“Well?” Lizzy said as soon as she had closed the door.
Jane knew exactly what Lizzy wanted to hear. “Everything is fine, but I cannot begin to tell you how odd it is to have a man lying on top of you,” and she started laughing. “It did hurt, but for such a brief time, and the whole thing was over sooner than I thought it would be.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
“Are you glad to hear that it did not hurt or the length of the experience?”
“My dear sister, what a change one night can make. You are a married woman and may speak of such things.”
“But there was a surprise—other than the obvious one. I had in my mind an idea of what would happen, and it was very close to what I had imagined. However, during the night, Charles rolled over, and we began again. I had not expected that.”
From Lizzy’s expression, nor had she. “Twice in one night?”
“Three times if you count this morning,” Jane said. “Apparently, Charles finds it quite enjoyable, and each time, it was a little easier. I think it is something I could come to enjoy, that is, when it becomes less awkward.”
Although Lizzy nodded her head, indicating that she was happy to hear that it had gone reasonably well, nothing in her expression showed that it had put her mind at ease.
When the ladies returned to the drawing room, they found that Mr. Bennet had invited Mr. Darcy into his sanctum sanctorum for a glass of port. Mrs. Bennet found nothing unusual in this because she knew how indebted the family was to Mr. Darcy and assumed that Mr. Bennet wished to thank the gentleman in private. Charles, who was in on the plan, was left behind to entertain all the ladies while the men went about the business of discussing the marriage contract. While in London, Mr. Darcy had had his solicitor draft the document, and after perusing it, Mr. Bennet set it aside.
“You are very generous, Mr. Darcy. But then I had no worries on that account. However, what does concern me is that you and Lizzy come from very different worlds, and there will be struggles because of it. You shake your head, but I can assure you there will be occasions when Lizzy will say the wrong thing or not curtsey properly or not acknowledge someone’s rank. But you must be patient with her.
“My second concern is Lizzy’s habit of always speaking the truth. So be prepared for people, who are not used to such honesty, talking about her or cutting her or some other such nonsense. It is only your rank that will protect her.”
“And my love. That too will protect her. Because if anyone injures her, they injure me. I am not a vengeful man, Mr. Bennet, but I take care of my loved ones, and any unkindness toward Elizabeth is unacceptable.”
Mr. Bennet was pleased with his answer and patted his future son-in-law on the back and marveled at how life held so many surprises. Mr. Darcy of Pemberley was to marry his daughter. Who would have thought it?
It was Kitty who first noticed how long her father and Mr. Darcy had been gone. “I wonder what they can be talking about?”
“They have been gone a long time,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Mr. Bingley, do you think anything is wrong?”
“No, absolutely not. No reason to think that at all,” and he looked at Jane, who looked at Lizzy, and now Mrs. Bennet turned her gaze on Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, do you know what is keeping Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes, Mama. He is asking Papa for permission to marry me.”
“What!” She jumped out of her chair, and the quick movement caused her to become dizzy, and she fainted. Jane, who was used to her mother’s spells, quickly went for the smelling salts. When Mama had recovered, she asked her daughter, “Lizzy, did I understand you correctly? You are to marry Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet said in a voice that was more croak than speech.
“I am, Mama. I know that he did not make a very good first impression…”
“Oh, who cares about that?” she said, sitting up. “I never gave it another thought,” a statement that everyone knew to be completely untrue. “Oh, Lizzy, how rich and how great you will be! What pin money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Ten thousand a year!” The exclamations continued for several more minutes until Mrs. Bennet became uneasy at the length of Mr. Darcy’s visit with Mr. Bennet. She was taking no chances.
“Elizabeth, go knock on your father’s door and tell him we have heard the good news, and they should come out so that all might share in their joy. Go quickly, now.”
Lizzy was saved from embarrassment when the two gentlemen emerged from Mr. Bennet’s library. Mrs. Bennet looked to her husband, and when he nodded his head and smiled, she immediately went to Mr. Darcy and showered him with praise. Embarrassed, he asked if a bottle of wine might be opened to celebrate the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were immediately summoned, the Hill sons and Betsy were sent for, and the wine was opened and flowed freely.
Kitty and Mary offered their congratulations, and a chastened Lydia, who had learned of Mr. Wickham’s true nature from her father, whispered hers as well.
Not given to displays of emotion, Darcy stood silent. Seeing his discomfort, Lizzy went to him, and when she slipped her hand into his, Darcy gave his bride-to-be a smile that would have melted even the coldest heart, causing her mother to exclaim, “What a match you have made, Lizzy! I think I shall go distracted!”
Jane and Charles wished the couple joy and asked when they would marry.
“We have not as yet decided,” Lizzy said, looking at her future life’s partner.
“Perhaps we have,” Darcy said, correcting her. “With your father’s permission, I would like to speak to you alone.” Mr. Bennet motioned for the couple to go into the library.
“Close the door, Lizzy,” her father warned her. “Little pitchers have ears and big ones as well.”
As soon as they were in the room, Darcy swept Lizzy up in his arms and kissed her in such a way that Lizzy decided that she would agree to any date he suggested. Sitting down on the sofa, and with her hands firmly clasped in his, he began. “I have a plan, and I would ask that you not say anything until I have said all.” After giving him a quizzical look, she agreed.
“I am suggesting that we marry immediately.”
“What do you mean by immediately?”
“You have already interrupted me, and I have uttered only one sentence.” After clearing his throat, he continued. “As I was saying, I think we should marry immediately, and after a reception at Longbourn for just a few friends and family, we shall leave for Pemberley with Georgiana.”
“Just a few friends? Not a wedding breakfast?
“You do not follow directions very well, do you? Please allow me to continue. Because of the rain this past autumn, Georgie and I were unable to host the harvest dance for our neighbors and tenants. I promised all that I would have the dance in the spring. So what I am proposing is that we marry now, go to Pemberley, and in the spring have the wedding breakfast at my estate. Your family will stay with us, and our friends will stay at the inn at Lambton, at my expense. We shall have marquees and tables out on the lawn, filled to overflowing with food and drink. I will hire musicians from London, and we shall all dance until dawn.” Lizzy sat quietly mulling over the details of his plan. “You may speak now. It is your turn.”
“I still do not know what you mean by immediately.”
“This week.”
Lizzy started laughing. “This week. But I am not prepared. I have no dress.”
“Did you not tell me yesterday that you had trimmed your favorite dress but chose not to wear it to Jane’s wedding because it was too fancy? And I know of a recently married lady who can lend you her veil.”
“But we must announce our banns. The only way we could marry now is if you were to buy a special license.” Darcy reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a special license. “As I have said before, you are used to having your way in all things.”