Page 54 of To Love And To Cherish
At last, Bingley had stirred. He had frozen in shame, but now cleared his throat and faced the room.
"You must forgive my sister. She has a terrible temper. I assure you, my beloved Jane will not be asked to share a roof with her. Excuse me, I must attend to this matter."
Darcy had watched, half in awe, as his friend stood, walked into the hall, and called his footman.
"Samuel, bring Miss Bingley down and escort her back to Scarborough. Carry her down if you must. She will not spend another night under this roof."
Samuel had done just that.
Her shrieks and protests rang down the stairs, echoing through the halls. And then, blessedly, the door had shut behind her.
Silence followed, thick and dreadful.
Georgiana had reached for Darcy’s hand, gripping it tightly until, finally, Bingley reappeared.
"My love," he had said to Jane, "that was...unpleasant. Let us move to the music room. Perhaps Louisa and Georgiana would favor us with a piece."
It had been awkward, yes, but also redemptive. Louisa had stumbled at the keyboard, shaken by her sister’s display, but Georgiana, with Darcy beside her to turn the pages and shield her from view, had played beautifully.
And Jane had not cried off. After all of it, she had remained by Bingley’s side.
Now, she stood at the altar beside Charles, reciting her vows with clear, lovely solemnity.
“I, Jane, take thee, Charles, to my wedded husband...”
Darcy’s throat tightened as he watched. Charles had married the finest woman in all of England.
No,he silently corrected himself.The second finest.
His thoughts turned to Elizabeth.
He had never met a woman so full of life and wit, so capable of challenging his mistaken opinions, and making him like her all the more for it. And how had he treated her? With condescension. With pride and prejudice.
And now she was gone.
Elizabeth Bennet was somewhere in the world, possibly thinking ill of him, justly offended by his arrogance. She had every reason to dislike him. And he had no idea where she was.
The fear struck him like a sudden chill.
What if I never see her again?
His eyes returned to the ceremony. The vicar pronounced the couple man and wife. Jane and Charles smiled at one another with a joy unmarred by fortune or consequence. It was love, simple, steady, real.
Darcy stood motionless, his heart full.
He had spent his life weighing merit by birth, rank, and wealth. But Jane and Elizabeth had no title or fortune. And yet they possessed what so few in society could claim: depth of character, constancy, courage, and they were kind.
He swallowed hard, suddenly uncertain of the path before him. Perhaps everything he had believed about suitability and station was flawed.
The thought unnerved him.
And beneath the discomfort, something else stirred, hope.
Hope that if he ever saw Elizabeth Bennet again, he might find the courage to make her his own.
Chapter 29: Mr. Ludwig
The late-morning sun streamed into the back salon of Professor Trent’s house, a quiet room set apart for the purpose of tutoring. The large window overlooked a tidy courtyard and admitted both light and a breeze. Elizabeth Bennet sat opposite Miss Ancilla Trent, a notebook in her lap and a cup of tea beside her.
