Never in her life had Elizabeth ever enjoyed a ball more. There was an awe that she carried within her ever since she had laid eyes on Jane, the eldest sister dressed to match her natural radiance as she celebrated her future as Mrs. Bingley. There was also a blitheness to the way the entire Bennet family carried on, no longer fearful for their future.
But, above all, there was a secret thrill whenever Elizabeth exchanged so much as a glance, a smile, or a fleeting touch with Mr. Darcy - from the moment the Bennets had been announced until the end of their dance.
For the first time in her life, Elizabeth hardly knew what the other couples on the dance floor had been doing or saying. Someone could well have eloped beside her, and she wouldn't have cared.
She was here, in public, dancing with the man she loved. And there was no excitement quite like it.
"You dance splendidly, Elizabeth," her Mr. Darcy complimented when the applause had subsided and the couples had recessed.
"So do you, fine sir." She complimented back. And he rewarded her with a shy yet handsome smile.
He guided her slowly back to her party, making Elizabeth wonder if he was as wary of relinquishing her company as she was his. He had asked for the supper set earlier, and she had most heartily promised it. But there was little else they could do without being engaged themselves.
"The room feels rather stuffy tonight. Shall we take a turn on the terrace?" He suddenly asked, ten steps before they reached Mama.
And Elizabeth's heart fluttered once more.
Having secured her agreement, Mr. Darcy deftly guided them past the other guests until they stood alone on the terrace, the door behind them left dutifully ajar.
It was almost sweet, how proper he was being.
"Alone at last." He sighed loudly, his broad chest rising and falling before her. She looked up to meet his eyes, his gaze nearly trembling in the starlight.
"I did not take you to be the sort to want to corner young women alone, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth smiled.
"Not any young woman," he avowed with a smile of his own. Gently, he took her hands in his. "Elizabeth, my dearest Elizabeth, how I wish I could alter the past and force myself to act honorably towards you all this time."
"Mr. Darcy - "
"No, please - let me speak." He paused to draw another breath and heave another sigh before meeting her eyes once more. "There have been very few things in my life that have troubled me more than the tenuous, arduous weeks I have spent believing myself engaged to Caroline Bingley. The briefness of that sham of an engagement does little to reverse its grief. It was a horrid near alliance based upon a horrid lie, and I will forever look back upon those days with disgust and disdain."
He paused to lift her hands against his lips.
"But if there was ever any good to come of such a horrendous situation," he continued as he pressed her gloved fingers against his chest, "it was how well it taught me to understand and appreciate you."
Elizabeth stepped closer, drawing in the warmth of his presence.
"I must admit my first thoughts towards your hometown and your family were never charitable, Elizabeth. And it has taken something of the magnitude of that woman's deception to lay bare before me my own prejudices and pride. Coming from a supposedly well-established family does not guarantee a woman's character. On the contrary, it only fuels such women to believe themselves deserving of things they do not. In the midst of all my turmoil, it was you, Elizabeth, who helped me to understand the value of a true partnership - the treasure of a woman whom I can consider a friend, whose kindness and integrity I can trust. And if you would have me, my darling, I hope to be granted the privilege to continuing treasuring you for the rest of my life, as Mrs. Darcy, with the propriety and title you deserve."
Elizabeth sniffed, her tears mingling with her smile in an odd mixture of weight and elation.
"Mr. Darcy - "
"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
The warmth that she once thought was from him now emanated from within herself as well.
"Yes," she barely had time to whisper before his mouth crashed down on hers.
He kissed her with abandon, his restraint clearly forgotten, and she melted into his embrace with equal indulgence. If anyone were to argue against their actions now, she would gladly announce that he was to be her husband - and that such arguments were clearly moot given that they could marry the very next day if they wished.
Suddenly, she very much wished to be his Mrs. Darcy as soon as she could.
"Mr. Darcy! Whatever are you doing?" A woman's shrieks interrupted their exchange, and Elizabeth pulled back in surprise. Her fiancé's arms stayed firmly around her, and she made no move to push further away before they glanced towards the ballroom together.
"Mama?" Elizabeth sounded as surprised as she felt. Her eyes fell upon the person beside her mother. "Mrs. Hurst?"
"I had thought better of you, Mr. Darcy," Mama declared just as a small crowd began to gather behind her and Mrs. Hurst. She tilted her self-righteous chin towards Mr. Darcy. "Surely, you must marry her after such a display!"
Mr. Darcy, to his credit, merely cleared his throat. "Yes, Mrs. Bennet, I intend to do just that."
"If a word of this - oh!"
"Yes, Mama," Elizabeth said, "we are engaged to be married."
"By license, I'm sure?" Mama managed to frown through her very evident agitation.
"If Mr. Bennet would permit it, yes," Mr. Darcy replied.
The whispers from the ballroom grew louder with every additional onlooker. Elizabeth felt Mr. Darcy's hands tighten on her waist.
"Well, that's settled then!" Mama suddenly shouted. "Come along, folks, there is nothing to see. Let us leave the lovebirds alone, shall we?"
And with a commanding wave of her fan, Mama managed to usher almost the entire crowd back into the ballroom.
Elizabeth hardly had a chance to consider if she was more impressed or appalled.
He ought to feel more guilty.
As a man so freshly unengaged, he ought to be ashamed of having been discovered in a blatantly scandalous position so very soon, this time in one of his own making.
But Darcy was so relieved and so content with the turn of events for the evening that he hardly had time to care for the dishonor of it all. He had tried to do the honorable thing once before, and that very adherence to honor had almost been his undoing.
He wouldn't mind suffering a little indignity now.
"Come along, we have a ball to attend! There is hardly anything worth seeing here." Mrs. Bennet's voice carried easily over the other guests despite her own small stature, and Darcy watched with a hint of humor as the small crowd that had gathered near the terrace receded obediently.
Within minutes, he and Elizabeth were alone once more - or almost alone.
"I am glad to wish you both happy," Mrs. Hurst said as she lingered by the door, her hands pressed against her waist. Even in the half darkness of the night, it was obvious that the woman was shedding a few tears. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she was unsure of her place. Her voice sounded low, strange yet familiar. "I hope, Mr. Darcy, that your newfound happiness shall exceed your former sorrows."
The hostess of the evening turned back towards the ballroom, her hand on the door.
"Mrs. Hurst," Darcy called out without removing himself from Elizabeth. "Am I right to surmise that Mrs. Bennet had been led to the terrace tonight - for a particular purpose?"
Mrs. Hurst paused without turning. Then she glanced backwards ever so slightly. "Perhaps?"
"Then I must thank you, for securing my happiness."
Now, Mrs. Hurst turned fully. She smiled. "I do not think the two of you need any assistance in this matter."
Her voice shifted lower than it usually did, and Darcy finally understood.
"But we did, didn't we?" He replied.
"Did what?"
"We do owe you our happiness - for it was you who wrote us those notes to meet in Netherfield's gardens and allowed me to inform Elizabeth of Caroline's increasing state."
For a moment, Bingley's sister looked almost afraid.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hurst, for redeeming our happiness," said Elizabeth, her voice warm against Darcy's chest even as she addressed another.
The woman shook her head. "No, please, if anything - I was only attempting to atone for the unhappiness I had caused."
"But what could you have - "
"I should have stopped Caroline." Mrs. Hurst sniffed. "I should have stopped her from the very moment she suggested her ridiculous scheme. I am sorry, Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
The late summer breeze skitted across the terrace.
"There is nothing to forgive," said Elizabeth.
Darcy drew her closer, all but pressing her against his body.
Mrs. Hurst nodded, her eyes glistening. "Thank you. I wish you happy, with all my heart."
And she left them truly alone.
A/N: Yey, happy ending. Maybe not logical ending, but happy, at least. My whole family is down with Covid right now, keeping me from any motivation or strength to write at all for the meantime. Thankful that I have some of these chapters banked!