Beginning, Previous Section, Section XII

Jump to new as of September 11, 2001

Chapter 45 B

Author's note: Well, it's finally over!!! I'd like to thank everyone who has patiently followed my story - all Dwiggies and lurkers! :-)
A very very special THANKS to Chris - my big and older (hee hee) "brother"!
And all my love to Doni and Amanda!!

Fitzwilliam Darcy had arrived at Netherfield very late, so late that Morrisey, his valet, had already sent a message to the stable stating that, upon the master's arrival, he should not come in through the main entrance, as Mr. Bingley and the Bennets were already lined there to welcome the guests. Darcy had thus used the back doors to quickly gain access to the chamber and dress appropriately for the event. He was promptly helped with his toilette by his valet and, in a record time, Darcy saw himself wearing a dark blue attire and going down the staircase.

Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, Darcy took a deep breath and perused the hall. He finally discerned Bingley's blonde hair shining among an immensity of feathers and turbans, still standing in the entrance. Bingley caught his friend's eye and smiled widely, ready to acknowledge his presence, but Darcy nodded his head and mouthed "I am late". His friend quickly understood Darcy's meaning and rolled his eyes. Darcy then asked, "Elizabeth?"

Bingley pointed his head to the ballroom and mouthed, "Make haste." It was Darcy's turn to grin and he thanked his friend by touching his index finger to his forehead.

Darcy headed towards the ballroom feeling ridiculous for favouring the corners and avoiding the crowd, still it was the only manner to approach Elizabeth without being detained by the acquaintances he spotted through his way to the room. As soon as he stepped into the ballroom, he saw Elizabeth speaking to Caroline Bingley. Oh Lord! Of all our acquaintances, she had to be talking to "that lady" now! As if divining his thoughts, a gentleman Darcy could not identify grabbed Caroline away, leaving Elizabeth alone. His wife immediately moved to the window and he followed her.

In a slower pace, as he had already found her, Darcy positioned himself in a nearby window, partially hidden by the velvet curtains and drank in the pleasant view of Elizabeth's figure. She was lovely - the cream muslin rimmed by a gold rope trim was simple, but absolutely startling because of the radiance that emanated from the lady wearing it. In a reverential silence, he studied her face and the manner in which her eyes were staring through the window, searching for something in the woods of Netherfield.

His gaze traveled down, finding the ruby necklace he had presented her with last Christmas reposing in her creamy bosom. For uncountable seconds, his eyes were locked to the red stones rising and falling, following the rhythm of her agitated breath. Elizabeth then bit her low lip and spoke, "Where are you?".

Darcy caught his breath, She is looking for me! I can not be wrong, all the people who matter for her are already here. Darcy was all anticipation - perhaps his "retreat" strategy had worked and his wife was missing him. He refrained his impulse of going to her and taking her into his arms, though. Slowly, Darcy! Things are not settled yet and you may hurt yourself if she still has doubts concerning your character. Allow her time to take her own decisions. Allow her time to come to you.

The music stopped and Elizabeth spun around to look at the ballroom. He saw how desolated she became upon seeing her parents, Jane and Bingley entering the room, a sign that there were no guests to welcome any longer. A sign that "he" was not among the late guests and would not attend the ball. He could not help but smile at the situation. Once again he wished to go to her, but his conscience stopped him anew, Slowly! You should not run to her as a green boy would.

But the first notes of a country dance were played and Darcy felt he would not be able to resist for long. Throwing caution to the wind, Darcy sneaked up on his wife and stopped right behind her. Her familiar scent involved him and he instinctively touched her arm lightly, afraid of disclosing all his emotion at once. "Am I too late to beg you to dance the first set with me, Mrs. Darcy?" He finally asked, mastering his feelings.

Elizabeth did not turn around at first. She gulped and closed her eyes for a moment - a mixture of relief, happiness but also a little anger at him was caught in her throat. She opened her eyes and saw the dance set ready to commence the first steps. Barely overcoming her emotion, she at last looked round and stated, "A little late, Mr. Darcy. But it seems it is your lucky evening, as I am very inclined to dance tonight, sir."

Darcy did not waste time and led Elizabeth to the end of the set, attempting to attract as little attention to them as possible, but his plan was defeated by the general curiosity. There were few who did not stare at the couple and murmured something about them, after all the Darcys' marriage was still recent and arose the crowd's imagination, mainly of the ones who had come to Hertfordshire only out of pure prying into Darcy's and Bingley's "country brides". Moreover, Darcy had not been seen at Netherfield until this very moment, which had also originated more speculation.

Yet the last couple to join the dance set seemed not to notice at all the commotion originated by their presence, absorbed as they were by the other's presence. Both Darcy and Elizabeth only had eyes to each other, even if for the most part of the first steps they attempted not to meet each other's eyes. But what to do if their hands insisted on remaining in touch a little longer than the necessary, if arms and shoulders continued to encounter, as though having their own will?

Minutes ticked by before Darcy overcame their awkwardness and said, "I believe you used to enjoy having some conversation while dancing, Mrs. Darcy."

Elizabeth gaped at him but said nothing, as the dance now required that they parted and moved around another couple. When they met again, hand in hand to move in circle, she faced him and replied, "I still enjoy speaking as much as dancing, sir."

"But..." Darcy increased the tight of Elizabeth's hand. "Your mind seems to be otherwise engaged tonight, ma'am. We had been dancing for more than ten minutes and you had not said a word."

"Neither had you, sir."

"But I am known as the taciturn part here." Darcy smiled, in an attempt to dissipate the tension he felt. He released her hand, and they moved to different sides, standing across from each other.

"You are not taciturn at all. Only people who do not know you well can state such a thing. If they spend some time in your company, they will certainly change their minds about the matter." Elizabeth stated when they joined anew in the middle of the ballroom.

Darcy raised his left eyebrow, "Have you changed your mind, Mrs. Darcy?"

"Yes, I have." It was Elizabeth's turn to grip her husband's hand firmly.

"I hope it was not only about my looking reserved." Darcy tentatively spoke.

Elizabeth wished to affirm that her opinion of him had changed anew, to finally settle things between them, yet how to elaborate this in the middle of a ballroom, surrounded by prying ears and risking to be interrupted any time? It would not do, therefore she silenced for the time being and changed the subject. "And I hope you had a nice trip."

Darcy noticed her manoeuvre, still he limited himself to reply, "Yes, I did. Thank you." He looked around the ballroom for the first time and saw Georgiana speaking amiably to Mary Bennet and her new fiancé, Dr. Pollock. "Georgiana looks very content tonight."

Elizabeth followed her husband's gaze and saw the small group too. "Indeed! She was afraid of your disapproval - since she is not out yet, she thought that you would not agree with her attending a ball like this."

"In fact, if it were not a sort of 'familiar reunion', I would not have allowed her to come at all. She is too young to be out; besides, I fear she has not recovered yet from that distressing event last summer and I would not like her to suffer any other disillusion, at least not so soon. Unfortunately, life is full of them." He sighed. "But she has improved significantly, thank to you, and for the last three weeks, to your sister Mary."

"It is only Georgiana's merit. She is a delightful person and I am sure she will forget the matter for good." Elizabeth moved around Darcy and looked at the group anew. "Mary has also changed a great deal after she engaged Georgiana as her best friend."

"As I was told. And I could see the result of her transformation myself later." Darcy grinned.

Elizabeth grew a little embarrassed by the allusion to the almost scandal led unwillingly by Mary and Dr. Pollock just four days ago. However, the feeling did not prevent her from speaking her heart out, "You may think I am ungrateful because I have not expressed my gratitude to you yet for your help regarding my sister's affair. I am very thankful to you, Fitzwilliam."

They were back to back and slowly Darcy and Elizabeth changed position so that they were face to face again. "I did nothing, Elizabeth. They had met and fallen in love on their own way. I only attempted to fix what could have been damaged by my aunt's lack of tactfulness."

"You know what I meant, Fitzwilliam - I shall never forget your support." Elizabeth stared at him sincerely, referring to the discreet and kind manner he had dealt with the very improper situation.

"I only know that, much as I care for your family and respect them, I only thought of you. All my actions were ruled by the necessity of sparing you from any distress." He said in earnest, his face displaying how he cared for her. Elizabeth held her breath, waiting for his next words, her heart beating strongly.

At this moment, the last accords of the music were played and the dance was over. Darcy took Elizabeth's hand and escorted her to the left side of the room. He knew that it was now impossible to avoid people coming around to socialise. Hence, he spoke to her in a haste, "I am willing to have the conversation we have postponed for the last days, Elizabeth. But both of us are aware that this is not the right place to do so."

Elizabeth did not have time to retort though, as they were surrounded by a considerable number of peers wishing to engage in conversation. Darcy and Elizabeth spent more than half an hour greeting old acquaintances and being introduced to new ones. Were they not saved by Bingley and Jane's approach, they would have spent at least another quarter of hour greeting people. As soon as Lord Carl Aylmer, the Earl of Blacklake (an old acquaintance from Cambridge) left the group, Darcy and Bingley greeted each other as pleasantly as property allowed.

Despite everything they had lived and endured for the past couple of months, the two gentlemen's friendship had remained. Naturally, a sense of awkwardness still permeated the atmosphere, mainly among Darcy, Elizabeth and Bingley, but Bingley's huge smile showed that his easy disposition had already conquered any strong feeling he might have felt against Darcy, for the latter's interference on his love life.

"I see you have found your lady, Darcy." Bingley finally stated in a satiric tone, breaking the ice for good.

"Indeed! As well as you have found yours." Darcy replied, actually referring to Bingley's engagement to Jane.

"Oh, do not attempt to hide how desperate and lost you were when you arrived here late, looking for your wife." Then, winking at Elizabeth, Bingley continued, "He would never confess this."

"No, he would not." Elizabeth was also amused, although she did not know for sure whether it was by the easy exchange between Darcy and Bingley, or by his brother-to-be's allusion to Darcy seeking her when he arrived . "However, I hope he will not retaliate by giving away one of your darkest secrets to Jane, Mr. Bingley."

"Very tempting, Bingley. Yet I shall not do such a thing, but only congratulate Miss Bennet on the engagement." Darcy bowed to Jane and then, grinning mischievously, completed, "I am glad you have taken my friend out of his misery, Miss Bennet. Aye, because he was also desperate and lost without you."

"Darcy!" Bingley exclaimed, feigning he was offended and Jane blushed a little.

"Perchance this is a quality of the Bennet ladies - to provide a heart-warming experience for those who are desolate." Elizabeth stated playfully.

The two couples laughed and were going to continue the conversation, but Bingley and Jane knew they should move on. "As we gentlemen must be prepared to put up with the Bennet ladies, I convene you for a 'meeting' after the ball is over. I have already invited Dr. Pollock - due to the fact that you have been married to a Bennet since December, we believe we can rely upon your expert advice on the matter, Darcy." Bingley said before leaving the Darcys.

Darcy laughed, "I shall be there." Thereafter, Bingley and Jane moved to another group and Darcy and Elizabeth were alone again.

Elizabeth sighed, "It seems that we could not talk before the ball, we can not talk now, nor shall we after it is over. I wonder what sort of manoeuvres unmarried couples have to employ in order to be alone."

"I do believe it will not take very long. Moreover, by the end of the ball Bingley will be so happy and so drowsy that he will need me only to fetch his valet." Darcy took his wife's hand and spoke in an apologetic tone. "You are aware that I can not deny talking to him, even if for few minutes."

"I am." Elizabeth hesitated. He had seemed so willing to speak in the end of their dance, but he was postponing their conversation anew. Was he putting her patience under proof? The Sphinx is testing me again, yet I should not run from him. She stared at him, "I shall wait for you, even if this 'meeting" of yours extends for long, sir."

"As you wish, Mrs. Darcy." He grinned at her and released her hand. Upon noticing Georgiana talking to Mary and Dr. Pollock on a corner of the ballroom, Darcy said to Elizabeth, "I do need to talk to my sister now. Are you going with me?"

"Aye, I would love to see how she is enjoying the ball."

The couple then crossed the ballroom in full activity - ladies and gentlemen in different shades of colours were dancing, chatting amiably, gossiping about the locals or the last piece of rumour about St. George's. The Ton group seemed to be enjoying their time, although some of them, mainly the ones who had an acquaintance with Miss Bingley, could be found sneering at the "populace from Hertfordshire", unable to understand how gentlemen of Darcy's, or even Bingley's rank, had agreed to consort with such "folks".

Darcy was rather conscious of some of his peers' criticism, but he did not care anymore. Despite her relatives, Elizabeth fulfilled everything he had conceived as the "ideal wife" and this - now he saw - was enough for him. Even if she could not forgive him, if she could never love him for what he had done in the past, he knew that she had been the perfect choice. He would never regret their marriage.

Such were Darcy's thoughts when they finally reached the place where Georgiana, Mary and her fiancé were sitting. His sister immediately raised to greet them, pure happiness emanating from her. "Fitzwilliam! We thought you would not come on time!"

Darcy kissed Georgiana's forehead, "And leave Elizabeth and you alone at such a ball? You do not know me well, Georgiana!" Then, he turned to Dr. Pollock and Mary and greeted them. Returning his attention to his sister, he observed how well she looked in a white silk muslin and complimented her for it.

Georgiana lowered her head timidly and played with her right foot before answering, "Thank you."

"How do you like Hertfordshire, doctor?" Elizabeth inquired her brother-to-be.

"A very nice place, Mrs. Darcy. The Winter only allows one to have a pale idea of the woods, yet I believe they must be of an inspiring quietness during the Spring. " He arranged his spectacles over the nose and looked at Mary, who smiled at him. "But I believe Mary will not miss the place at all, as we shall live in Town, just a few hours away. We can come and enjoy the country."

Elizabeth could not help observing that Mary's light green gown matched the doctor's emerald eyes and she smiled inward. Had the gentleman chosen a green suit instead of the blue one he was wearing and the result would be peculiar. She put her amusement at bay though, and continued the conversation, "Does your family also live in Town?"

"My parents and oldest brother do. My sister, who is married, lives in Edinburgh."

"His parents are coming to visit us in a fortnight, Lizzy. And I am going to meet his whole family in March." Mary stated somewhat proudly.

"My mother is looking forward to meeting Mary." The doctor completed.

"Understandable. All mothers are always willing to meet their children's future partners." Darcy humorously stated.

"Especially the Scottish mothers." Dr. Pollock grinned.

"But I have also heard that the Scotties are very fond of dancing." Darcy teased the doctor. He was not known as a teaser himself, but it was his manner of displaying his regard for the gentleman who had saved his life and was now to be his brother.

The doctor hesitated a little, but he soon realised that Darcy was not criticising him. Therefore, he answered in a mocking manner, "I only dance if wearing the traditional Pollock tartan. Unfortunately, I forgot mine in London, hence I am forced to sit down here and spend the night with the nicest lady of the ball."

The group giggled. Darcy took the turn anew and stated, "Dancing is not a favourite of mine either, yet it is one of the most pleasing activities if I can do it with my wife." He looked at Elizabeth but she did not spoke a word. "However, there is another lady here who would make me very happy if she accepted to dance the next set with me." He stared at Georgiana, who lightly choked.

"Would you like to dance with me, Fitzwilliam?"

"But of course, dear! You are not out yet, but I believe that a single dance with your brother will not matter under Society eyes." Darcy winked at his sister, took her hand and led her to the centre of the ballroom.

Elizabeth spent the next minutes observing how brother and sister formed a beautiful couple dancing together - half of her glad for them, the other half a little jealous, wishing to be there standing up with her husband. While watching Darcy and Georgiana, Elizabeth saw Kitty again, but now she was sitting alone. She excused herself and crossed the room.

"Are you unwell, Kitty?" Elizabeth asked in earnest.

"I am very well, Lizzy. Thank you." Kitty did not even raised her head to reply.

"I believe you have been sitting here since the beginning of the ball. At least sometime ago you were speaking to Maria Lucas."

"Yes, I was."

"Is anything the matter?" Elizabeth insisted.

Kitty sighed and decided to tell her sister about her sorrow. "It is Lydia."

"Lydia? Did she take your best gown anew?"

"Oh no!" Kitty proudly caressed her light blue muslin. "I hid this one until it was too late for Lydia to take it from me."

"Your favourite earrings, perhaps?" Elizabeth tried.

Kitty nodded her head. "You know how Lydia was jealous of Mary going to London with you. Well, when she heard that Mary had come back with a suitor, she became very angry and decided that she would not be the last Bennet to marry. I do not know why, but she had always fancied herself to be the first of us to marry." She elaborated.

"I still can not see what her jealousy has to do with you sitting in a corner of the ballroom alone." Elizabeth wondered.

"She decided she would keep to herself all the interesting gentlemen of the ball. They can only talk to her and dance with her, otherwise she is not going to even look at them."

"I have seen her only with officers so far."

"The only worthy gentlemen so far. At least the ones I know. That is why I am alone - she does not want competition."

Elizabeth gasped, "This is stupid. I do not believe she can manipulate all of them so easily."

"She can. Am I not alone?" Kitty pointed at herself and sulked.

"Lord knows what she has promised to each of them." Elizabeth mumbled to herself. "But all of this serves you right! Perchance you will take a lesson from it." Elizabeth were not fond of sermons, especially in which concerns Lydia and Kitty, as the youngest Bennets never listened to anyone. However, she would not allow to pass such an opportunity to at least attempt to "recover" Kitty from Lydia's bad influence.

Kitty touched the pale blue trim that rimmed her gown and she restrained her tears, "That I should be myself, that I should not follow Lydia around as I have been doing since she started to crawl?"

"Well, you could start with this." Elizabeth pointed out.

"Afterwards?" Kitty inquired, her lips trembling a little - the wish of crying had not been conquered yet.

"You should raise your head and look around you. You should talk to other people, even if they are not wearing a red coat. You would perceive that they might be as 'interesting' as the officers. You would also notice that the world is not limited to what Lydia likes or not, nor to militias." Elizabeth took a breath and smiled before concluding, "You could broaden your horizons and see that there is a gentleman who has been looking at you at least for the time I have been here talking to you."

Kitty immediately elevated her head and her eyes met a pair of dark ones staring at her. She quickly batted her eyelashes surprised for being observed by such a handsome gentleman. There was a faint smile dancing on his lips and he sustained the gaze for few moments and then withdrew, moving ahead. He seemed to be older than the officers she was used to. She finally asked, "D-Do you know him, Lizzy?"

"Lord Carl Aylmer, the Earl of Blacklake. Darcy has just presented him to me as a friend from Cambridge. It seems he is a patron of Arts, being a painter himself."

"An Earl? Looking at me?" Kitty could not believe.

"It seemed so. You should not take it very seriously, though."

"No indeed!" Kitty exclaimed.

"But do stand up and smile, Kitty. I shall look for Jane now. Would you like to go with me?" Elizabeth offered.

"I- I..." Kitty faltered. Suddenly, she straightened her shoulders and stood up. "I would love to go with you, Lizzy." When she moved with Elizabeth through the crowd, her eyes wandered for a while before meeting those dark ones anew. The same smile on his lips. But "the painter" vanished again among the crowd.

Darcy and Georgiana liked their dance very much indeed. The gentleman could hardly restrain his pride at seeing how his sister was starting to bloom. He was also relieved for not detecting anything in Georgiana that could indicate that she still blamed herself for the fiasco of last summer. On her turn, the young lady was delighted to dance her first with her brother, a person she esteemed and respected the most. As soon as the music was over, Darcy was going to return Georgiana to Mary and Dr. Pollock's company, but they were intercepted by Miss Bingley's approach.

"Dear Georgiana! How delightful to see you!" Caroline Bingley exclaimed.

"The honour is mine!" Georgiana answered politely and looked slightly at Darcy. She knew that Miss Bingley had always been kind to her in the past because the lady was aiming to reach her brother's heart. Thus, she was now rather curious to see how the lady would treat her.

"And Mr. Darcy!" Caroline was a vessel filled up with dark feelings - she felt betrayed by Darcy, not only for his marriage to Elizabeth, but also for his support to Charles' own. She could not stop thinking that her dunce brother had only sought Jane Bennet due to Darcy's exhortation. Still, she thought that she should show him how superior she was, how stupidly he had acted by preferring a milk lady to her. Besides, she had engaged the attentions of an earl, whilst Darcy was only a landowner. Caroline then lifted her thin nose and said, "Allow me to congratulate you on your sudden marriage."

Darcy barely bowed to her, "Thank you." He understood Caroline's veiled reference to the haste of his marriage, but preferred to ignore it, concentrating rather on greeting the gentlemen accompanying the lady - Lord Trenty and his son, Alexander Penfield - who were promptly presented by her.

All the usual pleasantries exchanged, Lord Trenty stated, "Miss Bingley has told me that Mr. Bingley and you are like brothers. How fortunate that you met two real sisters to be your wives."

"It was not planned at all. But very welcome." Darcy replied.

"Charles and Mr. Darcy tend to have similar tastes for simplicity." Caroline smirked.

"As long as it means 'lack of artificiality', I can not contradict you, Miss Bingley." Darcy heard himself explaining. Georgiana noticed her brother's irritation, still she could not think of anything as to change the subject - ah, her unfamiliarity to social gatherings was something she should improve in the months to come.

"Actually, a very important trait in a lady nowadays. She should be sophisticated, but never affected." Lord Trenty agreed.

"Well, it seems that this inherent 'quality' of the Bennets has also charmed another gentleman - I have heard that Miss Mary is engaged to a Scottish doctor." Caroline insisted.

"Yes, to Dr. Christopher Pollock." Darcy informed matter-of-factly.

"How charming! So you will have an apothecary as a relative too." Caroline could not help being ironic. To a person who used to be absolutely haughty of his lineage, Mr. Darcy seemed to bear very easily with the trade class now.

Caroline's comment made Lord Trenty's uneasy anew. Surely he had been led to her by her wittiness and sharp tongue - characteristics he highly approved of in a lady. However, it seemed she was commencing to exaggerate tonight, as she had already attacked Mrs. Darcy and now was doing so with the lady's husband.

Before anyone had time to reply to Caroline's statement, she went on, "I believe you will have many portraits to hang up at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy." Once at Netherfield, Caroline had teased him with a similar statement, mocking at him about his possible marriage to then Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Philips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know; only in different lines.

Darcy immediately remembered Caroline's mockery about the portraits. I attempted not to pay attention to your barbs. But I can not support this any longer - it is high time you stopped with it. He thus stated, "I think we shall have to open a new gallery, where I shall place Dr. Pollock's portrait, a merchant's son, next to that of my good friend Charles." He could hardly hide his triumphant grin, despite feeling sorry for, in a certain way, having offended Charles as well.

Caroline choked at the reference to the fact that the Bingleys' fortune had also been originated in trade. Red to the root, she looked around to check if anyone else had heard Darcy's irony. Certainly, Georgiana and Alexander had not understood it, but Lord Trenty had. She was then "rescued" by Alexander, who inquired from Georgiana,

"Would you give me the honour of dancing the next with me, if you are not otherwise engaged, Miss Darcy?" The lad, in his twenties, had spent the last minutes observing the young lady and had liked her very much.

Georgiana looked from the young gentleman's blue eyes to Darcy for help. Darcy considered the matter for a few moments and finally spoke to Mr. Penfield, "I thank you, but I am afraid she can not, sir. She is not out yet - she has only come because it is a very familiar event."

"It is a great pity, Mr. Darcy." Alexander's face registered his disappointment.

"Would you dance with me, Miss Bingley?" Lord Trenty offered to a still dumbfounded Caroline, who quickly accepted his lordship's arm. They excused themselves and left Darcy, Georgiana and Alexander in silence. It was only after few minutes dancing that Lord Trenty spoke to Caroline, "I admire your witticism, but perchance you should put them aside tonight and only enjoy the ball with me, my dear Caroline." She did not reply.

Kitty did as Elizabeth had advised her to - she endeavoured to concentrate on other people rather than on Lydia and the officers. She had spent some time being introduced to Elizabeth's and Jane's new acquaintances, and she had attempted to pay attention to their conversation, even if everything sometimes sounded rather 'old people's dull conversation', as Lydia and herself used to call anything that was not related to bonnets, balls and officers.

Hard as she tried though, she often caught herself searching for Lydia and her party around the ballroom, wondering how much they were enjoying themselves and she pouted, feeling rather miserable for having been excluded from their company. It took her almost a quarter of an hour to recover herself and heed the mood of her interlocutors.

As Elizabeth and Jane had to separate and pursue other things, they left Kitty to Mary and Dr. Pollock's company, who had just been joined by Georgiana and Mr. Alexander Penfield. The group spent half an hour in full conversation and Kitty could even forget a little of her "sorrow". However, the party of five later parted in two couples who attempted not to ostracise her - she even danced a set with Mr. Penfield (as Georgiana could not) and had a pleasant time with him. Still, she knew that she was spoiling the couples' intercourse.

Kitty was attempting to think of an excuse in order to leave the couples on their own, when she saw her mother desperately waving at her. She immediately left her group and joined her mother, "Yes, mother?"

"Have you lost your brains, child?" Mrs. Bennet was red. "Not only have you almost hid yourself in the beginning of the ball, but you are also holding a candlestick now not for one, but for two couples, Katherine Alexandra."

"I beg your pardon?" Kitty inquired, unable to understand why her mother was scolding her.

"Do I always have to speak plainly to you?" Mrs. Bennet nodded her head. "You were ruining your sister's and Miss Darcy's time with their gentlemen by insisting on remaining next to them - were they less benevolent, they would have already turned you out from their company. And you were ruining your chances as well, as you were almost hidden behind your sister."

"Mother!" Kitty was rather offended.

"If you continue like this, you will never marry, Kitty! Even Mary has found an agreeable gentleman." At this time, Lydia ran through them followed by a group of four officers shouting at her, begging her for her forgiveness. Mrs. Bennet observed her youngest proudly until she disappeared among the crowd, unable to notice how Lydia's wild behaviour was disturbing everyone.

The matron then turned her attention to Kitty, "Look at Lydia - look at how she has all the officers wrapped around her finger. She will be married by the end of the summer, I assure you." Mrs. Bennet inhaled, "But you! I am really concerned about you, Kitty. What will it be of you?"

Kitty felt her eyes burning, her throat aching, her chest wishing to explode. She did not need anyone to remind her that this ball had not been favourable for her at all. She closed her eyes and took a breath. No, she would not cry here, in front of her mother, in front of anyone. Thus, she feigned a coughing fit.

"Oh, oh!" Her mother was mortified. "This cough again! What will the gentlemen think of it? They will think you are weak of the lungs, too weak to be a good wife."

"I shall retire and drink some water, mother." Kitty quickly said.

"Go! Go!" Mrs. Bennet dismissed her.

Running out of the ballroom, Kitty directed to the main hall and hid herself behind a column. "I shall not cry! I shall not!" She closed her eyes and focused on the few but good things she had experimented tonight: Lizzy's and Jane's gentleness; the light conversation with Mary, Dr. Pollock, Georgiana and Mr. Penfield; her dancing with Mr. Penfield.

Slowly, Kitty regained control of herself and abandoned her hiding-place. Upon re-entering the ballroom, her eyes met anew a pair of bright ones that had followed her around since they had first made contact - Lord Blacklake's gaze had been at her every time she looked at him, even when she was dancing.

Kitty lowered her gaze and smiled softly. She had not thought of him while listing the "good events of the ball", but she had to admit - his insistent gaze and his rather puzzling smile had made her at least curious at his intentions. Katherine Bennet took a breath again and feeling better, moved more confidently through the crowd in pursuit of Lizzy. She looked at her mother chattering with a plump matron and thought to herself, Lydia can have a bunch of young officers idolising her, but she does not have a handsome Earl seeking her out.

Kitty's eyes kept meeting Lord Blacklake's for the rest of the ball and she would wonder about the nature of it for the following weeks. Jane's wedding, and later Mary's, made her forget the intriguing gentleman for the time being. She would not think of him anew until the next Fall.

Darcy and Elizabeth were often in each other's company, and when not in the same circle, their gazes would follow each other around the room. They even danced together the last set, but they were still restrained by the social duty and restricted to the ballroom meaningless conversation. They sometimes felt the urge to escape to a solitary balcony or room, like forbidden lovers, still they felt they should wait as both of them were a little afraid of doing things in a haste and ending up deceived.

The ball followed its normal course - people dancing, chatting, talking about other people's lives; matrons attempting to find appropriate suitors for their daughters; gentlemen discussing politics, the ladies, the toilettes in vogue. In spite of some minor incidents - such as Lydia almost spilling a glass of punch in Lord Trenty's suit and Caroline's gown while 'dancing' with three officers at once, or Mr. Collins knocking a violinist's eye by accident, in his vain attempt to keep his Charlotte away from Mrs. Darcy - the social event planned by Mr. Bingley and organised by Mrs. Bennet was considered a success.

As it was expected, the last carriage to leave Netherfield was the Bennets'. Mr. Bennet had already grown impatient waiting for Jane and Mary bid adieu to their betrothed. It looked like the gentlemen would depart for a war in a distant country rather than being apart only few miles away. As soon as the Bennets were out, Bingley's sisters and their guests retired for the night as well as Elizabeth, who would actually be waiting for Darcy.

Bingley and Darcy headed towards the library in order to speak in private before Dr. Pollock joined them. Jane's fiancé was a little inebriated, as Darcy had predicted, and thus very loquacious. Initially, they spoke about the condition of the roads, some acquaintances they had seen lately and few plans for the Spring over a goblet of port. Then, as all the irrelevant subjects seemed to have been approached, they fell in an uncomfortable silence.

"Darcy-" Bingley finally started

"Bingley-" Darcy said at the same time. He conceded, "You first."

"Nay, you are the eldest and have precedence."

Darcy stood up and strode in front of his friend a little. He then stopped, passed the hand through his hair and commenced, "You can not conceive how glad I am for seeing your happiness, Bingley."

"I owe it to you." Bingley stated in modesty.

"You do not. Were it for me, you would still be as miserable as you were when you left Netherfield last November - when I wrongly advised you about Miss Bennet." Darcy contested.

"Were it not for your letter, I should never have sought my dear Jane anew. And I believe your advice was for my benefit at that time."

"Bingley, I was mistaken in my judgment of her feelings-"

"I know, so you explained in the letter you sent me. Thus I could not help but forgive you. I did dislike you for some time, especially after hearing about your marriage to a Bennet - to someone from a family you apparently took in contempt. I grew very confused, since I could not understand what had happened, what was happening." Bingley's face was bright red and he kept waving his hands in the air.

"I thought you would feel in such a way when you heard of my marriage." Darcy considered.

"Later, I concluded that you married Miss Elizabeth Bennet because both of you must be in love, otherwise you would not have conquered so many obstacles - the very ones you had pointed out to me, such as the Bennets' lack of connections, to spouse her. And I felt heartbroken because I thought I did not have Jane's regard."

Darcy lowered his head, "Now I think you know the 'truth' about my marriage."

"Yes, Jane told me about it. A marriage of convenience." Bingley sighed. "But I do know you Darcy - you love your wife." Bingley winked at Darcy.

Darcy did not hesitate, "I do."

"So I do love my Jane." It was Bingley's turn to raise and staggered towards Darcy. Unexpectedly, he embraced his friend and exclaimed, "The past is over, old chap. We shall be happy. For ever!" Were it not improper for a gentleman, Bingley would have cried over Darcy's shoulder. A cry of relief for having found his angel and for having not lost his best friend.

Likewise, Darcy could hardly restrain his tears, even if he found the situation very inappropriate. He was also relieved and in peace with his own conscience. Finally, as Bingley was already a little dizzy due to his drunken state, Darcy helped him to come back to his former seat and he sat down across from his friend. They then chatted about their future as brothers while waiting for Dr. Pollock.

An hour and a quarter had already ticked by since Elizabeth had last seen Darcy. In this meantime, she had changed into a white night-gown and loosened her pins with her maid's help; she had attempted to read, but she leafed through many pages unable to retain a single idea. The scribbled leaves of her personal paper were the evidence of what she had been doing for the last quarter of hour: searching for a name for her baby, drawing her monogram and a copy of the Darcys' coat of arms.

Elizabeth finally stretched up and checked the clock over the mantelpiece. Should she still wait for her husband? She was beginning to feel silly for having done so. "Why could we not talk before your trip, Mr. Darcy? Why have you kept me in such uncertainty?" She talked to the coat of arms carved in the mail box on the desk in front of her. Fatigue had defeated her and her eyelids were heavy. If she did not stand up, she would fall asleep over the desk. Thus, determined to resist for a little while, she arranged the shawl over her shoulders and raised.

It did not take her long to rest her eyes on a book over the mantelpiece. It was a book by Fordyce that Mary had brought to lend to her fiancé. Elizabeth crossed the room and picked it up. She grinned, "Mary spent the whole evening talking to Dr. Pollock and completely forgot about the book. I think I shall have to give it to him tomorrow."

She was going to put the book over the mantelpiece anew when an idea struck her. "Why shall I not send this book now, as the doctor is still awake and in the library with my husband and Mr. Bingley? A footman could deliver it to him as well as another book, with a note inside, to a certain gentleman ..." Without wasting time, Elizabeth looked for among her things the Sonnets by Shakespeare that Darcy had presented her with on the day he had proposed and took a seat in the desk.

It was decided - she would not wait for a "special time" to speak. Quickly, Elizabeth wrote down everything she had rehearsed for the last days. Having finished it, she read and re-read it - it was not easy to concede that she was wrong, but here it was, written in brief sentences, all the remorse she felt. The note was then folded and put inside the book, together with the bookmarker that had been embroidered by Georgiana.

Before she had time to give up, Elizabeth rang the bell for a footman. The sleepy servant was instructed to deliver the green book to Dr. Pollock and the blue one to Mr. Darcy. As soon as the servant departed with the books, Elizabeth sat down tied in a knot as a kitten and waited.

Fitzwilliam Darcy could not take his eyes off the clock. He was commencing to feel frantic, unable as he was to "escape" from his friend Bingley's excess of hospitality. His friend, now absolutely drunk on alcohol and joy, had found in Dr. Pollock a "partner" for drinking and telling jokes, and did not wish the party to finish before the cock crowed The doctor had initially shown himself a little shy, but after some goblets of port he was as garrulous as his mother-in-law to be. Both Bingley and the doctor were very red, although Darcy believed that Mary's fiancé was still not as drowsy as Jane's - after all, he was Scottish, was he not?

Darcy himself had drunk little - not only was he concerned about drinking to excess, but there was also a lady waiting for him. He squirmed in his chair, How can I leave without offending Bingley? Damnation! The others laughed at Bingley's joke about a hen and Darcy forced himself to do so. The arrival of a footman interrupted the gentlemen's amusement.

"Mrs. Darcy has asked me to deliver these." He directed himself to Bingley, pointing at two books carefully displayed in a silver tray.

"B-Books?" Bingley inquired. "For Lord's sake, books at this time? It must have been your idea, Darcy!" He stood up with difficulty and slightly swayed towards the footman. His foot caught in a nearby chair though, and Bingley, desperately waving his hand as if endeavouring to hold on the air, fell over the tray and an astonished servant.

Restraining their laughing, Darcy and the doctor helped Bingley to his foot whilst the poor servant looked at the books spread over the rug, trying to remember which book belonged to each gentleman. Finally, willing to leave the room before the Master could blame him for dropping the books, the servant hastily gave the green book to Mr. Darcy and the blue one to Dr. Pollock.

Darcy noticed the servant's alacrity and ordered him to fetch Mr. Bingley's valet. Then, he spoke to his peers, "Well, gentlemen! I believe it is high time we went to bed." The others protested, but Darcy insisted, " Mrs. Darcy has sent me a book as a sign it is late. And she will certainly reproached me as well as tell her sisters about your late habits if we do not finish this meeting right now." He laughed. At this moment, Bingley's valet entered the room and he sighed in relief - he could finally go to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth woke up with her neck aching - she had slept in the armchair near the fireplace. She caressed her neck in an attempt to stop the pain and checked the clock. "Oh Lord! How late it is!" She lowered down in order to take the shawl she had dropped. "Where is he?"

Crossing the room, Elizabeth stopped in front of the adjoining door to Darcy's chamber. "There are sounds coming from his room. He must be there." She held her breath and waited for a little while. There was no cessation of the sounds, yet they were produced very far away from the door. The lady raised her arm as if to knock on the door, but her hand stopped only few inches from the carved wood - no, she had already written to him. She could not continue seeking him out if he did not wish to see her.

"Could he have misunderstood my note?" She shook her head and walked away from the door, back to her bed. "Impossible! I could not have made myself more clear." She sat down in the bed and pressed her knees close to her chest. "Perhaps I misunderstood his meaning, although he appeared so willing to speak to me, his eyes holding the same tenderness I used to notice on him on the first days of our marriage."

"Perchance this is his manner of punishing me - he pretends to be still interested in my regard, but he leaves me alone as soon as he is certain of my feelings for him. It is his game." Elizabeth shook her head anew. "Stop it, Lizzy! It is enough! You are becoming obsessed and it will not help you. You did the right thing , but you can not, you could not determine his real reaction. Leave it be for the time being."

Elizabeth reposed her forehead on her knees. She wished she felt as confident as her last words had sounded.

Secure as that the book sent by Elizabeth contained a message for him, confirming her wish to talk to him tonight, Darcy had flown upstairs and changed into a dark green silk robe. Unable to control his curiosity any longer, as he was almost bursting into Elizabeth's chamber without even reading her "message", Darcy dismissed his valet and picked up the book.

Upon looking at the author's name, he found a little strange that Elizabeth had favoured a book with a selection of Fordyce's sermons - they had never discussed him before, but perchance this was one of her preferences that he had not heard of yet. "What?" He could not help exclaiming though, after having leafed through the book and tossed it to check if anything would fall from it. There was nothing inside of it.

"Could she be playing a joke at me?" He scratched his head. His exasperation grew when he found some underlined sentences, such as

Henceforth the majesty of God revere;
Fear Him, and you have nothing else to fear.

Or passages that emphasised the necessity of being humble, for example. Darcy finally collapsed in the bed, his mind wondering about what Elizabeth had done. "I could not be mistaken - she was willing to talk to me, she seemed so receptive tonight. It was practically settled that we should meet tonight. Has she changed her mind about the matter?" He sat down straight and considered, "What should I do now? Go to her bedchamber and confront her?"

Some dark thoughts occurred to him and he knocked the mattress. "No, you should stay, Darcy. Youhave been rather mistaken. She has played with you all this time and you did not notice it, blind as you were following her around. She has never forgiven me, she will never do!"

His reverie was put to an end with a knock on the main door. Darcy thought it strange that someone was calling him at this time. Nonetheless, he stood up and opened the door.

"I-I am sorry for disturbing you now -" A purple Dr. Pollock stammered. "But I believe I have got something that belongs to you." He raised his hand and showed a blue book to Darcy.

"Pardon me?" Darcy could not understand what the doctor was talking about.

Dr. Pollock grew even more embarrassed. "I think the footman changed the books Mrs. Darcy had sent to us." He looked over Darcy's shoulder and saw the green book on the floor. "That one on the floor should have given to me, not this one I'm currently holding."

Still puzzled, Darcy collected the green book, gave it to the doctor and took the blue one.

"Thank you. Have a good night." The doctor practically ran away through the corridor, almost hitting a vase on the way.

Darcy closed the door and looked at the leather-bound of the book, "Sonnets, by Shakespeare." Almost immediately he recognised the bookmark Georgiana had embroidered with one of his favourite verses - If I could write the beauty of your eyes, from Sonnet XVII. He opened the book he had given to Elizabeth on the day he had proposed and finally understood why Dr. Pollock was so embarrassed - inside, resting over the very Sonnet XVII, there was a wrapped paper. His heart skipped a beat when he opened it.

Dear Fitzwilliam,
I am sorry for approaching you to tell you what I have deliberated through a note, but I felt I could not wait any longer.
Tonight you asked me if I had changed my mind concerning your disposition. I told you I had. We were then talking about you being taciturn or not, but I was also referring to your whole character.
You can not conceive how much I am embarrassed for having accused you based on false information, for having sustained doubts about your character even if I had already had evidence enough of your integrity and kindness
I only wish you could forgive me for being so obstinate and blind.

Yours,

Elizabeth

Darcy forthwith led to the adjoining door and knocked on it. He heard some sounds in Elizabeth's chamber and soon after she opened the door. Their eyes met and both of them felt a light tremble in their bodies.

Elizabeth lowered her gaze and saw the book on his right hand and her note on his left one. She took courage and spoke, " I thought you would not come any more, that you could have misconstrued my meaning, or --"

"I did not." He interrupted her. "There was a misunderstanding indeed - the books you had sent were handed out to the wrong recipients."

"Oh!" It was the only thing Elizabeth could mouth at the moment.

"I have just received the right book." He raised his right hand, showing the book. "And I have just read your note." He opened the book on Sonnet XVII and put the note back there.

Elizabeth inhaled deeply, "I-I know this was not the right manner to tell you so, but I need to beg your forgiveness."

"I have to beg your forgiveness, not the opposite." Darcy was firm.

His words startled Elizabeth, "Do not play with me, please."

"I am not playing with you." He took her left hand and put the book on it. Then, holding his two hands over hers, he spoke, "You are too generous to trifle with me, Elizabeth. If this note was not serious and your feelings have not changed, tell me at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on the subject for ever."

Elizabeth could not look at him, she felt so overwhelmed by happiness and relief that she was only able to stare at his hands over hers, to feel the heat from him through them. She finally forced herself to look up at him , "My feelings?" She started. "Oh, my feelings have changed indeed. Did I not tell you so in the note?" She observed his face and understood his anxiety. "No, I did not." Lowering her eyes anew, she gulped and confessed, "I love you."

Darcy pulled Elizabeth to him, encircling her with his left arm. He raised her chin and pleaded, "Look at me, Elizabeth."

In a slow pace, Elizabeth raised his head and glanced at her husband, "I have loved you for a long time, so long that it took me a while to see the truth. Forgive me." Darcy did not answered though - his lips only captured hers and he kissed her with all the passion and devotion he had had to restrain for the last weeks.

Epilogue

Author's note: You will certainly notice that some sentences were taken from Pride and Prejudice. ;-)

Netherfield Park
16th of February, 1812

Elizabeth rubbed her eyes and stretched out. Slowly, she opened her eyelashes and looked at the direction of the faint light coming through the window. Helen must have opened the curtains a little, imagining the mistress would get up early as always. "Could you draw the curtains, Helen? I retired very late and I am going to remain on bed for a while." And she closed her eyes, intending to continue her slumber.

"As you wish, ma'am! But for an early bird you are very late yourself." A grave voice spoke in her left side.

"What?" Elizabeth opened her eyes anew to see Darcy, with his head resting on his right hand and the elbow reposing on the mattress, glancing at her in amusement. She felt confused for few seconds before the last night events were remembered - the ball, Darcy's late arrival, her writing to him a note asking for his forgiveness, his delay in coming to her and their making amends. Her slight hesitation made Darcy uneasy a little, but she promptly put away any insecure feeling he might have by smiling at him. "You should not be looking at me, sir. I must look very disheveled indeed."

A sparkle came back to his eyes and he slowly caressed Elizabeth's mass of curls spread over her white shoulders. " I would not mind rumpling your hair a little more, ma'am."

Flushing, Elizabeth closed her eyes and reveled on the good sensations his caresses were arousing for a while. She finally said, "It must be very late, Fitzwilliam. What will Mr. Bingley think of us?"

Darcy chortled with delight, "Bingley? He must be deep in slumber now, drunk of pleasant dreams of his angel. It is the best thing he can do now, because if he wakes up, he will have to put up with an awful headache."

"Is he sleeping off a hangover?" Elizabeth inquired.

"Aye, but you should not distress yourself, Liz. Bingley is not inclined to indulge himself with drinking. To tell the truth, I believe he was drunk of happiness rather than liquor." Darcy elaborated.

"Indeed! Happiness can be as intoxicating as the strongest wine."

"Can you feel it in this manner as well?" Darcy played with her locks anew.

"I can. Can you not?"

"I actually started to feel it when I heard your argument with Lady Catherine."

"Did you?" Elizabeth was curious and raised her head, reposing it on her left hand.

"Your argument taught me to hope as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to do so before. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me and secure of my lack of character, you would not have defended me so fiercely, you would have acknowledged your opinion of me to Lady Catherine frankly and openly."

Elizabeth could not help colouring a little before replying, "Yes, you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that. After having abused you so abominably to your face, I could have no scruple in abusing you to all your relations."

Darcy removed his hand from Elizabeth's hair. "What did you say of me that I did not deserve? For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I can not think of it without abhorrence."

She took the hand he had moved and held it tight, "We shall not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that evening." Elizabeth shook her head. "I had once again believed in someone else's word over yours; I wrongly accused you of actions that did not correspond to your disposition; the manner in which I delivered the news about our child - the conduct of neither, if strictly examined will be irreproachable. But since then I hope we have both improved in civility."

"I can not be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I then said - of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of it - is now, and has been painful for me many weeks. You were hurting me by distrusting my word and denying to listening to me and I only wished to hurt you too." He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, "Your well-applied reproof of me I shall never forget: 'Your lack of gentlemanly behaviour is everything I suspected in the beginning of our acquaintance' - those were your words. You can scarcely conceive how they have tortured me, although it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice."

Elizabeth moved towards Darcy and reposed her head on his shoulder, "I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an impression. I had not the faintest idea of my criticism being ever felt in such a way."

Darcy put his hand over Elizabeth's chin and raised her head. He stared at her for few moments before smiling sadly, "I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never forget, as you said that you wondered what I would do if my heir did not behave like a Darcy , or if the child were not conceited and cared for the feelings of the others."

"Oh! Do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it." Elizabeth tenderly touched her husband's face. "You must learn some of my philosophy - think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure."

"I can not give you credit for any philosophy of the kind. Your retrospections must be so totally void of reproach that the contentment arising from them is not of philosophy, but, what is much better, of ignorance." He lifted his torso and arranged his back over a pillow as well as Elizabeth's head on his chest. "But with me it is not so. Painful recollections will intrude, which should not be repelled. I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, although not in principle. As a child, I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. An only son (and an only child for years), I was unfortunately spoiled by my parents, who despite being good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing - to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world." Taking a deep breath, Darcy continued, "Such I was from eight to eight-and-twenty, and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth!" He then kissed her, gratitude combined with passion.

They remained so embraced for another quarter of an hour before Elizabeth took courage to ask, "I am almost afraid of asking you what you thought of me when we met at Miss Hargraves' house. Did you blame me for playing an investigator and being there with my Aunt Gardiner?"

"No, indeed." He scratched his head. "Actually, I did not approve of you meddling in the matter in such a way - it could have been very dangerous if we were dealing with blackmailers, for example. On the other hand, I was glad that you would see by yourself that I was not to blame in that affair. Last but not the least, I was also surprised for your perseverance to know the truth, though I should not be."

"Your surprise could not be greater than mine in being kindly treated by you after you had proved your innocence. My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness and attention from you, Fitzwilliam - you did not say a word to recriminate me, quite the contrary indeed."

"My object then was to show you, by every civility in my power that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill-opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to."

"But pray tell me the truth - what made you so unwilling to come to the point at last? I mean, I believe you understood I had been inclined to have 'this' conversation since we were back from Miss Hargraves' house five days ago. Were you putting my patience under proof?"

Darcy grinned and embraced her. "No, I was not. Actually, I was worried about your state - you had been under too much disquietude, not only at Miss Hargraves' house, but also during the altercation with Lady Catherine, and I thought it better wait for a more tranquil time."

"You know I was very willing--"

"I do, but I was also a little afraid of a negative response from you."

"So was I, still I was disposed to lay all the cards on the table. Why did you not talk to me before this business trip of yours?" Elizabeth hit him lightly on the chest.

"A man who had felt less, might."

"How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that I should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you would have gone if you had been left to yourself! I wonder when you would have spoken, if I had not sent you the note - even so, it took you a while to come to me, as I was already considering that you would not." Elizabeth explained.

"Do not distress yourself by thinking that you had to 'humble' yourself in order to obtain my 'favours' anew, ma'am." He lightly kissed her lips. "I was not in a humour to wait for another opening of yours - your behaviour towards my aunt as well as your manners to me last night had made me determined to know everything at once." He kissed her anew. "If it took me more than you judged proper to come to you, you should blame Bingley for it."

"Mr. Bingley?"

"Not only did he keep me in the library for more than I wished, but he also 'helped' his servant change the books you had sent."

"Did he? Why?" Elizabeth could not conceive why her sister's fiancé would do so.

Hardly restraining his laugh, Darcy elaborated, "He fell over the servant who was holding the books. In the haste of helping Bingley to his foot and delivering the parcel, the poor servant changed the books. Therefore, Dr. Pollock received the Sonnets and the note, while I was given a book by Fordyce."

Elizabeth started to laugh and for few minutes, she could barely speak. Finally, she controlled herself and said, "That is why you told me about a 'misunderstanding'."

"Now you can understand why I did not come here as soon as you expected. What do you believe I thought when I opened the book and only found moralising sentences highlighted? I imagined you were mocking at me."

"It is quite understandable. And the poor doctor must have become very embarrassed too, when he realised that the note was not for him."

"Aye, he was purple when he knocked on my door. But I did not have time to think of him - as soon as I understood what had happened, I only wanted to see you."

"But pray confess, Fitzwilliam - this business trip was a way you found to raise my anxiety, to make me miss your absence." Elizabeth provoked.

"Well, I believe it did work--" Darcy started, but stopped upon seeing Elizabeth 'fulminating' him with her gaze. "Actually, Liz," he cleaned his throat and continued with more serious demeanour, "I could not postpone this trip to Coventry because it involved other people's lives."

"Who exactly?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrow.

"At first, I did not want to tell anybody about this, yet I now believe that you will not judge me conceited, only wishing to obtain your good opinion, if I relate to you what I did."

"I am now positively curious, sir!"

"A friend of mine, Thomas Sanders became a widower last Fall, with two children, a boy and a girl to raise. I knew he had been looking for a good governess for his children without success - it seemed the children could not bear the three ladies designed for the service."

"And--"

"Upon noticing Miss Hargraves' predicament - relying on her aunt's charity to raise her child, I thought that perchance she could work for the Sanders as the children's governess."

Elizabeth was dumbfounded, "But Fitzwilliam, I do not know if a lady with 'her past' would be easily accepted for such a position."

"I am aware of this, Liz. Thus, I told Sanders that Miss Hargraves was actually a widow, Mrs. Wickham."

"Oh Lord!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"I know I lied to my friend, but I had to do so - I had to help Miss Hargraves, otherwise my conscience would not leave me alone."

"You are not responsible for what Mr. Wickham did to her, Fitzwilliam."

"In a certain way I am, Liz." He paused. "Moreover, she can be considered Wickham's 'wife'."

"Oh, I shall not discuss this with you if you think you are right about the manner. I only hope this 'white lie' of yours will not damage either Miss Hargraves' or Mr. Sanders' future. As you put so, I believe it is already settled that Miss Hargraves is going to work for Mr. Sanders."

"I sent her a missive explaining the situation and if she agrees, she will leave for Coventry in a fortnight. In the letter, I also informed her that I would like to take little Richard as my godson, as my father did to Wickham - when it is the right time, I shall send him to a good school. However, I intend to do more for Richard than my good father did to his steward's son - I wish to care for his education as well as his moral disposition."

Elizabeth sighed and caressed her husband's hair for few minutes, still moved by Darcy's good heart. How could she not have seen it before? "Well, we shall have to wait for her reply." Darcy nodded and they remained in silence for a while before Elizabeth asked another question, "I was told that you wrote a letter to Mr. Bingley encouraging him to seek my sister Jane. Why did you not tell me so at that night we quarreled?"

"Because I was not sure of how Bingley would react to the missive. I knew he was much in love with your sister when I had wrongly dissuaded him from marrying her last November. However, I had also seen him in and out of love too much in the past to not fear that he could have already changed his mind anew when he received my letter. I decided then I should wait before telling you anything about it."

"I see. And because you wrote to him and gave him your permission, Mr. Bingley 'decided' he could finally propose to my sister." Elizabeth stated in mockery.

"Oh no! I only explained to him how my assessment of Miss Bennet's feelings for him had been incorrect and asked for his forgiveness."

"But I wonder how you came to such a conclusion. Was it during our short courtship?"

"Not exactly. It was on the day of our wedding. While waiting for you, I ended up cornered in a room with your sister and my cousin Richard." Darcy confessed

"Jane and Col. Fitzwilliam?"

"It seemed your sister was somewhat distressed and my cousin was attempting to help her. As he was somewhat besotted by her, he asked her if he could hope she would accept him as a suitor. She answered that her heart belonged to another - I immediately understood that it could only be my friend."

"Jane had never told me anything about this. I had noticed your cousin seemed to be somewhat interested in her, but I thought it had been only a flirt."

"Oh, he is already recovered from her refusal. I met him yesterday and he told me he had just got engaged to Miss Evelise Jerrold. He sent congratulations to Bingley and Miss Bennet, but said he would not attend the ball for obvious reasons. Perchance he will come for the wedding."

"I understand his reasons." Elizabeth said.

"But we need to get up now, Mrs. Darcy. You need to eat something and I believe it had been a long time since you last had a meal. Come, I had your maid prepare a substantial breakfast that is waiting for you in my chamber." And without waiting for her answer, Darcy pulled on his robe, threw a chemise to his wife and then raised her in his arms, taking her to his chamber.

"You will transform me in a fat and ugly lady before your child is born, Fitzwilliam." Elizabeth exclaimed giggling.

"No excuses, ma'am. You have to eat and there is no point in arguing with me. This, or I shall tell your mother that you do not wish to eat, Mrs. Darcy!" Darcy played.

"Oh no. I beg you - have pity on me please, Mr. Darcy!" Both of them laughed and followed to the other chamber, after having shared another kiss.

Pemberley
25th of September, 1812

Fitzwilliam Darcy entered his wife's chamber almost tiptoeing. He had waited for this all day long, but now he was a little afraid of disturbing Elizabeth and him. Cautiously, he approached the canopy and perused the bed. Upon seeing him, Elizabeth smiled despite her apparent tiredness and inquired in a low voice, "Are you not going to come close to us, Fitzwilliam?"

He did not reply, but grinned at her and moved to her left side. Elizabeth then raised her right arm and showed him a small bunch of white laced clothes, "He has impatiently been waiting for his father." She stated, and removed a little the covers, so that Darcy could see the baby better.

"He is so--" Darcy hesitated.

"Handsome!" Elizabeth completed for him.

"And small." He added and then, accepting Elizabeth's offer, clumsily took the baby in his arms. Under Darcy's anxious gaze, the infant frowned a little, as if he was going to cry, but finally rested in his father's arms.

"He was only becoming acquainted to his father, Fitzwilliam."

"Dark hair, fine eyelashes..." Darcy was observing the baby's features.

"And a charming dimple in his chin, just like his father."

Without moving his gaze from the baby, Darcy continued, "Your mother said he has got your eyes, Liz."

Elizabeth laughed, "How could she? He has not even opened his eyes yet!"

"I would not contradict her, Liz. At least not today. She was so exhausted, but so happy when she left the chamber to give me the good tidings that she even forgot her salts for a while." He gave the baby back to his wife and kissed her forehead. "Your father was very nervous too - he almost made a hole in the rug of the library."

"And you, sir?" Elizabeth asked mischievously.

"I almost broke a goblet in my hand when - you know, when there were some cries..." Darcy was visibly embarrassed and Elizabeth took pity on him and changed the subject.

"I have been thinking of a name for him. How do you like 'Andrew George Darcy'?"

"Andrew - it sounds perfect for me. A Greek name that means 'manly'."

"Aye, perfect for a Darcy!" Elizabeth mocked.

"Liz--" Darcy started.

"I am joking, sir. There is no need to punish me."

"You know that in the state you are I could not punish you properly."

At this moment, Andrew's nursemaid arrived and gently took the baby from Elizabeth to take him to the nursery. Elizabeth then reposed on the pillows and felt that the fatigue would start to dominate her. Lest she would not fall asleep, as she wished to enjoy her husband's company a little more, she asked him, "You have never told me how and when you fell in love with me, Fitzwilliam. I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?"

Darcy left his seat and approached the bed anew. He grabbed Elizabeth's hand and played with her small fingers, "I can not fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."

"My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners - my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?"

"For the liveliness of your mind, I did." He kissed her hand.

"You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused and interested you because I was so unlike them."

"Perhaps..." He said enigmatically.

"Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but, in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just. There - I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it." Her eyelashes seemed so heavy that she was starting to blink.

Darcy kissed her lips and stated, "This is not important now, Liz. The only important thing is how deep is my love for you, how much I admire and respect you."

"I love you too, Fitzwilliam. You are the most amiable person I have ever found - and I am glad I could notice this before it was too late." Having said so, Elizabeth arranged herself under the covers and slept.

Darcy went to the nursery and stayed there for a while looking at his son. "Andrew." He murmured many times, his mind full of plans for his heir. Then, he returned to Elizabeth's chamber and stood at her side. "I believe your mother must be wrong, Liz - eyes like yours are so remarkable, so lively that even your children will not be able to inherit. They are special, and they are so, because they are yours!" Darcy softly planted a kiss in Elizabeth's lips and left for his own chamber in pure joy.

Still in the same year, Mr. Bennet also made a hole in the rug of the library at Netherfield, when Charles William Bingley was born, and a fortnight later at the Pollocks' house in London, when Mary gave birth to Matthew Albert Pollock.

However, he did not accompany his wife to help Lydia bear the twins, Edward and Heloise Finley in the Spring of 1813. Lydia had eloped with an officer called Daniel Finley in the Summer of 1812 and they had remained unmarried and hidden for almost a month in London. Were it not Darcy's and Bingley's assistance, Mr. Bennet would never have found his fool youngest and her irresponsible lover. The couple finally married, but Mr. Bennet never forgave them.

Due to Lydia's elopement, Kitty, the only single Bennet, had to bear her father's sudden feeling of responsibility and could not attend balls for a few months. She finally escaped from her father's firm control when she was invited by Elizabeth and Jane to enjoy together with Georgiana their first Season. Under her sisters' guidance, Kitty improved meaningfully, leaving behind all Lydia's bad influence.

In the Fall of 1813, Daniel Finley left Lydia for a French dancer. It was another scandal and Mr. Bennet felt obliged to receive his daughter at Longbourn for her children's sake. The combination of Lydia's inane babbling with Mrs. Bennet's nerves almost drove the gentleman to Bedlam, but he persevered in order to provide good education and manners to his grandchildren - which he had not done with his daughters, he was now attempting to compensate with Edward (named after him) and Heloise.

Caroline Bingley could hardly contain her happiness when she became Lady Trenty. Thankfully, her stepson Alexander Penfield soon left for the Army in December of 1813, leaving the couple alone. Actually, the new Lady Trenty did not understand very well why Alexander had decided to be an officer - being an only son, that was not expected at all. The lady thought that it must have been something related to Georgiana's strange sad state. She did not have time to investigate though, as a scandal from her husband's past came to her notice and was threatening to leave them penniless.

Lady Catherine spent a couple of years without receiving the Darcys, and prohibited Mr. Collins and his wife to do so. However, Charlotte did not give up and continued her (secret) correspondence with Elizabeth. The Collins had two children, Lewis and Catherine. Anne de Bourgh married an old baronet who died three months after the wedding, leaving her very rich and now owner of a estate in Berkshire twice as large as Rosings. She refused to live again with her mother and only Lord knew what kind of people she entertained in the daily parties she gave.

Col. Fitzwilliam married Miss Evelise Jerrold and had a quiet life as the husband of a rich heiress. He helped Alexander Penfield to join a militia regiment when the young gentleman had decided to leave London behind. He also wondered why the young lad was doing so and he also felt that it must been something related to Georgiana, as his cousin and the gentleman had been inseparable during the Season, but he asked nothing.

Georgiana Darcy and Katherine Bennet had a wonderful Season in 1813, having many admirers following them around, but their hearts belonged to the gentlemen who had first enchanted them. Unfortunately, both of them had a difficult time before the bells rang at the church for them, but they could always rely on Elizabeth's and Jane's help and kindness to conquer such a difficult time in their lives.

Miss Emily Hargraves at first hesitated to accept Darcy's offer to work as a governess for the Sanders, as she did not wish to commence a new life with lies. Together with Darcy and Elizabeth, she decided to tell the truth about her past to Mr. Thomas Sanders. The gentleman initially thought of dismissing her services. However, upon analysing the matter better, he decided to employ her moved by the young lady's sincerity. Emily and her son Richard now had a better life in Coventry.

Jane and Charles Bingley lived at Netherfield for a year, but unable to bear Mrs. Bennet's and Mrs. Philips' constant visits, and Lydia's later, the couple searched for and bought a estate in Derbyshire, near Pemberley. The two sisters and best friends were now happy for being only five miles distant from each other.

It could be stated that Elizabeth and Darcy lived happily ever after, although it did not mean that they did not have other quarrels in future - not as serious as their first one, but still quarrels. However, the love, respect and admiration they had for each other were strong enough to help them overcome their differences and quickly make amends. Nothing would ever separate them again.