The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

A Timely Proposal.

Darcy's Concerns

Darcy heard the winds were right. So, they would be back the next day; he was glad; the sooner, the better.

They were going back. Why? Because Georgiana, always so contrary, accepted the suit of an older Lord who resided in Boston, in America. Georgiana didn't listen when he advised her against it, considering the man was much older than him. She was sad during the entire trip, crying all the time. She would not say why until a day before landing.

The night before docking, Georgiana told him the truth, she was in love with her cousin. Fergus was the son of his father's half-sister from Scotland, married to a noble. She thought Fergus didn't like her after seeing him kissing a lady at a ball, so she accepted a marriage proposal the same night. It turned out that the one kissing the lady was Fergus's cousin, and Fergus was on his way to propose. It was easy to mix the handsome, tall cousins, both auburn-haired men, wearing their formal kilts.

Fergus arrived the day when they were leaving. Unfortunately, he couldn't convince Georgiana it wasn't him kissing the lady or that he had loved her forever. He said he would wait a year for her, not one more day. At Dover, she received an express, but she didn't open it until they were at sea. Fergus's cousin said he was marrying Lady Olsen, the one Georgiana had seen him kissing at the ball. So, after an embarrassing breakup with the fiancé in America, they were going back.

Darcy needed to get advice from Richard; he knew a lot more about ladies. Richard, the recent new earl; he missed him so. He hadn't seen him in over a year; yes, he needed to go to him.

Thinking about Richard, he remembered Richard dancing with Elizabeth, not once but twice at Bingley's ball. Afterward, Richard talked about her more than once, a little too much, making him jealous and angry. Richard told him and his brother how beautiful Elizabeth was and how he wished his circumstances were different. How could he have forgotten about that? He also remembered his aunt saying Bartlett was marrying a Lady Elizabeth, daughter of Viscount something or other. Goodness, maybe he was to marry his Elizabeth; it could be, after all, Richard had gone on and on, in front of Bartlett, about Elizabeth, upset he missed her in Kent.

Damnation, Richard was now an Earl; hopefully, he was no longer interested in her. All kinds of bad scenarios crossed his mind. What if Bartlett's Elizabeth were his Elizabeth, and Richard had seen her again when he returned, and so on? It could be because his intuition was often accurate. He didn't know how accurate it was.

He also would need to withdraw a request to court a young lady friend of Georgiana. He hoped he wasn't too late, but it felt like it was. He deserved that; he had nobody to blame but himself.

He remembered drinking at the club with Peter Strau after he had married Anne. He wanted Peter's opinion, so he told him what he had done at Kent without saying names. Peter broke out laughing after listening. Peter shared he was marrying Jane Bennet; he met her when she was leaving from Charles, and Charles wasn't there. When Peter asked him who the lady was, Darcy said nothing. He suspected Peter knew about it because he couldn't stop laughing. Peter told him it was no wonder the lady had rejected him; he said any lady would have done the same.

He often wanted to die, as Charles said, for ruining their lives. Peter, who was as rich as he was and had a couple of titles, had chosen a beautiful Bennet. After that, Charles never spoke to him again, mad at Darcy for his bad advice. Darcy couldn't blame him since he didn't want to talk to Darcy for being such a proud arse. He was insane, telling the woman he loved that he was better than her. Elizabeth had probably found someone who would never hurt her as he did. She probably was with one who deserved her, and that wasn't him; he felt it deep inside.

The Proposal

Darcy was right. At that very moment, Richard Fitzwilliam was looking into Lizzie's eyes. "Lady Elizabeth, I will just say the words I've wished to say for so long. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Lizzie's eyes shone with emotion. She could barely believe this was happening. Her voice was a whisper, "Lizzie, call me Lizzie," she smiled, and Richard said nothing. His mouth was dry as a bone, and his stomach hurt. He waited to hear her answer. Lizzie nodded, "Yes, I do." She answered as she had planned to respond.

In one fluid motion, Richard stood up and pulled her up into his arms. Holding her, he bent his head, and Lizzie, who had seen Jane and Peter kissing, looked up. She had seen their mouths open, so she did just that. When Richard's lips caught hers and felt her open lips, he moaned. The passion Richard held for so long poured out in their kiss.

Miss Bingley had followed them to the library, wanting to make sure the other guests learned about Lizzie's loose morals. She was sure the country maiden was going to an assignation with the new Earl. She came seconds after the proposal, so when she saw them kissing, she walked towards them, breaking a flower vase in her hurry. Caroline Bingley called as loud as she could. "Miss Bennet, wait till others hear about your…"

Richard looked up, ready to kill her, holding Lizzie's head to his chest. The sleeping old lady jumped out of the divan gracefully, like an older feline. In two steps, she was by Miss Bingley. A small dog sleeping between the old couple started barking loudly.

Caroline didn't go far; a strong hand grabbed her arm. "Young lady, shame on you. Leave this library and this home. How do you dare to do this? Elizabeth doesn't answer to you." She pulled Miss Bingley towards the door. She was surprisingly strong.

Jane had seen Miss Bingley following her sister. But, on her way, she was stopped twice; her husband Peter was right behind. "Aunt Maggie, what happened?" Peter asked.

Caroline was horrified; Peter's uncle was a Marquis. The Marchioness answered, "This awful woman was disturbing Elizabeth; she woke me up with her noise. Have her taken out of this home right now."

Lizzie was distressed, but not that much. "I just accepted Lord Fitzwilliam's marriage proposal." She stood straight, glaring at Miss Bingley.

Richard held on to Lizzie, "Elizabeth is right; she has made me very happy. Miss Bingley called Elizabeth and your wife country maidens and said her brother had better sense than you. I would say she should not be welcome in this home, not now, not ever again."

Charles was saying his goodbyes when he saw his sister following Lizzie and Lord Fitzwilliam; he was not near enough, but now, he stood at the door. "Caro, let's go. Peter, I apologize for my sister's deplorable manners. She is wrong. You were the smart one. Often, I wished I hadn't listened to her advice, and my great regret, I did," he looked at Jane. "My sister will be going away to my aunt in the country. Peter, I want you to know I will withdraw my courting request. It best for both Lady Petra and me."

"But Charles, Lady…" Caroline began to say.

"But nothing, you already made me lose the one I dearly cared for. Not a word out of you. Louisa was smarter than I was. Let's go." Charles sounded bitter. Jane looked down and bit her lip, and Peter noticed.

a/n Don't overlook a sleeping old lady :) As many commented, Darcy had it coming. Personally, I don't think I could have forgiven Darcy, but that is me. :) Of course, in the book, he made up. By the way, there will be a follow up, short story, about Caroline.