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“Er, yes there is. Your sister has done me the greatest honour and accepted my proposal of marriage. I request your permission and blessing to marry this wonderful woman.” His betrothed blushed at his characterisation of herself.

“Is this what you desire, Caroline,” he asked despite knowing the answer to his question.

“Yes, Charles, with all my heart it is what I want.” Caroline smiled at him.

“In that case, Phillips, you have both my consent and my blessing,” he took his soon to be brother-in-law’s hand and they shook again. “Welcome to the family.”

The three entered the drawing room and none within missed that something significant had taken place. Phillips had requested that he be allowed to inform his parents before an announcement was made, however, the announcement was superfluous.

“Graham, are you betrothed ?” Hattie Phillips blurted out as the joy of the moment overtook her.

“Yes, Mama, we are, although I had hoped to inform you, Papa, and Franny in a less public setting…” he admitted.

Anything else that he was about to say was lost in a sea of congratulations. “We could celebrate your betrothal at the ball tonight Caroline and Graham,” the Duchess offered.

“We thank you, your Grace, but tonight is not our night,” Caroline Bingley said decisively. “This night is to celebrate the wedding of Ladies Jane and Marie to the Viscount and Mr. Fitzwilliam.”

“Caroline is correct and is one of the reasons why I wanted to inform Mama and Papa privately. I had intended to request that Bingley not make a public announcement until after the weddings,” Graham informed his family.

“I could not agree with my son and soon to be daughter more,” Frank Phillips added. “Have you two discussed a wedding date yet?”

“We have not, Mr. Phillips,” Caroline answered.

“You are to be our daughter,” Mrs. Phillips said as she took her new daughter’s free hand, the other being firmly held by her older sister Louisa.

“We will never replace your late Mama or Papa, but we would be very honoured of you would call us Mother and Father.” Caroline was deeply moved by the warmth of her new mother’s declaration that she choked up as she nodded her acquiescence.

“I am so very happy for you, Caro,” Louisa Hurst told her younger sister with tears in her eyes. She had seen the looks of love that Caroline sent toward Graham, and the ones that he sent her, and could not have been more pleased for her baby sister.

“There is an easy solution,” Charles Bingley informed everyone.

“It will be my honour to hold an engagement ball at Netherfield. What say you all for about a month from now? The newlyweds should have returned from their wedding trips by then and Hertfordshire is close to town so it will be no hardship to return.”

“That is an acceptable option. I agree with Caroline; this time is for Jane and Richard and Andrew and Marie. It is laudable that Caroline and her betrothed do not want the focus of the celebration to be on them,” Lady Anne Darcy proudly said seeing clear evidence of her protégé’s sweetness.

Lady Elizabeth hugged her friend and added her voice to the growing number of well wishes that the couple received. An hour before luncheon as the well wishes were flowing, Mr. Hill announced a new arrival, “Mr. Ian Ashby of Sherwood Park in Surrey.”

Ashby was introduced to their graces and the rest of the family which included the younger men who had joined the rest in the drawing room.

Lord Hilldale vigorously shook the hand of his good friend who would be standing up for him in less than three days, welcoming him warmly.

He was accompanied by his twenty-year-old sister, Lady Amelia Ashby.

Amelia had light brown hair and was tall for a lady.

She had intriguing light green eyes with a full womanly figure.

Tom Bennet, Marquess of Birchington was struck dumb when he saw Lady Amelia, lovingly called Amy by her family.

James Bennet, Marquess of Netherfield, who had one term left at Cambridge was enthralled with Georgiana Darcy.

She was tall, blond and had cerulean eyes like her mother, brother, and the Fitzwilliam brothers.

He knew that she would not be out for at least another two years, but that she had received permission from her guardian, Richard Fitzwilliam, to be at the ball until the completion of supper and was allowed to dance with men in the family party after her mother had plead her case.

Kitty and Mary had received the same permission from Lord Thomas.

They would be eighteen in March, but were still six weeks distant from their coming out ball that was being planned by their mother and aunts.

They would take their curtsy before their cousin, the Queen, on their birthday with the coming out ball to be held on Saturday the 14th day of March.

It was not lost on James how Miss Darcy blushed whenever he paid her attention.

The first time that she had visited Longbourn just after Jane and Richard’s betrothal, she had been introverted and hardly spoke a word unless addressed directly.

The girl that was before him now was not the same person other than in physical looks.

She was self-confident, talked without being forced to, and was much more outgoing.

This Miss Darcy commanded James’s attention.

He no longer saw a girl, but an attractive and intelligent young woman.

Lord James approached Georgiana where she was sitting and talking to Mary and Kitty.

“Miss Darcy, has anyone requested the first set for the ball tonight,” he asked as she blushed scarlet at the meaningful question.

“No, my Lord, no one has.” She looked at her mother who gave her a slight nod of approval for her agreeing her daughter could dance with him though he was not strictly family. “None of my sets have been claimed beyond the third with Richard and the fourth for Andrew.”

“In that case I request the first, Miss Darcy,” he gave her a half bow as he made his request.

“In that case, niece,” her uncle Reggie interjected, “I will claim the fifth set. I would ask for the supper set, but you know that your Aunt Elaine would never forgive me,” he winked at his niece as he smiled at his own joke.

“It is yours, my Lord Uncle,” Georgie smiled back at her uncle who she loved like a father.

“As it seems that your second is open, may I request that set Miss Darcy?” Lord Tom snapped up her last open set other than the supper set.

Miss Darcy nodded her acceptance and then the Marquess turned to the newly arrived Lady Amelia.

“Your ladyship, if you are not otherwise engaged would you grant me the first set?”

Lady Amy Ashby, who could not help but feel an attraction to the handsome marquess, accepted his application.

Ladies Mary and Kitty would dance the first with their father and Uncle Frank respectively and then they would be squired by other family or close friends until they left the ball with Maria Lucas and Georgiana after supper.

Lady Elizabeth would open the ball with her friend Frank Lucas, which would be followed by her soon to be brothers and other family members.

She had agreed to dance the supper set with Humphry Goulding, another friend from the neighbourhood who she had known from an early age.

A nervous Ian Ashby approached Lady Catherine as she watched the young people filling up their dance cards.

He sat down next to her and spoke quietly so only she could hear, “Your Ladyship, before I make this request to Lord Matlock, I want to respect your position as Anne’s…

Miss de Bourgh’s mother and ask your blessing for me to request a private interview with her to request her hand in marriage. ”

“It speaks of your respect and love for Anne that you would apply to me before my brother. Just look after my precious girl, Ian, she means more to me than anything else.” She collected herself and continued, “You have my heartfelt blessing to make your request of my brother.” Ashby gave the woman that he hoped would soon be his mother-in-law a half bow and proceeded to where the Earl of Matlock was sitting with the older gentlemen.

“Lord Matlock, may I have a brief interview with you please sir?” he asked respectfully.

“Hertfordshire, may we use your study?” the Earl asked the Duke.

“By all means,” Bennet agreed, “as long as you do not duel in there or otherwise disturb my books.” He smirked.

As soon as the door was closed, Ashby got right to the point.

“Some six months ago you granted me your permission to court your niece, Miss de Bourgh.” The Earl nodded his agreement with the statement.

“Our courtship has progressed, and I am now seeking your permission for a private interview with your niece.”

The Earl decided to have some sport with the man, not unlike his friend Bennet had done when his sons had requested to wed the two oldest Bennet girls. “I did not realise that you were interested in Georgiana. You know she is not out yet, do you not?”

“W-what? Miss Darcy? No, my Lord, I am requesting permission to talk to Miss Anne de Bourgh.” It was only then that Ashby saw the broad smile on the Earl’s countenance, and he realised that he was being sported with.

“Go to it, young man,” Lord Matlock gave his ascent as he slapped Ashby on the back. “Wait here, I will bring Anne to you. The door will remain open!”

A very short time later, Anne de Bourgh entered the study, and the door was but partly closed.

Ashby had waited long enough so did not feel the need for flowery speeches, so he took her hands, dropped to one knee, and asked her to marry him, telling her that she was the love of his life and his lady accepted without delay.

They agreed that they would get married in April, though they would discuss the matter with Lady Catherine before settling on a final date.

Just before her uncle returned to the study, Anne thanked her betrothed for honouring her mother by requesting her permission to speak before going to her Uncle.

Lord Matlock’s permission and blessing were given without delay, and so the second betrothal became official at Longbourn that day.

There was another round of hearty congratulations, and the Countess of Matlock stated her intention to hold an engagement ball for her niece and soon to be nephew at Matlock House at the end of February.

Ian and Anne followed the example set by Caroline Bingley and Graham Phillips, which meant there would be no announcement or mention of their betrothal at the ball.

After luncheon, the Netherfield party, now including Ian Ashby, returned thither to rest as those staying at Longbourn retired to do the same.