James rode back and forth on the path to Oakham Mount, hoping to work off his nerves and distract himself until it was an appropriate visiting hour. When finally it was 12 o'clock, he decided that he had waited long enough. It was funny, really. He had waited years, but now he could scarcely wait another moment to ask Sir William for her hand.
"Young Mr. Bennet," said Lady Lucas when he was shown into the sitting room.
"Lady Lucas," he replied with a bow.
"Sir William will be just a moment," said she after the niceties were exchanged.
They talked of the party, the weather, and James' two youngest sisters until Sir William entered with Miss Lucas just behind him. She blushed prettily when she saw him. Some people had called her plain, and perhaps it was only a lover's eye that made James think otherwise, but he had never thought so. He remembered the first time he started to feel towards her.
He had been twelve and she fifteen. She had just begun to come into womanhood. Her figure had become plumper and the features that made her a lady became more prominent. He had gone to Lucas Lodge to see John that day. Charlotte and a few of the neighbourhood girls were having dancing lessons. He and John along with several servants were recruited to play the gentlemen and dance with the ladies. The dance -a quadrille- was such that their hands were joined, with each having one hand behind their own back and one behind that of their partner. He could not focus through the dance, for he was constantly distracted by his hand touching her back, even though there were probably a half dozen layers of fabric between them.
"You wished an audience with me, Mr. Bennet?" asked Sir William, causing James' had to snap in his direction and away from Charlotte, at whom he was embarrassed to find he had been staring.
"Yes, sir," said James. Sir William led him to the library and poured him a glass of port.
"I wondered if I might have this conversation with you someday, James," said Sir William, taking a seat behind his desk.
"You did, sir?" asked James.
"Aye," said Sir William, "Although the last year or two made me wonder. Seems Bingley brought you to the point."
"I suppose so," said James, "You might put it that way, sir. I thought Charlotte, that is, Miss Lucas indifferent to me. Then Bingley came into the neighbourhood and I realised I could not lose her without trying."
"Good show, young man," said Sir William, "So have you a question to ask?"
"Oh," said James, realising he had not actually asked for Sir William's blessing, "I have asked Miss Lucas for her hand in marriage. I ask, sir, if I might have your blessing and consent on the match."
"Of course," said Sir William, "This is capital, simply capital. I always worried about losing her to someone unworthy simply due to her age. But I daresay you couldn't have offered for her much sooner. You are only four and twenty."
"Indeed, sir," agreed James.
The rest of the time in the library was spent with discussions of settlements and dowries. Sir William was most impressed with James' plan for the eight-hundred pound dowry. As he had done with every spare shilling he found in Longbourn's accounts, he planned to invest her dowry with Mr. Gardiner's assistance. While James suspected that Uncle Gardiner had supplemented his sisters' dowries with some of his own money, he could not expect the man to do the same for Charlotte. Her pin money would be only a little more than Mary and Elizabeth's but with the understanding that all interest from her dowry would be reinvested so it might eventually be enough to provide respectable dowries for any daughters that they might have. Their discussion was interrupted by a nervous Charlotte.
"Mother sent me to see if anything was needed. You have been in here for over an hour, sirs, " said she.
"I apologise," said her father, "All is well. We simply began to talk of the settlement."
"Oh, splendid," said Charlotte, "I was worried. I did not think you meant to raise any objections, but it was taking so very long."
"I apologise as well. It was most unthinking of me to not consider what you might assume by our prolonged conversation," said James.
"Indeed, I gave my blessing long ago. Perhaps you might have Anna send tea in," said Sir William. Charlotte smiled and curtseyed before leaving to do so, leaving the men to their discussions of the settlement.
Lady Lucas was all anticipation of telling her friend Mrs. Bennet of the union between their families. Long had the two friends talked of such a thing. Indeed, it had seemed perfect. James and Charlotte. Elizabeth and John. Perhaps even Mary and Henry. After that, their families were not so well matched in age and sex, so the younger children would need to find partners elsewhere. It was to both mothers' vexation that Elizabeth has spurned John's proposal that spring. All was well now, however, for Charlotte and James were to wed. It was to her credit that Lady Lucas refrained from calculating exactly how long the elder Mr. Bennet was likely to live, and Sir William gave it as his decided opinion, that whenever Mr. James Bennet should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's dying an old maid.
For her part, Charlotte appeared tolerably composed, despite being all excitement internally. Marriage had always been Charlotte's object. From the time she was nineteen to when she had turned five and twenty, she had supposed that she would marry James, but when nothing occurred to continue to stir such hopes further, she had set her sights in other directions, understanding that she would marry only for comfort. Marriage was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. More than that, she had obtained that most elusive of marriages, one which was both eligible and born of affection.
Yet, Charlotte's greatest concern was for the effect it would have on her dearest friend, Elizabeth. She hoped she would be pleased, but Elizabeth was a creature altogether different from Charlotte. Often Charlotte felt certain that she knew how her friend would act, only to have herself proved wrong. She therefore resolved to tell Elizabeth the information herself. As Lady Lucas was having the carriage readied so she might tell her friend, Charlotte went along so she might tell her own.
Thus, soon after luncheon, Sir William, Lady Lucas, Miss Lucas, Mr. James Bennet, and Master David Lucas all arrived at Longbourn. David immediately went to where Miss Mary was, for she had promised to show him how to make paper boats when next they were in company together. Charlotte and James asked Elizabeth for an audience, where they told her their news. Despite her best efforts, Elizabeth was not convincing in her attempt at surprise. When James told her thus, she laughed and said,
"I admit that I saw you in the gardens, arguing about Mr. Bingley. I have long thought you would suit each other, and now I have been proven correct."
Joy was expressed by all upon the occasion, and the entire Lucas family was invited to dine. Henry and John were engaged elsewhere, but the rest of the two families made up a very merry party together. It was in the drawing room after dinner that James relayed a most alarming relisation.
"You are sensible of the fact that Mama will now turn all her match-making ability upon you. With three eligible men at Netherfield, you will not be left alone easily," said he.
Elizabeth groaned in response, eliciting a laugh from her brother and his betrothed.
"Perhaps Mr. Darcy, Eliza," teased Charlotte, "He does seem to seek you out."
"He does no such thing," said Elizabeth, "He speaks to Mary just as much as he does to me. Perhaps more, as Mary spends more time in Miss Darcy's company."
"Perhaps, but his gaze does not follow Mary," said Charlotte.
"It does not follow me either," said Elizabeth. Charlotte only gave a smirk in reply, wishing only to alert her future sister to the gentleman's awareness of Elizabeth.
"You are to go to town?" asked Darcy, "But what of the estate?"
"I shall. I think it is not the right time for me to lease an estate. I shall let the steward care for it and see to it via the post," said Bingley.
"Is this due to the engagement between Mr. Bennet and Miss Lucas?" asked Darcy.
"It has nothing to do with that. I simply have realised I am not ready for an estate."
"If you are willing to abandon your responsibility because of a disappointment, then I agree," said Darcy.
"I do not think myself abandoning it. I will visit again for spring planting. Harvest is nearly complete."
"And winter is upon us. The stewardship of the land has been sorely wanting and there is a great deal of preparation to be done. I do not think you can simply rely on this steward. He seems to have done the bare minimum to keep the estate profitable. He cares nothing for the comfort of the tenants."
"How long would I need to remain in order to prepare the estate for winter?" asked Bingley with a sigh.
"Another month, perhaps," said Darcy, "We must ensure that the tenants' homes are warm enough and they have provisions. The fields must be prepared. The tools must be cleaned from harvest and inventory taken. A great deal must be done."
"Very well. Then in late November, I may leave?" asked Bingley.
"If you wish. I will not keep you here. You are your own man. But that would be my advice, yes," said Darcy.
"Late November it is, then," said Bingley with a dejected sigh.
"Come now, Bingley. How many times have you fallen in and out of love with one of your angels? Perhaps it is good that you have had this experience. You may have more empathy in future for the ladies whose hopes you might raise and take care not to do so," said Darcy.
Bingley did not answer his friend, instead rising and pouring himself a drink. It was going to be a long month, watching as the woman he had thought might be his prepared to wed another.
30th October
Dearest Kitty,
I write this from Lucas Lodge, where I am currently spending the morning with my betrothed, Miss Charlotte Lucas. This may come as a surprise, but I hope it is not an unpleasant one. I proposed only last night and sought her father's permission this morning. He granted it, and now we are to be married. Nothing as to locations or decorations has been settled, for I am certain that both Mama and Lady Lucas will have much to say on the subject of where the wedding breakfast shall be.
We shall have the banns read, so you need not miss any schooling or be concerned about anything. As your term will end in the second week of December, the wedding shall be the Monday after your return. I also have sent instructions that you are to be allowed to go into town and have new dresses made. Your school will have details on what is permitted, as I do not wish you to look as if you are out when you are not. If Miss Dor wishes to accompany you home for the holidays, inform her that she would also not be considered out during her stay. Pray, inquire gently into if she would have something fine enough for a wedding. If she does not, perhaps one of your gowns might be lent to her, if she is of a size with you. If she is not, we will figure out something. Perhaps Charlotte, Lizzy, or Mary might have something she might wear. If nothing else, you might have a second gown made, first to her proportions and we might later alter it to fit you.
I do so hope you are pleased with my betrothal. I am writing to Lydia as well, of course. Think of it, you and Maria will be sisters!
All my love, your brother,
James.