Darcy helped Elizabeth to her room and remained in a chair by the fireplace until dawn approached. He wished for her to feel safe at Darcy House and would not leave her. His night was spent in fresh grief for his sister. To know Georgie might have died thinking ill of his reasons to protect her caused him the greatest pain.
He did not hear Elizabeth approach, as lost in his memories as he was. Her light, warm hand upon his shoulder broke the sorrowful spell and he reached to cover her hand with his own.
She had returned unto him the company of his mother, had found the woman who killed his sister, and had won his heart.
The noise of an arrival downstairs drew them apart and Darcy stood to quit the room. In the hallway, he held out his arms to receive his mother as she hurried to Elizabeth’s room but she fairly flew past him and gathered Elizabeth into her arms. Her tears mingled with that of the young lady in her arms as each found comfort in the presence of the other.
“My dear, my darling daughter! I wanted to come to you last evening but William would not hear of it. I left Netherfield after everyone else retired. I could not stay there with you in peril.”
Elizabeth wiped the tears of her conflicting emotions, her love for Lady Anne evident upon her face. She gazed to Mr. Darcy who stood behind his mother, his eyes bright with his own tears.
Lady Anne released Elizabeth and called for William to come sit with her. “I have spoken at length with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet at Netherfield and they send their heartfelt sorrow over the circumstances you fell under with your horrible cousin, Miss Elizabeth. And your father has given his blessing so that you may indeed become my daughter.”
Elizabeth breathed deeply, trying to still her racing heart as Mr. Darcy held her hands in his large ones. He nodded to his mother and she quit the room with a happy smile upon her face.
Elizabeth frowned as the great lady passed over the threshold. “Shall we have to tell her, Mr. Darcy? Surely she does not need to know all?”
Mr. Darcy kissed the tip of Elizabeth’s nose lightly and smiled his most handsome smile. “It is better she hears the truth from us than from the papers. She is tougher than she appears, I assure you. Her grief is strong but she is prepared for talk of what has been, and what will come. Trust me.”
Elizabeth did, with her whole heart. Still there was the business of poor, dead Eleanor. Darcy followed Elizabeth to the young woman’s room and dispatched a maid to have a wagon brought to the rear of the home. The young woman would be taken to Hertfordshire with escort.
The sad business was settled, yet it would hang over Elizabeth’s heart. She turned to Darcy and led him down the hallway and further still down the stairs. “Sir, you might leave me with your mother whilst you attend the legal matter so we might soon become one.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy stood silenced for the first time in his life and bowed slightly to the lovely fine-eyed lady before him.
And so he arranged for a special license that day. Once Anne de Bourgh had come from Netherfield, Lady Anne took the two young women on many shopping trips and visits with the modiste. The wedding of her son and Miss Bennet would be the spectacle London required to dampen any hurtful gossip.
Elizabeth sat in the parlor with Anne one morning and watched as the young woman dreamily read a missive that had been sent to Darcy House.
She suspected they might soon have a suitor hanging about the place seeking the hauntingly beautiful Miss Anne de Bourgh. Elizabeth had slowly built the young woman’s stamina for walks and fresh air. She had improved a great deal over the weeks in London and held no great desire to return to Rosings. Lady Catherine had put up a fight, they’d expected no less, truly. Mr. Darcy was able to persuade the woman to leave off with her pleas for attention. For that is all they were.
“Come, Anne, do share your news. A Viscount as a suitor must be seriously regarded and made to prove his undying love. Shall he come to Pemberley to visit?”
Anne’s smile gave Elizabeth all she need know. Her friend in word and deed would likely be the next to marry. All as a matter of chance it would seem.
Lady Anne watched the glances between the young women before quitting the parlor to make dinner plans with Cook. She must have Viscount Henry Amestrey and his parents for dinner soon.