Page 37 of Heiress of Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variations)

Drawing Room

Kympton Parsonage

Evening

The fire was warm, the tallow candles burned, and Elizabeth shifted in her chair and turned the page of The Romance of the Pyrenees , which Mr. Darcy had kindly lent her from his expansive library.

“Elizabeth?”

She looked up from her book and observed Alexander standing in the doorway with a letter in his hand, his expression solemn. A moment later, she consulted her watch and stood up in surprise. “Oh dear, it is nearly midnight, and I had no idea. This book is quite engrossing. My apologies.”

“It is certainly all right,” Alexander replied. “Indeed, I was hoping that perhaps we could speak in private, and the servants have all gone to bed now.”

A trickle of unease ran down Elizabeth’s spine at these words, and she asked, “Is something wrong?”

To her relief, he immediately smiled and said, “Nothing is wrong, no. It is merely that I wished to discuss with you of a matter of some importance. Shall we sit down?”

She did so and folded her hands, and he sat down across from her, his own hands fidgeting with the paper in his hand. Now that he was closer, she was able to see that there was writing on the paper, though she certainly could not read any of it.

“A servant brought this letter from Pemberley an hour ago. It is from Mr. Darcy and is for you.”

Elizabeth stiffened at these words and leaned forward a little. “For me ?”

“Yes,” he said. “Darcy enclosed it in a message to me, so there will be no scandal. Before we discuss anything further, I believe you ought to read it.”

He held out his hand with the letter, and Elizabeth, thoroughly bewildered, accepted it, spread it out and adjusted her position so that the light of the candles would permit her to read the neat masculine writing.

Pemberley

Miss Bennet,

Some months ago, I stood in a hall in a little town called Meryton, and insulted you by loudly declaring to my friend Bingley that you were ‘tolerable, but not handsome enough to dance with.’

I had no idea at the time that you overheard my insult, nor, I must confess, would I have particularly cared. I was irritable and proud and rather incredibly stupid.

I can only apologize to you for my idiotic remarks. I was a rude fool.

In the past weeks and months, I have grown to admire you more and more, Miss Bennet. You are quite the most handsome woman of my acquaintance, but I have come to learn that you are so much more than that. You are clever, intelligent, hardworking, kind, diligent, and generous.

I have, in fact, fallen in love with you.

I realized this some weeks ago, but, after consulting with Mr. Wickham, chose not to declare my affections until now because of the measles epidemic, along with Mrs. Wickham’s poor health. We agreed that if you do not return my regard in the least, it would make for an unfairly awkward situation for you, and I had no desire to place you in such a circumstance.

Now that the epidemic is nearing its end and your sister’s health is improving, I have decided to boldly ask for your hand in marriage.

Because I love and adore and respect you.

I realize that my adoration may well come as a surprise to you, and if you would prefer to enter a formal courtship, I would accept that with great pleasure.

And if you are not interested in the least, I will, of course, honor that as well.

God’s blessings on you,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Elizabeth read the letter the first time in a daze, the second time in disbelief, and the third time in wonder, before lifting her eyes to her brother by marriage, who was waiting patiently.

“Did you read this?” she asked shakily.

“Of course I did not,” Alexander replied in a tone of reproof, “as it was sent to you. However, in his note to me, he informed me that he would be making you an offer of marriage.”

She nodded, gulped, leaned back in her chair, and ran an unquiet hand over her face.

“Yes,” she whispered. “He made me an offer.”

Alexander leaned closer to her, his expression grave, and said, “I assume this is a surprise to you?”

Elizabeth laughed rather wildly and, when she had regained control, said, “It is shocked disbelief more than surprise. I had absolutely no idea that … it is hard to imagine that … not that Mr. Darcy is the type of man to joke in such a manner, but Brother, do you truly think he genuinely loves me?”

“I assure you that he does, very much,” Alexander said. “Indeed, some weeks ago, he wished to make you an offer, but given the circumstances at the time, he decided to wait.”

“That is what he said in the letter,” Elizabeth murmured and turned her face to the now dying fire.

To her relief, Alexander allowed her to contemplate for several minutes, and then she stirred and said, “I am honored and flattered, of course, by his offer. I confess that while I admire Mr. Darcy very much, I never permitted myself to think of a possible union between us. He is the foremost gentleman in the district and could reach very high in society for a bride.”

“That is true, without a doubt,” Alexander said, “but I have known Darcy since boyhood, and he would not be happy in a marriage of convenience. I am aware that he has been pursued by many such ladies and their mothers, and he has shown no interest in any of them. Indeed, I have thought for some months that you would be an excellent wife for my old friend.”

This provoked Elizabeth to arch a doubtful eyebrow, and she said, “Alexander, I would not think as a parson that you would tell a falsehood, but it seems so unlikely. Months ago? Really?”

“Really,” Alexander said, and now he grinned broadly. “As I said, Darcy is an old friend, along with being my patron, and I saw how often he looked at you back in Hertfordshire. Moreover, I know that your penchant for arguing and debating him was extremely attractive to a man who is used to women flattering him and agreeing with his every utterance.”

“I would never do that,” Elizabeth said with spirit.

“I know.”

Silence fell again for a minute, and then Alexander said, “You need not marry him, of course. There is no obligation on your part.”

“Again, I would never marry based on obligation because, like Mr. Darcy, I would not be happy in a marriage of convenience. I am still absolutely incredulous about this, and … well, I would like to sleep on it, if I may.”

“Certainly,” Alexander said with a reassuring smile. “Take all the time you need. It seems, at least, that you do not regard Mr. Darcy with revulsion, even if he was an idiot on the day you first laid eyes on one another.”

Elizabeth stood up and shook her head. “No revulsion, no. Indeed, I esteem him in many ways, but I need to think about, to pray about, and to consider whether we are likely to be happy together.”

“I understand completely.”

***

Darcy’s Office

Pemberley

The Next Day

For the third time, Darcy read the letter in his hands.

Mr. Darcy,

I am most grateful for your letter of yesterday. First of all, your apology is accepted regarding our earliest and most unfortunate interaction at the Meryton assembly.

Secondly, I confess to being entirely startled at your offer. I had no idea that you admired me and have for some weeks.

I do not know quite enough about you to accept your hand in marriage, but I would gladly enter a courtship. Now that I am aware of your interest, I think it will not be long before we determine whether we are indeed well suited.

With my brother Alexander as my temporary guardian, there is no need to speak to my father at the moment about our courtship, and given my mother’s odd views regarding the disposition of Longbourn, I would prefer that my parents remain ignorant for the time being.

So, being entirely clear, yes, I wish to enter a courtship with you.

God’s blessings,

Elizabeth Bennet

The first time Darcy had read the letter, he had been so terrified of a possible rejection that he had rushed to the end and seen not rejection, but acceptance. Then he read it again and realized it was a courtship, not an acceptance of marriage. And now he read it once more, and every part of his body relaxed, and his face hurt because he was smiling with joy.

He could not blame the lady he loved for being cautious. She had not been aware of his admiration and doubtless remembered, with clarity, his insult of her beauty the day they first met.

Actually, they had not even officially met that day, since he had been so stupid as to refuse an introduction to the lady he now adored.

He would accept, with alacrity, a courtship, and he could only hope and pray that in a few short weeks, he would be able to convince her that theirs would be a marriage made in heaven, though he was determined to wait for as long as she needed.

Because he loved her and was now convinced that she was the only woman in the world for him.

He was suddenly filled with restless energy, and he folded the letter, placed it carefully in his pocket, and went in search of his sister, eager to share the good news.

He found her in the music room, with Mrs. Annesley at her side turning the pages on the pianoforte, and he forced himself to wait patiently until she had finished the piece of music in question. This was genuinely no great difficulty, as his sister was truly a gifted player, and she was a pleasure to listen to.

When she was done, he clapped enthusiastically, stepped forward, and said, “I have wonderful, glorious, amazing news! Miss Bennet has agreed to enter a courtship with me!”

“Oh, Brother, I am so happy for you!” she said, leaping up to hug him tightly.