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Chapter Thirty-One

Darcy sat with his glass. Bingley was right. It was helpful to have something to hold on to and glance at when he considered his thoughts. The younger man had poured him a glass and now sat across from him. Darcy felt that he was finally to face the Inquisition.

"So, tell me, Darcy? What do you think that you dared to presume?"

"Would you like the full list? Or shall we deal with my presumptions one at a time?" asked Darcy dourly, suspecting that he sounded like a petulant school boy.

"Whatever you prefer, sir. I know when to allow others to make their own decisions."

Darcy squeezed his glass, hoping it wouldn't break into shards beneath his fingers.

Bingley glared at him, but after a moment, looked shocked at his own daring. "I'm sorry Darcy. That was not a thing for a gentleman to say."

"No, I deserved it. I had no right to try to control your life in such a way."

"Then why did you? Why would you make such baseless accusations? You could not possibly have believed them, especially about Jane." Bingley spoke in a quiet, intense voice, fraught with disappointment. Darcy recalled his own father---who never raised his voice and yet always had his way. He felt like a small boy.

"I didn't know---," said Darcy, faltering.

"Don't worry. Jane never knew what you did,"

Darcy was silent with guilt. "I find it difficult," he finally started, "to admit when I am in the wrong. Your determination made me strongly cling to my own opinion. And to justify that opinion it was easier for my mind to create false arguments than to admit that I was not in the right, or that it was truly not place to tell you whether or not it was right or wrong."

"Yet you were wrong."

"Yes."

"About everything."

Darcy's first instinct was to defend himself. He had not been wrong about the unsuitability of the Bennet connections. Bingley had been new to wealth. Bingley's own father had asked him to look after his son. The father had wanted his son to rise in society, and to fulfill that request, Darcy would have had Bingley seek out better marriage prospects---he was even willing to present his own sister as a possibility. Yet... he had been correct about so little, it hardly seemed to matter. "Yes. Yes, I was wrong. About everything," he finally said.

"And yet it took you over two years to apologize!"

"I did not know--- that is I hardly realized the extent of the hurt my actions had caused. Bingley, I'm truly sorry."

The younger man ran his fingers through his graying hairs. He gave a pained laugh and continued to speak in the same low intensity. "You tried so hard to keep me from such connections, Darcy---and yet you utterly failed. My place is even lower now than it would have been. My wife's family is still exposed to gossip. Miss Lydia has never been found. There are some who say that Mr. Bennet has gone mad. You might imagine the talk surrounding my own marriage. That I married my Beth out of pity, or to fulfill a penance, or for some distasteful baser reason. And if it is possible, poor Louisa has fallen farther than I. Hurst would not show discretion. She has been ostracized in London society. No wonder Caroline fled to Scotland in the manner that she did---she had had enough with our disgraced family. How do you find these truths, Darcy?"

"They are of no consequence."

Bingley laughed. "Oh, I assure you they are, sir. There is more than one reason I no longer speak to our London friends."

"They are of no consequence, Bingley, to either Georgiana or me. I will not fail you again."

Bingley looked at him, for a very long time. Finally, he nodded his head. "Very well then," he said in a tone of absolute finality. I accept your apology. You and I need not speak of past events again.

"Are you dismissing me, Bingley?" asked Darcy, with every shred of dignity he could muster.

"Yes, I suppose I am." Bingley allowed himself a smile. "But I suppose you may remain, if you wish," he said in a pleasant tone.

"I do wish. I want to apologize for one other thing."

"And what is that, Darcy?"

"For treating your wife in such an abominable fashion. I can scarce think on it now without self-recrimination. I assume she's told you."

Bingley took a sip of his port, which had formerly sat untouched on the sideboard. "Ah, yes, the incident at Hunsford."

"She taught me a lesson in humility. Or would have, had I bothered to learn it."

"Lizzy is very good at refusing marriage proposals," said Bingley lightly, ignoring Darcy's strained tone. "I was the third, after you and Mr. Collins. I did not know about you, of course, until after Lizzy and I were married---when you sent your letter."

"She refused you?" Darcy echoed the younger man in surprise.

"Well, deferred me, more like. She never rejected me outright. She said yes, eventually. And I believe she is happy that she did."

"Your wife seems very happy in her married life. I do not begrudge you the former Miss Elizabeth."

"Good Lord, I should hope not. I know that you are an honorable man who would not lower himself to want what he could not have."

"You do me great credit, Bingley."

There was a pause as the two men looked at each other.

"I only wish," said Bingley, smiling. "That you had found as much happiness during our separation as I have finally attained. Beth and I need not look back on failed romances."

"Without your goodness, Bingley, I could never have your happiness." Darcy held out his hand. "But I hope I shall have your forgiveness."

Bingley looked at the proffered hand and shook it heartily. "Well, you may consider yourself fully forgiven, Darcy-- though you may want to grovel in front of my wife at some point."

"I will make amends to all your family, Bingley. I thank you." Darcy considered mentioning his intentions toward one of the family---but decided against upsetting the precarious peace the men had just attained. He was rescued from his thoughts by Bingley, who had instantly returned to his cheerful mien, once the serious conversation was over.

"Now, Darcy, what were we talking of? Oh, yes, of estates and business. How is your steward these days? As gloomy as he always was?"

The Master of Pemberley walked along the path along the side of the house, mulling over the morning's conversation. His thoughts were interrupted when he nearly ran into Kitty, who was leaving the formal garden by way of a break in the hedge.

"Excuse me, sir," she said brightly.

He looked up, and matched her smile. "Miss Bennet. I do tend to run into you in gardens. May I join your walk?"

"Of course, sir. Lizzy decided to go inside after only a half hour. I hope she is not ill---she is normally a far better walker."

"Well, you may not have walked far from the house in this mud, anyway," said Darcy. "And it is quite damp."

"Neither of which normally keeps my sister from walking far. But it is no longer a problem. For you are here to keep me company."

"You enjoy my company?" he asked rather shyly, trying to keep his voice low. And will you marry me? his mind thought.

"You know I do," said Kitty. "They were all teasing you horribly at dinner last night about your poor company, but I could not join them."

"I thank you for that," he said. "Though I know I deserve it."

"Then do we all. Or at least I do for doing my best to gain your poor opinion. And so does Bingley, for leaving Hertfordshire in the first place and Mrs. Hurst, who also went against her brother in the matter."

"And are Mrs. Bingley and my own sister guilty as well?" he said, cheered by her rather unjustifiable defense of him. He barely noticed as the rain started to fall again.

"Who could blame dear Georgiana for anything? Certainly not. As for Lizzy, I confess she has made at least one decision in her past that I simply cannot understand."

"Can you not?" he dared to ask, his voice strained for not the first time that day.

She did not respond, rather made a soft crying sound of surprise as the slow rain turned suddenly into a harsh downpour.

"Come, Miss Bennet," he said. "Let me escort you to the door. You shall be soaked through in a minute."

Chapter Thirty-Two

Posted on Monday, 19 May 2008

"Miss Darcy, I see you have not forgotten us. What a lovely gown! Don't you think so Mary? You would do well to look after Miss Darcy, in the manner of her gowns."

"I thank you Mrs. Bennet. It is a pleasure to see you again. Miss Bennet, I hope you have passed a pleasant summer. Catherine has read to me some of your letters."

"Yes, Miss Darcy. I thank you," managed Mary before her mother interrupted.

"Catherine indeed! Well, there you see Mary, our Kitty, an intimate friend of Miss Darcy of Pemberley. Imagine! Who would have thought it?"

"Mama, Mary, do come into the blue parlor for some minutes. You have arrived so early that we have not all yet dressed for dinner." Lizzy took her mother's arm and led her swiftly from the entrance, where several maids were scurrying about with their muddy outerwear.

"But where is Kitty? Where is my absent daughter?"

"She is still dressing." said Lizzy, conscious enough of her earlier conversation with Mrs. Hurst to be on her guard with her statements regarding her younger sister. "My husband and Louisa will be down in a moment, I daresay. The others were caught in the sudden downpour and may take a few minutes longer."

Mrs. Bennet mentally calculated the number Netherfield's residents. "Kitty and Mr. Darcy? They were both caught in the rain?"

"Kitty and I were walking in the garden Mama, but I grew tired and came inside. I do not know why exactly Mr. Darcy found himself out of doors. He and Charles were sequestered in the office most of the day. I've hardly had time to speak with either of them."

Mrs. Bennet looked at Georgiana curiously. "Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley must have had much to say to each other. They have not seen each other for many years."

"No, they have not," said Georgiana lightly. "Miss Bennet, did you receive the Mozart I sent you? Catherine thought you might like it."

"Indeed I did. Thank you, Miss Darcy, for your generosity."

"It is not my generosity-- rather my cousin's. He gave me the sheets, not knowing my brother had already purchased them for me. When one has two guardians with such whims to give presents, one must obtain a partner with whom she might share her bounty."

"You must play it for us tonight, Mary, if you have learnt it," said Lizzy smiling.

"Oh, yes you must! For Mrs. Bingley has already made me promise to play a whole sonata. And I have returned the favor and made her promise to play and sing in turn.

Before Mary could respond to Georgiana's entreaties, the master of the house entered the room, his sister on his arm.

"Mother Bennet," smiled Bingley. "How have these past four days treated you?"

"I cannot complain, Mr. Bingley. Though I had to calm my nerves thinking of the long journey that my Kitty was undertaking. One never knows the state of the roads."

"Indeed, Mrs. Bennet," said Louisa. "Miss Kitty and Miss Darcy were both quite tired when they arrived. But no harm befell them."

"No, indeed. Our journey was most pleasant, Mrs. Bennet," added Georgiana. "For what is one hundred miles of good road?"

"If one has a fine carriage, it is very little, I suppose."

"Unless one chooses to ride the whole way," laughed Bingley. "But," he said, looking pointedly at his wife, and lowering his voice to a tone not meant for the whole room. "One might make odd decisions and then admit his mistake later."

"Indeed." Lizzy looked to where Georgiana and Mrs. Hurst seemed to have distracted her mother. "Has Mr. Darcy admitted that riding all the way to Netherfield was a mistake?"

"Admitted, apologized, humbled himself, and more or less begged for mercy," whispered Bingley, lowering himself to sit next to his wife.

"Is this the real version of the events or the Charles Bingley version of the events?"

"I found him quite apologetic. Though I warned him you might require additional groveling."

"Oh, yes, Charles. Make me the villainess! I will speak to him tomorrow but if you are confident then all will be resolved."

"Excellent," Bingley started to turn to his guests, but felt the tug of his wife's arm.

"Charles, Louisa implied an additional complication on our hands," she whispered.

He looked towards her, one eyebrow raised.

"And what is that?"

"I will not say until I make some further observation. But I must talk to you about it."

"We will speak of it later, my dear, I promise."

"Thank you," mouthed Lizzy as she stood and turned her smile attention upon her sister, who was still standing awkwardly by the door. "Mary, you never did assure us you would play tonight."

For the second time that evening, Mary's response was interrupted by the entrance of other members of the party. Nothing yet had been said, but a small, unintelligible utterance from Mrs. Bennet's mouth had alerted the others to their presence.

Darcy and Kitty had apparently met in the hall, for they were standing in the doorway, Kitty holding onto Darcy's arm, her head leaning towards his, as if she had just finished telling him something. He was smiling broadly, looking very much at ease. Indeed, he looked so cheerfully relaxed, that Lizzy's mouth opened and Mary very nearly did not recognize him. On Kitty's end too, there was an expression of contentment that seemed somewhat out of place. She looked a decade older, a graceful and fashionable woman confident in her own being. Even Georgiana, who most realized the truth of the affection between the couple, felt very much as if she had just interrupted a very private moment.

Suddenly whatever spell that had momentarily held the couple together broke. Mr. Darcy seemed as he always was and Kitty withdrew from his side to greet her mother and sister, looking, despite her lovely gown, not a bit different from when she had left them in the spring.

As soon as possible after greetings were exchanged and conversation began, Bingley and his wife again withdrew to the side of the room.

"Did you see it?" she hissed.

Charles was not as stupid man, but his tendency was not to trust his own eyes when there were others to tell him what he might have seen. "Beth, what exactly have you and my sister noticed?"

"There may be an overabundance of imagination on Louisa's part. I did not discern it until just now. But you may guess that if Louisa has suspected it, and I am starting to be convinced, then my mother has already taken it for gospel truth. "

Charles Bingley was not so thick that he did not see the danger of his mother-in-law matchmaking, especially where Darcy was concerned.

"We'll have to distract her," he said, nearly instantaneously.

"And how do you suggest that we distract my mother from the possibility of a daughter making a match? What could possibly be more exciting than a wedding to a man with ten-thousand a year!?" She quickly breathed in, knowing exactly what might do the trick.

There was a long pause. Lizzy knew her husband had come to the same conclusion.

Finally he shrugged. "Beth. I know you did not want anyone to know as of yet."

She smiled and held her hand to her abdomen. "This babe might as well know now the sacrifices we all must make to pacify its grandmamma. Do we wait until the meal is served?"

Bingley looked across the room at where Mrs. Bennet had pinned Darcy into a corner. The Master of Pemberley was graciously smiling, but Bingley could see the white knuckles where his hand gripped the back of the chair in which his sister was sitting. The younger man could not help but laugh aloud.

"I think Darcy may survive until then."

Chapter Thirty-Three

Posted on Monday, 2 June 2008

Kitty and Darcy collapsed into the front door, rivulets of water falling from their hair and clothes. Kitty, flushed, stared a moment at the older man, blushing apologies before running upstairs, leaving the dignified footman to pick up her wet wrap and slippers, which she had thrown off with little notion of what she was doing. Darcy stood a moment, his mind racing. He had very nearly proposed marriage in the garden within hours of making amends to her brother. His carefully crafted plan of atonement and courtship had nearly been thrown away by her odd confession. But his thoughts were interrupted by the clearing of the footman's throat. Kitty's garments were soaking through his sleeve, and her wet slippers hung awkwardly from his fingers. He obviously wished to divest himself of them but could not until Darcy had surrendered his own coat. Darcy took pity on the man and gave him leave, before making his way to the other staircase. Netherfield's staff was efficient, and he knew his own valet would be waiting for him in his rooms.

Over an hour later, he met the dry Kitty in the hall. He had been listening to the conversation, waiting for the best time to enter the room. He winced at Mrs. Bennet's tactless questions and nodded appreciatively at Georgiana's well-crafted deflection of her questions about him. He had hesitated long enough that Kitty surprised him from behind. He turned.

She was utterly striking. The dress, he knew, was a product of Georgiana's generosity--- and one of their many excursions into Lambton and Hennybourgh in the past couple of months. Catherine had worn it to a dinner earlier in the month, and he had thought it looked quite pretty then. Now he knew that he had never seen her equal. Had he had the time or inclination to discern it, he would have seen that Kitty had most of Jane Bennet's beauty, with an air of Elizabeth Bingley's liveliness. Her slight lack of symmetry gave her face a consistently amused appearance that, assuming she was not glowering, often was coupled with enough uncertainty as to create a very pleasing result. Tonight, she was smiling, and had buried her lack of confidence as deep as it could go. The result was beyond merely pleasing. Had Darcy been able to realize his own thoughts, which he was incapable of doing at that moment, he would have known that, for the first time in his life, he saw himself as less the equal of a woman.

"May I escort you into the other room, Miss Bennet?" He held out his arm.

She smiled, cocking her head toward one side, and seemed to understand. Now would not be the time or place to finish their earlier conversation. He hoped she completely understood. He hoped that Georgiana's suppositions stemmed from the truth, and not from her own imagination. He hoped.

"You may Mr. Darcy." She reached out and took his arm

The footman opened the door. For one long moment, Kitty felt completely confident and at ease in the society of her family.

And then she saw her mother's expression. She felt Darcy's arm stiffen and then withdraw. She saw the agitated look on Lizzy's face. Her beautiful, perfect moment was shattered. It had all been her imagination after all.

Darcy wondered what on earth he had done to give himself away. Mrs. Bennet had been fawning over him in the parlor and was again now they had seated themselves at dinner. He admitted to himself that he was perfectly willing to bear her effusions if he had had the assurance of Kitty's affection, but her newly positive attitude towards him without such guarantee was something to be barely tolerated. He found himself, tongue-tied, and tried again to think of some other reason why Mrs. Bennet would have warmed to him in three years worth of absence. His mind felt dull but he finally came to the conclusion that she could not know about his feelings. She was merely thrilled to have new society---Kitty had said the severely limited opportunities for visiting their former social set over the previous several years had been difficult for her gregarious mother. Satisfied that her kindness had nothing to do with his eligibility as a husband for her daughter, Darcy finally allowed himself to engage the woman in conversation. He looked down at his dish.

"Mrs. Bennet, my sister tells me that you serve the finest roasted lamb in Hertfordshire. Tell me, what sheep do your farmers raise?"

Mrs. Bennet had never given very much thought to Longbourn's sheep, but she knew she set a good table.

"Mr. Darcy, it is not in the raising or slaughtering. It is in the preparation. My Nancy makes a lovely sauce."

"There, Georgiana, you see!" said Darcy kindly in his sister's direction, as if they had spent hours debating Longbourn's menus. "It is the sauce. We must have our chef try to recreate it at Pemberley!"

"Now, now Mr. Darcy. We must keep our recipes within the family!" said Mrs. Bennet, giving a long wink to a mortified Kitty.

Darcy gulped. He had been right after all. But he dared not look at Kitty to reassure her of his actual feelings -- given that he was currently trying to hide them from her mother.

"Mama," said Lizzy, in a strained tone. "While I hate to interrupt talk of Longbourn's roast lamb, there is some news that Charles and I can simply not stand to keep secret any longer."

Mrs. Bennet looked at her already married daughter with impatience. "Yes, yes Lizzy, what is it?"

Mr. Darcy turned to the former object of his affection with a sense of relief, leaving the current object of his affection to writhe with jealousy in her seat. "I think I may speak for my sister and myself when I say that we are most interested to hear it, Mrs. Bingley."

Lizzy smiled. "Charles, you tell them."

"Are you sure, Beth?" he said softly. She nodded. He sat back in his chair, grinning. Darcy had a sudden image of the Bingley of old, his excitement at meeting Jane Bennet, the exuberance in his compliments: ‘Good God, man, she's an angel!' The guilt that nagged at the back of his mind almost overwhelmed the sense of relief that Bingley was again capable of such an expression. He nearly missed the announcement.

"Old friends. My dearest sisters, Mother Bennet." Bingley paused. He stood and walked to where his wife was sitting. "Elizabeth and I..." He reached down and grabbed her hand. "In the spring-- we are to be parents."

"Lizzy, really?!" cried Kitty, throwing down her napkin, and running to embrace her sister and brother. Lizzy barely had time to brace herself before finding her sister nearly on top her.

"Kitty, for goodness sakes, sit down. A lady must learn to hide her emotions," laughed Lizzy shyly, as she looked at the faces around her. Georgiana and Mrs. Hurst were beaming. As the latter had predicted, the former did not look at all surprised. Mary smiled and looked like she wanted to say something but did not quite know how. Darcy had awkwardly clambered to his feet when Kitty jumped out of her chair, and was now shaking Bingley's hand. She noted oddly that he had barely touched his much-favored lamb.

She then looked across to her mother, who was sitting quite speechless, her fork still resting awkwardly in her hand. Finally, she recollected her infamous ability of speech.

Kitty and Darcy were forgotten. Lizzy had always been her favorite daughter, had she not?

"I am to be a grandmother! Oh, Lizzy! Mr. Bingley! I knew how it would be!"

Posted on Monday, 9 June 2008

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Mr. Darcy," she said coolly but politely. He bowed. "Mrs. Bingley."

"May I walk with you?" She saw him glance towards the direction that Kitty had been a moment before. Mrs. Hurst had been correct. The two had an obvious, though perhaps unspoken, attachment. In the two days Kitty had been in Hertfordshire, she had seemed one of the Pemberley party. That morning at breakfast she had sat next to Darcy---Lizzy had noted at least half a dozen times where the two had brushed hands in the course of eating. She was sure that of everyone in the room, it was only the couple involved who were unsure of their attachment.

Seeing that Kitty had vacated her seat and knowing that he was required at some point to have an uncomfortable conversation with her elder sister, he smiled. "Indeed ma'am, it is a most refreshing day."

There was a long pause, as the two started their walk along the long hedge that ran the length of the garden. Finally Darcy spoke.

"I did not have the moment to appropriately wish you well last night, Mrs. Bingley. I would do so now that your mother is not here to monopolize your company."

"Ahh, yes, dear Mama. That was the plan, after all." She smiled.

"Excuse me?" Darcy looked askance at the woman next to him. Did she seriously prefer her mother's ridiculous ministrations to even speaking to him? That would not bode well for future harmony with Kitty's family.

"You misunderstand me, sir. I welcome your congratulations---as your friend. If you wish to be my friend."

"I do wish to be your friend, Mrs. Bingley. No more and no less. Long ago, I should have been a friend to you and your family, and much would be different today."

"Simple politeness might have gone a long way, Mr. Darcy. But it is not worth considering now."

"I believe it is---at least in the manner of my treatment of your family. I wish to make amends, Mrs. Bingley."

"My husband believes that you have. He has forgiven you."

"I know you better than to think that Bingley speaks for you, ma'am. Will you forgive me as well?"

She paused and looked up at him. He was trying to look dignified but his expression betrayed his eagerness, indeed his need, to make peace. Now that he loved her sister, she could not deny him. If he married Kitty, he would live with the twisted irony of it for life. That would be punishment enough.

"You are forgiven, Mr. Darcy. Though it is true that I will never forget."

He sighed. "I do not expect you to forget, Mrs. Bingley. I have learned a very hard lesson, and I shall not forget either. The guilt will stay with me." He paused. "Yet, I do wish us to be friends," he said in a more cheery voice.

Now was her opening. She might as well address the issue, just in case there was a possibility of heartbreak. Better to address it now, rather than later.

"Mr. Darcy, I suspect that you wish to be more than my friend."

Darcy looked up in fright, and stepped back a full step from the woman in front of him.
"I do not pretend to understand you, ma'am."

She would not let him flee, however and took his arm as to continue their walk. She laughed, as it remained stiff to her touch. The old Darcy seemed to have returned. So it was discomfort all those years ago that caused such a stiff reaction in the man! Not one to miss inflicting cleverly conceived punishments where she could, she leaned into him and whispered softly and flirtatiously.

"In truth sir, I suspect that you wish to be something else to me entirely," she said almost seductively. "Am I wrong?"

"Yes!" he nearly shouted, gritting his teeth and stepping back against the hedge trying desperately trying to escape the woman in front of him without alerting anyone to their presence. "What are you thinking woman?!"

"I'm thinking," she said, laughing at his discomfort but knowing that she had already strung him along too long, "that you...wish... to be my... brother."

"Oh thank God!" he laughed as she stepped back, a feigned innocence in her eyes. "Mrs. Bingley I cannot tell you what I thought you were implying! You must forgive me!"

"So, is it true?" she asked, ignoring his relief. "Do you admit you feel an affection?"

He could not believe it. She had given him the opening to admit it---she was even teasing him---and in such a way! If she did not present an impediment, than no one else would. They would allow him to court Kitty. His mind was racing.

He shook his head, knowing the absurd grin that must be showing on his features.

"I love---oh it is not right to tell you of my affections here! But I will admit it, I will, I must." His words were clipped and he hardly knew what he was saying. He needed to find Catherine and tell her. She should hear his words first.

But a commotion behind the hedge interrupted his emotions and Lizzy's teasing. They looked at each other in alarm and ran down the path to the next break in the hedge.

There was Kitty running from them, as fast as her legs would carry her. She appeared to be in something close to hysterics. "Catherine!" he cried out after her in despair---to react in such a way---she did not care, she did not want him to say his affections. He turned to the sister helplessly, the sudden despair evident in his eyes.

Lizzy gave a mild exclamation under her breath. "Who knows what she thought she heard? Don't just stand there. Go after her, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy looked awkwardly between Lizzy and the direction Kitty had run but his wildly racing thoughts were interrupted by the master of the house. Mr. Bingley had heard the commotion from the other end of the garden and had rushed to join his wife.

"Darcy, what is your concern here? Elizabeth, are you all right? How is the baby?"

"Everything is fine, Charles. I just made a mess of things with my teasing. I think Kitty may have overheard some declarations of love that she thought were directed at me."

"Is this true Darcy? What is it that you have done?" Bingley questioned.

Darcy looked at him in confusion, and finally with a dawning realization of what Kitty thought she had heard. He had to go after her, yet he had to stay and explain. Finally he blurted out. "I love your sister... Catherine... and I want to marry her."

Bingley had wrapped his arm around her wife and held her possessively.

Finally, he spoke in a low tone, shushing Lizzy. "Well you best go to her then, Darcy."

Trying to maintain a shred of dignity, Darcy gave a short bow, and turned, strolling quickly to the path where Kitty had run. The couple watched the master of Pemberley increase his speed, finally running like a schoolboy until the trees hid him from sight.

Only then did Bingley look at his wife and allow an explanation for the odd events of the afternoon.

When she had finished he laughed. "That was badly done, badly done indeed, Lizzy! But I cannot be angry with you. In fact, I would have liked to have seen it myself. I only wish Kitty hadn't overheard. Darcy will have some explaining to do."

"Miss Bennet!" he called. She was sitting on a stump, along the side of the path just after it entered the wood. Her wrap was pulled close around her. The weather was growing cold.

"Sir, I would not have you call me just now," she said, turning. She had that look, that of her eldest sister, who did not show emotion. His heart was racing. Surely, she must have understood his comment.

"I was speaking of you. You sister was teasing me; she was goading me, because she knew-- knew how I felt about you." Kitty didn't look up. She pulled her shawl closer and looked past him.

Darcy was frustrated. "You are guarding yourself again. You do not show what you feel. I cannot tell what you feel."

"Excuse me, sir! I do not know what you mean." She would not meet his eyes.

"What do you feel? You must tell me if you will not show me! Please tell me that I might have your affection."

"What will you have me say? Do you think I am a fool? I will show no affection for a man who is still in love with my sister!" She glanced behind her only to realize there was no way she could stand and escape.

"I am not. I do not. I meant only you."

"I do not believe you!" she spat. "What do you want me to say anyway?"

"That you will marry me, you stupid girl." Darcy spit out the proposal in his desperation, hardly realizing its biting nature.

"Marry you?" Kitty cried in frustration. "Do you remember who I am? Three months ago you didn't even want me as your sister's friend?"

"I love you!" he shouted. "Is that not enough?" She looked at him, her eyes tearing up. "I love you," he said it much more calmly this time and grabbed her hands.

"How can you possibly love me? Lizzy might make you forget your family and fortune long enough for you to propose but what am I? A silly, spoiled brat with no talent and a scandalous past."

"Catherine!" He held her hands tighter and kneeled in the mud in front of her so that his waist touched her knees. He spoke soft and fast so that she had to lean in to hear him.

"My darling girl, you have awakened me. It is true that I once fancied your sister, but she never made me forget who I was, what I was. I didn't change for her. I could not change for her. You have made me change into a better man, and I never even knew that it was happening when it happened. I am not the man I was at the beginning of the summer. My God Catherine, you have taught me to truly laugh- to forget myself. You are the woman I've always wanted. My little beauty, my dearest, I love you with my mind and soul. Will you be the one that completes me? Will you do me the honor of being Mrs. Darcy? I lay out all before you, my body, my heart, and all my earthly possessions. They are entirely yours. I have not, and will not give them to another."

She looked up at him. She really was a lovely girl. He did not wait but leaned down and gave her a quick, chaste kiss. She squeezed his hands and he heard her giggle like a small girl.

"Catherine, why are you laughing?"

"You silly boy, you've quite ruined your clothes." He looked down to see that he was knee-deep in mud.

"Why Kitty, I must say I did not notice." He stood up and grabbed her waist, swinging her up and around. They stood in the center of the path. He held on to her and they both were laughing.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Bingley was waiting when the two returned to the house some hours later. He said nothing to Kitty who blushed a quick farewell to Darcy and ran to her sister. Rather he looked at Darcy's muddy clothes and said with a rather dry cough as they walked inside.

"Well Darcy, I hope you have a good explanation. You and Kitty have been missing these past three hours."

Darcy grinned sheepishly at his friend. "Pardon me Bingley, I hope we have not missed dinner."

"No indeed. The torches have barely been lit. Nonetheless, I must ask you to give me some explanation as to the events of the last several hours. Miss Catherine is in my care and it would hardly do to have her lost in the gardens." Bingley spoke lightly but sternly.

Darcy ignored him. "Charles, do you suppose you might take me to Longbourn tomorrow morning? I need to speak to Mr. Bennet."

"He rarely receives visitors- unless of course there is some special circumstance."

"I believe there is."

"So you have made Miss Kitty an offer?" Bingley smiled in relief.

"I have."

"And she has accepted?"

"It appears that she has."

"I must say that I am rather surprised. Until yesterday, I had no idea you had feelings for my sister."

Darcy smiled. "I would shout it from the rooftops. I certainly shouted it from your gardens today. I am sorry for the shock it seems to have caused you all."

"I am glad to hear it. I am not the jealous type, you know, but it does make me happy to see that you have found affection for one who is not currently my wife."

Darcy raised an eyebrow. "It is true that my affections once lay with one sister, but they have long since faded. What I feel for Kitty is so strong by comparison that I have nearly forgotten the first feeling. Love may cause us to make decisions that we regret, but it may also bloom in places most unexpected. You have my deepest apologies for any appearances to the contrary."

There was a long pause as they walked the hall. Bingley paused before the billiards room.

"Come Darcy, play a round of pool with me. We do not have to dress for another half hour." Darcy looked down again at his muddy clothes and across to his friend, who seemed in earnest. He nodded assent and waited while Bingley took the first shot. The balls scattered across the table.

"When Jane died," began Bingley unexpectedly. "I cursed myself for being such a fool. And I cursed you, you know. I would not leave Netherfield. I sent my sisters to London. I would not speak to them. I had to continue to visit Longbourn, though. I made Jane a promise and would keep it no matter how much I wished I had never been born."

Darcy looked at his friend, who was again concentrating on his shot.

"It was a year later that I could feel again. And there was Elizabeth, patiently waiting for something to happen. She had been such a lively girl, and so full of spirit. And there she was playing nursemaid to her father, and mother to her sisters, and could do nothing but... wait for something to happen. She needed someone to rescue her from her situation but I needed her as well. We were partners in mourning. And one day, I realized that we had healed, but only because we had each other. I never thought I could love another and certainly never thought I would love the sister of my beloved Jane. Sometimes I wonder what she might think now if she knew."

"Charles I am so sorry."

"My wife is the dearest thing in my life. If I ever suspected that you might still have feelings for her, I would have to ask you to leave my home."

"Charles, had I been truly in love with your wife I would not have left Rosings the way I did four years ago. I would have corrected her misconceptions of me, and changed as I needed to. But I had too many other thoughts that destroyed any love I might have held for her. I am ashamed to say it, but it was not your wife that changed me. My feelings were not strong enough.

"When I ran after Catherine today, there were no second thoughts. I needed her in my life. I need her in my life. I would do anything, anything to take Catherine back to Pemberley and make her my wife. I am sorry it took me so long to understand you."

Bingley set his cue down. "In that case Darcy, I will accompany you to see Mr. Bennet tomorrow. We shall be brothers after all."

"Mr. Bennet, I have brought you a visitor who is most anxious to speak with you regarding a matter of important business. It is my friend Darcy, whom I am sure you remember. Shall I show him in?"

"Yes Bingley," said the elder man slowly.

Darcy had faced down many an illustrious personage in London society. But the sight of Mr. Bennet so incapacitated left him somewhat uncomfortable. The man had become corpulent, and the odor in the room, while not particularly rank, was less than inviting. If it hadn't been for the frank expression in the eyes, he would have thought the man feeble minded as well as physically debilitated.

"Sir, it is good to see you again. It has been too long," he said after what he knew to be too long a pause.

Mr. Bennet nodded curtly and looked at him quizzically. Darcy looked at Bingley who stood, as promised, off to the side, in case Darcy could not understand Mr. Bennet's garbled speech.

"Sir, I wish to speak to you about a pressing matter." Another nod.

"Mr. Bennet, as you know, your daughter Miss Catherine has been a guest of my sister at my home in Derbyshire these last three months. She and I have become, well, more than indifferent acquaintances." Another nod. Darcy sensed disapproval. But he continued, speaking in a deliberate, confident tone.

"Sir, I am asking for permission to marry your daughter, Catherine."

Mr. Bennet started in surprise. Darcy saw his lips moving with effort and finally after cursing once he spoke a single word.

"Why?"

"Sir, I am in love with her and I believe she loves me as well," said Darcy, frankly, coloring slightly. When he received no reply, he looked at Bingley out of desperation.

"Mr. Bennet, my friend is in earnest, I assure you," said Bingley, at a loss. He had made a similar plea for Elizabeth the winter before and was granted an assent with barely a second look. But then that proposal had been expected for some months. Perhaps his father-in-law was merely surprised. Mr. Bennet simply stared at the taller of the two friends.

After a pause, Darcy felt obligated to speak again.

"I need not trifle with your good sense, sir, to tell you the details of my situation in life and why I would be a fine match for your daughter. You can surely have no objection on that note. Your hesitation must lie elsewhere. I know, sir, that my reputation is nothing in Hertfordshire. My behavior when you knew me before was unpardonable. I can only tell you that I have the deepest respect and affection for your daughter, and that I wish to present her to all of society as the best woman I have ever known, and as my wife." He looked at his friend, who smiled at Mr. Bennet. There was another long pause.

"Fool," said Mr. Bennet finally. "Silliest girl in England."

"I beg your pardon, sir, but if you think that of her, you do not know her," he snapped. Mr. Bennet looked angry and Darcy calmed himself. "Sir, I am two and thirty and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. I have managed to avoid marrying to this point, and know well my own mind on the matter. I assure you that I believe the two of us quite well matched. To this, I would give the testimony of my sister, who suggested the possibility weeks before I knew that I felt the feelings I currently hold. Sir, do you think I would allow a silly or stupid girl to be my sister's confidante and friend? I am far more protective of Georgiana than I am of myself."

"Darcy," began Bingley, but Darcy held up a hand to silence him.

"I am used to getting my own way, Mr. Bennet. There are two in this world whom I have allowed to refuse me anything. They would be my sister and your daughter. If you have questions of my intentions, I will answer them. Indeed, I will remain in this room until I am granted permission, or until your daughter comes of age."

"It will be a long two months," said Mr. Bennet after a few false tries. His face approximated a half-smile, though Darcy was not sure of the sincerity of its meaning.

"I don't know about that, sir. Many people learn to enjoy my company." The older man shook his head. He lifted his good arm and shook it as to wave Darcy out of the room.

"Marry her."

"I thank you sir, you will not regret it." He bowed slightly and moved out of the room as fast as was polite. Bingley stayed behind a moment to look at Mr. Bennet, who was less careful in his speech with his son-in-law.

"Prepare the papers, I will sign them when you wish," Bingley eventually made out.

"Sir, he makes Kitty very happy, I know," said Bingley smiling. "And she shows him great affection. I would not have allowed him in the room, if I thought his intentions towards your daughter could be questioned in any way."

"Is Lizzy here?"

"She will be visiting this afternoon with Miss Catherine. Shall I send in Miss Bennet?"

"No." Mr. Bennet closed his eyes, and Bingley left the room, closing the door behind him.

Posted on Thursday, 12 June 2008

Chapter Thirty-Six

The men entered the parlor where Kitty sat with Lizzy and Georgiana and Mrs. Hurst. There had been very little conversation that morning. Georgiana and Mrs. Hurst, still ignorant of the proceedings, were at a loss as to the emotional turmoil the sisters were experiencing. Kitty was of a disposition where happiness tended to overflow into mirth, but she was concerned about the reactions of everyone to the match and sat with no little worry until her lover returned. Lizzy, for her part, was not unhappy for her sister, but rather still shocked at the incident of the day before, and wished to have the whole business over with. How she wished she had been more reasonable with her anger in the past. She would have to make amends with the man, if they were to all be family

"Georgiana, my I have a word with you?" asked Darcy. While she stood, he flashed a wink at Kitty, who smiled with relief.

"Why are you winking at me Mr. Darcy?" she asked innocently. "What am I to do?"

"Why would my brother wink at you?" asked Georgiana, but Darcy took her arm and walked her into the hall before Kitty could respond.

Mrs. Hurst was not a suspicious woman by nature but she was not blind. "Why do I feel as if everyone in this room knows something I do not?"

Kitty smiled and looked at her brother and sister and nodded.

"It appears," said Lizzy, "that there is to be a wedding in the very near future."

"Miss Catherine?!" asked Mrs. Hurst. "And Mr. Darcy?" After her initial shock, she gave congratulations. No sooner were they expressed when a squeal of delight was heard in the hallway.

"I believe I might see what is the matter," said Kitty innocently, as she left the room to join her future husband and sister.

Mrs. Hurst shook her head smiling. "I believe I have a letter to write. Or perhaps Charles," she said in a rather evil tone. "Would you like to share the news with Caroline?"

The laughter in the room echoed in laughter in the hallway as Georgiana embraced Kitty.

"Oh, I knew how it would be!" she squealed.

The afternoon had been a tedious one, as Kitty had taken up the task of informing their mother of her engagement and Lizzy had had to convince her father of the positive nature of that same impending marriage. It had been a hard go of it. Mr. Bennet was thoroughly convinced that there could be no true feeling in the case. He had declared both his daughter and prospective son-in-law a fool more than once. Eventually Lizzy won her father on merely pecuniary grounds, a solution she knew he would have hardly felt possible for herself, but which proved to be more than adequate reasoning for Kitty. Mrs. Bennet was thrilled, of course, and Kitty bore such effusions that only the promise of living as far as Derbyshire could quell.

Kitty sat on the bed in her nightgown, her knees crossed beneath her. Sleep would not come. Two days before she had been half agonizing that Darcy might care for her. Now she was engaged woman. She was to be married, and was to be mistress of Pemberley. It was an overwhelming feeling. She was both thrilled and petrified. The pragmatic strain in her told her to think of the thrilling part of the engagement and so she did.

She was startled from her dreamy musings to see her sister in her doorway, a shawl wrapped around her dressing gown.

"Lizzy you aren't dressed! What if someone should see you?"

"I am mistress of this house. I daresay I can go where I want."

"Doesn't Mr. Bingley look for you in the evening?"

Lizzy blushed. "He may, but I thought tonight you might like to speak with me. I was so shocked yesterday that I did not think you might want to have a sisterly conversation. I remember how we spoke the evening that I accepted Mr. Bingley. You came to my room and calmed me and assured me of his love."

"Do you wish for me to speak of Mr. Darcy's love?" Kitty asked dryly.

"I admit I need your reassurance Kitty, that he will make you happy."

"In that case come in, but you must listen to me Lizzy. I will not have you go on like you tend to."

Lizzy smiled and with a running start bounded into Kitty's bed like a schoolgirl.

"Now, darling, do tell me everything. You must have left so much out of your letters!."

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Mr. Darcy," Lizzy sought him out in the library at Netherfield the following morning. She knew him to be answering his correspondence. Her own uncertainty at Darcy's feelings had proven difficult for herself despite her and Kitty's heart-to-heart the night before. "I wonder that I might have a few words with you."

"Mrs. Bingley," he said, rising, concerned at the pallor of her face. In truth, she was rather nervous. "I trust that the excitement of the past few days has not proven detrimental to your health. Your husband has told me of your condition."

"I thank you, I am well. I merely wish to apologize for my actions of two days ago."

"Any laughter at my expense, I have more deserved for my past actions, Mrs. Bingley."

"That may be true but I should not have laughed all the same."

"In truth, madam, I must thank you. It was your teasing that led to my engagement."

She looked at him and smiled lightly. "And my refusal three years ago."

"I wondered if you would ever mention it."

"Mr. Darcy, why did you declare your attentions once to me?"

"They were truer than any feelings I had known to that point. Perhaps, had you accepted me, they may have grown. Perhaps, had we met again, under better circumstances, the feelings would have remained and been what they ought. I must apologize to you, Mrs. Bingley. I should have been devastated to be rejected by a woman such as yourself. In wit and bearing and beauty, you were the simply the most accomplished woman of my acquaintance. Yet, though my pride was wounded, abominably, I was not, that is, I did not, feel enough to better myself."

"And you feel this for my sister."

"Most ardently," he said, a smile lightening his features. She looked at him questionably. He nodded. "Believe me." he said under his breath.

"I just wish her to be happy," said Lizzy. "And if you can give her that, I am inclined to think only good of you from this moment on."

"I assure you, madam, that your sister should never have a chance for unhappiness in my home," he said to her.

"I should think not!" Kitty stood in the doorway. "Lizzy, you must stop absconding with my fiancée. You already have a perfectly good husband."

"Do you have a need for me, my love?" asked Mr. Darcy, his face lighting up upon seeing her.

"Indeed. The sun is shining and I wish to go walking in the garden."

"And this is not something that may be done alone," smiled Lizzy.

"I should think not," said Darcy, echoing his wife-to-be. He looked at the elder sister. "Mrs. Bingley, may I be so bold as to state that we no longer have need for apologies?"

"You may sir." She held out her hand. He took it and kissed it.

"My sister, I bid you goodbye."

"Goodbye, brother. Enjoy the sunshine."

"I intend to. Shall we, Catherine?" He took her arm and led her from the library, leaving Lizzy standing alone in the library. She smiled and shook her head.

"Darcy, you know not what you are in for."

"Sir, may I ask you a question?"

"Fitzwilliam," he said patting her hand.

"Fitzwilliam, may I ask my question?" she asked impatiently.

"My love, you need not ask if you may ask"

"How very clever you are sir."

"I pride myself on it," he smiled.

"Indeed."

"But you had a question, Catherine."

"I did."

"Will you ask it?"

She blinked. "I am not sure that I wish to know the answer."

"I assure you that you will."

"If my sister was not Mrs. Bingley, would you have wished to marry me?"

"Certainly."

"But why?"

"My darling girl. You need me." He said it very seriously, and she understood. Her last ounce of uncertainty vanished forever.

"And you need me."

"Thus we are suited," he smiled.

"That I would agree with such a statement does not surprise me."

"You doubt me."

"Entirely," she giggled. She could laugh now, because it was no longer true.

"This is not a pleasant beginning to our blissful life."

"What were you discussing with my sister in the library?"

"Ahh. The library. Well, it turns out that she is worried about you. She would not wish you to have a husband in love with her any more than you would."

"And what did you say to her?"

"I told her that I was." Here he pulled her hand up to his lips. "Most ardently in love with you."

"You did?"

"I actually told her that you cured me."

"Cured you? Of what ill?"

"My pride, arrogance, conceit... you know the usual," he said soberly.

"I never saw any ill in you."

"You thought me proud."

"Only as a descriptive. You were the tall, proud one. But since I have known you I have liked you."

"But you were afraid of me."

"The truth of it is that I never thought of you at all. Must you hold our former acquaintance against me?"

"As long as you do not hold it against me."

"As long as you love me more than my sister."

"I should hope so. She is but a sister-to-be, and you, my dearest, will be my wife."

"Your wife. Mrs. Darcy. How droll that sounds."

"Indeed it does."

"You find it humorous that I should be your wife?"

"Not at all. I find it humorous that you should be Mrs. Darcy. It makes you sounds like such an old woman. And you, dearest Catherine, are a mere speck of a girl."

"You insult me."

"I do no such thing. Fitzwilliam Darcy's girl-bride. Yes, I like that indeed."

"You vex me."

"'Tis true. I have no compassion for your nerves."

"I should think that you might have compassion for all parts of me."

"Catherine, shall I be serious?"

"Yes, indeed."

"Catherine. I have compassion for every last part of you. I adore every last part of you. From the tips of those curls that hang across your eyes when you will not look at me, to those tiny little feet. And I shall brook no opposition on this score."

She smiled and nodded her surrender. He grabbed her hand and did not let it go for the remainder of the walk.

"They will be happy," said Bingley, as they watched Darcy and Kitty at the other end of the garden the garden, occasionally shyly glancing at each other and smiling.

"As happy as we are?" asked his wife. She tenderly touched the side of his face, where his single dimple lay.

"I should hardly think that would be possible," he replied. "Shall we return to the house?" He offered her his arm.

"Yes indeed." She smiled and leaned into his side, resting her head on his
shoulder, her free hand set against her growing child.

Georgiana Darcy and Louisa Hurst stood together in the window above the garden, watching the two couples.

"Are you satisfied, Miss Darcy? Should you like to have Miss Kitty as a sister?"

"I am delighted, Mrs. Hurst. My brother deserves happiness."

"So you have forgiven him for not being the paradigm of virtue you believed him to be?"

"Yes, I think I have."

Mrs. Hurst smiled.

"Thank you for speaking to me at the shop that day."

"Come now, Mrs. Hurst, none of that. We are to be sisters after all."

Louisa paused, as if solving a complicated riddle. "Well, I shall be your brother's wife's sister' s husband's sister. Does that make me your sister?"

Georgiana smiled. "Welcome to our family, Louisa."

The Wicked, Wicked Epilogue

He was used to waking up with a splitting headache, and only groaned slightly as he opened his eyes.

"There's a flask next to you, if you need it." It was a girl's voice. She sounded familiar. Ah yes, her.

"Are you still here?" he asked annoyed. He could see her now, in the chair by the grate, reading a newspaper. A half-finished plate was next to her.

She laughed. "These are my rooms, remember? It's you who came crawling back to me. If you want breakfast you can finish mine. Dolly's an awful cook."

He groaned, pulling himself up and feeling for the familiar metal, his hands shaking. It took a few swigs to feel right. He glanced over. She was talking to herself, muttering about weddings.

"Ahh Maisley's got his Lady. That should be worth 50 quid, I should think."

"What are you playing at?" he asked savagely.

"Just my bread and butter, love. A little scheme Bella and I cooked up. Can't be waiting around for you to support me, can I?"

He didn't answer her, trying to piece together the pieces of the previous night. Who was Bella? His thoughts were interrupted by a peal of high-pitched laughter. He winced and swore. "What is it, you daft girl?"

"Turns out you were the idiot, love. You should have married me after all. We'd have a right windfall now." She laughed again. "There's an interesting tidbit of news under the engagements. You'll be most amused, I'm sure." She stood and threw the paper at him. "I'm going out," she said grabbing her wrap and hat. "Don't bother to look around too much. There's nothing worth stealing. See you tonight, unless you've somewhere else to go." She leaned over and kissed him fondly on the top of the head. "You'll always be my favorite, George, love." And in a sweeping motion she was gone.

He sat fully upright now and caught a hold of the pages that had been flung in his direction. What had she been saying about a windfall? Lydia had never made much sense.

Finis