as he watched his friend kissing his intended's hand lovingly. Fitzwilliam reached for his saddle bag, removed what he was looking for, and walked to Longbourn where he was received my a surprised Mrs. Hill who looked from him to the gift in his hand and then smiled and said:
"Miss Lizzy is in the parlour with her mother and younger sisters."
"Thank you, that is perfect."
When he was announced, four stunned faces turned to him.
"Oh, Lizzy, look! He has brought you flowers!" Mrs. Bennet smiled.
"They are not for Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet," Fitzwilliam said, matter-of-factly.
Elizabeth smiled, amused. "Are they not, Mr. Darcy? Do you give flowers to any lady? I should be worried, then."
"Not any lady, Elizabeth. But my future mother deserves praise for her hard work of late and for receiving my family this very night when she is so busy with other preparations," he replied and handed the bouquet to a very astonished Mrs. Bennet.
"For me?" she asked.
"Yes, Madam. Except for this one," he took the only red rose from the bouquet and walked to Elizabeth. "Red roses symbolise love. It would not do to give it to your mother, do you not think?" he smiled at her and gave her the rose.
Elizabeth blushed and chuckled—a combination she had been doing rather frequently in the last sennight—and replied:
"It would not do at all, Mr. Darcy. But where did you find a red rose at this time a year?"
"Oh, Lizzy, a man of Mr. Darcy's consequence can find a rose in the middle of the winter if he so desires!" Mrs. Bennet finally came to her senses.
Fitzwilliam smiled at the idea that he could control nature, before he added:
"Your mother is right. And I must have some secrets, do you not think?"
Elizabeth laughed. "As long as they are about such things as giving me roses in autumn, I shall allow it, I think," she teased.
"Oh, such a charming man! Such a gentleman, Lizzy! How lucky you are!" Mrs. Bennet continued.
"Has your family arrived safely?" Elizabeth asked him, ignoring her mother.
"Yes, they are resting now, but they have accepted your invitation to dine here and I shall retrieve them when I go to change for dinner. But in the meantime, would you walk with me?"
"Oh, you must, Lizzy! Go to show him the sight from Oakham Mount again!" Mrs. Bennet said.
"You are very kind, Mrs. Bennet," Fitzwilliam bowed over her hand and kissed it before leaving Longbourn and three stunned Bennet women behind.
"What was that about, Fitzwilliam?" Elizabeth asked him once they were far enough from the house.
"I was being charming to my future mother," he smiled mischievously.
Elizabeth looked at him confused until it dawned to her.
"You want a reward?" she smiled.
"Indeed, I was expecting the same results I obtained the first time."
"That was very badly done, Mr. Darcy," she said smiling still, "to play with Mama's feelings like that."
"A man in love will go to such extremes as to give his future mother flowers to obtain his love's kiss, but I do not believe your mother looked distressed."
Elizabeth chuckled. "No, indeed, she is a very happy woman now. She has not had a man bring her flowers in a long time."
"Shall I get my reward then?" he grinned as he took a step closer to her.
"I am not sure if you deserve it, sir."
"Indeed, I do! You are cheating me out of my reward, Madam, I do not thi—"
But whatever was about to follow was never uttered, for his lips had been given a more entertaining occupation.
"Oh, it is such a pretty estate," Georgiana said as they approached Longbourn.
"It is, indeed," Lady Anne agreed. "I particularly like the garden and the way nature seems to be embracing the manor. Do you not think so, Fitzwilliam?"
Fitzwilliam, who was still dazed and battling the euphoria that Elizabeth's kiss usually left him with for the rest of the day, had indeed never noticed any such a thing. He had, at the beginning, thought it was a very small estate, and later, it had only been the house where his love resided. Now, he saw that both his mother and sister were right: the house was very pretty. He realised then that it reminded him of Elizabeth: natural and pretentiousness, not extremely beautiful at first glance, but very attractive if you stopped to look.
"Yes, it is very pretty," he replied, ashamed he had only seen its size before.
"I am glad you see it, Darcy," Bingley smiled. "I always thought so."
"I cannot imagine what they must feel, knowing it will go to someone else," Mr. Darcy commented. "To know your own children will be thrown from the only place they have called home, the place you worked hard for it to thrive..." he trailed off. "It is a great incentive to know one is working for the future of his children."
"I had never thought about it," Fitzwilliam admitted.
"But think: how would you feel if Pemberley was taken away from your children?" Mr. Darcy asked and Fitzwilliam looked properly horrified. "Indeed, it must feel like that."
When the Darcy family and Bingley entered Longbourn, introductions were made and the groups started to separate quite naturally. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy found they had much in common and spent a long time in deep discussion. Lady Anne spoke with Mrs. Bennet, Jane, and Bingley while Georgiana kept close to her brother and future sister who was now introducing her two youngest.
Elizabeth started to relax when she noticed that her mother was much subdued by her astonishment to be receiving such high company in her own home, and she was still quite stunned by Fitzwilliam's gallant behaviour. She had only heard one loud statement of how highly she thought of Lady Anne's gallant and gentlemanlike son and how much she herself would have liked to have a baby boy when she was younger. Lady Anne smiled and agreed that her son was indeed her pride and joy and so, both Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were at least a little ashamed that night.
The youngest Bennet sisters were also in their best behaviour for they had been very anxious to meet Miss Darcy of whom they had only heard good things. Mary was excited to speak about music to a lady who had a master and Kitty was equally excited to speak about painting and fashion. Now that Lydia—who had been the worst behaved and a bad example for the other girls—was gone, the family seemed completely acceptable if a little eccentric. Elizabeth found herself satisfied with 'eccentric'.
"Now that your dear mother has released me," Lady Anne smiled at Elizabeth, "allow me to personally congratulate you on your engagement. I am very happy for both of you."
"Thank you, Your Ladyship, and thank you for the ring. Are you absolutely sure, though, that—"
"Oh, no, my dear! None of that!" Lady Anne interrupted. "It should be worn by a Darcy bride which I had not been in a long time."
"Still, I feel that as mistress—"
"As mistress I have many pieces of jewellery that shall also be yours—and some Georgiana's—some day, but this one belongs to you now."
"Thank you. You are very kind. I never dared hope that you and your husband would welcome me in such a way."
"You make Fitzwilliam happy. I have not seen him smile and laugh so much in a single day since he was a young lad."
"He makes me happy, too," Elizabeth whispered, blushing and looking away.
"Then we shall all be very happy together."
The sitting arrangement had not been easy for Mrs. Bennet for she had wanted to give due respect to their guests while also keeping the engaged couples together. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet sat at the ends of the table. To Mr. Bennet's right sat Mr. Darcy, Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth and Mary and to his left, Lady Anne, Georgiana, Mr. Bingley, Jane and Kitty. It was not perfect, Mrs. Bennet knew, for Elizabeth, who was younger and still unmarried sat higher that Jane, but she knew that Jane preferred to be able to seat next to her fiancé. Still, everyone seemed happy with the arrangement and since it was an informal and familiar affair, she did not suffer so much for its imperfection.
"Tell me, Miss Elizabeth," Lady Anne said, although she was some seats away, "how is the preparations for your birthday progressing?"
"Quite well, Your Ladyship," Elizabeth replied. "Mama is making it a grander affair than I would have preferred, after all, it is only a birthday."
"Only a birthday?" Mrs. Bennet asked. "My dear, is an important birthday. One does not turn one and twenty every year. Oh, and it shall be your last birthday here at Longbourn, it is a very special birthday indeed."
"Mama," Elizabeth chuckled. "You cannot use that as an excuse, for it was not to be my last birthday here when you started the preparations."
Everyone laughed before Mrs. Benner replied:
"But it shall be now, and it only made it more especial."
"I believe," Mr. Bennet said, "that the one and twenty celebrations in this house turn grander with each daughter that reaches them. It shall be your turn next, Mary, if I were you, I would start preparing for it the day after Lizzy's."
"Papa, I am still nineteen."
"Will that be enough time, my dear?" Mr. Bennet smiled to his wife.
"Oh, your father is only teasing us, Mary. We shall not prepare yours until next year," she declared to everyone's amusement.
"You see, Lady Anne," Elizabeth said. "Mama may complain, but she does enjoy the planning of any activity."
"Oh, I admit I do," Mrs. Bennet said. "But it might be too much this year: your birthday, our trip to London, a double wedding, and then Christmas and New Year! All in three short months."
"I will be happy to help you, Mrs. Bennet," Lady Anne said. "You are perfectly right, it is too much work for one person no matter how good a hostess she is," she added so as not to offend the other woman by implying she could not handle it alone. "I know Miss Elizabeth birthday's is too close already, but I might help you in London and with the wedding, after all, it is also my son's."
"I thank you, Lady Anne, but is it not a mother's duty to arrange her daughter's wedding?"
"It is, but rarely two daughters at once," Lady Anne smiled. "Besides, Mr. Darcy and I have spoken and we would like to invite all of you, including Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, to Pemberley for Christmas and the New Year."
Fitzwilliam was just as surprised by this news as Elizabeth was.
"Oh, that is very kind of you, Your Ladyship," Mrs. Bennet replied. "We shall see if it is possible, but it would be a pleasure."
"I know that Fitzwilliam, Miss Elizabeth, Bingley and Miss Bennet might want to go on a wedding trip, but it is my intention to persuade them to wait a few weeks and spend the holidays with us," Mr. Darcy said.
"We shall certainly think about it," Bingley replied.
"Of course, your family is also invited," Lady Anne added.
Even though she did not wish to invite Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, she could not ask Mr. Bingley to leave them behind, and the future Mrs. Bingley's presence at Pemberley would make the future Mrs. Darcy happy and therefore, also Fitzwilliam, which was her goal.
"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, breaking the silence. "Will you allow Georgiana to dance at my birthday?"
"Well," Mr. Darcy said, smiling at his daughter. "We have spoken about this, and since she is not yet out, she will be allowed to dance with Fitzwilliam, Bingley and me only. Oh, and you, of course, Mr. Bennet, if you wish it."
Mr. Bennet chuckled. "Oh, no. I have stopped dancing the day I married."
"Is that an option?" Fitzwilliam smiled at Elizabeth and everyone laughed.
"No, it is not," Elizabeth chuckled. "Papa do not put such ideas in his head. Besides, you are not being completely honest. You did dance with us for many years."
"Oh, yes, you are right, my love," Mr. Bennet said. "I did dance with my daughters when they were learning or when they wished to escape an unwanted suitor, but that is a father's responsibility."
"And you might wish to dance with Georgiana when she is out," Elizabeth pointed out to Fitzwilliam.
"Indeed, but can it be restricted, you think, to mothers, sisters, and wife?"
"And daughters," Mr. Darcy added with a smile. "But do not fear, Fitzwilliam. Dancing is not so daunting after one is married."
"Daunting?" Elizabeth chuckled. "Do you imply that there is danger in the activity, Mr. Darcy?"
"It may be, especially among the ton, but once one marries and is not eligible any more, it becomes easier."
Conversation continued in such an amiable way for the rest of the dinner. If Mr. Darcy spied his son and his future daughter holding hands underneath the table, he had a good enough memory to remember when he too, held his wife's hand before it was proper, and said nothing.
Fitzwilliam was not sure of everything that was said that night, for when he started running his thumb in small circles on his love's hand, he marvelled at the softness of it and wondered if all her skin was so very soft. Then, Elizabeth intertwined their fingers together and he felt such a strong feeling of rightness that he was left overwhelmed. Her small, soft hand fitted so perfectly in his that he wanted to raise them and kiss the back of hers, and then her palm, and her wrist... He restrained himself and cursed under his breath when he realised that with his family now in Hertfordshire, they might have less opportunities to run off and steal kisses.
When the ladies retired to the drawing room, Jane, Mary, Kitty, Georgiana, and Elizabeth spent more time together speaking of music and art and Georgiana felt she could not be happier when she realised she would be gaining four sisters instead of one. When they traveled to Hertfordshire, her parents had told her about Mrs. Wickham, and though she was surprised and a little distressed, she promised herself she would not let Wickham take any of her happiness away. She also learnt that they might see little of both Wickhams and that although Mrs. Wickham would be received at Pemberley if Mrs. Darcy desired it, Mr. Wickham would not be.
But what did it matter when her whole family was happy and she was gaining Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, and Kitty as sisters? The girls had already agreed that they would call each other by their Christian names and that they would be very happy to be sisters.
Meanwhile, the gentlemen were agreeing to go hunting the next morning so as to leave the ladies alone to make the final arrangements for Elizabeth's birthday. Mr. Bennet was more impressed by Fitzwilliam with each day that he passed on his presence. He had gone hunting once already with him, alone without even Bingley, for he wanted to know better the man that would be taking his Lizzy. He had found him to be intelligent, responsible, and more open to be teased that he had given him credit for, he supposed that thanks to Lizzy. He had also played chess with him twice and had offered him to take refuge in his library when the ladies overwhelmed for him. He had truly enjoyed his company and now, having spoken more with his father, he saw that they also were very much alike in terms of intelligence, honour, and responsibility. Yes, his Lizzy would be in good hands, he decided.
"And you are invited to come play a game of chess with me or join me in my library if you so wish," Mr. Bennet added as they spoke about hunting tomorrow. "Do not be offended, Bingley, but your library can barely be called that."
Bingley laughed and said: "I am not offended, Mr. Bennet, for you speak the truth. The previous gentleman who let Netherfield was not a great reader and neither am I, I am afraid."
"Jane enjoys reading, but she does not miss it she cannot indulge in a book. On the other hand..." he smiled at Fitzwilliam. "I hope you have a good library, Mr. Darcy, for my Lizzy devours books with an amazing speed."
Fitzwilliam smiled back, "We have a good library at Darcy House and I believe even she must be satisfied with Pemberley's, it is the work of many generations."
"Indeed," Mr. George Darcy agreed. "I think that if you decide to spend Christmas at Pemberley we will find Mr. Bennet at the library at all hours."
Mr. Bennet laughed. "I am sure you are right. Lizzy inherited it from someone after all."
"Did you encourage her when she was a child?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"Oh, yes. I allowed her full rein of the library and encouraged her to read, argue, and debate as much as she could. I did so with all my daughters, but Lizzy was the only one who had a natural tendency for argument. You shall have an entertaining life, Mr. Darcy," he nodded to Fitzwilliam.
"You must call me Fitzwilliam, sir, or both my father and I shall reply. And indeed, I am aware. Half our conversations have been arguments."
Mr. Bennet laughed. "Yes, that is my Lizzy, indeed. And I pray the Lord helps you if your daughters are like she was when a little girl."
"Now that you say that, I remember that Mr. Gardiner mentioned something," Mr. Darcy commented. "He said we should ask you how she was as a child. Was she a handful?"
"Oh, yes, but it was very entertaining. Elizabeth was born a month before she was due, and so she was smaller than other girls until she reached fifteen. I always wondered how someone so small could cause such havoc. I must admit I woke up each morning wondering what would that tiny mischief-maker do that day," he laughed. "My poor wife was not so amused when Lizzy came back with mud on her face and dress, especially when compared to little Jane," Mr. Bennet smiled at Bingley, "who was a perfect angel even then. Maybe Lizzy was making up for all the mischief her sister was not making."
"Still, you sound as if you enjoyed it," Fitzwilliam smiled.
"Indeed! But having a mischievous child is not easy; you must reprimand them while your are trying not to laugh. Oh," Mr. Bennet said as if something had occurred to him. "Maybe I can tell you some stories of her childhood in the hopes that the fear of having such a daughter will make you leave her here at Longbourn with me!"
The men chuckled as Fitzwilliam replied:
"I do not think that is likely to work, Mr. Bennet. I am quite determined."
"Oh, but you have not heard any of it. I shall think about it and tell you some stories, but now, we should rejoin the ladies."
The rest of the night went well and promises were made to see each other the next day.
I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.
Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.
This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.
