Summary: What happens during the courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy? Does the course of true love run smoothly and what affect will Mrs Bennet have upon the newly engaged couple? Does Lady Catherine make another appearance and will Jane and Bingley be as happy?

Disclaimer: I will only ever say this once. I own none of the characters except those of my own imagination. Even though I do wish I owned Mr Darcy himself!

Chapter 1 – Consent is Obtained.

On her exit of her Father's library, Elizabeth Bennet could not resist looking into the familiar mirror that hung on the wall in Longbourn's entrance hall. As she gazed at her reflection she wondered what Mr Darcy saw in her that was admirable. Her Mother had, after all, always stated that Jane was the most handsome of her daughters and he himself had commented that she was not handsome enough. Yet, there she stood, elated at the prospect that her Father had just granted consent for them to marry.

She gazed once more at her reflection and after a rapid evaluation of her hair she preceded to pace down the corridor towards the drawing room. There she knew Mr Darcy would be silently pending the news of their engagement.

Checking the folds of her dress quickly and sighing in excitement she pushed open the drawing room door and entered to participate with the laughter that was escaping its occupants.

"Oh, Lizzy dear!" Cried Mrs Bennet as the drawing room door closed.

"Yes mama?" Elizabeth asked as she walked toward her Mother who was now waving her handkerchief in excitement.

"Such wonderful news!" Mrs Bennet exclaimed. "Mr Bingley has issued an invitation for you and your sisters to join him at Netherfield for tea tomorrow! Is that not generous of him?" Elizabeth smiled sweetly toward Mr Bingley for a moment, silently contemplating that she may be able to have a few precious hours with her fiancé during their visit.

"You are very kind, Mr Bingley." Elizabeth said to the gentleman in question who sat in the corner of the room with Jane, quietly talking. He acknowledged her thanks honourably before turning his attentions back to the elder Miss Bennet. This therefore, was the perfect opportunity for Elizabeth to seek out Mr Darcy who stood silently at the window gazing out into the night.

With Mrs Bennet now occupied chastising Kitty on the best place for Jane and Mr Bingley to spend the season, Elizabeth crossed the room to the gentleman she had come to love.

"Are you admiring the view, Mr Darcy? For I am sure that the present light does it no credit." Elizabeth said as she gazed out of the window into the darkness.

"I was indeed," He said quietly. "But I am sure you are aware that there is a more pressing matter in my thoughts other than the view from your drawing room window." Elizabeth laughed slightly as she gazed at him, he was slowly learning to tease.

"I hope that my Father was not too unkind to you. You know his character well enough to know that he means no offence."

"Your Father did not offer me any offence but nor did he give me any hope of consent without considering your own feelings. I can understand why you are his favourite."

"Yes, my Father sees no shame in having a favourite, though he loves all of his daughters." Elizabeth paused slightly. "Allow me to put you at ease and inform you that my Father holds no objections toward your proposal." Darcy turned to her quickly, smiling widely.

"He has given his consent?" Darcy asked quickly.

"Of course, he could deny neither of us that pleasure." Mr Darcy laughed at this, looking back out of the window as to refrain from taking her into his arms.

"What is amusing, Mr Darcy?"

"How I should like to be present when you inform your Mother that you have engaged yourself to 'that man'."

"What of your Aunt? I will surely laugh at her outrage when she is notified that you are engaged to 'that woman'!" Mr Darcy did not laugh at this, instead he turned to Elizabeth in the most serious manner.

"We shall never hear of her again, I have made my choice."

"I am pleased to hear it." Darcy nodded slightly before turning to look at Mrs Bennet and the remaining Bennet sisters who sat before the fire.

"You should return to your family before your presence is missed." He said with a hint of despair.

"Perhaps."

"Tomorrow we may be able to share the same felicity as Mr Bingley and your sister." Elizabeth followed his gaze toward her elder sister who laughed happily with her fiancé in the corner.

"I will pray for it." Elizabeth said with a smile. "That is if I ever have the courage to inform my Mother!" They both laughed together before joining the other Bennet's in front of the fire.

There was silence for a moment in which each person was assessing the nature of conversation to be had with the daunting presence of Mr Darcy. It was surprisingly, Mrs Bennet who became frustrated by the silence long enough to make polite and in some cases, strained conversation.

"Have you decided how long you are to remain at Netherfield, Mr Darcy?" She asked with a little more impatience than necessary.

"My plans may change at any moment, Mrs Bennet. I have a small number of business matters to attend to but I should like to remain on at Netherfield for a good time."

"You surprise me, Mr Darcy! We had the impression that you were to travel to London today and remain for a few weeks."

"Ah, yes my visit to London has been postponed. I now hope to relay all of my business matters to paper and persuade my sister, Georgiana to join us at Netherfield."

"How wonderful to have another lady at Netherfield!" Mrs Bennet said in excitement. "Is that not good news, Kitty?"

"Of course, Mama." Kitty said drolly, as though she was completely unmoved by the conversation.

"Does Miss Bingley and her sister remain in town?" Elizabeth asked Darcy with a slight shimmer in her eyes.

"They do," He said as he turned his attention back to Elizabeth. "My sister would be the only lady present at Netherfield for a time. I have an understanding that Miss Bingley and her sister wish to remain in town for the remainder of the season before venturing into Hertfordshire."

"It is a shame that the ladies cannot join you, Mr Darcy!" Mrs Bennet added. "For my Jane did say that they were the most polite and respectful women." Darcy nodded slightly at this before smiling to his hostess, knowing that the statement was false.

"Is Miss Darcy quite accomplished?" Mrs Bennet asked resulting in a laugh from Mr Darcy.

"Yes she is. You may ask Miss Elizabeth of her character, they came in acquaintance during her stay in Derbyshire with Mr and Mrs Gardiner."

"Well, Lizzy?" Elizabeth smiled for a moment at the memory of meeting the young Miss Darcy in the inn at Lambton.

"Miss Darcy is the most charming young lady, you will like her very well indeed mama."

"Well, Mr Darcy, you must remember to allow Miss Darcy to call upon us the moment she arrives." Mr Darcy laughed slightly at Mrs Bennet's forwardness as Elizabeth blushed in embarrassment.

"Be assured, Mrs Bennet my sister will call upon you when she arrives in Hertfordshire."

"Good." Mrs Bennet said as she fidgeted in her chair. "Very good."

"I hope that you shall be able to join the party at Netherfield tomorrow, Miss Elizabeth." Mr Bingley said as he approached the group with a smile.

"It would be my pleasure Mr Bingley, I thank you."

"Good it is settled then?" He did not await a reply. "Well, I think we should be going. Darcy?" Mr Darcy stood at this and after capturing Elizabeth's eyes with his own, he bowed. The ladies stood immediately and after a swift curtsy, watched the gentlemen leave the room.


The gentlemen's horses had not even departed the grounds of Longbourn before Mrs Bennet cried out to her eldest daughter.

"What a wonderful evening!" She said as she grasped Jane's hand. "You were very attentive to Mr Bingley, he could not keep his eyes from you! But then I have always said that is because of your beauty! Oh, my dearest, dearest Jane!"

"Of course, mama." Jane said with a weary smile.

"I only wish he would not bring that man! I do not disagree with Mr Bingley's choice of friends but I do wish he had some civility about himself!"

"Mama, Mr Darcy was very attentive this evening!" Elizabeth protested.

"The way he laughed when I asked to be introduced to his sister, abominable!"

"Mama!" Elizabeth yet again tried to intercept her Mothers vicious attack of her fiancé.

"I do not know why you are defending him, Lizzy after the way that gentleman slighted you! If he were not so rich and a friend of Mr Bingley I should ask him never to call here again!"

"Mama, please!" The door opened at this and Mr Bennet entered to take the seat next to his wife. Mrs Bennet however, chose to continue her attack.

"With luck he shall be called away to town on business and never have to return here again!"

"I believe Mr Darcy behaved very admirably this evening." Kitty said as she placed her needlework on the table and gazed at her Mother.

"Oh, be quiet Kitty! Who asked you?" Mrs Bennet snapped before continuing. "Perhaps when his sister arrives we shall see less of him. Let us hope that the sister's character is more improved than that of the brother's!"

"Mrs Bennet," Mr Bennet said quickly to his wife in an alarmed manner. "If I were you I would not be so quick in your rebuke of Mr Darcy."

"Why ever not?" Mrs Bennet screeched.

"My dear, Mrs Bennet…"

"Papa!" Elizabeth interrupted. "I set it as my duty to inform mama and I intend to do so this evening before any more insults are placed upon Mr Darcy's character."

"Very well, Lizzy." Mr Bennet said to his favourite daughter before relaxing back in his chair.

"What is it Lizzy?" Mrs Bennet said in alarm. "I insist on being satisfied!"

"Mama," Elizabeth paused slightly to look at her sisters. "Papa has consented to my marrying Mr Darcy."


A short time later, four miles away, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy were arriving at Netherfield. As they mounted the steps toward the entrance hall Darcy could not resist smiling, Elizabeth was his and no one else's. She had consented to be his wife and they had the appropriate consent, Elizabeth Bennet was going to be Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy and how well it sounded!

"You are in very good spirits this evening, Darcy!" Bingley said as he directed his friend into the drawing room and proceeded to pour wine.

"I am indeed Bingley." Bingley seemed confused but occupied a seat opposite his old friend.

"Has something happened? Are you to be taken away to town?"

"No Bingley, I have now come to hope that you shall allow me to stay at Netherfield for an extended visit."

"You are welcome in my home, Darcy. But what of your business?"

"My business shall be relayed to paper as well as instructions sent to my houses to prepare for a mistress in a few months."

"A mistress?" Bingley asked in confusion.

"Yes, Miss Bingley has many times stated that my houses need a mistress. I have found one that will suit that role as well as ensuring that I am the happiest of men!"

"Darcy, have you found a wife?"

"I made a proposal." Darcy said stubbornly.

"Was it accepted?" Bingley asked before correcting himself. "Of course it was accepted, she would not refuse you."

"I have been refused before." Darcy said before taking a drink of his wine.

"You have been refused?" Bingley asked in surprise.

"Of course, by Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Miss Elizabeth?"

"Yes, she taught me my own insignificance, I was properly humbled by her Bingley."

"Darcy you never informed me, how you must have grieved."

"No I did not grieve, I was angry. Not at Miss Bennet of course, I was angry at myself for behaving as I did."

"But you have now found a new wife here in Hertfordshire?"

"I have indeed found my wife in Hertfordshire Bingley but it is not a different woman."

"Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy smiled widely.

"I knew that I had to change my proud ways Bingley and she was the person who enabled me to do so. I met her a few months after my disastrous proposal and our relationship seemed much improved. You can now imagine why I persuaded you to journey back to Netherfield? It was not only to allow you to make your attachment known to Miss Bennet, it was also so that I could have one more final chance to ask for her hand."

"And she consented?" Bingley asked in excitement.

"She consented." Bingley jumped from his seat quickly.

"You are engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet?" He asked.

"I am."

"Darcy we are to be Brothers?" Darcy smiled and stood.

"That is if you have no objections, my old friend?"

"None at all!" Bingley said as he grasped Darcy's hand and shook it fiercely. "Come Darcy, we must celebrate!" The host said as he crossed the room and collected a decanter of brandy.

"Indeed we must Bingley, indeed we must!"


There was a long piercing silence throughout the drawing room in Longbourn which, no one moved. Every person's concentration was focused on Mrs Bennet's reaction of the news. It was only a moment later when the lady in question bounded from her chair with an excited scream and enveloped her arms around Elizabeth in a tight embrace.

"Well I never! My Lizzy engaged to Mr Darcy! Oh Lizzy, how rich you shall be!" Mrs Bennet paced around the room in a flurry at this, waving her handkerchief in front of her face as to cause a draft.

"We shall have a celebratory dinner!" Mrs Bennet added quickly. "Oh, wait until I tell Mrs Long, how she will envy me! My Lizzy engaged to Mr Darcy!" Elizabeth ignored her Mothers outcries of 'ten thousand a year' and turned to Jane, taking her hand softly into her own.

"I am sorry that I did not inform you earlier. I did not believe things could end in this happy way."

"My dear Lizzy, do not trouble yourself. I knew how you felt for Mr Darcy and knew that the day would soon come when you were to be his wife. I hope that you shall be as happy and Mr Bingley and I." Jane kissed her sister's cheek quickly.

"Thank you Jane, I am sure I shall."

"Oh, Lizzy!" Mrs Bennet said in excitement as she took her daughter's hand. "How many fine carriages you shall have!"

"Yes mama, a great many." Elizabeth said sarcastically before turning away from her Mother and wishing that she could be with Fitzwilliam. Then she would surely be able to concentrate on the future, he own future with Mr Darcy.