Chapter Nineteen – Importuned at Pemberley
Upon entering the pavilion, the expectant eyes of the ladies were immediately upon Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. Jane looked at her sister, raising an eyebrow. Elizabeth smiled, but shook her head slightly. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Bingley were either unaware of the expectations of the ladies, or too polite to hint that they shared them.
Julia, hopeful that Elizabeth had addressed her brother on the subject of herself and Captain Radford, took heart from Elizabeth's evident complacency, and continued to look often in her direction, in the hope of a more direct confirmation.
"Jane," said Elizabeth, with just the hint of a smile, "It seems like ages since Victoria Barclay and Captain Radford have waited upon us at Ashbourne. Why do you not send a note, inviting them to call upon us tomorrow?"
"What a delightful idea," said Jane.
"If you are eager to have a note sent to Hartington, Mrs Bingley, I would be happy to have a servant deliver it for you," said Mr Darcy obligingly; well aware of what the ladies were about.
"Thank you," said Jane, "I shall return to the house after tea and write it."
Julia was unable to hide her happiness at the obvious implication of the invitation; and when her eyes briefly met those of her brother, they could not help but exchange a meaningful smile.
When the tea was over, much to Bingley's delight, a plan was formed with Colonel Fitzwilliam to engage in some fishing. Mr Darcy declined, citing important business that required his attention. Georgiana had intended to return to the house with Jane and Julia, but Elizabeth begged her to join her for a stroll in the garden, as there was a matter which she was anxious to discuss with her.
"And I, too, have a matter that I am mostanxious to discuss – with you, Miss Bennet," said Mr Darcy, smiling at her expressively. "If you would be so good as to oblige me, you will find me here, in the vicinity of the pavilion, when you are finished your stroll with my sister."
"But did you not just tell Mr Bingley, that you had important business to attend to?" asked Elizabeth playfully.
"Indeed I did, Miss Bennet, and I can assure you that I have no business that I consider more important than the matter I wish to discuss with you," he said looking at her earnestly. Elizabeth lowered her eyes, and, taking Georgiana by the arm, led her into the garden.
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth with an expectant smile, and when she said nothing, the younger lady said shyly, "I am hopeful that I might learn today that the sister I have dreamed of this past twelvemonth shall very soon be mine."
"To that I cannot answer, for a lady should never presume to know the intentions of a gentleman; however, I shall be indiscreet enough to say that our hopes are in accord. But if you hope to be my sister, then you must learn to call me Lizzy, for it is what all my sisters call me."
"Lizzy," said Georgiana, happily, "what is it that you wish to discuss with me?"
"Let us sit here, upon this bench, my dear; for it is something most strange and surprising, indeed; and I fear that when you first hear it, you may find it discomposing, and not a little shocking."
"Tell me, then," said Georgiana anxiously.
Taking her hand, Elizabeth said, "Georgiana, the mother and father whom you have your whole life long believed to be yours are not your actual parents."
Georgiana looked dumbfounded, and shook her head in denial. "No, I cannot believe it, how can that possibly be?"
Elizabeth proceeded to recount the abridged version of the circumstances of Georgiana's birth, which had been agreed upon with Mr Darcy.
Georgiana sat in stunned silence for many minutes. "It is shocking, and not a little unsettling, to learn that one is not who one always thought oneself to be – that the parents you believed to be your own, are not yours."
Elizabeth put an arm around her to give her comfort. "That is not quite correct, my dear; for while it is true that they are not your parents by birth, in every other way they are your parents; and although, unlike yourself, they were always aware of the truth of the matter, they loved you and treated you as their own daughter; is it not so?"
"Oh yes," agreed Georgiana. "Of my mother, my recollections are but few, for she died when I was only five; but what I can recall of her, is that she loved me, and treated me with the greatest kindness and affection. And as for my father – no daughter could have asked for a more affectionate and caring parent."
"If they were still alive on this day, when you became aware of their great secret, would you love them any less, or cease to think of them as your parents?"
"No," said Georgiana, shaking her head. "Though it is a great shock to learn it, my feelings for them are in no way altered – and my memories, and sense of belonging to them, remain unchanged. But how came you to know of it? Was it from my brother? Does he know?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Does anyone else know?"
"Only three living people know your secret, Georgiana – your brother, yourself, and myself."
"Will he cease to love me, do you think?" asked Georgiana anxiously.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "He has known of it for these past seven years, since your father passed away. Has his affection for you diminished in that time?"
"Oh, no," said Georgiana, "he has loved me, and taken the place of my father, as my protector; I could not wish for a better or kinder brother."
"And you, I think, will not love him any less?"
"No, of course not; for he and I are the same people we always were. I am still shocked, Elizabeth – I mean Lizzy – but I am no longer distressed at the news; and on the whole, I suppose it will change very little in my life. But I do not wish for others to know of it; for although I do not feel so very different about myself, others may feel differently about me, and treat me differently. Just imagine if my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, were to find out!"
"Goodness!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "I overlooked your aunt when I said before that only three living persons knew your secret – for your aunt also knows – although I am certain that she will never acknowledge it to you; and I advise you to do likewise."
"She is the very last person in the world whom I should care to have such a conversation with. But who should I tell? Is there anyone that I must tell?"
"This is your secret, Georgiana; it is entirely up to you to tell it to whomever you wish. However, there is oneperson who you may feel has a right to know of it."
"Who? Your sister, Jane? You may tell her, because I know you enjoy each other's confidences, and I feel so very comfortable with her. Yes, I think I should like her to know."
"Thank you, my dear, I shall be pleased to tell her; but she is not the one of whom I was thinking."
"Then who? My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam?"
"Your brother."
"My brother?" asked Georgiana in confusion. "But he knows. What can you mean?"
"Georgiana, you have another brother."
"Another brother?"
"Yes, a brother who is the son of your true parents – and who does not know that you are his sister."
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth in astonishment. "I have another brother? Do you know who it is? Do you know anything about him?" she demanded eagerly.
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, as do you. It is Captain Radford."
"Captain Radford!" exclaimed Georgiana. "I am utterly amazed to hear that it is he; for if I was allowed to choose, from all my acquaintance, the gentleman whom I should wish to discover to be my brother, it would most certainly be Captain Radford! Though I am always shy with gentlemen, he somehow puts me at my ease; and he treats me with such kindness; and takes a real interest in me – surely he must know my secret already?"
"He does not. It was not until he was about twenty, that he learned that the child of his mother, whom he had always believed to have died at birth, together with his mother, had, in fact, survived. The midwife, who confessed it to him on her deathbed, said that his sister had been adopted by a lady of means. It has been the great sadness of his life that she could furnish no further information that might assist him in finding her."
"Then he must be told!" exclaimed Georgiana, "It is his right to know; and it will be so delightful to become better acquainted. Oh, I am so eager for the moment that we may greet each other as sister and brother. But Lizzy, I should be far too shy to tell him myself. Do I ask too much if I beg you to tell him?"
"It shall be my pleasure," said Elizabeth.
"Oh, Lizzy, that will be so utterly delightful, I can hardly wait!"
"And you realise, do you not, that you now have three new cousins; you may wish to consider telling them, also."
"Oh yes, of course, Captain Radford's cousins – they are my cousins, also. I should like Mr Bingley to know of our relationship, for he is such a kind and amiable gentleman – but perhaps not his sisters," said Georgiana cautiously. "For regardless of my relationship to them, I do not enjoy their attentions, and I would not wish to give them reason for any greater intimacy."
"That is most wise, and entirely comprehensible. I shall ask Jane to tell your secret to her husband, and to request that he keep it in his confidence."
"Oh, thank you so much, Lizzy, I am so happy. But now I must return to the house – and allow my brother the opportunity of discussing his importantbusiness with you," said Georgiana, with a hopeful smile.
Elizabeth walked back towards the pavilion where she found Mr Darcy pacing up and down outside, evidently impatient for her return. She told him of her most satisfactory conversation with Georgiana.
"I cannot imagine that she would have taken the astonishing news concerning the truth about her parents nearly so well, had it not come from you, Miss Bennet; I find myself once more, greatly in your debt."
"It was my great pleasure to be of assistance, and it shall be greater still, when Georgiana and Captain Radford have the opportunity of speaking with each other as brother and sister."
"Miss Bennet," he said, suddenly stepping closer and looking at her with such intensity that she was obliged to look away as she listened to his words. "A twelvemonth ago, when you were in Derbyshire with your aunt and uncle, I formed a resolution which I have pursued with unwavering determination, despite an apparently unending sequence of events that have perversely prevented me from acting upon it – until today."
Elizabeth looked up and briefly smiled at him encouragingly, before again looking away.
"You can have little difficulty in guessing the nature of my resolution, Miss Bennet; for my behaviour towards you last summer can have left you in little doubt that the affections and wishes that I had professed to you, in so regrettably an un-gentlemanly manner, in Kent, had – in spite of your well-deserved reproofs and the outright rejection of my suit – grown even stronger. I was hopeful, that having attended to those failings of character upon which you had so rightly admonished me, that after our extraordinarily fortuitous meeting at Pemberley, that you received my attentions with complaisance."
"I can assure you, Mr Darcy, that your attentions last summer were received with an emotion far warmer than complaisance."
"On the very day of your abrupt departure from Derbyshire, on account of the unfortunate news concerning your sister, Lydia, I had come to Lambton with the express intention of saying those words which I had long been rehearsing, but have, regrettably, been obliged to continue rehearsing for a full twelvemonth since. And in that time, although you had reason, on more than one occasion, to doubt my good character, yet you persevered in your faith in me, and most generously allowed me the opportunity to acquit myself of what must have appeared to be great failings, indeed."
Elizabeth looked up and smiled warmly. "Having once judged you too hastily, and entirely misconstrued your character, I was determined not to repeat that same mistake. But perhaps I should not flatter myself that my judgement and patience are so greatly improved; for I must confess to feelings which disposed me, through the many mysteries with which I found myself confronted, to earnestly wish to believe that an explanation existed that might somehow render you innocent of wrongdoing."
"Having so cleverly uncovered all of my secrets – none of which were of my own creation – I think you will understand why I was unable, on so many occasions, to disabuse you of the false impression that the apparent evidence, conjoined with my silence, must inevitably have suggested. I thank you, most sincerely, for your constancy. I can only say that all of your actions – even those that caused me great alarm at the time – have only served to increase the already high esteem in which I held you."
"And allow me to say, Mr Darcy, that although at the time I may have found some of your behaviour inexplicable – even vexing – when finally I knew the truth concerning what you had done for my sister, Lydia, and later I comprehended the great love and compassion you had shown to your own sister, Julia, and of your great efforts to bring her happiness, my high regard for you grew stronger yet."
Elizabeth looked up and smiled at him with unguarded affection, and saw upon his face an expression of heartfelt delight and joy such as she had never witnessed upon it before. He reached out his hands towards her, which she took eagerly in her own, and looking deeply into her eyes, he said, "My dearest, darling Elizabeth, I have waited so long for this joyous moment, and perhaps that long and seemingly eternal wait, has made it all the sweeter, now that it has finally arrived."
"I fear," said Elizabeth, looking over his shoulder at the figure of a woman hastening urgently towards them, "that you shall be obliged to wait a little longer yet."
Releasing her hands, Mr Darcy turned in alarm to see his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh scurrying frantically towards them across the lawn. Upon reaching them she was exhausted, and obliged to lean upon her parasol for some moments, gasping for breath, before finally speaking.
"Tell me I am not too late, Fitzwilliam! Tell me that you have not already betrothed yourself to this unworthy woman!"
Her nephew stared at her incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief that this could be happening.
"Never mind!" she said. "When I asked the same question of your sister, she said you were not yet engaged, so if you have only just now become so, you can deny it all, for she can produce no witness to support her claim but herself – and her word would hardly stand against that of an honourable magistrate."
"We are not yet engaged, Aunt Catherine. However, if you would be so good as to return to the house and await me there, I fully intend to remedy the situation forthwith," he said firmly.
"You shall do no such thing!" decreed his aunt imperiously. "I have travelled all the way from Kent to bring you intelligence; which, when you have heard it, will most certainly disincline you to marrying this woman! You will thank me to the end of your days, for having saved you from a most imprudent and shameful marriage."
Mr Darcy stared at Lady Catherine coldly, and she refused even to look in Elizabeth's direction, whom she seemed determined to ignore – much as she might ignore the presence of a servant, as being of no consequence to what was going forth.
"You shall hear what I have to say – and you will thank me for it! I undertook the great trouble and expense of engaging the services of a Bow Street Runner on a private commission to investigate what had become of Miss Bennet's younger sister, Miss Lydia Bennet, who had apparently disappeared from all public notice after her failed elopement with that good-for-nothing scoundrel, George Wickham. Upon receiving a most alarming report, I determined to set out at once to acquaint you with its contents; and to save you from making a connection with a family whose shameful name shall for evermore be spoken of in terms of disrepute and disgrace," she said with a self-satisfied smile.
"According to my investigator's report, Mr Wickham had never intended to marry Miss Bennet; and when he happened to meet another young lady – a Miss King, who was in possession of ten thousand pounds – he abandoned Miss Bennet, and attempted to elope with Miss King. Unluckily for the rogue, Miss King's uncle very soon learned of the matter, and sent an express to acquaintances in the north of England, who succeeded in intercepting the fleeing couple before they could reach Scotland. What state the young lady was in, I do not know; only that she was detached from the company of Mr Wickham and locked away somewhere in the north.
"To whence went Mr Wickham, I know not, only that he did not return to Miss Bennet; whom, it seems, he abandoned without paying the landlord, who, to recoup his losses, passed her on, for a fee, to an even greater villain. This second gentleman – and I use that word advisedly – kept her for his pleasure, until, it seems, she ran off with a third gentleman – yes – can you believe it? That shameless young hussy gave her favours to three different gentlemen in a matter of weeks! I think we all know the appropriate appellation for such a woman – but it shall not pass my lips. The third gentleman, it seems, eventually moved her to a house in the country, somewhere in Suffolk, where she has recently given birth to a child – but who knows which of the three gentlemen is the father?" she said with a sneer.
"My investigator was unable to learn the name of the third gentleman, who, it seems, is the owner of the house; but he reported that it was managed by an older woman and that another young lady had been residing there, also. The investigator is of the opinion that the owner of the house is engaged in some manner of disreputable business – very likely providing the services of well-born ladies of ill-repute to other gentlemen; and that he uses the house when their inevitable confinement becomes necessary. God knows what he does with the babies! It is a most shameful and immoral business, Fitzwilliam; and were you to marry this woman, you could not escape being tainted by association with her younger sister, who, you may be certain, will very soon be back in service in London. Just imagine the shame when it becomes known to all the world!"
"I hope, Madam," said Elizabeth, finally forcing Lady Catherine to look at her, "that you did not pay a great deal of money to your Bow Street Runner for his report; for it is grossly incorrect."
"And what could you possibly know of the matter?" demanded Lady Catherine.
"I have visited the house in Suffolk that you refer to, on a number of occasions, Madam."
"You have not! I do not believe you!"
"And I have spoken with my younger sister, at length, on all that transpired after her abandonment by Mr Wickham," continued Elizabeth, ignoring Lady Catherine's interjection. "I know the name of the gentleman who brought her to the house, and to what purpose; and I can inform you that the truth of the matter does not resemble the fictions contained in your report, in the least bit. My sister intends to keep her baby, and I am able to assuage your ladyship's kind concerns, regarding her future, by assuring you that she will not be coming on the town."
"Lies! It is all lies!" exclaimed Lady Catherine, addressing her nephew. "Do not listen to her; she knows nothing of the matter! For the sake of your own good name, Fitzwilliam, and of all your relations, I implore you to banish her forthwith, and to demand that she never again returns to pollute the shades of Pemberley!"
"I have reason to believe, aunt, that the account you have just heard from Miss Bennet is entirely correct; and while I cannot divulge my sources, I shall tell you that they are impeccable, and beyond doubt."
"You dare to contradict me?" she demanded in high dudgeon.
"It is the report of the Bow Street Runner that I contradict, Aunt. And I may tell you, from my experience as a magistrate, and from conversations with brother magistrates, these privately commissioned reports cannot always be relied upon. It is not unheard of for an investigator, when he is unable to discover the information that is wanted – or sometimes simply to save the trouble of a long and difficult investigation – to simply make up a plausible story that will be acceptable, and find favour, with his client. I fear that you have been imposed upon."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Lady Catherine, "No one would dare to trifle with a person of my stature, I am quite certain of it!"
"Unfortunately, Lady Catherine, your nephew will act in accordance with what he knows to be the truth – rather than what you believe – or wish it to be. Sadly, it would seem that you have gone to a great deal of trouble and expense for nothing."
"How dare you address me in so disrespectful a manner, you insolent girl – I shall not allow you to marry my nephew – do you hear me?"
"I cannot think of any possible way in which you can prevent me from marrying Miss Bennet; although you have certainly succeeded in interrupting my proposal," said Mr Darcy crossly."
"You think I cannot prevent it, do you? Well listen to me! If you go against me, Fitzwilliam, I swear, I shall publish the report of the Bow Street Runner, and your name, as the brother-in-law of that shameful and disgraced Miss Lydia Bennet, will be irredeemably tainted. Now what have you to say?"
"Only that it is most patently an empty threat, Madam," said Elizabeth calmly. "For when your report is rebutted and ridiculed, you shall be the one whose name is tainted. And even were the report to stand unchallenged, if it succeeded in tainting Mr Darcy's name by association with my family, then it would taint yours to even a greater degree. Firstly, as his relation, you would be tainted by association with him; but, far greater would be the public disapprobation of a lady who would set out to deliberately destroy the name of her nephew."
Lady Catherine was livid. "How dare you speak in so insulting a manner to a great lady such as myself – disgraceful girl! Do you forget your place? Have you no regard for my rank? Oh, that my nephew should marry into such a family! He should not – and he shall not! Fitzwilliam, have I not told you since you were young, that it was the favourite wish of your beloved mother, that you should marry my daughter, Anne. How can you be so heartless, so callous upon the memory of your own dear mother, to deny her the fondest wish of her heart?"
"I never heard her once say it," said Mr Darcy.
"Well... yes... but of course she died unexpectedly young," retorted his aunt. "You were but fifteen or sixteen years of age at the time; I imagine she thought there would be opportunity enough to tell you when you were older."
Elizabeth, having tired of Lady Catherine's rant, and wishing to put an end to it, said, "I do not believe that your sister would have wished her son to marry his own sister – something which you must know is against the law, Madam; and I am astonished that you should wish for it, and indeed encourage it so assiduously."
Lady Catherine stared wordlessly at Elizabeth for some moments. Eventually recovering herself, she demanded, "What on earth are you about, Miss Bennet; have you completely lost your mind?"
Elizabeth smiled calmly. "I have not, Lady Catherine. Your accusation would, however, be merited by a childless lady, who pretended to be with child when she was not, in order that she might take her own sister's illegitimate baby, and deceive all the world, including her own husband, into believing it was her own daughter; and then, furthermore, schemed to have her supposed daughter marry her own brother. Such a lady, Madam, would be most wise, I believe, not to threaten to publish specious stories of lesser scandals, most especially when there are letters and other documents to prove it all."
Lady Catherine's face turned a sallow white as she gasped. Mr Darcy, fearful that she might faint, rushed forward, and taking her by the arm, he led her to a seat in front of the pavilion, where he helped her to sit. Lady Catherine had nothing further to say; and simply stared off into the distance, lost in thought, and perhaps her memories.
"Miss Bennet," said Mr Darcy, returning to where Elizabeth stood a dozen paces from where his aunt was now seated, "I am beginning to believe that fate has an endless store of distractions at its disposal; and I am not inclined to wait for the next one. Indeed, I am most eager to conclude the business in which we were engaged when my aunt happened upon us. Now, where were we?" he asked, with a smile. "Oh yes, I remember, I was holding your hands like this," he said, taking Elizabeth's hands.
"And you had just said, 'perhaps that long, seemingly eternal wait has made it all the sweeter'," said Elizabeth, looking at him lovingly. "I recall your words, for I was thinking the exact same thing; that although we have known for so long a time that we were destined for each other, there was always something to prevent us realising our fondest dream. And though it was most vexatious, it has increased our longing for each other, and the sweetness of the moment when finally we shall achieve our heart's desire."
"Yes, I could not have expressed my own feelings better; but let us not wait a moment longer. My dearest Elizabeth, tell me, I beg you, that you will be my wife."
"With all my heart, I will."
And with that they embraced and exchanged that eager kiss, which had waited so long upon their separate lips. When finally they released each other, they were surprised to observe Lady Catherine rising to her feet, apparently recovered from Elizabeth's reproof and looking tolerably composed.
"You are a fool, Fitzwilliam," she said disdainfully, "to sacrifice the wealth and splendour of Rosings Park for this disagreeable nobody, from a family of no account, whose only claim to notice is the scandalous disrepute of a daughter. She is wholly without the least sense of the respect and honour for what is owed to those above her – did you not just now witness her shameful arrogance, and refusal to show proper deference to my rank? And did you not hear the insolent rant to which I was so brazenly importuned? You will rue the day that you chose this headstrong, impertinent shrew. My Anne would have made you a proper wife – modest, obedient and docile. Well, I have done my best for you, Fitzwilliam, but you spurn my good advice – obviously, this artful hussy has you bewitched, and entirely in her power."
Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged an amused smile and shook their heads in disbelief.
"Clearly there is nothing more I can do for you, Fitzwilliam; where is your cousin, the Colonel? I have need to speak with him."
"You should find him in that direction, down by the river, Aunt," he said, eager to see the back of her, and devote his attentions to Elizabeth.
When she had gone, he said with a smile, "Now where were we?"
Elizabeth stepped up to him and embraced him. "You were kissing me, darling."
After a very long embrace, Elizabeth said, "I fear that your poor cousin is about to have that exquisite prize bestowed upon him, that you so ungratefully refused."
Darcy laughed. "At least Anne is truly his cousin, and not his sister; but regardless of their relationship, I doubt very much that he is any fonder of her, or more desirous of having her as his wife, than I."
"And there is another, of whom I suspect he is far more desirous," said Elizabeth.
"You speak of Miss Barclay?"
"I do; and I am inclined to believe that the preference is returned."
Darcy smiled. "I fear that our aunt will be exceedingly upset when my cousin, likewise, declines to marry Anne. Unlike myself, he has no independent fortune, and is greatly beholden to my aunt for her financial largesse, which she has not demurred to make him aware, depends upon his pleasing her. She will most certainly cut him off without a penny if he goes against her wishes in this matter; but I shall offer to make good any shortfall in his expenses."
"That is most generous, although I suspect that his need of such kind assistance is likely to be of but a short duration. I have great hopes that it shall not be very long before we hear happy news regarding your cousin and Miss Barclay; who, as you are aware, besides being the most charming and amiable of young ladies, is also a very wealthy one."
"Speaking of happy news," said Darcy, "I suppose we should keep ours a secret until I have applied to your father for permission to marry you. I shall send off an express immediately; come, let us walk to the house," he said, offering her his arm.
"Certainly, darling, you must ask my father, as is proper. However, I see no reason to wait another moment before sharing our joyful news with my sister and other intimate acquaintances; for I am entirely certain that my father will approve the match."
"I most earnestly hope so, and can think of no reason why he should not; but it would be disrespectful to reveal our betrothal until he has had the opportunity to sanction it."
Elizabeth smiled, as they walked arm in arm. "He already has."
Darcy stopped and turned towards her, astonished. "Were you so sure certain of my affections, my dear, and that I would beg you to marry me, that you solicited your father's permission even before I had paid you my addresses?"
Elizabeth laughed and placed her hands upon his shoulders. "Oh yes, darling; I have been persuaded of the constancy of your affections ever since you returned into Hertfordshire with Mr Bingley last September. I have only been waiting for you to acquit yourself of the suspicions raised by each successive mystery, that I might be certain that I wished to accept your addresses – before giving you the necessary encouragement to pay them."
And with that, she stood on her toes and placed a most welcome kiss upon his waiting lips.
"If my feelings have been so entirely transparent, my dear Elizabeth, it was not unintended; for I have been in love with you far longer than the period to which you allude; and although I knew that I was innocent of the unending suspicions that surrounded me, I knew not how to demonstrate my blamelessness. I was eager that you should know of the constancy of my affections while I attempted to clear my name."
Placing her arm through his and resuming walking, Elizabeth said, "How fortunate it was for us both, darling, that I was able to uncover all of your mysterious secrets and discover your innocence for myself."
"Indeed it was," agreed Darcy, smiling happily.
"I was not, however, so brazen with my father, as to ask his permission to marry a man who had not yet paid his addresses – nor indeed, did I give him the smallest hint that I expected to receive them. However, when he bade me farewell upon my departure for Ashbourne, he advised me that he held the very highest opinion of you; and that should I happen to receive your addresses while I was in Derbyshire, that I might assure you that you that your application for his permission would not be denied."
Darcy stopped again, and placed his arms around Elizabeth. "What wonderful news! I shall, nevertheless, send the express, and make my request in the proper manner; but I can see no reason why our intimate acquaintance cannot be told already; and it will be far more pleasant not to have to pretend – and we can be together, alone, as much as we like," he said, before pulling Elizabeth towards himself, and kissing her again.
"At the rate we are going," observed Elizabeth, saucily, when they had again resumed walking, "it will be evening before we get to the house to inform anyone."
When eventually they entered the sitting room, the three ladies guessed their secret at once, from their happy smiles and the way they stood so closely together. Elizabeth was hugged and kissed by Jane, Georgiana, and Julia in turn, and Darcy congratulated. The joy and happiness of the entire party was overflowing.
Before returning to Ashbourne, Elizabeth said privately to Georgiana, "As you know, Jane has invited Victoria Barclay comes to Ashbourne tomorrow, and Captain Radford is certain to accompany her. I am hopeful that your brother will wish to visit also, and very likely your cousin, too."
"Then I shall accompany them," said Georgiana.
"Yes of course," said Elizabeth. "But may I suggest that you arrive a little later than the usual hour? That will allow me the opportunity of informing Captain Radford that I have found his long-lost sister, and of her identity."
"Oh, that will be wonderful, Lizzy, and then perhaps we will have the opportunity of a tête-à-tête, as brother and sister," said Georgiana excitedly.
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