Page 73 of Regrets

Mr. Darcy produced Mr. Stanley’s most recent letter and handed it to Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bennet read it, his eyes widening.

“I can hardly believe it,” Mr. Bennet said, giving the letter to Elizabeth to read. “The entail is ended? Heavens, Lizzy, are you not well?”

Elizabeth sat in her chair, the letter clasped in her hand, tears beginning to make their way down her cheeks. “Is this possible?” she whispered. “All the worry, the fear, everything we have lived with since we knew Mama would bear no son – all for naught?”

Mr. Bennet rose from his seat, walked to Elizabeth, knelt beside her chair and put his arms around her. Mr. Darcy, knowing his presence was not required, quietly left the room.

Mr. Bennet held his beloved Lizzy in his arms as she wept. “Lizzy, I must tell you! I was wrong, utterly wrong, to have placed you in such a position when you were a child. I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am, how sorry I have been all these many years, and how much I have missed – missed you –“ His voice caught and he stopped.

“Oh, Papa!” Elizabeth said. “I have missed you, too! Truly, I did not understand how difficult it must have been for you to inherit an estate and all its responsibilities when all you wished to do was to study and read and –”

He put a finger on her lips. “And instead, I was gifted with a beautiful wife and five extraordinary daughters, all of whom I failed to appreciate,” he said. “My life is a good deal fuller than it would have been, had I been allowed to stay in the ivory tower I had chosen for myself.”

“Surely it is not too late to appreciate us, Papa!”

“I hope that it is not. This is a new beginning for all of us, Lizzy. If Longbourn is ours to keep, then – why, that changes everything!”

“We will have to go to court, will we not?”

“Ha! I would love to go to court to watch Collins’ face!” Mr. Bennet sounded triumphant.

“Do you think he knew?”

“I do not know; we may never know.”

“You must let Mama read the letter.”

“I will read it aloud to everyone!”

Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth left the study and went into the parlour; Mrs. Bennet, Jane, Mary, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy looked up as they entered.

“Where are Kitty and Lydia?” Mr. Bennet asked.

Everyone looked around. Jane sighed. “Evidently, they managed to creep out when no one was watching. Those two!” She shook her head and began to get up. “I must go and find them.”

“But before you go, Jane – all of you, listen to this!”

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Georgiana managed to leave Netherfield without a single soul noticing her departure. Her heart hammered as she walked swiftly across Netherfield’s back field, headed for the section of fence that met the road.

George loved her, she was certain of it! If he was willing to meet with her in secret, he must intend to propose to her! Her mind was filled with romantic images of him kneeling before her, begging her to make him the happiest man in all of England!

And then he would kiss her! What would that be like? She had imagined it, she had even practiced kissing her pillow, but she was certain that the reality would be far, far different.

Mr. Wickham, standing at the appointed place at Netherfield’s fence, considered what he must do to ensure his marriage to Georgiana. Darcy would never consent, that much was certain. He knew he had not the money to take Georgiana to Scotland, and chances were that she did not have enough coin either, so there was really only one choice available to him.

It should not be too difficult, given that she was completely in love with him already. He smiled; women were easily fooled!

And there she was, skipping with joy as she caught sight of him! He opened his arms, and she flew into them. “George!” she cried.

“Did anyone see you?” he asked, urgently.

“No one! I was so very careful!” she laughed.

“It is too public here; anyone might see us,” he said. “Come, let us walk just a little way into the woods.” He took her hand, and led her away.

Chapter Fifty-Nine