Chapter Seven

Working late into the night by candlelight, Elizabeth rose later on Christmas Eve morning than her custom. She agonized over her dresses, wishing for a nicer frock as she wanted to look her best for William's return. She decided the burgundy wine dress she arrived in was suitable. She wanted to save her nicest evergreen dress for Christmas Day. Her handkerchiefs finished, she wished to add a note, but struggled to set her feelings down. After all, there was no understanding between her and Mr. Darcy, and what if he didn't intend to offer for her again?

Sounds from downstairs distracted her and she wrote quickly all she could think to write, and hastily finished the wrapping. She hoped to place her gift on the decorated table before the gentlemen arrived. Taking the stairs, she met Jane who seemed to shine with joy  and she saw all three men were removing travel cloaks below. Too late to place her present as intended her heart skipped a beat as William glanced up at her.

"Charles, you are early!"

Mr. Bingley dashed up half of the stairs to take his wife's hand to kiss it and escort her down. "We left at first light my dear. The home is perfect!" Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. "Well, perfect that is with a few modifications and accommodations to the price." Charles used a deeper voice to the amusement of Jane and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth still held her gift for Mr. Darcy in her hand and felt most awkward to now face the gentleman. Her hands began to tremble and she willed them to be still.

"Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. Is that a gift for Georgiana?" Mr. Darcy asked, desperate for a way to start a polite conversation.

"Er no, it is a gift for . . . you." Her eyes rose to gaze into his, and the two of them ceased to notice the others.

"Ahem, I shall go find my wife, and I believe Mr. and Mrs. Bingley are headed to the breakfast parlor." Richard clapped Darcy on the shoulder as he passed to climb the stairs behind Elizabeth.

Darcy's smile was short-lived as a shrill voice from the top of the stairs called his name. "Mr. Darcy, you are safe! I was so worried."

"I must pray for my family." Elizabeth whispered, dashing away before there was another confrontation with Miss Bingley. She hoped it was enough of a clue for Mr. Darcy to meet her in the chapel as she could not think of any other place for privacy. By the time she reached the chapel, she worried about her forwardness, but tried to push the thoughts of uncertainty from her mind.

The private chapel lay on the far side of the home, with stunning stained glass windows in the two curved corners of the room. As Elizabeth walked into the sanctuary, the solemness stilled her racing heart and she wondered if the hallowed place was original to the medieval roots of Pemberley's past. She sat in the front pew before the cross above and began to weep.

She cried, overwhelmed for the safe delivery of Lydia, prayed for the continued health of Jane, and felt wretched to think her life so empty when it was so full of blessings. Her tears dripped to the wrapped package in her hands and she prayed for herself. Before God, she vowed that no matter what should separate them, she would love Fitzwilliam Darcy all of her days. It was no longer a mystery to her that she had endured a year apart from him, how could she think her earlier sins of prejudice and gossip would go unpunished?

"Elizabeth?" His voice caressed her senses from the entryway.

Wiping her eyes, she rose from the pew and met his strides in the middle. She saw his hands were not empty, either. "How did you leave Miss Bingley?"

"I did not. I was listening to her pretty speech when her brother opened the breakfast parlor door and summoned her inside. I don't believe I've ever seen Charles so cross, what occurred while we were away?"

"Please, I'd rather not speak of it." Elizabeth flinched at the memory. "I should not have asked you here. It was wrong of me."

Fitzwilliam's face froze in a look of sheer determination, which made Elizabeth shy back for a moment. Had her forwardness truly angered him? "No, it is my fault for never returning all those months ago. I— . . . I—"

"It's alright, William, Anne told me why you never returned." Elizabeth took a deep breath and returned to the pew. There was no running from her feelings now, and one way or the other, she would confess.

"I was angry for so long, thinking you had married your cousin instead of me. When I came here and made my error . . ." she turned to face him as he sat next to her, "it hurt all the more that I should love you all this time and I took it as proof that you did not love me. But love is cruel that demands love in return and I needed to learn that, so you have it." Elizabeth thrust her package into his lap, making him drop his own as he fumbled to manage both. She stood to leave, but he quickly clasped her wrist. Shoving the gifts aside, he slid off the pew to kneel.

"Elizabeth Bennet, I will not lose you again! You are a woman of grace, kindness, and intelligence beyond measure. Please forgive my foolishness and agree to be my wife?"

His handsome face was full of hope and fear and Elizabeth could scarcely stand the ache in her heart. Begging the Lord's forgiveness, she gave him the only answer she felt suited their storied history. Bending down, with happy tears streaming down her face, she gingerly kissed his lips that begged for her partnership.

Her William shuddered at her response, and deepened the kiss before she pulled away. When they parted, he asked her to remain with him a moment before they shared their news with the rest of the household.

"Long ago, I assumed I would marry you, before I even asked you in the most insulting manner possible in Kent." Elizabeth started to interrupt him, but he placed a finger to her lips. "When I stayed away, I reasoned that you might only accept me out of gratitude, and that for me to come to Hertfordshire would rob you of happiness with another."

"There was never another," she whispered.

"Yes, I realize that and read most carefully for a mention of a suitor for you in Bingley's letters." He sighed and picked up his gift for her. "But there was never a doubt in my heart that you belonged here, with me, and just before I traveled to Kent I commissioned this."

Elizabeth opened the gift and fingered the elegant stamp of her future initials on the front cover. "Oh William, it's lovely! I've never had a journal so nice as this!"

"I hope you will not mind, I filled out a few of the first pages." Frantically, she opened the front cover and mouthed as she read the outpouring of love he left upon the pages. She traced his declarations of love and involuntarily shivered. "I forgot how drafty this place is, we should return."

"Please William," she begged and leaned closer to him so he was want to put an arm around her. "I am not too cold, but I am not ready to leave and wake up from this dream."

Smiling, Darcy hugged his betrothed to his chest and kissed the top of her head. "My darling, it's not a dream. It's a miracle."

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January 20, 1814

Good tidings for the the New Year, Papa, your Lizzie is a married woman! I am pleased to announce Mr. Darcy proposed to me on Christmas Eve and I happily accepted. He is a good man, Father, and though I expect we might be cross with one another, I have found restoring our peace nearly makes disrupting it worth the endeavor.

Robert Bennet spit his tea out at the boldness of his favorite daughter, but he laughed heartily. Finally that dunderhead numbskull Darcy had been captured by his daughter! There was no other he would wish for his Lizzie.

Jane and Charles are overjoyed as he signed a contract for their new estate when he and Mr. Darcy rode to London for our special license. Please tell Mother the bride wore a gown of cream, hand sewn in-house by Miss Darcy's private seamstress and the groom wore a new blue coat with an embroidered handkerchief as his pocket square.

Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes at the details in the letter he cared not for and browsed the particulars of this House-On-Havre place the Bingleys were to reside.

Unfortunately, the Bingleys will be remaining in Derbyshire through Jane's confinement, but hope to visit Longbourn late next summer. Miss Bingley will return to Hertfordshire to help oversee the personal effects moved from Netherfield to Willow-0n-Havre once the spring thaw occurs. Mr. Bingley would like for me to add for Mother to please make a special effort to invite Miss Bingley to dine as often as possible to cheer his sister. And father, I would add that your visit to my new home and the splendid library within is highly anticipated as I dearly hope to see you soon.

Mr. Bennet chuckled at the letter and muttered to himself. "So that baggage has finally been thrown out to establish her own residence. Good for you, Bingley, good for you!"

Taking great care, Mr. Bennet made a rare action to immediately respond to his correspondence. He wished his daughter joy, and regretted not being present for her nuptials, but understood she was taking no chances this time to secure her happiness. He paused in his writing as he wondered how much his daughter knew of his own intelligence regarding her and Mr. Darcy, but elected to wait until he could speak in person to confess that it was he who told Bingley to drag Elizabeth to Derbyshire if necessary. He finished the letter to say he would bring her mother and sister to visit as soon as they were able, which he suspected would be the amount of time it would take to pack once he informed Mrs. Bennet.

Sealing the letter with his stamp, Mr. Bennet donned his coat and hat from the rack in his study where they rested. As he entered the hallway, his post in hand to personally deliver it to town, he called for his wife.

"Oh, Mrs. Bennet! Mrs. Bennet! I have some news you may care for . . . "

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