Part 1
Author's Note: I recently watched the 1940 version of P & P and thought I'd write a sequel to that version. In case you have not seen it, it various from the book. One of the main differences is that Lady Catherine likes Elizabeth and helped Darcy discover her feelings. You might want to watch the movie before reading this.
Mr. Darcy slowly pulled his head away from Elizabeth's and gave her a large unreserved smile.
"I trust that means you will marry me, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth?" He asked in a rather joyous voice.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy you could safely assume that I would not kiss a man I was prepared to refuse." Elizabeth offered as a rejoinder.
"Yes, well I do have a lot of experience in refusal from you don't I?" Was his cheeky response.
Elizabeth was truly amazed. This was Mr. Darcy, the man she once thought proud and arrogant. Now he was seating with her on a bench in her backyard, teasing her. Well, he was certainly not going to get the best of her.
"Mr. Darcy..."
"Fitzwilliam," He interrupted.
"Fitzwilliam, I am under the impression that in order to ascertain my feelings for you, you sent your aunt, Lady Catherine, to insult me, degrade my family, and promise never to marry you. Is that correct?" Elizabeth asked archly.
"Yes. She likes you very much and was glad to be of service." Mr. Dar...er...Fitzwilliam replied.
"Well Fitzwilliam, hiding behind your aunt's skirts are you?" Elizabeth retorted with the air of someone that won, and knew it.
Mr. Darcy did not reply, but he did shift uncomfortably in his seat. He suddenly remembered that he must ask her father's permission to marry her and promptly suggested the idea.
He offered her his arm and they started a leisurely pace towards the house for they had much to discuses. She began by again thanking him for his rescue of Lydia and the Bennet family's honor.
"If anyone should be offering thanks it should be I, Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy replied earnestly, "For without you I would continue to be the spoiled man I have been all my life. As my Aunt Catherine told me today, you have properly humbled me and I shall try to deserve you everyday of my life."
Elizabeth looked set to object, but Mr. Darcy interrupted her. "When you refused my first proposal, we were perfectly justified. Although some of your reasons were founded on misinformation, I had acted in an uncivil and ungentlemanly manner towards you from the first moments of our acquaintance. I do believe that I truly loved you when I proposed at Hunsford, but now I believe I did not understand the depth of that love. Never in my life had I been unsure of the return of any emotion I had. I was truly a selfish man. I am the heir of a large fortune and a grand estate, and I do not believe I am too intolerable to look out." At his last statement Elizabeth nearly irrupted with laughter, for he was indeed the handsomest man she had ever meet. With a small smile Darcy continued," Therefore, everyone I had ever meet tried desperately to gain my good favor. With you the roles were reversed. It was I that had to change to become acceptable to the only woman I could ever love. You have not only made me a better man, you love me and allowed me to love you, and for that I am eternally grateful."
Elizabeth took awhile to digest all of this knew information she had learned about the man she loved. She decided that their conversation had begun to get much to heavy for the time being. She the inquired of Mr. Darcy when he feel in love with her.
"I can not recall the look or moment when I knew I was in love but confess I was in the middle before it began." Was his reply. "And you Elizabeth, when did you fall in love with me?"
"William, can I call you that, William?" She asked hesitantly.
"You my call me anything you wish for I will always answer."
"Well, the William, I think I realized I loved you when you came to offered your assistance after Lydia's elopement. It was then, after your explanation of past dealings with Mr. Wickam, that all my past prejudices slipped away. I will never forget what you said as you closed the door 'Good-bye Miss. Bennet, I will probably never see you again. God bless you, Elizabeth.' You have no idea how much pain I felt when you left, and I realized I had lost the only man I could ever marry." Elizabeth finished in a low voice and she realized their conversation had once again grown very serious.
"I image the pain was equal to that of when the woman you love tells you to your face that she hates you, and could never love you." Mr. Darcy offered with a small smile.
Lizzy looked very ashamed at his last comment and looked set to apologize but he shook his head.
"We have been over it before, Elizabeth. Your reply to my proposal was the only one acceptable." He said earnestly.
"Elizabeth, what did you think when my Aunt came to your house today?"
"I was thoroughly amazed that see should come to visit me. I could see no motive, as the Collins were already here and she could not be acting the part of a messenger. She then began to speak in a highly improper manner and insulted me in every way possible. She then asked me to promise never to enter an engagement with you and threatened to take away every shilling you owned if you married me. She then informed me that you had saved Lydia from herself and she believed you to love me. This new revelation gave me hope I never believed I would feel. She then threatened to stay until I promised to refuse you. I offered her a room, but she thought it wiser to go to her carriage." Elizabeth answered.
"When she came to the carriage where I was awaiting your verdict, she told me you had refused. I took this to mean you refused to see me and I was plunged into a deep despair. She then told me that you had 'refused to agree to refuse' me. My despair was lifted and changed to elation faster than I imagined possible. She proceeded to call me a spoiled child and say that you were the woman that could put in my place." Darcy said with a grin.
The couple suddenly realized they had been standing in front of the door of Longbourn for sometime now. They looked at each other and laughed out loud. They reluctantly separated to a proper distance in the hallway. Mr. Darcy went in search of Mr. Bennet. As was expected the aforementioned gentleman was in his study. When Mr. Darcy applied for Elizabeth's hand the Mr. Bennet made it clear that he, unfortunately, was unable to give in sort of dowry to Darcy. Darcy made it equally clear that money meant nothing to him as he was marrying for love. The latter gentlemen spoke with such passion, as the former had no doubt of his being in love. Mr. Bennet, always a keen observer had noticed his daughter's attachment as well. Never being able to deny Elizabeth anything, Mr. Bennet was left no option other than to welcome Darcy into the family.
Part 2
Before Darcy was two steps out of Mr. Bennet's office, a beaming Mr. Bingley charged through the hall and nearly knocked Darcy over.
"Careful, Bingley, I am much too handsome to bruise."
Bingley failed to notice is friends teasing remark for his brain was full of much more important thoughts.
"Yes, yes of course," was Bingley's extremely absentminded reply.
Bingley passed Darcy and knocked upon Mr. Bennet's door. Darcy turned from his friend and walked towards Elizabeth slowly shaking is head in an amused somewhat annoyed fashion. All thoughts of Bingley and his love life quickly fled Darcy's mind when he saw his Elizabeth. His Elizabeth. Darcy's face was covered in such a look of utter happiness and contentment that Elizabeth had no doubt of her father's favorable reply. Darcy took his leave a short time later, and both Darcy and Elizabeth parted company happier than they could remember being. Elizabeth informed her family of her engagement that night, and was made even more happy by Jane's announcement of her engagement to a certain Netherfield gentleman.
Both Darcy and Elizabeth wrote letters to their family members to share their joy. Although it is certain that all of these letters were met with much happiness, it is still necessary to elaborate the circumstances of their reception.
The situation immediately before Lady Catherine read of the letter was such, Col. Fitzwilliam, who Lady Cat. chanced upon in London looking quite depressed, was returning from hunting, Mrs. Collins was at home, and Mr. Collins was walking up the yard towards Rosings. When Lady Catherine's reading of the letter, several very interesting things happened. You see, at Lady Catherine's realization of Darcy's good fortune, she stood up and yelled gleefully 'You got her Boy.' Unfortunately(or possibly fortunately,) Col. Fitzwilliam's dogs heard 'Go get him boys' and started out after Mr. Collins.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Mrs. Collins was made a widow, and Col. Fitzwilliam was looking quite well. Col. Fitz. started at a run towards the parsonage to inform Mrs. Collins of her husband's well-timed demise. Fitz came back an hour later with good news of his own. It seems that Fitzwilliam had spent a good deal of time pining for a married woman, who wasn't married anymore. So it goes that Darcy's and Elizabeth's news was not the only, nor the strangest at Rosings that day.
At the Gardiner's house in London "John, come here and tell me what you make of this" called Mrs. Gardiner.
...I have some good news for you, I am to be married. Mr. Darcy has proposed and I have accepted. Oh, I am so happy I can hardly write. I love him so very much!Yours, ect.
Mr. Gardiner look just as confused as his wife, "it seems Lizzy is to be married. My dear I have but one question, who is Mr. Darcy?"
Due to the utter shock of both her relations, the letter Elizabeth received in reply was more inquisitive than congratulatory.
Throughout this entire, Elizabeth and Darcy where enjoying their time of courtship. They particularly enjoyed the time they got to spend only together on walks. On one such walk, both parties had some news to share.
"Elizabeth, I have some very shocking news to share with you. It seems that Col. Fitzwilliam has eloped with Charlotte Lucas."
"What? Charlotte eloped with Col. Stud...er...Fitzillliam? What happened to Mr. Collins?"
"It seems that Mr. Collins had a rather unfortunate meeting with the Lady Catherine's dogs. Rather gruesome I understand. But it really doesn't say much about it." Darcy replied in a voice with only the slightest hint of amusement detectable.
"That is too bad for Mr. Collins," Lizzy replied sounding entertained and guilt at the same time. "I also have a letter from my aunt and Uncle that live in London requesting that we pay them a visit. Would you like to meet my relatives?"
"Yes of course. But I think Jane and Bingley should accompany us."
And so the plans were made and a few days later the four were ready to brave the long carriage ride. Little did they know that far more dangerous things awaited them.