All Hallow's Eve (22 page)

And now, this morning’s events would not leave her in peace.
William’s
speech
during their walk to the meadow
earlier today w
ould not
stop echoing in
her
mind
—
the
way he
had
said that she tempted him in every way
possible
haunted her
even now,
as she sat
in a room full of women
!
W
hen he
had
pr
ofessed h
is
love
for
her
, his
look
had been filled with such intensity
,
match
ing
his
expression from the day before when
she had
whispered
his name.

That
had been
what
she longed to see in the eyes of the man she would
someday
marry.
If only he would gaze upon her in
that
way at all times, there would be no confusion in her mind!

The thought shocked her.

Could
she
possibly
feel
this
way about anyone
other
than her
Soul Mate
?
Was she in love with William?

“
I never thought I would see that look upon
your
face, Lizzy!
”
Charlotte Lucas’s voice intruded upon her thoughts.

Elizabeth
had forgotten her surroundings;
therefore
,
when her friend
had
spoke
n
, it
startled
her
.
“
Charlotte
!
Excuse me
,
but
whatever do you mean
?
”

“
You have the look of love about you, Lizzy
,
”
Charlotte teased her life-long friend.
“
Who
is the lucky gentleman?
Mr. Darcy, perhaps?
”

S
uddenly remembering the
many
times that
they were in company together with William, and how
Charlotte had alluded to
hi
s feelings not being what Elizabeth had
originally
thought
,
Elizabeth
gasp
ed.
“
Charlotte?
W
hy did you insist that
he
cared
for me when all others were of the opinion that he
disliked
me?
”

Charlotte
raised both her eyebrows in surprise as she recognized
that
, for the first time,
Elizabeth was serious
ly
wishing to hear her opinion of
the gentleman
’s affections for her.
Was some small part of the rumo
u
rs and Mrs. Bennet’s boasting true?
She took Elizabeth’s hand
,
pulle
d her aside to a quiet corner, and pointed out a nearby window at nothing in particular to mislead anyone who might be watching
the two young ladies
.
“
Lizzy, it is my belief that the gentleman has always admired you
.
A
ll you
were ever required
to do was show the slightest preference toward him
in order
to secure him.
”

“
D
o you honestly think he
cares
for me, Charlotte?
Or could it be merely infatuation
,
or convenience
?
”

“
Does it matter, Lizzy?
You would be well settled
.
”

Elizabeth placed her hand upon her friend’s arm to sto
p her from speaking
and looked deeply into Charlotte’s eyes.
“
It matters a great deal to
me
.
”

Charlotte turned her head to make it seem as if she searched the landscape outside the window,
whil
st
she was
searching her memories instead.
After a minute or two,
a
slight
smile spread across her lips.
S
he returned Elizabeth’s
searching
gaze,
and
nodding
, she whispered,
“
Yes, Lizzy.
I
do
believe
that
he
cares for
you
a great deal
.
”

Elizabeth
looked out
the window,
blinking rapidly in an effort to
quell the tears that
had
fill
ed
her eyes
at
the
words
she
did not realize that she desperately
needed to hear from such a careful observer as Charlotte
. After a few minutes, she was able to regain her voice and sa
y
in a hushed tone
,
“
He was only seeing
me
home
safely
. I
t was all very innocent
.
”
Elizabeth completed the sentence in her mind
,
at least
it was
th
e
morning
that we were
seen
!

“
Alt
hough
most people
are aware
that Mrs. Wright
is prone to embellish her tales, you must know that
that knowledge
will not stop tongues from wagging, Lizzy
,
unless, of course, other more wonderful news
should
come along
to replace it
?
”
Charlotte ended in
a questioning
tone, having an inkling now of what had really
been worrying her friend
.

Elizabeth nodded.
“
If your father agrees to it,
Papa
will announce
our
betrothal this evening.
”

Charlotte took Elizabeth’s hand
, trying not to smile too widely lest she give away the news to the remainder of the room
.
“
That is
truly
excellent news, Elizabeth!
I believe
all
will be well.
”

A
wave of relief wash
ed
over
Elizabeth,
and
she
smiled.
“
Charlotte, suddenly
—
and
quite surprisingly
,
I might add
—
I
find that
I am
of the same opinion!
”

~%~

Mr. Bennet to
ok the first opportunity to tell
William
that
he
had
stopped by the vicar’s house on the way to the meadow to
arrange the reading
of
the banns
beginning
on the
Sunday
coming
.
“
H
e wishe
s
to meet with
Lizzy and you as
soon
as possible
.
”

“
T
here no
T
ribal ceremony
?
”

“
There was a long time ago, but we
honour
an English ceremony as well.
Perhaps you were not aware that in order for your children to be
legally
considered your heirs, the ceremony must be performed by a member of the clergy.
”

“
Thank you, sir.
I will send a letter express to the vicar at Pemberley
to ask him
to
read the banns there as well
.
”
William’s
distress
was clearly displayed on his features.

Concerned, Mr. Bennet stated,
“
Darcy, I cannot help but notice that y
ou
do not seem pleased about the prospect of marriage
.
”

“
H
aving Miss Elizabeth as my wife could do nothing but bring
me happiness.
If only she had not accepted out of necessity, my joy would be complete
.
”
William winced.
“
Sir
,
this is my fault.
Miss Elizabeth
did not want me to walk her home that da
y, but I
insisted that she
accept
my
protection.
If only I had listened to her!
”

“
You must learn some of Lizzy’s
usual
philosophy
, Darcy
. ‘Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.’
Her mind may not be bent i
n that
direction
at the moment, but it will
be
.
I have seen
the two of
you deep in discussion and laughing together, and anyone can plainly see that you both enjoy your training sessions.
These
are the moments she will remember in the future.
All will be well.
”

~%~

After
spending
the
entire
afternoon
with
out
her
,
William was more than
anxious to see
Elizabeth at
Lucas Lodge
that
evening
, and Bingley felt the same way about meeting
again with
Jane.
Therefore, after Mr. Bennet had adjourned their training early so that they would have time to refresh themselves before the
affair
, when they entered the house and were met by Bingley’s sisters, an event unparalleled to
that
date occurred
.

Just a
s Bingley was informed
of such an improvement in
Caroline’s health
that
t
hey
would
attend the
evening
party
after all
, Bingley
turned to his sisters and announced
the
time they would depart for Lucas Lodge, firmly stating,
“
I wish to make
it perfectly clear
t
hat
at the appointed time, we will be leaving! Those who are not in the front hall—no matter the reason—
will
be left behind.
”
 

~%~

Elizabeth
’s heart raced in nervous anticipation
as she peeked out the window and recognized the Darcy crest on the fine carriage that had just
delivered
its occupants
to
Lucas Lodge
.
S
he turned away from the
inhabitants of
the
room
,
meaning
to calm herself before anyone noticed her excitement.

Her
effort was too late, however—both Mr. Bennet and Charlotte Lucas wore pleased expressions as a result of seeing her
flustered
state
as she looked out
and saw
William’s
arrival
.
W
atch
ing
from different parts of the room
,
they could see that
Elizabeth
could not
keep
her
gaze
from
wandering to
the door, and her attention was
immediately
focused
intensely
in
that
direction as the Netherfield party entered the parlor.
Alt
hough he
r
expression did not change
at first
,
to the two who observed it,
the warmth of the light that ignited in her eyes the moment that she spied William was proof
enough
of her true feelings.