"Zibby, may I come in?" Mrs. Hurst knocked on the door of her daughter's room. Darcy and Georgiana had returned to Clessondale, and the others had long since retired for the night.
"Yes, Mama, of course." When she entered, she saw Elizabeth wrapped in a blanket sitting in the window seat, looking out into the night.
"Are you warm enough? It can be cold by the windows." She picked up another blanket from a nearby chair and spread it over Elizabeth's lap, and then took a seat beside her.
"You need not worry. This room is so cozy and comfortable. I am quite snug."
"So many times, I wondered if you were warm enough and could do nothing but worry. Ensuring it is so is a mother's privilege that I will not relinquish now that I am able. You will indulge me, I hope."
"I am sorry, that was insensitive of me. That which was unknown for so long tormented us all in different ways. I sometimes wonder how you were able to bear it." Elizabeth once again contemplated what her family had gone through. She continued in a lighter tone, "You may pile blankets upon me and food upon my plate, and I will happily accept nineteen years' worth of gifts, but you run the risk of making me quite spoiled. I shall try to endure it."
"Oh, my beautiful girl. I could look at you forever." Mrs. Hurst stroked her hand over Elizabeth's cheek. She drew out her handkerchief to catch the tears that were forming in her eyes. "My intention was not to get so weepy, but I think you will find we will all have moments like these, at least for a time. We missed so much it is hard not to wish to make up for it. I should warn you that your grandpapa will grant you any wish you express - cottage by the sea, a golden carriage, a menagerie on the front garden, the entire stock of Hatchards - it does not matter, it will be yours. He has always been remarkably resourceful."
"Tessa did say he doted on those he loves, but he would not be so extravagant as that, would he?"
"If you do not believe me, you might mention something in passing tomorrow and see what the results are. He will lavish you with gifts regardless, but it will make him very happy to get you something you truly desire."
"It seems so greedy. You have already been more than generous. I can think of nothing I wish for at the moment."
"Can you not?" Mrs. Hurst looked at her knowingly. At her daughter's confusion, she spoke plainly, "Mr. Darcy?"
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. I did not hear your entire conversation this evening, but I heard enough. Even had I not, you seemed well pleased with his presence. And Mr. Darcy's comment about dancing a waltz certainly indicates his pleasure with your courtship. It was rather daring of him. Though I may wish to chastise him for his boldness as a mother, I do not have the heart. I rather admire the openness of his affections." Here she stopped for a moment as if considering her next words. "However, tonight we were among family. It would not do for him to speak so freely in company. I am sure he knows that, and your father will remind him, no doubt.
"There is something else I need to broach with you as pertains to Mr. Darcy. I believe you and he will come to an understanding sooner rather than later. Your father and I have no wish to create any unnecessary impediments, but should he propose, we would like you to have a long engagement. I admit our reasons are selfish, in part, but also in your own best interests."
"How long is long?" The question rushed from Elizabeth's mouth. Immediately, she thought her first question should probably have been about those reasons and interests her mother mentioned. If her mother was upset over this lack of decorum, she gave no sign of it. In fact, her mother could not stop herself from chuckling.
"Well, I guess that is an excellent indication of your feelings for Mr. Darcy. I am glad." She then became serious. "As parents, we do not raise our children to keep them at home. But we were denied our time with you, so we ask that you give us one year. Not from the proposal but from the day we were truly reunited as a family. You are of age, of course, and can make your own decisions but this is the greatest indulgence we will ever ask of you. We cannot lose you again so soon. Can you understand that?"
"I think I do. I can appreciate your feelings in that respect. And as to my best interests…" She trailed off.
"If David had never found you, you might be engaged or married to Mr. Darcy or some other gentleman already, so I know this may seem unfair, but you would have done so as Elizabeth Bennet. We think you need to find yourself as Elizabeth Hurst before you change your name again. In essentials, I believe you will remain the same but there is still some growing to do, and you should not dismiss the way in which your life has been disrupted. It is still too new, perhaps, to realize the impact your recovery will have on you."
"I suppose I understand that as well. Grandpapa and I once had a conversation about being true to myself and being honest and I agreed with him. There is no reason to worry about this now. Mr. Darcy and I have only spent a matter of hours together as a courting couple. We have time."
"You say that now, but perhaps you should not mention kissing to Mr. Darcy again. He is an ardent young man, and you should not tempt him so."
Elizabeth blushed bright red but nevertheless defended herself. "Do you know what he said to me? He told me how much he thinks of me, and he quoted The Tempest…"
Elizabeth confided every word to her mother, as well as the substance of some of their letters and what Lydia had written. Mrs. Hurst relished every syllable even though she thought she should exhibit more parental concern, but her daughter was home and safe and sharing confidences with her. Her husband asked about her tears once she returned to their room, she would only tell him Elizabeth had given her a belated and most treasured Christmas gift.
~~IOAF~~
The next day, Darcy found himself out riding with the Warwickshire contingent of the men in Elizabeth's life. At one point, Mr. Hurst drew him away for a private conversation; considering his response to questions about the Kern ball Darcy had anticipated further discussion about his intentions. However, he had not anticipated being presented with a timeline. While he knew one day Elizabeth would become his wife, he had not thought of when such a thing might occur. If asked yesterday, without the restrictions now articulated, a year would have seemed both practical and sensible. Now that the timeframe was imposed upon him, he could not but be unhappy about it. He did not have the heart to make an issue of it, though. Instead, Darcy reiteration his pleasure in his courtship with Elizabeth and the fact the nothing would deter him from his course.
"I appreciate the sentiment. I see that you care for my daughter and are willing to place her interests and comfort above your own. However, for my sake, perhaps you could be more circumspect. Your eagerness to waltz with my little girl is not something I wish to think on."
"You may not wish to think on it either, Darcy. Has Father told you of the one-year rule?" David asked, riding up next to them.
"It is not a rule, David. You must not tease. Mr. Darcy and I simply had a conversation about expectations given his reaction to last night's questions. He was much more understanding than most gentlemen would be."
"I merely thought that if the circumstances were regarding my own sister and if my parents had made a similar demand, um, request of a Georgiana's suitor, I would have every expectation that he would act accordingly as a man of honor."
"Gentleman, honor, understanding, blah, blah. Tiresome, Darcy, tiresome."
Darcy sighed and turned to Henry Michaels, "Did you have to deal with this, too?"
"No, but I had to deal with Caroline Bingley." Henry scowled at the thought. Darcy scowled in solidarity.
"Lucky for you, Henry. I was too immersed in whatever bottle or glass I could find to exercise a brother's right to harass his sister's suitor."
"We are glad you emerged, but I have to say, despite his unfortunate sister, Bingley remains my favorite brother." Henry joked.
"But I did not even harass you! And Bingley is far too distant to be claimed a brother. This wounds me, Henry, wounds me to the core. I guess I shall lay claim to Darcy's favor by cautioning him about Andrew Kern."
"Who is Andrew Kern?"
"Oh, you sounded very dangerous there. I think I finally managed to flap the unflappable Fitzwilliam Darcy," David said.
"Andrew Kern is merely the Kerns' youngest son. He is a nice young man, emphasis on the young, who will be present at the ball. I believe he is already on her dance card. Oh, do not frown so. David is just trying to stir things up, but you will find an ally in young Andrew. He asked for the first set after supper so you could be the first eligible gentleman with whom Zibby dances," Mr. Lee explained. "It will be Wes, then myself, David, Henry, the elder Mr. Kern, then the supper set is yours. We have arranged it nicely for you."
Darcy turned to David and slapped him on the back. "Well played, Hurst. But I think I should remind you with whom I grew up. You know enough of my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam to realize I earned my lauded unflappability under a force more powerful than yours. And I should probably caution you that I am not above fighting back and fighting dirty." He laughed at the skepticism on David's face. "Oh, did Bingley never mention it? Let me tell you about another man I grew up with. He was the son of my father's steward…"