Page 23 of An Interrupted Proposal (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

With much humour and a bit of embarrassment on both sides, the couple revealed their rocky history to Mrs. Gardiner.

Once finished, she took them both by the hand and joined their hands together.

“Your misunderstandings have made you more aware of one another. I am certain you will not make similar mistakes in the future. Do not misunderstand me: you will make mistakes, but I sincerely doubt they will be the same ones. It seems to me that you have learnt to clarify your beliefs before reacting, and to laugh at your own foolishness. These lessons will pave your way to a happy life and sensible children. That is all I have ever wanted for you,” she said as she caressed Elizabeth’s cheek.

“Now, let us return inside to see if the there are any more raspberry tarts.”

“Only after we have your promise that you will accompany your son and his wife when they visit Pemberley this summer,” Darcy said as he pressed her hand. “Elizabeth will secure the receipt for the tarts, if she does not already have it, in the event you do not like our cook’s.”

Mrs. Gardiner laughed and agreed. “I had hoped to spend some time with my other grandchildren but doubted they would attend the wedding. Will they be travelling with us?”

“Oh yes! Thomas would be most displeased if he was not included. Mr. Darcy is soon to be his favourite cousin,” Elizabeth took her fiancé’s arm. “I have been replaced.” She stuck out her lip in a playful pout.

Darcy tapped her lip and she giggled. “Only because you do not ride. We will remedy that once we arrive at Pemberley.”

Mrs. Gardiner walked alongside the couple, enjoying their banter as they returned to the house.

***********

Three days before the wedding, the Longbourn party journeyed to Netherfield for a family dinner in both the Bennet carriage and Mrs. Gardiner’s barouche.

The youngest girls rode with the widow and, though their youthful giggles filled the equipage, they remained sensible throughout the trip.

Mrs. Gardiner considered the ladies and began making plans for them to visit her in Bath in the autumn.

Allowing them to test their newly learnt skills would certainly be welcomed, and it would give her a chance to know them better.

The Bingley siblings awaited them, and everyone settled in the drawing room once they had removed their outerwear.

Miss Bingley’s voice rang a bit louder than the rest as she repeatedly expressed her pride in hosting Lord and Lady Matlock and their son, who had arrived approximately an hour prior.

They were expected to join the party shortly, after they refreshed themselves.

Mrs. Gardiner began to wonder if the couple would join them before dinner was called when the door finally opened and a face she had not seen in years appeared. “Sille?” she breathed.

The countess looked about, smiling when her gaze met the widow’s. “Livvy?”

The ladies met in the middle of the room and grasped hands. “Whatever are you doing here?” Mrs. Gardiner asked. “Not that it is not good to see you after all these years.”

“I believe my nephew is marrying your granddaughter,” Lady Matlock replied.

“Is it not a small world?” She turned to her husband.

“Olivia and I grew up in the same village. As there were very few girls, my parents allowed us to entertain one another. She would even join me in my lessons as it is easier to learn foreign languages when you have someone with whom you can converse.”

Her Ladyship was introduced to the rest of the party, greeted her niece, and then sat beside her childhood friend to learn all that had passed in her life until dinner was called.

Mrs. Gardiner called Elizabeth over to join them and the three ladies had a pleasant conversation until Georgiana stole her away to discuss music.

“Your granddaughter is an unusual young lady. I can see why my nephew was drawn to her. She does not flatter and seek approval.”

“No, Eliza will never change who she is simply to be accepted, especially if she does not respect the person or people who are desirous of making her something she is not.”

Lady Matlock smiled. “I see you in her, Livvy. I am sorry that we lost contact.”

“Your father was always reluctant regarding our friendship. Society demands that we maintain ranks, but we are all people. Some just have better educations and more money.” She winked and looked about the room.

“This is an unusual gathering: an earl, three gentlemen, a colonel, and a tradesman’s son.

All we are missing are a footman, a groom, a tenant farmer, and a beggar to have representation from every level. ”

“Henry is constantly saying society is changing. The aristocracy is losing its position due to sloth and gluttony. It is the Mr. Bingleys of the world who will rejuvenate it.”

“I do not doubt the truth of your words, Cille, but I fear it will be an up hill battle for many years.” She met her friend’s gaze. “And I would hate for my girl to be alone in her fight.”

“Ah, you wish to know how she will be accepted in Darcy’s circles.

” Lady Matlock looked at the couple and a soft expression covered her countenance.

“I have never seen my nephew so relaxed and simply happy; well, not since his father passed. Maybe even before that.” She turned back to her friend.

“The woman who makes him so happy will always have my support. She will not be rebuffed or censured.”

“And the rest of your family feels the same way?”

A laugh escaped the lady’s lips. “Henry’s sister has long wished for Darcy to marry her daughter, though no one in the family ever believed he would.

She has been informed of the engagement and has been told, in no uncertain terms, that any interference from her will lead to a family breach that no one wants. ”

Mrs. Gardiner nodded, but dinner was then called before more could be said.

As they passed into the dining room, Mrs. Gardiner caught a glimpse of Miss Bingley’s displeased frown but paid it no mind.

If Cecilia Fitzwilliam was to be Eliza’s relative, she knew her granddaughter would be well accepted in society.

Sille would never allow anyone to look down on her girl or attempt to intimidate her.

Not that Elizabeth was easily intimidated, but it still allowed Olivia to release the last of her reservations regarding the couple’s future happiness.

***********

Happy was the day when the eldest Bennet daughters resigned their surname in favour of those of their husbands.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley left the wedding breakfast and journeyed the brief distance to Netherfield Park, while his siblings, the Darcys, and other guests including the Widow Gardiner returned to London.

Instructions were given to the staff that the Bingleys were not at home to visitors, even family members, and they spent the first week of their marriage in wedded bliss.

At the end of the week, they returned to Longbourn to see how everyone had fared in their absence—as no one had attempted to invade their privacy—and discovered a peaceful atmosphere with Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Annesley sipping tea while giving discreet directions to the three youngest Bennet sisters and Miss Darcy.

The youngest Bennets were practicing their French to varied degrees of success, while Miss Mary and Miss Darcy were discussing a passage from Mrs. Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Mr. Bennet sat nearby with an amused smile tugging at his lips as he nodded at their interpretation and reasoning.

“Jane!” Mrs. Bennet cried when she saw her eldest daughter. “Whatever are you doing here? I thought you and Mr. Bingley would wish to be alone for at least another week.”

Jane gazed at her husband who returned her bemused expression. “We missed you and thought we might join you for tea, Mamma. Would you prefer we leave?”

“No! Goodness, no!” Mrs. Bennet drew her into the room and pushed her into the chair nearest her own. “I would ask if you were well, my dear, but you are fairly glowing.” She turned to her new son and smiled. “You are taking very good care of my daughter, sir.”

“I did promise to do so, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Bingley said with a bright smile spreading across his features.

“Have you heard from Lizzy?” Jane asked her mother.

The woman exchanged an amused smile with her companion before saying, “The morning following the wedding I received a missive stating only that they had arrived safely in London. I suspect she will write again when they are returning this way before going to Pemberley.” She frowned.

“Or perhaps you will hear from her instead. I am certain they will prefer to stay at Netherfield.”

“Surely they would stay at Longbourn, Mamma, if you wished them to do so.”

“Oh, to be near Georgiana. That is true.” Mrs. Bennet tipped her head to the side and gave a light laugh. “We will have to see what they prefer.”

Jane exchanged another confused look with her husband before accepting a cup of tea from Mrs. Annesley. “How have you spent your week?” she asked no one in particular.

“Kitty and I have been learning French—though I find it odd that everyone wants to speak the language when we are at war with the country,” Lydia shook her head and took a dainty bite of her biscuit, something quite surprising since the girl normally shoved the entire thing into her mouth. “ Maman, ces biscuits sont très bons.”

“Ce sont des biscuits,” Mrs. Annesley gently corrected, “and you are correct. They are very good.”

Lydia smiled, “ Biscuits.”

“ Oui. Très bons.” Mrs. Annesley turned her attention to Jane. “Miss Lydia is a quick learner. I am certain it was several months before I learnt to conjugate verbs and began speaking in sentences.”

“Lydia has always loved languages. I believe Lizzy taught her some French when she was younger. Did she also begin you on Italian, Lydia?” Jane asked her sister.

“ Sì, ma solo un po'.”

Kitty huffed beside her, “What does that mean?”

“Yes, but only a little,” Lydia replied.

“Well, that is more than she taught me.” Kitty slouched but straightened when Mrs. Annesley cleared her throat.

“I think she only did it to amuse herself.” Lydia finished her biscuit.

“I wanted her to read to me because she was laughing at what she had read, but it was in Italian. She said I would not understand it, so I asked her to teach me. She stopped teaching me once I understood the passage.” She frowned.

“Or maybe I stopped asking her to teach me after that.” She shrugged.

“I didn’t understand why she laughed because it didn’t make sense to me. ”

“Did you ask your sister to explain it?” Miss Darcy asked.

Lydia’s frown deepened. “I don’t think I did. She might have thought I was silly for not understanding.”

Mr. Bennet shook his head. “My dear, I hope you will forgive me for ever making you feel silly. Never be embarrassed to ask a question if you do not understand. I believe I know what book you are speaking of. You and I will find it later and I will explain it for you.” He winked at his youngest who smiled in response.

“Merci papa.”

“Je vous en prie,” Mr. Bennet responded.

Later, when the Bingleys were returning home in their carriage, Jane shook her head.

“I am amazed. I knew the girls were working on French before our weddings, but I suppose we were so busy that we did not notice how much they were improving.” She met her husband’s gaze.

“Mamma did not flutter her handkerchief once, and Lydia never slouched or pouted. Kitty did but quickly corrected her posture when Mrs. Annesley cleared her throat—nothing had to be said.”

“And your father seems to be enjoying his new pupils.” Charles chuckled. “It may not be necessary to look for a home closer to your sister if your family will be so improved.”

“Charles!” Jane scolded with a laugh. “You know I want to be near Lizzy because she is my dearest friend, as well as my sister.” She snuggled against him.

“Though I am pleased that Mamma was not knocking at our door the day after our wedding, I am not certain she will continue to respect our privacy.” She sighed.

“But I must write to Lizzy when we reach home. She will be so surprised.”

***********

Elizabeth laughed as she pushed her husband away. “Jane has written. I must see what has caused her to leave her husband to pen a letter.”

“Bingley also wrote to me, but I am not abandoning you to read his letter.” Darcy nibbled at her ear, drawing another giggle from his wife.

“That is because you know you will not be able to read his writing.” She wriggled away from him once more—as he laughed and acknowledged she was correct—and opened her letter.

“Well?” Darcy asked as he watched her expressions change.

“It appears that Mrs. Annesley has everything well in hand at Longbourn. Mamma has not visited Netherfield, Mary and Georgiana are reading Mrs. Wollstonecraft under my father’s watching eye, and Kitty and Lydia are conversing in French.

” She lifted the letter and read, “Though Lydia does not understand why as we are at war with the French.” She laughed.

“Jane said Charles wonders if they will have to move to Derbyshire, but she reminded him that they want to be nearer to us.”

Darcy laughed, tugging the paper from her hand as he pulled her closer. “Then there is nothing for us to do but enjoy our time alone, without interruption.”