Chapter Fifty-Three

T he Colonel, content that Georgiana's future was well in hand, rode to Meryton the next morning. He felt he probably could have imposed upon Bingley – evidently soon to be part of the Matlock family – to be allowed to stay at Netherfield, but this did not feel right to him, given that the man was not in residence. Thus, he stopped at the Red Lion Inn to engage a room and wash the worst of the road dust from his person before proceeding to Longbourn.

He was delighted to find Miss Bennet in the Longbourn parlour, as well as Mrs. Bennet, Miss Elizabeth and the Longbourn heir presumptive, Mr. Collins. The three younger girls were not in evidence. Courtesies were exchanged; he apologised for having been absent for so long and he was assured that he had been much missed.

"I cannot remain long, Miss Bennet, as my presence is yet required in London; but I could not bear to be gone from you," he told her.

She pinked with pleasure and Mrs. Bennet said, "Charming! Charming!"

Mr. Collins leapt into the conversation, saying, "Colonel, you doubtless have not heard my own good news!" With scarcely a pause, he continued, "I have lately become engaged to Miss Charlotte Lucas."

The Colonel's eyebrows rose. Someone was willing to marry this idiot? But he replied, smoothly, "I do not believe I have had the pleasure of meeting your intended, Mr. Collins."

Mrs. Bennet replied, "She is the eldest daughter of our neighbours, Sir and Lady Lucas. She has been a good friend to our family for many years, and will doubtless be a worthy mistress of Longbourn."

The Colonel saw Miss Elizabeth hiding a smile. Perhaps this had not been Mrs. Bennet's first reaction.

"Might we walk in the garden, Miss Bennet? Miss Elizabeth?" the Colonel suggested. Was it too much to hope that Mr. Collins would not join them? Luck was with him, as the suggestion about the garden evidently prompted Mr. Collins to recollect that his betrothed would doubtless appreciate similar exercise in the Lucas garden, and he left after many compliments to his hostess, his cousins and the Colonel.

Between Mr. Collins' extended adieu and the need for winter garb, it was a full twenty minutes before Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth were in the garden. Miss Elizabeth walked ahead while he and Miss Bennet sat on a bench. "I am glad to see you, Colonel," Miss Bennet said in her soft voice. "How is your cousin?"

"Darcy? He is –"

"Oh, no, forgive me; I meant to enquire after Miss Darcy."

He sighed. "It is a difficult situation."

"Do not speak of it if it gives you pain."

"If my hopes are realised, she will be your cousin as well." There! How would she react to that?

She looked at him full in the face and smiled – beautifully! gloriously! – before blushing fiercely and looking at her shoes.

The Colonel sighed. "Her marriage is not valid; the man was already married."

Miss Bennet gasped and turned pale. "Oh, no! It was bad enough, but that –"

"No, it is worse yet; she is with child."

The large blue eyes filled with tears. "What will be done for her? What can be done for her?"

The Colonel realised only then that the mention of Mr. Bingley might bring her pain; but there was nothing to be done for it now. "Mr. Bingley has offered to marry her."

"Mr. Bingley?" Her voice rose in surprise.

"Yes; does that distress you?"

"No, it does not." Then, as if just now discovering the truth of it, she repeated, in a tone of wonderment. "No, it does not distress me at all. He is a kind man and will be good to her."

"It is to be kept secret, Miss Bennet. It would be best if no-one knows that Mrs. Bingley was once Georgiana Darcy. And may I say that I am so very, very glad that you are not disturbed by this news?"

Their eyes met and a silent conversation took place in a moment. Then Miss Bennet gave a little gasp and said, "Oh! Does Miss Bingley know?"

The Colonel laughed aloud. "Miss Bingley no longer lives with Mr. Bingley. He has released her dowry to her and has set her up in a townhouse in London, with the warning to never again darken his doorway."

Miss Bennet stared at him in disbelief. Then she began to giggle; the giggle turned into a chuckle; the chuckle turned into a laugh. "Oh! Oh! I am certain I should not be amused, poor Miss Bingley! But –" And then she was off again.

Her blue eyes were wide with merriment, and her plump lips tilted most enticingly at the corners. If the Colonel had not already fallen in love with her, he would have done so at that very moment.

***

Elizabeth walked until she could see, but no longer hear, the Colonel and her sister. She knew she was supposed to chaperone them, but it was as plain as the nose on his face that the Colonel would die before dishonouring Jane in any way.

Finally, the Colonel and Jane came to join her. The Colonel said, "Miss Elizabeth, my cousin Darcy is devastated."

Her eyes filled with tears. "I am sorry," she whispered. "But you understand, do you not?"

"I do, and I cannot say that you are wrong."

"If I were a fortune hunter, if I did not wish to marry for love, I would leap at the chance to marry him, but I am not and I will not." She stood straight, head held high. The Colonel understood how this young woman had so captivated his elusive cousin.

***

Back in the parlour, Mrs. Bennet invited the Colonel to stay for dinner. She apologised for the lack of beef, as she had not known that there would be a guest, but added that she was certain that her Cook's skill would make up for that lack.

"I would be delighted to join the family for dinner, Mrs. Bennet, and I thank you for your kindness to me." In addition to the welcome opportunity to spend more time with Miss Bennet, the Colonel thought it high time that he met the lady's father.

***

At the dinner table, Mr. Bennet learnt of the Colonel's intention of quitting the army in order to take up residence at Chestnut Creek, an estate that had recently been gifted to him by his cousin Darcy.

"Shall you like not being in the army?" Lydia asked. "I cannot imagine being privileged to wear a red coat and then discarding it for farmer's wear!" Her disgust was clear.

"The military is an excellent way to serve king and country, Miss Lydia," was his response. "But one may also serve by being a generous and fair landowner. England's true strength lies not in her army or her navy, but in the good character of her people."

Everyone at the table seemed much struck by this observation.

"Your estate shall need a mistress," Mrs. Bennet soon observed, slyly.

"And I hope it shall have one, as soon as may be," was the heartening response.

After dinner, Mr. Bennet and the Colonel sat alone at the table, Mr. Collins having been invited again to dinner at Lucas Lodge.

The Colonel accepted a small glass of brandy so that his host was not forced to drink alone. He took a deep breath. "Mr. Bennet, I would like your permission to ask Miss Bennet to marry me. I know I should first request a courtship, but I do not think she and I need more time to learn about one another."

Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair. He had been expecting this, of course, as Mrs. Bennet had been at great pains to tell him about the Colonel's attentions to their eldest daughter. "Tell me about yourself and your family," he ordered.

As the Colonel spoke, Mr. Bennet observed him closely. He was a good man from an excellent family, of that there was no doubt. He was not book-learned, as was Mr. Darcy, but then again Jane would be uncomfortable with too much book-learning. The Colonel's strength of character was more important; his gentle eldest daughter would feel safe with such a husband.

Mr. Bennet asked, "Do you love her?"

"I do, very much."

"And this Chestnut Creek can support her? For she has very little dowry, only her share of the four thousand pounds Mrs. Bennet brought into the marriage."

"Chestnut Creek brings in about three thousand pounds a year; I have no doubts as to my ability to support her and any children we may be granted."

"Three thousand?! Very well, then. Have you spoken to her yet?"

"I have not, though I think my intentions have been clear enough."

Mr. Bennet sighed and rose from his chair. "Come with me, then."

The two men walked into the drawing room together. "Jane," Mr. Bennet began. "Jane, I believe this young man would like a private interview with you. You may use my study, but the door is to remain open. You have fifteen minutes."

Predictably, Mrs. Bennet squealed, Jane blushed, Lizzy laughed aloud with joy, and the three younger girls hardly reacted at all.

***

In the study, the Colonel ushered his lady to a chair and knelt at her feet. "Miss Bennet, your father has given his permission for me to ask for your hand in marriage. I hope – nay, I believe – that your feelings toward me are favorable. I will make it my life's mission to make you happy every day, every moment of your life. Would you do me the immense honour of consenting to be my wife?"

Jane Bennet immediately replied, "Yes, Colonel. I would be happy beyond words to marry you!"

He jumped to his feet and pulled her up from her chair. He kissed her, gently at first, a mere brushing of the lips; then with a moan, he deepened the kiss. After some minutes so employed, he broke the kiss, whispering "You are so lovely," and resting his forehead on hers. Then he lifted his head, pulled a small fabric-covered box from his pocket and gave it to her. Jane opened the box, revealing a lovely gold ring, set with sapphires.

"My mother gave me this to present to you," he said. "It is a Matlock family heirloom."

"It is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen," his betrothed whispered. She held out her hand so that he might slide the ring onto her slender finger. "Please thank the Countess for her thoughtfulness."

A few minutes later, the couple entered the drawing room, both smiling widely, to accept the congratulations of her family.

"When? When shall it be?" Mrs. Bennet asked, eagerly.

"As soon as may be," was his ready reply. "If the banns are first called this Sunday, we could marry soon after the new year begins. That will give me time to visit my solicitor to have marriage articles prepared, also to journey to my new estate to make certain all is in readiness to receive its new mistress. Would the twelfth of January suit, Miss Bennet?"

"I think you can safely call her Jane," Lizzy said, laughing at her blushing sister.

"And I am Richard," was his rejoinder. "You are all shortly to be my family, so I hope you will all call me by my Christian name."

***

That night, as Jane and Elizabeth curled up together for warmth, Jane whispered what she had learnt from the Colonel about Miss Darcy. Lizzy could barely contain her shock. "Expecting? And marrying Mr. Bingley? It is unbelievable!"

"Shhh, Lizzy, you cannot tell anyone!"

"I know. Oh, that poor, poor girl," Elizabeth whispered. But in her heart, she wondered anew if Miss Darcy's situation would keep Mr. Darcy away forever.