Chapter 29

Elizabeth greeted her Aunt Madeline Gardiner and Jane with enthusiasm when they arrived at Darcy House the next day. While it had been clear Darcy got along well with her uncle, Elizabeth had been surprised and pleased when he issued an invitation for her aunt and Jane to stop by Darcy House for tea and the opportunity to see Elizabeth's new home before separating from Bingley's carriage on their journey. What Elizabeth did not know was that her uncle had mentioned to Darcy how his wife regarded Jane and Elizabeth as being almost her own daughters and that Elizabeth was much closer to her than she was to Mrs. Bennet. Darcy had realized that showing civility to Elizabeth's favorite aunt would be another way he could show Elizabeth how much he adored her and how he was willing to change from his usual behavior for her happiness.

"Well Lizzy, you appear to be settling in just fine," Mrs. Gardiner said. "I was relieved when your uncle returned with the news that your new husband despite his recent rash action was a good man."

"He is not just a good man but the best and ideally suited to me I suspect," Elizabeth said happily. "But I want to hear about what happened after our carriage separated from yours. Mr. Bingley was very concerned for your welfare and comfort as we travled, Jane."

Jane blushed but saucily retorted, "Not quite as solitcious as your new husband was of yours, Lizzy. I will be quiet surprised if you ever manage to tie your own bonnet ribbons again if he is near by."

"Did Mr. Bingley seek an audience with you or papa?" Elizabeth demanded impatiently.

"Not yet. He said he plans to invite us over to dine once he has a hostess and mentioned that he hoped to speak to me privately. Papa set out yesterday for Longbourn in the carriage your Mr. Darcy provided, but before leaving I overheard him tell our uncle that he could provide his blessing for him to save Mr. Bingley a trip."

"Speakeing of Mr. Bingley's lack of hostess, he apologized to me for his youngest sister's officious attitude when she called on Jane this winter at our home," Mrs. Gardiner said. "He personally assured me that he planned on setting her up in an establishment of her own where she could do as she pleased without embroiling those he cared about in her schemes. I was inclined to believe he was soley speaking of her actions against Jane, until a piece of gossip in the paper caught me eye this morning as I was looking for the announcement of your marriage. I normally would have dismissed it, but seeing as how it mentioned a newly married Mr. D of Derbyshire, I did not. Your greeting this morning was quite reassuring as to your well being. I am sure Jane was confused about my agitation on the ride over and my insistence that we make our visit right away."

"I admit I was aunt, but I did not wish to pry," Jane said.

"And I did not wish to cause you any anxiety and therefore did not share what I read until having seen Lizzy, and we are assured she is fine," Mrs. Gardiner said. "Miss Bingley is reported to have attacked Lizzy yesterday at the modiste shop, making a claim that she was the true Mrs. Darcy, not Lizzy."

Seeing Jane's face pale, Elizabeth tried to quickly reassure her saying, "As you can see, Jane dearest I am fine. Compared to the other attacks I have weathered recently hers was quite paltry. She pulled my hair a bit and shrieked at me and perhaps left a few scratch marks on my arms."

"Oh Lizzy," Jane said hugging her.

"Look on the bright side, Jane," Elizabeth said returning her embrace. "Miss Bingley has managed to thoroughly ostracize herself from polite society and now your Mr. Bingley comes with one less drawback. I would rather her attack me once, than you have to put up with her barbs in your home once married."

"Lizzy stop speculating! It is mortifying. Mr. Bingley has not proposed and he may not," Jane admonished her.

"If he doesn't Fitzwilliam will certainly have words with him or I will about him shamelessly leading on my sister," Elizabeth said undaunted.

…

"Well Bingley?" Darcy said as he greeted his friend.

"Darcy!" Bingley greeted him. "I am glad I took your advice about setting my sister up with an establishment of her own before calling on Miss Bennet in London. Is Mrs. Darcy okay after yesterday? I was horrified when Louisa told me. Hurst was relieved to find out that I had already contacted my solicitor about releasing her dowry and setting up her own establishment the other week. He would not even let her spend the night in his town home. Insisted she go to a hotel, regardless of her not having a companion."

"I cannot say I am surprised he did not want her there," Darcy said grimly. "It would not be much of a stretch for the gossip to have him receiving her services if she was residing there. His parents would likely cut his allowance if that type of sorrid gossip arose about an unsavory relationship with Miss Bingley since he is married to Miss Bingley's sister."

"I had not even considered that gossip would have her doing such a thing with her brother-in-law. Others certainly, given how vocal I understand she was at the modiste's about how she could er please you. To describe her efforts in such a mannner while attempting to harm your wife is rather distressing. Even what Louisa reported Caroline was shouting was bad enough without the embellishments gossip added. I am sorry, Darcy. You warned me she would ruin the Bingley name. Mrs. Darcy knows that despite Caroline's claims you never touched her or made any sort of offer?"

"No. Elizabeth does not believe Miss Bingley's claims. Now when am I to wish you congratulations on your offer being accepted? I think it would behoove you to be seen with your fiancee at the theater with me and my wife. A public showing that you have cast off Miss Bingley and that my wife and I support you."

"My fiancee?" Bingley asked, eyes wide.

"Bingley, do not tell me that having spent almost two weeks traveling with Elizabeth's sister and your decided preference for her, you have failed to propose," Darcy said sternly. "Miss Bennet deserves better then such shoddy treatment. My wife will be livid, which means I will be livid on her behalf."

"Well I wanted to show her my town home and then I was going to propose. I thought I would have flower petals scattered around the final room when I gave her a tour and that I would drop to one knee and ask her to share my home with me. But I do not have a hostess. I am going to ask my aunt to travel down from Scarbough so I could invite her, the Gardiners and your wife and you to dine so I could propose. Miss Bennet, I imagine, would like to have her sister near by to share in our joy, assuming she says yes."

"Elizabeth would be thrilled to be your hostess in this case and you do not need to wait to hear from your aunt and wait for her to travel. We will have dinner at your home tonight, you will give Miss Bennet her tour and you will propose. Tomorrow night you and your fiancee will accompany Elizabeth and me to the theater. I suggest having champagne waiting with the flower petals and the last room on your tour be the music room. Elizabeth or Georgiana can play some soft background music for your proposal."

"Music would add a romantic touch," Bingley said thoughtfully.

"And for god's sake do not just impulsively blurt out your proposal before your tour reaches the music room. Elizabeth's sister will have a romantic hearfelt proposal out of you, Bingley. One that will please my wife. I won't have her disappointed by your inability to wait," Darcy said firmly.

"Ah, Darcy, won't Mrs. Darcy simply be pleased her sister is engaged regardless of how I propose?" Bingley asked hesitantly.

"Yes. But she will be even more pleased if you make it special for her sister."

"How did you propose to Mrs. Darcy once you two made it to Scotland?" Bingley asked curiously.

"I am afraid I blurted it out as soon as we were in the church," Darcy said. "We barely made it in the doorway. I had intended to propose at the front of the church by the pulpit so we could be married there, not the back near the door."

…

When Darcy arrived back from Bingley's he was pleased to find Mrs. Gardiner and Jane still there. He extended the dinner invitation to them on Bingley's behalf and Mrs. Gardiner accepted it. Once the ladies had left he said to Elizabeth, "I told Bingley you would be his hostess tonight so that he could invite everyone to dine. If your sister has any favorite dishes he hoped you will send a note over and he will have his chef prepare them."

"I would be pleased to hostess for Mr. Bingley until he can procuer a more permanent hostess," Elizabeth said raising her eyebrow in a silent question.

"As much as I would enjoy your surprise with tonight's events, I will say that the purpose of tonight's dinner is a step towards doing so."

"He is going to propose!" Elizabeth exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes. I will send a note to Matlock House that we will be bringing Georgiana with us to dinner tonight," Darcy said. He had decided on the way home from Bingley's to convince his sister to provide the music so that Elizabeth could enjoy her sister's proposal.

…

Darcy's normally shy sister was thrilled to agree to provide the musical acompianment to Bingley's proposal. Georgiana was thrilled by not only the romance of Bingley's upcoming proposal but that her brother was determined that Elizabeth would enjoy it on her sister's behalf. She found it terribly sweet and romantic of her brother and hoped that someday she would be as close to Elizabeth that Elizabeth would have such happiness over events in her own life.

…

As Jane said yes that night tears falling from her eyes, Darcy put his arm around Elizabeth's waist and drew her to him, "Are you happy, love?" he whispered to her.

Elizabeth, eyes shinning with happiness turned to look at him and could only nod. Darcy leaned down slightly and kissed her forehead. He was enormously pleased to see how overcome with happiness she was. He had known that seeing her sister happy would make Elizabeth happy as if that happiness was her own. He knew that Elizabeth and Georgiana had embanked on a similar sisterly relationship and would share in each others joys and sorrows. As happy as Darcy was for his friend he knew most of the happiness he felt came from Elizabeth's happiness, what made her happy made him happy. He coul not help but reflect that he was even more attuned to her emotions then she was to Jane's.