Page 87 of Fortuitous Encounters

Bingley offered, “With your leave, Darcy and I will depart post-haste, and apologise for taking up your time.”

“Mr Bingley,” said Elizabeth, although she was looking at both men rather carefully. “If you will excuse my impertinence, would you answer one question for me?”

“I am at your disposal, Miss Elizabeth.”

“I will agree that my sister’s instructions were abundantly clear and unambiguous, but would you mind telling me which instructions you intend to follow?”

Bingley was quite at a loss, and took a moment to reply. “Miss Elizabeth, I quite realise I am not as sharp as Darcy is, and he is probably not as sharp as you are, but I understood only one set of instructions. If there are other meanings, I beg you to enlighten me.”

Darcy was also confused. To his mind, Jane Bennet’s instructions contained the second-worst set-down he had ever heard in his life, and there was no room for ambiguity. It was not as bad as the one he received in Hunsford, but it was quite harsh enough, so he replied, “I am afraid I am as unenlightened as Bingley.”

Elizabeth now had exactly what she required—both gentlemen’s complete and undivided attention. She made one small and nearly invisible step towards the gentlemen.

“My sister made abundantly clear that she wishes to be courted by a man, and implied that you are a boy. Are men not forged from boys through adversity, learning, and self-correction? Can you not become a man worthy of her attentions? Where else are such men to come from? I believe it may be time for some of us on both sides of this room to give up their childish things.”

She gave both gentlemen a few seconds to absorb her meanings, made another small, nearly invisible step towards them, and continued the lesson.

“A man listens to people he respects regarding any possible deficiencies in their character. Upon reflection, a man will strive to master himself, apply the appropriate reproofs, and prove himself worthy of his previous self-opinion. He will do this without complaint, no matter the difficulties. Nay, the true measure of a man will be in how successful he can be, despite the difficulty of the transformation.

“A woman will be well aware of these changes, and will happily accept the changed man in front of her, without reference to any past difficulties, and will happily give due credit for the difficulty of the transformation.

“A man will find a woman to love, and strive to become worthy of her affections, while also assisting her to become worthy of his.

“A woman will understand when she has grievously misjudged a man due to a prejudice formed early in their relationship, and will offer her most profound and heartfelt apologies for that misjudgement and try to make reparations. A true man may take such apologies, perhaps as evidence of a girl becoming a woman.

“A man will be steadfast and constant in the pursuit of the woman he loves. He will allow her the time to really know him, and will earn her respect, admiration, esteem, and even love through his actions not just to her, but to all people of their acquaintance.

“A woman will do her absolute best to be fair in her judgments and affections, and communicate the true depth of her feelings in a way that leaves no room for doubt.”

Bingley realised he had just been freely given the path to redemption. It was time to become the man that Jane Bennet could respect, admire, and possibly love for a lifetime. It would indeed be difficult, and would take some time—but was this not true of any worthy aspiration? He had the Jane Bennet amiability in abundance—perhaps he needed some of the Elizabeth Bennet cleverness and impertinence, and a dash of the Darcy implacable stubbornness. It could be done.

Of course, he was not at all convinced any of this was strictly for his benefit. While she spoke, Elizabeth slowly walked towards the men, and Darcy rose from his chair, his eyes wide and staring with something Bingley guessed was half passion and half fear. Never in all their years together had he seen the slightest indication of either emotion in the master of Pemberley.

When Elizabeth finished her last word, she stood less than a pace in front of Darcy, nearly touching, with both parties looking into each other’s eyes intently.

“The best of men will do everything within their power to protect those they love and their families. They will perform any task, pay any cost, and suffer any mortification to achieve this, without expecting thanks or reward. They will accept the heartfelt thanks of those they have protected, and will understand that that thanks comes partly from gratitude, but mostly from respect, admiration, and love.”

The couple now stood but inches apart. Elizabeth stood on her toes staring into Darcy’s eyes, with her hands tightly gripping his lapel without her knowledge. Darcy’s hand similarly rested on the curve of her back. The rest of the room stood in breathless anticipation.

Mr Bennet happened in from the library just in time to hear the last half of what Elizabeth had said. Jane and Mrs Bennet had also returned, although Mrs Bennet was for the first time in her life completely silent, mesmerised by the drama.

Very softly—so softly almost no one could hear—Elizabeth whispered the last thing she had to say.

“Yes, I will.”

This left room for only one possible reply.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, love of my life, would you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”