When Darcy and Elizabeth entered the parlour, Charlotte stood and crossed the room to greet them.
She bent to take Elizabeth’s hands in hers. “Thomas has gone, saying he will not return. He told us that Lady Catherine has no further need of him and my husband is past the worst of his illness.” She straightened up and looked from Darcy to Elizabeth. “Thomas apparently thinks his job is done, and Mr. Sims is now sufficient for both patients.”
Charlotte sighed. “He appeared to be quite angry and announced he would return to London immediately.”
Darcy placed a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder.
Elizabeth looked up at her friend. “I fear this is my fault, for Thomas is most put out with me. He broke off our friendship in a very unpleasant way.”
Darcy made a small noise of disgust. “I wonder how he intends to travel back to Town, for he rode in my carriage with me, and the carriage will remain here until I choose to leave.”
Charlotte glanced at his hand, still possessively placed on Elizabeth’s shoulder, saying, “I see he has offended you, Mr. Darcy. Thomas’s temper often gets the best of him. It has been so since he was a child. When he did not get his way, he could be most disagreeable.”
“I think we may safely say that Thomas is no longer the Darcy family physician,” said Elizabeth.
“Mr. Hough will fill that vacancy quite nicely,” said Darcy decisively.
He leaned over to whisper to Elizabeth, then strode across the room to look out the window, arms crossed over his chest.
Miss de Bourgh looked from him to Elizabeth, arching an eyebrow. “Mr. Jones seemed to be in a great hurry to leave, so I sent for one of my carriages. I would not have him stay when he no longer wished to do so. His trunks were packed in all haste and brought down so as not to delay him. I daresay, Mr. Hough will come if we truly need him, and Mr. Sims is capable if we do not. Do you not agree, Cousin?”
He dropped his arms to his sides and turned to face her. “I do, and I thank you for your expeditious handling of the matter. I do not wish to have further contact with Mr. Jones.”
Darcy cleared his throat, clasping his hands behind his back. “I shall talk no more of the physician, for I have much better news to reveal. I should like for you all to know that Miss Bennet has agreed be my wife. You shall decide when to tell your mother, Anne, as well as the best manner in which to present the happy news. I would go to Longbourn today to speak with Mr. Bennet were it not for the celebration day after tomorrow. As it is, I shall write a letter immediately and have it sent express. Please wait until I receive his reply before you inform my aunt.”
Darcy returned to Elizabeth’s side, leaning over to see her face. “Thomas must not be allowed to spread his lies before your father hears from me.”
She smiled at him. “I shall write to him as well as my mother, and you may send both my letters together with yours. They can have no objection to our union.”
He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles before he straightened.
“May I be the first to wish you joy?” asked Miss de Bourgh, eyes shining with happiness.
“You may,” answered Darcy, smiling broadly.
Charlotte, Maria, and Mrs. Jenkinson added their congratulations to Miss de Bourgh’s, and the happy couple moved to a table where they could pen their letters together.
~~oo~~
Christmas day dawned, and Elizabeth was delighted to find that she no longer needed the Bath chair. Though her ankle was not so fit as to tempt her to run through the gardens, she was able to walk without too much discomfort.
The morning passed most pleasantly as everyone made final preparations for the Boxing Day celebration. There was an excitement at Rosings which had been extremely rare for the past twenty years at least.
The cook had outdone herself preparing Christmas dinner, and after enjoying it to their hearts’ content, Charlotte, Miss de Bourgh, and Mrs. Jenkinson adjourned to the parlour.
In the ballroom, the Yule log burned brightly in the grand fireplace as Elizabeth, Darcy, and Maria gathered to enjoy the tree and place the last of the gifts on the branches.
When they had finished, Elizabeth announced her intention to stay in the ballroom, planning to practice her music for the celebration on the morrow.
Maria followed her to the pianoforte to turn her pages, but Darcy waved her off with a smile. She left the room, expressing her wish to go to the other ladies.
He pulled up a chair beside the bench.
“Merry Christmas, my love,” he said. “Has it been a happy day for you?”
“You pretend you have not noticed my joy? I thought I surely must be glowing like the sun. My cheeks fairly ache from smiling”
His eyes were bright. “I have hardly looked away from you all day. I have a secret,” he said, grinning with mischief.
She laughed. “You must not want to keep it, or you would not tease me so.”
“I would have no secrets between us,” he replied, attempting a serious expression without success.
“Then you must tell me immediately,” she answered, chuckling. He is like a small boy in his excitement.
He took her hand in his. “This has been the best Christmas of my life.”
“Truly? You have most likely been given everything you ever wanted. Ponies, toys, books, travel – what have you lacked?”
The corners of his lips quirked up. “Why, you, of course. No other gift could compare to you, Elizabeth. I have never loved anyone else as I do you, and for you to love me in return fulfills the fondest wishes of my heart.”
His words took her breath away, and it took a moment for her to gather her thoughts.
“I have always been a disappointment to my mother. I was neither the prettiest nor the liveliest of her daughters. Jane and my father loved me as I was, and Charlotte has always been a faithful friend, but I fear the remainder of my family and acquaintances do not view me favourably.”
He shook his head. “I must disagree as to your beauty and animation, for you are quite the loveliest woman of my acquaintance, and I know your sisters as well as your mother. For them not to adore you shows the defects in their own natures. Beyond that, I admire your mind and your character.”
“I know you do, my dearest. Trust me when I tell you I cannot take that lightly. You are the perfect man for me.”
“Yet you resisted me for nearly a year.” His eyes dropped to their hands, dark lashes shading his cheeks.
“You must promise to forget that lack of judgment on my part,” she whispered. “I misunderstood you. Once I knew you, I loved you with all my heart, and I was profoundly saddened to realize what manner of man I had rejected. I am sorry I hurt you.”
He lifted his eyes, caressing her cheek with his fingertips. “Pray, do not be distressed. You were justified in your response to my proposal. My manner of offering proved that I did not deserve you. I am fortunate that you did not find a better man and marry him instead.”
“As I could find no better man, I had determined I would never marry,” she replied, turning her head to kiss his fingers.
“I should be unhappy to hear you say that, but I am a selfish man. May I ask why you had decided such a thing?”
She looked up at him with all the adoration she felt. “If I could not have you for my husband, I would have no other. The poor man would have forever lived in your shadow, as I could love no other as I love you. You are the best man of my acquaintance.”
He took her face between his hands and lowered his lips to hers.
~~oo~~
Before a quarter of an hour had passed, the couple wisely decided it would be best to join the rest of the party in the parlour.
Elizabeth immediately saw that the Bath chair had been put to good use, for Lady Catherine de Bourgh was seated in it, attended by a footman.
Darcy bowed and Elizabeth curtseyed.
“It is good to see you, Aunt,” he said calmly. “I hoped you would be able to come down for Christmas.”
She frowned and narrowed her eyes. “I would rather doubt that, nephew, but we shall not quarrel again. Too much has happened while I have been indisposed. Anne has told me of your plans for tomorrow.”
He escorted Elizabeth to a chair and stood beside her.
“Excellent. We all hope you will enjoy the decorations and the Boxing Day celebration. My cousin and the other ladies have all worked quite diligently to accomplish so much.”
Her eyes locked with his. “I doubt I could bear the excitement of so many people in my condition, so I shall remain above stairs during the festivities.”
“As you wish.”
She shifted her attention to Elizabeth. “I have been told that Mr. Collins is doing quite well. You will be leaving Rosings soon to return to the parsonage with Mrs. Collins.”
Elizabeth inclined her head. “I feel certain Mr. Sims will give us good news before long. Charlotte must be eager to settle herself in her home to await the birth of her child.”
“We shall return to the parsonage the day after tomorrow, if Mr. Sims approves,” answered Charlotte.
Lady Catherine looked from Darcy to Elizabeth. “Excellent. Mr. Collins surely must be in need of the company of his wife by now. He has had very little to occupy his time, I would imagine.”
Charlotte smiled and nodded. “While I appreciate your generous hospitality, I confess I am eager to return to the parsonage. I have much to do.”
“Do not walk home, Mrs. Collins,” intoned Lady Catherine. “Though it is but a short distance, it is cold, and the ice is treacherous. You must take our carriage. I will brook no arguments.”
“You are very kind,” answered Charlotte.
“I am glad that you show proper appreciation,” the lady replied. “So many people have no notion of gratitude.” Frowning, she glanced at Elizabeth. “I suppose allowances must be made for a lack of proper decorum due to deficient training during the formative years.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes, knowing that her thoughts were betrayed too easily by their expression.
Darcy immediately offered her his arm. “We shall be quite occupied tomorrow, and as our guests will leave for the parsonage the day after, I should like to show Miss Bennet parts of the gardens which she has yet to see. Would any of you other ladies care to join us?”
“Please, come. I am certain you would enjoy it,” said Elizabeth as she stood, placing her hand on Darcy’s arm.
Maria crossed the room to join them, but the other ladies chose to remain with Lady Catherine, pleading fatigue.
As they walked down the hallway, Maria asked Darcy and Elizabeth to wait while she fetched her pelisse and bonnet, as well as Elizabeth’s.
She hurried away, and Darcy turned to his betrothed.
“My aunt oversteps her boundaries. If she does not mend her ways regarding you, we shall not visit Rosings Park in the future. I will not have her treating you thus. Had I already received your father’s permission, I would have told her so just now.”
Elizabeth patted his arm. “We must think of Miss de Bourgh.”
“She is well able to travel to London, and we shall meet her there. I will not come here without you, and I will never tolerate anyone’s rudeness to my wife.”
“I fear you may have to face many in the ton who share your aunt’s opinion. Truly, it does not bother me, Mr. Darcy. I would not have you limit your circle because of me.”
He bit the edge of his lower lip. “I will not allow you to be abused by anyone, Elizabeth. I have never cared for society or the ton, though I have endured it for Georgiana’s sake. However, I will not stand by silently if any of our acquaintance chooses to be so foolish as to cut you. They are not necessary for my happiness. You are.”
“What of Georgiana? I should not like to deprive her of her coming out.”
“She shall have her Season. You forget that Lady Catherine is not my only relation. The Fitzwilliam family shall love you as I do, and they are quite powerful. Do not be distressed, my love. You shall adore Aunt Isabella, and she will take delight in you. She has never cared for Aunt Catherine, and it shall bother her not at all to thwart the lady.”
“Do you speak of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother?”
“I do. No one shall dare to be uncivil to you in her company. To displease her in such a way would be social suicide.”
Elizabeth nodded, and, as Maria rejoined them, she began to speak of the celebration the following day in terms of great happiness and anticipation.
Soon they were smiling and laughing together, enjoying the beauty of the gardens.