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Her voice was quiet but firm, and she felt Nathaniel's hand reach out and grasp hers. She looked down at their joined hands with wonder, and with him beside her, she was able to lift her head and give a cool stare to the older couple, who were now standing with their mouths agape.

"I will cut off your allowance!" the earl repeated, apparently unable to believe that his threat had failed to produce the desired effect.

"I am afraid you are rather too late for that, Father," Nathaniel replied calmly. "I have supported myself for several years now. My investments bring in a respectable income, and I have no need of your allowance. You may keep it, with my blessing. For the avoidance of doubt, I will go nowhere with you," he continued stiffly. "I have work to complete at Pemberley, and then I shall travel to Scotland before returning here. I am a grown man, and I am resolved to act in whatever manner I believe will constitute my own happiness, without reference to you or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."

"Unconnected?" screeched the countess. "I am your mother!"

"In name, madam, but not in affection. I shall build my own family, just as I have built my own career, and I hope it will be a much happier one than the family I have known thus far."

He turned then to Kate and looked at her so fondly that she felt all the anger and fear of the past few minutes begin to slip away. His hand tightened around hers, and when he spoke again, his voice was warm and gentle. "Miss Darcy, I had meant to go about this in a much slower and more proper fashion, to court you as you deserve to be courted. I also fear your father may call me out, as I have not asked his express permission, but my heart will not allow me to delay another second."

Kate stared at him, scarcely daring to believe what she was hearing. He turned fully towards her and took both her hands in his.

"Cathy, I had intended to do this properly, but I find I cannot wait another moment. I have never met anyone like you, and I do not believe I ever shall again. You have the most extraordinary mind, and I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to think that I might spend the rest of my life trying to keep up with it. You have become so dear to me, my darling, that I cannot imagine a future without you. I love you, Cathy, and I want us to make a wonderful life together. Will you marry me?"

Shouting ensued then, and Kate was aware of angry conversation rocketing back and forth around the room. There was more scraping of chairs as other members of her family entered the fray, but she was conscious of it only as a distant noise, a discordant note in a golden moment.

She looked at Nathaniel's dear face, at his eyes so full of hope, and felt as though her heart might burst with love for him. Here was the man who had become so precious to her, standing before her in the middle of the most dreadful family argument, asking her to spend the rest of her life with him. It was not how she had imagined such a moment might come about, but she could not have wished for anything else. "Yes," she said in a low voice, and then repeated it a little louder. "Yes, you darling man. I cannot wait to be joined with you, to build a life with you. And what a life it shall be!"

A grin broke across his face, and he caught her around the waist and spun her about. Kate laughed, clinging to his shoulders as he turned her in a circle before setting her back upon her feet. They must have made a very strange scene for anyone watching from the outside, this tender moment taking place against a backdrop of angry voices.

Nathaniel was still holding her close, looking down at her with his heart in his eyes, when a loud whistle sounded across the room. Kate started and looked towards her mother, who was standing upon a chair and had clearly decided that enough was enough.

"Stop!" Elizabeth called. "Stop, all of you, this instant!"

The room fell silent.

"Lord and Lady Syndham, you have behaved abominably. You have insulted my family and your own son in every possible manner, and I will not tolerate another word of it. It is dark, and I am prepared to offer you lodging for one night if you wish to accept it, but after that you will leave my house and you will not be welcome here again. You may remove yourselves quietly, either to the guest rooms we shall have prepared or to your carriage, or I can have my footmen carry you out. The choice is entirely yours."

"I have never been so insulted in all my life!" said the countess, turning on her heel and striding from the room.

"Yes, well, this is not over!" said the earl, following his wife out.

Everyone remained silent, listening to the angry footsteps retreating down the hall. It was only when they heard the great front door close behind the visitors that anyone moved.

Her father immediately went to assist his wife down from the chair, murmuring something in her ear as he did so. Her mother allowed him to help her to the floor before straightening her skirts and turning towards Kate and Nathaniel, who still stood together, hand in hand. "Now," she said, looking from one to the other, "are we to wish you joy, my darling girl?"

"Yes, Mama," Kate said, unable to stop a smile from spreading across her face. "Yes, you are."

"Oh, my darling!" Elizabeth hurried across the room and pulled her daughter into her arms, kissing her cheek before turning to embrace Nathaniel too. "Well, I think this is wonderful news. Although I do wish you might have chosen a less alarming way to announce it!"

Bella was next, throwing her arms around Kate and kissing her enthusiastically. "Oh, Kate! I am so happy for you! I knew it, you know. I knew there was something between you from the very beginning!"

"You did not!" said Kate, laughing.

"Well, perhaps not from the very beginning, but certainly before you did!"

"And to think," said Mina, coming forward to embrace her sister, "you used to tell Bella how silly she was whenever she became all dreamy over George. I shall never let you forget it."

"I am sure you will not," said Kate, hugging her back.

"Mr Darcy," Nathaniel said, suddenly looking a little unsure of himself. "I should have asked your permission. I had intended to do so, and I apologise for springing this upon you, sir."

"Yes, well," said her father with a sigh, "it has been an unusual evening." He looked at Nathaniel for a moment, then towards Kate, whose cheeks were aching from smiling. His expression softened, and he held out his hand. "You have my blessing, of course, Briar. Although if you ever do anything to break my daughter's heart, I shall murder you."

"I should expect nothing less, sir," said Nathaniel with a grin, shaking his hand.

Darcy gave a reluctant smile before pulling Nathaniel into an embrace and clapping him on the back. When he released him, he turned towards Kate and took her face between his hands. "My darling girl," he said softly, kissing her forehead. "Are you happy?"