Page 74 of Regrets

When Mr. Bennet finished reading the letter, there was a stunned silence in the parlour. Mrs. Bennet spoke first. “Does this mean that we would never need to leave Longbourn?”

Mr. Bennet took off his glasses, smiled widely at her, and answered, “That is exactly what it means, Mrs. Bennet!”

Mrs. Bennet was too overcome to speak. She buried her head on Jane’s shoulder and wept quietly. Jane rubbed her mother’s back, and let her own quiet tears fall as well.

Sensible Mary said, “But first you must go to court to prove our claim.”

Mr. Darcy said, reassuringly, “Mr. Stanley will manage it; do not worry, Miss Mary.”

“Very well,” she said, but she still looked uncertain.

“It is a lot to take in, all at once,” Mr. Darcy said. “It can take some time to accustom oneself to a new view of the world.”

At this, Mrs. Bennet raised her head. “All these years I berated myself for not having birthed a son and losing the estate…”

“Hardly your fault, Mrs. Bennet,” her husband reassured her. “God directs these things, not us mere mortals.”

“Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos,” Mr. Darcy murmured.

Elizabeth nodded. “The threads are spun out, measured and cut.”

Mrs. Bennet shook her head, saying, “I know not what you two are on about, but – oh! This changes everything! My china, my furniture, my jewelry – mine, mine forever!”

“Quite right, Mrs. Bennet, quite right,” her husband said, looking at her in a way she had not seen for a very long time…fondly! He was looking at her fondly! Mrs. Bennet caught her breath.

Chapter Sixty

This is far enough,” Georgiana declared. She was beginning to feel uneasy. Why were they so far away from the road? If George was going to propose to her, he could have done it easily enough by now.

“Very well, Georgiana,” he said, and the smile on his face was different from anything she had seen before. He took her hand and kissed it.

Her face softened; she smiled.

He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

She gasped.

Then he kissed her lips, ever so gently.

She held her breath and leaned forward, eyes closed. It was a clear invitation.

He kissed her again and stepped closer. He put his hands on either side of her face and pushed his tongue into her mouth. She began to pull back, uncertain as to what was happening.

He pulled her close and reached down her bodice to fondle her breast.

“George, no!” she cried, trying to twist away.

“You want me, Georgiana, you know you do.” He held her fast.

Want him? “I love you, George, but –“

“I love you, too, Georgiana.”

“Oh! You do? Then –“

“This is how you show your love to me,” he said, and reached into her bodice again.

“I do not think –“