Page 33 of A Different Impression

Just over a month after that first assembly, Elizabeth once again found herself at Oakham Mount. On this particular morning, she had risen earlier than usual and had not waited for Kitty to be ready to accompany her. She had not planned to leave her sister behind, but she felt it was important that she be alone as she contemplated her future—particularly her future with Mr Darcy.

She had been standing at the summit, watching the sun rise, for several minutes when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Mr Darcy.

“Elizabeth,” he murmured.

A moment later, she was in his embrace. They remained that way for several moments before Elizabeth reluctantly withdrew and turned back towards the sunrise. She had barely stepped away before he moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her once more. Neither spoke for some time as they watched the sun rise. At last, Mr Darcy broke the silence.

“My dearest Elizabeth,” he said, his breath tickling her ear ever so slightly and causing a thrill to run through her body. “You know I love you dearly and want nothing more than to make you my wife, do you not?” At her nod, he continued. “Might I ask… do you, I mean… could you love me in return?”

She sighed happily and turned around in his arms to look him in the eye. “Oh, William, I do love you so. During this last month, you have shown yourself to be a truly admirable man and treated me with such care and respect that I do not think I could have stopped myself from loving you in return.”

He leant down and let his lips touch hers in a brief kiss. “Marry me, Elizabeth? I know I have asked before, and although my first proposal was offered in jest, marriage was always my intention. I told you on the second, or perhaps it was the third day of our knowing each other, that I wanted to marry you, and your father made me promise to court you for a month. That month is over, and I know that I love you even more now than I did the first time I asked you.”

She smiled at him and reached up to caress his cheek. “Yes, William, I would be delighted to marry you. But I will confess, I do not want our wedding to become what Mama will try to make it. She will wish us to wait until spring and insist upon a large, elaborate wedding. I do not want to spend months enduring her wedding planning. I would prefer something far smaller and simpler.”

“You are suggesting we have a short engagement then?” he asked, grinning. “I will certainly not object to that plan. How soon would you like to marry?”

“Do you think we could marry before Christmas? Is that possible?” she asked shyly.

“Would it make you happy if I were to insist upon it, so that your mother believes the short engagement is my wish rather than yours?” he asked. “I would certainly be content with marrying before Christmas, and I think it could be easily arranged. Do you still want to go to London next week as we have planned? You mentioned before that you would like to shop for your trousseau there.”

She sighed. “I think that is an excellent plan. If you ask Papa today, do you think we might make the necessary arrangements to stay with the Gardiners and depart for London in only a day or two?”

“Would you like to spend Christmas in London or at Pemberley, dearest?” he asked her quietly.

“Oh, definitely Pemberley,” she said. “I do so look forward to seeing it. You have told me much of the estate and grounds, but very little of the house itself. We could take Kitty with us so she and Georgiana could entertain each other.”

“Or we could allow our sisters to stay in London with a companion,” Darcy suggested.

Elizabeth shot him a look. “You would leave your sister alone for Christmas, William?” she asked.

Darcy sighed. “No, I would not, despite how much I might want to.” His gaze returned to the sunrise, and he remained silent for a moment. “So, we could marry as soon as the banns can be called, at the end of this month, and then you and I could go on a short wedding trip before we take our sisters to Pemberley for Christmas. Or we could simply go on to Pemberley and have my aunt and uncle escort Georgiana and Miss Kitty when they return to Matlock for Christmas.”

“Would they be willing to do that?” she enquired.

“I believe they would,” Darcy replied. “We could introduce them to you and your sister when we visit.”

“We can discuss this further with my father this morning,” she suggested. “We should each return to our homes, and then you can pay a visit to Longbourn early enough that we might send a letter to London today.”

They shared one final kiss before parting for their respective homes. Elizabeth slipped back into Longbourn without encountering anyone and hoped her absence had gone unnoticed. After quickly changing into a more appropriate dress for receiving callers, she summoned the maid to arrange her hair and returned downstairs.

When Elizabeth entered the breakfast room, she found her father seated at the table with Mary and Kitty. She had looked in on Jane upstairs and found her still preparing for the day. Like Elizabeth, Jane likely expected Mr Bingley to call that morning, for both he and Mr Darcy had visited frequently since the assembly.

Elizabeth remained uncertain of Mr Bingley’s intentions. Mr Darcy had made his own perfectly clear, but although his friend had visited just as often, he had said nothing definite to Jane—at least, not as far as Elizabeth knew. Still, he had informed the Bennet household the previous day that, once his aunt arrived to act as hostess, he intended to hold a ball at Netherfield.

Elizabeth was so absorbed in these thoughts as she prepared her plate that she scarcely noticed Jane enter a few minutes later. Before they had finished breakfast, the gentlemen from Netherfield arrived, and Mr Bennet instructed Hill to show them into the breakfast parlour.

“Darcy, Bingley, since you have come so early, you must be in want of breakfast. Neither of you possesses a countenance friendly enough to suggest you have eaten. Come, take a plate and join us,” Mr Bennet said, winking at his daughters.

Both gentlemen readily agreed, and the conversation around the table remained lively for several minutes. Before long, however, Elizabeth suspected her father had tired of the noise, for he rose as though to take his leave.

Darcy, seeing that Mr Bennet was preparing to depart, stood as well. “Mr Bennet, might I speak with you for a moment in your book room?”

Mr Bennet paused, his gaze moving briefly from Darcy to Elizabeth. One brow rose while his mouth tightened faintly, suggesting that he understood the purpose of the request and was not entirely pleased by it.

“I suppose I can spare you a few moments, Mr Darcy, although I suspect I shall emerge from the conversation poorer by one daughter.”

Once they were alone in the book room, Mr Bennet closed the door and regarded Darcy with barely restrained amusement.