Page 53 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)

“In that case, I may never leave,” Mr Bennet replied with a sardonic smile. “Now, shall we go out and make it official? I believe we have kept them all in suspense long enough.”

Darcy agreed with alacrity, for he was eager to get back to Elizabeth. Between Mr Collins’s unwanted attentions and her sister’s unwarranted attacks, he half-felt as though he was leaving her in a pit of vipers.

When they entered, the room suddenly went quiet.

Miss Bennet was standing toe to toe with Elizabeth, and their mother stood beside them, looking flustered.

Miss Bennet backed away as soon as Mr Bennet entered the room.

“What goes on here?” he asked. He did not seem pleased.

Darcy raised an eyebrow, for he could not have imagined the scholarly, jovial Mr Bennet with so dark an expression.

He certainly would not have wanted to be on the receiving end of so intimidating a fatherly scowl.

“Nothing,” Miss Bennet said quickly and retreated to the corner where she and Mr Collins had started.

Mrs Bennet was still in a flutter. “There is nothing amiss. Of course not.” She turned to her husband and Darcy. “Not when I believe there is good news to share?” She waited eagerly for her husband to say aye.

Mr Bennet nodded, then motioned for his daughter to stand beside him. He took her hand, then motioned for Darcy to give him his. Mr Bennet joined their hands, then stepped aside. “There is much cause for celebration, indeed. Please, you do the honours, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth smiled, if not as freely as she might have done if her older sister had not been looking at her with something very close to a sneer.

She took a steadying breath, looked over at him, then made the announcement.

“Mr Darcy and I are to be married.” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling brilliantly, and smiled.

Darcy knew then that he would never regret making her his wife. She had not accepted for her mother or father, not for the sake of her sisters or anyone else. She had accepted him because she loved him.

The youngest girls exploded into haphazard giggles and cheers, while Mary rushed to them and expressed her congratulations in few but heartfelt words.

Mrs Bennet covered her mouth and cried, as was only natural, and Mr Bennet stood quietly by, chuckling here and there at the joy that filled the room.

Mr Collins, however, turned deathly white, then a nearly apoplectic shade of red, before quickly excusing himself.

Miss Bennet alone remained entirely silent. At last, her father rose from his chair and gave her a stern glare. “Jane, have you nothing to say to your sister?” he asked.

Miss Bennet lifted her chin regally. Looking at her, Darcy felt a chill. The spite shining in her eyes twisted her face, stealing away all her vaunted beauty. Though Mrs Bennet was not alone in calling her eldest daughter ‘the prettiest girl in the country,’ hatred had made her grotesque.

Elizabeth let go of his hand and stepped forward.

“Let us resolve our differences, Jane, I beg of you. I will let bygones be bygones and have a fresh start, will not you? Please, will you not shake my hand?” Elizabeth asked.

“I would like to ask you to forgive me for any injustice I have unwittingly committed against you. Please, let us be sisters again.”

Miss Bennet lifted her chin again and approached her sister.

She took Elizabeth’s hand. “By all means,” she said, but there was no warmth in her tone.

She then turned to Mr Darcy. “I offer my congratulations, sir. And now, if you will excuse me.” She dipped a quick, shallow bow and walked out of the room.

All was quiet after she closed the door. All the company looked at each other, dumbfounded by Miss Bennet’s behaviour. It was only too obvious that nothing of what she had said was genuine. Nor had she apologised for the wrongs she had committed against Elizabeth.

Yet Elizabeth had willingly apologised to her sister, though he could not imagine what she had to apologise for. Darcy closed his eyes, dismay warring with fierce pride in her, for it showed the impeccable character of the woman he was soon to marry.

But he had other obligations. “Georgiana! I must go immediately and tell her the good news. You know well how delighted she will be. We should not tarry a moment.” Darcy said. He took Elizabeth’s hand. “Mr Bennet, may I ask for your daughter to accompany me to Netherfield?”

“Of course, sir,” Mr Bennet said. “Lizzy does not ride, so you must take our carriage.”

Mrs Bennet embraced her daughter before turning to him with stars in her eyes. “Oh, Mr Darcy, I cannot tell you how much you have brightened my day! Imagine, my Lizzy, married to such a fine gentleman.” She beamed up at him. “Welcome to the family.”

Darcy knew she likely was rejoicing because her daughter had made such a fine match, securing her own future, but he was of a mind to overlook any less than flattering motives for her joy. “I thank you, Mrs Bennet. And now, my love, should we be off?”

“Yes, let us go,” Elizabeth beamed at him, and they left the parlour hand in hand.

It did not take long for the carriage to be made ready, and soon they were bumping down the lane toward Netherfield.

When they arrived, everyone was congregated in the drawing room, tea having just been concluded. Georgiana jumped up from the settee, and Bingley rose to greet them as well. Miss Bingley stayed seated, looking at them warily. It was he who made the announcement this time.

“We have something to share with all of you,” he began. Georgiana gasped and bounced several times on her tiptoes in anticipation. Bingley raised a brow, and a slow smile appeared on his cheeks. “I have asked Elizabeth to be my wife. And she has accepted.”

Georgiana let out a squeal of delight and flew into his arms to embrace him.

She did the same with Elizabeth, all the while speaking so quickly that it was all but impossible to understand what she was saying.

“Oh, my goodness, I thought it would never happen! I cannot believe it! Fitz, you are the most brilliant man I have ever seen. Or perhaps the most foolish. To think it took you this long to propose to her! What if she had been snatched up by someone else!”

Darcy chuckled. “I would not have let that happen.”

Elizabeth pressed closer to him as they went to the sitting area and joined Miss Bingley.

She looked almost as sour as Miss Bennet had when they had announced the news to the Bennets.

Though Miss Bingley at least had the civility to congratulate them unprompted, if rather unenthusiastically, before inventing an excuse about having many letters to write and leaving. The Hursts soon followed.

Darcy was glad, for the small party that remained was composed only of those who whole-heartedly wished them joy.

Bingley plied him with his finest smuggled brandy and pleasant jokes about his impatience to make Elizabeth his wife, while the ladies spent a long while discussing ideas for the wedding itself.

Darcy sat back and enjoyed the happy glow of his fiancée and sister as they discussed their plans. He, for one, did not mind what she chose to have as a wedding breakfast or where they wed, only that he would soon be married to the love of his life.

Though joking, Bingley was entirely correct. In truth, he could hardly wait until the day Elizabeth was his forever.