“Yes!” Elizabeth picked the girl and sat her on her lap.
“Will you stay withmein London? Mama spendsallthe time with Daddy Peake — I shouldn’t call him that until Mamamarrieshim. But I can to you!”
“Yes.” Elizabeth kissed the girl’s forehead. “You can say anything to me.”
“I miss Uncle Will! Why did Mama come without him? Uncle Will must be lonely, lonely without me.”
There was a low outside rumble, like a carriage arriving, but it was too late in the evening for any late guest to arrive. There was constant traffic along the street at all hours. Only a wagon passing along, delivering its load.
Elizabeth kissed Anne on the forehead. “I miss him too.”
“Youkeep him company! Mama won’t letme. You don’t do anything but walk, and Uncle Will can walk with you.” The heartbreak was returning. She would probably never have a child — and was her independence worth that loss?
Elizabeth gave Anne a biscuit she had gotten from the kitchen but not finished. “Eat this, sweetling.”
“Oooh!” Anne pointed. “It’s so pretty. Looks like a dragon! I want to keep it.”
“Yes, sweet — we can get you a carved dragon, just like this. We will paint it green, if you wish, for your birthday.”
Anne thought carefully and pushed her little fist against her mouth. “But I want a pony.”
Elizabeth laughed.
There was a loud knocking upon the outside door. Elizabeth looked up frowning and walked to the window. Atthishour?
The butler had been awake, so he opened the door for them. They all stood and looked out, but no carriage was visible on the street. Mr. Peake said, “I hope nothing is amiss with the business — I was once awoken at this hour due to a shipwreck.”
“Uncle Will! Uncle Will!”
Anne leapt from beside Elizabeth and ran towards the drawing room door. Mr. Darcy stood there, with intense bloodshot baggy eyes. He looked at her. Elizabeth’s stomach seized with some emotion that mixed terror, longing and happiness.
He bent and picked up his niece when she grabbed his leg and he kissed her. The girl squealed about how she had missed him.
Everyone looked at Darcy. Mr. Peake hovered next to Georgiana almost defensively.
Darcy looked wonderful. He looked terrible.
He wore a dirty overcoat, getting dust over Anne’s pretty dress. His hair was wild and a mess, with part of it flattened against the side of his head in an odd shape, where Elizabeth suspected he had slept on it in his carriage. His eyes were drooping and he had the beginnings of a stubbled beard around his chin that made him somehow look more male.
Georgiana cautiously approached her brother. Mr. Peake followed his betrothed, eyeballing Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth remained by the window.
Darcy put down his niece and in a flash he embraced Georgiana. “I — I am so sorry. I was wrong…your happiness is not worth my pride. You were not happy, and…only promise you shall be happy. Peake” — Darcy shook the man’s hand, still holding his sister — “I know your character. Your basic decency. I judged wrongly.”
Peake hesitated and then asked, “Mr. Darcy, have we your blessing?”
“You do not need it — but for what worth it has, you do. Am I too late, have you yet married?”
“Your blessing matters to me. So very much.” Georgie spoke with an upturned, smiling face. “I am so happy. So happy. You can give me away still. It is as I always wanted — you will?”
“Yes.”
“And Lizzy is here. Lizzy, come here.”
Elizabeth stumbled slowly forward. She was terrified. His magnetic eyes held her. He looked so handsome. But she was too scared. Too scared.
“Elizabeth… I…” He pressed his hand over his mouth. “I had not expected to see you so soon.”
“I had not expected to see you. Not ever.”
