Chapter 37

Darcy attempted to focus on the book he held, but his thoughts refused to focus on anything other then the young lady abovestairs that held his heart, Elizabeth. He had departed from Darcy House at an extremley early hour so that he could see Elizabeth as soon as she was downstairs for the day, unable to bear staying away. Usually he would make his way to Matlock House with his cousins and Bingley to break their fasts with the residents, but today he was far to impatient. Even if Elizabeth was not awake yet, he needed to be in the same house as her at least.

He had been unable to sleep peacefully last night. He had been tempted to demand Elizabeth's removal to Darcy House so he could watch over her, but had instinctively known his aunt would not countance such a thing. He had settled for insisting that he be sent for if she had nightmares. No word had come, but he still worried.

...

Elizabeth sighed as the maid finished helping her get ready to leave her room for breakfast. She still felt extremely foolish for her reaction yesterday to Bingley's friend. She did feel that she had learned something very important about her feelings for Darcy though. She had considered before that she was falling in love with him, but now she was sure of it. She felt safest when he was near, it was true, but she recalled very clearly that her thought before the fear had made thinking nearly impossible was that if the man killed her she would never get to see him again, and that thought was heartbreaking. Yesterday she had been to consumed by her fear and subsequent shame for being so foolish, but now in the clear light of a new day, she examined the thought again. Yes, Elizabeth concluded, she was in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy. She was aware that Darcy would likely feel compelled to wait to offer for her until she had a season so that society would not speculate on her reputation but she knew, she would not be opposed to him offering before then. He was her choice, whenever he did offer, she would say yes.

Thanking her maid, Elizabeth headed down to the library until it would be time to join the others in the breakfast parlor. She was surprised to find it occupied. Darcy, who usually accompanied the other males over, was present. Seeing her arrive he rose and made his way to her side. His eyes scanned her with concern and he asked, "Are you well, Lissy?"

"I am well. I surprisingly had no nightmares. I do believe I was simply to exhausted to have any, William."

"You are sure?"

"Yes. I assure you I am entirely myself again. I feel no lingering fear. I am not beset by fluttering and spasms. I will not be calling for salts. I am a logical creature even if I had a difficult time asserting that logic yesterday," Elizabeth said wryly. "I have a greater appreciation for Mrs. Bennet's nerves and her fear of the hedgegrows."

"I am grateful to see the twinkle in your eyes again," he said tenderly. "I will keep you safe, Lissy."

"I know," she told him with a smile. "As long as I have you, I know I will be fine."

"God Lissy, I Love you," Darcy said unable to help himself.

"I love you too," Elizabeth responded softly, blushing.

An expression of heartfelt delight infused Darcy's features and he said eagerly, "Truly?"

"Truly Wills. My heart is unreservedly yours."

"And your hand?"

"Yours when you are ready to ask for it."

Crushing her to him he kissed her and breaking off the kiss whispered, "Marry me, Lissy?"

Her response was to stand up on her tiptoes and kiss him. He returned her kiss with fevor. Finally breaking apart he gasped, "Please say that was a yes."

"It was," she responded breathlessly.

"I know I should have waited to ask you, but I could not. I love you, Lissy, so incredibly much."

"I suspect Aunt Maria will deftly handle any that look askance at the timing," Elizabeth said grinning.

"I plan on asking Bennet for his blessing, but I do not wish to leave London," Darcy said huskly. "I cannot bear to leave you so soon, even if it would only be for a day."

"I am pleased you wish to seek his blessing. He has been a father to me. I too though could not bear you leaving London now. Not because I am afraid, but because I would miss you."

…

That morning in the breakfast parlor as soon as Lady Matlock set eyes on her niece and nephew she knew. "It would have been advantageous if you waited a few more days to propose, William, but society won't be to scandalized since it has been almost three weeks since the Richmond Ball, where you obliquely declared your intentions," she said wryly. "Another week or so would have been better, but I understand." Seeing the disbelieving looks on their faces she added, "I am your closest Aunt, I know these things without you needing to tell me. Congratulations my dears."

"Well as far as society is concerned, we will be waiting a few days to make the announcement. I wish to seek Bennet's blessing and will not announce our engagement until I have spoken to him. I would not insult the Bennets by doing so. I do not wish to leave London and Lissy so soon, even for a single day, after yesterday, " Darcy said.

The others around the table offered congratulations and good natured teases. When Col. Fitzwilliam jokingly remarked, "It certainly took you long enough, Darcy. The smart thing to do would have been to secure Elizabeth before she was out of the craddle."

"A craddle betrothal," Littleton said making a face. "I believe Anne attempted to claim on of those with you Darcy."

"It was clear to me from the time Lissy was two that she would marry you," Lady Matlock said with a laugh. "The Darcy's were visiting Matlock and the Fitzwilliams joined us for dinner. Lissy's nanny had a cold and stayed behind at Glenwood. A freak storm blew up and they were forced to spend the night. Up until then I had nourished a small hope that Lissy and Richard might make a match of it someday, much like Marcus and Lily. One of our maids was to stay in the nursery with her. Lissy, scared of the storm, abandoned the nursery. A loud crash of thunder woke the maid up to find Lissy gone. The household was roused and we were frantic. We had woken up Richard and Wallace since they would know Lissy's favorite hiding spots. Your mother had gone to wake you, knowing you would wish to help search. When she entered your chamber she found you sound asleep hugging Lissy with her holding on tightly to you. She came back out of your chambers and was relieved to tell us all that Lissy was safe and sound. The next morning when your Aunt Lily mentioned it to Lissy, her response was that you had been coming to check on her when she was coming to find you, since you knrw she needed you. She told her mother that you picked her up in the hall and carried her back to your room, therefore she was perfectly fine. As she looked at us with her big eyes like going to you was the most natural thing in the world, I realized that she would always be like a little sister to Richard and Wallace, but the two of you had a special bond."

"Well thank goodness you gave up that idea," Col. Fitzwilliam said with a laugh. "Or William would have decided it was pistols at dawn. I used to always tweek his nose telling him that he would get stuck with Anne and I would get Lissy. I remember the last time I teased him about that. He looked ready to punch me and I realized it might be a good idea to retire that particular taunt. taunt for the sake of cousinly harmony. Afterall, William was my best friend and Lissy was only a slip of a thing that I doubted would actually ever grow up old enough to be married."

"I think as a child I would have attempted to punch you for attempting to condem Wills to a life with Evil Annie," Elizabeth said making a face at Richard.

"Gads, I would have had to teach you to punch after any platry attempt you made," Col. Fitzwilliam teased her.

"Well I am thrilled," Georgiana said. "Lissy makes a splendid cousin but I am pleased she will be my sister instead of just a cousin."

"Say that is a good point," Littleton said and jokingky added. "Are you sure you are set on William? Richard is not much to look at, but with my mother's original plan, I would get a wonderful little sister."

"Yes, but this way Georgiana becomes her sister rather then cousin and that leaves my title of favorite cousin uncontested, " Col. Fitzwilliam said grinning.

"Ah, but William is the only one of you lot, or any others, I could ever love enough to marry, so you will just have to hope that Richard picks you out a tolerable sister some day," Elizabeth said brightly.

"I may have swooped up Lissy, but I would not recommend Anne as a substitute cousin," Darcy said with a smile. He was amused, rather then jealous or offended by his relatives jokes. He felt like Elizabeth was the other half of his soul and knowing that she had chosen him was a wonderful feeling, one that had his Uncle Marcus agreed to his request fourteen years ago he never would have known. He was grateful that her father did not betroth her to him then, so she could choose him now.

"Might I make a suggestion," Lady Matlock said. "A few days ago Lissy, Jane, Georgiana and Madeline helped me write the invites for the ball at Matlock House in Lissy's honor taking place next week. If you visit Mr. Bennet before then, the engagement could be announced at the ball."

"Even better, if Lissy would like I can bring the Bennets back to town with me, assuming Bennet approves of the engagement, host them at Darcy House and they could attend the ball," Darcy said.

Elizabeth beamed at him for the suggestion and said, "That would be wonderful but I suggest we restrict the attendance to the ball. Lydia and Kitty are entirely to young and wild to be allowed to attend, I love them dearly but they lack the proper sense of decorum."