Chapter 19

F ive days passed at Pemberley, with little for Elizabeth to occupy herself beyond the writing of letters, awaiting replies that were yet to come, and engaging in frequent prayer. She penned her concerns and latest finding to her father and to the Gardiners in London, and to Jane, each letter carrying her anxieties and hopes across the miles that separated them. As the hours stretched into days, all she could do was wait and hope. Every notion she entertained seemed futile. If she went to Longbourn, it would do nothing to ease her mother's nerves or to soothe her sisters' anxieties, nor could she go to the Gardiners, who, along with her father, were most assuredly engrossed in the search for Lydia and Wickham. The feeling of being of no use in the situation left her feeling quite helpless.

The absence of Mr. Darcy added further to her disquiet. Though he had sent no word, Elizabeth was certain that his departure was not about a disdain for her family, but with the intention of using his connections to assist in resolving the matter. Georgiana had confirmed this suspicion during one of their breakfasts, though neither lady ate much at the table. The thought of Mr. Darcy's involvement brought her some comfort, though it was tempered by the uncertainty of how he would react at his return. The revelations from Mrs. Reynolds had altered her perspective profoundly, and Elizabeth found herself regarding Mr. Darcy with a newfound admiration. With the veil of prejudice now lifted, she saw him in a different light. Now, Elizabeth thought of him as a man who treated his servants with kindness, who possessed the humility to apologize when in the wrong, and who would go to great lengths to protect those he held dear.

Yet, even as she longed for him from afar, Elizabeth could not suppress the stirrings of impatience within her. Her gratitude for Mr. Darcy's actions contended with a growing desire to speak with him, to clear the misunderstandings between them, and to begin anew. She longed to express to him that she now understood him better, that her former judgments had been clouded by misrepresentations and errors. But with each passing day, the opportunity to do so felt like it receded further from her grasp.

On the morning of the sixth day, as the sun ascended higher into the Derbyshire sky, Elizabeth found herself pacing the drawing-room, her thoughts restless and scattered. The quiet of Pemberley, which had initially seemed a mere backdrop to her worries, now disturbed her peace, again. The house, vast and imposing, felt even larger in Mr. Darcy's absence, and the uncertainty surrounding Lydia's fate weighed heavily on her heart.

Elizabeth's unease was compounded by the lack of communication. Why had there been no letters from anyone? Twice she had inquired of Mrs. Reynolds whether any correspondence had arrived, only to receive the same disappointing reply: none. Georgiana had offered her sympathy, which Elizabeth accepted graciously, determined not to fret in her presence. She reminded herself that, as the mistress of the house, she must maintain composure, if only for Georgiana's sake.

While she wandered the drawing room later in the morning, the sound of carriage wheels crunching on the gravel outside suddenly broke the oppressive stillness. Elizabeth rushed to the window, her breath catching as she recognized the familiar figures of her father and Mr. Darcy alighting from the carriage. A surge of emotion overcame her, and she hurried to the entrance hall, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope.

"Father! Mr. Darcy!" Elizabeth's voice trembled as she addressed them, her eyes searching their faces for any sign of news.

Mr. Bennet stepped forward, his expression one of weary relief. "Lizzy, my dear, Lydia has been found. She is safe."

Elizabeth's knees nearly buckled under the weight of these words, and she grasped her father's arm for support. "Found? Oh, thank heavens!" She turned to Mr. Darcy, her voice thick with gratitude. "Mr. Darcy, you cannot know how much this means to me—to us all."

Mr. Darcy inclined his head, his expression unreadable. "I am relieved that the search has ended, Miss Bennet. I only wish it had been concluded sooner."

The formal exchange between them felt strange, given all that had transpired, but Elizabeth could not yet articulate the depth of her feelings. There would be time enough for that later. For now, the news that Lydia was safe was sufficient to ease the tension that had gripped her heart.

"Come, Lizzy," Mr. Bennet said, gently guiding her into the drawing-room. "Let us speak in private, for I must soon depart. I was determined to see you before returning to Meryton."

Once they were seated, Mr. Bennet took Elizabeth's hand in his, his expression turning grave. "I have much to tell you, Lizzy. But first, I must say how deeply I regret the pain and worry this has caused you. Your sister's actions were thoughtless, and the consequences could have been dire."

Elizabeth nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "Father, I feared the worst... What of Lydia? What will become of her?"

Mr. Bennet sighed, a shadow passing over his features. "Mr. Darcy has taken it upon himself to resolve the matter. He found Wickham and Lydia in Newcastle, where Wickham had concealed himself due to gambling debts and other misdeeds. Mr. Darcy paid off Wickham's debts and offered him a sum of money to marry Lydia and thus save her from disgrace."

Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat. "Mr. Darcy did all this?"

Mr. Bennet's gaze softened as he observed his daughter's reaction. "Yes, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy has done more for our family than we could ever have expected. It was his intervention that secured Lydia's future, though it cost him a great deal—both in terms of money and personal pride."

Tears gathered in Elizabeth's eyes as the full role of Mr. Darcy's in the whole situation dawned on her."Oh, Father, I have been so wrong about him. I allowed my prejudice to blind me to his true character."

Mr. Bennet squeezed her hand gently. "We all make mistakes, Lizzy. What matters is that you have come to see the truth. Mr. Darcy is a man of honour and integrity, and it is clear that he cares deeply for you."

Elizabeth's heart swelled with a mix of emotions—gratitude, admiration, and a burgeoning love that she could no longer deny. "I... I love him, Father. I did not realize it until now, but I do."

"Then you must tell him, Lizzy. Do not let this opportunity pass you by."

With her father's words still resonating in her mind, Elizabeth rose from her seat, resolved to find Mr. Darcy and convey her feelings. Mr. Bennet gave a silent nod of encouragement as she made her way to the library, where she suspected Mr. Darcy had retreated after their conversation.

When she entered the room, she found Mr. Darcy standing by the window, his gaze fixed on the gardens below. He turned as she approached, his brows knitted slightly, and his eyes searched her face as if trying to decipher what troubled her.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth began, her voice trembling slightly, "I... I wanted to thank you for all that you have done for my family, for Lydia. My father told me everything, and I cannot express how grateful I am."

Mr. Darcy's brow furrowed further, his eyes searching hers. "There is no need for thanks, Elizabeth. I did only what I felt was necessary. It is my fault that Wickham was able to deceive so many for so long. I should have exposed him earlier."

Elizabeth took a step closer, her heart aching for the man before her. "But you did what was right, Mr. Darcy. You saved my sister, and for that, I am eternally grateful."

Mr. Darcy's features relaxed, his gaze lowering slightly as a shadow of melancholy flickered in his eyes. "I only wish I had done more. It was because of Wickham that I insisted we leave Meryton so abruptly after our wedding. The memories of what he did to Georgiana... I could not bear them or endure the thought of her encountering him there."

Elizabeth felt a sudden pang of guilt as she recalled her earlier resentment towards him for leaving so suddenly. "I understand now, Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Reynolds told me about what happened with Wickham and Georgiana. I... I was wrong to judge you so harshly."

Mr. Darcy's gaze softened further, his voice low and filled with regret. "I have wronged you, Elizabeth. If I had exposed Wickham in Meryton, perhaps, this wouldn't have happened to your sister. I should have been honest with you from the start when you finished reading the letter. But I feared that you would never forgive me, that you would always see me as the proud, arrogant man I was. For what kind of man would not have exposed Wickham, but one trying to save his sister from shame."

Elizabeth shook her head, her eyes shining with tears. "I was wrong too, Mr. Darcy. I let my prejudice cloud my judgment, and I believed Wickham's lies because... because I was hurt by what you said at the assembly, and by the things I heard from Lady Catherine about you being betrothed to her daughter."

Mr. Darcy's expression softened further, a look of understanding in his eyes. "Anne is like a sister to me, Elizabeth. Much younger and still a child in many ways. Lady Catherine has always pushed the idea of a betrothal, but neither Anne nor I want it. It was never true."

Elizabeth took another step closer, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch his arm. "I am sorry, Mr. Darcy. I should have trusted you. I should have seen the good in you from the beginning."

Darcy looked into her eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. "Elizabeth... I have wronged you, too. I should have bridled my tongue at the assembly. I do not fare well in gatherings, and my pride... my pride has often been my downfall."

Elizabeth, with a gentle resolve, closed the distance between them with one final step, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We all have our faults, Mr. Darcy. But now that we are starting on a new page, I believe there is something you should know."

Darcy's breath caught in his throat as he asked, "What is it, Elizabeth?"

"I love you." She looked up at him, her eyes filled with love.

For a moment, time itself seemed to pause. Then, with a tenderness that fully reflected the depth of his emotions, Darcy lowered his lips to hers, sealing with their first kiss the bond that had quietly grown between them. Elizabeth did not pull away; instead, she rose on tiptoe to meet his lips, savouring the sweetness of her first kiss with the man she truly loved. The doubts and fears that had once haunted them both dissolved, giving way to the warmth of a love neither had anticipated, yet both had come to treasure.