Darcy smiled to himself and followed her from the room.
* * * * *
ELIZABETH FELT UNCERTAIN. DARCY HAD been in the house for what seemed like an eternity, and she had heard and seen nothing.
She had just looked away when suddenly the front door of the house was thrown open, and Mrs. Bennet came rushing across the paddock and up to the carriage. Elizabeth sat back to avoid her sight until the last possible moment.
Mrs. Bennet grasped the handle to the carriage and turned the lock, at the same time pushing aside the coachman who had been waiting to perform that duty.
“Mrs. Darcy,” cried Mrs. Bennet as she opened the door, “you are very welcome to Longbourn. Please forgive me for allowing you to —”
Mrs. Bennet saw Elizabeth and was silenced. Darcy came up to the door and reached in for Elizabeth’s hand.
“Mrs. Bennet, please allow me to introduce you to my wife, Elizabeth Darcy.”
Elizabeth stood in silent suspense, not knowing how her mother would react.
“Elizabeth Darcy!” repeated Mrs. Bennet. “Lizzy, is it true? Did you really marry Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Lizzy, my girl! How very clever of you to reject Mr. Grinly when you knew that you could have Mr. Darcy. He is so very rich, you know . . . ”
“Mama!” Elizabeth could have died for shame. “That is not —”
“Mrs. Bennet, I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am being married to your lovely daughter. She has brought so much joy to my life, she —”
“Oh, Lizzy! Jane will be nothing to you, nothing at all . . . ”
“ . . . She is the dearest person to me, and it will be a pleasure for me to be called your son.”
“Son? Well, I suppose that is true. Here,” she giggled, “let me give you a kiss.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Darcy bent down so she could reach his cheek while looking up at Elizabeth with a twinkle of humor in his eyes. She was visibly relieved.
Mrs. Bennet had the ability to bring out unknown aspects, both good and bad, in nearly everyone’s personality as they struggled to deal with her coarseness, noise, and silliness. Elizabeth was surprised to witness the easy manner in which her husband directed her mother’s thoughts and conversation. The prospect of bringing Darcy to Longbourn seemed a little less daunting, knowing that he understood her mother so well.
“This is quite a surprise,” said Mrs. Bennet. “I must say, though, that I should have been present at your wedding. I should have been consulted. Lizzy, whatever did you do for wedding clothes?”
“Please do not be angry, Mama.”
“Angry? Well, I suppose I should be, but how could I be angry when you have brought home such a delightful young man.”
“He is delightful, Mama, and I am glad that you appreciate his good qualities.”
Chapter 24
JANE WAS PLEASED TO SPEND so much time with Elizabeth, enjoying her liveliness and high spirits. Her easy manner and the simple joy of living that she projected made Elizabeth lovelier than ever. Jane gave Darcy all the credit for the improvements in her sister. “Oh, Lizzy, it is good to see you so happy.”
“I am happy, and I owe so much of it to you. Let me thank you with all my heart for your kindness in reuniting Mr. Darcy and me.”
“I do not feel as though I have done much. Indeed, I feel it is quite the opposite, for it was I who encouraged you to accept Mr. Grinly’s offer, and that brought you nothing but grief and heartache, and it was I who was resistant to your relationship with Mr. Darcy, but look how well that has turned out.”
“I know that all you wanted was my happiness, and I could not and do not fault you for that. And besides, as soon as I convinced you of my love for Mr. Darcy, you did everything in your power to reunite us. Without you, I would not be so happy. We are greatly indebted to you.”
“I have something I want to tell you! I want you to be the first to know,” said Jane, her excitement building. “Well, maybe the second,” she laughed. “I am with child!”
“Jane, that is wonderful news! I am so happy for you. What does Charles think of this?”
“He is so proud. He will make such a good father. Oh, Lizzy, everything I have wished for in my life is coming true. I have such a kind and loving husband, you are so happily settled, and now Charles and I are to have a child. How will I bear such happiness?”
“Does our mother know she is to be a grandmama soon?”
“No, I have not yet told her. I did not want you to hear it from anyone but me, so only Charles knows and Mr. Manning, of course. Charles insisted that he come from London to attend me.”
“What a considerate man your husband is! I feel nothing but respect for Mr. Manning. You will have the best of care. And if anybody deserves it, it is you.”
Epilogue
ELIZABETH WAS JUST RETURNING FROM a solitary walk around the grounds of Netherfield when a footman brought her a letter. Elizabeth took it and thanked the man. It was addressed to “Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” and as she was not expecting any correspondence, she was surprised to receive it. She turned the letter over to see from whence it came. Her heart sank. It was from Mr. Grinly.
Elizabeth walked to a secluded bench where she could be assured of privacy while thinking about what it meant to receive a letter from him. He could not possibly know that she was married. Had he changed his mind? Did he still want her? Was there something the matter with Constance?
As she explored these feelings, she knew that regardless of Mr. Grinly’s sentiments, marrying Mr. Darcy was the right thing to do. Her heart was all Darcy’s and it had been ever since she met him. She had no regrets. She loved Darcy and could love no other. She recalled the time, when she was still engaged to Mr. Grinly, that she had received Darcy’s farewell letter and had doubted the wisdom of opening it. How would her life be different had she given it to Mr. Grinly, as she knew she ought to have done? Putting Mr. Grinly’s unopened letter in her pocket, she returned to the house nervously to await the return of her husband.
* * * * *
DARCY ENJOYED THE MORNING SHOOTING with Bingley. Since his return to Hertfordshire, there had been no tension at all between the friends. It was a relief to be on such good terms with Bingley once again.
Elizabeth could easily part with Mr. Darcy when she could spend that time with Jane, but now that he had returned, it was a pleasure to have him back by her side. She was a little apprehensive when she considered her errand. More than once, she tried to approach him and tell him about the letter, but with each attempt, her courage failed her.
When they retired to dress for dinner, she followed him into his dressing room to make another attempt. He sensed her uneasiness and asked the reason for it.
“I confess that there is a matter that is weighing on me. I want to discuss it with you, but I do not want you to become angry or unhappy.”
“Well, my love, if I promise to do neither, will you confide in me?”
“I will.” His calm demeanor was reassuring. “I received a letter today, but I am uncertain of its contents.”
“You did not open it?”
“No, I did not.”
“Pray, why would you not?”
“Because I do not know if it is appropriate for me to have received it and I want your opinion as to what I should do, whether I should read it or return it unopened.”
“And why would it not be right for you to have this letter?”
“Because, sir, it is from Mr. Grinly.”
There was a moment of silence between them as Darcy considered the matter. His name had not been mentioned between them since their wedding.
“Here it is.” She offered the letter to her husband. “Would you care to read it?”
Darcy looked at the letter, but did not take it from her.
“Elizabeth, thank you for your faith in me. Thank you for trusting me, but you see, I also trust you. The letter is addressed to you, and I think you should read it. If i
t contains anything you want to tell me, I would be happy to hear it, but if it is of a personal nature, I do not wish to intrude on your privacy.”
“In that case, will you read it with me?”
“Certainly.”
They sat next to each other on a sofa near the fireplace and Elizabeth opened the letter.
Sappingford
Miss Bennet,
Please forgive the liberty I am taking in writing to you, but as I feel confident in your regard and friendship for me, I wanted to share with you certain recent events in my life.
First of all, Constance is very well and sends her love. She does not cease to speak of you, and I thank you again and again for the good influence you were in her life.
I want to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to love once more. I learned a great deal from your kindness and affection. I have recently become engaged to a lovely woman named Susannah Cook. We have known each other for many years, as she is a former schoolmistress at a school that Constance attended. She has recently returned home to care for her elderly mother. She is the joy of my life, and I love her ever so dearly. We will be married within the month. I am very pleased with the kindness and gentleness with which Susannah treats Constance. Constance has confided in me that she will love Susannah as much as she does you and approves very much of our marriage.
I wanted you to know how things stood with me. I hope that you are well. I am certain that Constance would enjoy hearing from you.
Yours, &c.
Thomas Grinly
Darcy was the first to comment. “That is wonderful news about Mr. Grinly. I am delighted for him.”
“I am so happy for him and for Constance. They both deserve to be happy, and knowing that they are gives me great pleasure.”
“You were very close to Constance, were you not?”
“Yes, I love her dearly. I am going to take the first opportunity to write to Mr. Grinly and wish him joy and announce our marriage. I am so pleased that he wrote.” Elizabeth was silent for a moment, and then she took Darcy’s hand in both of hers.
“I love you very much, sir.” She held his hand against her heart.
“I love you, too, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing your letter with me.”
* * * * *
THE DAY ARRIVED THAT WAS to take Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy to Pemberley. The pain of separation that Jane and Elizabeth felt was more than made up for by the anticipation of a reunion in a few months’ time. Elizabeth and Darcy would soon return to Netherfield to stand as godparents to the Bingleys’ child.
The trip was accomplished without alarm or inconvenience. Elizabeth was enchanted by her new home and spent hours wandering through its halls. Of particular interest to her was the portrait gallery, where she regularly visited the paintings of Darcy’s parents. Just as Georgiana had predicted, Elizabeth discovered their mother to be a beautiful woman.
Darcy promised her that soon her own likeness would adorn the wall of the gallery, and she fancied what it would look like hanging there next to his parents. Darcy’s likeness already occupied a place on the wall, and hers would proudly join his.
* * * * *
EVERY DAY FOR ELIZABETH WAS new and exciting and the happiness that she felt did not wane. Every moment she spent with her husband brought a new sense of belonging. She recalled the way she felt with him when they used to talk while she was recovering at Netherfield. The intimacy of those moments was such a joy to her, yet it paled in comparison to the love and closeness she now felt.
Like Jane, she felt that her life was complete. She, too, gloried in the happiness of a beloved sister and rejoiced in her own situation. Surrounded by Darcy’s love and Georgiana’s affection, her own happiness knew no bounds. The beauty of the estate and park of Pemberley added to her pleasures as she explored the turning of every path that wound its way through Pemberley Woods.
* * * * *
DARCY SAW HIS OWN IMAGE in the face of his child, a son, born within a year of his marriage. Elizabeth quickly recovered and rejoiced in the happiness that her son and husband brought into her life.
Mrs. Bennet, now a grandmother for the second time, divided her time between the homes of her two grandchildren. Her nurturing instincts flourished as she assisted in the care of the infants. Her noise and silliness decreased, and she was a welcome visitor at both Netherfield and Pemberley.
Mary Bennet accepted Elizabeth’s invitation to reside at Pemberley, and she and Elizabeth grew as close in love and sisterly affection with each other and with Georgiana as any of them could wish.
The presence of love had long ago overwhelmed past feelings of sorrow for Elizabeth and Darcy, and everyday it grew stronger and deeper.
Twice a year, the Darcy family visited the Bingleys, and on every occasion, Elizabeth and Darcy walked out in the woods alone to rediscover each other by the rocks in the stream.
THE END
Rocks in the Stream Page 35