Chapter Eight

 

 

…the winds of troubles brew…

 

The next morning Fitzwilliam couldn’t have been in a better mood as he sat down to eat with Elizabeth’s family. Surveying the table, a pleasant smile curved his lips. Grace and Aunt Lori had made a big breakfast, and conversation around the table was lively.

“Lori, pass the gravy and eggs to Charles.” Henry turned to Fitzwilliam. “William, is it William or Fitzwilliam? Lizzy’s been calling you Fitzwilliam, so which is it?” Henry asked.

Fitzwilliam laughed. “Either, actually. My full name is Fitzwilliam Darcy, but you may call me whatever you wish.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll call you by your given name. Here,” Uncle Henry smiled, “have some grits,” he said as he passed the bowl down Darcy’s way.

“You know,” Uncle Henry continued, “after puttin’ those mules and burros out amongst the cattle, we haven’t had a single coyote come back after that first week when I found three dead. Why, we ain’t seen none in a week of Sundays, have we, Lori?”

“No, I don’t reckon we have. Here, Jane, pass the gravy down,” Lori said, sending the bowl around.

“Pass the bacon this way, Fitzwilliam. Won’t you have some more biscuits and gravy, Lizzy?” Uncle Henry inquired, not missing a beat.

“Oh, by the way,” Henry said as he passed the sorghum. “I near clean forgot. You haven’t heard the family news yet, so let me fill you in. I’m sure you’ve heard the local news, but just in case, I’ll start with that. Jackie Lee Nunley’s been busted for growin’ marijuana down in Owl Holler. You know where it is—over yonder down around Coldwater Creek.” He paused long enough to stab a piece of ham as it came around. “It seems the DEA’s been watchin’ him for some time now, and the day before yesterday they descended on a well-hidden cove where he was growin’ it. They say it’s the biggest drug bust in the State of Tennessee’s history.”

“Yes, Uncle, we heard about it, but what does it have to do with any of us? We’re not involved, are we?”

“Well now Lizzy, let me tell it. I’m fixin’ to get to it,” Henry said. “You see, it’s your cousin, Liddy. She’s been seein’ Jackie Lee for some time now.”

Jane and Elizabeth both put down their knives and forks and looked up, giving their uncle their full attention. Fitzwilliam looked up, too, mildly curious at this bit of news, wondering what ties it had to the Bennett family.

“Liddy Fanning ain’t been nothin' but trouble since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Daniel, won’t you pass the biscuits please,” he said, snatching one from the plate as it came around. “Well, as it turns out, she’s three months pregnant, and Lydia and Randy are beside themselves ‘cause there ain’t no coverin’ this up. This is the first big scandal to hit this family in pert near two hundred years.” He paused for a moment. “Well, if you don’t count the moonshinin’, that is. But it’s not so bad that she’s pregnant as it is to who the father is.”

Jane gasped. “Uncle, you’re telling us that Liddy is pregnant with Jackie Lee Nunley’s baby, aren’t you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m sayin’, Jane, but the worst part of this sorry mess is that Jackie Lee is denying he’s the father. Can you believe that? They’ve been datin’ since summer and now he’s saying Liddy’s as loose as a spring goose and that anyone could be the father. He even roughed her up when she told him about her condition. He ordered her to have an abortion, or he’d beat the hell out of her. That should’ve been a real eye opener, but one has to wonder where Liddy’s concerned,” he said as he paused for a sip of coffee. “Why, she’s still fully expectin’ to marry him, of all things!” Henry set his cup down and picked up a forkful of eggs.

Elizabeth visibly stiffened as she shoved her plate aside. Glancing over at Darcy, she quickly averted her eyes.

Sensing her concern, he gently caressed her knee, attempting to reassure her.

“Well, it’s not wholly unexpected,” Kat said. “I told her that Jackie Lee was meaner than a snake, and that she was gonna get bit if she kept hanging around him. So, it’s no surprise that he would threaten her or slander her name. The chickens have come home to roost. I told her as much back two months ago. If she’s too stupid to see it, then she deserves exactly what she gets,” Kat stated matter-of-factly as she buttered her biscuit.

“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Kat, but, of course, none of that matters anyhow, ‘cause he’s on his way up the river to the big house, followin’ in the family tradition, just like his granddaddy did for bootleggin’ back in the 50s.” Henry paused for another bite of eggs. “But Randy and Lydia? Well, now they’re another kettle of fish altogether. They ain’t been doing nothin’ but fightin’ and arguin’ ever since all of this has come to light. Each blaming the other for Liddy’s wild behavior,” Uncle Henry said.

“They will have to deal with it, but we’ll all help as much as we can,” Aunt Lori said. “Liddy will have the baby, and we’ll all accept it. The child’s innocent of its parents’ sins.” Lori turned to Elizabeth. “Here, Lizzy, have another cup of coffee.”

Elizabeth whispered her thanks while she poured herself another cup. Looking up, she said, “Yes, Aunt, I understand what you are saying, but people will whisper and stare. I know they will not overtly be unkind, but they will think less of us just the same. I know how people are in this Sunday-go-to-meetin’ farming community. I feel awful for poor Isabelle Haskell. I’ve seen the pitying stares and heard the quiet whispers that she has to endure—and through no fault of her own, I might add. I personally could not stand to be the object of their well-meaning pity. Isabelle would have been better off if she had simply left the community to stay with her older sister. At least Knoxville is big enough that people won’t care about her circumstances.

“But now Liddy is a different matter altogether. She’s either too stupid or too indifferent to care about what people think. ” Lizzy paused for a sip of coffee. “I don’t know which it is, but the damage is done just the same. She’s put fodder into the mouths of fools to spread gossip. Why does she always pick the lowest common denominator ealer, either. When Bette and Florence told me she was seeing him, I dismissed it as a passing dalliance. I shouldn’t have.”

“Well, Lizzy, let’s not speak of this anymore. It won’t help solve things. Everybody knows Liddy Fanning is as wild as a March hare, so I’m sure you’re wrong. What Liddy has done will not affect this family as you might think. Let’s hush this talk,” Aunt Lori declared, her word stated as final, giving Henry a sharp look.

As if taking her cue, Uncle Henry moved on. “That reminds me.” He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got to have me two more hounds. I’ll have to go to Dog Days on first Monday and pick up another pair of pups. I guess I’ll get another pair of Black and Tans. There’re about the best hounds around when it comes to trackin’ big game—well, them and Redbones,” he added. “What do you say, Lizzy? You want to go with me?”

It appeared that as soon as the words slipped from his mouth, Henry remembered. “Oh hell, you can’t go. I forget you have a regular job now.” Uncle Henry laughed, shaking his head as he poured white gravy over the top of another serving of eggs and grits. “I’ll just have to go by myself. Pass the ham and red-eye gravy, Lori.”

As she passed the ham and gravy to her husband, Lori turned to Lizzy. “What’s the matter, child? You seemed to have lost your appetite.”

“I’m fine,” she whispered. “I’ll help you clear away the dishes, and then I think Fitzwilliam and I will go for a walk.” Shoving away from the table, she collected their plates and moved towards the dishwasher.

 

~*~

 

After breakfast, Elizabeth and Darcy left for a stroll in the garden. It was a crisp, beautiful, autumn morning as they sauntered leisurely hand in hand, enjoying in the sights. The pansies and chrysanthemums were in full bloom with beautiful bright colors while the trees were now mostly bare, and pecans and black walnuts were falling. The smell of the fireplace and wood-burning stove from the house filled the air. All this combined to create a quiet, reflective mood.

Darcy could see that she was clearly upset, and not only from the news of her cousin, he suspected, but from the mention of her dogs as well. He remembered that Elizabeth had meant to show him the graves, but she had obviously forgotten. As they walked in the garden, Darcy broached the subject.

“Elizabeth, are you all right? I noticed you seemed a little upset with the news of your cousin.”

She glanced up at him. “That would be an understatement.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “Liddy’s behavior is no surprise at all. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Aunt Lydia has spoiled her all of her life. I’m just so embarrassed you heard it; that’s all.”

“Elizabeth, don’t worry about that. It’s not important, but don’t you feel a bit sorry for your cousin’s parents? I mean, things must be terrible for them right now.”

Elizabeth’s face softened. “I do feel sorry for my aunt and uncle, but Aunt Lydia has never been close with any of us. There was always tension between my aunt and my father,” Elizabeth said, shaking her head. “And there has always been this undercurrent between my aunt’s family and us. The rest of the family ignores it, sloughing it off as ‘that’s just Lydia.’ Uncle Robert and Aunt Tana laugh about it. But it irks me, and Liddy is just like her, except my aunt is not so crude and reckless. She does give some consideration to what people think, and family reputation is important to her, so I imagine this is tough for her to take.”

Darcy puzzled a bit and then finally asked, “Help me to keep things straight. Who are Robert and Tana?”

“Oh, sorry about that. Robert is my father’s younger brother. He’s a lawyer in town, and Tana owns Bennett Florist downtown across from Watson and Moore’s Funeral Home.” She smiled, looking up at him. “There’s also Sam Henry and Johnny, my mother’s brothers, and their wives Bette and Florence.”

“I see. Now, back to what you were saying about Liddy’s situation.”

She sighed in exasperation. “Liddy doesn’t directly affect this branch of the Bennetts, but we are a close family, so we will come together as one and support her no matter what the cost to the family. That’s what bothers me.”

She kicked a pile of leaves as they walked. “We care. Liddy doesn’t. Whereas I, or any of the rest of us, would make a sacrifice for the good of the family, Liddy would not. She’s selfish.” She stooped and picked up a magnolia fruit as they walked along, shucking the red seeds from the cone as they went. “Another thing that upsets me is the whispers and the pity of well-meaning neighbors, but let’s not dwell on my cousin’s stupidity.”

“It’s just talk, Elizabeth. It’ll pass quickly, and then they’ll go on to the next topic soon enough.” He paused to squeeze her shoulder. “There’s an English saying—Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chips wrapper.”

“Yes, I know, and I choose to think nothing more about it,” Elizabeth said, tossing the cone aside before intertwining her hand with Darcy’s once again.

As they followed the garden path in silence, Fitzwilliam sensed her continued disquiet. “Elizabeth, something is still bothering you. Is it the dogs?”

She put her arm around Darcy’s waist and leaned against his strong frame. “Yes, it is. I wanted you to see the place where we buried them. Before we leave today, we’ll visit the gravesite. I planted a bed of pansies there. They should be beautiful by now. Another thing that bothers me is the thought of replacing Old Dan and Lady Beth. The new pups won’t be mine. They’ll be Henry’s.”

Fitzwilliam hugged her while placing a quick kiss in her hair, inhaling the sweet rose scent he loved so much. “If you would like a pair of new pups, we can get some. Though, of course, it might be better to wait until we know where we are going to live.”

“Someday, that would be nice. However, I want to have the time to handle and train them myself, and now is not the time. I already have a full plate.” Embracing him, Elizabeth thanked Darcy for his kindness as they turned to walk back into the house to prepare for church.

Church was at eleven a.m., and as Elizabeth had predicted, they were all expected to go. The sermon was about the importance of the Christian home and raising children as God would have you to do. Pastor Emery quoted scripture on how the husband was to love the wife as Christ loved the Church and how the woman was to be the keeper of the home where both parents were to love, nurture, and protect the children. Elizabeth thought it was fitting with regard to what they had discussed the night before. Darcy took her hand in his, gently squeezing it as if he had thought the same.

When church was over, they all walked towards the door to shake the pastor’s hand. Everyone was friendly and kind, but as Elizabeth had predicted, the whispers had already begun. A group of ladies had gathered in a far corner, quietly talking while shaking their heads and looking in the direction of the Bennetts. Lizzy only smiled politely.

After returning from church, they ate a light meal and prepared to return to town. Elizabeth packed a few boxes and set them, along with their bags, on the back porch while Fitzwilliam patiently packed her car.

“Elizabeth, the Durango’s loaded. Are you ready?”

“Almost. Here, help me put this in the car.”

“What’s in here?” He frowned. “It weighs a ton.”

“Two dozen eggs, two gallons of milk, two quarts of cream, and some bacon and ham left over from the pigs we killed last year. Don’t worry. It’s not all for me. I’m taking some of it back for you and Charles. I want real cream in my tea when I’m at your house.”

He chuckled as he put the cooler in the back of the car.

“Now, let’s go to where I buried my dogs. I want to see where they’re resting.”

She took his hand in hers and led him around to the back of the barn near the creek bank. There they found the two graves covered in rich colors of yellow, purple, red and white. Bending down quietly, she said a few words to her dogs as if they could hear her.

After several minutes, Fitzwilliam stooped and gently helped her up, slipping his arm around her shoulder. She leaned against him. “Someday I will let you give me another set of pups.”

As they wound their way through the gardens and across the lawn towards the car, she said, “When we come back at Thanksgiving, I want to visit my parents’ graves. I have not been there since the funeral. It has been too painful.” She glanced up at him with questioning eyes. “Will you come with me?”

“Of course, darling, we shall go together,” he answered, giving her a tender squeeze. Her eyes were the sweetest eyes he’d ever seen.

 

~*~

 

The ride back to town gave them the time to begin discussing their plans for the future. “Elizabeth, there is something very important I must tell you.” He paused, glancing in her direction. “First of all, I’m not exactly who I appear to be,” he hesitated. “What I mean is, I’m from a very old family, as I’ve told you, in the North of England. We just happen to be…ah…well…we are quite wealthy—old money, if you will. Have you ever heard of Pemberley, PLC?”

“No, I can’t say that I have.” She wrinkled her brow.

“Well then, I suppose you don’t read the Financial Times or listen to the business news, because we’re the largest corporation in the United Kingdom. Our stock is traded on all the global exchanges. I personally have a net worth of £15 million right now, which is almost $30 million, and it may even be more than that, as I haven’t checked my investments lately.” He drew a deep breath, not certain how she would react to what he had to say next. With trepidation, he trudged on. “When I inherit my fortune upon my father’s death, I’ll be worth over £4 billion and the business itself, which is somewhere in the neighborhood of £400 billion, but control of that I will share with my brother David.”

Fitzwilliam studied her cautiously, trying to appraise her thoughts after revealing his news. From the shocked look on her face, he thought it was a good thing she had let him drive, because he could tell she was having trouble absorbing what he had just told her.

He nervously laughed aloud. “Hard to believe, isn’t it? It sounds like Monopoly money. However, there is a catch of which I must make you aware.” He cringed, but he knew he had to tell her.

Elizabeth’s eyes shot in his direction, and then she tore her gaze away. Looking out the window, she released a tense breath. “I’m afraid to ask, but please continue.”

Glancing at her with apprehension, he flatly stated, “I hate to tell you this, darling, but my father may not approve of my choice. He wants me to marry an English girl.”

Her jaw went slack. She gawked at him in shock.

Sensing her distress, he pleaded. “Elizabeth, please try to understand. My father is of the old school, wanting me, and, of course, David, but especially me to marry in the first circles of London society, which both of us have refused to do, but for different reasons. I insist that I will marry for love, whilst David simply wishes not to marry at all. Although I hope he will if he ever meets someone as wonderful as I have. David’s a bit of a playboy, but that’s neither here nor there.” He slipped his hand across the seat, catching hers in his, giving it an affectionate squeeze. Inhaling deeply, he continued. “As for me, well, Father has even gone as far as to attempt to arrange a marriage for me, but I flatly refused to cooperate. He’s told me if I ever marry someone he doesn’t approve of, he will cut me off. I’m not afraid of that, as I already have enough money, and if invested properly, we will never be poor.”

Elizabeth gaped at him in astonishment. He could tell this was not being received very well. He quickly tried to recover. “But I don’t believe he will actually do that for two reasons. One, he likes David’s playboy lifestyle less than he will disapprove of my choice. And two, he really does love me.

“Anyway, up until now, David and I have been confirmed bachelors,” he said. “My father deplores our choices in life. He is desperate for us to do what he thinks is the right thing, and part of that is by marrying well and producing the next generation of Darcys. So, if I marry and produce the much wanted grandchild, preferably a boy, I think that he may forgive us.”

Elizabeth seemed momentarily speechless, but he felt sure she would soon find her tongue if the fury gathering on her face was any indication. Fitzwilliam braced himself.

“Forgive us!” she gasped, eyes flashing as the blood drained from her face. “Fitzwilliam, I don’t like the sound of this one bit. Are you telling me that the only way your father will accept me is if I squeeze out a child right after we are married? That I have to do that in order to appease your family?! That’s insane.” Elizabeth fumed.

“It’s not exactly like that. David and Georgiana will love you because I love you. My cousins will, too. My Uncle Harvey and Aunt Susan will be pleased for me. It really is only my father and, well, maybe my Aunt Hilda, who are stuck in the dark ages. As for having a child, is that really so bad? You know I want children—at least two, if we can. Would it really be so bad to have them earlier rather than later? Elizabeth, I’m thirty-two and you’re twenty-five. I don’t feel we have a lot of time to wait.”

“Fitzwilliam, I just finished my doctorate. I had hoped to work a little longer before even thinking about marriage, much less having children. Other than working as a grad assistant, this is my first real teaching job. My mother had Jane almost one year after marriage, and then the rest of us came nearly every two years. It was a long time before she could teach again. And as to our ages, men can father children up into their eighties, and twenty-five is not that old.” She cut him a sharp look.

Tension building in his chest, he breathed deeply. “I know that twenty-five is not old and that you have time. And I have no doubts about my own virility, but I want to be young enough to enjoy my children in all stages of their lives. That includes playing football and teaching them to ride a horse. When I reach my forties, I may not feel like I do now.” He paused and took another quick breath. “You mentioned your mother’s circumstances. Didn’t she have a choice in the matter? I mean, she did have six children. Was your mother unhappy with so many children?”

“No, of course not,” Elizabeth shot back. “Dad and her children were very important to her. My mother had other things which she did besides rearing us.” Throwing her hands up in the air, she burst out, “Oh, Fitzwilliam, you must give me some time to think. I’ll need to sort through my feelings about all of this. I might be able to teach part time if I have a child right away, but right now, I don’t know how I really feel about what you’ve shared with me concerning your father’s expectations and your financial status. I’m not sure I want a child right now either. I don’t know when I’ll be ready for motherhood. How could you spring this on me all at once? I wish you had told me this before you proposed.”

“Elizabeth, I’m sorry for unloading on you like this. It’s just that I had to be sure it was me you wanted—not who I am in terms of money and status.”

Her eyes widened. “If anything, Fitzwilliam, your money and status would be a turn off. I’ve been around people with money, and I generally find them not worth the trouble of knowing. I probably wouldn’t have given you a second look had I known, or at the very least, it would have been harder to have taken you seriously.”

“So you would have refused me, then?” he asked, a little worried.

“I might back out now.”

“Oh no, you won’t.”

“And how can you be so sure of that?” She cut her eyes across at him.

“Because you love me, and you can’t resist my charms.” He cautiously smiled. Hopefully she was accepting things and still accepting him.

“You’re very confident in yourself, aren’t you?” She clasped her hands in her lap and stared out the window, calmer now, having finally come to grips with all that he had told her but still clearly upset.

“I always get what I want, and I want you!” Reaching over, he took her hand in his once again, giving it another gentle squeeze as he flashed a wide smile.

“Well, what other bombshells do you have to drop on me?”

“No, no more bombshells. I’ll just tell you my plan,” he said with a smile. “When I go to London in December, I’ll recruit David’s support to get my father’s blessing. I think Father will relent, especially if I promise him a grandchild sometime before he dies. Now, will that do?”

“Oh Fitzwilliam…what can I say? I guess if I’m going to marry you it’ll have to do. But, if and when I have a child, it will be because it is what you and I want, not what your father wants.”

“Elizabeth, let me make this clear. I want a child because it is what I want. Yes, it will soften my father, but having a child is between you and me, not him and me.”

“Well, I’m glad to at least hear that.” She gave him another sharp look.

Desiring very much to change the subject, he said, “Splendid. Now, Elizabeth, tell me, what type of ring do you want?” Patting her knee, he gave her a devilish smile he hoped would dispel the tension.

“A ring…hmm…yes, I suppose I must have a ring.” Elizabeth mused, “Nothing too big or vulgar, please.” She raised a brow. “Nothing over one or two carats at the most, and I’d like either white gold or platinum. Also, I prefer a plain band.”

“Well then, it will be two carats in platinum with a plain wedding band for now. But eventually you will have at least one of the heirloom sets when I inherit the estate. Shall we announce our engagement to your family at Thanksgiving? We can tell Jane and Charles tonight.”

“Yes, that’ll be fine.” She sighed, her voice trailing off.

After a moment of quiet, Elizabeth spoke. “Fitzwilliam, with all that you have told me, there is one other thing I don’t understand. Why are you here taking a teaching position when you could be in London attending to your family’s business? And don’t you dare tell me it was to find me.”

“That’s a fair question. I guess you could say I’m pursuing my dream.” He sighed. “I’m still very active in Pemberley, even though I’m not presently in England. I teleconference with David and my cousin, Richard, once a week so that I can keep up with all business details, and when I go to London in the summers, I’ll be attending board meetings and conferences. David acts on my behalf, representing me, as well as himself, on the board when I’m not there, therefore the company isn’t neglected. I’m very much in the loop with what is happening in the family business.

“But, my dream has always been to teach. I’d like to follow in the steps of three Oxford Dons that I admire greatly. Two are dead and one still lives. Actually, I wanted to become an Oxford Fellow, but those positions are hard to come by. So, when our good friend, Dr. Dickens, approached Charles and I in London and asked us to come here, we decided we couldn’t turn down such an excellent opportunity,” Darcy said with a broad smile. “And I enjoy both the subjects I teach and being part of the academic world.”

“I see,” Elizabeth said, listening intently.

“Eventually, I will become the CEO of Pemberley, PLC. Once that happens, I doubt I’ll be able to teach anymore. And since that’s inevitable, I’m doing what I want to do whilst I have the opportunity.”

“Well, we’re almost to the townhouse,” Elizabeth announced. “Fitzwilliam, I’m not through discussing this. We have several hours before the others arrive back in town, and I need some answers. I want to know more about your father and what he expects, and I want to know just what type of lady he wants you to marry. Who is this mystery woman he found for you, and what is she like?” Elizabeth said as they pulled onto Elm Street.

Darcy inwardly groaned. Perhaps she was not as accepting as he had previously thought.

 

~*~

 

After they arrived at the Bennett townhouse and unloaded the Durango, they settled into the front sitting room. Fitzwilliam tensed as he felt the inquisition was about to begin anew.

Taking a seat, Elizabeth resumed. “Now, I want to know why your father would not accept me as his daughter-in-law, and what exactly is it that he does expect from someone who would marry one of his sons?” She folded her arms across her chest.

With his hand against the window frame, he looked at her from across the room, meeting her penetrating gaze. He released a tense breath. “I don’t exactly know how to tell you this in a way that will make you understand and at the same time convey what I feel deep inside, but I’ll try by being as truthful as I can.”

Stepping away from the window, he raked his fingers through his hair. “In England there are certain expectations from members of the upper levels of society, especially if you are descended from the aristocracy, which I am—and I might add, so are you, although it is now far removed.” He paced the floor, glancing at the ceiling, and then back at her, sitting there, arms folded, eyes inquisitively waiting for him to continue.

“Typically, we marry within our own circle, or at least from families who are closely related in circumstances to our own. For example, my mother was descended from the aristocracy, and her father owned a very profitable publishing company, which she inherited from him. And she was educated at Cambridge, so my mother was within those guidelines. She was also sophisticated and beautiful, another thing my father finds important.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, anger once again creeping over her features.

…Oh God, she doesn’t understand…“Elizabeth, please. Don’t look at me that way. I am trying to be forthright with you.”

“All right, I’m sorry. Do continue,” she said, releasing a long, sharp breath.

“You fit all those criteria, except you’re not British, and you’re not fabulously wealthy. But that doesn’t matter to me. I have enough money. Enough for both of us and any children we would have. I don’t think like my father. Many in Britain don’t these days. Even Prince William is dating a beautiful girl whose family doesn’t quite measure up by those old standards.” He gazed down into her silent, solemn face and shook his head.

“What about this woman your father has chosen for you? What is she like? Is she pretty and sophisticated and fabulously wealthy?” Elizabeth asked, her eyes piercing.

He turned and faced her. This was not easy. Speaking in a quiet voice he replied, “Yes…yes, she is. She’s all of those things, and she’s set to inherit her father’s banking and financial empire, which is worth billions. She’s also my Aunt Hilda’s step-daughter on my mother’s side. We’re not blood-related, but we did grow up together. And yes, she’s beautiful, sophisticated, and fashionable. She’s impeccable in all ways imaginable, except one. The most important one—I don’t love her.”

He paused for a second, attempting to gauge Elizabeth’s reaction, but it was unreadable. He shook his head while continuing to pace. “I dated her for two months, trying to feel something for her. We barely kissed, and when we did, her response was, well, uninterested. She cares nothing for me, or for anything I would want. She’s only concerned with social functions, society, fashion, and money. To her, what is important is to receive the right invitations to the right events, who will attend the Queen’s Garden Party, and what she can gain from being seen at those places.”

…It’s time to lay my feelings open. She’ll have to take them at face value or leave them. I want her to love me for me. If I can’t have her love, I’ve got nothing… He sighed heavily. “Elizabeth, I can’t live like that. I want to love and to be loved like any other ordinary man. You’ve told me about your mother and father and the life you had growing up. Well, that’s what I want. I want to love a woman like your father loved your mother, and I want to be loved by that same woman as your mother loved your father. Is that too much to ask in life?”

Elizabeth’s lashes lowered momentarily. “No. No, it’s not, and that’s what I wanted to hear.” She raised her eyes to his and for the first time since they’d left the farm, a genuine smile crossed her face. “Of course I want to be accepted by your family. Only a fool wouldn’t care about that. If I am to enter your family on the terms you’ve lain out, I have to have a good enough reason to do so. If you really love me enough to go against your father and you truly desire the things you’ve told me, then I will accept you just as you are.”

He was instantly at her side, pulling her into his arms, hugging her close. Cupping her face in his hands, he said, “I do love you, Liz, and I mean every word I’ve told you.” He bent low to kiss her.

When they separated, he dropped down on the loveseat and gathered her into his lap. Holding her close, he said, “In spite of what you must think of my father, I want you to know that my mother was nothing like him. She was kind and loving and good. She taught me to be that way as well. In fact, not just me, but my brother, too. And my sister, who was only four when Mum died, is very much like me. David, despite his bravado, is very much like Georgiana and me as well. He is a good man. They will accept you as my mother would have, had she lived.” He kissed her once more, contented in finally having all of this behind them.

Almost as soon as they had finished their discussion, Jane and Charles pulled into the driveway, along with Kat and Daniel. Elizabeth and Darcy went to door to greet them.

“Hey you two, come in. Here, let me help you with those,” Darcy said, taking a package from Jane. “Are there any more packages? I’ll be glad to get those for you.”

Jane smiled. “Yes, there are a few more in the back of the Tahoe.”

“I’ll get them. You make yourself comfortable,” Darcy insisted, heading out the door.

Darcy wore a contented smile, happier than he’d been in years as he and Charles fetched the last two packages from the car. Once they were settled in the house, Darcy and Elizabeth, arms around each other, approached Jane and Charles.

“We have an announcement to make,” Darcy said, beaming and holding her close. “Elizabeth and I have decided to marry.”

Jane immediately pulled away from Charles and crossed the room to Elizabeth, giving her sister a big hug.

“Lizzy, I am so happy for you. I told Charles you two would be perfect for one another. We just had to get you together, but it looks like Fate took care of that for us. Didn’t it, Charles?”

“I’ll say it did,” Bingley said as he grabbed his friend’s hand. “Congratulations, old man.” He glanced at Jane. “Congratulations are in order here, too. Janey and I also have an announcement to make.” He turned around for Jane’s hand. “Jane and I are to be married, too.”

The couples hugged each other, happily excited that Kat and Daniel rushed downstairs to see what was happening.

“What’s going on down here?” Kat asked. “I can hear you all the way upstairs.”

Jane took Kat’s hands in hers and told her the happy news.

“Oh, Jane! That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you both. Let me give you a hug.” Kat embraced first Jane and then Lizzy, while Daniel shook hands with Darcy and Bingley.

“I guess now I can call you two by your first names, except at school, of course. When are you all getting married?” Daniel asked.

“Daniel, you may call me whatever you like. As to the other, we haven’t discussed it yet, but it won’t be until after I return from England, probably in the summer.” Darcy turned to his friend. “What about you, Bingley?”

“It’s the same with us. Maybe we could have a double wedding. What do you two think?” Charles asked, glancing between Darcy and Elizabeth.

“I think it’s a splendid idea. We must all get together when we come back from England. Perhaps we will have a June wedding.” Darcy gave Elizabeth an affectionate kiss on her cheek while Jane nodded in agreement, looking at Charles and smiling.

“Well, it’s getting late. I think we need to leave for home, Charles,” Darcy said.

Bingley glanced at Jane, but before he could speak, Elizabeth spoke. “Jane, will you help me in the kitchen? I need to repackage some of these things for Fitzwilliam and Charles.”

Elizabeth and Jane put together a basket for the men to take back to their house. As the two gentlemen were about to leave, Darcy pulled Elizabeth aside and kissed her. “Are you happy, Elizabeth?” he asked.

“Extremely. I didn’t think I could ever be so happy.” Looking up at him, love sparkled in her expressive emerald eyes. “I wasn’t quite sure before, but now I am. I love you, Fitzwilliam.”

Upon hearing her words, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “You don’t know what that means to me. I love you so very much. I look forward to the day when you truly are mine.” He tightened his embrace and gave her a lingering kiss, his heart overcome with joy. For the first time in his life, he felt he had a real purpose and meaning in being alive.

“I wish you could come home with me now.”

“As much as I would like to, you know I cannot do that. I have to prepare for tomorrow. We have a short vacation coming in two days. We’ll spend the five-day break together when we go to Longbourn for Thanksgiving. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll have lunch on campus. Oh, and don’t let me forget—I need to tell you some details about me and my own financial situation. I’m not penniless. I have an inheritance, too. Though not as large as yours, the Bennetts are not exactly poor.”