Darcy's heart hammered in his chest as the Bingley carriage swept into the long drive which led to Longbourn. He had never offered for a lady before, and while he was confident that Elizabeth would accept him, he wanted to phrase his declaration of love properly. That was a difficult matter for an intellectual gentleman of more thought than words, but he had spent a full hour last night thinking of exactly what to say.
As the vehicle came to a stop at the front of the brick edifice of Longbourn, Darcy spied Elizabeth, who was sitting, warmly dressed, on a bench adjacent to the gravel carriage way. He was briefly surprised, then amused. It was a warm day for winter, and he knew how much his Elizabeth enjoyed fresh air and exercise.
He extricated himself from the carriage and turned to find that the lady of his dreams was walking toward him with a welcoming smile lighting her lovely countenance. "Mr. Darcy, good morning."
His heart beat faster yet as he bowed to her. "Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. I hope you are well?"
"I am very well. I know it is chilly; would you care to join me inside?"
"I would be honored, though I would also be pleased to walk the gardens of Longbourn if you would care to enjoy more time out of doors."
She beamed and said, "I would indeed, though I fear the gardens are quite dull at this season."
"It matters not so long as you are with me," he returned.
Her already rosy countenance grew pinker still, but she merely accepted his right arm and together they walked briskly to the small wilderness beyond the east lawn.
Darcy was pleased when Elizabeth, without hesitation, led him into a grassy space within a copse of small trees. A moment later, his delight shifted to bewilderment as she turned toward Longbourn and rose up on her toes, her forehead furrowed.
She sighed in relief and then, catching the look of confusion on Darcy's face, chuckled and said, "My sister Lydia is currently confined to one of the attic rooms, and I am quite determined that she will not be able to spy on our conversation."
"Confined?" Darcy repeated incredulously.
Elizabeth blew out a slow breath as she nodded. "Yes. My father has concluded that Lydia's behavior is not appropriate and that she needs to learn proper comportment. Since she kept destroying objects in her bedchamber, he moved her into one of the servant's rooms in the attic. He is in the process of hiring a governess who will teach both Kitty and Lydia."
Darcy did not quite know what to say. He was absolutely astonished, but it would be discourteous to express his amazement; he did not want to intimate that he did not approve of Mr. Bennet's former actions as a father.
"That is surprising," he finally managed to say. "It is a difficult lesson for your youngest sister, but I am certain that both Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty will benefit from more oversight."
Elizabeth, who had been waiting anxiously for Darcy's response, relaxed and said, "Yes, without a doubt. I can see that you are surprised by my father's determination; I am surprised as well. The truth is..."
She looked around and then, absolutely certain that they were alone, lowered her voice to say, "I believe my father is afraid."
"Afraid? Of what?"
"My father was greatly shaken by Wickham's attack on me. My family and I were nearly ruined by a vicious snake masquerading as a gentleman, and Lydia and Kitty are far too reckless and flirtatious. I love my father very much, but he has always been an indolent patriarch, more interested in finding humor in his family's foibles than teaching us all the proper way to behave. As terrible as last week's experiences were, I can only be thankful for the change wrought in my father. He is enormously grateful that you rescued me, and he is not willing to take further chances regarding the welfare of his daughters."
"You rescued me as well," Darcy returned, reaching out to seize her gloved hands in his own. "My dear Elizabeth..."
He tried to recall the well-polished phrases he had prepared the night before, but they resolutely fled his mind in the presence of Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.
"I love you, Elizabeth," he blurted. "I love you. You are intelligent, sensible, brave – oh, so very brave, kind, and yes, beautiful. Would you do the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?"
She laughed aloud and drew closer to him, her brown eyes, flecked with gold, shining with love and joy. "I love you as well, Fitzwilliam Darcy. It would be my honor, my delight, my dream to marry you."
"Oh, Elizabeth," Darcy sighed, his expression exultant, and he lifted her hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss fervently on her gloved knuckles. "Elizabeth!"
/
Lydia Bennet had been sitting at the lone window of her tiny, plain, boring room for hours. There was nothing else to do, after all, given that the chamber was nearly bare. At least she had something to sit on; after a full day of behaving meekly, she had been given back her mattress and a wooden chair.
It was chilly outside, and thus only servants were in evidence until nearly noon, when, to her considerable surprise, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy strode from around the corner of the house, across the lawn, and entered the small wilderness to the east of Longbourn.
That was extremely peculiar. Lydia knew that Elizabeth loathed Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy despised Elizabeth. What on earth were they doing together? It was bizarre but more than that, it was not fair! Mr. Bennet had waxed eloquently about how Lydia was flighty and flirtatious, and here was Lizzy, her father's favorite, creeping off alone with a man!
Ten minutes later, Elizabeth and Darcy emerged from the copse arm in arm, with Elizabeth gazing up into the tall gentleman's face. Lydia was too far away to make out her sister's expression, but it was obvious that the gentleman and lady were on the best of terms, especially when Lizzy rose to her tiptoes and kissed Mr. Darcy!
What was happening?!
/
"You have my blessing, of course," Mr. Bennet declared. "Indeed, I would never dream of saying no to a gentleman like yourself. Nor can I forget that you saved my Lizzy from a terrible fate. Further, you have demonstrated that you are an honorable man, and I believe you will suit well together."
"Thank you, Mr. Bennet," Darcy answered, and then added fervently. "I would add that she saved me – not just from Wickham's attack, but from an eligible but unhappy marriage. I have never met a woman who is so perfectly suited for me. I can only thank God that my friend Bingley took Netherfield Hall!
Mr. Bennet could not help but chuckle inwardly at the younger man's enthusiasm, but he was also aware of genuine gratitude. He had vaguely worried about Elizabeth for many years – not enough to do anything about her lack of dowry, but he knew she was very quick, and that it would take a rare man who could match her lively talents and disposition. The Lord had been gracious to bring such a man to the very doorstep of Longbourn. "I thank God too, Mr. Darcy."
/
"Your father has sent me to fetch you for dinner, Miss Lydia," Mrs. Hill said from the doorway of Lydia's prison.
Lydia, who had been plotting how to escape so that she could tell her father of Lizzy's perfidious behavior, grinned in delight and followed the housekeeper down the two flights of stairs, through a hall, and into the dining room, where she found the rest of the family waiting, including the Gardiners.
"Oh, Lydia, there you are," Mr. Bennet said. "Sit down."
"Papa, I...," she began, then trailed away at her father's forbidding frown.
"Sit down, Lydia," he ordered again, "unless you wish to return to your room."
She lowered herself onto her chair quickly; she could tell her father about Lizzy later.
"Now that we are all here," Mr. Bennet said, gazing around at his wife and daughters, "I have exciting news. Today, Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth to marry him, she accepted, and I have given them my blessing."
Silence fell for thirty seconds and then...
"Ten thousand pounds a year!" Mrs. Bennet squealed. "A large estate in Derbyshire! Three daughters well married! Oh, Lizzy! Oh Lizzy!"
"I am overjoyed too, Mother," Elizabeth returned, thankful that Darcy had already departed for Netherfield and thus was missing her mother's first effusions. "He loves me and I love him. We will be happy together."
"Oh, love, Lizzy! That does not keep food on your table or your children well dressed. But I will say..."
Mrs. Bennet tilted her head and regarded her second daughter in wonder. "I will say that you and Mr. Darcy seem made for one another. What were you talking about last night? Something to do with Sir William Newton?"
"Sir Isaac Newton, Mama. He helped to overhaul the system for making coins back in the..."
"I do not care," her mother interrupted. "It is quite absurd that you would know about such things, but obviously Mr. Darcy likes it that you are nearly a bluestocking. Oh Lizzy, I never imagined that you would make such a good marriage. What pin money you will have!"
Elizabeth's uncle, aunt and sisters, save Lydia, now expressed their own fervent congratulations. As for the youngest Miss Bennet, she struggled not to burst into tears. Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary were now all eligibly betrothed, and it appeared that Elizabeth, far from having behaved in a wanton manner, had merely been expressing her joy by kissing the man whom she would soon marry.
/
"Oh, Brother, I am so very happy for you!" Georgiana exclaimed. "Miss Elizabeth is absolutely wonderful. You are suited perfectly for one another!"
"I quite agree, Georgie," Darcy agreed. "I am still pinching myself, wondering if this is but a glorious dream!"
Bingley made a point of pinching himself and said, "It is real enough, my friend, but I too am ecstatic. Elizabeth is the perfect woman for you and think of it, we will soon be brothers!"
"I too am overjoyed for you, Cousin," Anne chimed in, "and, I confess, overjoyed for myself as well. I do believe even Lady Catherine will give up any hope of our marriage once you are married to another!"
"When do you plan to wed?" Bingley asked practically.
"Well, as to that, we have not discussed it, but I hope it will be soon."
"Dinner is served," Bingley's butler announced from the door of the drawing room, and all rose to make their way to the dining room.
/
"My dear Lizzy, I cannot express how happy I am!" Jane said. "I never imagined that we would both find such wonderful men. Mr. Darcy is perfect for you!"
"I quite agree, Jane, and Charles is perfect for you."
"What is Mr. Darcy's first name, bye the bye?"
"Fitzwilliam."
"Well, that is a little confusing, is it not, given that his cousin's last name is Fitzwilliam."
"Yes. Fitzwilliam is his mother's family name, of course."
"Of course. Well, dear Lizzy, now it is my turn to harass you about what you will wear on your wedding day. Do you intend to have a new gown made?"
"No, definitely not! Fitzwilliam and I have not discussed an exact date, but I hope to marry soon and do not wish to bother with fittings at Mrs. Gregory's shop. I have plenty of dresses that will work."
"I suppose, though given that it will be cold, you will wish to wear something which has an overdress or a matching shawl. Perhaps..."
Jane trailed off as someone knocked on the door, prompting Elizabeth to call, "Come in!"
The door opened slowly to reveal Mary. "Jane, Lizzy, may I speak to you?"
"Of course!" Elizabeth exclaimed in concern. "Please do come in, dear sister! Is something wrong?"
Mary entered, shut the door carefully behind her, and advanced to stand before her elder sisters, who were sitting on Elizabeth's bed. Mary clasped her hands in front of her, hesitated, then said, "Lizzy, I am truly overjoyed about your engagement, I am. But I am worried about ... about Lady Catherine."
Jane looked bewildered, but Elizabeth rose to her feet and nodded sympathetically. "I understand, Mary. She will be most displeased that her nephew is marrying me, since she still thinks that Mr. Darcy will marry Miss de Bourgh. But her anger is not your problem."
"It is my problem," Mary insisted, wringing her hands in distress. "Do you not see? I do not want to write Mr. Collins and tell him of your engagement, because he will then rush to Lady Catherine, who will probably journey here to berate you, Lizzy. But if I refrain, both my future husband and his patroness will be angry because I did not inform them ahead of time. I have no doubt that Lady Catherine will imagine that she could dissuade you from marrying Mr. Darcy."
Elizabeth blinked, cogitated, and sighed. "You are correct, Mary. That is a problem. Please do not write Mr. Collins as yet. I will speak to Fitzwilliam and Miss de Bourgh and ask them how to best manage Lady Catherine."
"Thank you, Lizzy."
/
/
Author Note: Almost publishing time! The final, published version of Gallant Mr. Darcy will have various additions, tweaks and edits, including a 2-chapter epilogue to see how our favorite characters are doing in the future. I will be sure to post a note here on FF when it is live on Amazon. Cheers!