Chapter 19

Late May, 1812

“Oh, how lovely!” Elizabeth cried out as Darcy assisted her out of the carriage.

“It is,” Jane agreed as she too stepped onto the grounds of Hyde Park, and was joined by her husband a moment later. “Charles, look over there at the beds of roses and tulips!”

He did so and placed an affectionate arm around his bride. “It is lovely, my dear.”

“I long to explore the path along the Serpentine,” Elizabeth mused, gazing toward the glittering waters stretching into the distance. “Jane, would that be too far for you to walk?”

Jane, who was experiencing the uncomfortable symptoms of early pregnancy, said, “I fear it is, but perhaps Mr. Darcy would be willing to walk with you, while Charles and I linger by the flower gardens here.”

Elizabeth looked at Darcy who promptly declared, “I would be honored and delighted, Miss Bennet.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said merrily. “Jane, I promise we will not walk too long.”

“Do not hurry,” Jane admonished. “We have lemonade and cakes in the carriage and will enjoy ourselves very much until your return.”

Elizabeth bestowed a grateful glance on the Bingleys and reached out to take Darcy’s arm. Together they began walking, in perfect amity, toward the Serpentine River.

Fresh green grass crinkled underfoot, as nodding blossoms bobbed and bowed in the playful nips of wind that rushed over to tug at loose curls about Elizabeth’s face. Branches tossed their leaves like horses tossing their manes, then trembled down into stillness again. Rough patches appeared across the surface of the meandering water, tiny hills and valleys that caught the sun and glittered like diamonds before vanishing into placidity once more.

Sun dappled down onto the perambulating couple, alternately spotting them in warmth and cool. The delicate aromas of the flowers rose up, perfuming the air, the grass crushed beneath their feet providing a sharper counterpoint. Up in the trees and down in the bushes, birds chirped and sang and called to one another. All around them strolled other visitors to the gardens; gentlemen in their fine coats and ladies in their bright dresses and bonnets in pairs or groups, exploring the winding paths or tripping across the grass.

After fifteen minutes of brisk walking, Elizabeth pulled her companion toward a stone balustrade that looked over the Serpentine, and after recovering her breath, said, “Mr. Darcy, I received a brief note from my father yesterday. He misses me and has instructed that I must return home to Longbourn.”

Darcy, who had been feeling a deep contentment in his very bones, felt as if someone had tossed a bucket of icy water in his face. “May I ask whether ... is it something to do with our courtship?”

Elizabeth turned and beamed up at him. “Not at all, for he does not know of it yet. My uncle Gardiner gave his blessing to our courtship, and my father is a poor correspondent. I thought it sensible to wait until we had learned more about one another before telling my father, especially as he might say something to my mother, who would in turn shout from the housetops the incredible news that her daughter was of interest to the wealthy Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.”

Her eyes were dancing at these words, but Darcy was too nervous to return a smile. “Do you feel that it is appropriate to tell your father now of our courtship, Miss Bennet?”

Elizabeth raised her eyes heavenward, pondering, and then said, “I think that it would far more appropriate to inform him of our engagement, if that is agreeable to you.”

It took Darcy a few seconds to grasp what his beloved had said but then a huge smile split his face. He reached out to grasp Elizabeth’s hands in his own and asked, a little tremulously, “Do you mean that you are willing to accept my offer?”

“Indeed I am,” the lady replied, her skin rosy with bashful pleasure. “I admire you, respect you, and love you, Mr. Darcy, and I believe we are very well matched. So if you still love me…”

“Love you? Of course! I adore you! I cherish and treasure and prize you! Oh, Miss Bennet, you have made me so happy!”

“I do believe, sir, that you ought to formally ask me for my hand,” Elizabeth declared, both amused and nervous.

He immediately placed a kiss on his lady’s hands and said, fervently, “Miss Bennet, would you do me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?”

“I would, Mr. Darcy. Thank you.”

/

The walk back to the carriage seemed all too short, as, in addition to expressing their love for one another, they spoke of practical aspects regarding when they would wed. To the delight of both parties, they were in agreement that the sooner they married, the better.

When they reached Jane and Bingley, who were resting on a bench near a profusion of roses, the delight on both their faces caused Jane to leap from her seat and embrace her sister enthusiastically, even as Bingley thumped Darcy’s back with joy.

“Oh, Lizzy, I am elated for you!” Jane finally said, pulling her handkerchief from her pocket and wiping her brimming eyes.

“We are happy as well,” Elizabeth said, and held out her hand toward the man who would soon be her husband. She gazed up into his handsome, joyful countenance and repeated, “Yes, we are very happy.”