Chapter 25

When Elizabeth entered Netherfield, the house was quiet. She slipped into the parlor and found her grandfather snoring on the sofa. Mrs. de Bourgh paced silently before the fireplace.

Elizabeth had not expected to find her there even though she recalled her grandfather had said the woman would spend the night with them. She ought to have gone up and rested in one of the guest rooms.

Mrs. de Bourgh turned when Elizabeth entered and rushed to her side. “Has my Anne been found? I have prayed all night for her return.”

Elizabeth could see the poor woman was in need of a dose of laudanum herself. The earl awoke with a start. He sat up and looked about. When he saw his granddaughter, he echoed Mrs. de Bourgh’s question. “What has happened, is she found?”

“She is safe at Longbourn in her own bed. Mr. Jones came to see to her. Lieutenant Wickham hurt her…”

Elizabeth could not continue as Mrs. de Bourgh began to wail and moan. “Oh, my poor dear girl! What has he done to her? I must go and see for myself and sit with her. Why did you not come sooner?”

The earl hurried to Mrs. de Bourgh’s side. “Come, Catherine, let me take you to her. The girl needs your care.”

Standing aside, Elizabeth watched as her grandfather helped keep Mrs. de Bourgh on her feet as they quit the parlor. Her grandfather did turn and look back at her as they went through the parlor door.

Elizabeth gave him a sad smile, her feelings about the two of them fading as she fell upon the sofa that was still warm from her grandfather’s form. She sighed deeply and buried her face in her hands.

The satisfaction that she had been right about where Wickham had taken Miss de Bourgh gave her some comfort, but images of the poor girl’s bruised body haunted her. Tears wet her hands and she wiped them away.

Mr. Darcy had come in while she was dissembling and came to sit beside her. “I want to hold you in my arms and give you comfort the way you comforted my cousin in her hour of need. But I would not unless you wished it so, Elizabeth.”

She glanced at him and her tears began anew. She leaned against the strength of Mr. Darcy’s shoulder and in moments his arms were around her. He held her until she stopped shaking. Moving reluctantly from the circle of his arms, Elizabeth stood and moved behind the sofa.

“If your feelings are still what they were, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.” Her words came out in a whisper, almost unheard by the man.

Mr. Darcy came round to stand before her and assured her as warmly as a man violently in love could do. “My feelings are more than they were before, Miss Bennet. I cannot live another day without the promise that you will do me the great honor of becoming my wife. But would you be happy in Hertfordshire with a gentleman farmer when London is your home, where you belong?”

Elizabeth’s heart was filled with joy, an immense difference from the pain she had suffered only moments ago when thinking of Miss de Bourgh. “I would live wherever you are, Mr. Darcy, for I would not take the cold comfort of the world and all its riches and lose the love I see in your eyes. But would you take a woman without the large dowry she was said to have from her parents?”

Mr. Darcy took her in his arms again, this time in a passionate embrace. He kissed her lips with the hunger of a man who would not let go of the love of his life for all the money in the world. He let her lips go reluctantly and stared into her eyes.

“Your dowry was never a consideration for me. I have money enough for your needs and desires, my Elizabeth. I have plans to make Longbourn a home befitting the queen of my heart.”

Elizabeth laughed, her lips tingling from the kiss he gave. “Well, you may thank Grandfather for restoring my dowry. Together, we will make Longbourn a home befitting the family we shall make.”

Mr. Darcy sought her lips again and Elizabeth gave them eagerly. The room was dark save the firelight that flickered across the walls. It was the perfect setting for stolen kisses and whispered declarations of love.

Anne de Bourgh awakened the next day with her mother, and her cousin Georgiana Bingley, by her side.

“Where is Miss Elizabeth?” she cried out after receiving an embrace from her mother and her newly married cousin.

“She is downstairs, dear Anne. She did not wish to interfere in our reunion. I wish I had returned sooner and kept you safe with me at Netherfield.” Georgiana’s lips formed a sad smile as she spoke.

Anne de Bourgh shook her head. “It was not the fault of my family. I should have turned and ran when I first saw him in the lane.”

Mrs. de Bourgh took her daughter’s hand. “You shall never have to worry over him again, my dear. The earl saw that he was taken from Netherfield by the magistrate and Colonel Forster.”

Richard knocked upon Anne’s open door. “I wish to speak with my cousin alone, Aunt Catherine.”

The lady stood and eyed her nephew. “Whatever you must say will be said in my presence for I will not leave her until she is well again.”

Georgiana squeezed Anne’s hand and kissed her cheek gently. “I will send Miss Elizabeth up after Richard has spoken his piece.”

The colonel received the embrace of his newly married cousin as she passed him on her way out. “Good luck,” she whispered before he let her go.

Downstairs, Elizabeth waited in the parlor with her grandfather and Mr. Darcy. Caroline sat with her brother quietly asking about his wedding trip. The clock on the mantel struck the hour and Mr. Darcy stood when his sister entered the room.

“Where is Aunt Catherine? Did she not allow Richard to make his proposal to Anne alone?” Mr. Darcy had feared his aunt would reject the colonel outright.

“She insisted he say what he must to both of them for she would not leave Anne’s side. There’s hope at least,” Georgiana said as she rubbed her brother’s arm.

Elizabeth joined them. “Yes, there is hope. I cannot think your aunt might go against her daughter’s wishes now if Miss Anne accepts the colonel’s offer.”

The silence above them was encouraging and in moments, the colonel came dashing down the stairs. He ran into the parlor, his face fixed with an incredulous grin. “She said yes! Anne said yes!”

The parlor erupted in congratulations but quieted as Catherine de Bourgh entered, her countenance severe. “There will be no wedding…,” she paused and looked at her nephew in his red coat, “until Autumn.”

The colonel grabbed his aunt and kissed her cheek before twirling her about the room. She laughed, a sight Elizabeth had never seen and suddenly she understood the appeal the woman held for her grandfather. She was beautiful when she was happy.

When at last Mrs. de Bourgh’s feet again touched the floor, the earl made his way to her side. “I cannot keep it secret a moment longer myself,” he said, his eyes shining as he looked up on his beloved’s face, “Mrs. de Bourgh shall become my countess, my Lady Matlock.”

Elizabeth gasped and Mr. Darcy placed his arm around her waist. “Hill,” he called to his housekeeper as the parlor again erupted in happiness, “bring plenty of wine because Miss Bennet, my Elizabeth, accepted my offer of marriage last evening. She will become my wife.”

A half hour after the celebration in the parlor quieted a bit, Elizabeth made her way upstairs to Miss Anne’s room.

“Miss Elizabeth! How happy I am to see you again. Did you hear my news? Richard and I will wed when the leaves fall again.”

Elizabeth sat carefully on the bed beside her new friend. “I did and he is as radiant as you are about the news, my dear! Will it not be fun to plan all the weddings?”

Anne’s brows shot up in surprise. “What have I missed trapped here in my bed? Has mother caught your grandfather, then?”

“She has!” Elizabeth said and laughed with the young lady before telling her of Mr. Darcy’s proposal.

“It has all come right in the end. I knew William loved you and I hoped you two might mend the misunderstandings between you. He is so fortunate you gave him another chance.”

“I am the fortunate one,” Elizabeth said and accepted the hug Anne offered.

“We shall be family! Will you marry William soon? Oh, and your family, what will they say?”

Elizabeth eased Anne’s fears. “My father will be happy for me but my mother shall remain cross. My sisters will not mind, but they all may wonder whether Grandfather has lost his mind.”

Anne frowned but Elizabeth took her hand. “Grandfather and I are obstinate and headstrong, you see. They have always known it and so will accept our choices in time. It matters little as both he and I shall be incandescently happy.”

The two young ladies laughed and talked of all the weddings to plan and the trips. Soon Mr. Darcy, the colonel and Mrs. de Bourgh joined them before Georgiana came upstairs and sent them all away. “There is much Anne and I must speak about in private. Leave us be for a time.”

Elizabeth quit the room with the rest of Anne’s family and in the hallway, she embraced Mrs. de Bourgh. “You have made my grandfather happier than I have seen him in many years. I do wish you both all the happiness in the world.”

Mr. Darcy smiled with pride at the grace his future wife displayed. Mrs. de Bourgh placed a hand on Elizabeth’s cheek and smiled the way she had in the parlor earlier. “Thank you, Miss Bennet. I see how happy you have made my nephew and I am so grateful for all you have done for my Anne. Darcy told me it was you who found her too. You have been a blessing to my family.”

Elizabeth took the woman’s hand and the two walked downstairs with the colonel and Mr. Darcy.