“Yes, milord, this past year.”
“You are very young to be out, only four or five years older than my Amelia, and because of your youth, I am sure you are eager to find that perfect gentleman, fall in love, and get married. Please allow me to caution you that such decisions should be delayed for a number of years until you are more mature. Marriage is forever, so be cautious. Forever is a very long time.”
Why was Lord Fitzwilliam talking to her like this, Lydia asked herself? He had said only nice things to everyone else. And what did he know anyway? He was hopelessly out of fashion, and his shoes were particularly ugly. As soon as the earl turned his attention to her mother, Lydia walked away.
“Ah, here we have yet another sister,” he said, taking Mrs. Bennet’s hand. Mrs. Bennet started giggling as if she were a young girl at her first dance, and when she informed the earl that she was the girls’ mother, he went on and on about Mr. Bennet taking a child bride. All the while Lord Fitzwilliam was complimenting his wife, Mr. Bennet was watching, and he saw, for the first time in years, the young woman he had married a quarter of a century ago. Because of Lydia’s unfortunate adventure, he had promised himself that he would take greater care of his daughters. He now broadened that promise to include his wife.
While Antony continued to enchant all the female guests, Lizzy went over to speak to Charlotte. “I cannot account for the earl’s presence, Charlotte, and I am very sorry he has come as he has drawn off all of the attention that should rightly be yours.”
“I am happy he has come. You know I do not like being the center of attention, so I can assure you that Lord Fitzwilliam’s arrival is welcome. Speaking of the devil,” Charlotte said, stepping away from Lizzy to make way for His Lordship.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I introduce you to my two little jewels, Sophie and Emmy.”
Lizzy was in complete agreement with Lord Fitzwilliam’s description of his daughters. Their dark hair, hanging in ringlets and tied with ribbons and bows, contrasted beautifully with their cornflower blue eyes. Both were wearing gorgeous dresses with frills aplenty.
“I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Amelia and Miss Sophia,” Lizzy said. “When your father and I were guests at Pemberley, he mentioned you at every opportunity, and you are as pretty as he claimed. But who is your friend?” Lizzy asked while looking at Madame Konig.
“This is our traveling governess, Madame Konig. Our real governess, Mrs. Hall, is on holiday, and Papa’s friend came with us. She tells us stories about living in Vienna,” Amelia, the elder of the two, said.
“My English is imperfect, Miss Bennet,” Madame Konig said with a slight lisp. “I am better in French, but I am happy to meets you.”
“Madame Konig, I am pleased to meet you as well,” but before Lizzy could engage her in conversation, Lord Fitzwilliam asked her what she thought of his entrance.
“With the exception of a royal procession, it was second to none, milord.”
“Then I have succeeded, as my purpose was to create a diversion, and the reason for the diversion is waiting for you in the study. From what I have heard of your past experience, I suggest you lock the door.” After bowing and smiling, he took his leave.
Looking around the room, Lizzy realized that Mr. Darcy was no longer present, and with all eyes on the earl, she backed her way out of the room and went in search of the master of Pemberley.
Chapter 51
While Lizzy waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the study, Mr. Darcy came up from behind her and put his two arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him.
“I shall not let you go until you say that you are not angry with me for Lord Fitzwilliam’s appearance, and before you say anything, you must know that he was supposed to go to Netherfield. I certainly did not know he would be traveling with an entourage.”
“But why did you ask him to come at all?”
After releasing her, he took her hand and walked with her to the sofa, but before he sat down Lizzy suggested that they lock the door.
“That sounds promising.”
“It is nothing of the kind. We do not want a repeat of what happened in the library at Netherfield. That is all I meant by my request.”
Darcy let out an exaggerated sigh because he would not have minded a repeat of what had happened in the Netherfield library, but he went and locked the door as requested.
“Mr. Darcy, please tell me why you invited Lord Fitzwilliam to Netherfield? Is it because Mrs. Crenshaw talks too much, and you wanted someone equally loquacious to entertain her?”
“It is not just that she talks too much. Forgive me for discussing such things with you, but she is so heavy with child that I live in fear that she will stand up and from under her skirts an infant will appear.”
Lizzy started to laugh at the picture he had drawn. “From that comment, I gather that your wife will be spending a good deal of time in her apartment when she is with child.”
Darcy looked at Lizzy with that quizzical expression she found so endearing. “Why are you speaking of ‘my wife’ as if she is unknown to you?”
Lizzy said nothing. Did he really think she could talk as if they were betrothed when he had not made her an offer?
“Oh, of course, I see. Well, that is a good opening for me. Shall I stand or kneel?”
“It does not matter,” Lizzy said, and she could barely hear her voice over the sound of her heart beating. “Please proceed.”
“Elizabeth, as you know, I am not good with words, so I shall simply state that I love you from the depths of my heart, and I am now asking that you become my wife.”
Lizzy fell into his arms and clung to him and nodded her assent, and he kissed her with a passion that was even greater than their previous rendezvous, and she felt her reserve crumbling as he kissed her neck and shoulders and moved his body against hers. But even though she was enjoying it immensely, she knew that she had to stop him, and she pushed back.
“Mr. Darcy, please. We cannot continue in this manner. We must rejoin the others.” With his face flushed with passion, he asked in an elevated voice why they must leave when things were going so nicely. “Because of Ellie Timlin, the butcher’s daughter, who married Joe Egger five months ago…”
“When you see Mrs. Egger, please extend my best wishes for her health and happiness, but would you enlighten me as to why she is being discussed at this particular moment?”
“You need not be sarcastic, Mr. Darcy. The Eggers are the parents of a little boy born earlier this month,” and when he shook his head, indicating he still did not understand, she continued, “Let me repeat. The Eggers married five months ago.”
When the information finally sunk in, Darcy released Elizabeth.
“Mr. Darcy, I am a lady, and, therefore, until we are married, we must appear together only in public or with a chaperone.”
“Of course, you are a lady, but a few kisses do not make you less so.” After looking at her expression, he added, “All right. More than a few. But, Elizabeth, do you realize that once we announce our engagement, all eyes will be upon us?”
“Of course, I do. Perhaps you can condole with Mr. Bingley,” she said, teasing him.
“Very well. In that case,” he said, “it would be best if I returned to London.”
“Oh, I see how it is. Because I will not meet with you in secret, the next time I see you will be at the church door on the day of our wedding?” she asked as she moved away from him.
“No, you misunderstand me,” he said, taking her hand and gently coaxing her to his side. “What I meant to say was that I would not see you until Jane’s wedding. After that, I shall speak to your father, and then we shall make the announcement of our engagement.”
“But what about our courtship, Mr. Darcy?”
“A courtship? Have I not been courting you?”