Page 52 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)

Of all the ways Darcy had envisioned proposing to Elizabeth, having their meeting begin with her seizing his arm and hurrying away with him had played not even the smallest role.

Had he been asked, he would have said that he found such a degree of forwardness in a woman unpleasing, but in the event, it turned out to be anything but.

Wherever Elizabeth might lead him, he would gladly follow.

But of course, Elizabeth would not have acted so boldly without a good reason.

She looked flushed and ill at ease. More unnerving still, she hurried as if something was chasing her.

From time to time, she glanced over her shoulder, as though she feared what she might see there. Had something happened, in fact?

When they came to the edge of the wood, he made her slow and took his arm from around hers. He held her away from him at arm’s length and studied her eyes. They did not look fear-crazed, only worried. But something was clearly wrong. “Are you well, Miss Elizabeth?”

She touched his hands, and he realised he should let her go. It would not do for someone to happen upon them and see them in such an intimate embrace. “I am well. It is just that I am rattled.” She gave a wry smile. “Mr Collins has just finished proposing to me, and it has left me shaken.”

Darcy reluctantly let her go and took a step back.

“Mr Collins?” he asked, horrified that such a ridiculous man would have the gall to propose marriage to Elizabeth — his Elizabeth.

Then another mortifying thought entered his mind.

“Did you accept him?” Darcy asked, his voice strained.

The thought was almost too disgusting to consider.

“Of course not!” she said, appalled at the very suggestion. “He did not want to accept my refusal, which has caused my distress. But I will keep repeating my refusal until he can be made to understand.”

Relief washed over him. He took a deep breath, then reached for her hand. “Perhaps there is another way for Mr Collins to be forced to accept that you will not marry him.”

“And what is that?” Elizabeth asked softly.

“Marry me instead,” Darcy said.

She stared at him for a long pause, then blinked slowly, as if trying to figure out if she had heard him correctly. “Are you proposing, Mr Darcy?”

“I am,” he assured her.

Elizabeth frowned slightly, and he let go of her hand, wondering if the gesture was too much for her. Or had he misread her all along?

“Are you only proposing to save me from Mr Collins?” Elizabeth asked steadily.

“Certainly not.” Darcy tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear, then took a steadying breath before he began.

“Each day of our acquaintance has rooted my esteem for you more and more deeply.

You are so lovely, Elizabeth, and so witty, but you have other qualities that I prize even more deeply.

I shall be grateful to the end of my days for the opportunity of seeing your intelligence and your character at Strathalt House.

There, I saw your loyalty as a friend and the ease with which you converse with others.

Station and wealth — or the lack thereof — do not matter to you.

You treat everyone the same, as fellow travellers on the earth.

“Not least, I saw how you helped Georgiana, and I am not only beholden to you, but I am most ardently in love with you. My feelings have only grown since leaving Scotland, and I can only hope you might share my feelings in some small way.” He looked down at their clasped hands for a moment.

“I must tell you I love you, Elizabeth, and I never wish to be parted from you again from this day forward.”

Elizabeth’s eyes misted with tears, but she smiled all the while.

“Will you do me the great honour of accepting my hand?” Darcy finished. He held his breath, feeling as if every decision he had ever made in his life were culminating at this moment.

She beamed up at him and pressed his hand. “Yes. Yes, I will,” she responded. “I cannot believe this day has finally come. I have wanted to tell you so many times.”

“Tell me what?” he asked softly, his heart pounding with elation that she had accepted him.

“How much I love you, too,” she said. “I dared not hope for the longest time. You are so far above me in wealth and station —” She allowed her words to trail off. “I cannot think what you see in me.”

“You are everything I have ever hoped for, Elizabeth, and more.” He chuckled. “I suppose we should not get too far ahead of ourselves yet. I still must ask your father for your hand.”

“There is nothing to be worried about on that account. He will certainly say yes.” She pressed her hand in his. “Shall we return to the house and tell everyone the good news?”

“Yes, but I will need to leave soon after, and share the news with Georgiana. She will be nearly as delighted as we are.”

“Nearly, but not quite,” she said smilingly.

“I do not think there has ever been a woman as happy as I am in this moment.” She let her hand slip out of his, and she stepped away, returning to the demands of propriety.

“Do you know, Fitzwilliam, if I did not love you so much, I might have been tempted to accept you just to attain Georgiana as a sister-in-law.”

He laughed heartily. “You are a wonder, Elizabeth. In the past, others have tried to pursue me for Pemberley, or for my wealth and station, but never for my sister. The more fool them, for she was always my greatest treasure.” He offered her his arm as they walked back to the house so they might share their news with her family. “Now, she will be one of two.”

Laughing, Elizabeth wiped away her tears. “Can you die of happiness?” she breathed.

“You are not permitted to die, only to stay with me. Forever.”

They headed back to the house, where everyone was congregated in the parlour for tea.

Elizabeth’s mother, father, and younger sisters all greeted them with genuine warmth, though Miss Bennet and Mr Collins hung back.

Darcy frowned. If the eldest Miss Bennet would not even pretend to what was proper before visitors, it boded ill for Elizabeth’s comfort in her family home for the next weeks or months. They were not married yet.

“Papa, might Mr Darcy have a moment of your time?” Elizabeth asked, lowering her voice so as not to draw attention to herself, no doubt.

Kitty and Lydia gave excited gasps and started whispering behind their hands.

Darcy could almost feel Miss Bennet’s eyes burning into his profile, but he refused to look at her or Mr Collins, who was clearly in a sour frame of mind.

Hopefully, the rector would excuse himself before they were to make the announcement of their engagement.

Darcy was profoundly grateful that Elizabeth did not want to marry Mr Collins, but that did not mean they had to rub his face in it.

Mrs Bennet stood, then waved her husband up. He was much slower, owing to his old bones. “Come along, Mr Bennet. He will be most happy to speak with you about whatever you may need.” Her mother looked back at Mr Bennet. “Come along, dear.”

Her father sighed and smiled at Darcy. “Right this way, Mr Darcy. We will have our chat in the study.”

Darcy pressed Elizabeth’s hand before he exited the room. “Will you be all right until I return?” He cast a wary glance at Mr Collins and Miss Bennet.

“Yes, of course, I will. Hurry back,” she whispered with a smile, then let go of his hand.

Darcy strode after Mr Bennet, wishing that they might conclude their business as quickly as possible.

When the door of the study was closed, Mr Bennet went to his plush chair near the window, and motioned for Darcy to take the chair opposite.

The seats looked like they had seen better days, but Darcy was not averse to them.

It was a cosy room, lacking in elegance perhaps, but with no lack of real comfort.

“I believe I know what this is about, but I shall let you tell me,” Mr Bennet said, beaming all the while. He tented his fingers and propped up his chin.

Darcy took a steadying breath, the smile putting him at ease. “Likely you are correct in your assumptions, sir. I should like to ask for Miss Elizabeth’s hand.”

Mr Bennet’s smile grew wider until his face was quite changed. He had never seen the man smile half so broadly. “I had hoped that was what you were going to ask. Well, my good man, I heartily give my consent!”

Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. He extended his hand, and Mr Bennet took it warmly. “Thank you, sir. I promise I will take care of her.”

“I know you will, I know you will,” Mr Bennet said. “Now, I must tell you that Lizzy will have a dowry — one equal share of her mother’s five thousand pounds. It is not as much as I would have hoped to give her, but it is at least something.”

Darcy tried to put him at ease. “I thank you, Mr Bennet. You need not fear for her — we shall arrange the settlements to assure that Elizabeth will always be provided for, regardless of her own dowry. Its amount is of little concern to me, for I certainly did not propose because of money. I want to marry her simply because I love her.” He remembered what Bingley had said about Georgiana a few days prior. “She makes me want to be a better man.”

“And so she should,” Mr Bennet said. “I do not think I could have parted with her for anyone less worthy, Mr Darcy. You are a man I can respect without hesitation. I always knew it would be difficult to let my Lizzy go.” He wiped at the tears gathering in his eyes.

“I hope you will not mind when I say that so wish to look at this, not that I am losing a daughter, but gaining a son. And I warn you here and now that I shall visit my daughter very often.”

Darcy’s heart warmed at this show of welcome. “Our home will always be open to you, sir. Pemberley has room for any number of visitors. Better still, I believe my library will make it well worth your efforts.”