Page 51 of Losing Lizzy
Darcy tugged the child closer to his side. “Your mother is excited. It has been a long time since your mama has seen her mama and papa.”
The child looked up at him in concern. “Her mama and papa like me?”
“They will absolutely adore you,” he assured.
Mr. Farrin maneuvered the carriage through the Longbourn gates, and Elizabeth slid to the coach’s window, released the latch, and stuck her head out the window for a better view. She glanced back to him with a smile. “I wonder if Jane has noted our approach and set up an alarm.”
“More than likely,” he said. It had been so long since he had viewed such joy on Elizabeth’s face, he was glad to have been the one that presented her this moment. “Fine eyes,” he whispered to Lizzy Anne and pointed to Elizabeth.
Lizzy giggled. “Fine eyes, Mama.”
“What a wonderful compliment,” Elizabeth said with a caress of their daughter’s cheek. Then, the carriage was slowing. He cautioned, “Permit Jasper to set down the steps. I do not want you breaking a leg to reach the ground. I will follow with our daughter.”
From somewhere near the house, he heard Miss Bennet call, “It’s Lizzy! I told you it was Lizzy! Elizabeth is home!”
His daughter tapped his arm as Jasper set the steps, and Elizabeth scrambled from the carriage. “How they know my name?” Lizzy Anne asked in disbelief. Darcy climbed down, taking in the image of Elizabeth in Jane’s arms, with the other Bennets flowing through the door. He sighed heavily: He wouldnever know the embrace of his mother or father again, and, likely, there would be few from his newly-married sister, who would reside several days’ ride from Pemberley. “Come, little one.” He caught Elizabeth Anne in his arms. When she was situated with an arm about his neck, he said, “Mama’s sisters sometimes call her ‘Lizzy.’”
Sheffield joined him to watch the reunion. “Mayhap soon I should travel to Cumbria. It has been more than four years since I have spent time with my brothers.” Before either of them could say more, they looked up to view Miss Bennet striding toward them, and Darcy heard Sheffield’s quick intake of air. “She still possesses the face of an angel,” he said as if thinking aloud.
Darcy did not comment, but he thought:Elizabeth had the right of it.
Miss Bennet said with a smile upon her lips, “I knew you would bring her home. I told Mr. Bennet you would. Thank you for keeping her safe.” She squeezed his arm and stroked it with affection as she spoke.
Darcy nodded to Sheffield. “If you wish to express your gratitude to anyone, it should be to Mr. Sheffield. It is he who provided Elizabeth a home since she departed Longbourn. I just convinced her to return.”
Miss Bennet turned her smile on Sheffield, and his former valet blinked rapidly. Darcy knew that moment. Such had been his response to Elizabeth when he took her acquaintance at the Meryton assembly. In retrospect, he should have known then it was foolish to fight his attraction to her, for no other woman he had ever met had sent a zing of recognition through him as he had felt in that moment.
“Pardon,” Miss Bennet said a second before she embraced Mr. Sheffield. “I know we have not been properly introduced,” she said with a blush realizing she had reacted against propriety. “I am simply so full of joy, I cannot contain myself. Thank you, sir.”
Sheffield cleared his throat. “Your actions are perfectly understandable, miss—perfectly acceptable.”
Miss Bennet looked back to Darcy, and her eyes finally fell upon Elizabeth Anne. “Oh, my,” she whispered as realization arrived. She glanced again to Sheffield, but with a shake of her head she knew Sheffield was not the child’s father. Then she smiled upon him. “And—” She blushed again. She knew immediately when Elizabeth Anne had been conceived.
He smiled upon her and relieved her from asking the obvious. “Miss Bennet, may I introduce you to your niece, Elizabeth Anne Darcy.” To his daughter, he said, “This is your mama’s sister, Jane. Your Aunt Jane.”
“Like my doll?” Lizzy Anne asked.
“Exactly.”
“Come.” Miss Bennet pulled his arm. “Everyone will want to know Elizabeth’s child.” As they started away, the lady reached a hand back to Sheffield, to include him in the gathering and the celebration, and he scrambled to come along beside her to catch Miss Bennet’s hand and place it on his arm. Darcy noted the smile the lady presented his former servant and the look of astonishment mixed with pleasure on Sheffield’s countenance. It was a beginning.
When they joined the chaos, Mrs. Bennet turned her attention to him. “Mr. Darcy, we thought you had forsaken our Lizzy.”
“Never, ma’am,” he said with a gentle smile. This woman was to be his new mother. She was nothing like the elegant Lady Anne, but God had provided him a family, at last. It was not the one he had thought to have, but it was the one he required to heal his soul. “I love your daughter to distraction,” he assured. He turned where Lizzy Anne could look upon all those gathered outside of Longbourn. His daughter appeared a bit apprehensive, for, like him, she had been raised alone, until this day only claiming Sheffield and Elizabeth, but she also appeared excited by the possibility. “Would you care to take the acquaintance of your granddaughter, ma’am?” he said to Mrs. Bennet. Darcy kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Sweetheart, this is your grandmother, your mama’s mother.”
Lizzy Anne’s features screwed up in apparent skepticism. “A grandmama? I never had a grandmama.” He noted how Mrs. Bennet’s eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, darling,” he said softly to encourage Lizzy Anne’s cooperation. “Why do you not tell your grandmother your name?”
His daughter remained uncertain, but she said, “Lizbeth Anne Bachel Darcy.”
“Rachel?” Mrs. Bennet clutched at her chest. “My mother’s name.” She turned to where Mr. Bennet still embraced his second daughter. “Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bennet, come now. You must meet your granddaughter!”
Everyone’s head turned their way, and, quickly, he and Lizzy and Mrs. Bennet were surrounded by the Bennets. Lizzy Anne’s grip tightened about his neck. Meanwhile, Elizabeth fought her way to his side. She reached for her father’s hand, and all grew quiet. “Papa, this is your granddaughter. My and Mr. Darcy’s daughter.”
Tears formed in Mr. Bennet’s eyes. He spoke to Elizabeth, but his eyes devoured the sight of his grandchild. “I was so worried when you left Longbourn.”
“You knew Elizabeth was breeding when you permitted her to leave us?” Mrs. Bennet demanded.
