Chapter 20:

Elizabeth pulled away from her husband, blushing, her eyelids still closed, as the noise coming from behind her closed door, the shrieking and the heavy footsteps interrupted their private moment. They seemed to have escaped into a moment of bliss but reality was about to enter the room at any moment.

The couple was still grinning, Lizzy's arms on her beloved's neck, and Mr. Darcy's hands on her hips, when Mrs. Bennet burst the door open, pushing Mr. Bennet in front of her, for protection. Mrs. Bennet stopped short at the sight in front of her, not having expected a lover's embrace, and Hill, a footman, who seemed to be carrying a pole for defense, and the younger Bennet sisters pumped into her, everyone varying with looks of fear and amusement.

"Lizzy!" hissed Mrs. Bennet, motioning for Lizzy to step away from the mad man. Mrs. Bennet looked frenzied, motioning to the footman with her eyes to go and defend Miss Elizabeth, who was, in her eyes, in danger from this beastly man.

"Mama" said Lizzy, holding back laughter. She drew her hands off Mr. Darcy's neck and he likewise, albeit reluctantly, dropped his hands and took a step away from her, as they were still being watched by those gathered in Lizzy's small bedroom.

"Mr. Darcy and I are engaged to be married" she said, beaming. Mr. Darcy smiled at her and they shared a tender moment, while the rest of the room remained silent and stoic. The contrast was almost comical.

"Mr. Bennet!" shrieked Mrs. Bennet, holding on to her salts, for she felt as if she were to faint at any moment. "Do something!"

Mr. Bennet looked at his wife with his usual look of indifference but quietly said, "Everyone leave us." Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth to complain, feeling that they ought to at least keep the footman who was armed, albeit in an inefficient way, for protection.

"Now" he added, and the younger Bennet sisters left, one of them muttering how it was not fair that they always missed all the fun, Hill and the footman scurried off, and Mrs. Bennet remained put, feeling that if her daughter was in danger, she ought to stay. If Lizzy had been aware of her mother's thought process, she would have been deeply touched. For her mother was not one to convey feelings of tender love and this way of risking her own life for the sake of her child, was most certainly that.

"Elizabeth, come here child" said Mrs. Bennet again, her voice nervous, as she motioned for Lizzy to come next to her. Lizzy looked at Mr. Darcy as if in question and he tilted his head towards her mother, as if motioning for her to go join her family.

"What is the meaning of this?!" she asked again, her hands on her hips.

"Papa" said Lizzy, "Mr. Darcy and I are in love and we wish to marry."

"Why on earth would he claim he was searching for his wife? Lizzy I know I always said I wanted you to marry rich and god knows that he is filthy rich but he does not seem right in the head, please do reconsider" said Mrs. Bennet, her voice in frantic whispers. Lizzy smiled lovingly at her mother, realizing that her mother must truly love her if she would not sacrifice her as a wife to what she thought was a lunatic rich man, but alas, her mother had it all wrong. The question begged to be answered of why Mrs. Bennet had insisted for her to be Mr. Collin's wife, for Lizzy was sure that he was not right in the head, but clearly her mother had found him harmless, even if a bit dull.

"Please accept my apologies" said Mr. Darcy, ever the gentleman, "Mrs. Bennet, for barging into your home. I am afraid that riding the whole night and not resting was not a wise decision and I felt very inpatient and being reunited with Elizabeth—Miss Elizabeth."

"Reunited?!" shrieked Mrs. Bennet, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Mrs. Bennet, please do calm down" said Mr. Bennet sternly, looking like he would prefer to be anywhere but here. He was not pleased at the situation but he felt relived that Mr. Darcy would marry his daughter, even if he did not know the details, he could only suppose that being abducted with a gentleman would constitute that his daughter had been compromised.

"Lizzy informed that she had made an attachment to Mr. Darcy while visiting Mrs. Collins. I did not expect him to barge in like this, although you are welcome here anytime Mr. Darcy" said Mr. Bennet politely, "Please do come with me to my study where we can discuss the marriage details in private." Mr. Darcy nodded, feeling that he had no choice, and became suddenly aware of the mud he had covered Lizzy's room with. He felt guilty for the servants who would now have to clean his mess.

"I apologize for the mess, I did not think of my dirty boots" said Mr. Darcy apologetically to Mrs. Bennet, before bowing politely and following Mr. Bennet down the stairs, into his study.

"Lizzy" said Mrs. Bennet, reaching for her daughter's hands, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes mama, quite sure" said Lizzy smiling, tears now falling from her eyes, tears of joy and emotion, tears that had been holding back for way too long.

"Oh my dear!" said Mrs. Bennet, now shrieking with excitement, "Ten thousand a year! Think of the jewels! The carriages! La! We must get started on your wedding gown, how long do you think your Mr. Darcy would want to wait for the wedding?"

"Err" said Lizzy knowing full well that Mr. Darcy had no intention of waiting. "Perhaps a short engagement" she said softly, knowing it would most likely be a week long, if that.

"Oh! I did not think of supper, surely he will joining us! I must speak with Hill! Do you think he will like turtle soup? I only had planned three courses for tonight. Mr. Darcy! Ten thousand a year and possibly more! HILL! MY SALTS!" said Mrs. Bennet, now fluttery with excitement, "Come, let us make haste, dress quickly and then we shall be off to the modiste to get fitted for your wedding gown!"

"Yes, mama" said Lizzy smiling, glad to have her mother out of her room and the impropriety of having found in her night gown, embracing her fiancée, clearly forgotten.

PNPNPNPNP

Lizzy had a few moments of respite as she washed up, donned her morning white dress, allowed one of the maids to fix her hair, and eagerly went down the stairs to find Mr. Darcy. It seemed he was still in Mr. Bennet's study, most likely arranging the marriage settlement. Lizzy blushed as she thought of what her own father must think of her, but surely he understood that she was compromised and that this was a blessing. Her father must not be aware of her own feelings on the matters and she was eager to let him know that she was in fact truly and utterly in love with Mr. Darcy, it was not only a matter of convenience.

"Lizzy" said Lydia, a smirk on her face, "That was quite the scene" she said, snickering. She raised her hands to her mouth, doing a poor job of hiding her boisterous laughter, as she walked by her sister, linking arms with Kitty. Kitty looked down embarrassed, but nonetheless followed Lydia outside, where they were planning on calling on Miss Lucas and perhaps even walking to Meryton.

Lizzy shook her head in disappointment, fearing that Lydia was still as young and as immature as Mr. Darcy had claimed her to be and though it had been painful to hear of her family be spoken as thus, she knew that there was truth in his statements. Lydia, Kitty, Mary, and even her own mother, showed a lack of propriety that could only hurt their chances in society. It became evident to Lizzy how hypocritical this all seemed, for she had been caught embraching a very disheveled Mr. Darcy while in her nightgown, but it was, clearly, a different matter. They were married, after all, even if no one was aware of that fact. And though Lizzy did not think Mr. Darcy as a man of passion, it was clear to her, that she had been mistaken.

Lizzy waited outside her father's study, where after a quarter of an hour, both men walked out, Mr. Darcy in his usual solemn demeanor, and her father seeming more calm than she expected him to be.

"If you please, Lizzy, do come inside" said her father, his voice tired.

Lizzy looked up at Mr. Darcy, as she walked past her and gave him a small smile.

"I shall be going now to Netherfields" he said in a whisper, "Mr. Bingley and Richard should be there already. I think I am need to freshen up. Can I call you in the afternoon?"

"Of course" she said, curtsying and blushing, as they were now speaking as a couple that was courting, something she did not get to experience as of yet. Mr. Darcy nodded and bowing to Mr. Bennet, exited Longbourn as fast as he had come in, eager to get to Netherfields and bathe himself. He was already gone by the time that Lizzy sat down with her father in his study and he informed her of the marriage contract.

"The wedding will take place in three days" said Mr. Bennet, peering at Lizzy through his glasses.

"Three days? How is Mr. Darcy able to procure such a quick license?"

"He will get it from London, he is a man of connections Lizzy. Your life is about to change in ways you never thought possible and though I am surprised, I am hopefully that you truly are in love" he said.

"Oh yes, papa!" exclaimed Lizzy, "He is very kind and sweet, and a true gentleman."

"I am glad. He is clearly not a man to be crossed with, I wish you luck" he teased, cracking a smile. "I have to go and arrange the wedding details, three days is not a lot of time and I do not wish to deprive your mother of the small time she has to fret over you, her first daughter to be married."

"Yes, papa" said Lizzy, smiling, and recognizing she was dismissed.

"One more thing" said Mr. Bennet, as Lizzy was already by the door. "Your Mr. Darcy said Mr. Bingley will be coming with him later when he calls on you. I do not know his intentions but it would be kind to inform Jane so she is prepared."

"Indeed" said Lizzy, realizing that she had not thought of Jane and Mr. Bingley since the horrible proposal in Hunsford. Jane was clearly still in love with him and it seemed that Mr. Bingley had returned, could Mr. Darcy have encouraged him? Was Mr. Bingley worthy of her sister? She did not know but most importantly, she did not know if even Jane knew. Lizzy left her father's study and went to find Jane where they spoke about that morning, and before they were joined by their mother, who was eager to drag them to the modiste, Lizzy notified Jane that Mr. Bingley would be calling with Mr. Darcy in the afternoon and most likely staying for supper.

"I thank you, Lizzy" said Jane, in a manner that poised, like always, "But I am quite alright and I shall be unaffected."

"Indeed" said Lizzy, pursing her lips. Time would tell.