Darcy was drinking his coffee and staring out the window. He was going to see his Elizabeth soon at the Gardiners, he was bringing Georgiana to meet her.
The Gardiners, he had to admit, were a pleasant genteel couple. An express was sent to Mr Bennet requesting his permission of a courtship, until they received an answer, Mr Gardiner, as her present guardian, has given him permission to call.
When they arrived, Darcy was surprised to find Mr Bennet in residence.
Introductions were made and Darcy sat smiling at how his Elizabeth took Georgiana in hand. He watched as they were chatting like old friends. He didn't know how she did it, his sister was even more shy and reserved then he was.
Mr Bennet invited him into his brother in laws study.
"So you wish to court my Lizzy, Mr Darcy?"
"No, sir."
"That is a strange answer, Mr Darcy. I received an express from you declaring that very desire and when I spoke to my daughter this morning, she declared that she will have you and no other. Are you now relegating her to spinsterhood?"
"No, sir, I simply do not wish to court, I am requesting your daughters hand."
"Well that seems a big leap, Mr Darcy. Do you, by chance, know my daughter's thoughts on the matter?"
"I have yet to gauge her thoughts, sir."
Elizabeth was called.
"Well Lizzy, your Mr Darcy wishes to change the courtship request to a betrothal request. What say you?"
"I say, father, it was very mean spirited to take away his pleasure of asking himself!"
"My apologies, Mr Darcy, my daughter is correct. Perhaps I am a little disheartened you are stealing my favorite daughter. Yes I know it is wrong to have a favorite but how could it be otherwise, when one brings so much joy to your life."
Elizabeth became teary eyed at such a declaration by her father.
"I understand, sir, but might I remind you we, as yet, have not heard her answer."
"That is true. Lizzy, what say you to this man."
"I have agreed to a courtship and that is where my agreement remains. Mr Darcy and I have agreed to much testing and I intend to hold him to it."
Mr Darcy was in a state of shock. What was she doing?
Mr Bennet asked, "testing? I don't have the pleasure of understanding you, my dear?"
Elizabeth looked to Mr Darcy and smiled mischievously.
"Well father, Mr Darcy was a dreadful bore in Meryton and although I have decidedly changed my opinion of him, I think we can all agree he has much mending to do as far as our neighbors go and to show he can, at the very least, be cordial to those who are, how did you put it, sir? 'So decidedly beneath you'."
Darcy exhaled sharply the breath he was holding. She was having some fun with him, the minx.
Mr Bennet laughed. Lizzy was putting him through the ringer. 'Good for her', he thought.
"Well, Mr Darcy, will you insist on an answer more to your liking or are you prepared to begin 'testing'?"
"Sir, the 'testing' your very vexing daughter alludes to has already begun and I am prepared to continue that testing to her satisfaction."
Elizabeth smiled brightly at him.
"You sir, are truly the best of men." She said.
"Well then, I am prepared to sign the very generous courtship papers. Do you wish to view them, Lizzy dear?"
"Father, there is no man on this earth I trust more than the man who ordered those documents and I would not dare disrespect his honor by doing so."
"Well, that was very flattering for one man in this room and not so much to the other."
"I am sorry, papa, but it is how I see it. Also Mr Darcy, you have one other person to win over, sir."
"And who might that be."
"My mother, sir. Do not forget, you insulted one of her daughter's beauty not long ago, her least favorite daughter to be sure, but her daughter nonetheless."
Her father chuckled, "Mr Darcy, can I interest you in a brandy? I believe you may need fortitude for the tasks ahead of you."
"Thank you, sir, and if it isn't too much trouble, may I request your permission to take a circuit with your favorite daughter in the garden, just there in full view of this window?"
"Of course you may, Mr Darcy. But if you wish to throttle her for her impertinence, then may I suggest the shrubbery beyond."
"Papa!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"I will take your suggestion under advisement, sir. I thank you."
"Very well, off with you both."
The two shook hands and Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the garden.
"Are you very cross with me, sir?"
"You, madam, are an unscrupulous tease and I know your father was in jest, but I have half of mind to take him up on his offer and put you over my knee."
"And the other half, sir, where, pray tell, does that part of your mind wish to take me?"
"You know very well where I'd like to take you."
"You are mistaken, sir, for you have yet to enlighten me of your present wishes."
"Elizabeth Bennet, the first private moment we get, you will in fact be over my knee and your very perfect backside with be red from the exercise."
Elizabeth smiled.
"Promises, promises, Mr Darcy."
"Minx!"
"I say you are now the tease, sir, for you have used my full name which already has me wet between my legs and now you promise to redden my 'very perfect backside'. If we were, in fact, in the shrubbery I would demand to be satisfied."
"And satisfy you I would and send you back to your father walking rather awkwardly."
"Promises, promises, Mr Darcy."
"Must I truly gain your mother's favor?"
"Mr Darcy, my mother has her faults, which you yourself have so expertly listed on occasion, but she loves her family, sir, and the one thing she feels she has in her favor is the beauty of her daughters. And you, sir, have spoiled that for her, very ungenerous, if you ask me."
"Very well, I will put it to rights. I have my own tests to pass I see."
Elizabeth smiled and slipped her hand through his arm.
"Once she learns you and your ten thousand a year are courting me, you will be her favorite man in England."
"Do you have any advise on how I might gain her approval without my ten thousand pounds?"
Elizabeth thought about how to help him.
"Which house in Meryton sets the best table?"
"Your mother's, to be sure. There is not a close second, not even Netherfield."
Elizabeth looked at him with her eyebrows raised. It did take a few moments but Darcy got the hint.
"Thank you, my love."
"Oh now I am your love, not a minx, unscrupulous tease, impertinent or vexing?"
"You are all those things and many many more, my dear. Please tell me you will not make me wait very long for your hand?"