Christmas at Darcy House

“She accepted!” Mr. Bingley’s voice preceded him into the room. “She accepted, Darcy!” The door burst open, and the man himself entered, sporting an enormous grin. “I am an engaged man.”

Oh no. Elizabeth’s heart froze. He had proposed to another woman already? It would break Jane’s heart, and then Elizabeth could never accept William.

Mr. Bingley stopped short at the threshold, nearly tripping over himself when he realized the size of the gathering he had interrupted.

“I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed with a chagrined smile. “I apologize for intruding like this.”

“Who accepted your offer, Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth’s father said in a dangerously low voice. “To whom are you engaged?”

Mr. Bingley’s smile faded somewhat, and he cleared his throat. “Well…actually, sir. I have just returned from…Netherfield. While there I made a trip to Longbourn where I spoke to Jane—Miss Jane Bennet.”

Elizabeth started smiling.

Miss Bingley started scowling.

“She graciously accepted my apology and my offer to love and cherish her for the rest of my life.” Despite the disconcerting experience of facing Jane’s father unexpectedly, Mr. Bingley glowed with happiness. “I just arrived in London today in the hopes of seeking you out to obtain your permission.” He grinned despite his uncertainty. “You have saved me the trouble of a trip to Gracechurch Street, sir.”

“You proposed marriage to Jane, and she accepted you?” Elizabeth’s father said slowly.

Mr. Bingley smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“But it was my understanding that your sister and Mr. Darcy convinced you to quit Netherfield because they felt Jane was not good enough for you,” he said.

Mr. Bingley’s eyes darted nervously to William and back to her father. “They did suggest it, yes, sir. But I made my own decision. Caroline and Darcy were convinced that Jane was indifferent to my attentions. However, a few days ago, Darcy visited Bingley House and said he believed he had been wrong about Jane’s indifference. He encouraged me to seek her out. I left for Hertfordshire immediately for the sole purpose of ascertaining her feelings.”

Miss Bingley had shrunk back into her chair, as if hoping nobody would notice her. She had known where her brother had traveled and with what purpose, and yet…

But Elizabeth did not have enough room in her heart for anger at that moment. She turned to William. “You told him that?”

He nodded, still regarding her warily. “I wished to make amends. The fault was mine, so should the remedy be.”

“Oh, thank you!” In her haste to reach William, Elizabeth knocked over her chair, reaching the head of the table within seconds. She threw her arms around an astonished William, pulling his head down toward hers and kissing him thoroughly.

“Miss Bennet!” Mr. Bingley exclaimed in astonishment.

It was not a short kiss, either. It was deep and searching and passionate. William tightened his hold around her waist as Elizabeth snuggled in to his body. She could not bear to release him, depriving herself of his warmth. The kiss continued…

Her father loudly cleared his throat—twice. Miss Bingley sniffed her disapproval. Miss Darcy giggled.

“Ah, Darcy, perhaps there was something you neglected to mention to me?” Mr. Bingley’s voice was amused.

Elizabeth did not want the kiss to end, but she had something she needed to say. Their lips parted, but she did not release her grip on his arms. “Yes,” she said, holding his gaze steadily.

“Yes?” His brows drew together.

“Yes, Mr. Darcy, I will marry you.”

A broad grin spread across his face. “You were wrong, Elizabeth,” he said.

“About what?”

“You said you had not brought me a gift for Christmas, but yo

u have given me the best one of all.”

Epilogue

The dining room at Darcy House was very large, but it may never have hosted so many people before. The Bennets were visiting from Hertfordshire, and various Fitzwilliam relatives had arrived from Derbyshire. A number of Bingley’s friends and relatives were gathered around the table as well. The children were being served their food in the breakfast room. Darcy had been hearing laughter from that direction intermittently.