Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Still don't own a thing! Amanda Price is ITV's and everything belongs to Jane Austen! Nor do I own "Chasing Cars" by The Snow Patrol.
Special Thanks: This Is, Fire Dolphin and Edward is Mine95, Natsumi Tsuchi-Ookami, and Marte!
Chapter 13 – The Proposal
A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. – Jane Austen
"But, why April 1st?"
"It is April Fools Day," I smile shyly, "and aren't we all fools in love like Elizabeth and Darcy?"
Leigh smiles at me and I feel the same fire in my heart that I did when I thought he was Darcy (but, it could be the fried onions and dip I had that was doing a number on me).
A teenage girl giggles delightfully as she walks past us arm in arm with a boy close to her age. I look at her and quickly look away thinking, "Was I like that when I was a teenager?"
Leigh breaks the silence, "I do not wish to scare you away." He looks away, "If this were under different circumstances, I would be ready with two rings -"
"Two rings?"
"A woman deserves both an engagement ring and wedding band," Leigh nods, "and I am not the type of man to strip you of this privilege."
I begin to giggle like the teenage girl that had so previously passed me by, "Are you proposing?"
"Why?" Leigh raises his brow, "Is that wrong?"
"Oh!" I shake my head, "N-no no! Noooo! I mean, it's not wrong."
Leigh gives me an amused smile, "Let me finish and you may be the judge of whether this is a proposal."
"Ah!" I laugh, "I see you are trying to have an air of mystery about you. You are trying to hold my interest without trying to seem desperate."
He laughs, "No, no. You already have me, my dear. Whatever interest to be held is solely on your part."
"Oh!" I smile gleefully, "That's so cute! You're trying to be funny."
"Yes," Leigh clears his throat, "it shall never happen again."
"Never?" I send Leigh a face of mock shock.
"Let me finish before you ruin the mood."
I bite my lip to keep myself from talking and Leigh continues, "As I said, a woman deserves two rings and I do not wish to take the privilege away."
"Yes?"
"I would like to marry you."
"But, you don't know my real name."
"It does not matter," Leigh shakes his head, "I love you as you are."
"Amanda Price."
Leigh smiles, "I would like to marry you, Amanda Price."
I take in a deep breath, "Would it be … imprudent to hug you?"
"Given the era we are in," Leigh nods towards a girl dressed like Lady Gaga, "I should say that it is fine."
I jump out of my chair and throw my arms around Leigh's neck, "Yes. I want to marry you."
Leigh stands up; pulling me up with him, "You have made me so happy. I have never," Leigh takes in a deep breath, "loved someone as much as I love you." Leigh cups my face with his hands, "I love you, Amanda Price."
"I love you too."
He smiles, "Will you do me the honor of accepting my invitation to dance?" I nod and he leads me to the floor.
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
I place my hand on Leigh's shoulder and my free hand in his hand. He places his hand upon my waist.
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
He smiles at me and I ask, "What?" He shakes his head, "I am looking at my soon-to-be-wife."
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
"I love you," Leigh looks down at me. "I feel I must ardently express my love for you by repeating these three words every minute, for, if I lose you again I -"
"That won't happen," I smile. "I love you too."
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden
That's bursting into life
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
Leigh smiles; pulling me closer towards him. "If we end up going back," I smile, "will we need to go by Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth?"
"I would assume so."
"To avoid suspicion?"
"Yes," Leigh nods.
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden
That's bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things
Will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
"What about my mother?"
"Yes," Leigh smiles, "I have thought about that."
"She'd miss me terribly."
"But, you see," says Leigh, "this club is in the exact location that Pemberley ought to be."
"Where are you going with this?"
"I know your mother will miss you. But, that doesn't mean that you cannot correspond with her."
"What do you mean?"
"Even though this is a club," Leigh continues, "part of Pemberley's old library still exists in the back."
"Please explain yourself."
"What is your mother's favorite novel?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Just answer the question," Leigh firmly states.
"She likes The Count of Monte Cristo."
"Every day," Leigh takes hold of my hand, "you will place a letter into the novel. When your mother gets it to read; it will be yellowed with age; but, she will still know that you are well."
"How will she have access to the library?"
"I will give her full ownership of this club."
I laugh and shake my head, "Well, one thing is for certain."
"What is that?"
"You sure do plan ahead," I smirk, "literally.
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