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Elizabeth arrived home to find her aunt and uncle in the parlor with her mother. Mrs. Bennet rose as she entered and immediately began to torment Elizabeth with descriptions of her evening with Mr. Fowler.

"Mr. Fowler was most disappointed that you were not here this evening. But I gave him my assurance that you would be home tomorrow when he promised to call again." Mrs. Bennet went on praising Mr. Fowler, describing the elegance of his attire, his wit and intelligence, and his taste in food, music, art, and theatre. Elizabeth looked at the Gardiners, who shrugged helplessly.

"Did you have a pleasant time at the Crenshaws', Lizzy?" Mr. Gardiner asked as soon as he found an opening. Before Elizabeth could say more than "yes," Mrs. Bennet assaulted her anew.

"I do not know why you spend so much time with the Crenshaws. They can do nothing for you, Lizzy."

"Mama! The Crenshaws are my friends, and the Gardiners' friends of many years!"

"Yes, yes, but we must think about the future, Lizzy. You are not getting any younger, you know. Even Charlotte Lucas found a husband, and she is six years older than you and very plain..." she prattled on. "Edward Crenshaw is younger than you, is he not?"

"Edward and I are the same age, and what does that have to do with--."

"Well, he is only a younger son, anyway. You can do much better."

"Mother! You do not really expect me to--."

"Oh!" Mrs. Bennet cried suddenly, "Yes, of course, there is Mr. Douglass. He is a bit more mature and very handsome. What is his income? No matter, I am sure that Mr. Fowler's income quite exceeds it. Lizzy, you would be a fool to settle for a lesser man, even if Mr. Douglass is so much more handsome. Mr. Fowler can hardly be called unattractive, mind you." Elizabeth glanced at her aunt and uncle once more. She started to speak, but her mother unceremoniously dismissed her to her bed, so that she would be in her best looks for Mr. Fowler in the morning. Elizabeth numbly ascended the stairs, and entered the bedroom where Jane was combing her hair.

"How was your evening with the Crenshaws?" she asked as Elizabeth flung herself on the bed.

"Did Mama really invite Mr. Fowler tomorrow?" she said, her eyes on the ceiling.

"Yes. He was quite upset when he found out that you were not going to be here. For a moment I thought he might leave, but Mama persuaded him to stay with the promise of being rewarded with your presence tomorrow."

"How thoughtful of her," Elizabeth said bitterly. She sat up and began to undo her dress. "I wish I had stayed in Hertfordshire. I would never have heard of Mr. Fowler."

"Oh, he is not so bad, Lizzy, once you get to know him. His manners are quite pleasing and he has excellent opinions on music, art, and--."

"So does Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said as she tossed her dress on an empty chair. "Why did I not just take your advice and go talk to him at Netherfield? I would never have met Mr. Fowler, mother would never have found Mr. Darcy's handkerchief...and I would not be faced with the prospect of entertaining two men tomorrow morning." Elizabeth smiled ironically. "I hope it does not become a habit."

"Lizzy?" Elizabeth sat on the bed beside her sister.

"Mr. Darcy also dined at the Crenshaws this evening. Livy and the Colonel arranged it somehow." Jane leaned closer as Elizabeth became lost in the memory.

"And?" Jane demanded.

"And it would have been perfect had it not been for three things. First and foremost, the evening ended all too soon," Elizabeth said with a sly smile. "Second, Mama spoiled everything by inviting Mr. Fowler to return tomorrow."

"And the third?" Jane prodded, as she began to comb Elizabeth's hair.

"I am afraid that Mr. Darcy is rather jealous of his friend. He knew that Mr. Fowler had come this morning and he seemed very put out over it." Jane smiled impishly.

"Good! Maybe that is just the incentive he needs to declare himself!"

"Or just the incentive he needs to go running back to Derbyshire. Oh, Jane! This is all so maddening! This is a comedy of errors worthy of the Bard himself! How will it end?"

"Perhaps it is 'much ado about nothing'? " Jane replied. Elizabeth threw a pillow at her. "Lizzy, your course would appear to be simple: tomorrow make it perfectly clear to both Mr. Fowler and Mr. Darcy where your preference lies."

"And Mama?" Elizabeth asked, as she rose to blow out the candles on the vanity.

"You have me there," Jane conceded. "But once Mama knows your feelings...."

"When has she ever shown any indication of--."? Elizabeth sprang out of bed and relit the candle. She dug into her drawer in the tall bureau and drew out her writing materials.

"What are you doing, Lizzy?"

"Mama may understand nothing of my feelings, but I know who does," she responded, as she began to write a letter to her father.

Mr. Bingley arrived at Mr. Darcy's townhouse very early the next morning. He joined Mr. Darcy in the breakfast room and helped himself to a cup of steaming coffee while a footman filled his plate. When the footman was gone, Mr. Bingley sought to satisfy his curiosity.

"So, what is this about receiving an invitation to the Gardiners'?" he began as he sliced into his sausage.

"I had the good fortune to dine with Miss Bennet last night at the Crenshaws' and she invited me to come round this morning," Mr. Darcy said as he tucked into his own plate.

"Were you with the Gardiners last evening?"

"No. I spent the evening trying to talk Caroline out of joining the Hursts on the Continent. I do not know what came over her, but she suddenly expressed an urgent desire to quit London and go to Italy. I tried to talk her out of it but she was quite adamant about leaving as soon as possible." Mr. Bingley sat back and sighed. "I guess I am to have neither of my sisters at my wedding." Mr. Darcy was very surprised by the news but he said nothing.

"So tell me about your evening with the Crenshaws. How was it?" asked Mr. Bingley, who was not one to dwell on his own problems. He leaned toward Mr. Darcy expectantly. Mr. Darcy said nothing for a moment. He merely smiled, and Mr. Bingley joined him, remembering how he had felt when he had been reunited with Jane and began to dream of a future by her side.

"It was quite...pleasant," Mr. Darcy said with an enigmatic smile.

"Pleasant! Come on, man, you are positively beaming! It must have been more than merely 'pleasant.'" Mr. Bingley cried.

"Well, productive, then," Mr. Darcy added as he waved over a servant for a second helping.

"I have never thought of an evening in the company of a beautiful lady as 'productive,' Darcy. Stop being so bloody cryptic and tell me what happened!" Mr. Bingley challenged. Mr. Darcy sat back and recounted the evening, even including his jealous frustration with Mr. Fowler and Mr. Douglass.

"Why it even makes me jealous to think that you, who can virtually come and go as he pleases in Gracechurch Street, can see her almost at will," he declared, rising from his seat and pacing before Mr. Bingley.

"Well there is only one thing for it, Darcy," Mr. Bingley said airily. "Marry her!"

"Bingley that is exactly what I intend to do!" Darcy maintained. "I would ask her this minute if I could be certain that she would have me," he said in a much lower voice that conveyed all his doubts and insecurity.

"Darcy," Mr. Bingley said, as he rose and put a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder. "Why is it that you are the only person in Christendom who doubts Miss Elizabeth's feelings for you?"

"Then you think that she does love me?" Mr. Darcy asked hopefully. Mr. Bingley threw back his head and laugh. "I am only slightly less sure that the sun will rise upon the morrow," he said, and he led his friend toward the door. As they made their way to Mr. Bingley's carriage, a servant strode up to Mr. Darcy and handed him a letter. Mr. Darcy quickly perused its contents, and with a smile of satisfaction, excused himself to return to the house for a few minutes. Inside, he gave precise instructions to Mr. Harris before he stepped into Mr. Bingley's barouche and headed for Gracechurch Street.

Elizabeth dressed with special care and descended to the breakfast room where she knew she would have a private moment with her aunt and uncle. Jane had also risen early, but her sore ankle would delay her progress, so Elizabeth took advantage of the opportunity to seek out her relatives' advice. She greeted them each with a hug and kiss before joining them at table.

"How was your evening at the Crenshaws', dear?" Mrs. Gardiner asked as she poured out a cup of chocolate for her niece.

"It was wonderful, Aunt Gardiner. Livy invited Mr. Darcy to dine with them as well." Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner exchanged smiles.

"So you have seen the gentleman at last," Mr. Gardiner said.

"Yes, and I have invited him to call on us this morning," she confessed. "Of course, that was before I knew that Mama had also invited Mr. Fowler," Elizabeth said as she spread jam on a biscuit.

"They are friends are they not?" Mrs. Gardiner asked naively. Mr. Gardiner, however, understood the problem.

"Mr. Darcy's regard for you is not so tenuous that he would be put off by this upstart Fowler?" he asked with some concern.

"I am not sure how 'tenuous' Mr. Darcy's regard for me is, and uncle, and I am unlikely to find out if my mother is here simpering and fawning over her precious Mr. Fowler," Elizabeth replied heatedly. "I am afraid Mr. Darcy and my mother have never got on well, and she is unlikely to make any effort to see good in Mr. Darcy while she has Mr. Fowler in her sights." Mrs. Gardiner sighed. "Jane said that I should leave Mr. Darcy in absolutely no doubt of my feelings," Elizabeth continued, staring into her empty cup. Mrs. Gardiner rose to refill it. "But I am not completely sure what my own feelings are."

"Are you not?" Mrs. Gardiner asked softly as she resumed her seat. Mr. Gardiner glanced at his wife.

"Well, you do know your heart where Mr. Fowler is concerned. You would be well advised to leave Mr. Fowler in no doubt, if you take my meaning."

"My thoughts exactly, brother," Mrs. Bennet cried from the door where she had overheard his last statement. "I think you should pay heed to your uncle's advice, Lizzy," she said. "A gentleman suitor should be left in absolutely no doubt of where his lady's affections lie." A crooked, ironic smile suffused Elizabeth's face.

"If you insist, Mama."

An hour later found the ladies of the house chiefly occupied with women's work. Mrs. Gardiner worked on a piece of tatted lace, and Elizabeth and Jane embroidered handkerchiefs. Mrs. Bennet was far too flustered by the prospect of Mr. Fowler's arrival to put her time to constructive use. She had picked up and thrown down her knitting twice, and had finally given up all pretense of concentration in favor of pacing back and forth before the windows. She suddenly sputtered and began to scurry about the room excitedly.

"He is here, he is here, Lizzy! The carriage just pulled up outside. Now, I want you to be as pleasant and as encouraging as you possibly can," Mrs. Bennet demanded breathlessly. "Eight thousand pounds a year," she whispered to herself as she picked up her knitting and assumed a pose of absolute indifference to the sound of approaching footsteps. Elizabeth looked at Jane and Mrs. Gardiner and sighed deeply. The door opened and Mr. Bingley, followed by Mr. Darcy, entered.

"Good morning ladies," Mr. Bingley said with a bow. Elizabeth and Jane suppressed a giggle, for their mother's disappointment was blatantly obvious, although nothing compared with her shock at spying Mr. Darcy.

"Oh, it is just you, Mr. Bingley." She barely spared a glance for the tall man. "Mr. Darcy," she spat. Mrs. Gardiner rose and welcomed Mr. Darcy with all the grace and cordiality that was in her nature. Elizabeth also rose, and following her mother's advice to leave her suitor in no doubt of her affections, she smiled warmly and invited Mr. Darcy to sit beside her. Mr. Darcy paused by Jane to ask about the condition of her ankle before he took the seat next to her in the window. Mrs. Gardiner poured him a cup of tea, and Elizabeth had just begun to chat with him, when Mrs. Bennet interrupted.

"We did not know you were in town, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Darcy replied that he had arrived in town just after Miss Bennet; in fact, he had met the Gardiners and Miss Bennet at the theatre just recently. Having silenced Mrs. Bennet for the moment, Elizabeth attempted to continue her conversation, when Mrs. Bennet interrupted again.

"Lizzy is expecting a caller this morning, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Bennet said in hopes of hastening his departure. "You perhaps know Mr. Fowler?"

"Yes, I do," Mr. Darcy said tightly.

"Mr. Fowler has been paying my daughter most particular attention. He seems quite taken with her," Mrs. Bennet smiled. Elizabeth looked worriedly at Mr. Darcy.

"That does not surprise me in the least, Mrs. Bennet, with such a charming and amiable daughter as yours." Elizabeth's smile lit up the room. The warmth with which Mr. Darcy praised Elizabeth surprised Mrs. Bennet, but she soon regained her stride.

"Mr. Fowler came to dine here last night, but Lizzy insisted on going to dinner at the Crenshaws. Mr. Fowler was most disappointed. But Lizzy has promised to be here to receive Mr. Fowler's attentions this morning, and we expect him at any moment." She looked at Mr. Darcy pointedly. Across the room, Jane and Mr. Bingley exchanged worried glances. But Mrs. Gardiner spoke up first to ease the tension.

"Mr. Darcy actually introduced us to Mr. Fowler, Fanny," she began, casting about for aught else to say.

"Oh, then we have you to thank, Mr. Darcy, for Lizzy's good fortune in attracting such a fine man." Elizabeth glanced down at Mr. Darcy's hand and saw his knuckles turn white. She attempted to disarm him with a laugh.

"Mama, you are behaving as though Mr. Fowler is a beau; I assure you, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Fowler means far more to my mother than he will ever be to me." She searched his eyes for a sign of understanding, and seeing it flickering deep in his dark brooding eyes, she smiled and allowed herself to breathe again. A look of horror grazed her mother's face momentarily, but as quickly as it had come upon her it was gone. She instantly assumed that Elizabeth was joking. "I understand that your sister is to come to town for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Olivia's engagement dinner," Elizabeth said quickly, lest her mother intervened again. "You spoke of her so warmly at Netherfield and in Kent. Do you think that we might have a chance to meet while she is in town?" Elizabeth blushed, realizing that she was openly begging for an invitation, but she did not care. She was determined to follow her mother's instructions to the letter. Mr. Darcy would know where he stood with her before he left that day, regardless of what it cost her.

"As a matter of fact, Miss Bennet, my sister Georgiana has expressed a similar interest in meeting you. I hope you will permit me to introduce her to you at Colonel Fitzwilliam's engagement dinner," Mr. Darcy smiled.

"Oh, but I--."

"Your invitations should arrive today," Mr. Darcy said to the whole room. "Aunt Rebecca added your names to her guest list the moment she arrived in town." Elizabeth beamed.

"An engagement dinner...hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, you say," Mrs. Bennet said abstractedly, visions of social opportunities danced in her head.

"It is Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam, Mama. Colonel Fitzwilliam is the son of the Earl of Matlock," Elizabeth corrected her. Mrs. Bennet immediately seized upon this bit of information. Everyone else in the room instinctively cringed.

"An earl? Really! Leave it to Olivia Crenshaw to capture the affections of a future earl. Very ambitious, that girl..." Mrs. Bennet muttered.

"Mama!" Jane and Elizabeth cried simultaneously.

"My cousin is the younger son, madam," Mr. Darcy said evenly with forced calmness. He was nearing the end of his patience. He continued to find it inconceivable that Jane and Elizabeth Bennet shared blood with the infuriating woman.

"So Olivia's fiancé is your cousin," Mrs. Bennet said calculatingly.

"I explained this all to you when I told first you of Livy's engagement," Lizzy said be fore her mother could speculate on the number of connections such an alliance could bring her girls. "I told you that I had met Colonel Fitzwilliam in Kent--."

"Yes and you obviously frittered away your opportunity to secure him," Mrs. Bennet huffed. Elizabeth's eyes bulged open.

"The Colonel was already quite in love with Olivia, Mother," she cried, "and I had already..." She caught herself before she openly declared her love for Mr. Darcy, but Jane and Mrs. Gardiner knew what Elizabeth held back, even if neither Mr. Darcy nor Mrs. Bennet did. Mr. Bingley all but cried out "Aha!" He contented himself with a large and triumphant grin that Jane's hard nudge could not dislodge. The sound of voices in the hall spared Elizabeth the stares that turned her face crimson. Mr. Darcy's look was merely of curiosity, but Elizabeth could not meet his eyes. The door to the parlor opened and Mr. Fowler entered the room with Mr. Gardiner.

"Look who I met as I returned from my walk," Mr. Gardiner said. Mr. Fowler came forward and greeted everyone. Mrs. Bennet was effusive in her welcome. Mr. Fowler greeted Mr. Darcy somewhat like a fox caught among the sheep, and Mr. Darcy gave him no quarter. He resumed his seat beside Elizabeth, much to her relief, with a proprietary demeanor. Mr. Gardiner claimed the nearest seat on Elizabeth's other side before Mr. Fowler was aware of its availability. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy easily fell into conversation, Elizabeth joining in upon occasion. Mr. Darcy felt at ease with the gentleman, and understood that he and Mrs. Gardiner had been strong influences on Elizabeth and Jane. Mr. Fowler, meanwhile, was forced to sit near Mrs. Bennet, much to his chagrin. She once again fawned and fussed over him, praising his every opinion. Mr. Fowler kept his focus on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, until noticing his distraction, Mrs. Bennet rose and approached them.

"You are being very rude, Mr. Darcy, holding Lizzy prisoner here while she has other guests to entertain. Come, Lizzy," she demanded, tugging at her hand. Elizabeth reluctantly rose and was made to sit in a chair closer to Mr. Fowler. But even as he paid her his addresses, Mr. Fowler's eyes were on Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy's eyes were upon Elizabeth's. Elizabeth's eyes flitted about, to Jane and Mr. Bingley, to her aunt, her uncle; she looked at everyone and everything in the room except Mr. Fowler, Mr. Darcy and her mother until, summoning her courage, Elizabeth lifted her eyes to Mr. Darcy and held them there. When Mr. Fowler saw Mr. Darcy smile, he looked at Elizabeth and knew he would lose this fight. Mrs. Bennet, however, was very displeased by her daughter's continued staring at Mr. Darcy.

"Lizzy!" she cried. "It is rude to stare," she whispered so that only Elizabeth and Mr. Fowler could hear her. "I know you have always disliked Mr. Darcy but do not always stare at him so. I believe the man takes perverse pleasure in it. I dare say it suits his vanity." Mr. Fowler smiled.

"I thought that you and Mr. Darcy were friends, Miss Bennet," he said, his spirits rallying.

"We are very good friends, indeed, Mr. Fowler. My mother is greatly mistaken in saying that I dislike him. We did not get along well when we first met, but we have become good friends these last few months since we learned to understand each other," she said her eyes twinkling. Elizabeth heard her mother's hiss of disapproval. But Mrs. Bennet thought it unwise to insult Mr. Darcy in front of Mr. Fowler.

Mr. Darcy, for his part, had seen enough to reassure him. Mr. Fowler could not separate him from Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet, of course, would continue to be a thorn in his side, but she was an opportunity cost he was willing to bear in order to have Elizabeth by his side. Mr. Darcy rose to take his leave, much to Elizabeth's consternation, and her mother's delight.

"I am afraid I must take my leave. I have a matter of business I must attend to," he said. He thanked Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner for their hospitality and Mrs. Gardiner expressed her hope that he would soon return as a dinner guest.

"I should be delighted, madam, sir," he said with a bow. Elizabeth rose and offered her hand. Mr. Darcy's smile stilled the fluttering in her heart.

"I look forward to seeing you this Saturday, Miss Bennet," he said. Elizabeth returned the smile and whispered that she also looked forward to the evening. Mrs. Bennet was aghast by her daughter's apparent intimacy with the accursed Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Darcy! D! It could not, it must not be! No, it is Mr. Douglass, and she merely wants to deceive me. My Lizzy would have nothing whatsoever to do with that conceited, odious man! As quickly as the notion arose in her mind she had dismissed it as an utter impossibility.

Mr. Bingley and Jane called Elizabeth over to involve her in some debate about their wedding arrangements. The talk of weddings excited Mrs. Bennet's interest.

"I do love a wedding, Mr. Fowler, such gaiety, such happiness! And you know what they say: one wedding begets another!" Her meaning was all too obvious and the ladies in the room, save Mrs. Bennet blushed in embarrassment. Mr. Fowler beat a hasty retreat as soon as propriety permitted.

"Oh, it is a shame he had to leave so soon, Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet said consolingly to Elizabeth, who was only too glad to see him leave, "And without an indication of when he is likely to return. Lizzy you must make a point of being home every morning in future, lest Mr. Fowler appear unexpectedly and miss you. It would be tragic to waste such an opportunity."

"I doubt that I shall have any such 'opportunity,' Mama. We are to return to Longbourn soon, or have you forgotten," she said, hoping that her father's letter would soon summon them all home, or at the very least, Mrs. Bennet.

"Oh, well we shall have to invite Mr. Fowler to the wedding, Jane. Mr. Bingley, you could give him lodgings at Netherfield. That way he will have ample opportunity to be among the family, and who knows? Perhaps there will be a second wedding for me to plan." Elizabeth rolled her eyes, and went up to her room. She lay on the bed and remembered Mr. Darcy's glowing compliment and the look in his eyes as he departed. Elizabeth had accomplished her mission. She had left Mr. Darcy in no doubt of her affections, and in doing so, she was no longer in any doubt of her own.

Elizabeth was in her room reading when she heard a knock upon the door. It opened to reveal the elder of her two nephews, who poked his head in and told her that her father wished to see her in her uncle's study. Elizabeth lifted her head from the pillow, certain that she had heard the boy incorrectly. She rose and hurried downstairs, her curiosity mounting as she approached the door. She could hear the voices of both her parents from within. Her father was indeed in London!

"Well there was no cause for you to come to London, Mr. Bennet, I am quite capable--." Mrs. Bennet was saying, but Mr. Bennet cut her off.

"No cause! You concocted the flimsiest excuse to leave Longbourn to rush to your daughter's side and when I simply express the desire to see my own child you say I have no reason?" Elizabeth covered her mouth in horror. She had rarely heard her father raise his voice, but he was clearly livid, although Elizabeth knew not about what. She held her breath, attempting to hear more. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but the situation was too extraordinary to resist. How had her father come to be in town? She had written to him only yesterday to beg his assistance in dealing with her mother, but it was impossible that he had received her letter in so short a time, or that he could have traveled from Longbourn even if he had. No, something dreadful must have happened in Hertfordshire to make her father come to town so unexpectedly. Elizabeth suddenly began to fear for her sisters' health and well-being. These past two weeks she had been so consumed in dealing with her own problems to even write to Mary, Kitty, or Lydia. Now one of them might be seriously ill or worse....

"Mr. Bennet! If you would just leave this all to me, I will manage everything. There was no need to come to town and involve yourself in this, this...sordid business."

"What 'sordid business' are you speaking of, Mrs. Bennet?" The sound of a chair being dragged out muffled Mrs. Bennet's words momentarily.

"Why did you come to town, then?" Mr. Bennet said in a calmer tone.

"Very well, Mr. Bennet, if you must know the truth. I came to town because I was worried about Lizzy." Even from outside of the room, Elizabeth could hear Mr. Bennet's gasp.

"Why should you be concerned for Lizzy?" he asked.

"She ran away from home, Mr. Bennet!" Mrs. Bennet cried as though speaking to an idiot. "Surely you could understand a mother's concern."

"Lizzy did not 'run away,' Mrs. Bennet. She merely left home on a planned trip a day early," her father said wearily.

"But why, Mr. Bennet, why? I am afraid your dear girl has gotten herself into some trouble," Mrs. Bennet exclaimed dramatically. Elizabeth sighed.

"Errant nonsense! I would sooner believe that of Lydia or Kitty, even Mary before I would believe such an accusation of my Lizzy!" Mr. Bennet declared.

"Of course, you would defend your favorite. But you do not know what I do, Mr. Bennet. I know it all. I had hoped to spare you the truth about your Lizzy, but--."

"Oh, where is that girl!" Mr. Bennet shouted in exasperation. He was tired from his journey and had no interest in his wife's blatherings. He had come to town to see his daughter and if there were any truths to be learned, he would hear them from her. Before Elizabeth could react, the door flew open, and Elizabeth found herself face to face with Mr. Bennet. He opened his arms and she rushed into his embrace.

Part 10

Mr. Darcy's visitor stared at the imposing mahogany door that now stood closed before him and sighed in frustration. He had hoped to catch Mr. Darcy at home but had missed him by twenty minutes according to his butler. He had left his card--all he could do now was wait. He descended the stairs and decided to head toward the nearest large thoroughfare and hail a chair. He had just started to turn east when he heard his name being called.

"Mr. Bennet!" Mr. Darcy called out in surprise.

"Mr. Darcy," Mr. Bennet replied evenly, with a tip of his hat.

"I did not know that you were...forgive my manners, sir. Pray walk into the house with me." Moments later, the two men settled into large comfortable chairs in Mr. Darcy's study. Mr. Harris poured out two cups of tea and departed.

"When did you arrive in town, Mr. Bennet? Mr. Darcy began.

"Last evening, sir. I was so fortunate as to be able to ride into town with a friend who was coming here on business, else I would have had to ride the post this morning. I am afraid my own equipage is currently being repaired. Had I waited for it to be mended, I might not have arrived for another week."

"I did not know that you intended to come to London, Mr. Bennet," Mr. Darcy said a bit nervously.

"Nor did I, but I realized that I could be of little use to my daughter from Longbourn," Mr. Bennet intoned. Mr. Darcy hesitated a moment, but Mr. Bennet volunteered no more.

"You did receive my letter," Mr. Darcy assayed.

"Letter!" Mr. Bennet cried, rising and carrying his cup as he began to perambulate around the room. "Letter? That thing read like some ladies' novel, and it was not much shorter." Mr. Darcy smiled, and absently ran a hand through his hair.

"I wanted you to know everything--."

"That much was obvious," Mr. Bennet countered, laying his cup and saucer aside. "What I want to know is what you want me to do about it!"

"Look at these, Lizzy. If you put a few of those little flowers in your hair you will look exquisite," Olivia said. She and Lizzy were at the notions counter at Harley's examining the goods on display.

"Not if they exceed my budget. Poverty has a way of draining the color from my cheeks," Elizabeth laughed. Olivia had the salesman show them a sprig of lavender flowers that perfectly complemented the gown Elizabeth planned to wear on Saturday night. Olivia insisted on making a gift of them, and after she made her purchase they left the shop headed back towards Gracechurch Street. Olivia's servant walked a few paces behind, carrying a large box containing the gown in which she would be presented to her future relations.

"So what reason did your father give for arriving in town so unexpectedly?" Olivia asked as she eyed the display of nonpareils in the window of a confectioner's shop.

"He said he wanted to see his two eldest daughters, but he was being evasive. I think that there is something afoot." The two ladies walked on in silence for the length of one street.

"So when will you see Mr. Darcy again?" Olivia asked.

"Not until your engagement dinner," Elizabeth said as she dug into her reticule in search of her handkerchief. She found it and dabbed the corner of her eye to remove a speck of dust that had made it water.

"Are you certain of that, Lizzy?" Olivia asked. Elizabeth was intent on putting away her handkerchief, and merely answered, "Hmm?" as she turned to her friend. She looked up then and saw an open carriage bearing the Darcy crest roll by. Its occupants could be plainly seen, although they did not appear to notice either of the ladies observing them. Elizabeth was shocked, to put it mildly. Olivia was merely curious.

"Where do you suppose they are going?" she asked.

"They are headed in the direction of Gracechurch Street, but I think the far more interesting question is where have they been!" Elizabeth said as she picked up her pace to keep the carriage in sight. As she expected, the carriage came to a stop outside the Gardiner's home. When Olivia and Elizabeth caught up with it some minutes later, its occupants had disappeared, apparently into the house. Olivia and Elizabeth entered the parlor just in time to catch the tail end of Mr. Darcy's explanation.

"...And much to my surprise, I encountered Mr. Bennet this morning while I was returning home after my morning constitutional," Mr. Darcy was saying.

"So I invited Mr. Darcy to join me for lunch at my club, and he was kind enough to offer me a ride back to Gracechurch Street," Mr. Bennet said as he and Mr. Darcy stood side by side before the mantelpiece, looking as innocent as a pair of newborn babes, but both Olivia and Elizabeth were suspicious. The two ladies exchanged a glance; how is it likely that these two men should meet out on a morning walk? Mr. Darcy's home was some distance from Gracechurch Street. No, the coincidence was too neat. The ladies stepped further into the parlor, where they saw that the two men were addressing Mrs. Bennet, who looked none too pleased with the prospect of another visit with Mr. Darcy. Olivia feigned a cough to get Mr. Darcy's attention. Elizabeth blushed slightly as she came forward to greet him.

"Good morning, Mr. Darcy. This is a most unexpected pleasure. I had not thought to see you again until Saturday." Mr. Darcy's flustered repetition of the story he and Mr. Bennet had just recently told convinced the ladies that the gentlemen had completely fabricated the story. Mr. Darcy's expression delighted Olivia, and she recalled that day when she first saw him smile. It was that day in the park when she had first learned of his attachment. She greeted Mr. Darcy with a sly twinkle in her eye.

"I understood that Mr. Bingley was coming by today," Mr. Bennet said. "Has he absconded with my eldest?" Mrs. Bennet, in sour spirits reported that Jane and Mr. Bingley were in the conservatory. "Good, good. Why don't you young people go and join them? I have some business to attend to, and your rattling about here will just try poor Mrs. Bennet's nerves," he said with a wink. The three all looked at Mr. Bennet, then Elizabeth led the group to the conservatory. She could not observe Mr. Darcy as she went, since she was in the lead, but Olivia surreptitiously observed Mr. Darcy from the corner of her eye and was amused at the rapt attention he paid to the lazy curl that bounced about haphazardly at the nape of Elizabeth's neck. Mr. Bennet meanwhile sought out Mr. Gardiner in his study. He entered the room and made directly to the window that overlooked the small conservatory that opened onto a tiny garden at the rear of the house.

"Ah, Thomas," said Mr. Gardiner, looking up from his paperwork, as Mr. Bennet shifted the curtain just enough to peek out and see Olivia, Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy disrupt an intimate scene between Jane and Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet chuckled. "Did you speak with Mr. Darcy?" Mr. Gardiner asked from his position at the desk.

"Yes, yes," Mr. Bennet said absently as he observed Jane's blush and Mr. Bingley's guilty expression. "You were right; the man is quite besotted with my Lizzy." Mr. Bennet sighed and went to the desk, where he claimed a nearby chair.

"And did the young man acquit himself to your satisfaction? Did he explain his letter?"

"Letter!" Mr. Bennet chuckled again. "Mrs. Radcliffe would give her right arm to be able to concoct such a plot! Five sheets back and front, brother! Between your letter and Mr. Darcy's, I do not know when I was last so well entertained. I am only sorry that I did not have the chance to read Lizzy's letter as well."

"You do not believe that she wrote of Mr. Darcy, do you?" Mr. Gardiner asked, laying aside his reading glasses.

"Perhaps not, but I wish she had all the same. I would like to know her mind on all this."

Mr. Gardiner rose and fetched a pot of tea from a nearby table. "Did you and Mr. Darcy reach an understanding, then?" he asked as he poured out a cup for himself and his brother.

"It is not me he needs to come to an understanding with," Mr. Bennet retorted. At Mr. Gardiner's frown, he added. "The poor boy put on quite a show, scraping and apologizing, and declaring his intent to make my Lizzy the happiest woman alive. Quite amusing," Mr. Bennet concluded as he sipped his tea. Mr. Gardiner gave him a reproachful look. "Oh, I gave the wretched creature my blessing, so long as Lizzy agrees to have him, Mr. Bennet admitted.

"And will she?"

"Mr. Darcy doe not seem to know. That is why I brought him here," he said, returning to the window. Mr. Gardiner followed. "I want to see them together."

Their kiss was hardly scandalous, but Jane and Mr. Bingley still blushed furiously when Elizabeth led Olivia and Mr. Darcy into the conservatory. The three could not suppress their smiles as the couple darted to opposite sides of the greenhouse.

"Miss Bennet!" Mr. Darcy cried with an impish grin. "I see your ankle is well recovered." Elizabeth immediately took pity on her sister and changed the subject, asking Mr. Darcy if he had an interest in gardening. Mr. Darcy responded by speaking of the extensive grounds at his home in Derbyshire. Elizabeth drew him slightly away from the others and suggested that they go out to the garden and sit under the shade of the large elm. Leaving the others to their discussion of their forthcoming nuptials, Elizabeth led Mr. Darcy down the steps and across the tiny yard to a wooden bench that sheltered the couple from the hot July sun. It was barely wide enough to seat two. Elizabeth turned with a smile and sat upon the bench, while Mr. Darcy chose to remain standing. Unaware that his every action was being observed by Elizabeth's father and uncle, Mr. Darcy was nonetheless conscious of the other pairs of eyes at his back. Olivia, Jane, and Mr. Bingley were sitting in the conservatory apparently absorbed in conversation. However, Mr. Darcy did not have to turn around to know that the trio was actually engrossed in what was taking place in the garden.

"Well, now that I have you all alone, Mr. Darcy, pray tell me what you and my father are about?" she smiled. Mr. Darcy started at her question, and then quickly repeated his earlier explanation, that the two had met by accident.

"Come, come, Mr. Darcy. You may deceive my poor dear mother, but you do not really expect me to believe such a tale," Elizabeth challenged.

"Miss Bennet?" Mr. Darcy asked, wide-eyed.

"Do not dissemble, sir. Do you really expect me to believe that you and my father--residing miles apart--just happened to find each other while out on a morning stroll, and that my father, who has the merest acquaintance with you, should invite you to dine at his club?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows accusingly. Mr. Darcy swallowed hard.

"Yes," he managed. Elizabeth rose and paced before Mr. Darcy, who instinctively leapt to his feet.

"'Disguise of any sort is my abhorrence,' you once said as I recall," Elizabeth said. She stopped pacing and took a step toward Mr. Darcy, who instinctively stepped backward, much to Elizabeth's amusement and to the amusement of the men above. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner exchanged a glance. They could not quite hear what was being said, but Elizabeth clearly had her suitor on the defensive. Below, Elizabeth crossed her arms. She was beginning to become frustrated by Mr. Darcy's stonewalling. She abruptly turned and started to head back toward the house, but she stopped when she heard Mr. Darcy's voice.

"I met your father outside my own house in ______ Street as I returned home from my morning walk." Elizabeth whirled. Mr. Darcy stepped back once more. "Perhaps he has a friend in the neighborhood," Mr. Darcy offered with a shrug.

"My father has no acquaintance in ______ Street!" Elizabeth said heatedly.

"Perhaps you would do better to question your father, then," Mr. Darcy said softly. Elizabeth saw the truth in his words and chastened, returned to her seat on the bench. Mr. Darcy joined her.

"Why did my father go to see you?" Elizabeth asked when she had fully regained her composure.

"I do not know," Mr. Darcy said, "But we spoke mainly of you." Elizabeth shot him a glance. "You must realize that we have few other interests in common, although we did discuss our mutual love of Shakespeare and Mozart, and the occasional pleasure to be found in a glass of fine Amontillado sherry." The dimple in his cheek told Elizabeth that she was being toyed with, and as she fought to suppress the smile that sprang to her lips. She found herself reluctant to press Mr. Darcy for further details. She could hardly expect an interview between her father and Mr. Darcy to go very well, given the difference in their personalities and Elizabeth's former propensity for speaking extremely ill of the man she was now so desperately in love with. Her heart began to pound in her chest. "I told him everything, Miss Bennet. Actually," Mr. Darcy confessed through a veil of long dark eyelashes, "I sent him an express a few days ago describing our entire history," Mr. Darcy said with flushed cheeks. Elizabeth was astounded.

"Whatever for?" Mr. Darcy grew redder.

"I thought that he should know the truth about me. I thought it only fair that he know something of the man who loves and values his daughter above all else in the world..." Elizabeth felt herself begin to swoon, but was saved by Mr. Darcy's untimely ironic laugh. She frowned at him, wishing he had not been distracted by whatever led him to abort his proposal. "I guess I had thought to win another ally in my cause. When Miss Crenshaw told me of how the two of you tried to fix things between Mr. Bingley and your sister, I vowed to follow your example." Elizabeth stared at him, uncomprehending.

"I do not have the pleasure of understanding you at all, Mr. Darcy," she said as Mr. Darcy plucked a flower from a nearby bush and proceeded to rend it to shreds. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth stared at his hands as he attempted an explanation.

"Miss Bennet had you and Miss Crenshaw to act as intermediaries. I chose to rely upon Mr. Gardiner."

"My uncle!" Elizabeth cried.

"Yes. I ran into him in _____ Park the morning after we met at the theatre. I found myself confessing my feelings for you--and I hope you will forgive him--he told me of yours." It was Elizabeth's turn to blush.

"Seeing that we were of similar minds...and hearts," Mr. Darcy said, laying his hand over Elizabeth's, "I needed only the opportunity to make my addresses. Of course, you had forbidden me to come here that day, and I did not know when I would see you again. After I spoke with Fitzwilliam and Miss Crenshaw, and she told me of your adventures in the park that day, I decided to enlist Mr. Gardiner's aid. I went right home and wrote him a note. As an afterthought, I also decided to write to your father. After all, I would need his blessing, and I wanted to stake my claim, so to speak, before Mr. Fowler made his advances." Elizabeth smirked at him.

"You were jealous of Mr. Fowler?" she said, as if such a thing were ridiculous. As if reading her thoughts, Mr. Darcy concurred.

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but Fowler and I have a history. He has always competed with me, coveting anything and everything I possessed. I did not mind losing a rare volume, or a magnificent horse, but I was not about to let him steal you away, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth lost herself in the deep, earnest gaze in his eyes, and might have kissed him then, had she not glimpsed her smiling relations in the window at the edge of her line of sight. She lowered her eyes then, but squeezed Mr. Darcy's hand. "We seem to have a choice before us. We could acknowledge the mistakes I made, and learn from them, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me," she heard Mr. Darcy say. "Or we could choose to put the past behind us and begin again, remembering only from this day forward." Elizabeth met his eyes, only to avert them again.

"We have both said and done things that we cannot be proud of, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said as she rose and walked to a place where she could see the window to her uncle's study without being seen herself. "Perhaps it would be best if we were to remember the past only as it gives us pleasure," she smiled, with another glance at the window as Mr. Darcy approached her. Elizabeth turned away from him, much to his consternation.

"We are hardly in a place that affords us much privacy, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth laughed, as a way of warning him. Mr. Darcy glanced back toward the conservatory, where Jane and Mr. Bingley quickly looked away and Olivia stared openly, beaming at Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy tapped Elizabeth on her shoulder and pointed to Olivia, who waved at the couple. Elizabeth shook her head, laughing, and began to make her way back to the conservatory. Mr. Darcy gently grabbed her arm.

"Will you not do me the honor of hearing my proposal, Elizabeth? I believe I am finally capable of one that is worthy of you," Mr. Darcy said grinning.

"Your first proposal was quite enough for me, sir," Elizabeth grinned back, as she continued toward the house. "I think you should take a page from your cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and play to your strengths, Mr. Darcy!"

"My strengths?" asked the perplexed bachelor.

"Yes. Look what it did for the Colonel," Elizabeth said archly.

"And what are my strengths, madam?" Mr. Darcy asked, hands on hips.

"The same as your cousin's," Elizabeth said, reaching for the door. "He is equally inept at proposing, but like you he has an irresistible charm, or so I am told." Elizabeth opened the door and entered, allowing it to close behind her while Mr. Darcy stood in the garden, a silly smile upon his lips. Inside, Olivia and Jane could be seen running to Elizabeth and hugging her. Mr. Darcy rolled his eyes. It was then that he saw the beaming faces of the two men above.

"I am engaged!" was all Elizabeth had to say before the conservatory erupted in squeals of joy. Olivia and Jane ran to hug Elizabeth, while Mr. Bingley stepped into the garden and walked up to Mr. Darcy, who was still staring at the now empty window. Mr. Bingley tapped him on the shoulder.

"I say! Good show, Darcy!" Mr. Darcy turned and blinked at Mr. Bingley who pumped his hand and grinned like a hyena.

"She would not allow me to propose!" Mr. Darcy said, slightly affronted.

"She told us that she was engaged," Mr. Bingley said helpfully. Mr. Darcy allowed himself a genuine smile then, and allowed Mr. Bingley to escort him back to the house. When they entered the conservatory, the first thing Mr. Darcy saw was Mrs. Bennet, who was on the arm of Mr. Fowler.

"Look who has come to see you, Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet said smugly, with a look at Mr. Darcy. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to show Mr. Fowler around the garden," she continued, just as Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet entered the conservatory behind her.

Elizabeth glanced at her uncle and father and drew herself up to her full height. She walked over to Mr. Fowler and extended her hand. Mr. Darcy watched her, his teeth involuntarily clenched. Elizabeth gave Mr. Fowler her warmest smile.

"You have arrived just in time to join our celebration, Mr. Fowler," Elizabeth smiled.

"Celebration? What celebration?" Mrs. Bennet asked before Mr. Fowler could utter a reply.

"I was just coming to tell you, Mama," Elizabeth said, he eyes twinkling with tears. "Mr. Darcy and I have just become engaged." In the space of a second, Mrs. Bennet's mouth dropped open, Mr. Darcy's jaw relaxed, Mr. Fowler's sagged, and Mr. Gardiner's and Mr. Bennet's framed heartfelt smiles. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner came forward and hugged Elizabeth and shook hands with Mr. Darcy. The party adjourned back to the parlor, where Mr. Fowler begrudgingly congratulated Mr. Darcy and then hastily retreated. Mr. Gardiner ordered a bottle of champagne from his wine cellar. As it chilled, the couple fielded questions. Mrs. Bennet, who more than willing to sacrifice Mr. Fowler in favor of Mr. Darcy's ten thousand pound income, was as obsequious and obliging as she had formerly been rude. Mr. Darcy was in too good a humor to mind.

"How did he propose to you, Lizzy?" Jane asked, as she and Olivia pressed the third future bride for details.

"Propose? Oh, proposals are passé. Suffice to say," Elizabeth said with a sly glance at her beloved, "We thought we had rather better marry than not. After all, two people so ideally suited to one another could hardly be fit marriage partners for two other unsuspecting people. I would like to think we are doing the world a favor by marrying," she concluded airily. Mr. Darcy made a face at her, but when asked a similar question by Mrs. Bennet, he gave her an equally impertinent answer.

"Proposal? Good lord, I knew I had forgotten something!" He immediately rose, and taking Elizabeth by the hand, led her back out to the garden. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner laughed, as well as the others in the room, save for Mrs. Bennet, who was worried.

"Oh, dear," she said, rising and pacing the room. "Oh, dear. Jane, fetch me my salts. I feel faint! My nerves, oh, my poor dear nerves cannot take this anguish." Mr. Bennet went to his wife and led her to a chair. Mrs. Gardiner at that moment returned from her morning of charity work at a local hospital. When she saw Mrs. Bennet in such a frenzied state, she rushed to her side.

"Whatever is the matter, Mrs. Bennet?" she asked in a soothing tone.

"It is Lizzy! Oh, that girl will be the death of me yet!" Mr. Bennet patiently patted his wife's hand, while Jane brought the smelling salts.

"What about Lizzy?" Mrs. Gardiner asked with a look around the room at the others.

"Lizzy and Mr. Darcy have become engaged, Mrs. Gardiner," Olivia gleefully announced. Mrs. Gardiner clapped her hands together in joy.

"Do not be so hasty in your celebration, Mrs. Gardiner. Mr. Darcy, it seems, in his eagerness has forgotten to propose to Lizzy. And no doubt, just to vex me, the impudent girl will probably refuse him!"

"Where are you taking me?" Elizabeth laughed as Mr. Darcy led her down the corridor toward the conservatory. She nearly had to run to keep up with him. On a whim, Mr. Darcy poked his head into a room where the door had been left ajar. Finding it empty, he whisked Elizabeth inside and closed the door. He led Elizabeth over to the window of Mr. Gardiner's study and, taking both her hands in his, looked into her eyes. Elizabeth returned his smile for about half a minute, then her expression changed to one of confusion.

"Mr. Darcy? What?" Mr. Darcy seemed to be lost in his own world. Elizabeth was about to call him again when Mr. Darcy sighed deeply and spoke.

"I cannot believe how simple it was, in the end. Mr. Gardiner told me that it would be so, but I could not be persuaded to believe him."

"My uncle is a very clever man," Elizabeth said archly, although she was not quite sure what Mr. Darcy was talking about. "You should believe his every word."

"He told me that you loved me. Is that true, then?" Elizabeth ducked her head to hide her blush.

"It must be true. As I just told you, you should believe his every word." She looked into Mr. Darcy's eyes then to confirm her message.

"I would rather hear it from your lips, Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy said, freeing one hand so that he could brush one finger lightly over mouth. "Or are you as proscribed from discussing your love for me as I am from discussing mine for you." Elizabeth laughed and walked over to the settee. Mr. Darcy joined her and took up her hands again.

"You are not forbidden from declaring your love, sir--only from proposing." Mr. Darcy nodded slowly, biting his lip.

"You have not answered my question," he said after a moment.

"No. I believe I am completely free to declare my love," Elizabeth said teasingly. She hesitated a moment, caught up in the significance of the moment. Mr. Darcy held his breath, and Elizabeth smiled at his apprehension. But before she answered her smile faded, and tears began to well up in her eyes. "I do love you. I love you so very much, more than even I imagined...." Elizabeth stared at their entwined hands and a single tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek. Mr. Darcy again freed a hand to stop its progress with a finger. "I was too blind to know my feelings until I thought I had lost you forever. When I read your letter..." More tears began to flow. "After I read your letter I realized what I had been denying to myself all along. I thought...I--."

"Shh," said Mr. Darcy, as he placed a finger to Elizabeth's trembling lips. "I apologize, Elizabeth. We did agree to put the past behind us. This is too painful.... You have answered my question, and that is all I needed to hear." He lifted Elizabeth's chin, and would have kissed her if Mr. Gardiner had not entered the room. Mr. Darcy leapt up and stood some distance from the settee. Elizabeth rose slowly and went to her uncle. For a brief moment, the sight of tears alarmed him, but Elizabeth threw her arms around him and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Excuse me. I thought you had returned to the conservatory," said Mr. Gardiner.

"Too many prying eyes," quipped Mr. Darcy.

"I understand that I have you to thank for our present happiness," she said as her uncle drew out a handkerchief and handed it to her. Mr. Gardiner glanced at Mr. Darcy and they exchanged smiles.

"I did what I could, Lizzy. It did not take very much, just a good shove in the right direction, eh, Mr. Darcy?"

"And did you also send for father?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, he came of his own volition. When you came to us and told us your story, I decided to write to your father. I hope you will forgive my indiscretion--I told him everything you had told us. He had been worried about you since your return from Kent. We had corresponded about you earlier, you see. After I chanced to meet Mr. Darcy at the theatre, I resolved to take action. I had a meeting with an acquaintance near Mr. Darcy's residence and on a whim I decided to call upon him in ______ Street. He was not at home, but I was informed that he had gone to the park. I sought him out there, and we had a long talk. I advised him to quit wasting time and get on with it," Elizabeth's uncle laughed with a twinkle in his eye.

"Yes," Mr. Darcy said, coming forward. "Without your uncle's help I do not know how much longer I would have vacillated. After I spoke with my cousin and Miss Crenshaw, I began to grow more confident and I went home and wrote Mr. Gardiner to thank him for his assistance and to beg a private audience with you today. Instead of a reply from your uncle, however, I received a call from your father. We had a long talk, and after a luncheon at your father's club...well, you know the rest. I am greatly indebted to your uncle. I was getting nowhere on my own," Mr. Darcy confessed.

"On your own?" Olivia said, entering the room with Jane. "Hardly-your cousin, Mr. Bingley, Jane, and I have been trying to help the two of you individually and together since March!"

"Forgive the intrusion, Lizzy, but Mama wants to know if you have accepted Mr. Darcy's proposal." Elizabeth grinned at Mr. Darcy.

"It is amazing that I should wish to ally myself with a man of such faulty memory. He has still not proposed," she laughed.

"She told me not to!" Mr. Darcy cried defensively.

"Why not?" asked Jane.

"It is apparently not the forte of men of the Fitzwilliam line," Elizabeth said with a wink at her friend. Olivia laughed, while Mr. Gardiner and Jane exchanged quizzical expressions. Olivia took Mr. Gardiner and Jane by the hand and led them to the door.

"Give him one more chance, Lizzy. After all, my dear Colonel was given two tries before he gave up. You can do no less for Mr. Darcy." When the door closed behind Olivia and the couple was alone, Elizabeth turned and looked at Mr. Darcy with a wicked smile. A few minutes later, they returned to the parlor, where the others awaited expectantly.

"Well?" cried Mrs. Bennet. "Did you accept Mr. Darcy's proposal?"

"No," Elizabeth said, trying to hide her smile. Her mother's wail reverberated through the neighborhood so that she did not hear the rest of Elizabeth's statement. "But he accepted mine." When the laughter subsided, Elizabeth went to her mother and whispered in her ear. Her mother finally understood the joke and was able to join in the rejoicing. Mr. Gardiner opened the bottle of vintage champagne and toasted the happy couple.

Mr. Darcy could not stay very long after the assembled party toasted the happy couple with champagne. His sister Georgiana was to arrive in town, and he wanted to be at home to receive her.

"I cannot wait to tell Georgiana our news. I have spoken to her of you a great deal and I am sure she will be delighted to learn that you are to become her sister," Mr. Darcy said to Elizabeth as he made his leave. He extended an invitation for everyone to dine with him the following evening--which was quickly accepted--and then, with a last loving look at Elizabeth, took his leave with Mr. Bingley, who was somewhat eager to return home to his own sister. Mr. Bingley still had hopes of convincing his sister Caroline to remain in London. He realized, however, that the news of Mr. Darcy's engagement to Elizabeth would in all likelihood decide things.

"She will not take it well," Mr. Bingley said to Mr. Darcy as the carriage turned off Gracechurch Street. "Although I daresay, she must have seen it coming. You have made no effort to hide your feelings for Miss Elizabeth for some time." Mr. Bingley grinned and said, half to himself, "And even when you did try to, you failed miserably." He expected some sort of retort from Mr. Darcy, but that man had not heard a single word his friend had uttered. His mind was much more agreeably engaged.

She is mine at last! Just a fortnight ago I would have believed it impossible. I was bereft of hope and the most wretched of beings. And today...today she said the words I never dared hope to hear. To think that she has loved me all this time...I hope I am now worthy of her. A jolt of the carriage crossing a rut in the road brought Mr. Darcy back to his surroundings. He discovered that Mr. Bingley was watching him with a tolerant grin.

"I know exactly what you are feeling, Darcy. The world is suddenly a very different place, is it not?"

"Well put, Bingley," he said, ducking his head. "Knowing now the joy of finally being united with someone whom I once thought lost to me...Charles, I feel even more remorse for my actions in separating you and Miss Bennet." Mr. Bingley reached across the carriage and offered his hand. Mr. Darcy took it a bit doubtfully.

"We will speak no more of it. Today marks the beginning of our future. What is past is no longer important."

"'Remember the past only as it gives you pleasure,' I think it goes," said Mr. Darcy sitting back in his seat. "An amazing woman told me that."

"Really?" said Mr. Bingley, his imagination titillated by his friend's confession. "Who was she?"

"Elizabeth Bennet," Mr. Darcy smiled, and slipped back into his dream-like state until he reached Mr. Bingley's door. After depositing Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy returned to his home where he learned that his sister and her companion, Mrs. Annesley, had already arrived. He found them in the rear parlor, having tea.

"Where have you been, Darcy?" cried Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had come out into the corridor at the sound of someone at the door. "You asked me to be here an hour ago!" Mr. Darcy did not answer him; he caught a glimpse of his sister behind the Colonel and went straight to her. After he shared a warm hug with his sister and received a more restrained greeting from Mrs. Annesley, Mr. Darcy was ready to disclose his news. He cleared his throat and waited until he had the attention of the others.

"I really must apologize for my tardiness. Fitzwilliam is right--I was planning to be here an hour ago. But I hope you will forgive me when I give you my reason." Colonel Fitzwilliam crossed his arms and leaned upon the mantle, observing his cousin's changed demeanor. Mr. Darcy was, for lack of a better word, radiant. But even the Colonel was surprised by his cousin's revelation. "This afternoon, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and I became engaged." Colonel Fitzwilliam pulled himself upright and rushed to embrace Mr. Darcy.

"This is wonderful news, Darcy! I could not be happier for you both! But how did it happen? When?" The Colonel was forced to retreat slightly so Georgiana could hug her brother with an equally effusive exclamation.

"Oh, Fitzwilliam! Is it true? I know how much you hoped...I was so eager for things to go well between you when you went to Hertfordshire. And now you are to marry! And I am to gain a sister at last!" Mrs. Annesley sat and smiled serenely as she surveyed the scene. Mr. Darcy could hardly speak for all the questions he was barraged with. He looked helplessly to Mrs. Annesley, who rose in her usual dignified manner and closed the distance between herself and the trio of happy people.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam? Miss Darcy? You might stand a better chance of hearing Mr. Darcy's story if you let the man speak," she smiled. Like two scolded children, the pair skulked over to the settee and sat down. Mrs. Annesley, however, stepped up to Mr. Darcy and placed a motherly kiss upon his cheek and wished him joy before retiring to her seat near the window. Mr. Darcy, a bit startled by her impulsive gesture, chuckled as he took the chair near her and told his tale. When he had done, he informed Georgiana that she would be hosting a dinner party for the Bennets and Gardiners next evening.

"You come, too, Fitzwilliam. I have invited Miss Crenshaw; we may as well have all the happy couples present," Mr. Darcy smiled

"I have never hosted a dinner party for strangers before, Fitzwilliam. I am not sure I am up to it," Georgiana said almost in a whisper. Mr. Darcy reached out and patted his sister's hand reassuringly.

"You will do fine. Mrs. Annesley and Cook will assist you in all the particulars. I am very eager for you and Elizabeth to meet and I thought that it might be easier to become acquainted here at home rather than at our aunt and uncle's dinner party in two days."

"If you insist, then brother. I will do everything in my power to make a good impression," Georgiana replied.

"Splendid! Now I do not know about you, but I am exhausted. Will you excuse me until it is time for dinner?" When Mr. Darcy left the room, Georgiana turned with wondering eyes to her cousin.

"Is it not wonderful? Fitzwilliam looks so happy."

"I daresay that news of this engagement will make many people happy, Georgiana. A great many people...."

One who would not be made happy by this news was sitting in her room sorting out her wardrobe when her brother knocked upon the door.

"May I come in, Caroline?" Mr. Bingley said, opening the door a crack.

"Yes, do come in, brother. Relieve me of this tedium." Mr. Bingley sat down on the only part of the bed not heaped with clothing.

"You would not be subjected to this tedium if you stayed in London, Caroline," he said gently. Miss Bingley looked up at her brother for the first time. The tone in his voice had surprised her. She had not until that point considered that her brother Charles might miss her when she left. She shook off the notion, however, and resolutely began sorting once more. Mr. Bingley sat and watched for a moment, letting his eyes take in the wide array of ensembles that seemed to be randomly strewn about.

"Good God, how long are you packing for Caroline?" he exclaimed. Instead of answering, his sister shot him a look of warning. Mr. Bingley was quiet for a moment, trying to assess his sister's mood. Realizing that there would be no good time to break his news, he decided to get it over with.

"I have some news, Caroline. You may find it unpleasant..." Mr. Bingley sought the right words.

"It concerns Mr. Darcy and Eliza Bennet, does it not?" she said without any show of emotion or concern.

"Yes...yes it does," replied Mr. Bingley, frowning. "How did you know?"

"He certainly wasted no time," Miss Bingley said, holding up a never-worn blue gown for inspection. Her eyes never saw the garment, however, as she discarded it without even looking up. After a moment, she stopped digging through the piles of clothing and sighed. "Mr. Darcy loves her. He will never love anyone else. He told me so." If Mr. Bingley was surprised by this revelation, he did not show it. He was too concerned for his sister's dull spirits.

"Is that why you want to leave London?"

"What is there for me to do here, Charles? Listen to my 'friends' snicker behind my back? Watch the two of you fawn and simper over your 'lovely' brides to be while I am made a laughing stock?" Miss Bingley did not deign to suppress the bitterness in her tone. She knew, however, that at least part of her anger was derived from self-reproach. She had failed miserably in her efforts to secure Mr. Darcy and her last desperate act had made the possibility of a civil relationship with Mr. Darcy nigh impossible.

"You can come back to Netherfield with me. Let people in town laugh if they want to. I care nothing about that. I do not like the idea of you traveling across the Continent alone to your sister, and you insist on leaving without securing a suitable traveling companion. And I had hoped...I hoped to have at least one of my sisters by my side when Jane and I married...Please reconsider, Caroline--for me, if not for yourself," Mr. Bingley pleaded. Miss Bingley looked into her brother's eyes.

"You do know that I was dead-set against your marriage to Jane Bennet and that I urged Mr. Darcy to interfere in your courtship?" she said, testing her brother's will.

"'Remember the past only as it gives you pleasure,'" Mr. Bingley murmured to himself as a smile came to his lips. Aloud he said, "You are my sister; no matter what you have done, you are priceless and irreplaceable to me. You will come to Netherfield and sit by my side at my wedding breakfast." Miss Bingley hugged her brother to her heart and took comfort in his staunch defense. She turned to look at the mess behind her.

"I suppose I have to have all of this put away, then," Miss Bingley laughed.

"All but one, my dear," Mr. Bingley said, picking up an elegant evening gown of gold silk. "You are going to a dinner tomorrow night at Mr. Darcy's townhouse."

As soon as it was possible to do so, Olivia and Jane extricated Elizabeth from the clutches of her ecstatic mother, and led her, much as Mr. Darcy had earlier, to the relative seclusion of Mr. Gardiner's study.

"Please, you must promise me that you will not ask me anything about Mr. Darcy's taste in foods, or about the décor of his townhouse, or the likelihood of my lace being finer than Miss Bingley's," Elizabeth laughed. "I have had quite enough of that for one day." The ladies deposited Elizabeth on the settee.

"Now, Lizzy. We want to hear every detail," demanded Olivia.

"Yes, Lizzy! Did you really propose to Mr. Darcy?" asked a dubious Jane.

"Of course I did." She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. "But you must never breathe a word of this to Mama. He did not actually say yes!" She looked into the shocked and curious faces of her companions and laughed.

"Every detail," repeated Olivia. Elizabeth sat back and smiled enigmatically.

"Very well. But truly, it must go no further than this room. You may not even tell your Mr. Bingley or your Colonel. Mr. Darcy might not wish for his friends to hear this tale," Elizabeth said with a stern look at each lady, who swore herself to complete silence.

"Well, when you left us alone, Mr. Darcy begged to be allowed to propose again....

"Dearest Elizabeth, will you not listen to my proposal? I have spent the better part of the last three months dreaming of the day when I might have the opportunity to ask for you hand again," pleaded Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth smiled indulgently.

"If it would make you happy, sir," she replied with a tinge of ennui in her voice. She sat down upon a chair and neatly arrayed her skirts about her, suppressing a smile. When she had done, she looked up at Mr. Darcy expectantly.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy said, rubbing his hands nervously and coming to her side. Elizabeth squinted up at him.

"Are you thanking me listening to your proposal?" she asked as she shook her head, and still suppressing her smile, awaited Mr. Darcy's speech. But that man looked at her, slightly alarmed. Elizabeth raised her brows in question.

"You are not going to wear that...that face, are you?" he asked with a gesture towards her head.

"Is there a problem with my face, sir?" Elizabeth asked, raising a hand to her cheek. "I thought you were rather fond of it...." Mr. Darcy sensed that he was being teased.

"I meant...I am sorry...." Elizabeth placed her hands in her lap and turned her eyes to Mr. Darcy with an angelic expression.

"Pray continue, Mr. Darcy," she said.

"Perhaps you should call me Fitzwilliam."

"Pray continue, Fitzwilliam. Fitzwilliam?" Mr. Darcy silenced her with a look and took one of her hands in his.

"Elizabeth...Oh, I believe it is customary for the gentleman to kneel." Mr. Darcy began to do so, when Elizabeth stopped him with a hand to his shoulder.

"You did not kneel the first time," she offered.

"No...uh, no. I suppose I was too nervous," was Mr. Darcy's reply.

"Are you nervous now?" Elizabeth asked innocently, as she observed the beads of perspiration on his brow.

"Yes," he breathed, and Elizabeth once again had to suppress her urge to giggle.

"Then perhaps you had better stand. I would not wish to put you off your game, Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth said, emphasizing the name. Elizabeth was completely enchanted by Mr. Darcy's efforts to make the moment perfect and memorable, but the whole scene was unnerving to her. She really did not want to hear Mr. Darcy's proposal, fearing that it would evoke memories unpleasant to both of them. She had won Mr. Darcy's heart and he was to be hers forever. That was all that mattered to Elizabeth. She was willing to indulge Mr. Darcy's desire to propose; she just wished he would not take it so seriously.

But this proposal meant everything to Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's acceptance would mark the end of a very sad and disturbing chapter in their lives as well as a new beginning. He could not help being nervous. Although Elizabeth had apparently already agreed to marry him (and he could not remember her actually doing so), he feared in his soul that she might refuse him again. A frightened voice inside him told him that this would be the defining moment in his life. And now Elizabeth was laughing at him! Mr. Darcy turned away to compose himself. When he turned back after a few seconds, he found Elizabeth leaning over and wiping dried mud from the toe of her shoe. She looked up and caught Mr. Darcy's eye. The look of alarm she found there very nearly made her burst out laughing. She sat up and arranged her skirts once again. Mr. Darcy sighed deeply.

"My dearest Elizabeth, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you," Mr. Darcy began.

"Excuse me," Elizabeth interrupted, this time without a smile, "But was that not your first proposal?" Mr. Darcy's eyes grew very wide.

"Well...uh, yes. I guess it was."

"You would want to do the second one, I think," Elizabeth replied evenly.

"But it still applies!" Mr. Darcy pleaded.

"Oh." Mr. Darcy cleared his throat.

"Almost from the first moment I--."

"Forgive me, Mr. Darcy--Fitzwilliam. But I have heard all of this before...."

"Yes, but...." Mr. Darcy sputtered.

"....And quite frankly it only brings to mind your first proposal, and well...perhaps it would be better if you moved along," Elizabeth said softly. Mr. Darcy understood, and was eager to comply.

"But do you not want me to tell you how much I love you?" he asked looking a bit despondent.

"Oh, yes, please!" Elizabeth exclaimed, her first real display of enthusiasm since Mr. Darcy began. He stood for a moment, obviously trying to remember what he had planned to say. After a moment he shrugged.

"I love you," Mr. Darcy said simply. Elizabeth's smile was radiant. "I love your eyes. I love the way your eyebrows move. I love your mouth, your hair...." Elizabeth erupted in gales of laughter. Mr. Darcy looked affronted.

"Forgive me Mr. Darcy...I mean Fitzwilliam. But it is too funny! Are you declaring your love or taking inventory of my parts?" she asked archly. Mr. Darcy knelt by her side and, resting his elbow on the armrest, he cupped his chin in his palm and smiled wickedly.

"I would love to inventory your parts!"

"Mr.--Fitzwilliam!" Elizabeth blushed crimson. Having discomfited Elizabeth out of her teasing, Mr. Darcy rose and looked at her smugly.

"May I continue?" Elizabeth could only manage a nod.

"I love you, Elizabeth, more than anything in the world. I...I do not know how...I can live without you. I mean I cannot live without you," Mr. Darcy stammered. "Blast! Now I have gone and forgotten what I was about to say."

"You were about to propose marriage," Elizabeth replied, laughter welling up inside her once more.

"I know!" Mr. Darcy snapped. "I am sorry," he said softly, immediately feeling contrite.

"So am I, my love; please forgive me."

"Please marry me."

"That is your proposal?" Elizabeth cried, as Mr. Darcy threw up his hands and strode to the window. It had all seemed so simple when he was with her in the garden. The setting was perfect, the timing--all he lacked was privacy. What would have been so bad about a public proposal? It could be no worse than the private humiliation he was currently being subjected to. Elizabeth rose and followed Mr. Darcy to the window. She laid her cheek against his shoulder blade. Mr. Darcy did not acknowledge her. She reached for his hand and led him to the seat she had formerly occupied.

"Perhaps you had better let me handle this," she said smiling sweetly at Mr. Darcy, who was completely lost.

"Madam?"

"Mr. Dar...Fitzwilliam, we have known each other for some time now, and, as you know, our path to happiness has not been a smooth one." Elizabeth knelt before Mr. Darcy, who was so transfixed by the look in her eye he was unaware of what she was doing.

"After I received your letter, I realized for the first time what I meant to you. I also had to confront my own feelings, and I discovered that I loved you more than I ever thought imaginable." Mr. Darcy reached out then, and stroked Elizabeth's cheek. She took up his hand and turning it over kissed his palm. She clutched it to her heart.

"I learned that day, and have lived every moment since with the certain knowledge that your love is essential to my own existence. I have been as miserable these last few weeks as you have been, Fitzwilliam. My future happiness depends upon your willingness to spend the rest of your life by my side. Will you?" Mr. Darcy stared at Elizabeth, moved beyond words, beyond tears even, by the poignancy with which she had spoken. Elizabeth smiled reassuringly, and Mr. Darcy slowly came to his senses.

"Impressive...very impressive!" Elizabeth laughed.

"And your answer, Fitzwilliam?" Mr. Darcy abruptly stood, pulling Elizabeth to her feet as he went.

"I would be a complete fool to reject such a proposal. But the man is supposed to do the proposing, Elizabeth, not the potential bride." Elizabeth placed her fists on her hips.

"Are you going to refuse me, then?" she challenged. Mr. Darcy swept Elizabeth into his arms.

"I am done being a fool, Elizabeth," he said, and sealed the bargain with a kiss.

"Oh my!" Olivia said, fanning herself.

"And to think I let Charles prattle on for twenty minutes!" sighed Jane.

Continued In Next Section