Something in his expression shifted—softened, steadied further still.
And in that moment, she understood.
Everything else might be uncertain.
Her name.
Her past.
Her family.
But not this.
Nothim.
His love was steady. Unshaken. A constant in the midst of everything collapsing around her.
And suddenly, that was enough.
“I will marry you tomorrow,” she said, the words came softly, but laden with certainty. “I do not wish to wait another day to become Mrs. Darcy—your wife.”
Relief broke across his face—swift, profound.
And then—
A shriek split the air from the corridor outside.
Chapter 33
The shriek that rang through the corridor was unmistakably one of delight. “Tomorrow?!”
Elizabeth blinked, startled, as Georgiana’s voice carried clearly through the hall.
Darcy huffed out a breath that might almost have been a laugh. “We may as well invite her in before she bursts through the door of her own accord.”
“Pray do,” Elizabeth said, a faint smile breaking through her exhaustion.
Darcy called out, and the door flew open almost at once. Georgiana hurried in, her face bright with excitement, only to stop short as she took in the scene—their closeness, Elizabeth’s expression, Darcy’s unmistakable relief.
“Oh,” she breathed.
Behind her came Lady Anne, more composed but no less curious, and Richard, whose grin suggested he had already guessed a great deal.
Lady Catherine, who had risen and crossed the room with the aid of her cane, gave her sister a very knowing look.
“Anne,” she said dryly, “eavesdropping does not become you.”
Lady Anne flushed at once. “I was not—at least, not intentionally—I merely—” She faltered, then admitted, “I did not wish to interrupt.”
Elizabeth could not help the small laugh that escaped her.
Georgiana clasped her hands together. “Is it true?” she asked, looking between them. “You are to be married tomorrow?”
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. She nodded. “Yes.”
Georgiana gave a delighted cry and rushed forward, catching Elizabeth’s hand carefully. “Oh, how wonderful!”
Lady Catherine tapped her cane lightly against the floor, already turning toward the door with renewed purpose.
