Page 58 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

M r. Darcy returned to Netherfield a full hour after his dramatic departure.

The Rosings party were at the dinner table when he burst in and took his seat.

Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned upon seeing his cousin’s joyful countenance.

He leaned over to his cousin Anne and whispered, “He has finally gotten sense!”

Anne replied, “I am so glad! If only we all could be so fortunate.” She looked up at her cousin Richard.

She thought it likely that no one thought him handsome in comparison to Mr. Darcy, but she had always believed Richard to be the more attractive of the two.

Such broad shoulders, such strong arms! She blushed at her thoughts.

Lady Catherine burst out, “Darcy! Where on earth have you been? How can you just up and leave, without a word of explanation? Such bad manners!”

Mr. Darcy leaned back in his chair, tilting it until it rested on the back two legs, and laughed out loud. “I am the happiest man alive!”

Mrs. Collins smiled at him. “She said yes?”

“She did!”

“Who? Who said yes to what?” Lady Catherine demanded, banging her fist on the table.

“Miss Bennet has agreed to be my wife!”

“What!?” Lady Catherine was outraged.

“There is no point in you disapproving, Aunt, as it will only cause me to suspend my annual visits to you,” Mr. Darcy said, bringing his chair back to its usual position with a thump. “Wish me happy.” His tone was now severe.

Lady Catherine swallowed and said, “I hope you will both be very happy.” If her tone was flat, no one cared.

Mr. Collins had been staring at Mr. Darcy in some confusion; he finally spoke. “You recall that I stand in loco parentis to her, do you not, Mr. Darcy?”

“And do you disapprove the match, Mr. Collins?” his wife asked him. Her voice warned him of the possible consequences should he reply incorrectly.

He shook his head at once. “No, indeed, how could I? But you have been alone with her this past hour! Mr. Darcy, I insist that you visit Mr. Bennet at once.”

“I shall leave at dawn tomorrow.”

***

Mr. Bennet was quite surprised to see Mr. Darcy in his study. “Darcy! I did not know you were visiting Netherfield,” he said, rising from his chair and offering a hand.

“I am not; I have just ridden from Kent.”

An idea blossomed in Mr. Bennet’s mind. “Kent?”

“Yes.” Mr. Darcy’s face then broke into the widest grin Mr. Bennet had ever seen on the man’s face.

Mr. Bennet found himself grinning widely as well. “So you have finally done the rational thing?”

“I have.”

“Well, I must say, it took you long enough.”

“I was always too stubborn for my own good.”

“Lizzy will teach you better.”

“I look forward to it, I assure you!”

***

Mrs. Bennet’s jubilation upon hearing the news of Lizzy’s betrothal to Mr. Darcy can only be imagined.

But she was not shy in telling everyone that she ranked Lizzy’s success rather lower than Mary’s triumph. For Mrs. Bennet had no interest in moving to Derbyshire after Mr. Bennet’s passing when she could live quite comfortably, thanks to Mary, right here at Longbourn.