“Tell your father they may stay at Darcy House if they wish. It would be tight at the Gardiners,” he said.

Her head snapped up. “That is very generous of you. Are you sure you wish to do that?”

“Of course. I shall write to your father if you prefer.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I can take care of it. Thank you,” she said sincerely.

He nodded in response. He had won; his wife was no longer teasing him. He waited, wondering how long it would take for her to tell him the news.

“Jane and Bingley have decided to marry in Margate, in three weeks,” she said. “Two weeks now. Can you believe it?” Her eyes went back to her letter.

“Are you sad to be missing the wedding?” he asked.

“A little. I had always thought I would stand up with Jane. But she stood up with me, something I never thought would happen, so I suppose it is all right in the end.” She shrugged her shoulders. “They wish to visit Pemberley in the autumn and then go on to Scarborough for Jane to meet his family. They will return when my family arrives for Christmas.”

“That sounds wonderful. We will see more of them on a visit than if we were to go to the wedding.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Are you sorry to miss it? He is your closest friend.”

“Yes and no. It would be nice to be there, but not nice enough to forego my own wedding trip.”

He smiled in the way that always made her stomach flip and she blushed.

“Why did you think Jane would not stand up with you? I know it is usual for it to be a maiden, but married women sometimes perform the office. And she would not necessarily marry first just because she was the eldest,” he asked.

Elizabeth chuckled. “It is Jane, Fitzwilliam. She is the sweetest, most beautiful creature in the world. Why would I ever think I would marry before her? Or marry at all?”

“And yet you did.” He shot her a meaningful look and she looked away. “Why did you think you wouldn’t marry at all?”

“I simply didn’t think it very likely. I am not as sweet or as pretty as Jane, I have very little money and few connections, and I am not nearly docile enough for most men.”

He rose and walked toward her. “Good thing I am not most men,” he growled as he slipped onto the settee next to her.

She laughed. “You should never be given a docile creature. You would eat her alive in minutes!”

By this point he was nibbling at her neck and his hand was wandering dangerously high on her thigh.

“I was of the opinion some women liked being eaten alive,” he murmured before he nipped her ear.