Chapter 11:
"Oh Lizzy, how I have longed to see you!" exclaimed Jane, hugging her dearest sister. "You look quite shaken!" noted Jane, looking at Elizabeth in earnest.
"I am" said Lizzy, holding her sister's hand, "It has been quite a morning" she said, forcing a smile, thinking of Lady Catherine.
"Come, let us get you settled and refreshed and then we shall talk" said Jane, worried for her dear sister. They linked hands and Jane walked her into the drawing room.
"Lizzy!" exclaimed Mrs. Gardiner, entering the parlor to welcome her niece. The younger Gardiners came running after her, the youngest holding on to her skirt. "How was your trip?" she asked cheerily, unaware of Mr. Darcy's proposal or anything that happened after.
"I believe Lizzy is tired, Aunt, could we call for some refreshments?" said Jane.
"Of course" responded Mrs. Gardiner, understanding that the sisters needed to talk. "I will call for some drinks and sandwiches to be brought to you in your room—Jane will help you settle in"
"Thank you" said Lizzy, appreciating that her aunt always just understood, she did not ask further questions, she always gave privacy when people most needed it. If it had been Mrs. Bennet, no hints or cues would have been enough.
The sisters had much to talk about it and so they did. The early afternoon was spent discussing both of their news, until Jane deemed Lizzy should have a lie down. At around five, Jane went upstairs to help Lizzy get ready for supper, since Viscount Downton would be joining them.
"You do not have to come—he will meet you another time. I want you to rest" said Jane in earnest.
"I am fine, Jane. Honestly, it will be good for me to come down. This short rest was sufficient" said Lizzy, as the maid tended to her hair. Jane gave her a questioning look but dropped it.
"You look nervous" commented Lizzy, smiling seeing her sister looking so happy and excited.
"I love him Lizzy" said Jane simply, as if that answered everything. "You will love him too! You are very much alike."
"Oh no, I do not know think I can handle anyone like me. He must be very witty and you know I detest having competition" teased Lizzy. Jane rolled her eyes, looked in the mirror one last time and pleased with the reflection, held out her hand for Lizzy to come down with her.
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Mr. Darcy stood outside the Gardiner's residence of Gracechurch Street blushing. Had it only been a week and a half that he had insulted Elizabeth and ridiculed her connections? And here he was inviting himself in, hoping to be welcomed with open arms. He shook his hesitation aside, knocked on the door, and gave the footman his card.
He was quickly welcomed inside where a very pleasant man who looked every part the gentleman welcomed him.
"Mr. Darcy! Welcome! I am Mr. Gardiner, to what do we owe this honor?" he asked, his round face in a pleasant smile.
"The honor is mine, Sir" he said, bowing slightly in greeting. "I have come to call on Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I apologize for the lateness of the hour, I was detained with some business."
"Not a worry, son, please come inside. The ladies are just coming down for supper" he said, motioning to where they were all sitting. Mr. Darcy followed inside, nervous and excited to see his Elizabeth. He hoped she would not be angry. And then he smiled, only such a woman could have that much control over him.
"Miss Elizabeth" he said at once, noticing her sitting down next to the eldest Miss Bennet. She looked as beautiful as ever, refreshed from her journey.
"Mr. Darcy!" she exclaimed, clearly surprised at seeing him. She had known he would call but she had expected him to come tomorrow. She was surprised and flattered.
"Will you do me the honor of introducing me to your family?" he asked politely. He saw her color slightly, clearly remembering their conversation last week and he hoped that his current behavior would soon override his previous manners.
"Of course" she said, smiling brightly. Once they were all introduced and an invitation to stay for supper was accepted, Viscount Downton was announced.
"Jane" he said, whispering in her ear, once he had greeted everyone. "I have missed you" he said, loving the blush on her cheeks. "You look beautiful tonight."
Jane blushed becomingly and introduced Viscount Downton to her sister Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
"May I escort you?" Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth, hoping for a few minutes of private conversation.
"Sure" she said, amazed and flattered by his treatment of her family.
"The Gardiners are very polite to extend an invitation" he said. "I am terribly sorry for what my Aunt put you through this morning and even more embarrassed for what sentiments she might have expressed that I also did. You must know that I regret those sentiments—marrying you would mean the bettering of me/"
"Thank you" she said, smiling broadly. "And before you say anything further, I know that you had to say we were engaged for my sake and I greatly appreciate you protecting my honor." She noticed his features relax as she said this, he was clearly anxious on that point.
"That being said" she continued, "I am not ready to get married just yet and I do not want to take away from Jane's celebration."
"Of course" he said, hiding his disappointment.
"Fitzwilliam" she said, blushing at using his name and at the same time letting him know that she felt a level of intimacy, "I have greatly enjoyed getting to know you and while I do not love you yet, I do like you. Very much." He smiled becomingly, reminding her how handsome he really was.
"I understand" he said, "I will continue to woo you then" he teased, smirking, "However, we should announce our engagement."
"I propose we announce it in the paper. I will send a letter to my father and when Jane and I travel to Longbourn on Sunday, I will speak with him" she added in a whisper, as they were now entering the dinning room.
"I think it is best if you ask him when you come for Jane's wedding—which I hope you will be coming for" she said.
"As her brother, I should be there" he said, loving how that sounded.
"Yes, you should" she answered, continuing to smile the entire meal.
Each couple was lost in each other during supper and afterwards in the drawing room, not allowing for much conversation between the gentleman. Though they were happy to become brothers, they were more interested in the sisters they would be marrying.
After a wonderful time and many expressions of gratitude, Viscount Downton invited Jane, Miss Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy to a ball tomorrow night. His sister, Lady Mary Crawley, would be joining him in town tomorrow and he hoped they would first come to her house to meet and then go to the ball together. Mr. Darcy looked hesitant for he detested balls but could tell from her expression that Elizabeth wanted to go and he would detest even more if she danced with another man, so he accepted the invitation.
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The aforementioned couples met in Downton House in one of the most expensive streets of London at the fashionable established time.
"Miss Bingley has some competition" said Matthew, smirking. Jane gave him a questioning look and he motioned to his sister who was entering the room.
"Lady Mary Crawley" said Jane, after being introduced by the Viscount, "Happy to finally meet you. You may call me Jane". Lady Mary raised an eyebrow.
"And you may call me Lady Mary" she said, her aristocratic air surrounding her. "And who are you?" she asked Lizzy, looking at the beautiful dark woman next to Jane.
"I am Elizabeth Bennet, you can call me Lizzy as we will be sisters" said Lizzy, smiling politely.
"She will be my sister" said Lady Mary, looking at Jane, "not you." Her eye caught the handsome man standing politely to one side, waiting to be formally introduced. "And who is that?" she whispered, thinking him very handsome indeed, and by his attired, she knew was wealthy.
"My fiancé" said Lizzy defiantly, making it clear that he was hers. Fitzwilliam smiled—he liked seeing her be possessive and Lord Downton smirked, he liked his fiancé's sister already.
"Oh my, the Miss Bennets are so lucky, pray, tell me what potion you are drinking!" she teased, laughing.
"Mary darling, do you have to be so charming on your first meeting people?" teased Viscount Downton.
"Should I be like the ton pretending to be someone else?" she asked, looking affronted.
"Yes, precisely" he answered, smiling. Lady Mary smirked back and called for some refreshments, as they all sat down in the grand sitting room. Jane would have admired it all if she were not so focused on her dearest Matthew.
"You speak very highly of Downton" commented Mr. Darcy, understanding Lady Mary's love for her familial home.
"I will inherit Downton one day" she answered simply. Jane almost choked on her tea.
"That will only happen if Lord Downton dies" said Lizzy, saying out-loud what everyone was thinking.
"That can be arranged" said Lady Mary, raising one eyebrow and taking a sip from her tea. "I was banking on you not marrying but then you had to fall in love. Not that I blame you, Jane you are positively gorgeous!"
"Thank you" answered Jane hesitantly, "Should I be scared of your sister speaking of your death so casually?"
"Darling, if my sister's sinister comments scared me I would have childhood trauma" responded Matthew, clearly unaffected and actually enjoying his sister's company.
"Who says you do not?" teased Lady Mary.