Hello everyone!
This is the end of our journey. I thank you all for all your encouragement and motivating reviews, very much including those that encouraged me to improve my story, plot, grammar and all. Special thanks to you who stuck with me until the end. Writing this was a lovely experience thanks to you.
Maybe there will be another epilogue-ish chapter in a little while with some loose ends being tied up or outtakes and a little bit of revamping of old chapters, but all in all, this is it.
All the best to you all. Enjoy your easter holidays!
When Mrs Bennet returned to Miss Bingley soon after with a cup of tea, she found her a picture of misery, with her knees dran up to her chest and eyes red already. Her heart went out to the young woman. Quietly she set the tea next to Miss Bingley and simply sat with her, patting her hand.
Two weeks later, when Mr Darcy asked Lizzy if she would like to walk to Oakham mount together, she was delighted.
During the last few days, she had found out that, among other things they had in common, Mr Darcy enjoyed a brisk walk. When she heard that he had never been to her favourite viewpoint in the area, she was appalled. Thus, Mr Darcy's proposal for taking that walk.
Lizzy looked around for Jane - maybe she and Mr Bingley would like to accompany them? They were nowhere to be seen, where could they have gone off to? Lizzy was a little embarrassed at herself. Apparently she had been so caught up in conversation with Mr Darcy that she had not noticed them leaving.
Her mother on the other hand clearly knew something. She was sitting in her wing chair, smiling to herself and casting frequent glances to the upper corner of the room. It dawned on Lizzy then, and she grinned delightedly.
Oh! She wanted to be there to congratulate Jane directly! Maybe they could postpone their walk? Oh bother, she did not want to do that either! She enjoyed having company without having to moderate her pace. A tiny bit of hope about keeping that company indefinitely was pushed back quickly.
The decision was taken out of her hands anyways, when the door to the parlour suddenly opened and her mother shrieked with delight. Lizzy winced.
It was not Jane coming down, though. Instead, Lydia and Kitty tumbled through the door, giggling hysterically. "La, Mama! We were trying to listen in, but Papa must have noticed!" Here Lydia paused and put on a mock pout. Kitty used the opportunity to take over and exclaimed "He threw us out!"
At that, Mrs Bennet tutted and the two girls dissolved into giggles again.
Lizzy watched the spectacle with growing mortification. She could not possibly look at Mr Darcy. Maybe Jane would be just as delighted to share her news later, when everyone else had calmed down... "Mama", Lizzy inserted herself quickly when Lydia and Kitty paused for breath. "Mr Darcy and I will walk to Oakham Mount. We will be back for tea."
At that, Mrs Bennet perked up and turned to her. "Of course, of course!" She clapped in her hands and almost seemed to hop a little in her chair. Lizzy hoped desperately she would not add anything too embarrassing and edged towards the door. Then Mrs Bennet waved to Lydia and Kitty. "Take these two with you. They can use a bit of exercise, I'd say! Also, we cannot have them steal Jane's moment with their hysterics when she comes back down!"
Lizzy groaned inside. But she decided that in the present case, a quick escape was paramount and pointing out her mother's own probable hysterics would not lead anywhere. Thus, Lizzy bit her cheek, smiled shakily and nodded. Then, with Mr Darcy already halfway out and holding the door for her, she fled the outside.
In the drawing room, Mrs Bennet brushed aside Lydia's and Kitty's complaints and shooed them out. Then she sat back with her cup of tea cradled between her hands and sighed with satisfaction.
Mrs Bennet had certainly noticed how nervous Mr Darcy had been all day, and how he started to wring his handkerchief when Lizzy started looking for Jane. The racket Lydia and Kitty had made could not have been timed better. Otherwise she would have had to find some other way to make Lizzy and her beau leave. Oh! Mrs Darcy, how well that sounded!
As the ruckus out in the hallway faded, Mrs Bennet set the tea aside and sighed happily. She certainly could rely on Lizzy and Mr Darcy to outstrip her younger daughters quickly, that was a certainty! Mrs Bennet rose and bustled from the room giddily. She would have to make sure all their favourites were there for tea later on! Oh, she could never catch a break!
A little while later up at the top of Oakham Mount, Lizzy turned to the view and threw open her arms. "Now, Mr Darcy! Marvel at the beauty of Hertfordshire and admire!"
She waited for a while, but no reaction came. Wondering, she turned around and before her, found Mr Darcy down on one knee, a ring in his hands.
Lizzy gasped.
Mr Darcy tried to speak, but no sound left his lips. He cleared gis throat, coloured, and tried again. "Miss Elizabeth", he started to say and opened his mouth to speak further.
Yet, he could not finish. Two girls suddenly fell out of the bushes next to them, tripping over each other and finally stumbling into him. The three of them all landed in a heap.
After a moment of stunned silence, Lizzy shrieked. "Lydia! Kitty!"
The latter jumped up hastily and exclaimed "Oh God, I'm so sorry Lizzy! I told Lydia we should stay back!" Still on the ground and laughing merrily, Lydia chimed in. "Oh pish, Kitty! We both agreed to hurry not to miss anything! It is not my fault you could not keep your balance! Gosh, Mama is going to kill us!"
With ire burning in her chest, Lizzy noted that, contrary to her words, Lydia did not seem at all upset. She clenched her teeth and her fists and said "Leave. Now. Or I promise I shall find your diaries and give them to John Lucas."
Down on the ground next to Lydia, Mr Darcy suddenly started to laugh. Lizzy startled and paused. Suddenly the scene seemed eerily familiar to her. Recognising the deja-vu prompted by Mr Darcy's laughter, she found she could not help herself. It was impossible to hold onto her anger and, after brief hesitation, she joined in.
A short while later, Lydia and Kitty had scampered off and Lizzy was stretching, reaching for a leave caught in Mr Darcy's hair. "Autumn colours do suit you nicely, Mr Darcy."
The gentleman caught her hand and looked at her, a slight smile still lingering on his face. When he caught her gaze, he finally spoke, suddenly very serious. "I never got to ask my question, Miss Elizabeth. I love you, most ardently. Will you marry me?"
Lizzy blushed, her gaze never leaving his eyes. The tenderness she found there made her own heart beat wildly. Speechlessly, she nodded.
In return, Mr Darcy broke out into a broad smile. Giddy elation rose in Lizzy, filling her chest and bubbling up her throat, and she returned his smile brilliantly.
Then, still holding her hand, the gentleman reached for his breast pocket and paused. "Oh dear..."
Lizzy's gaze followed his free hand and she caught on.
"Oh dear indeed..." she said, trailing off and observing the ground that was painted entirely red and gold by autumn leaves.
Her elation, however, could not be suppressed. Lizzy looked back up at Mr Darcy and grinned impishly. She turned back to the path that led back to Longbourn. "Lyddie, Kitty!", she called. "I know you are still there!"
Mr Darcy watched her, one eyebrow raised. When her sisters emerged from the path smiling sheepishly, Lizzy turned back to him and, reassured that he was still looking amused rather than angry, gave him another grin. Then she turned back to her sisters, put her hands on her hips and stared them down. "Now, you nosy little troublemakers! Mr Darcy and I will return to Longbourn to enjoy tea. You two, you will search for the ring. Do not come back without it or I will tell Mama!"
As Lydia and Kitty scrambled, Mr Darcy chuckled and offered his arm. The couple left, smiling giddily at each other.