“Yes. He wanted to…thank Miss de Bourgh for the use of her townhouse and the carriage.”
“He is…quite a handsome man, is he not, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth felt a warmth rising through her. “Yes, I dare say he is.” She continued to sip her tea.
“I find it…” Jane’s words tapered off. “He is a perfect match for my favorite sister.”
An unease overcame Elizabeth at her sister’stone.
“I actually received a letter from Papa about him.”
“Papa, wrote you a letter?” Elizabeth felt a tightening in her throat. “Papaneverwrites to anyone unless it is regarding business. And eventhen, he still requires his steward to do so. What could have been the meaning of his sudden interest in the written word?”
After threading the needle, Jane deftly pulled it through the fabric, allowing the thread to form into a beautiful little rosette. Shrugging her shoulders and seemingly indifferent, she replied, “Maybe at the promise of a new son?”
Lizzy almost choked on her tea. Regaining her composure, with an arched brow and a tease in her voice, she asked, “A son? Is there something Mama must make known to us? Will you not be the future mistress of Longbourn after all?”
The merriment from her joke turned quickly when she saw her usually amiable sister’s jaw tighten.
“If I became Mrs. Collins…” She seemed to realize what she was saying. She stood and made for the door. “Excuse me. I must speak to Elise about dinner.”
Elizabeth could do nothing but watch her go.
“What troubles you, my love?” The words escaped his mouth before he could control his thoughts.
He had found her beneath a tree reading her secreted copy of Shakespeare.
“I had hoped you would find me here.”
His heartbeat wildly at her words, and he sat beside her taking her hand and raising it to his lips. “I willalwaysfind you. I fear you will become tired of my attentions, and when we are seventy, will banish me to my study so you can achieve solitude.”
“I have lived twenty years without you, William. I assure you. That is long enough.”
A bashful smile graced her lips, and he kissed her brow before placing his hand on hers. “All is well?”
“Yes,” she said, demurring. “Did you tell Georgiana that you are Darcy?”
“Yes, but neither Miss de Bourgh nor Lady Catherine were there. I gave her leave to tell them but suspect they already knew.”
“And you did not, William? Your resemblance to the elder Mr. Darcy… How you knew so much of the family?” Her eyes sought his, and he felt the danger of the lie resting on his tongue.
“I had suspected for many years,something,but was never certain. I am honored to have been raised a Fitzroy but am grateful to discover I have been born a Darcy.”
His response seemed to pacify her. “And Georgiana? Was she happy?”
“She was stunned at first, then said how pleased she was to have a new brother and sister all within a day. I promised her I would secure her happiness if it is the last thing I do in this lifetime.” He squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “Now, would you share your thoughts with me?”
A long sigh escaped her. “It is Jane. She hinted at something today which I was not expecting.”
“About us?” he asked.
“No. About…marriage.”
As if reading his mind, she said, attempting to put his unspoken concerns at ease, “She said how my father’s letter stated he was pleased to have a son. I teased her that maybe Mama was with child and she would not become the future mistress of Longbourn.”
With a look, Darcy silently encouraged her to continue.
“And she…she became…angry.”
