Page 129 of A Most Beloved Sister
During the day, she joined Georgiana in her lessons, helped Louisa with managing Netherfield, and played duets with both ladies on the pianoforte. It helped to fill the time and prepare her for the new role she was about to acquire.
After what seemed more like three decades rather than just three months, the day finally arrived that signaled the end of mourning for Jane’s sisters. Darcy had sent word that he would arrive the day following, so Elizabeth carefully packed her black-dyed garments into a trunk, hoping to not be forced to don them again for quite some time.
Then, on the day of Darcy’s scheduled arrival, Elizabeth took special care to bathe and dress herself in the gown she had worn the morning he had asked him to marry her. It was a darker cream color that was light enough to reflect her status as a maiden, but dark enough to bring out her eyes in a way that she knew Darcy especially appreciated.
She set up her camp in the front drawing room, where she could watch the front drive through the window. Georgiana and Louisa took turns keeping her company throughout the day, but Mrs. Annesley and Mr. Hurst regularly came to remind them of their various responsibilities.
At last, Elizabeth heard horses’ hooves on the pebbles of the front drive.
He was here!
∞∞∞
As the carriage crunched across the gravel of Netherfield Park, Mr. Darcy felt a knot of apprehension in his chest loosen at the sight of the familiar estate. It had been three long months at Pemberley, each day stretching longer than the last without Elizabeth’s presence.
Now, as June’s summer sun shone down on the trees, he returned to the place where his life changed—nay, where his life began again. For it was here at Netherfield that he was reborn; meeting Elizabeth had taught him that pure love and faithful devotion truly did exist in the world.
As he stepped down from the carriage, he caught sight of her. Elizabeth stood at the entrance, and he smiled to see that she had discarded her mourning gown in favor of his favorite dress.The warmth of her smile reached her eyes, lighting them up in a way meant only for him.
“Mr. Darcy,” she greeted formally, her lips curving in a teasing manner.
“Miss Bennet,” he replied, closing the distance between them with determined strides. “Elizabeth,” he corrected himself, his voice softening. They were beyond formalities now.
The servants were watching—and probably his sister as well—but he didn’t care. He gently stroked her face, then pulled her against him. She gave a startled gasp, which he quickly stifled with his lips on hers.
She melted into his kiss, molding her body to fit his frame. Like a dying man in the desert, he drank greedily from her lips, relishing in the feel of once again touching her as he’d dreamed so many nights at Pemberley.
With a gasp of breath, Elizabeth pulled away and gave a small laugh. “I was not sure how time at Pemberley would treat you,” Elizabeth said breathlessly, her dancing gaze holding his, “but I see it has not diminished your ardor.”
He chuckled. “Nor could it; indeed, it has only grown stronger, fueled by the absence.” He clasped both of her hands in his and said fervently, “Elizabeth, these months apart have been agonizing. Please promise me that we can be married soon. The banns were called here, were they not?”
Elizabeth’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears—not of sorrow, but of relief. “Yes, and in Lambton as well?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t let anything stand in our way.”
“Then let us not delay,” she replied with a decisive nod, her spirit bolstered by his resolve. “I am eager to see your fine home and extensive grounds. Georgiana tells me that you have not quite done justice to your library with your descriptions.”
“Ah, I see. You think to marry me only so you can gain access to my wealth. You are quite the fortune-hunter, Miss Bennet.”
She laughed. “Oh, Darcy, how I have missed you.”
“And I have ’issed him, as vell! Come, Lizzy, you cannot keep ’y vrother all to yourself!”
Georgiana was standing in the doorway, arms crossed in mock indignation. Darcy and Elizabeth smiled at one another, then followed the young woman into the house, eager to begin the next phase in their relationship.
∞∞∞
As it had been two months since the last of the three banns had been read, Dr. Fields informed them they could marry at any time they wished. Due to the fact that it was violating propriety on all levels to have Darcy residing at Netherfield while Elizabeth was, Mr. Bennet paid a call the following day.
“I know, Lizzy, that you have always dreamed of a lavish wedding filled with lace and ribbons,” Mr. Bennet said with a smirk, “but I believe it best to have you two married as quickly as possible. Were my other daughters not already married, I would insist you return to Longbourn so as not to bring our family into disgrace.”
“Aren’t you forgetting Lydia?” Elizabeth asked.
Mr. Bennet shrugged nonchalantly. “Lydia will most likely ruin herself. The headmistress of the school has written to inform me that Lydia has, for the third time, attempted to run away. No, I’m afraid you cannot do more to disgrace your youngest sister than she has done to herself.”
Darcy frowned at this display of paternal negligence but remained silent.
Elizabeth sighed. “Papa, Lydia is quite brilliant, as you well know. Her skills at math are unparalleled, but you never took the trouble to check her as a child. Forgive me, but I mustspeak plainly. If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of personally involving yourself rather than passing her on to others, then she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment.” Her father opened his mouth to respond, but Elizabeth held up her hand. “No, I have said all that I must on the subject. You now need only think on how much you are to blame, although I daresay it will pass soon enough. It always has.”
