Most Ardently

by Gabe Cole Novoa

Oliver could count on one hand the number of people who knew the truth, and Mrs. Bennet was not one of them.

He actually TOLD people????

“Elizabeth,” his mother admonished. “Could you at least pretend to be looking forward to the ball? Honestly, I don’t know how you expect to ever be married when you plod about so morosely at every ball we attend.”

Eloise Bridgerton who??? I only know Oliver 💅

“I’ll let you know. Thank you, Jane.” She hugged him tightly and whispered, “Anything for my little brother.”

🥺🥺🥺🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

One day, the rest of the world would know the truth too.

In the 19th Century???? Mmmm idk bro

Darcy’s lips thinned, his brow furrowed more deeply, and something like disgust flashed over his handsome features. He shook his head and looked away.

Rude, you haven’t even seen Oliver in his proper clothes

Darcy broke eye contact and, turning back to Bingley, said, “She’s tolerable, but not handsome enough to interest me.”

DAMN 😨🤕🤕😓😓💀💀💀

This was the trunk in which he hid a few boy outfits (gifted to him by his generous uncle about six months ago when Oliver had visited Gracechurch).

Aww his Uncle’s an Ally ! 🫶

It hadn’t been long after Oliver entrusted Charlotte with the reality of who he was that Charlotte had shared a secret of her own with him—that she and Lu were lovers.

🥹AWWW

Oliver turned to the source of the voice and very nearly blanched at seeing Charles Bingley of all people standing next to him.

Shit already we have an Obstacle

Being recognized for who he was brought him a euphoria like nothing else he had ever experienced. You see me, he thought, and it made him so happy he wanted to laugh out loud.

😭😭😭

“I would love to,” Oliver said, and then the strangest thing happened. Darcy smiled. Just a little.

It must be said: GAY

Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes and it almost looked like—was he blushing now?

He’s known for always putting his foot in his mouth.

“We’re permitted to bring a guest,” Darcy said. “We could bring a guest every week if we wanted to. I’d be happy to make you mine.”

😱😱😱😱😱😱DARCYYYYYYYYYYYY YOU SMOOTH TALKER YOU😂

Oliver arched an eyebrow. Darcy’s face flushed pink. “My … guest. That is.”

Thats hella gay man

Darcy’s smile was small and sweet—and Oliver found he couldn’t look away. For some reason, he didn’t want to.

I can’t see how Bingley would be blind to this obvious pinning.

Charlotte’s lips became a flat line.

Makes sense, she seems like a “Keep it in the Closet” type of person.

Molly Houses were a hush-hush part of society—one that the Bennets certainly didn’t speak of. They were places where men who were attracted to men, women who were attracted to women, people who weren’t either gender, and others of the like frequented.

Holy shit those places exist????

“Bingley is a kind person,” he said slowly, “but I’d advise all of you avoid associating with Darcy as much as possible.”

Sus?

“I … I won’t gossip,” he said, though he sounded reluctant. “All that I will say is he’s been known to be unkind to women.”

🙄🙄🙄, calm down he just don’t like them

“You should know my name is Oliver. And I’m … I’m your son.” Mr. Bennet’s smile grew into a full grin, spreading across his face like a plant turning its leaves to the sun. “You most certainly are,” he said, and then his arms were around Oliver.

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

“How did you return home?” she asked. Then she turned on Oliver, her quickly souring mood twisting her features. “Surely you didn’t force Jane to walk home in her condition?”

Fuck youuuuu!!!!!

“You have such beautiful childbearing hips,” Collins said

🤢🤢🤮🤮🤢🤧🤮🤮🤢🤮🤢🤢🤮🤢🤮🤮🤢🤢🤮🤢

I realized the second-eldest daughter was also perfectly acceptable. Given that, I believe that we should marry.”

🤕🤮🤢🤢🤮🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤮🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤢🤮🤮🤢🤮🤮🤢🤢DUSGUSTINGGGGGGGG

Your mother will never speak to you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never speak to you again if you do.”

I GOT SCARED FOR A SECOND THERE

“I hadn’t realized you…” He hesitated again. “Fancy men?” Oliver supplied for him. “Yes, I do.” Darcy closed the book and placed it on a nearby side table.

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣😳😳😳🫣

“Oliver,” Darcy whispered, his breath hot on Oliver’s mouth. He swallowed hard. “Yes?” “I very much want to kiss you.”

😳😳😳😳😳😳🫢🫢😱😱😱🫢😱🫢🫢

“Darcy—” But Oliver couldn’t finish because the other boy turned away, grabbed his coat, and rushed out of the room, leaving Oliver alone in the middle of the dance floor.

😰😰😰😰😰😰😰😰😰😰😰

In the center of the room, standing by the piano, was an elderly woman dressed in finery and an almost comically large hat. She clapped her hands as they entered the room.

Is that you LADY DANBURY????

lackadaisical

“Yes, apologies. I’ve been thinking all morning about how to begin to say this, but I can’t say I ever settled on an appropriate opening. So I suppose I’ll just jump right in. Miss Bennet, I’ve come here today to ask for your hand in marriage.”

⚫️ ⚫️ ⚫️ HUHHHH,?????

I admire you, Oliver Bennet. Your spirit, your wit, your open honesty—I have thought of nothing else since we first met.” Tears blurred Oliver’s vision, spilling hot over his cheeks and cooling in the rain. “Darcy—” “I love you, Oliver,” Darcy said. “Most ardently.”

😭😭🤧😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹