Page 209 of The Governess of My Heart
Elizabeth looked at him, puzzled.
“Do you forgive me for how I behaved at the bookstore?” he asked seriously.
“I wholeheartedly do, but there is something I hold you in contempt for now; forgiving you for that might be nearly impossible.”
“And what might that be?”
“For not allowing me to sleep last night, and I am so tired now that I do not know how I will go ahead with my duties as Mrs. Darcy today,” she said, seeing Darcy’s expression change to distress.
“I am sorry. Are you feeling unwell? Are you fatigued after…” His voice faltered, and his eyes expressed guilt.
“Good heavens! I was teasing you; I am well, and more than well, I am happy.”
“I knew you were scared about last night, but the moment I kissed you, I observed something in your eyes that told me you trusted me. I cannot forgive myself if you did not feel so,” he said earnestly.
“I did trust you. As you said, you can read my eyes very well, and if not, you would have known. Fitzwilliam, I have never felt happier.”
“Are you certain?” he asked once again, his hands caressing her curls.
“I need to be careful before I tease you next time; you seem to be such a sensitive man.”
“I am when it concerns you,” he said, pulling her closer, not wanting her to leave him.
“Fitzwilliam, I…”
“Yes?”
“I wish I had trusted you when you proposed; I hurt you greatly by rejecting your love. But despite everything I did, you never gave up on me, and I do not know how to thank you.”
“As I said before, my heart was not willing to believe your words that day. Somewhere deep down, I knew that you loved me, and that hope is what made me hold on until I discovered your secret. Please do not thank me; you do not know how meaningful you have made my life since the day I met you. Every day, you make me fall in love with you all over again,” he said, basking in her warmth.
***
Most of the guests had left Pemberley after attending the Christmas ball hosted by the Darcys. It was a busy week for Elizabeth, and Darcy did not want her to be overwhelmed with her responsibilities. But with Mrs. Reynolds’s support, she slowly took over her duties, and Darcy was very impressed with her.
Lord Anderson was elated to see her happily settled in Pemberley, and he often paid surprise visits during the day to see his daughter, much to her joy.
But she knew very well that he was to leave for Scotland soon, and Darcy could sense her sadness as the day arrived.
“Elizabeth, do not feel so dejected. I understand that you will miss your father, but we can visit him soon,” he told her.
“I do not know how to say goodbye to him tomorrow. I think this is why I never wanted to accept him as my father because it is so painful to part from him. I can see that he is trying his best to compensate for the past.”
“You do not have to say goodbye. You will meet him again, and I promise to make it happen soon,” he said.
“It delights me to see the bond between you both.”
“We have a common subject to bond.”
“And what is that?”
“You!” Darcy said and continued, “Both of us love you and want you to have the best in life,” he said.
“And I am certain that ensuring my happiness has become more of a competition between you both,” she said with a smile.
“It has, and your father can never win,” Darcy proudly declared.
Next morning, Darcy, Elizabeth, and Georgiana left for Ashton Park to bid farewell to Lord Anderson.
