Battle of the Dragons Chapter 30, a pride and prejudice fanfic

FYI I am going to rewrite chapter 28 to move Darcy's proposal to the end until after the receiving line.

~O~

Plotting Dragons

Elizabeth and Darcy took their places in the line behind Isabella and the Duke of Langford for their first dance. Patrick and Mary were behind them, and the rest of the dancers followed them.

The music started and they joined hands for the steps.

The couple were amused by the amazement they caused amongst the audience who had gathered to watch the dancing. This was the first time that any of them could remember Darcy dancing the first set with any lady. They were even more astonished to see Darcy smiling at his partner, as in the past the most pleasant expression on his features they had seen was one of stony indifference.

Several matrons with daughters of marriageable age directed angry looks at Elizabeth as they had hoped to snare Darcy for his wealth over the course of the last half dozen years.

Elizabeth smiled mischievously at her partner. 'I am proven correct. You have quite startled most of the guests.'

'I shall look forward to amazing them even more when we dance the supper set. But perhaps the novelty will have worn off by then.'

'Especially as you have reserved dances with each of my sisters.'

They enjoyed their dance in silence for a few minutes until Elizabeth said, 'I am reminded of the last time we danced.'

'You mean the only time.'

Smiling to take the sting out of the next words, Elizabeth said, 'Back at Netherfield if someone had told me that we could be so much in accord, I would never have believed them.' Elizabeth laughed as a memory surfaced. 'Come to think of it, Charlotte did say that we would match.'

'I am beyond delighted that your friend was proven correct,' Darcy replied, his smile at full force, causing gasps amongst some of the ladies.

The couple basked in the harmony of their movements for a few minutes until Elizabeth remembered another conversation. 'Did anyone mention to you that Jane suggested a June wedding?'

'No, they did not. Do you suppose she would be willing to share the day?'

'I do not have to suppose, I know she would. It was her suggestion in the first place.'

For the rest of the set, Darcy made a valiant effort to engage in light conversation, despite his eagerness to discuss potential wedding dates with his cousin and Jane.

~O~

Mrs Bennet would have been horrified if she had known that the wedding for her two oldest daughters was being planned during the breaks in dancing at a ball.

After the first set, Darcy and Elizabeth informed their families that they had agreed to marry.

'It took you long enough to make up your minds,' teased Richard.

'Unlike you, I do not rush into situations without thinking. Making a lifelong commitment should not be something done on the spur of the moment.'

Isabella smiled at the couple. 'While Elizabeth does not require anyone's permission, you have my blessing. I believe you are very well matched… opinionated and headstrong.'

'I prefer to think of it as well-informed and steadfast,' Darcy countered immediately, causing chuckles from their family.

Between the third and fourth set, Isabella suggested a date. 'The seventeenth of June is a Wednesday, which will give everyone time to travel to the wedding and return home afterwards without having to travel on a Sunday.'

Darcy mourned, 'We had hoped to marry earlier.'

Lady Matlock enjoyed pointing out, 'In that case you should have proposed earlier. But you need to wait at least six weeks, otherwise people will wonder about the unseemly haste.'

'Being in love with one's intended is a great incentive.'

'Precisely,' Lady Matlock said succinctly, that single word implying a world of meaning.

Jane offered a solution. 'Richard and I have discussed a June wedding for some weeks and if Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are to share our day, no one can complain because we planned to marry on the third of June.'

Lady Matlock and Isabella exchanged speculative glances and nodded. 'Very well, that will work. And it is still four weeks.'

~O~

Speculation was rife when the dancers lined up for the supper set and Darcy once again led Elizabeth to the floor.

The older generation focused on what Elizabeth would bring to a marriage.

'I suppose with her older sister being the heiress of Rosings, it is no wonder that Darcy would be interested.'

'Do not forget, the Duchess is their great-aunt. With that connection, they are related to half the nobility in the country.'

'I heard that their dowries are fifty thousand pounds.'

Some of the younger ladies were chagrined because they had vehemently objected when their parents tried to match them with Darcy. Their reasons had been, 'He is too severe. He is too unpleasant. While his features are even enough, I believe his face would break if he ever smiled.'

Yet tonight Darcy had been pleasant, and his face not only remained undamaged, but he turned incredibly handsome when he smiled at Elizabeth. This caused several of those ladies to wonder, what does Miss Elizabeth Bennet have which I lack?

Darcy could have given them a long list of attributes, but thankfully, for their peace of mind, no one asked him.

~O~

During supper, the main participants sat together to further discuss the wedding.

'We have a date. Now we have to decide the location. Longbourn, London or Rosings?' Lady Matlock prompted the couples.

'As Jane will be the new mistress of Rosings, I suppose that Hunsford would be the right place for the wedding,' suggested Elizabeth.

Lady Matlock was all in favour of that idea. 'After the way that Catherine ran the estate, if would be to your advantage to marry from your estate and invite all the neighbours.'

'It will also benefit your reputation with the tenants to invite them as well. Although you might let them have their own party in the threshing barn,' Darcy added his advice.

Jane had another concern. 'Lizzy, you know that papa does not like to travel.'

Elizabeth looked around the table, ensuring that only family were present and listening. She sad sadly, 'Papa does not like to leave his library for any reason.'

'But surely, he would come to see us wed. And we cannot ignore him,' protested Jane.

Isabella recommended a solution. 'I suggest that you inform him of your decision to marry, giving him the date and the location, and requesting that he be part of the ceremony. If he puts in an appearance, all well and good. If he chooses to ignore the occasion, you could ask your uncles to stand in.'

Richard turned to Darcy. 'What say you? Should we ride to Longbourn on Thursday to ask Mr Bennet for his blessing and invite him to our wedding?'

'I suppose that would be the polite thing to do.'

~O~

At the end of supper, Patrick rose to his feet and tapped his glass for attention.

It was not long before all the guests looked in his direction. During the meal several people had laid bets if there would be an announcement because Darcy had danced two significant sets with Elizabeth.

Patrick raised his glass and announced, 'My old friend, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire has shown the exquisite taste to decide that he must have me as family. It therefore gives me great pleasure to announce his engagement to my cousin, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.'

Isabella had enough friends amongst her guests that the cheers were enthusiastic, even if it was a little disconcerting to hear several people claim, 'You owe me a pound,' or words to that effect although the amounts varied.

When the company returned to the ballroom for more dancing, a gentleman approached Elizabeth, who was being escorted by Darcy.

He bowed and smiled at the couple. 'Miss Elizabeth, considering the announcement, I am willing to release you from the set of dances you promised me, should that be your wish.'

'I thank you, Mr Dawson, that is a most gracious gesture,' Elizabeth beamed at the man.

Dawson bowed again. 'You are most welcome.' He turned towards Darcy. 'You are an exceedingly lucky man. If I could find a lady who smiled at me like that for my own sake, I would marry her in a trice.'

When Dawson walked away, Darcy had to know. 'Which set had you promised to him?'

'The last one.'

Darcy was utterly delighted when the musicians struck the first chords for the last dance, he heard the strains of a waltz.

As very few couples had the fortitude to brave disapprobation for indulging in such a scandalous dance, there was plenty of room to sweep across the floor.

Darcy was too focused on Elizabeth to hear Isabella's delighted laughter as she was dancing with his cousin.

~O~

Thursday saw Richard and Darcy riding to Longbourn. They had decided on making the journey on horseback as it was quicker than by carriage, and neither wanted to be away from their ladies any longer than necessary.

They were expected because Darcy had sent a message to Mrs Bennet to announce their visit.

When they were shown into the drawing room, the two young men were surprised to discover Mr Bennet sitting next to his wife by the window. He was reading a book, while Mrs Bennet had been working on some embroidery.

Greetings and introductions were completed, and they were sitting, enjoying refreshments when Mrs Bennet asked about the reason for their visit. 'Your note was not very informative, Mr Darcy.'

Richard kept his expression deliberately bland as he reached into a pocket to extract an envelope. 'We thought it would be polite to deliver your invitation to our wedding in person.'

Mr Bennet, who had just taken a sip of tea, nearly spat it back into his cup as he started coughing. When he recovered, he scolded, 'Young man, if you think that is the appropriate way to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage, I have to tell you that you are going about it the wrong way.'

'My apologies, Mr Bennet. I was not asking for your permission. I am here simply to inform you of the wedding. Your daughters would like you there, but your permission is not required.'

Richard turned to the matron. 'Mrs Bennet, Jane and Lizzy would love for you to be there to see them married.'

'Lizzy too?'

Darcy spoke up. 'Indeed, Mrs Bennet. Elizabeth has done me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage.'

'Hopefully the rest of you will come along with the hand,' muttered Bennet in an attempt at humour.

Mrs Bennet ignored her husband. 'Jane was convinced that you and Lizzy would make a match. I am pleased to see that she was correct.'

Feeling left out, Bennet sniped, 'Considering Lizzy is still a minor, I suppose you have come to ask permission to marry her.'

'Mr Bennet, Elizabeth reached her majority two days ago. As my cousin said, we are here to invite you to our wedding.'

'You do realise that I have no intention of paying any useless man to marry any of my girls.'

Darcy wondered if Bennet was surly, or he thought those comments constituted teasing. Taking the statement at face value he answered, 'I am not marrying Elizabeth for money or connections. I am marrying her because I love her and want the pleasure of her company for the rest of my life. I feel privileged that she will allow me to do everything in my power to make her happy.'

Bennet took the envelope and read the enclosure. They are marrying from Rosings, not Longbourn?'

'As Miss Bennet will be the new mistress of Rosings, the ladies thought it politic to marry locally,' Darcy explained.

Bennet grimaced but nodded. 'Very well. You can tell my daughters that we will be there.'

'I was given to understand that you dislike travelling.'

'It depends entirely on the destination. I hate going to London. I have no issues with going to any place in the country. Going to Rosings in Kent will be no hardship whatsoever.'

Bennet swallowed the last of his tea and rose. 'No if you will excuse me, gentlemen, I have things I must do.' He nodded at them and left the room.

Mrs Bennet's eyes twinkled as she said, 'You must forgive my husband. Changing the habit of a lifetime does not happen overnight. He has always made sport of people, but since I will not allow him to pick on me, he must find others.'

'I am sorry if we are causing you problems.'

'Not at all. I confess I quite enjoyed the last few weeks, which have been most pleasant. Mr Bennet's problem is simply that he always expected to tease any young man who came for permission to marry any of our daughters. Because of the ages of Jane and Lizzy, he was robbed of his sport.'

Darcy and Richard stayed another half an hour, giving their horses enough time to rest. They used this time to share with Mrs Bennet all the happenings in London.

By the time they left, the lady was beaming. She had many stories to share with her neighbours.

~O~