Chapter 25

E lizabeth had to own that Charlotte looked happy to marry William Collins. She had long taken Mama's words regarding not judging others by her own preferences to heart, but she had wanted to be sure her good friend would be sanguine with her marriage.

Seeing the glow on her new cousin as she and her husband greeted the guests at the wedding breakfast drove the last vestiges of doubts regarding Charlotte's choice from her mind. She could not but smile at the way Charlotte redirected her husband's overly verbose exclamations at times when they spoke to those attending the celebratory meal at Lucas Lodge. All it took was a look from Charlotte, or at most a touch on his arm for Mr. Collins to rein in his speech.

She could not help but be amused when she watched Sir William strutting around the wedding breakfast, his arm still in a sling, as proud as a peacock his eldest daughter had made a good match. Charlotte had conveyed it was a matter of days before her father would have the use of his injured arm again.

Seeing her friend's father brought the late reprobate who had caused the injury and stolen his horse to mind. In his case the ultimate punishment had been more than deserved. Those thoughts reminded her of how pleased Sir William had been when his gelding had been restored to him.

The Runners' investigation in London had led them to the lad who had assisted the late criminal in selling the horse he had stolen. In return for not being arrested for purchasing a pilfered horse, the owner of the stables had surrendered Arthur without complaint. A day later, horse and master had been reunited. Sir William, who was enamoured with tales of Camelot, was eternally grateful Arthur had been brought home.

Elizabeth approached Charlotte and William Collins to add her felicitations on their marriage just after Jane, Mary, and Richard had paid their respects.

Richard led Mary to a quiet corner of the room. "Mary, when we return to Longbourn, would you please grant me the honour of a private interview?" Richard requested.

It had been some time since Mary had been hoping Richard would propose, so she felt an inordinate amount of relief and joy at his request. She realised she had not responded, and Richard was looking at her expectantly and with a little uneasiness at her delay in giving him an answer. "Richard, my delay was due to my happiness at your request," Mary assured her suitor who she hoped would soon be her fiancé. "It is my pleasure to grant you a private interview, as long as Mama and Papa agree to it." Knowing how much she was in anticipation of a proposal from Richard, she knew beyond any doubt her parents would do nothing to deny their permission.

Her answer caused Richard to grin from ear to ear. "In that case, I will seek your parents and make my request," Richard stated as he looked around the room. He spied the Bennet parents in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Philips and their son Elias. He led Mary to her sisters, and then with purpose headed towards the group who were still speaking.

He did not interrupt, but rather Richard waited patiently. He noticed Bennet saw him and, with a knowing grin on his face, kept speaking to the Philipses. That was until his wife gently elbowed him in his ribs.

"Did you want to speak to us?" Bennet asked innocently as if he was not fully aware that was exactly what the younger man desired .

"On condition that the two of you approve, Mary has granted me her permission to address her in private once we are at Longbourn," Richard related succinctly. He did not want to give Bennet an opening to make sport.

Bennet was about to do just that when his wife spoke before he could say anything. "Thomas and I are more than pleased to bestow our permission for you to address Mary," Priscilla interjected. She ignored the put on pout on her husband's countenance.

Richard bowed to the two. "Much appreciated," he intoned before turning and making his way back to his soon-to-be fiancée—if she did indeed accept him.

"You spoilt my fun," Bennet said next to his Cilla's ear. It was said with amusement not disappointment. "I would not have sported with him too much before granting our consent."

"Knowing how much Mary has been hoping for Richard to speak, I would not delay him, even by a moment," Priscilla smiled at the love of her life.

"Yes, Dearest." Bennet squeezed his wife's hand.

Bennet and Cilla turned back to the three Phillipses who had been joined by Colonel and Mrs. Forster. The latter had seemingly made great changes, and her behaviour had improved significantly, while her vulgar effusions had all but disappeared. She was almost pleasant to be around since her husband had allowed her a final chance.

All too soon it was time for the bride and groom to depart. Once she had used the bedchamber of her youth for a final time in order to change for the journey to Hunsford—they would not be taking a wedding trip—Charlotte and her husband said the final round of goodbyes to family and friends. One of the last group she farewelled were the three Bennet sisters and her husband's patron.

"I will miss you, Jane, but I am in great anticipation of hosting Eliza and Mary in March," Charlotte related .

Hugs were imparted between the sisters and their new cousin. Soon thereafter, Mr. and Mrs. Collins made their way out to the Bennet carriage, lent to them to convey them to the parsonage at Hunsford, and with final wishes from Charlotte's family, they were off.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

"Biggs and Johns will be outside of the parlour and the door will remain partially open. You have no more than ten minutes," Bennet instructed before releasing Richard to lead Mary away to address her.

Richard bowed his head in acknowledgement and then he and Mary made their way to the parlour where the aforementioned footmen stood sentinel. From prior experience Richard knew the two men would keep an eye on the time and would make it known if they exceeded the allowed ten minutes.

He pushed the door closed leaving an opening to satisfy propriety and Bennet's instructions. When they reached the centre of the room, Richard took one of Mary's hands into each of his own and knelt on one knee.

"Mary Elizabeth Bennet, you see before you a man who would be lost without you walking life's paths at his side. When I first had the pleasure of being introduced to you, I felt drawn to you like a moth is to a flame. As beautiful as you are, it is your mind and character which made you attractive to me.

"When I requested our courtship, I told you I had not yet fallen in love with you. On that day it was true, but soon after I knew you were the only woman in the world I would ever love. By then, I had fallen irrevocably in love with you. Each day I discover more reasons to love you, and I could not respect you more if I tried.

"Mary, will you make me the happiest of men and agree to join your life to mine? Will you marry me?"

"Richard Hartley Fitzwilliam as you are the only man I could ever agree to marry, it is easy to reply to your question. Yes Richard—over and over, as many times as you need to hear it—yes I will marry you," Mary gushed.

It was the work of seconds before Richard was standing in front of Mary. He never relinquished his hold on her hands as he stood. If he was unsure whether or not Mary would allow him to kiss her, his doubts were banished when she tilted her head so her lips were waiting expectantly.

Being that Richard was less than a head taller than Mary it took a moment before she felt his lips brush her own. Even though the kiss had been very chaste, Mary felt the effect of the kiss from her lips to the tips of her toes. As pleasurable as it was, she wanted more. To make her point, she pushed up onto her toes and captured her fiancé's lips.

For an instant Richard froze, but just as quickly he knew he could never deny Mary anything she desired. At that moment she wanted him to kiss her, so kiss her he did. Each kiss deepened until his tongue flicked against her lips which parted without delay, giving him access to her mouth.

His arms snaked around her back pulling her closer to him, while Mary gripped the lapels of Richard's jacket. Time stood still for them, that was until they heard the two men outside clearing their throats loudly.

As much as neither wanted to break the contact between them, they both took one or two steps back from the other. Mary was concerned her legs would not support her as they had become jellified from the passion which had flowed between them. Thankfully they held her upright.

"It was never my aim, but I cannot believe that I, the youngest Bennet sister will marry before my older sisters," Mary stated.

"That will depend on your sisters not meeting the other half of their hearts and the length of time your parents desire for us to be engaged before we marry," Richard averred as soon as he had brought his breathing back under control. "I must speak to your father before we make plans for the wedding date."

"Yes, and I need to go to Mama," Mary agreed.

Before they turned towards the door, there was a single knock, and then without further notice the door was pushed open to reveal John Biggs and Brian Johns standing in the hallway.

Seeing the couple had some distance between them, the two men said and did nothing. Richard was the first to depart the parlour to seek out his soon to be father-in-law. Mary followed directly after on her way to the drawing room where her mother and sisters were located.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As soon as Mary entered the drawing room, her mother and two older sisters had no doubts regarding the result of the interview. Mary did not walk into the room so much as she was floating on the wings of the angels. The dreamy look she was sporting told those within everything they needed to know.

"Richard has gone to see Papa," Mary stated before she sat down next to her older sisters.

As her youngest daughter said no more, Cilla decided not to press her. Before she could say anything else, Hill entered the drawing room and informed the mistress the master requested her presence in his study.

"I was just explaining to Fitzwilliam here that due to us having a true partnership, even though granting permissions and blessings is the province of the father, I would not do so without your concurrence," Bennet drawled when his wife closed the door after she had entered the study. Bennet held out his hand and his Cilla joined him behind the desk, standing next to him her one elbow resting on his shoulder. Bennet looked at Fitzwilliam who was shifting from foot to foot. "You have a question for us? "

Even though he had never gone into the army, Richard knew from his friends that at times a frontal attack was best. This was one of those times. "Bennet and Mrs. Bennet, I asked Mary to be my wife, and she did me the greatest honour and accepted my hand. It will be my life's mission to make her happy all the days granted to us by God."

Bennet and Cilla looked at one another and communicated silently. They knew Mary would never repine marrying the man before them but it was still bittersweet, their youngest daughter would be leaving them sooner rather than later. There was no doubt in their minds that he deserved her and would make her happy. That the two loved and respected one another was not a question.

"We offer our permission and blessing for you to marry Mary," Bennet intoned. There was no missing the way their future son-in-law lit up with joy and pleasure. "How soon were you two planning to marry?"

"That is not something we have yet discussed, as it would have been placing the cart before the horse as we had not your consent yet," Richard averred. His answer pleased both Bennet parents.

"Mary is joining Lizzy in travelling to Kent in March which will give her an opportunity to see your estate and the neighbourhood," Priscilla noted. She looked at Thomas who nodded his agreement. "In that case, any time from a week after Easter will be acceptable to us."

Both saw the disappointment flash across Richard's face. "I know four months is longer than you had hoped for," Bennet commiserated, "but do not forget it was only August past when she turned nineteen. With the level of maturity Mary exhibits it is hard to remember her age at times."

He was to marry his beloved Mary, and yes, he would have preferred an engagement of two months or less, but at the same time he understood the points the Bennets were making .

"Once Jane joins the Gardiners in London after Twelfth Night, we will all follow so that we may begin to purchase Mary's trousseau," Prescilla decided.

"And then I will be able to show Mary…and you, the former De Bourgh House, now Fitzwilliam House, on Berkeley Square," Richard stated.

"You have not asked about Mary's dowry," Bennet pointed out.

"I know it is substantial, but I have more than enough for us and any children we are blessed with, so my intention is the settlement will leave her money under her control," Richard stated emphatically.

"We are more than aware your interest in Mary predates us disclosing our financial position or the approximate value of her dowry. Hence there was never a worry your desire to be with Mary was driven by pecuniary needs," Priscilla related. "We will leave the decision regarding Mary's dowry to the two of you."

Richard bowed his head in thanks for the Bennets' confidence in him.

"Come, it is time to make a formal announcement." Bennet stood and offered his arm to Cilla.

"Afterward, would you object if I use the study to compose some expresses?" Richard enquired. Permission was granted and Richard followed the couple out of the study.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

"Richard is engaged!" Lady Elaine proclaimed joyfully after she read the express which had just arrived that evening.

"To Miss Mary Bennet?" Georgiana queried.

"Yes, the very one," Lady Matlock confirmed. "I am so happy he found someone to love him who he loves in return."

"Of whom do you speak, Elaine?" Lord Matlock asked as he entered the drawing room. His wife gleefully handed him the express. "Good on you, Richard! I am well pleased we will meet our future daughter and her family in just over a sennight."

"As pleased as I am I will be spending the holidays at Holder Heights with William, Charity, and the rest, I would have liked to meet Miss Mary too," Georgiana lamented.

"If there is no wedding before then, you will meet her and Miss Elizabeth at Rosings Park when you and William are with Richard," Lady Elaine observed. "As long as William does not issue any more insults to anyone, especially not one named Bennet."

"I am sure he will behave," Georgiana asserted.

"We can only hope," Lady Elaine stated somewhat sceptically.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy stared at the express he had received from Richard. ‘ I suppose this will ease my way with Miss Elizabeth ,' he mused silently. ‘ It is a great step up for Miss Mary and the Bennets. It also means when I offer for her older sister it will be more acceptable as the Bennets will be connected to my aunt and uncle .'

Due to his being needed at Pemberley, he would not be able to join Richard at Netherfield Park to press his suit with Miss Elizabeth as he had planned after Twelfth Night. Thankfully he knew she would be at Hunsford when he and Anna went to visit Rosings Park.

He was sure he would be engaged to Miss Elizabeth before he departed Richard's estate.