Page 118 of The Crown’s Gift

The Netherfield servants lined the steps when the Darcys returned in August.

Lady Bennet did not line anything. She came down the drive before the carriage stopped and called Elizabeth's name through the open window.

Darcy had time to say, "Prepare yourself," before the door opened.

Elizabeth descended into her mother's arms.

Sir Thomas waited behind, smiling. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia crowded near. Jane came from Longbourn in a light carriage with Bingley driving too fast because she had told him not to miss the arrival.

For the first hour everyone spoke at once.

Lady Bennet wished to know whether Pemberley's chimneys smoked, whether the London house needed curtains, whether Lady Catherine had behaved, and why Elizabeth looked thinner. Lydia asked about balls. Kitty asked about the gallery. Mary asked after Georgiana, who would arrive the following week.

Sir Thomas shook Darcy's hand. "You brought her back."

"I promised."

"Promises are easily made before Derbyshire roads."

Elizabeth looked at her father. New silver showed at his temples. She had been gone only months, yet absence made change visible.

At dinner she sat in her old place. Darcy sat beside her as husband, which made every familiar object slightly new. The room sounded exactly as he remembered.

"You were right," he whispered.

"About what?"

"Pemberley does not sound like this."

"You said we would make our own noise."

"We have begun."

They remained at Netherfield six weeks. Darcy rode with Sir Thomas, reviewed Longbourn improvements, and learned that advice requested could still be ignored. Elizabeth spent mornings with her sisters and afternoons at Longbourn with Jane.

A letter from the family solicitor awaited them. At the Hertford Assizes, Wickham was convicted of forgery, extortion, escape, and armed assault. The capital sentence attached to the forgery conviction was commuted, upon the Crown's recommendation, to transportation for life. He was taken under guard to a prison hulk at Portsmouth and later placed aboard a ship bound for New South Wales. Georgiana's evidence was entered in her own name because she refused to let his threats govern the record. He could not return to trouble either family.

Jane had news she had kept from letters.

She took Elizabeth into the old nursery and closed the door.

"I am expecting a child."

Elizabeth stared, then embraced her so quickly Jane laughed.

"When?"

"February, if all goes well."

Joy arrived with fear close behind. Childbirth was not an abstract danger. They had known women lost to it; Lady Bennet had survived five confinements and never allowed them to forget the achievement.

"Are you well?"

"Tired. Hungry at impossible hours. Charles has read three medical books and is now more anxious than Mama."

As if summoned, Bingley entered carrying a tray.

"Jane, you did not eat the biscuits. Oh—Elizabeth. She told you?"