An hour later found Lizzie sat at the top of the table, holding a champagne flute in one hand while laughing at her mother over the endless plates of food and drink. It seemed as though William had personally imported all of her favourite foods from around the world and stacked the high on the platters in front of her... And then grown his own wine of love and poured it down her throat. She was slightly tipsy and definitely about to explode. Not that she was complaining.
As Lizzie sat distracted, Richard took the opportunity to send the eye and signal in William's direction. As soon as he nodded, Richard turned to Lizzie and topped up her glass.
"So Lizzie..." Richard smirked, drawing her eyes away from her dancing mother. "Wasn't this the place you suggested for Janie's little wedding?"
Jane rolled her eyes, knowing what was coming, and took the bottle out of Richards hands to top up her own.
"Yes it was!" Lizzie said with a bit too much enthusiasm. "And I still stand by what I said."
"Lizzie, my wedding day was perfect and I would change nothing about it given the opportunity." Bingley laughed at Jane's tired tone knowing she'd answered this question many times.
"But this place would be MAGICAL! Just imagine getting married here Jane… It'd be like the fairy tale wedding you always dreamed of." A glassy, dreamy look seeped through Lizzie's eyes as she gazed around the garden's in wonder.
"And it would also cost a small fortune" Jane sung.
"Coming from the woman who hired out a WHOLE CASTLE?!" Gee raised her eyebrow sceptically.
"It was a pretty castle…" Jane pouted and sipped her champagne as Bingley put his arm around her and smacked Gee playfully on the shoulder, glaring.
"How did you even know this place did weddings?" Richard grinned again, trying not to look at William who was clearly eavesdropping. "I thought you stopped coming here before you could walk or something."
"Firstly" Elizabeth held up her glass to no one in particular, the liquor starting to get to her "I stopped coming here when I was around seven or something. I was perfectly capable of walking at that age. Secondly" She waggled her eyebrows and smirked "I did my research. And thirdly, sometimes they used to blockade of this gazebo for the evening wedding service… I have a pretty good memory."
William couldn't help but interject at that point.
"You have a crap memory."
She shrugged and picked at a piece of cheese on her plate.
"Whatever."
They fell silent for a few moments before Richard decided to pick up where he had left off.
"Why don't you get married here Lizzie?" He asked casually, slicing a piece of cold meat he had discarded long ago for the fun of it. "Sod Jane and show her how much of an awesome wedding she was missing out on!"
Everyone in the area stopped and looked at Lizzie who sat there dumb founded.
"Yeah… Why don't you get married here?" Gee joined, smiling innocently. "Wouldn't that just be like, the cutest!"
"I… err…" Lizzie flushed and fumbled around with the cutlery in front of her. Marriage was a delicate subject.
Richard, Bingley, Jane and Gee all looked up at William. William reached for his glass willing his hand not to shake. He knew it was now or never. He was going in for the kill.
Slowly he stood from his seat catching Lizzie's eye.
"Excuse me" He said, tapping his knife against the glass. "May I have your attention please?"
The table fell silent as they all stared back at him. They weren't aware there was going to be any speeches. Dessert hadn't even been served yet.
"I would just like to start by thanking you all for being here tonight. I gathered you all here because I wanted Elizabeth to share her day surrounded by all her loved ones. I wanted to give her the best day possible. And I figured having all of you here would be a promising start." There were a few chuckles from around the table as William paused to brace himself. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
"However, I must admit I do have an ulterior, more selfish reason for asking you all here too. And it has a bit of a story to it… But I'll try to abbreviate.
Three years ago today Elizabeth had her first surprise party, which I might have possibly ruined... It's debatable-"
"No it's not." Lizzie laughed, sipping her wine while the rest of the table laughed alongside her.
"Anyway, I don't know if you know this but- Well. What actually happened was I accidentally proposed to her when I was supposed to have asked her out and..." He looked down across the table quickly at all the shocked faces fixed in his direction. "I'm taking by the multiple gasps from around the table you didn't but-"
"WHAT A SECOND!" Mrs Bennet stood up and slammed her palms down on the table.
Although William might have learnt Mrs Bennet's ways, it didn't mean he was all that great at tolerating them.
"HE PROPOSED TO YOU!?" She shot at Lizzie. "THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL SINGLE!?"
Lizzie set down her glass and gave her mother an incredulous look.
"WELL THEN!?"
Elizabeth waved her arms between herself and William and then held up her hands as if to ask what the hell was wrong with her. Elizabeth didn't know how many times she had to tell her mother that, just because she didn't have a ring on her finger, didn't mean her and William weren't in a relationship. Because they were. And a loving one at that.
"Its'not married though is it?" Mrs Bennet muttered before sitting back down.
Everyone's eyes were once again upon William. Richard waggled his eyebrows and Gee and Jane gave him a sly thumbs up. He felt a bead of sweat slide down the back of his neck. This was his big moment. The moment to shape their future.
"The thing is though, I did and it was awful and" He turned to Lizzie and said his next few words directly to her "It's a miracle you're still here and even allowing me to be a part of your life. I thank the stars daily for that." He attempted to turn back to the rest of the table and carry on over "N'awwwwsss" that were escaping her younger sister's mouths. "For me tonight wasn't just about celebrating your birthday, it was about me atoning for pretty much everything I managed to mess up for you three years ago today. I wrecked your surprise party so I threw you another (Which I think I also got partially wrong but- Hey ho. I'm getting there.) But that wasn't all I did. I gave you possibly the worst marriage proposals in the history of proposals so" William carefully stepped around his chair away from the table "I was hoping" He stepped closer until he was standing near the side of Lizzie's chair "That maybe I could replace the worst marriage proposal" He got down on one knee as the table screeched (Again) and all the colour drained from Lizzie's face "With the best."
And that's when he pulled out the ring.
"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings shall not be repressed." The corners of her lips lifted and she looked slightly breathless as the significance of his carefully chosen words weighed down on her. William knew he couldn't atone for everything. If he couldn't eradicate the memory completely, he would at least aim to make it bittersweet. "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Which I do, Elizabeth Cecilia Bennet." He took her hand and caressed her palm with his thumb. "With all my heart. And I promise to love and care for you for the rest of my life. I have never been as happy as I have these past few years with you and I don't want this to end; ever. You've given me a happiness I didn't even think possible and I ask you, if you will do me the great honour, of becoming my wife."
Elizabeth could barely hear the gasps of her party guests and cries of her mother over the beating of her own heart. They say this was supposed to be the easiest decision of your life. The simplest question you will ever encounter. Unless, of course, the answer was no... Then it became the most difficult and the most awkward to answer. Which was exactly what William feared when Elizabeth paused for the slightest second, her eyes wide and glistening with shock.
Lizzie had never seen the point in marriage. She didn't see why you needed so much expensive materialistic stuff and a piece of paper to tell someone you loved them and wanted to spend the rest of your life with them. At least she had thought that, before he had got down on one knee and asked her. Before she had met him.
It wasn't the fact that she couldn't see how they could continue on after another rejection that made the words bubble on her lips. But it also wasn't just because she wanted a big day where everyone could come and marvel over how perfect they were together. It was the gleam in his eye that did it. That and the thought that this man, this utterly perfect piece of man cake, was willing to hold up his hands and say that that was it. That she was the only one for him. And that brought a tear to her eye. She didn't need a big church or dress or cake. She would marry him anywhere in anything, because it wasn't about that for her. This was the ultimate proof of their love, not that they needed it, but she wanted it. And he clearly did to. That these two, of all people, could commit themselves to each other for life was madness. The two infamous for their fear of intimacy, romance and commitment, could find happiness, love and a life with each other was a miracle. And marriage wasn't proving that, she realised, it was about celebrating that. And celebrate it she would.
"Yes." she said, after what felt like a lifetime but was, in actual fact, a few seconds ago. "Yes I will marry you."
William looked at her, a darkness she could not even begin to explain spreading through his liquid eyes. "Really?"
"Yes." She laughed, a warmth flying through her veins. "Really."
He half gasped and laughed before jumping up off the floor, pulling her up with him and spinning her around on the spot. She had never seen him look so light, so free and so happy, but she knew she wanted to make him look like that every day from now on.
Once they stopped twirling William put her back on her feet and brushed a loose curl away from her face. the face that would greet him every morning for the rest of his life... And no, that thought did not scare him. It excited him and warmed him in ways he did not think imaginable.
His hand lingered around the edge of her face as she gazed up at him, her hand flat over his heart. Not caring that their whole family was watching- that Mr Bennet was probably out there grieving over the loss of his daughter and hating him even more than he had a few days ago when William first asked for his blessing. That his Aunt and Uncle were already forming guest lists and dates. That Lydia and Kitty already seemed to be arguing over bridesmaids dresses while Gee was holding a video camera (That had spontaneously appeared out of nowhere) filming the whole damn thing. He didn't even care that he was around 100% sure Mrs Bennet had either collapsed from happiness or was streaking across the gardens, waving her clothes above her. He didn't care who could see and what they would think, he bent down and wrapped his arms around Elizabeth and kissed her in what Gee would later describe as a 'completely rude and inappropriate' manner.
"WHOOP WHOOP!" Richard bellowed, grabbing champagne poppers from all over the place and setting them off one after another over the table. "GET IN THERE MA BOY!"
"TAKE HIM DOWN!" Charlotte yelled, joining Richard in the party popping extravaganza.
Elizabeth laughed against his lips and ducked her head as heaps of silly string started raining down on them, courtesy of Richard, Charlotte, Gee and Charlie.
Her lips brushed against his skin once again and he felt her fingers run through his hair.
"I love you." She whispered, loud enough only for him to hear.
Without saying a word, he took her hand and slowly slid the ring onto her finger sending Mrs Bennet into a near frenzy.
"A DARCY I TELL YOU!" She screeched for the whole world to hear "OF PEMBERLEY!" She grabbed Collins by his blazer and spun him around. "HE WANTS TO MARRY OUR DAUGHTER! OUR DAUGHTER!"
"I think you mean our daughter." Mr Bennet corrected lazily, he's eyes barely moving from his daughter who stood wrapped in her new fiancée's arms.
"I KNEW SHE COULD NOT BE SO...SO..." She struggled for words until she finally threw Collins down to the ground and grabbed Mr Bennet instead "JUST THINK OF THE GRANDBABIES! THE GRANDBABIES!"
"Ergh yeah." Charlotte muttered. "They'll be some ugly little buggers."
"AGREED!" Richard jumped up and sprayed silly string in Lizzie and Will's face before they had chance to duck or even think. "Now come on, we can save this for later please."
"I mean seriously guys." Gee piped in. "Get a room."
The crowd from around the table descended on the couple and began giving the congratulations and best wishes. They had all expected and engagement soon enough. In fact, they had taken longer than expected.
But that didn't matter. Inconvenient, inconsistent time didn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things because finally, after everything they had been through - after the ups the downs, the rejections and the joining's- things were moving forward. Things were finalizing themselves, and they were together. And nothing could break that.
April the second was the day of stars and hopes and wishful thinking. April the second was the day Elizabeth Bennet finally said yes.
Aprils the Second was the day their lives began.
