Page 81 of When Elizabeth Said Yes

Thankfully, she smiled and delicately put down her china cup. "I think that would suit all involved very well."

And so that was that. He told her he would write to share the news with her mother and make sure that she was happy. And then, before the Collinses wished to remove them from Longbourn, the Bennets would be long gone.

"Thank you," she said. "I do really appreciate it. I know they are not your responsibility, but..."

"You know I would..." he began, and then he realised his sister was watching, listening, and he suddenly felt too shy to say, I would do anything for you, and so he said, "I'm happy to help."

There was a knock at the door then, and the butler came in with a silver platter bearing two letters. The afternoon post had arrived.

"Thank you," Darcy said, drawing the two letters from the offered plate.

One was addressed to him and the other to Elizabeth, and he handed it to her.

"Your sister, perhaps?" he said.

She took it from him and nodded with a smile. "Oh, yes, that's definitely Jane's handwriting. And it feels weighty too," she said with a chuckle.

◆◆◆

Elizabeth tore it open, keen to hear her sister's news. And indeed, in the very first paragraph, she read the news that she had been hoping for.

Mr Bingley had proposed.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Darcy watched her as she read her letter, his own sitting unread in his lap.

It was hard to take his eyes off her. Her face was so expressive it was like he could read the letter himself just by looking at her.

And then she gasped, and a smile filled her face, and his heart was full of joy.

That was all he wanted: to see her happy. Well, that, and for her to love him as he loved her. But he would have to wait for that.

And hope.

"Good news?" he asked, even though of course he knew it was. In fact, he thought he could guess the news, especially considering he believed the letter in his own lap was from Bingley.

"Jane and Mr Bingley are engaged to be married," she said. "They hope we can join them next month once the banns have been read." She grinned at him. "I know it is quite a journey, but—"

"Of course we must go," Darcy said before she could finish her sentence. "You must see your sister married. And I confess I wish to stand up with Bingley, as he did for me. Who would have thought, eh, that we friends should become brothers-in-law?"

"And share all the same in-laws," Elizabeth said with a chuckle.

"We are very lucky men indeed," he said, and he meant it.

Perhaps once he had thought Elizabeth's rank and the inferiority of her connections an issue, but now, well, having Mrs Bennet as a mother-in-law could not mar his happiness.

She turned back to her letter, her face lit up with joy.

And then, just as he thought he might open his own letter and read what Bingley had to say in his own words, a dark shadow passed across her face.

"What is it?" Darcy asked, alarmed at the sudden change in her demeanour.

"My goodness," she muttered to herself, continuing to read, her eyes flicking back and forth at great speed.

"Oh, Lydia. Oh, Mama. Oh—"

She brought her fist to her mouth in horror and looked up at him and swallowed. "It is... Oh goodness, it is Lydia."