“What makes her happy? Being wed to the master of Pemberley?”
“Not at all. According to her, she prefers me, the man, above anything or anyone else. Ask her. You will see.”
Hearing his own words finally revealed to him what he knew to be the best course for his immediate family. Elizabeth had not been shy about telling him what was most important to her. Why had he not listened? Why had he stewed for days on end about what choice he needed to make for their future when it was obvious?
Tapping his finger on his upper lip, he wondered how soon she would be ready to depart. He needed to talk to her about how they could implement his plans, firmly setting their feet on the path leading to the years ahead.
41
Four weeks later, Elizabeth wandered the halls of Matlock House as she waited for the men to return from Simon Cole’s trial. The court had already sentenced Mr. Rumple to hang. Mr. Anders was likely somewhere in the Americas, building a new life. Where Caroline Bingley ended up was anyone’s guess. In truth, Elizabeth cared not what happened to the woman who once delighted in tormenting Georgiana.
During the weeks since they returned from Gracechurch Street, her husband was secretive, being away from Matlock House for hours, even days at a time. Despite all her efforts, when she asked him what he had on his mind, he grinned and told her she would be the first to know once everything was arranged.
By the time the end of March arrived, a break in the weather allowed Lord Matlock to escort his wife and niece back to London. The midwife estimated Georgiana had less than three months before she welcomed herchild. Elizabeth was not quite four months along, having just felt the first fluttering of life.
When Elizabeth informed her husband, he dropped to his knees, cradled her small, rounded belly in his hands, and kissed the spot where she showed him she first felt movement.
Even though she was happy to be back with Darcy’s family, she missed her own. Jane was still making wedding plans. Or, rather, their mother was making plans. Jane’s letters gushed about the character of her betrothed where their mother’s notes were constant requests for Elizabeth to forage through one warehouse after another for the perfect lace to decorate Jane’s gown.
Rarely did she receive a letter from Mary or Kitty. Lydia was a reliable correspondent, though not to Elizabeth. No, she addressed each of her letters to Fitzwilliam, much to his amusement. Lately, her youngest sister fancied herself as wanting to become the most accomplished and most desirable lady of theton. With that in mind, she requested masters to help her improve everything from her reading ability to her skill with a sword. Fitzwilliam, of course, balked, providing a drawing instructor instead. Lydia planned to avoid London until she felt ready to be presented as the diamond she believed herself to be. Darcy could not wait.
A fortnight after Aunt Helen arrived, the weather continued to be warmer than usual, with no rain. Darcy woke Elizabeth early.
“Come, dear lady. The time has arrived for you to learn what your errant husband has been doing for the past month. Dress for travel. We have a distance to go before the morning is over.”
Eager to discover his purpose, she hurried Molly in helping her to be ready. When she arrived at the entrance hall, the only evidence of her husband’s glee was the sparkle in his eyes. Whatever he had prepared for her made him extraordinarily happy. She determined there and then to feel the same.
Four hours later, the carriage, Darcy’s town coach, not Lord Matlock’s, turned off the Great North Road toward Meryton.
Puzzled, she looked from one window to the next. “Mr. Darcy? Are we for Longbourn?”
“We are not.”
“Netherfield Park?”
“Not at all.”
She peered at him closely, studying every angle of his face for a change of expression. He would never lie to her, ever. Seeing no clues, she wondered, “Meryton?”
He hesitated before answering. “We are not going to Meryton.”
“But…” She peered back out the window. “This road goes to Meryton and no further.”
“I know.”
“Then…?” She inhaled sharply. Could it be? For the first time since they departed London, Elizabeth was patient. If it was as she suspected, she wanted to watch Darcy’s reaction as closely as he was observing hers.
When the horses pulling the carriage slowed about a mile from the Great North Road, the excitement in her chest threatened to explode. Ashworth.
The carriage bounced over a small rut in the narrow lane. Without thinking, Darcy muttered, “I shall have that fixed.”
How her heart rejoiced when he inadvertently revealed his secret. However, he surprised her again. When the team arrived at the house, her whole family, including Mr. Bingley, waited to greet them.
“Oh, Lizzy, you have a lovely home.” Her mother clapped her hands before pulling Elizabeth into a tight embrace.
As soon as her foot touched the first stair, the door was opened. A gray-haired woman with a pleasant face stood silently, her warm smile drawing Elizabeth in.
Before she crossed the threshold, Darcy introduced her to Mrs. Reynolds, Pemberley’s former housekeeper.
