“Elizabeth,” Darcy searched for the words to describe the woman with whom he was consumed, “is a woman who sees my innermost self and accepts my deepest reflections without open flattery. I marvel at her unexpected wit and her devotion to her family.”
“Mr. Darcy, I regret ever thinking you did not deserve Lizzy. You are exactly what she needs; yet, I will miss her. Please tell me I may come to see her at Pemberley.”
“Mr. Bennet, you need no invitation to come to our home to spend time with Elizabeth.You are welcome at any time.”
Mr. Bennet offered sheepishly, “Mr. Bingley tells me the library at Pemberley contains many unusual selections.”
Darcy laughed out loud. “Mr. Bingley graciously suffers my censure of the Netherfield library.You will find at Pemberley one may spend many hours lost in the written word.You will enjoy it, I am sure, Mr. Bennet.”
Mr. Bennet’s estimation of his new son increased with Darcy’s willingness to receive him regularly at Pemberley. “Mr. Darcy, thank you for your devotion to Lizzy; she will make you a good wife.”
“She will indeed, Sir.”The image of Elizabeth as the mistress of Pemberley brought him contentment.
Within a few more days, Georgiana Darcy and Mrs. Annesley arrived at Netherfield.When the coach rolled to a stop in front of the estate house, Darcy waited at the coach’s door. His sister stepped out quickly, delighted in being there at last. She slid into her brother’s embrace and hugged Darcy with much admiration. “Dearest One,” he stroked her hair gently,“I missed you.”
“And I you, Brother,” she bubbled over with pleasure. “Is Miss Elizabeth here?”
“She awaits you on the steps,” he gestured toward the main doorway. Georgiana turned to look where Darcy pointed, and she beamed with excitement at seeing Elizabeth.
Bingley came forward, “Miss Darcy, welcome to Netherfield Park. I am delighted to have you at my home after so often being a Pemberley guest.”
Georgiana curtsied and allowed him to kiss her gloved hand. “Mr. Bingley, thank you for receiving Mrs. Annesley and me.Your generosity is boundless. May I extend my congratulations on your upcoming nuptials to Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you, Miss Darcy. My Jane awaits your acquaintance. May we go into the house and take some refreshments?”
“Nothing sounds more delightful.” Darcy offered his sister his arm, and Mr. Bingley attended to Mrs.Annesley.
When they reached the main entranceway, Elizabeth and Jane waited for Georgiana. Elizabeth’s smile radiated, encompassing her new sister; they gave each other a quick curtsy, and then they were in each other’s arms.“Miss Darcy, I am gladdened to see you again.”
“It must be Georgiana,” the girl insisted.
“Georgiana,” Elizabeth shifted her attention, “may I present my eldest sister Jane Bennet.”
“Miss Bennet, I am pleased I finally have an opportunity to meet you.” Georgiana offered her a greeting of a bow.
“Miss Darcy,” Jane began, “Charles speaks so highly of your friendship. It is gratifying to have you at Netherfield to share in our joy. Please come in. Charles, she will need to freshen up.” Jane turned to her prospective husband.
“We are not yet married,” Bingley teased Jane as she blushed, “and my future wife gives me orders already.” Everyone laughed at and with Jane and Bingley.
Elizabeth and Georgiana each caught one of Darcy’s arms.“No orders for me, my Love?” he grinned down at Elizabeth.
“You, Mr. Darcy,” she pretended innocence,“are too incorrigible to take orders from me.” How easily her brother accepted Elizabeth’s mocking tone initially surprised Georgiana; Elizabeth drew out his spirited side.
When Georgiana joined the group in the drawing room, everyone talked over each other at first.There was so much to be said, and emotions were high. Darcy, as he did at Pemberley, placed his sister next to Elizabeth and took a chair close by.
“Elizabeth, my brother’s letter brought such happiness to Pemberley. I am sorry, Fitzwilliam,” she turned to him, “but I was too excited not to share the news. I told Mrs. Reynolds and asked her to share it with the staff. Mr. Howard also informed the tenants, and Mrs. Annesley and I shared our delight with the new vicar. Prayers for your happiness have been added to the service.”
Darcy’s eyebrow raised knowing Elizabeth’s apprehension about becoming the mistress of such a large estate. “Georgiana, Elizabeth is feeling a bit overwhelmed, I fear.” Elizabeth colored with his words.
“Oh, I am sorry, Elizabeth,” Georgiana looked concerned, “I should not have spoken out of place.”
“Think nothing of it, Georgiana. I am a bit worried about assuming such a role, but your brother will tell you I enjoy a challenge. Was not creating a new Fitzwilliam Darcy a challenge?” Elizabeth laughed nervously at herself.
“Elizabeth, the staff will love you. Fitzwilliam, by marrying you, tells them Pemberley will continue—it will survive. They have waited for him to choose a wife.”
“Miss Darcy,” Jane cut in,“my sister is exceptional although she gives herself little credit for her own accomplishments.”
Mr. Bingley added, “Jane is right. I have known Darcy for over three years. I never knew him to be so content. Look at him—Miss Elizabeth did that.”
The two blushed briefly, but as they looked at each other, the fervor of their love promptly replaced their embarrassment. Darcy’s intense stare caused her to shift her weight, and she reached out to him. Immediately, he stood beside her. He rested his hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder, having to touch her at that instant. She brought her hand up casually to feel his.
“I thank all of you for your confidence and love,” Elizabeth stroked Darcy’s hand lightly, and he squeezed her shoulder. Realizing she needed to voice her misgivings before she could conquer them, Elizabeth hesitatingly added, “When I visited Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds spoke of Fitzwilliam some day marrying; Mrs. Reynolds said she did not know who was good enough for him.” There! She said the words.Those words of doubt about her worth wrapped up her disquiet.
Darcy came to kneel beside her and looked deeply in Elizabeth’s eyes. All others in the room meant nothing. Only those two existed. “Elizabeth, are you not the girl who once told me—I might have the pleasure of despising your taste, but you always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes and cheating a person of his premeditated contempt?” Elizabeth mused over the image of standing next to Darcy at the pianoforte and hearing him say he did not dare to despise her. “You are also the person who accused me of trying to frighten you, but you would not be alarmed.You said there was a stubbornness about you, which never could bear to be frightened at the will of others. Your courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate you.”
She stroked his cheek. “It is a shame I gave my love to a man with such an excellent memory.” Darcy kissed her hand and then returned to his chair. Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and took the girl’s hand. “Your brother is right. I am being foolish; you do not see my sister worrying about being the mistress of this estate.” Everyone knew the situation was not the same, but no one voiced his opinion. “Georgiana, we will dine here this evening.Tomorrow we will dine with my parents at Longbourn,” Elizabeth continued.
“I am looking forward to meeting your and Miss Bennet’s parents.”
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent in renewing and forming acquaintances. Elizabeth wanted to speak to Georgiana alone before Darcy’s sister came to Longbourn with her brother so when the opportunity opened, she asked, “Georgiana, would you join me for a walk?”
“I would love to see the grounds up close, Elizabeth.”
They walked for some time before Elizabeth came to the point of her conversation. “Georgiana, may we have a seat?” Once they were settled, Elizabeth hesitated briefly and then plowed head-on into what she had to say. “Georgiana, before you come to Longbourn, I want to tell you a bit about my family.” Georgiana nodded her encouragement. “My father is a gent
le man, but he finds the foibles of others amusing. My mother is often making plans to marry off one of us. With five daughters, I understand her desire, but she can be too vocal. My sister Mary takes a dim view of frivolity. Catherine, whom we call Kitty, is your age, but has not had the benefit of your education, but she has great potential, and Jane and I hope to expose her to a finer society once we are married.”
“Elizabeth, I am aware of some of this.What is your concern? If my brother accepts you, that is all the proof I need of your worth.”
“It is not my worth which concerns me, Georgiana. My concern is my sister Lydia.” Georgiana understood the implication and fidgeted nervously.“Other than my father and Jane, my family does not know of your brother’s assistance to Lydia. They may speak kindly of Mr.Wickham, and I did not want this to upset you. Lydia will attend the ceremony, and she will flaunt her marriage. I dread exposing you to such a position.”
“Elizabeth, you are kind to think of my welfare with all the other wedding arrangements, but Fitzwilliam and I spoke of this both before he went to help Mrs.Wickham and before he returned to Netherfield. I am ashamed of my foolishness, and I would prefer never to encounter Mr. Wickham again; but at Pemberley with Miss Bingley you held my hand and showed me I have nothing to fear. If you and Fitzwilliam are close, I will be able to handle it.”
“Georgiana, you must not feel as if you failed your brother. Mr. Wickham’s lies took me in also, and they nearly tore your brother and me apart. You have taken great steps; your youth led you to make a mistake in judgment.Your brother and I misjudged each other repeatedly, and Mr.Wickham at one time or another took us both in.We are none of us above reproach. Do not be so hard on yourself. Mr.Wickham will have his hands full with our Lydia for she is our mother’s daughter. Lydia will advertise Mr.Wickham’s flaws for all to see. In fact, he will pay doubly with Lydia as his wife.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth, for being my advocate. I know it was difficult to say, especially about your own sister.”
“You are to be my sister, too, in only a few days. I care about you.Your brother loves you; you never disappointed him.”
When the ladies returned to the house, Darcy isolated Elizabeth from the others in the library. “Did you and my sister have a pleasant walk together?” he asked as they sat in adjoining chairs while enjoying a cup of tea.
“It was delightful to see Georgiana again,” she added, pretending not to notice his keen interest in her conversation with his sister.
“Elizabeth, you know me better than anyone.You know I must hear of what you discussed with my sister so please do not tease me.”
Elizabeth chuckled at his frustration, but she did not deny him the information he sought. “I wanted to speak to Georgiana privately before we dined at Longbourn tomorrow. I wanted to forewarn her of the possibility of hearing George Wickham’s name spoken of in a positive light. I wanted to warn her of Lydia’s presence and her lack of discretion.”
“How did Georgiana take this news?”
“Her apprehensions with Mr.Wickham lie in what she sees as disappointment, you, my Love, have in her behavior.”
“But I love Georgiana with all my being!”
“Your sister knows your love, Fitzwilliam; what she does not allow herself is knowledge of your forgiveness.”
“What should I do, Elizabeth? How do I convey as such to her? I know how to manage her wealth and arrange Georgiana’s studies, but how do I show her she has no reason to question how I value her worth?”
“Fitzwilliam, just give Georgiana your love—show her, as you showed me—the value of your love. Tell her your thoughts; share your aspirations; show Georgiana you respect and value her opinions. That is what you did with me. It should be easier, my Dear, because Georgiana’s heart was never set against you.”
Darcy leaned forward in his chair to look closely at Elizabeth. Each day he found something more precious in her. “You and Georgiana already created a bond; this was my hope for her for many years. I will show Georgiana my true feelings. When I was most vulnerable, it was she to whom I turned. She and I are very much alike, Elizabeth. Securing her happiness has been one of my obsessions, I fear.Thank you for caring for my sister as you do.”
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders as if to say it was nothing at all. She also knew Darcy’s propensity for self-reproach so she made an effort to tease him out of his bad humor. “I believe,” she said looking around the room, “the last time we were together in this room, you showed me very little attention.William the Conqueror was more to your taste.”
“That is where you are sadly mistaken.You have no idea what effect you have on me, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth allowed herself a long look at Darcy’s lean frame. “Then why did you not talk to me?”
“You, my Dear, berated me the previous evening for judging others. By that time, although I did not acknowledge it to myself, I was ardently in love with you, but you showed me no encouragement. I swore to remove you from my thoughts. I went for a long ride on Cerberus, wrote letters of business and pleasure, and avoided your presence. I was determined to rid myself of the control you had over me.” By this time, Darcy was on his knee in front of her, holding her hand.“I came into the library to hide until you and your sister quit the house. Because of you, I had so little sleep the night before and rode Cerberus so hard, I was exhausted and fell asleep in the chair in which you now sit.”
The realization of what Darcy confessed played across her face, and Elizabeth’s enigmatic smile returned. “If you were asleep, then how call you out my name, Sir?”
“Must I say it, Elizabeth?”
“Say what, Fitzwilliam?” Her smile now spread freely.“I am but a woman; what would I know of anything?”
Darcy dropped his eyes momentarily, understanding she would demand he tell her what she already knew.“Why is it, Elizabeth, you force a man who prefers silence to entertain you with conversation?”
“You avoid the question, Fitzwilliam.”
“I dreamed of you, Elizabeth. There! I said what you already knew.”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, please do not be terse with me. I am still in awe of your loving me so dearly. It fascinates me.” She cupped his face in her hands and warmly kissed his mouth. His response to such an innocent act of romance she recognized as his passion, but it still took her by surprise each time it happened. Elizabeth moved back from his kiss slowly, knowing they must wait but not wishing to do so. He, too, aware of their eagerness, rose slowly to return to his chair.
“Elizabeth, we should rejoin the others,” he warned.
“Must we, Fitzwilliam? There are so many demands on our time; I could stay in here with you forever and never be wanting. Please may we remain for a few more minutes?”They sat quietly in each other’s presence, each contented with being with the other.
Quitting the room at last, they held a new resolve to meet the requirements of a recently engaged couple. Darcy’s arm slid around her waist as they entered the main hallway. “Did you, Elizabeth, realize how beautiful you looked standing at the top of those stairs the Sunday morning we went to services together? You took my breath away.”As he said so, he pulled her toward him.
“That was an uncharacteristic act of impropriety. What made you agree with Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth loved to tease him about his earliest attempts at winning her.
“In reality, my emotions were still so disheveled from seeing you in the library the day before, I could think of nothing else but to put distance between us.”
“So, your way of putting distance between us was to greet me on the staircase and lead me to a private coach? That is an interesting approach, do you not think?”
“In retrospect, the plan was not foolproof.” His smile was enormous.
“I do so love you, Fitzwilliam.” She looked him straight in the eye.“We have only a week before the wedding; we waited this long to be together; we have a lifetime to love one another. Let us join the others for now.” He tapped her
chin with his index finger. In more of a question than a statement, she added, “I saw you make the same gesture with Georgiana.”
“I did so since she was a babe; it is an endearment between us two.”
“I like it; you have my permission to do so as often as you like.” She took his hand as they entered the drawing room, promises of love and life exchanged with a simple caress.
The dinner at Longbourn went better than either Darcy or Elizabeth expected. Mrs. Bennet, nearly in as much awe of Georgiana Darcy as she was of her brother, refrained from her usual familiarity although she did ask Miss Darcy several questions on the number of rooms at Pemberley and how many servants there were, but Darcy and Elizabeth deflected the majority of those questions. Georgiana consented to a duet with Mary Bennet, earning Mary’s loyalty for the favor of the attention. Miss Darcy also shared the pianoforte with Elizabeth. Georgiana played the harder sections, but Darcy enjoyed the blessing of hearing Elizabeth sing. Mr. Bennet took the time to discuss several books with Georgiana before retiring to his study for the evening. Kitty cornered Miss Darcy to discuss fashion and balls.They seemed to enjoy each other’s company although Elizabeth noted how often Georgiana blushed.
“Lizzy,” Kitty came to sit with her sister, “Miss Darcy says you want me to come to stay at Pemberley. Is that true?” The girl was bubbling with anticipation.
Elizabeth took her younger sister’s hand into hers. “Kitty, it would give me great pleasure for you to come to Pemberley. I would like some time to settle in with my new husband, but I was thinking some time after the first of the year. In fact, I want to ask Fitzwilliam about helping find someone to advance your studies. Jane and I decided you should spend most of your time with us if that would suit you.”
“Lizzy, I can think of nothing better.Will there be balls?”
“Kitty, first you will need some lessons before presentations at balls, but I am sure some parties can be arranged.”
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