A Wife for Mr. Darcy

to Jane and Mr. Bingley. With a knowing smile, Charles took his leave, and Lizzy found herself blushing at the idea of someone knowing that she had met Mr. Darcy in secret.
    “Was I missed?” Lizzy asked, scanning the crowd.
    “Not at all. Lord Fitzwilliam claimed everyone’s attention by asking Charlotte to dance and suggesting that Mr. Collins ask Mrs. Konig to do the same. Have you ever known of an instance where a governess, even a traveling one, danced with her master’s guests? I cannot wait to hear what Mrs. Draper and Lady Lucas have to say about all this.
    “I was able to speak with Mrs. Konig,” Jane continued. “Her English is not the best, and she cannot pronounce th . But the effect is absolutely delightful, and she is charming everyone. Despite her relationship with the flamboyant lord, she is very reserved. But enough about Madame. Do you have news to share?”
    And Lizzy whispered to her sister that Mr. Darcy had proposed, and looking around to see if anyone was listening, she told Jane that she was insisting on a courtship. “We do not know each well enough, and I do not want him to have any regrets. I shall tell you more later; Charlotte is coming.”
    “Charlotte, you appear winded,” Lizzy said after having watched her dance a jig with Lord Fitzwilliam.
    “I am. His Lordship is a vigorous dancer.”
    “Are you enjoying your day, Charlotte?” Jane asked. Like Lizzy, she was concerned that the uninvited guests were stealing the show.
    “I truly am, so please stop worrying. In another hour, it will all be over as we are running out of food and punch. I know that you both have had reservations about this marriage, so I wish to reassure you. When everyone’s attention was focused on His Lordship, Mr. Collins came over, and after taking my hand, he said that he only wanted three things in life. The first was to be a good husband, the second was to be a good pastor, and the third was to be a good neighbor to Lady Catherine and her daughter—in that order. It touched my heart in such a way that I am no longer worried about other things.”
    “Oh, Charlotte, that was so sweet.”
    “Yes, Jane, it was. Despite his peculiar behavior and his propensity to talk too much, he is a good man, and I am fortunate to have him. And what about you, Lizzy? Are we soon to have another wedding? Oh, please do not look at me like that. Granted, you are better at concealing your feelings than the gentleman, but it is obvious to a friend of so many years that you are in love. When are we to wish you joy?”
    “Not until after Jane’s wedding. The gentleman must first speak to Papa, and we must have a courtship. His life is so different from mine. I cannot imagine having a duke as neighbor. His sister was named after Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire. I try not to think about it because, if I do, I shall get cold feet.”
    “You must forget about all those other things and enjoy your courtship,” Charlotte told her friend. “He is much changed since he first came into Hertfordshire, and you are the reason.”

    While Darcy waited in the study for sufficient time to pass following Elizabeth’s departure, he decided that she was right. There were good reasons why young ladies were not left alone with their suitors. If she even suspected the content of his dreams, she would not have sat next to him on the sofa.
    Darcy was pouring himself a brandy when the door creaked open, and Antony, Lord Fitzwilliam, the hero of the day, stepped in.
    “There you are, Darcy. I see you have helped yourself to the brandy. If you would pour me half of what you have, I would appreciate it,” and he sank into the leather sofa recently vacated by Elizabeth and started to rub his toes through his shoes. “Did you know that as you get older, your feet flatten out, and you can no longer fit in your old shoes? As a result, my feet are killing me, but I dare not take them off as I will not get them back on. I look ridiculous enough without walking around unshod.”
    “Those shoes must be ten years old if they are a day,” Darcy said, laughing.
    “They are older than that. They are from my days as a bachelor. I have kept almost everything from the time before I was dragged off in chains to serve my sentence with Eleanor.”
    “Madame Konig is charming,” Darcy quickly said. He wanted to distract Antony from his wife, a subject that often brought him low. “I did not have a chance to talk to her myself; the line was too