"Charles, Jane" Started Darcy. "I'm afraid I have business in Pemberley. It cannot be delayed. We will be leaving straight for Pemberley the day after our wedding."
Jane was disappointed, but could not argue. Bingley, though, was not to give up on the scheme so quickly "Oh, come now, Fitzwilliam, It's only a week we had arranged. Surely your business can wait that long."
"I'm afraid not. I should be there this week to settle the business. I do not want to leave until after the wedding, and I can take Elizabeth with me." Darcy was thinking of the previous night. He knew if he took Elizabeth with him now their behaviour would become common knowledge. Bingley looked at Darcy and immediately saw in his face why it would not be possible to take Elizabeth with him.
"Why don't you both come and stay with us until after Christmas?" Asked Elizabeth. She was anxious not to give up the scheme of having her sister around. She also knew that Darcy had put off important business.
"That's a capital idea," said Darcy, seconding Elizabeth's invitation.
"Capital indeed. We must use Netherfield more you know," Said Bingley not unwilling to change the plans.
"You know, sir," started Jane "I fancy that it should be possible for you to come and stay with us after the New Year."
"We promise to visit you then." Replied Darcy. He was hoping to avoid too much of the Hertfordshire society. They would no doubt try and keep the associations going, and would be praying for his children when they grew up.
"It's settled then. We will visit Pemberley with you the day after the wedding, and then you will visit us in the New Year." Said Bingley
The business was settled. Darcy and Elizabeth excused themselves for a short walk in the shrubbery. When they returned to the house they separated to dress for dinner. During their walk, Elizabeth turned to Darcy with that teasing look in her eyes.
"Mr Darcy." The tone of her voice was light and teasing. "You are aware of the pollution that your beautiful woods are about to suffer?"
"Did not those woods receive that pollution when you and your aunt and uncle walked about the lake walk?" Darcy teased back.
"Not so much as they will do,” laughed Elizabeth
Turning serious for a minute Darcy said "My love. I am worried about how I will survive the next month before those woods become so polluted"
"I know, I've been thinking about that as well. I did wrong to come to your room the last few nights,” Elizabeth replied matching his seriousness. Darcy though caught her in his arms and kissed her, being out of sight of the house and everybody else.
"No, my love, that was not wrong of you. I was wrong to behave as I did towards you." He whispered.
“Oh well, let's not quarrel about who was wrong." Whispered Elizabeth, who then turned and kissed him passionately. Had he wanted to he could not have kept his composure nor could he have behaved like a gentleman. Soon they had lost track of time spent too much time in the shrubbery. They snuck in and after changing they were a full half an hour late for dinner. This fact was in reality not lost on any of their dinner companions, yet was not remarked upon. Their dinner companions had waited for them to arrive. Dinner that evening was a quiet affair. The three weeks preceding their wedding passed quietly away in like manner. Lady Matlock didn’t find a chance to revisit Darcy's outburst and revelations made at the inn at Meryton. It would have to wait until Christmas now.
Footnotes
[1] 1 Corinthians 13:1, The Bible.
Thank you For Reading
Thank you to all who have bought this book. The difference that each purchase makes cannot be expressed. If you have enjoyed this work, then I humbly request that you leave a review. Reviews are the life blood of our work. However, whether you leave a review or not please take with you my gratitude to you for the purchase you have made, and my wish that your life may be enriched from the reading of this material.
Acknowledgments
The process of writing and editing a book can be a longer process than we would like and usually involves a whole team of people. I would like to thank my team of beta readers Debra-Ann Kummoung, Ashley Haskins and Nikita Sridhar for all of their hard work in helping me to polish this document in the preparation for publication. I would also like to thank my cover designer Dominique Goodall for the beautiful cover that she has designed.
About the Author
Deborah found her love of Jane Austen’s work when she was 15 by watching the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Andrew Davies. She then read Miss Austen’s books multiple times and began reading fan fiction books, which led her to begin writing her own Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) in 2010. Deborah’s burning passion is to empower others through the written word.
Deborah left school in 1997. She has many varied hobbies including Watercolour Painting, playing the piano, Violin and the flute. She loves reading a broad spectrum of material which ranging from Philosophy through to the latest fiction. She is a life-long Norwich City Football Club fan. She loves sewing and excels at Cross Stitch. If she is not writing the one thing that she loves is to spend several hours just walking around her favourite beauty spots.
To contact Deborah:
Email: [email protected]
Blog: https://deborahpearsonblog.wordpress.com
Also by Deborah E Pearson
The Meryton War
1811-1812 How it All Began Part 1
Coming Soon
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1812 How It All Began- Part 2 Page 28