Page 23 of The Duke of Derby (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

No one ever used that room as it was the darkest of the sitting rooms. Elizabeth decided to seize the opportunity. “I shall see him directly,” she said. As she stood, she noticed the butler glance at Papa to ensure he was complicit in her plan to meet a young man unchaperoned. Papa nodded.

She saw nothing else, since she was out the door and heading for the blue salon.

When she entered, Mr. Darcy immediately greeted her. “Good morning, Lady Elizabeth. I hope you have rested well after such a long night of dancing.”

“Of course,” she said with a bright smile which she hoped covered up her nervousness. “I always sleep like a baby after a ball, since the exercise invariably tires me out.”

“I am glad to hear it,” he said. “I have come to wish you farewell.”

Before Elizabeth could recover from her stunned state enough to respond, he continued. “I have decided to go back to Pemberley. It may be quite some time before we meet again.”

All Elizabeth’s plans came crashing down around her. “But why?” she cried.

“It is for the best,” he said. “I’ve had the joy of seeing you in your rightful place in society.

Seeing you dressed as beautifully as you should be, shining like a beacon among those with whom you now belong, was a joy I could only imagine last spring.

Now, it has come true. Your father no longer has need of me, and…

” He paused as pain briefly passed on his face.

“I don’t think I could bear to watch as gentlemen far more suited than myself vie for your favor and your hand. ”

“But you cannot leave!” cried Elizabeth, much more loudly than she had planned. “If you leave, how will I ever propose?”

Mr. Darcy had been looking away from her, likely because he could not bear to see her distress, but at her words, he suddenly swiveled his head to stare at her. “You cannot mean that, Lady Elizabeth. I beg you not to toy with my feelings.”

“I can, and I do,” she said. “I even had a nice little speech planned that was to echo your speech from last spring. It was to conclude in the same way, that I beg you to relieve my suffering and agree to become my husband. But you have ruined it all by deciding to leave me so suddenly.”

The strangest expression bloomed on Mr. Darcy’s face. It was a mixture of confusion, wonder, and hopeful bliss. Elizabeth hoped she would remember it, because she was certain she would never see such an adorably complex expression on his face again.

“Lady Elizabeth, are you actually proposing to me?” he asked, though the hints of a smile that played around his lips as he spoke indicated that he knew she was.

“I just finished telling my father that I would. He was going to send a note to ask you to call so that I could make my proposal,” she said.

Then, she cleared her throat and said, “Mr. Darcy, your stated intention of departing has thrown off all my plans. Even so, I would be most honored if you would marry me.”

More swiftly than Elizabeth could follow, Mr. Darcy stepped toward her and gathered her in his arms. After only a brief, “Yes,” as an answer he kissed her.

It no longer mattered that nothing had gone to plan. Nor did it matter that Mr. Darcy had, only moments ago, declared his intention of leaving London. All that mattered was the feel of his arms around her, his hands on her back, and his lips on hers.

When he finally pulled away, his first word was, “When?”

Elizabeth laughed. “You aren’t particularly loquacious, are you?”

“I suppose not,” he said and grinned briefly. “Have you thought about when you would like to get married?”

“I think it must either be very soon or in a couple of months,” she said.

“Why do you say that?” he asked.

“I still need to establish my identity here in London,” she said. “So, it either needs to be very soon so that the identity I establish is that of Mrs. Darcy, or we should wait until all our acquaintances are quite used to me as Lady Elizabeth before I then change my name.”

Mr. Darcy groaned just a bit and said, “I would dearly love to make it quick, for you are entirely too tempting, my love, especially after I have spent nearly a year completely under your spell but unable to reach you for one reason or another. But I think it would establish you better in society for us to wait.”

“I don’t wish to wait either, but I think you are correct,” said Elizabeth.

“If our happiness was the only happiness at stake, I would demand you take me to the altar next week, but my entire family’s reputation is at stake.

We, none of us, are yet established firmly in the minds of the rest of society. ”

“Then, what do you say to December first?” he asked. “It is two months away, so there should be plenty of time, but it also allows us to finish our wedding journey before Christmas so that we can spend the holiday with Georgiana.”

“That sounds perfect,” Elizabeth answered.

She lifted herself up on her tiptoes and kissed him to seal the date. There followed many more kisses, various caresses, and murmurs of affection.

Eventually, Elizabeth came to her senses and insisted they go tell her father.