Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

T he Darcys’ arrival at their London home was, miraculously, unheralded. They slipped in from the mews, retired directly to their chambers, and remained there for several days before they were discovered.

They spent that time in blissful solitude, talking and laughing about many things, including their first impressions of each other. It was a subject they had rarely discussed, as the day they met had been overshadowed by so many other challenges and distractions.

“I was impressed that, despite your youth, you stood up to him, to me, and to my father without fear,” Darcy said, his voice soft with admiration as he reflected on her bravery. Elizabeth had just finished telling him how terrified she had been that day.

Elizabeth laughed, though the sound was tinged with disbelief. “You must be joking; I was so afraid,” she said, shaking her head, “I would have thought everyone could hear my knees knocking together when I stood in front of your father. Women, especially young women, are rarely believed or given much consideration when attacked as I was. Though I was not yet out, if what happened to me had become known, I would have been ruined. I w ould have been ruined in truth, had you not come along when you did.”

Her laughter faded, and her face fell as she remembered the terror she had felt. “I was angry, yes, but I would not have been able to hold him off much longer.”

Darcy’s heart clenched at the sight of her distress. The memory of that day had left scars on both of them, but it pained him to see how deeply it still affected her when she spoke of it. He reached out, gently tucking a loose curl behind her ear.

“I collapsed in my aunt’s arms not long after you departed from the inn that afternoon,” she confessed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was holding it all in until I could no longer.”

Her words tugged at Darcy’s heart, and without hesitation, he drew her into his arms. His embrace was tender, protective, as though he could shield her from the pain of the past even now.

“I think fate smiled on me that day,” he murmured against her hair. “While I wish with all my heart that you had never had to endure such an ordeal, it accomplished two significant things. It finally convinced my father that his godson was as awful as I had always claimed, but most fortuitously, it brought you into my life.”

He pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her eyes, his gaze earnest. “Were it not for your friendship, I would have struggled far more after my father’s death. Your letters to Georgiana, and the lines you wrote just for me, regularly lifted my spirits when I felt overcome by grief and melancholy.”

Elizabeth’s eyes softened, and she smiled faintly, though the shadow of the past still lingered. “I never knew they meant so much to you.”

“They did,” he said earnestly. “More than you can imagine. Even then, I think I was beginning to fall in love with you.” His fingers traced the line of her jaw, and his voice dropped to a near whisper. “I owe you more than I could ever express. ”

For a moment, the weight of everything left unsaid hung between them. Then, without another word, Darcy pressed his lips to hers, a kiss filled with all the love and gratitude he could not convey in words.

After several moments like that, she leaned back and smiled, caressing his cheek with her hand. “You have said that before, but I can scarcely credit it. Most of what I sent was meant to provoke, as I was certain you did not care for me. We seemed to always argue when we spoke at Pemberley that second summer.”

“I was delighted by our debates. I was so impressed with your knowledge and understanding, and your compassion in helping my sister and Mrs. Reynolds with Pemberley’s tenants. You know, they still speak of you with something like reverence, and I have received word from my steward that they are delighted that you are now their mistress.”

“But I did so little,” she protested.

“You were empathetic and kind. Pemberley had not had a mistress in several years at that point, and they appreciated the effort you took to know them. Mrs. Reynolds did visit as she could, but she was unable to do much. I know that you did not know much about the role of a mistress of an estate at that time, but you were approachable and merry.”

Elizabeth laughed again. “I still do not know much about the role of mistress. Despite being born a gentleman’s daughter, I have lived most of my life in the house of a tradesman. I do not recall anyone at Longbourn visiting tenants or doing half of what Mrs. Reynolds does, and I know I am far from prepared to be the mistress of such a grand estate as Pemberley.”

Darcy kissed her forehead. “You will be exceptional, my love. I have complete faith in your abilities to do what is required. What you do not know, you will learn quickly enough. You have proven that you are a fast learner. ”

In response, she kissed him and relaxed into his embrace. They remained this way for several minutes before an idea struck Elizabeth, and she sat up slightly. “What made you finally decide to court me? We had not seen each other in years when I attended the ball at the Matlocks, and it was only a few days later that you asked for a courtship.”

Darcy smiled broadly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Do you not know, my love?”

When Elizabeth shook her head, he laughed softly and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her as though he could not bear to be separated for even a moment. “I had not seen you in more than a year and knew of you only through your letters to my sister. We had a cheerful battle of wits in those letters, and I enjoyed the novelty of it, but in my mind, you were still a young girl.”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at this, though she remained silent, her curiosity piqued.

“That night at my aunt’s, well … my darling wife, I was utterly stunned,” he continued, his tone deepening with sincerity. “You were so incredibly lovely, and I was instantly attracted to you. It took me a moment to realise that you were the very Elizabeth Gardiner I had traded barbs with for all that time.”

He smiled at the memory, his expression softening as he recalled the moment. “When I realised it was you I was seeing, I was taken aback. Do you not recall that I struggled to form the words to ask you to dance?”

Elizabeth’s eyes warmed, and she looked up at him fondly. “I thought you were annoyed to be forced to dance with me that night,” she confessed, a hint of amusement in her voice. “I think we have spoken of this before, but I had admired my ‘rescuer’ for years. When you fumbled over your words, I thought it was because you were disappointed in me. Imagine how surprised I was when you called on me at your aunt’s the next day. ”

“No, Elizabeth,” Darcy said with a chuckle, his eyes filled with affection. “I fumbled because I was shocked. I remembered the impertinent little fourteen-year-old you had been and did not expect you to be the breathtaking woman who was standing before me. I was utterly unprepared. Ask Richard what I said, for he teased me all evening about being smitten with you.”

His gaze lingered on her, his hand lifting to gently brush a stray curl away from her face. “And I must tell you, my darling, you have only grown more beautiful with time,” he murmured, his voice low and full of emotion.

Before Elizabeth could respond, Darcy leaned in and captured her lips with his own. The kiss was tender at first, but quickly deepened with passion, their connection growing more intense with each passing moment. Elizabeth melted into him, her arms twining around his neck as their breath mingled, each of them lost in the love they felt for one another.

By the time they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their foreheads resting together as they shared a quiet moment, the world outside their embrace forgotten.

Soon after their return, Elizabeth received two letters from Hertfordshire. From Mary’s letter, she learned how Mrs. Bennet had taken to her bed shortly after Elizabeth departed Longbourn, crying and complaining about her nerves and how “that foolish girl” had ruined all her plans for their futures. Mrs. Bennet spent much of the next several days bemoaning the lack of a son for Longbourn and that without Elizabeth there to marry the heir, all the girls were destined for the hedgerows.

Though I hate to say it of my own relation, I struggle to understand Mama. She and Papa could have provided for our future by restricting their spending. Regardless, she is quite upset by your appearing at Longbourn already married, and, I admit, her frustration is exacerbated by learning how well you have married. You should hear the rumours that have circulated since you left. I hate to say it, Elizabeth, but she is vexed that you are married while Jane is not, and she blames her brother, Papa, and everyone else she can name for it.

Not only that, but apparently, she has decided that I am now the sister to marry Mr. Collins. I am anxious at the thought of it; the man is not only much older than I, but I am in no way prepared for marriage.

Since you departed, I have begun spending less time at home and more time with Charlotte Lucas and Mrs. Allen, the rector’s wife. In my conversations with her, I have learned that Longbourn’s tenants are among the poorest in our parish, for Mama does not act as she should and does not do anything to aid them. Not only that, but Papa has raised the rents on our tenants to make up for the loss of income in other aspects. The estate is failing, and Papa will do nothing to help. I am concerned that someday all Mama’s cries about us ending in the hedgerows may be truer than any of us would like.

I do not say that to beg for assistance, for I know that neither Mr. Phillips, nor even Mr. Gardiner would allow us to live in penury, but should something happen to Papa, we would lose much of the status we currently enjoy as the daughters of a gentleman. Mama is worried that Mr. Collins will not allow us to live at Longbourn without either Jane or me marrying him, and even should that come to pass, he may still be unwilling to do as our mother wishes. The man is to arrive soon, and I worry what will happen when he comes.

Forgive me, Elizabeth, for I know my letter rambles. I have taken the lessons of Mrs. Allen to heart and have begun joining her as she visits the poor in the parish, many of whom are our tenants. Jane accompanied me once but found it too uncomfortable for her and has no wish to continue. According to Mrs. Allen, this is what young gentlewomen ought to do, and we ought to have always been doing it. Had you remained at Longbourn, perhaps we would have, or at least I think that may be the case. Regardless, I am finally learning what I ought to have known, and that will make me a better wife for someone whenever that comes to pass. I hope it is not soon.

Elizabeth sighed upon finishing this letter. “What is it, dearest?” Darcy asked, looking up from his own correspondence.

“Mary. Things at Longbourn are as bad as we supposed. Part of me wishes to offer my assistance, but another part of me asks myself why I should. They wanted nothing to do with me before. I can give Mary and my next younger sisters a bit more grace, but Jane I cannot understand. She has also written, but mostly to complain about the lack of opportunities for her in Hertfordshire and to beg for an invitation to come to town. I will wait before I reply to her. However, I do feel badly for Mary. It seems she has had her eyes opened to our parents and wishes for better.”

"It is a shame that neither her mother nor her father never took enough of an interest in her to teach her what she ought to know as a gentleman's daughter. I know you did not live at Longbourn for many years, but even when you were first at Pemberley, you seemed to have some inclination of what was expected by the mistress of an estate. I remember you speaking to Mrs. Reynolds and even my father about some of the problems you noticed when you traipsed through the estate," Darcy said with a grin, obviously remembering that time. "Father was amazed at some of the problems you pointed out."

She grinned back at him. “My aunt always spoke to me about what was expected of someone of my station. She was the daughter of a gentleman although her father did not own an estate. Her father was a second son, but she did spend some time on the family’s estate. My grandmother also spent a little time with me before she died. In fact, she died not long before I was sent to London which I think was one of the reasons that Mr. Bennet finally gave in to Mrs. Bennet’s demands. Before that, my grandmother protected me. I have always been observant of things, and my aunt always encouraged me to choose charitable pursuits. Helping with the tenants at Pemberley just seemed to be an easy way to provide assistance where I could.”

Darcy nodded, and the couple sat for several moments in silence. Finally, he spoke. “Perhaps your Aunt Gardiner would be willing to allow Mary to join them in London for a time. I am hesitant to invite her to join us, at least not directly from Longbourn. From what you have said, I feel certain others would attempt to turn anything we do for one sister into a way to use us. Mary would benefit from the companionship of Mrs. Gardiner.”

Elizabeth sighed. “If it becomes untenable for her at Longbourn, I will suggest it. For now, it seems that the rector’s wife and my friend Charlotte are aiding Mary. I hope to hear more about this Mr. Collins and what happens with him. If Mary is forced to accept an engagement to him, I will not hesitate to act. Also, I will speak of this to my aunt when she visits, for she would likely want to know how she might be of aid if it is required.”