She saw him start, and color rose in his face.
“George Wickham? You are certain?”
“Yes, sir. I ran home and informed my father. We followed them into town but lost them on Russell Street.
“We could not find her, so we traveled to Gracechurch Street to my uncle’s residence. Papa and my uncle were preparing to hire Bow Street Runners when my sister arrived at the house in a hackney.
“She was weeping because all her gowns remained in the boot of the carriage Mr. Wickham had hired, though otherwise she was untouched and unharmed.
“My uncle arranged a marriage for her with a young gentleman, a Mr. James Adams, and two weeks later they sailed for India. This all occurred in March, sir.”
“My aunt has received the first communication from Mr. Adams. Only moments ago, within Sir Gareth’s carriage, we enjoyed privacy, and she allowed me to read it. The young couple arrived safely in India, and he shall make his career there. I doubt I shall ever see Lydia again, but I am ashamed I did not tell you of her sooner, sir. I have no excuse. I have not thought about her for many months. Yet today I received news of her, and I could not allow another day to pass without telling you.”
She kept her eyes lowered as she rose to her feet. “Sir, I understand if you must break with me. By concealing this from you, any promise between us must surely stand void.”
He had also risen. “Elizabeth, do you wish to be rid of me? Do you use this as an excuse to cast me off for Lord Dunwich?”
She raised her head, and he saw that tears streamed down her cheeks.
“No, sir. My greatest desire is to marry you, tomorrow if possible, so that no one and nothing may ever come between us again. Not Lydia, not an unexpected death, not your uncle, not Lord Dunwich.”
He drew her close until she stood flush against him. “Elizabeth, I am glad you told me. There must never be secrets between us. Nothing could separate me from you, darling. Not even should your sister have eloped with Wickham. I would have found a way to make it right. It happens that devil attempted to drug Georgiana in January while she resided in Ramsgate, but she escaped him, just as your sister did. Let us marry tomorrow at eight in the morning. I shall arrange for Richard and Anne to stand with us. Aunt Helen does not come down to breakfast until half past ten. We shall have been married two hours by then.”
“Oh, sir! You do not cast me off? I scarcely dare believe we shall still marry after all that has passed.”
She encircled her arms about his neck and lifted her face in invitation. He bent and kissed her.
They remained in one another’s embrace until the sound of Georgiana’s footfalls in the hall reached them. He released Elizabeth and dried her eyes with his handkerchief.
“We must dress for dinner.” He chuckled, a low, gleeful sound that vibrated against her lips. “Darling, I am so happy I do not know how I shall endure dinner without betraying our secret.”
He kissed her once more, then stepped into the hall, glanced in both directions, and signaled for her to follow. They parted then, both radiant with happiness.
Chapter 44: Forsaking All Others
Elizabeth stood silently beside Mr. Darcy. Tall, grave, and exquisitely dressed in a dark blue superfine coat and dark pantaloons, he embodied every girlish dream of Prince Charming.
She had been studying his full lower lip when she realized he was grinning at her.
“Do you like what you see, darling?”
Her laugh was low and merry. “Yes, sir, if you must know. I am exceedingly pleased by what I see.”
He pressed her hand, and his air was affectionate.
Richard, Anne, and Georgiana hurried up the walk.
“I say, Darcy, I never imagined I should manage to escape Mother. She spent a miserable night and had risen by the time I passed her door. Then she interrogated me after observing that I was not dressed for riding. She subjected me to a thorough examination. I told her I was meeting an old friend at White’s and that if I did not leave immediately, I should arrive late. She insisted upon knowing whom I meant, and, for want of forethought, I supplied the first name that entered my head. Charles Bingley. I had forgotten that she detests his sister. Never mind, however. We are here at last.” He ended his dissertation with a laugh.
Then his eyes settled upon Elizabeth.
“Miss Bennet, you look captivating this morning. I congratulate you upon your conquest, ma’am. The brute is finally tamed.”
She curtsied to Mr. Darcy’s irreverent cousin, laughing softly at his tease, while Darcy scowled.
Anne embraced her friend. “Lizzy, you look beautiful. That blue silk is ravishing. It is little wonder you took the ton by storm and brought the flower of England to its knees. You are lovely, innocent, and seductive, all wrapped into one extraordinary package.”
Elizabeth glanced toward her betrothed. Was he offended by Anne’s extravagant compliments? He was grinning, his eyes fixed intently upon her face.
