Elizabeth and Kitty were both quite frustrated. It had been three days since the gentlemen returned and neither had even a moment to speak alone with their suitors. All of the focus was on Lydia's nuptials, which were to take place in only a few more days, and the new Mr. and Mrs. Bingley's return to Hertfordshire. There were always a half dozen people about and the weather was far too cold to walk out, even for Elizabeth. Elizabeth had rather more gumption than her younger sister, however, and approached the new Mrs. Bingley for assistance. Jane was only too delighted to invite her sister to tea the next day, but she did not know how to exclude everyone else from the invitation.
"I will say that I wish to use the time to get to know Georgie better," said Elizabeth, "For Mama must certainly know that Darcy requires the approval of his most beloved sister." The invitation was therefore sent and accepted with only minimal protest from Mrs. Bennet.
Thus it was that the next day Darcy entered the sitting room where the ladies were at tea. Greetings were exchanged and then Jane and Georgiana nearly ran from the room, closing the doors behind them.
"What is happening?" asked Darcy, confused and slightly alarmed at his sister's actions.
"They have arranged for me to have a moment alone with you," said Elizabeth.
"Not that I am displeased to be alone with you, my dear," said Darcy, "but surely you know you need only ask for a moment of my time."
"I do, except there has been never a moment when there were not so many family members about, and I wished to speak to you on a particular topic."
"Are you displeased with me?" asked Darcy, not being able to read the unusual look that had come over his beloved's face.
"I am not," said Elizabeth, approaching him and taking his hands in hers, "Quite the opposite."
Darcy still looked bewildered, but he was pleased with her closeness and that she was not upset with him.
"I find I have great sympathy for gentlemen now," said Elizabeth, "For I scarcely know how to begin. Perhaps I will use your own words and tell you that I ardently admire and love you."
"You love me?" asked Darcy.
"I do. I love you," she replied.
"Then you will marry me?" asked Darcy.
"Indeed. If you still wish to marry me, I would be most happy to be your wife," said Elizabeth.
Before Elizabeth knew what happened, she was in Darcy's arms and being spun around the room. Darcy and she were both laughing merrily. When he placed her on her feet again, she stumbled backwards dizzily. Darcy caught her, prevented her from falling, and embraced her.
"You have made me the very happiest of men, Elizabeth," said Darcy.
"That is well, Fitzwilliam, for I am the happiest of women," she replied in kind, tilting her head up so she could look at him. He kissed her lightly, his lips only barely brushing hers. She smiled and pulled him down into another kiss. It lasted only a moment, but it was perfectly lovely. Elizabeth rested her head on Darcy's chest, and his chin rested atop her head. They remained thus for some time, until they heard a small knock at the door and Georgiana's warning that she was going to enter.
"Are you to be my sister?" asked Georgiana upon entering the room.
"I am, dearest Georgiana," said Elizabeth. Georgiana embraced Elizabeth, happy to have a sister who she adored. She would have settled for even one that she could like, for she had feared Fitzwilliam would marry a woman like Miss Bingley until Miss Bennet had entered their life. She embraced her brother next, and congratulated him on his good fortune in securing such a woman. After all tender moments were concluded, Fitzwilliam bowed over both their hands and excused himself so he might go and speak with Mr. Bennet.
The ladies supposed they might actually sit down to tea, as that had been the declared intention of the visit. They spent a lovely hour together, talking of weddings and gowns and Pemberley.
"Andy!" proclaimed Darcy upon coming upon his cousin the corridor outside Mr. Bennet's study, "I did not know you had come to call."
"I had an appointment to discuss something in particular with Mr. Bennet," said Andy, "and now you may congratulate me for I shall have Miss Kitty as my wife. I have finally been able to gain her father's consent."
"I do congratulate you and I have hopes that we shall be brothers," said Darcy, squeezing his cousin's shoulder.
"I presumed as much," said he, "Mr. Bennet is within." Andy gestured to the closed door a few yards away. Darcy nodded and then went to the door, knocking lightly.
"Come in," said Mr. Bennet.
Darcy bowed in greeting. Mr. Bennet did not look pleased to see him, which Darcy thought boded ill.
"I suppose you have come to claim the last of my daughters," said Mr. Bennet.
"If you would allow it, sir," said Darcy.
Mr. Bennet rose and poured two glasses of port. He handed one to Mr. Darcy before sitting again.
"I had not expected this all to happen so very quickly," said Mr. Bennet with a sigh, "It is only just February and Mary wed only in October. If I had known the truth in the saying 'One wedding brings on another,' I would have never allowed your friend to introduce you all to my girls."
"I apologise for any distress it brings you," said Mr. Darcy, "but I must say that it speaks well of you and your wife that you have so many fine daughters. It cannot be overly surprising that they are admired."
"I suppose not, but you have taken the best of the lot," said Mr. Bennet, "I had hoped my Lizzy would lead you on a merry chase a little longer. You would not be opposed to a long engagement, would you?"
"I- well we had not discussed any particulars. If it is a requirement, sir, I will not object. However, I had hoped to return for spring planting at Pemberley."
'Oh, very well," said Mr. Bennet with a chuckle, "You speak of duty and therefore I cannot object. You might marry with your cousin. Save me the trouble of so many weddings. I believe he wished to marry the Thursday before Lent begins."
"That is agreeable," said Mr. Darcy.
"Go tell Lizzy then," said Mr. Bennet, waving the man away, "and leave me to contemplate my empty house."
"It is not completely empty, sir," said Mr. Darcy, "I daresay Mrs. Bennet and the servants will still remain."
"Lizzy has taught you to tease, then?" said Mr. Bennet, "Aye, my wife and the servants remain."
"Now Lady Catherine," said the ugly woman in the peach dress, "You must eat."
"I will not eat this slop," said Lady Catherine, "I demand you send a rider to inform my daughter I shall not stay here another moment."
"She has said that she will not hear such arguments from you, your ladyship," said the woman.
"Then send for my brother," said Lady Catherine.
"The earl is updated on your condition, but he shall not be moved, your ladyship," said she, "Now you must eat, for you won't get anything else."
"If you don't like it," said the woman at the table next to her, "I will eat it."
"You will do no such thing, Roseanna," said the woman in the peach dress.
"She don't want it!" said Roseanna.
"She is new here," said the other woman, "She will become hungry."
"You could ask your family to send you food," said Roseanna, "My sister sends me fruit often. Sometimes even some chocolates at my birthday and Christmas."
"How very fine for you," said Lady Catherine with a sneer at Roseanna.
"If you don't eat, Lady Catherine," said the ugly woman, "I will have to move you to the blue ward. Then you will be made to eat."
"You don't want to go to the blue ward," said Roseanna, "Right noisy it is. And it smells for it houses the infantile and others who can't care for their own necessities."
"As you would be considered if you will not feed yourself," said the ugly woman.
"Very well," said Lady Catherine, spooning some of the curried meat into her mouth. She did not like to think about what kind of awfulness the curry flavour was being used to hide.
"There you are, Lady Catherine," said the ugly woman, "Now if you eat at least half that food, you can go for a turn about the conservatory. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Lady Catherine only scowled in reply.
"It aren't so bad here. Everyone who is here is gentry or their relations," said Roseanna, "A few rich tradesmen might send their relations here, but not usually. And they keep the people separated based on their needs, so you'll be right safe here in the green ward. Most of us just got fits or nerves in here."
"How comforting," said Lady Catherine sardonically.
"Very well," said Roseanna, taking her plate and going to sit by some of the other ladies. If her ladyship wished to be mulish, she could be.
"I brought a map so I might show you where we are to live," said Captain Andrews. He spread out the map of Scotland on the table in the Netherfield Library so Lydia might look upon it. He found Kelso, and then pointed slightly to the left of it.
"Sir Walter Scott is from Kelso," said Lydia.
"That is interesting. I did not know that. Where did you learn that?"
"Kitty told me. It might not be accurate," said Lydia with a shrug.
"I shall have to try to discover if your sister is correct," said Captain Andrews, "But who I know lives nearby is the Duke of Roxburghe. He lives in Floors Castle. It is quite amazing. I have a book in my rooms with sketches that I can show you."
"Can we tour it?" asked Lydia with some excitement.
"I believe so, but only when the family is not in residence."
"That would be so very lovely to tour a castle," said Lydia with a dreamy expression.
"Then we shall do so at our earliest opportunity," said Captain Andrews.
"When shall we go to Scotland, sir?" asked Lydia.
"As soon as the roads permit it," said he, "For I am certain they shall be still quite impassable now. The journey will likely need to wait until spring."
"Where shall we stay?" asked Lydia with concern, "For we are to wed in only a few days? Surely we are not to stay at Longbourn?"
"We are to remain at Netherfield," said Captain Andrews, "until we hear word that it is safe to travel."
"Oh, dear Jane!" exclaimed Lydia, "Of course, she would offer to host us. But shall we not be intruding?"
"No, my dear. I have told Bingley that we will not expect them to act as host and hostess. They can have as much privacy as they like and they will afford us the same. We shall be in the guest wing and they in the family wing."
Lydia blushed at the insinuation of the intimacy that such privacy implied. She knew what happened between men and women. She knew far more than most ladies, for while she had not allowed Mr. Denny everything, she had permitted him a great deal. Still, it was different knowing that her dear sister would know what she was doing in the other wing of the house. Then again, she supposed Jane must be doing much the same. Lydia nearly giggled at the thought of dear sweet Jane doing such things. She could not imagine Jane acting so.
"What amuses you?" asked Captain Andrews.
"Oh, it is nothing, Captain Andrews. A passing thought," said Lydia, for she did not wish to expose her thoughts to him.
"Will you not call me Nicholas or Nick?" asked he.
"Nicholas," said Lydia, trying out the name.
"After all, I am no longer a captain," said he.
"Do you not retain your rank after you resign?" asked Lydia.
"I suppose I could claim the honourary title of captain," said Nicholas, "but I find that I wish to leave war behind and simply be Mr. Nicholas Andrews."
When Lydia expressed confusion at his not taking the honourary title, he began to tell her of his troubles. He had seen one very terrible battle. Nearly all of his men had died, as they had been taken by surprise. He had terrible nightmares and could not go out shooting birds with other men, for he was always fearful of the noise. Even the smell of gun powder brought him back to that terrible day. He dared not look at her face as he spoke, for he was certain it would hold contempt.
Instead, she embraced him and told him that they never need have shooting parties. She didn't like them that well anyhow, for the birds often made it to the dinner table with a bit of lead still in them.
"I am certain I nearly broke a tooth once," said she.
He smiled at her response, but still did not think she fully understood his distress. He began to explain more about the nightmares and told her that he would not hold it against her if she did not wish to be near him when he slept.
"We are not even yet married and you wish me to be out of your bed," teased Lydia.
"That is not my meaning," said Nicholas.
"I know it is not," said Lydia with a saucy look, before sobering, "but I do hope that you will allow me to comfort you when you are distressed. I know it is not the same, but Kitty used to have nightmares as a child. I used to sing to her until she fell asleep. Then she would not have them."
"Mayhap your singing will work the same magic on my nightmares."
"I hope it will," said Lydia with a smile.