"I do not need to see you making swoony eyes at my sister. Rein it in, man," David hissed quietly in Darcy's ear as brandy and cigars were distributed to the gentlemen.
"You changed your tune quickly. I thought you relished the role of matchmaker. That self-satisfied smirk you directed to me certainly suggested so," Darcy replied.
"Must you look so besotted, though?" David pleaded.
"You do not want a man besotted with your sister to actually show it?" Darcy was pleased to be able to tease David for once, as the man had enjoyed making sport of Darcy's obvious regard for Elizabeth.
"I did before I actually saw what it would look like. Good God, I have another Bingley on my hands."
"What a wonderful thing would be. Everybody should be so lucky." The man in question appeared with Henry and joined Darcy and David. "By the way, what are we talking about?
"Miss Hurst has accepted my…bloody hell. I do not know. She has either agreed to enter a courtship with me or agreed to agree to enter a courtship with me sometime in the future. That tart has gotten me all confused." Darcy looked at the clock and wondered how quickly they would return to the ladies.
"Yes, tarts can be very perplexing," Henry said in mock sympathy. "I am sorry, but what does the pudding course have to do with your courtship? Or is it prospective courtship with Elizabeth?"
Not bothered by such questions, Bingley was shaking Darcy's hand vigorously. "Excellent, Darcy, that is most excellent." When he leaned in, the other three gentlemen mirrored his move. "I will tell you a little secret that makes this especially welcome," he said, lowering his voice. "Miss Bennet has agreed to a courtship with me. I received her father's consent just before dinner. We will announce it at another time. We did not want to take anything away from Elizabeth as this is her evening."
"Well done, Bingley. Congratulations. I do not think Elizabeth would mind sharing her evening with you and Miss Bennet." David was sure his sister would be very pleased with the news.
Henry and Darcy offered their congratulations as well, though Darcy's was rather distracted. Elizabeth. He was the only man among them who did not have the privilege to call her by her Christian name. He hoped that would be remedied in the future but first he needed some clarification on the question of their courtship.
Not worried about any impropriety he might be exhibiting; he rose from his seat and made his way to join the ladies in the drawing room. Brandies were quickly downed, and cigars stubbed out as his companions sought to follow him. The older gentlemen in the room looked amused, though they too followed but at a more leisurely pace.
When Darcy entered the room, he saw Elizabeth in close conference with Jane. Their faces bore expressions suffuse with happiness. He selfishly hoped it was a matter of both sisters sharing their good news and the delight they took in each other's pleasure rather than Elizabeth responding to Jane's situation alone. He had yet to speak with Elizabeth this evening and was contriving how to get a moment to speak with her when Bingley came to his rescue.
"Elizabeth, I suspect Miss Bennet has told you of our news. I hope you approve," Bingley said with a broad smile. "We wanted you to know but we will wait to announce it more widely until after you have had this time with your friends and family."
"You are both very dear, but you should not feel you must defer the celebration of your current happiness for me. Let us mark the occasion of your courtship on this evening as well, for nothing would please me more." Elizabeth laid a hand on Bingley's arm and gave it a brief squeeze.
"Thank you, Elizabeth. That is very kind of you. Miss Bennet, shall we find your father to make the announcement?" Jane responded with alacrity, and spotting Mr. Bennet through the crowd began to make her way toward him. Bingley paused only long enough to whisper to Darcy, "This should give you a few minutes. Do not waste them."
Darcy could only chuckle at his friend's cleverness when a few moments later the announcement was made, and all eyes and conversation turned toward the couple, effectively leaving him alone with Elizabeth within the crowded room.
"I am very happy for Bingley and Miss Bennet. I can see no impediment to their courtship, they seem well suited," Darcy stated. "You do not mind sharing the attention this evening? You are the guest of honor, after all."
"Oh, do not say it like that," Elizabeth laughed. "It can only but feed my recent self-absorption. I have had far too much attention these past few weeks. I happily yield it to others, and I can think of no more deserving people than Jane and Charles. I believe Mama will be speaking of this evening for months to come."
"Yes, it has been quite the evening. I have often heard of Mrs. Bennet's incomparable skills as a hostess. She certainly sets a fine table." Darcy's previous reticence had returned. He thought to give her an opportunity to withdraw her consent if that was what she wished.
"She does. However, I confess, I must take the credit for tonight's dessert. Make no mistake about it." Darcy was heartened by her tone and words, both were strong and clear. Now he just needed an answer to his most pressing question.
"I enjoyed it very much and appreciated the assurance it provided. However, I must ask," he paused for a moment.
"Mr. Darcy? You must ask what?"
"I am sorry, I was trying to figure out how to ask my question within the context of dessert, but I am at a loss as to how to continue."
"It has become rather elaborate, but I was very clever, was I not? If only all questions could be answered via pastry." Elizabeth looked very pleased with herself, and Darcy never wanted to kiss her more than at that very moment. If he thought she would say yes, he would have dropped to his knee and proposed in an instant. "But perhaps it is for the best to ask your question plainly, so I may answer plainly."
"Very sound advice. With the apple tart, were you agreeing to enter into a courtship in the future, once you are more comfortable and established as Elizabeth Hurst, or were you agreeing to enter into a courtship with me now? I may have asked for the former, but I confess I wish for the latter."
Elizabeth looked thoughtful for a moment. When she replied, it was with one word. "Yes."
"I do not think that could be deemed a 'plain answer' at all," Darcy laughed.
"I agree, Mr. Darcy. I shall be clear then. I welcome a courtship with you, be it present or future. However, I believe my father will have something to say about it even if I am actually of age to make that decision on my own. I would like to allow him his paternal say as he has been denied it so long. You understand, I hope."
"I do understand and think it very generous of you. And very appropriate. May I have your permission to speak to your father before you leave the county?"
~~IOAF~~
The week had passed swiftly and the Hursts would be leaving for Warwickshire the next day. This last evening, the party from Netherfield attended Longbourn for one last dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Hurst returning to Netherfield, leaving Elizabeth alone with the Bennets for a final night. The carriages transporting the Hurst family would leave early in the morning.
Elizabeth's possessions had been packed up and sent forward. There was nothing left in Elizabeth's room but that which would travel with her. However, Mrs. Bennet had vowed it would remain Elizabeth's room, awaiting her whenever she wished to visit.
Over the last few weeks, Elizabeth had given much thought to her departure from Longbourn and her separation from the Bennets. It was not as bittersweet as she thought it would be. The Bennets and Hursts got on so well together she knew she never need fear losing the connection. In fact, the Bennets had committed to visiting Raber Hill for the Easter holiday. There would be regular correspondence between the families, of course.
"Lizzy, you will not even have a chance to miss us. I have worked out a roster, including Mama and Papa. One of us will write you a letter each day except Sundays. However, that does mean quite a lot of writing for you to reply to ours." Lydia was sprawled across the middle of Elizabeth's bed, with the other girls seated near the corners around her.
"Have you forgotten you do not like to write letters, Lydia?" Elizabeth asked her.
"Of course not, that is why there is a roster. I only have to write one letter a week. I can do that. And, if I do not, that is only one letter you miss so I will not feel too guilty."
"That is quite the scheme you have come up with, Lydia, but Lizzy might be far too busy to write back so frequently." Mary rolled her eyes at mention of Lydia's 'roster'.
"But even if she is courting Mr. Darcy, she cannot write him so she will have plenty of time," Lydia replied.
"Lizzy and Mr. Darcy are in a courtship. You must not say she is courting him," Jane explained. "It is not proper."
"Does it matter? Lizzy, do I have to be proper with you now?" Lydia flopped over on her stomach and rested her face in her hands, looking at Elizabeth.
"Lyddie, when it is just us, we need not worry about how proper something may be, but you need to be more circumspect in company. And my courtship will be very different from Jane's so I am allowed to write Mr. Darcy, it will just have to go through my father."
"Oh, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy cannot even send you a love letter! How tender can a letter be that is read by your father? Can you imagine Papa reading Mr. Bingley's letters if Jane were in the same situation?" Kitty was surprisingly concerned by what she considered a lack of romance in Elizabeth's courtship.
Elizabeth could not actually imagine her papa reading Mr. Bingley's letters. Considering the personalities of the two gentlemen, such a scenario might rival a Shakespearean comedy, rife with misunderstandings. Regarding herself and Mr. Darcy, she had no concerns about their ability at communicate under the scrutiny of others, for once again an apple tart graced her mother's table for dessert this evening.
"We may write, and Mr. Darcy will visit as his schedule will permit. He and Miss Darcy may take a house in Nuneaton, which is not far from Raber Hill. That will make visiting easier and much more comfortable for him. You need not worry for us, Kitty."