“You are engaged? You cannot leave for the Grand Tour, then?” William asked. “If I must find a different companion, I can certainly do so but engaged?! I could not be more surprised, Knightley!”
Knightley smiled, “It is not a true engagement, unfortunately. It was more like the promise of an engagement. She laughed at me that I was a fool and that she could not possibly marry me because I would be leaving for three and a half years to sow my wild oats on my tour. She told me that she had cared for me all of her life and wished to marry me but she wanted me to experience what life had to offer and to see for herself what it is like to be out in society. I plan on spending a month with her before we depart on our journey but if I can request...”
“Yes?” William asked. “What is it that you wish?”
“Instead of three and a half years, I would like to see if an opportunity arises to shorten our trip by half a year. Three years should satisfy our wanderlust, would it not?” Knightley asked. “If we cut the sailing to Sweden since we were to keep that part to only six months, I can return to England and she will have turned nineteen and will be ready to marry me. I wish to marry her now but she told me she will not marry me until I have an occupation. I have more studying to do but I have been promised a paid position as soon as I return and I will marry her as soon as she will have me, Darcy. I love her and I know she will wait for me.”
William grinned, “That is fine, my friend. Sweden is unstable in any case and there is talk of impending war with them so I can certainly wait. I envy you. We will have a grand time to see new places and meet wonderful people, but to have someone waiting for you back home must be a pleasant thought. I would not mind falling head over heels in love with a beautiful lady who will wait for me. Tell me more about your girl.”
Knightley excitedly shared, “She and her family live next to my home and I have known Isabella since she was a little girl but I believe I have loved her for a long time. She developed quite early and I found her enchanting but she was so young, I only thought of her as a family friend. But oh, now, now she is a woman at sixteen and is most beautiful to me. Her father is an odd one but harmless and Isabella has a younger sister named Emma who is nearly ten now. I promised her that I would come back for her and give her everything she wants. My brother George will support me fully and once we return from our Grand Tour, he will set me up in London with our uncle and my allowance will support us for a while.” He laughed, “My only obstacle will be to convince Mr. Woodhouse that Isabella will not become ill when she leaves Highbury. He has become quite a... how can I put it gently... a pessimist and a worrier after his wife died several years ago. But he will have his second daughter who can stay home with him.”
William replied, “I wish you the best, Knightley. I know we will have a great trip and I would be happy to see you wed.”
“You will stand up with me, Darcy, and we will find you a wife.” Knightley declared. “Perhaps a beautiful Scottish or Irish lass with red hair?”
The gentlemen laughed and spoke of their trip and their plans to meet again after completing their university education. They met several more friends from Cambridge and conversed until it was time to go their separate ways.
Chapter 12
Fitzwilliam Darcy headed out of White’s, the most prestigious gentlemen’s club in London, to walk the short distance home, as it was located only a quarter hour away. He thought of John Knightley’s situation and his elation while he spoke of his beloved, and wondered for himself if he would find such happiness with a worthy woman. He pondered if such a woman could possibly drop in front of him from the sky and chuckled to himself as he thought of how Lizzy would criticise him for wishing for such a selfish miracle.
Suddenly, William heard a loud shout, “GET OUT OF THE WAY! RUNAWAY HORSES! WATCH OUT!”
William turned to see two horses with a carriage running wildly, heading straight towards where he stood. He jumped out of the way, unfortunately being hit by the tail end of the carriage and being knocked onto the ground.
He groaned as he raised his head to see the carriage stop several yards away and began to lift himself up to stand up on his feet. His left shoulder ached but nothing seemed broken. “Are you well, sir?” A young man called out, nearly in tears. “I know it was all my fault and I take full responsibility. Please say you are well.”
William looked up and saw a shorter gentleman, dressed finely and appearing about sixteen years in age. “I am alive but I seem to have injured my shoulder. What is your name? What happened?”
“My name is Charles Bingley.” The young man replied. “That carriage is my father’s but I attempted to drive it myself instead of waiting for the driver and lost control of the horses.” He looked at his feet. “I was able to stop it before crashing into the wall but it hit you right before. My father will pay for any damages. My sist...” He immediately paled, “Good lord! My sister is still inside the carriage!”
Bingley and William
