Greetings: I wanted to post another chapter because I realize with ten chapters still to go if I don't post more you might not get to finish this story this year :) Also for anyone who would like to check out my new story its up on amazon, its called The Misbegotten girl. Will have a link on my profile page for anyone who is interested and wants to check it out. Hope to begin posting more of Book One through the window soon and my fairytale as they come out of kindle. Thanks for all the messages and comments and thanks for letting me share my crazy what if stories with you all :) best regards Janie (mj).

Chapter 45: When do we Marry

Darcy and Elizabeth walked back toward the house after they called Georgiana and told her the good news. "I don't think I have ever heard my sister so excited before."

Elizabeth smiled, "Georgiana is so wonderful. I can't wait to be a part of your family."

Darcy stopped walking and pulled her into his arms, "Once we get back to the house I'm going to have to call you Miss Bennet again, aren't I?"

She looked into his eyes. "Just until we tell my parents, after that, I hope you will always call me Lizzy," she whispered softly.

Darcy gently brushed his lips against hers and said. "My dearest, darling Lizzy," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Elizabeth smiled, "I like that name very much," she told him as they began walking again. She looked back up to the house as it came into view. "Will, I do think we need to keep our engagement a secret from the rest of the world," she told him. "Of course, I will tell Jane, but I don't want Caroline to know just yet. I don't trust her, and it really would be hurtful to my family if everyone else knew before they did."

"Very well then Miss Bennet, but I will be over to speak with your father this evening, and you must tell your mother," he told her as he let go of her hand. "I don't want to keep my feelings for you a secret any longer than I have too."

"It won't be for very long, and besides I think Charles should be the one to tell his sister," she told him. "I have a very strong feeling that Miss Bingley is going to be very upset by our news."

Darcy's eyes narrowed, "Really, do you think so?"

She almost laughed, "Oh Will, you can't truly be that oblivious to her feelings on the matter?" she teased him, "You must know it has been her wish and plan to marry you herself? It's not like she hides how she feels or what she wants."

"I knew she had some interest in me, but I thought that my disinterest would have made her realize it was never going to happen between us," he admitted. "I just assumed she would give up and move on."

Elizabeth laughed, "I don't think Caroline Bingley is the type of woman who gives up so easily," she told him as they reached the house. "In fact, I think she's more determined than ever," Elizabeth told him before she entered the house with him following behind her. Right on cue, there was Caroline, waiting for Darcy. She hurried over to them and began by asking him about the photos they took and then quickly jumped to the topic of Jane and Charles wedding. It was clear she wanted to make Darcy believe she had a change of heart where her brother's relationship was concerned. She carried on about how excited and happy she was for the couple, as she wrapped her arm around his and pulled him along with her into the living room. Elizabeth almost laughed as Will looked back at her not sure what he should do. She smiled and raised her eyebrow, then she mouthed the words, "I told you so."

They spent the next hour talking about the plans for Jane and Charles upcoming wedding. When the topic of the wedding party came up, it was clear that Caroline didn't like the fact that Elizabeth was to be her maid of honor and Darcy was to be the best man. "Of course, Jane I do understand why you would choose Eliza. But I can't help but feel if I were your maid of honor it would have offered us a better opportunity to spend time together. It would give a chance to get to know one another better," Caroline said sounding just a bit disappointed.

Jane knew that Caroline's real reason for wanting to be maid of honor was so Darcy would escort her down the aisle instead of Elizabeth. "That's so kind of you Caroline, but I really couldn't have anyone but Lizzy be my maid of honor. It's a promise we made to one another when we were very little, I'm sure you understand," she told her. "Of course, there is nothing stopping us from becoming better friends. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the wedding as things progress along."

"Of course," Caroline said. She looked over at Darcy who was staring over at Elizabeth. "Oh, Darcy I did have a question I have meant to ask you about Georgiana," she said drawing his attention away from Elizabeth.

Jane looked at her sister and smiled, "We should get going I think," she told her. "Mum will want our help for tonight's dinner."

Darcy pulled himself away from Caroline and followed Jane, Charles, and Elizabeth to the door. "I shall see you this evening then Miss Bennet. I trust you will have those proofs ready for my approval?" he said in his most business-like manner.

Elizabeth looked up at him. "Of course, see you then Mr. Darcy," she told him before heading out the door with Jane. She could hear Caroline as she went and fought to keep from laughing. Once they were safely in the car, she turned to Jane and smiled, "Congratulate me."

Jane knew they were engaged as soon as they walked into the house together. The look on her sister's face said it all. "By the look on your face, I know things have worked out," she told her. "You must tell me everything."

Elizabeth smiled, "He asked me to marry him," she said as she lifted her hand and showed her the engagement ring she was wearing. "We talked and realized that even though there are some obstacles to be worked out we love each other, and that's enough to overcome anything."

Jane smiled as she looked more closely at the ring on her finger, "Oh Lizzy that truly is a very beautiful ring. I'm so happy for you. When are you going to tell everyone?"

"Will wants to come over and talk with Dad, and I'm going to tell Mum after that. Honestly, I'm not sure how she will react," Elizabeth told her. "Until then you and Georgiana are the only two people who know."

"How did he ask you?" Jane asked her.

Elizabeth smiled, "He got down on his knee and told me he loved me and that he wanted to spend his life with me," she told her. "Oh, Jane I always suspected that I was a hopeless romantic but today confirmed it. Seeing Will down on his knee, asking me to marry him, it was just so perfect."

Jane sighed, "Lizzy you look so completely happy."

"I'm so very happy Jane," she admitted. "I love him so much. Of course, I will have to regain my senses and stop all of this gushing before we get home or Mum will suspect something is up."

"Lizzy if you don't want Mum to suspect anything about your engagement you should take that ring off. Caroline may have been too distracted with Darcy to notice the ring. But Mum will have no distractions, and once she sees it she will not stop asking questions," she told her.

Elizabeth looked down at her hand. "I know you are right, and I told Will that very same thing. I didn't want there to be any confusion when he comes over later and sees it gone from my hand," she told her. "I really don't want to take it off, even for a moment," she said as she reluctantly slipped the ring off her finger and returned it to its case. "Jane, thank you for today. Thank you for keeping Caroline busy and letting me have this moment."

"Oh Lizzy now my happiness really is complete because I know my dearest sister is happy as well," she told her as they drove home.

Darcy spent the rest of the afternoon attempting to keep his distance from Caroline; which proved to be more of a challenge than he realized it would be. It wasn't long before he used the excuse that he had unfinished work to do and went to his room. Once there he found himself unable to sit still, so he called Richard. "How are things at the office?" he asked as soon as he heard his cousin's voice.

Richard laughed, "Things here are fine, what I want to know are how are things there?" he asked pretending not to know the news that Georgiana already gave him.

"She said yes," Darcy told him. "We spoke this morning, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes."

Richard could hear the joy in his cousin's voice, "Congratulations cousin. I know she will make you a very happy man," he told him. "Of course you know she's a million times more than what you deserve."

Darcy nodded his head, "She really is," he agreed.

Richard didn't hold back his laughter this time. "I never would believe this day would come when my cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy would be talking like a love-sick puppy," he teased him. "But I must say it agrees with you."

Darcy laughed, "I will admit it has been difficult to contain my enthusiasm around Charles and Caroline. I can't wait for this evening to come so that we can speak with her parents and finally make it official and tell the world," he told him.

Richard laughed again, "I wish I could be there to see you asking for Elizabeth's hand," he told him. "How are the nerves? Have you thought about what you plan to say to her father?"

"No, and since he has no idea how Elizabeth and I feel about each other, I'm sure it will come as a shock to him," Darcy told him.

Richard grew serious for a moment, "Well then, be patient, listen to what he has to say, and resist the temptation to argue," he told him.

Darcy listened to his advice, "I will Richard, trust me I don't want to say or do anything to cause Elizabeth any heartache with her father. I will be on my best behavior."

It seemed to Elizabeth like the afternoon flew by and now the moment she waited for was finally here. She stood in front of her father and waited as he motioned for her to sit down. "Lizzy, I had the shock of my life tonight, and you know what I'm talking about don't you."

Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, you talked with Will about our plans to marry," she said simply. She realized, once Will spoke with her father that he would want to speak with her alone about the conversation the two had.

"Lizzy, I don't even know what to think about all this. You said yes to marrying Mr. Darcy?" he shook his head in confusion. "Whatever can you be thinking?"

"I was thinking, that I love him very much," she told him honestly.

Her father got up and walked over to her. "But the two of you hardly even know each other," he commented. "The last I heard from you, Mr. Darcy was a rude, unpleasant person whom you felt you had to put up with for Jane's sake," he reminded her. "When did that change?"

"I know this news has come as a shock but Will and I have spent time together and now that I know him better my opinion of him has changed," she told him. "He really is the man for me."

Mr. Bennet sat down next to her and took her hand in his, "Lizzy you know the story of how my father cut me out of his will for marrying your mum," he began. Elizabeth nodded her head yes.

He sighed, "What you don't know is that Grandpa Bennet was right. I did marry your mum out of rebellion to him."

Elizabeth said nothing; she listened as her father went on. "When I met your mum, we were both so young. She was beautiful, the most beautiful girl I ever laid my eyes on, and I was sure I was in love with her. We began dating while my father was away from home and I was just testing my found freedom," he explained, "I soon realized that your mum was not the brightest of girls, but she was so pretty, and she made me feel good about myself. She was forever praising everything I did, and in some ways, she was like a lost kitten. I had this need to take care of her. When my father returned, he demanded the relationship come to an end and that I never see her again. I was an adult, well into my twenties and I resented my father scolding me as if I were a schoolboy. I hated that he was still trying to control me and would not recognize me as the grown man I was, so to spite him I asked your mum to marry me. I knew she was prone to emotional outburst, and she would never really be my equal when it came to intellect. But I was determined that I could help her grow and mature into the kind of wife that would make me happy," he told her as he cleared his throat. "As you girls came along one by one I realized your mum was not going to change. She was, who she was and your Grandfather..."

"Offered you a way out," she said softly. "If you would divorce Mum and marry another you might have a son, and Grandpa wouldn't have taken everything away from you," Elizabeth said. She sniffled in a bit as her eyes filled with tears.

Her father shook his head, "He did offer, but I knew in my heart I could never do that to her. No, now that would have been too cruel. For all her faults, your mum didn't deserve that, deep down her heart is good. She loves you girls and even though it is very hard to see at times some of what she does is because of that love," he told her. "In many ways, your mum is still like that lost kitten who needs to be taken care of. I made a promise before her family and God to do that so no matter what the temptation my father tried to dangle before me I hold to my vows for better or worse. Besides it is not your mum's fault entirely, she's who she has always been. I knew that before we married I was the one who was naïve to think I could change her," he told her. "That's why I'm cautioning you now, don't marry this man knowing he's proud and controlling just because of his wealth and position. You may think you can change him, but Elizabeth I promise you that you can't, and you will only end up miserable."

Elizabeth smiled, "Dad do you have any other objection to me marrying him besides the fact that you believe I don't love him?"

"No if you truly love him then as always, I will support you," he told her.

Elizabeth stood up and walked over toward the window, "Then please put your mind at ease. I do love him very much. He's everything he should be, and I realized the more time I have spent with him, he's not at all proud. In fact, he's the exact opposite," she told him.

Her father walked over and wrapped his arm around her shoulder; he could see in her eyes that she did love Darcy very deeply. He smiled and whispered, "Well then my dear girl I think you are about to make your mum the happiest woman on the planet with this news of yours."

Elizabeth laughed as she hugged her father, "Thank you Dad."

He held her close for a moment longer then he released her, "Now go and put that young man of yours out of his misery. I'm sure my initial reaction made him think that the two of you would have to run off and get married in secret," he teased her. She smiled and then headed toward the door.

As Elizabeth walked away from him, Mr. Bennet's eyes filled with fresh tears. He stood there realizing that things between them would never be the same now that his little Lizzy was grown and soon to be married. He slipped his glasses off and wiped his eyes, tears of sadness, tears of joy. "So, this is what it means to be melancholy," he mumbled to himself.

Elizabeth went back to the living room where Jane and Charles were listening as Mrs. Bennet rambled on about their upcoming engagement party. She looked over and saw Will standing near the window looking a bit nervous. It was the sound of her mother's voice that made him turn and look at her. "Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet called out. "Tell Jane she must have her engagement party in London so we can invite more people to share this news with," Mrs. Bennet demanded.

Elizabeth looked over at Will and smiled as she answered. "Mum I think Charles and Jane should have the party where ever they want to have it," she told her. "Mr. Darcy, I have some of those pictures ready to show you if you want to come look at them now?"

Darcy was eager to have time alone with her, "Yes I very much want to see them," he told her as he made his way across the room. He followed her down the hall and into the dining room. As soon as she closed the door, he pulled her into his arms, "Please tell me your father didn't persuade you to change your mind about us?"

She looked into his eyes and saw that he really was nervous. "What did my father say to you?" she asked trying not to laugh.

"It wasn't so much what he said as the way he said it and the way he looked at me," he told her. "I honestly can tell you that he made me feel more nervous than I ever have in my entire life."

She smiled, "Oh Will, I'm sorry," she told him. "He didn't talk me out of marrying you, and he has given his best wishes to us both."

Relief washed over his face, "You must have convinced him that I'm not as horrible as he thought I was," he said feeling more at ease.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "No I told him how much I love you and how happy you make me. That was all he needed to hear."

Darcy pulled her closer, "It's all I need to hear as well," he told her as he looked deeply into her eyes. "Promise you won't ever stop telling me," he whispered before capturing her mouth with his.

Elizabeth leaned in closer to him as their kiss deepened, and she wove her hands through his thick, soft curly hair. Like him, she was enjoying their kiss so much that she didn't take notice of the door opening to the dining room. It was the sound of her father's voice that ended their romantic moment and caused them to break apart.

Mr. Bennet cleared his throat before he said, "Lizzy dear, your mum is calling for you. Apparently, she needs to speak with you on a pressing matter that just can't wait," he told her. "Besides I think until the two of you have officially announced your plans it might be best to be a bit more discreet, imagine if your mum walked in."

Elizabeth blushed bright red, "Tell Mum I will be right there."

Mr. Bennet smiled, seeing the look of pure happiness on his favorite daughter's face filled him with such joy. He closed the door and headed back toward the living room while Darcy pulled himself away from Elizabeth. "He's right of course, I can only imagine your mother's reaction if she found us together," he told her. "When do you plan to tell her?"

"I plan to tell her tonight if that's all right with you?" she told him. "Of course, once I do tell her it will not be long before the world knows, she will not keep it a secret."

"I have no problem with the world knowing about us, let her tell whomever she wants," he smiled. "I want the world to know how much I love and adore you."

Elizabeth gave him one last kiss, "Then I think you should get going, so I can speak with her before she goes to bed for the night."

Darcy held on to her hand for a moment longer. "You know there is one thing that your father said to me that I completely agree with," he whispered softly.

"What was that?" she asked him.

"He said that if I were lucky enough to win your heart and marry you, I would be marrying my equal in every way," he told her. "He's right Elizabeth, you are amazing, and I'm truly privileged that you have chosen me."

Elizabeth was overcome with emotions and the depth of his love. "Will if you keep saying things like that I will never leave this room to tell my mother," she said as she leaned in closer and stole one last long passionate kiss.

This time it was Darcy who forced himself to pull away and end their kiss, "Will you text me later? I won't sleep until I know everything is settled."

She nodded her head, "Yes of course," she told him as she calmed her racing heart. Darcy followed behind her as they made their way to the front door. Charles was there waiting with Jane and Mrs. Bennet.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Charles, but our meeting was extremely important, and we had so much to go over," Darcy said in his usual business-like manner. "I'm ready to go now, though," he told him as he took his coat from Hill.

Charles smiled, "I hope he was not too difficult to deal with Elizabeth? Darcy can sometimes be a bit severe with his criticisms," he asked her. He hoped that Darcy was not as controlling and distant as he sometimes could be when dealing with business matters.

Elizabeth smiled and arched her brow, "Not at all Charles," she commented. "I think Mr. Darcy found our time together this evening to be rather enjoyable and I don't think he had any complaints."

Charles looked at his friend, "Really? Is that true Darcy, no complaints?" he asked not knowing that the two were now engaged.

Darcy looked over at Elizabeth and smiled, "It is true. I was completely satisfied with every moment I spent tonight in the company of Miss Bennet."

She blushed just a bit as they said goodnight and left. She could hardly believe how happy she was; it seemed all was right with the world. She was engaged to the man she loved, she had her father's approval and blessing, and now all that was left was to tell her mother. She took in a deep breath and braced herself for her mother's reaction. As she walked back into the living room, she noticed that Kitty and Mary already went upstairs leaving their mother and Jane alone.

Mrs. Bennet looked up at Elizabeth when she came into the room. "Lizzy, I did want to thank you for spending so much of the evening with Mr. Darcy so that Jane and I could talk about the wedding. I realize his company is not the most pleasant but..." she began to say when Elizabeth spoke and interrupted her.

"Mum I have some news to tell you. It is something that has been going on for a while now," she said before her mother had a chance to say anything negative about her intended fiancé.

Mrs. Bennet sighed, "Very well then go ahead tell me what it is," she said sounding almost annoyed.

Elizabeth's was just about to begin when her mother interrupted her. "I know your plan is to move out once your sister marries. I saw you sneaking away to speak with your dad this evening. I know you have been planning this since Jane accepted Charles's proposal," she blurted out, then said as she grew more flustered. "Really Lizzy how could you be so uncaring about my nerves. You know I'm in the middle of planning your sister's wedding. How could you be thinking about moving from the safety of our home into some run down flat? While I will be left here to worry night after night wondering what horrors have befallen you."

Elizabeth took in another long-drawn breath, "Mum it is true that I do plan to move out but..." she started to tell her.

"I knew it," her mother screeched. "You see Jane, she cares nothing for the worry and pains she causes me!"

"Mum if you will just let me finish speaking you will see that although I do plan on moving I will be completely safe and I even think you will find my news to be rather ..." Elizabeth tried again to tell her.

"No there is nothing you can say!" Mrs. Bennet cried out. "How can you be so selfish at a time like this when I'm so busy with Jane's wedding. You know how I want to make sure this day goes perfectly for her," she carried on. "How can you even think of moving out now, you will end up in some hovel of a place with criminals for neighbors. You will worry your poor dad who is sure to have a heart attack and die because of you, and then the Collinses will be here to kick your sisters and me out!"

Jane could see that Elizabeth was getting upset and about to lose her temper. "Mum please just take a deep breath and let us both listen to what Lizzy has to say," she told her. "I think the news is not so bad as you think. In fact, I think judging by Lizzy's smile all evening that the news is something you will be very thrilled with," she encouraged her.

Mrs. Bennet looked over at Jane and sniffled in, "All right Jane, I will listen," she told her. She then turned her attention back to Elizabeth, "Go ahead Lizzy tell me this news of yours then."

Elizabeth cleared her throat, "Mum I do plan to eventually move out, but I will not be living on my own," she began to tell her, "I will be moving to London and living there, and sometimes I will be living in Derbyshire at Pemberley."

Mrs. Bennet eyes narrowed, "Pemberley...in Derbyshire? Mr. Darcy owns Pemberley, and he owns a home in London as well," she said making the connection. "Mr. Darcy was speaking with your dad this evening..." she said rather cautiously at first, then the expression on her face changed. "He has asked you to come and work for him full-time, hasn't he?" she said sounding somewhat happier. "You are to be his family's full-time photographer, that's why you went to speak with your dad!"

Elizabeth almost laughed, "Well in a way yes, I will be the family photographer, but Mr. Darcy..." she stopped herself mid-sentence and then continued, "Will, did not hire me to be his photographer," she began to say, but before she could finish her mother interrupted.

"If he didn't hire you, then why would you be moving to Pemberley?" Mrs. Bennet demanded to know.

"Because Mum, Will has asked me to marry him," she told her. "We are engaged to be married. He asked me to marry him, and I have said yes," she told her holding up her hand for her mother to see the large diamond engagement ring she kept hidden until now.

Mrs. Bennet sat quietly for several minutes. She wasn't sure if she heard Elizabeth correctly. She looked over to Jane and then back at Elizabeth, before she found her voice, "Lizzy if this is one of you and your father's little jokes..." she began to say as she looked down at the ring on her daughter's finger.

"Mum it's no joke, Will and I have fallen in love. We kept our relationship a secret until now," she told her. "He has asked me to marry him I have accepted, and I will be moving after we are married to live with him in London and at Pemberley," she told her again.

Mrs. Bennet reached out her hand and pulled Elizabeth's hand closer toward her to get a better look at the ring she was now wearing. "Oh my heavens this is real!" she cried out as tears filled her eyes and the realization that her Lizzy was about to marry one of the country's richest men hit her full on. "Oh, my darling Lizzy this is wonderful news," she told her as she pulled her daughter into her arms. "Now you will be able to introduce both your sisters to eligible wealthy young men, and before we know it, all of you will be married," she said then added, "Oh Lizzy to think you will be so wealthy. You will have everything you could ever want."

"Mum I'm marrying Will because I love him, not because he's rich or so that I can get rich husbands for Mary and Kitty," she told her calmly.

Mrs. Bennet laughed off her comments. "Of course you love him, that's what is so perfect. You are so clever that you feel in love with a wealthy man just as I have always said you should. Now just think of all that you will have. I will never have to worry about any of you again," she said feeling very pleased with herself. "Oh wait until I tell my sister. Your Aunt Philips will be so shocked by the news," she told them. "To think after all my hard work and now the two of you have done so well and exactly as I hoped you would," she told them. "I'm so happy to know you were both listening to me over the years; you took what I said to heart and found wealthy husbands to care for you."

"Mum, when you see Will tomorrow, please don't carry on so about his being rich," Elizabeth told her. "It's not important to me that he has money. His money has nothing to do with my love for him."

Mrs. Bennet smiled, "Oh Lizzy this really is just too wonderful, and Darcy is such a wonderful man isn't he," she said as she got up and gave both of her daughters a kiss good night. She stopped suddenly before she left the room. "When do you plan to marry?" she asked her. "Will it be very soon?"

Elizabeth looked at Jane then back to her mother, "We haven't decided yet," she told her truthfully.

"Oh well, you must tell me as soon as the date has been decided. There will be so much planning to be done. Of course, I'm sure Mr. Darcy will want to pay for the wedding. He will know that your dad and I could never afford the kind of affair he's accustomed to," she said her mind already at work. "Lizzy, you must ask him what the budget will be," she told her as she turned to leave.

Elizabeth looked at Jane. "I was supposed to send Will a text and tell him how things went with Mum. But I'm not sure I want to repeat any of it to him for fear he will realize what he's getting into and run," she told her.

Jane laughed, "Lizzy, Darcy knows how our mum is. I suspect he has fully prepared himself for what lies ahead. When do you think you two will marry?"

"I don't know I haven't actually thought that far ahead," she told her.

Jane smiled, "Well perhaps you should ask your fiancé his thoughts about that." she told her before saying goodnight and leaving Elizabeth alone.

Elizabeth took in a deep breath and let out a contented sigh. She walked over and sat down on the sofa as held her hand up and looked at the ring Will gave her. It was so beautiful. She could hardly believe everything that transpired over the past few days. She thought about the things her mother said and bit her bottom lip. She hoped Will knew what he was getting himself into by marrying into her family. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and sent off a text, "I have shared the happy news with my mother," she wrote.

Moments later she read Will's response, "How did she take the news?" his text read.

"She was very enthusiastic," Elizabeth wrote.

"I can imagine she might be," he wrote back, "What else did she have to say?"

"Nothing of any real importance, but she did ask one question that I was not sure of how to answer," she wrote.

Darcy smiled as he read her reply, "What was her question?"

Elizabeth typed in, "When do we marry?"