Page 144 of The Crown’s Gift

Sir Thomas sat before the drawing-room fire. The broken wooden horse, returned from Pemberley for the occasion, rested on a table near him.

"Your grandmama objected to a ribbon," he began.

Lady Bennet interrupted. "It was sky blue. Peacock was correct."

"History remains divided."

He told them of Meryton, the royal progress, the unpitted sugar plum, the frozen room, the guards, and the King's first ragged breath. He did not make himself fearless. He described the sword beneath his jaw and the certainty that he might never see the carriage ride home.

"But you did," little George said.

"I did."

"And the King gave you Netherfield."

"Yes."

"So that was the gift."

Sir Thomas looked around the room.

Jane sat with Bingley and their youngest asleep against her. Mary turned pages for Georgiana. Kitty leaned beside her husband. Lydia laughed with Captain Carter. Elizabeth stood near Darcy, his hand at the small of her back. Lady Bennet watched all of them with satisfaction too large for restraint.

"Netherfield was part of it," Sir Thomas said. "The greater gift was discovering that having a family is not the same as knowing them."

The children considered this with varying degrees of interest.

Anne understood first. "You stopped hiding in the library."

"Not entirely."

"We still find him there," Emma said.

"But the door is open," Anne replied.

Sir Thomas smiled. "Yes. The door is open."

Later, when the children slept and the house quieted by degrees, Elizabeth found her father beneath the framed royal letter.

"Tired?"

"Happily."

She sat beside him. At forty, she retained the lively eyes Darcy first failed to appreciate. Time had placed fine lines at their corners and confidence within them.

"Do you think of the King often?" she asked.

"Whenever someone serves sugar plums."

"Papa."

"Yes. Not as a king, but as a frightened man unable to breathe. A plum stone, a few seconds, and a stranger's decision separated fear from relief."

"And everything followed."

"Everything follows something small when one looks backward."

Darcy entered carrying two glasses of port. He gave one to Sir Thomas and sat on Elizabeth's other side.