“I was impressed that, despite your youth, you stood up to him, to me,andto 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 wouldhave 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 wastaken 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.
