AN: To the person who asked about a year of mourning (and any others who had not spoken up but wondered all the same) – the strict mourning times based on degree of relation were largely a Victorian thing. In the Regency era, people were only just starting to build the trend for wearing black for extended periods of mourning (thanks to heavy marketing by the various merchants involved with all the industries related to burials and funerary ornaments as well as the cloth makers and purveyors of fashion) Given the high cost of clothing before machine looms and other such inventions, only the wealthy could really afford a new wardrobe every time some family member died. From the research I have seen, mourning periods were fairly fluid and largely a matter of your circumstances and how respectful you wished to appear (or how much you truly mourned the deceased). After all, life went on. A husband/wife would be generally expected to mourn longer than a child or parent and then as you move into cousins, etc. the expectation would go shorter and shorter. Personal circumstances also come into account, so it would have been mildly scandalous for Mr. Bennet and his second wife to marry so quickly after the deaths of their first spouses, but people would be more understanding in light of her pregnancy (and relative poverty) and him having two small children. With Christmas still being around a month and a half away and the sisters not being obvious in their mourning, it would not be too scandalous for them to attend some Society dinners right around Christmas or to marry not long after the New Year as well.
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Lizzy was not at all sure what was happening to her. She felt light as a feather floating on the air. At the same time her insides were churning and she wondered what insanity she had just suffered to accept a proposal of marriage then and there without even the pretense of a courtship. This was the rest of her life she was deciding and yet she had answered without any consideration of the consequences at all! And yet, any doubts she had were quickly quashed at the look of absolute delight on Mr. Darcy's face.
If she needed a courtship, she would just have to consider that carriage ride to be it – the space between her first answer of yes and the second. She knew what she needed to about him already. The rest was simply the details that made up the man and those she would only learn with time and familiarity anyway.
She waited in the doorway at the top of the steps for him to recover from his surprise, catch up and join her. He followed her into the tiny entryway and, after hanging up their coats next to the other wraps, from there to the sitting room where the rest of their party had just gathered. In the few moments they had delayed, Kitty had already provided Lady Matlock with an introduction to Jane and Amy. The companion nodded to Lizzy as she prepared to slip out of the room to make more space in the room for the guests and to order tea.
As Lizzy looked around the room, she realized they had never planned for more than two guests at any one time. The sofa was a small one, suited to the room, and would only fit two. Jane had just offered it to Lady Matlock and Georgiana.
Her sister seemed to realize the problem as Mr. Darcy entered the room just behind Lizzy. He was not bothered, however. Stepping over to the small writing desk they had installed in the corner of the room, he picked up the wooden straight-backed chair and carried it to the space between the sofa and the two armchairs that were Jane's and Lizzy's seats.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Bennet," he said with a bow after setting the chair down.
"Likewise, Mr. Darcy," Jane replied. Going along with his obvious intent, she gestured to the chair he had brought and added, "Will you have a seat?"
Without hesitation, he settled himself carefully on the delicate chair. Lizzy saw Lady Matlock nod approvingly at the entire interaction. From the looks she was giving Jane, Lizzy suspected the older woman had seen the problem on her first entry to the room and wondered how gracefully Jane, as the hostess, would handle it. Her sister must have passed the test.
Jane and Kitty took seats in their armchairs, leaving the one closest to Mr. Darcy for Lizzy. As she took her place, Lizzy decided to share her news, giving herself no chance to back out even if her doubts and fears resurfaced at some later point.
Before Lady Matlock could begin the obligatory polite comments about the room or anything of the sort, Lizzy spoke up. "Although Mr. Darcy must gain consent from Uncle Gardiner before this announcement can be official, I want all of you to know that he has asked me to marry him and I have accepted his proposal."
Jane was the only one truly surprised. Kitty and Georgiana exclaimed happily at the news, but without any sense that it was unexpected.
"I thought William's smile was even brighter just now than when you were in the carriage," Lady Matlock said, "although how that was possible, I had no idea. Congratulations to you both. When you mentioned earlier that you hoped to woo and win her, William, I had expected it to take a little longer than just the course of a short carriage ride in broad view of three other women. You must have laid a better foundation during your visit than you let on."
Mr. Darcy seemed at a loss for words to respond to his aunt's teasing. Lizzy gave him a sympathetic look before she answered in his place.
"Your nephew is a persuasive man, Lady Matlock, although it is his actions that speak far louder than his words. From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of our acquaintance, his manner impressed me with the fullest belief of his maturity, good nature, dependability and care for the well-being of others. Our every interaction has taught me he is a gentleman in the fullest sense of the word. Although our current surroundings, and the occupation you know I have taken up, may suggest otherwise, to fortune I am entirely indifferent. My older sister and I have very respectable dowries, although the terms of the bequest prevented us from accessing them, or the interest on them, for our own use until an age when we would potentially be considered on the shelf. My acceptance of his proposal is based on the firm assumption that, despite the social challenges we may face, our marriage will constitute a source of great happiness for us both."
As she finished, she reached over and offered Mr. Darcy her hand. He took it without hesitation, looking as if he had just been given the greatest treasure he could imagine. Their joined hands rested on the cushioned arm of her chair in perfect comfort.
"Well spoken, Lizzy," Lady Matlock declared. "An impassioned defense, if I have ever heard one. I consider myself a very good judge of character and my every instinct tells me you have spoken the truth as you see it and not as a way to curry favor from me or anyone else. I am glad to hear he has comported himself well among strangers and even happier that you have seen beyond his discomfort in social situations to the good man who often hides behind a silent mask. I approve of this match, but still reserve the right to tease you both about it any time I wish."
"You do not frighten me, Aunt," Mr. Darcy said. "I have been subject to your loving teases all my life and would be concerned only if they were to cease. I also sense that my Elizabeth will give as good as she gets and need have no fear of you either." He gently squeezed Lizzy's hand, and she responded in kind.
"Of course, she will not," Lady Matlock said dismissively. "Now, the two of you should just enjoy your quiet time together while you can. There will be no hand-holding in public, mind you. Kitty, I want you to tell Jane about your latest sewing commission. Georgiana, you may assist."
If Jane was surprised at Lady Matlock's use of her given name, she gave no sign of it. She was still smiling at the sight of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy holding hands. It was only as Kitty began to speak that she turned her away from the couple and gave her attention to the two younger women.
Lizzy enjoyed the unaccustomed feel of Mr. Darcy's hand in hers. On the sidewalk and in the carriage, they had both been wearing gloves. When they removed their outerwear, the gloves had gone with it. They were now touching skin to skin. She perceived a delicious sense of warmth in her hand where it rested against his. Despite the gentle nature of his hold on her, she had a sense of the greater size and strength of his fingers and palm. She felt safe and protected, unlike the fear and helplessness she had experienced when Mr. Wickham had clamped his hands around her wrists. As Mr. Darcy lightly rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, she knew this was right.
As caught up as she was in the new sensations, Lizzy almost missed Jane's protest at the notion that Lady Matlock was commissioning gowns for the three sisters. It was Mr. Darcy's rumbling chuckle that brought her attention back to the conversation in the room.
"Lady Matlock! My sisters and I can afford to purchase our own gowns. As Lizzy said earlier, despite our present surroundings, we are not without resources."
"And as I told her earlier, since I am demanding these gowns to ensure you do me credit when we attend events together, it is my responsibility to provide them. I want you to consider this as much a business transaction as any commission you have ever received from Madam Gaillard and expect you to produce the same quality of work. As your sister also pointed out, some may consider you as coming from a lower station, even if you have, thankfully, taken steps to avoid having anyone learn of your work for pay. I will champion you as belonging in my social sphere, but you must look the part. It will hamper Lizzy's ability to be accepted as William's wife if you do not."
'Not to mention Jane's as the wife of an earl's son,' Lizzy thought to herself. She had to admit Lady Matlock knew how to hit an opponent's weakest spot. Jane would never willingly do anything to cause Lizzy harm, just as Lizzy had agreed to this so as not to harm Jane's chances with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Jane's gentleman must have gotten his skill at military strategy from his mother.
As Lizzy had expected, Jane gave in under the combined weight of the argument offered and the fact that it came from the Colonel's mother. When Georgiana added her excitement at being allowed to come help them, Jane ceased even attempting to argue against the commission.
"It is too late to visit the draper this afternoon," she said. "Perhaps we can convince our aunt to go with us tomorrow. She knows the best warehouses."
"My son and William had intended to call on you and Lizzy at your aunt's house tomorrow," Lady Matlock said. "I should like to go along with you when you do your shopping, and I am certain Georgiana wishes to do so as well. If your aunt can join us, I would suggest we go as early as is practical and then allow my boys to make their visit afterwards."
Jane nodded, "While I look forward to seeing the Colonel again, I would prefer he not visit here unless my aunt or uncle are present to chaperone."
"Quite right," Lady Matlock said. "Although I could also chaperone, and will on some occasions. Lizzy and I discussed that very matter in the carriage coming here and William knows not to even make the attempt. I will ensure my son has his orders as well. As a military man, he will follow them. After we have some tea and a little more conversation, I propose we all descend upon your aunt and uncle so I may renew my acquaintance with them, William can deal with the matter of consent to his betrothal and we can gain your aunt's agreement to accompany us to the draper."
Still leaving Lizzy and her nephew out of the conversation, Lady Matlock proceeded to ask Jane questions about herself and the issues she had faced growing up between two households with different expectations for her behavior and future. Mr. Darcy listened carefully to Jane's responses, knowing that Lizzy's own experience was similar. He continued to idly stroke his thumb over the back of her hand, but he also gave her hand a gentle squeeze when Jane discussed any of the more difficult aspects of their upbringing.
When the tea arrived during the conversation about shuffling between Longbourn and Gracechurch Street, Lady Matlock watched carefully how Jane went about serving. Ordinarily, Lizzy would have jumped up to assist, but she knew this was also a test. She suspected her own turn would come later. Fortunately, Aunt Madeline had been as thorough when training them in the duties of a hostess as she had been when teaching them needlework. She built on earlier lessons Aunt Madeline's mother had taught during their much more rare visits as children. Great-Aunt Beatrice had enjoyed playing tea-party with them as girls, making a game out of the ceremony that had become the hallmark of a good hostess. Her death from a bout of influenza had been a great loss to Jane and Lizzy as well as to their aunt.
Eventually, both the topic and the tea had been consumed. Lady Matlock looked to Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, who had returned to holding hands once they had finished drinking their tea.
"I believe it is time to step back into the full dictates of propriety, my dears," she said. "It is also time for me to renew my acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner."
Lizzy started to release her hold on Mr. Darcy's hand, but he tightened his grip slightly and gently pulled their joined hands to his lips to kiss the back of hers lightly. Only then did he release her hand.
Kitty and Georgiana giggled at the sight, but subsided when Lady Matlock gave them both a sharp look. Lizzy thought Jane might have sighed, but she was really not paying much attention to her sister just then. With that soft touch of his lips on her hand, Mr. Darcy became Lizzy's William.
Lady Matlock stood, prompting the others to rise as well. William put his chair back into place by the writing desk and then offered Lizzy his arm. It seemed a little silly for him to formally escort her ten paces or so from the chair to where their coats hung in the entry, but she was not about to refuse him or make a fuss. He helped her don her pelisse and shawl before turning to assist his aunt, earning a small shake of the older woman's head as he did, since he really should have seen to her first.
In a matter of minutes, they had boarded the carriage, Jane having provided the coachman with the Gardiner's address before stepping inside. Lizzy ended up sitting between Jane and William, facing back towards Lady Matlock, Georgiana and Kitty. They did not engage in any chatter on the way. It seemed the carriage had barely started before it stopped again at the familiar house on Gracechurch Street.
The footman who answered the door knew the Bennet sisters were allowed entrance at any time, so he did not stop them or their guests. When Jane asked, he told her that Mrs. Gardiner was in the sitting room and Mr. Gardiner had not yet returned.
As they all removed their wraps, Jane asked the man to inform Mrs. Gardiner that they had arrived and brought guests. He quickly went to pass on the message while the younger women hung up the outerwear in the proper place. Aunt Madeline met them at the door of the sitting room.
"Jane, Kitty," she began, addressing the two were walking together down the corridor. "What has...why, Lady Matlock! Welcome," she finished.
"Mrs. Gardiner, it is good to see you again," Lady Matlock said. "When my party met your nieces this afternoon I just had to come and make a visit to you. I know it is well past visiting hours, but I hope you do not mind, since we come with family."
"Of course not. I am very glad to see you. Please come in and introduce me to your party."
Aunt Madeline stepped back into the room and out of their path, gesturing for all of them to enter. As Georgiana and William passed by her she said, "Oh, but it seems I hardly require introduction. Mr. Darcy could never be mistaken for anyone but his father's son, and surely this young woman must be his sister. She is the very image of Lady Anne."
"You are correct on all counts, Mrs. Gardiner," said Lady Matlock with a smile. "But we shall go through the forms nonetheless, since my niece and nephew have not yet met you."
She provided the proper introduction, just as if Aunt Madeline were the wife of a wealthy landowner instead of the wife of a tradesman. Lizzy was glad to see that William offered her aunt the same courteous bow he would make to a duchess or countess. Aunt Madeline was the closest person Lizzy had to a living mother and she appreciated seeing her treated with respect.
They all took their seats and Aunt Madeline asked, "I am curious how you happened to meet with my nieces today, Lady Matlock."
"Oh, we did not set out to do so, but I am ever so glad it happened. I suspect my nephew is particularly pleased. Lizzy and Kitty were making a delivery to Madame Gaillard as I was just arriving in company with my niece and nephew to see if that very item was ready. William spotted them and provided the introduction when then turned into an afternoon of visiting together which brought us here. I must also say, I am so looking forward to having just the right event at which debut my new gown. You have taught your girls very well if that is the quality of work they always produce."
Aunt Madeline looked at Lizzy in surprise, although it could have been about the gown, the comment about William being pleased or because Lady Matlock had just used Lizzy's and Kitty's names. Lady Matlock was obviously enjoying the situation and chuckled when Aunt Madeline raised one eyebrow and looked between Lizzy and William.
"Mr. Darcy still needs to ask for Uncle's permission, Aunt Madeline," Lizzy explained, "but he has proposed and I have accepted."
Delight suffused her aunt's features. "Oh, Lizzy! I am so pleased to hear that. Congratulations! And to you as well, Mr. Darcy.
"For what are we congratulating Mr. Darcy?" Asked Uncle Gardiner from the sitting room door. He had apparently arrived just in time to hear his wife's exclamation.
"Oh, Edward! Do come in and be introduced to Mr. Darcy and his sister. I know you have met Lady Matlock before."
"Of course, it is good to see you, Lady Matlock. One would hardly know so many years have passed. You still look as lovely as you did back then."
"And you are still a flatterer, Mr. Gardiner," Lady Matlock responded teasingly. She quickly introduced him to William and Georgiana. After the formalities were complete, she said. "As I am sure you have already guessed, my nephew has been successful in his quest to induce your niece to accept his proposal of marriage. No doubt you wish to take him off in private and torment him for a bit before giving permission, but I would really like to see it all settled now. Will you give your consent?"
Mr. Gardiner laughed. "You must have me confused with Mr. Bennet. Now there is a man who would have enjoyed tormenting his daughter's suitor. He even took away my fun, because he sent a letter telling me he had already enjoyed a spot of amusement with the young man, but in the end had offered his consent and blessing should Mr. Darcy manage to receive a positive answer from Lizzy at any future date. I expect he never told Mr. Darcy that he would communicate that information to me, however."
William shook his head. "No, sir," he said. "and I would not have presumed to use that earlier consent since you are now her legal guardian."
"You asked my father for consent?" Lizzy said. "When was this?"
"The last time I spoke with him," William explained. "We were discussing the protection all of you would have given the money from my purchase of his books. I did not intend to ask him, but somehow my admiration for you just poured out. I think you have already learned how sometimes I say more than I had intended when I feel strongly about something. He had some fun with me, as Mr. Gardiner says, but then he agreed that if I eventually received your consent, I also had his."
"Do not forget his blessing," Uncle Gardiner said with a grin.
"That is the most important part," William responded. "You could give consent in his place, but only he could give his blessing."
"While my father's blessing was important," Lizzy said, "My uncle's is just as much so to me. Do we have your blessing, Uncle?"
"Can you assure me this is what you truly want, Lizzy?" Uncle Gardiner asked seriously.
"It is."
"Then you have my blessing and I wish you both much happiness. Now, do you agree you were too quick to move into that little house of yours?"
Lizzy laughed. "Not at all. William and I cannot marry immediately, and I shall be perfectly happy living there with my sisters until we can."
Lady Matlock spoke up again. "We must certainly have time to put together a proper trousseau, and, of course the young women would still be considered in mourning for their father for a few more weeks. Before the wedding I must introduce Lizzy and her sisters into society so there will be no question that the marriage was not due to compromise or other such foolishness. William and my son Richard will escort us to various events. Kitty, I do not know if you were considered out in your country home, but here I think you should be considered simply on the cusp of it, much like Georgiana. The two of you can attend family dinners and small gatherings, but it would not be quite the thing for you to attend balls or fancy parties until you are a little bit older."
Kitty looked a little disappointed at first, but then it appeared to strike her that she was being treated just as Georgiana would. She nodded acquiescence to Lady Matlock's decree.
"I quite agree," said Aunt Madeline. "Had they been my girls, Kitty's older sister Mary, now Mrs. Bingley, would have only come out last year when she was seventeen. Mrs. Bennet put all three of the younger girls out at fifteen."
"Well, it does not seem to have done Kitty much harm, but the girls mentioned that the youngest does not behave as well as one might wish."
William choked a little at the understated description. Lady Matlock turned to him.
"Is there a problem, William?" She asked. Lizzy could see the amusement in her expression.
"No, Aunt," he said, trying to look innocent. Lizzy laughed and Jane and Kitty joined in.
"Do share the joke," Lady Matlock said, her eyes twinkling.
Having started the laughter, Lizzy felt it was up to her to explain. "William is being polite. He has seen our youngest sister in public and knows just how bad her behavior can be. In fact, he warned Mrs. Bennet that if she did not exercise some control over Lydia, our sister might easily ruin us all that very night. It made quite the effect and the rest of us were glad he chose to speak."
Kitty added, "That was when I realized it was better to look to Jane and Lizzy than to follow Lydia. I am so glad I did. I never would have been able to come here and met Aunt Madeline or Uncle Gardiner or you or Georgiana. And now Mr. Darcy is going to be my brother, which will make Georgiana my new sister. All because he was willing to speak up and tell Mama the truth that no one else would."
"I am glad I could be of service, Kitty," William said. "I saw that Elizabeth was very embarrassed by Miss Lydia's behavior and was hoping I could help a little. Having just told off Sir William, I had little left to lose that night."
After that comment, Lady Matlock had to know who Sir William was and why her nephew had chosen to tell him off. Lizzy, Jane and William took turns explaining the situation, each from their own point of view. Lizzy knew that in the process they were giving Lady Matlock a better picture of why she and her sister had bounced from home to home and some of the strain they had been under. If the Colonel's mother was not put off by their descent into trade, Lizzy hoped knowing this bit of background would only improve her view of Jane as a future daughter.
Eventually, they felt it was time for them all to part. Lizzy and her sisters had ordered a good dinner that they did not want to go to waste and they knew the Gardiners had not been planning to have guests that night. After confirming their shopping expedition for the next morning with Aunt Madeline, much to that lady's delight, Lady Matlock insisted on taking the young women back to their house before she and her niece and nephew returned to their own homes.
As William handed Lizzy out of the carriage after Jane and Kitty, he whispered to her. "Richard is going to be so jealous of me. He has not even seen your sister yet, but I am returning home betrothed to the woman I love. Thank you very much for accepting me. I wish you good luck on the shopping trip. Be prepared to tell me all about it when we visit tomorrow."
Lizzy quickly rose up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "I will. Good night, William." She walked back up the step hearing Lady Matlock in the carriage chuckling. At the top, Lizzy turned around again. William had stayed where he was, still watching her.
"Yes," she said softly, with a teasing look. She just could not help herself as she remembered the earlier moment on the step.
He smiled brightly. "Yes," he said, "is my new favorite word. Good night, Elizabeth." They both turned away at the same time. Lizzy slipped inside the house and closed the door. What an amazing day it had turned out to be.
