Beginning, Previous Section, Section VIII

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"There it is!" Tom yelled, pointing at the carriage which had stopped for a moment in order for the driver to speak to a passerby before continuing on its' way.

"Damn," Darcy muttered under his breath. Though they had tried their hardest, they had been unable to intercept the carriage before it arrived in Ramsgate. A rabbit had scared Sweet Success and had it not been for Darcy's excellent reflexes, it was likely he would have been thrown from the horse.

Instead, they had lost valuable time before Darcy could get the spooked horse calmed down enough to continue.

"We must follow," Elizabeth said.

"At a distance, though. If Wickham discovers we are here, he shall bolt at the first opportunity and take Georgiana with him."

The driver stopped the carriage in front of the little church. George was barely able to wait for the carriage wheels to stop rolling before he opened the door and leaped out. His legs protested the action, having been cramped in the carriage for some time, but after a few moments the stiffness went away and he offered his hand to Georgiana. She took it and stepped out of the carriage.

"I can hardly believe this is happening," she murmured. "It is like a dream, George."

"The dream is about to become a reality...for both of us," he said. "The reverend is waiting for us, my dear. When next you step out of this church, you shall be Mrs. Wickham."

Georgiana felt a shiver run down her spine at his words.

"Driver, we shall need you to be a witness to the whole thing, so see to the horses and we shall meet you inside."

The driver beamed--it was not every day that a Society gent asked someone like him to be a member of his wedding party. "Thank you, sir," he said. He watched as the young couple walked into the chapel and then looked around to see where he could leave the carriage.

He thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned in time to see the butt of a gun slamming into his face before everything went black.

"I shall stay here with the horses," Elizabeth said. "The two of you go inside and stop this insanity."

Darcy quickly loaded the pistols and handed one to Elizabeth. "I do not think it shall be necessary to use this on him, but if he attempts anything..."

"I can defend myself," she replied. "Thank you."

Darcy took the other one and walked toward the chapel.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Wickham. Is this the young lady of whom you spoke?" The reverend was a jolly man of nearly fifty, rotund but friendly. He was somewhat naive, which made him ideal for Wickham's purposes.

"It is indeed. Georgiana, meet the Reverend Mr. Laurence. Mr. Laurence, Miss Georgiana Darcy."

"Hello," Georgiana said.

"And I see that the witnesses have arrived."

"Yes, he should have--witnesses?" George frowned at the plural use of the word.

"I regret to inform you that I would volunteer my services, but the last thing I wish to do is witness my sister making the biggest mistake of her life."

George and Georgiana turned to see Darcy standing there. Tom stood right behind his master, glaring at George.

"You rapacious villain," Tom said coldly.

George turned pale. "So the little brat could not keep her secret," he said when he was able to speak again. "I had rather hoped she had done the melodramatic thing and drowned herself in the pond. I see that as usual, she disappointed me."

"I shall kill you for that--"

"Tom!" Darcy put an arm out to stop his coachman from continuing. "Unfortunately for you, George, Lydia's idea of melodrama extended only to running into the middle of the party to beg me to stop you from marrying someone else."

"What does Lydia have to do with this?" Georgiana asked.

Darcy took a moment to ascertain his sister's well-being before answering. Forgive me, Georgiana, but I must be cruel to you today in order to save you. "Why do you not ask him? He can tell you everything."

"George?" Georgiana had taken her hand out of his and took a step back. "What has happened to Lydia?"

"As far as I can tell, nothing."

"That is not true and you know it!" Tom yelled.

"Sir, this is a house of God. I ask you to show some respect--"

"The person disrespecting this house is that insolent cad." Tom pointed at George.

"George?" she repeated. "What has happened?"

"Yes, George. Why do you not tell my sister what you and Lydia Bennet have been up to--at Mr. Witherspoon's cottage."

George did not answer.

"I see you are leaving it to me, just as you always did," Darcy said. "Lydia Bennet is with child. George's child."

"No!" Georgiana exclaimed. "George loves me. We are here to be married! I know why you are doing this, Fitzwilliam. You have been jealous of George for years, because Papa preferred him to you. Papa wanted me to marry George, and you--"

"Is that how he convinced you to do something so foolish as to throw all common decency, caution, and good sense away and run away with him?"

"I love him. I intend to marry him."

"There, you see, Darcy? She loves me." George was positively gloating. "Though I must say I am flattered that you have come all this way to witness our wedding. Perhaps you are a more devoted brother than I thought."

"Lydia has admitted that she and George--"

"I do not believe you," Georgiana said.

"Regardless of whether or not you believe me, you are not marrying George Wickham," Darcy told her. "The reverend cannot perform the ceremony without my permission, and I assure you that I shall never give it."

"He is right," Mr. Laurence told her quietly.

"It matters not that I love George, that I can be happy with George? Does that not matter to you, Fitzwilliam?" She turned to the rector. "I want to marry him. That should be the only thing that matters."

"Are you of legal age, Miss Darcy?" he asked.

Georgiana hesitated before answering. "No."

"Then I am sorry, but I cannot perform the ceremony. You cannot marry without your brother's consent. Unless he gives it..."

"I hate you!" Georgiana screamed. "I hate you!" She ran over to Darcy and started hitting him. Tom walked out from behind Darcy and grabbed her arms, pulling her away from her brother.

"Georgiana, calm yourself," George said. "Your brother shall give his consent to our marrying. He has no choice."

"You refer, I assume, to the fact that you and my sister spent the evening traveling alone in a carriage?"

"I see we understand each other."

Georgiana stopped struggling.

"Who would believe you, should you choose to make such a statement? There are at least two hundred guests who can verify that my sister was present at the ball."

"I doubt any of them saw her."

"Somehow, I think they did. You see, I have a cousin--perhaps you remember her? Lady Catherine's daughter, Anne de Bourgh. She resembles Georgiana when she is healthy, and we were fortunate to have her in good health. As Georgiana spends most of her evenings attracting as little notice as possible--"

Mr. Laurence snorted at this, somehow doubting that the virago who had just attacked her brother was a wallflower in any sense of the word.

Darcy frowned at the interruption but continued. "I do not think anyone would have noticed that she was not there. Therefore, anything you say can be dismissed as nonsense."

"Then I shall tell them--"

"Another word, Georgiana Darcy, and you shall be telling your story to a convent."

George looked at Darcy and knew he had lost. Darcy had effectively managed to stop him from using the only card he had to play.

"Now that we have dealt with the matter of my sister, it is now time to talk about Lydia Bennet," Darcy said calmly.

"You might be able to prevent my marrying Georgiana, but hell will freeze over before I marry that little--"

"I would be careful of what you say, sir, as the girl's father is present."

"She is nobody, Darcy. If it were you who had been with her, no one in this world would expect you to marry her. Why do you think I should? What makes you think that her brat is mine?"

"It is a wonder that my father ever thought you a respectable man, Wickham, and it is clear that you do not know me at all. You shall marry her because you made promises to that effect, and a gentleman always keeps his promises."

Georgiana looked at the floor as the truth of George's words hit her. What makes you think that her brat is mine?

So Fitzwilliam had been telling the truth. George had been with Lydia...in such a way as to...

"No..." she whispered. "No."

Fitzwilliam noticed his sister's dismay. "I am sorry, Georgiana. It is the truth. George and Lydia...must marry."

"You make it sound as though she were some lady whose reputation was in need to saving! She is just a housemaid! A servant! Nothing!"

"She is my daughter, sir, and if you continue to refer to her in such a manner, you shall live to regret it." Tom decided that Georgiana was calm enough that he could let her go.

"Regardless of what edicts you issue, Darcy, you cannot make me marry the girl. I may not be able to marry your sister, thanks to you, but nothing on this earth could tempt me to marry that empty-brained ninny. And as for this incident...well, it should be very interesting to hear how you attempt to cover it up. There is Mr. Laurence and my driver, who has been with us all evening. There are any number of people who saw us on our journey here, not to mention one of your guests of honour."

"I beg your pardon?" Darcy asked.

"The venerable Earl of Denby himself saw us leave. While you might be able to convince him not to talk, the others...I am fairly certain I could find one person whose memory is better than average." George smiled. "Cheer up, Georgiana. It looks as though we might be able to get married after all."

There was a sudden click behind him. George stiffened and turned around to find himself facing a pistol. He knew he was defeated.

"I do not think that would suit the lady at all," Elizabeth said. "Indeed, I think the right thing for you to do would be to accept defeat gracefully. Of course, this still leaves the little matter of my sister and her unfortunate condition. You see, I am fairly certain that Mr. Darcy would be more than happy to offer some sort of compensation to a man who honours his promises and lives up to his responsibilities."

"Compensation?" George perked up at the mention of that.

"Yes. It may not be what you wanted--Miss Darcy's thirty thousand pounds--but if you are wise, you should manage well on it."

"You, Miss Bennet, are not Darcy. I would hear this offer from him, if you please."

"Ten thousand pounds," Darcy said. "The day you marry Lydia Bennet, I shall arrange for you to receive the money. But you must marry Lydia first, or else you shall get nothing."

"That sounds reasonable," George replied. "Now, what shall I receive for keeping quiet about this little faux pas of your sister's?"

"The ten thousand pounds is all you shall receive, and you shall never say a word about what you attempted," Darcy snapped. "As I have told you, no one would believe you anyway."

"And as I believe I demonstrated, far too many people could be made to remember if I so choose. I think keeping them quiet should be worth something more than ten thousand pounds." When Darcy did not answer, Wickham continued. "Come, man. Your sister's reputation is worth more than that...do you not think?"

"Ten thousand is all you are getting. I shall take my chances."

"Then forget the whole thing and prepare for a bloody mess when I tell the world that your sister is hardly the innocent she appears to be."

Darcy looked at his sister with stricken eyes. Georgiana shook her head no, and Darcy knew without a doubt that she was telling the truth. She had done nothing as foolish as Lydia had done.

"I would suggest you take Mr. Darcy up on his offer, as you are currently in no position to refuse," Elizabeth said, keeping the pistol aimed at George.

"You cannot hold that weapon on me forever."

"Then you had best agree before it accidentally goes off. You would not want that, would you?" Elizabeth glared at him. "Rest assured, Mr. Wickham, that before I lower this weapon you shall have agreed to all the terms, or else you shall soon find yourself in need of the services of a surgeon...and our good reverend here."

Georgiana had spent most of what was to have been her wedding day sobbing in her brother's arms. After George had agreed to marry Lydia Bennet for the ten thousand pounds Darcy offered, Tom had given him two sound punches and knocked him unconscious. While unconscious, he had been bound and gagged and brought to this inn, where they would now await the arrival of Lydia Bennet.

"I am so sorry, Fitzwilliam," she said the following morning. "I truly thought he loved me."

"I understand, Georgiana."

"And...and what I said about hating you yesterday...I did not mean any of it."

"I know." Darcy put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently. "Georgiana, we all do foolish things because we love someone."

"But...he never truly loved me. All he wanted was my dowry."

"Unfortunately, yes. But you have learned from this experience and shall be wiser in the future. When you make your debut in society, you shall know what to watch out for and shall choose someone who loves you...for yourself."

Georgiana looked at her brother closely. "We have not talked for some time, brother. This has been my fault."

"Not entirely yours."

"Fitzwilliam, in the future...would you promise me that we shall always be honest with each other? That we shall keep nothing from each other?"

Darcy knew he could not make any promise of the sort, because there were always things that young women did not need to know about, but he knew Georgiana needed to hear otherwise. "Of course." He sighed. "I promise to be a better brother to you."

"You are the very best of brothers. It is I who should have been a better sister."

"No, no. I am to blame for this, for not taking better care of you. I allowed a man like Wickham to get close to you."

"I allowed him to get close to me," Georgiana corrected. "But before this whole incident, you seemed distracted by something. What was it?"

"Oh...nothing."

"Fitzwilliam, you just promised me that you would keep nothing from me and here you are withholding..."

Darcy laughed. "Done in by my own sister, it seems." But before he could continue, there was a knock at the door. "Come," he said.

Elizabeth opened the door and walked in. "Good afternoon, Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy. I...came to tell you, Mr. Darcy, that we received an express from Lord Robin last night. It seems that for some reason, he is on his way here with Mamma and Lydia. He asked that we remain here at Ramsgate until they arrive...apparently, they left before our express could reach them."

"Excellent. I have sent an express to my man of affairs, and as soon as he brings the bank draft, Lydia can marry..." Darcy looked at his sister, whose chin was trembling slightly. "Georgiana--"

"It is all right," she said. "But...if you please...could I have a minute alone?"

"Of course," Darcy said. Georgiana left the room...and left the two of them alone.

"I should have waited until you were alone," Elizabeth said.

"It is all right. She shall recover with time, I believe."

"I hope that happens." Elizabeth smiled.

Did I ever think this woman to be an ordinary person? A servant? Beneath my notice? Did I ever think she would never be anything special?

"Miss Bennet...I wish to thank you for everything you did yesterday," he said.

"You are quite welcome."

"You saved Georgiana's reputation, you know."

"I barely managed to save my own. You have no idea how tempted I was to shoot him anyway."

"Yes, I do have an idea." He smiled. "You have no idea how magnificent you were yesterday. Truly amazing."

"Oh, Mr. Darcy--"

"No, I am serious. You were spectacular. There are not many women who would come charging into a church with weapon drawn and make such a statement as you did to Wickham."

"There are not many ladies who would do that," she said. "Servants' daughters are another matter."

"Elizabeth, I have long stopped seeing you as simply the daughter of my coachman and cook."

Elizabeth's heart leaped when he said that. "You have?" she murmured.

Darcy looked into her eyes, wondering if he had the courage to say what he so desperately wanted to say. He took a hesitant step toward her.

She took one toward him.

At last, all restraint faded away and he took her in his arms. "God, how I love you!" he declared before kissing her.

It took a rather abrupt knock at the door to break them apart. Darcy felt rage at whomever was behind that door, interrupting the most important moment of his life, but managed to subdue it and open the door himself.

Lord Robin stood there, looking for all the world as though he had lost all reason to live. Darcy feared that he might have heard his declaration but Robin said nothing.

"Robin!" Elizabeth gasped. "W-we did not expect you so soon. Indeed, your express informing us that you would be here soon--"

"Elizabeth...oh, God, Elizabeth." Robin walked over to her and put his arms around her, clinging to her for dear life.

"Robin...good Lord, what is the matter?"

Robin did not answer. Darcy could see that the man was crying, and his guilt increased tenfold. Obviously he had heard him say he loved Elizabeth.

"Robin?"

He looked at her with deadened eyes. Elizabeth feared he might be intoxicated but she smelled no liquor on his breath. "What is wrong?" she asked again.

Tears rolled down Robin's cheeks as he said, "My mother is dead."

Confession is Good for the Soul

None would have thought it possible that the party returning to Pemberley would be in a far worse state of affairs than the one which had left it days earlier, but the death of Lady Grace Hamilton had brought grief to all but one person among them, and he was mourning the loss of his freedom, an event which had occurred three days earlier by his marriage to Lydia Bennet.

Lord Robin had virtually shut himself off from everyone, including Elizabeth. Elizabeth wished she could say something to help comfort his pain, but every time she tried, he asked very kindly if she would leave him alone. Elizabeth respected his wishes.

Elizabeth tried to act as though things were normal between Darcy and herself, as though his declaration in Ramsgate had never taken place. She feared that if she betrayed even a fraction of her true feelings, Robin would find out and his heart, already crushed, would push him over the edge.

Therefore, Elizabeth did not speak to Darcy until two days after they had returned to Pemberley, the day before she and Robin--along with Elizabeth's father, to act as chaperon--were due to leave for Denby Park.

Darcy's note had asked her to meet him in the formal ballroom, and it was there that she waited for him impatiently. She paced the long ballroom, recalling that it had been mere days ago that she had been celebrating her engagement, that she had danced with Darcy...

...that Lady Grace Hamilton had been alive.

The pain of the remembrance brought tears to Elizabeth's eyes, and forced her to yet again rethink what she knew in her heart was the right thing to do. To be sure, she would have to wait a few months, because to tell Robin right at this moment that she could not marry him because she loved another man would be absolutely disgraceful.

Lady Grace had taught her better.

Though apparently not better enough, otherwise you would not have been so foolish as to fall in love with Mr. Darcy in the first place.

Yet Elizabeth supposed that she could not have helped that.

"Miss Bennet?"

Elizabeth turned to see Mr. Darcy standing at the entrance to the ballroom. She smiled at him. "Mr. Darcy," she replied softly.

"How is Lord Robin?" he asked.

"He is...as well as could be expected, which is to say, not well at all." Elizabeth sighed. "He has asked me to come with him to Somerset to attend his mother's funeral. He shall need all the support I may give. If I may trespass on your generosity, I would like to request that my father be released from his duties in your stables for the next week or so in order to be my chaperone."

"Yes, of course."

"I wish I could avoid the inconvenience, but without..." Elizabeth swallowed past the lump in her throat. "...without Lady Grace, it would be most improper to go alone."

"Indeed."

Elizabeth smiled at him. "Mr. Darcy...about what you said the day we found George Wickham and your sister--"

"Yes, I have been meaning to talk to you about that."

Something in the way he said that made Elizabeth wonder if he intended to take it back.

Do not be a simpleton, of course he is going to take it back. He could not possibly love you. He was merely grateful that you saved his sister from ruin.

"I wanted to tell you that I meant it. Every word."

Elizabeth went from despair to sudden joy, and hardly knew what to say. That he liked and esteemed her she had been certain, but that he loved her was beyond her wildest imaginings.

"Oh, Mr. Darcy!" she exclaimed, rushing across the ballroom floor and throwing her arms around him. He stiffened in her arms before slowly putting his arms around her.

Elizabeth wanted to shout her exaltation, to proclaim before the entire world that she loved his man and he loved her. But first...

"You have no idea of the agonies I have been suffering, knowing myself to be in love with you and not being able to do anything about it," she said.

"You love me?" Mr. Darcy stepped back to look at her with eyes so full of hope that should could not help laughing with joy.

"Yes, you wonderful, brave, brilliant man. How I ever thought you a complete reprobate--"

"How could you not have thought me so? I was so cruel to you when we were children, and then I inadvertently separated your sister and Bingley--though to be perfectly honest, Eliza, all I did was venture an opinion and I can hardly see the wrong in that. You do it all the time."

"Perhaps my anger came from the fact that your opinion caused the unhappiness of someone I hold dear. Would you not be upset if someone ventured an opinion which would make me look unfavourably at you?"

Again, Mr. Darcy seemed to stiffen, but he said nothing.

"You realize, of course, that I cannot tell Robin the truth at this moment. To receive news such as this at such a time...I simply cannot do it. It shall be some time before I can break off my engagement."

When Mr. Darcy did not say anything, she wondered if she had said something wrong.

Perhaps he loves you, Eliza Bennet, but he never said anything about marrying you.

"Before I allow you to do something as drastic as that," he began slowly, "I must tell you something which might influence your decision."

Elizabeth suddenly felt dizzy. Oh dear God, he does not want to marry me. He might want to make me his mistress but he does not want to marry me.

"I would give my soul to marry you," he said. "Should you decide that you still wish to marry me after I tell you what I feel honour-bound to tell you, I shall consider myself the happiest of men."

"What is it?"

Mr. Darcy sighed heavily. "I did something...a few weeks back."

"So did I. If I recall correctly, I punched you in the jaw, after which you rectified the situation between Jane and Bingley. As for the business with Wickham...well, I can hardly blame you for anything you might have done there, as Wickham turned out to be ten times worse than even I could have imagined."

"No...it has nothing to do with Wickham or your sister. It has to do with you...and my cousin."

"Ah, yes. I had a feeling that what Miss Tysen told me was not the truth. You fought over me when Richard was injured, did you not?"

"Yes, we were fighting over you--"

"I should be flattered, except I know you were not defending me."

Darcy looked at anything but her smiling features. "You are correct--I was not. But Richard...did not injure his leg."

A puzzled expression appeared on Elizabeth's face. "Yes, he did. Do you not recall? You sent for your own physician to treat him, after all."

"Yes, I sent for my physician--only after bribing and practically blackmailing him into coming. You see, there was nothing wrong with Richard's leg at all. When I hit him, he hit his head on the floor and was unconscious. I took advantage of this to have Dr. McClain wrap his leg tightly and claim he had injured it when it was perfectly fine."

When Elizabeth still looked puzzled, Darcy knew he had to tell her the rest of it. "Eliza...I knew that Richard was falling in love with you, so I arranged for him to be incapacitated. I lied to both of you. And then I...I wrote to Lord Robin."

Elizabeth felt the blood leaving her face when he said that. She recalled that Robin had received a letter which had brought about the visit from Somerset, which insinuated that she and Richard were having a romance. She had thought, as had Robin, that Caroline Bingley had been the author of such poison.

And all along, it had been Mr. Darcy. All the while he had been acting with such courtesy to her, and she had been falling in love with him, he had been lying to her.

"Y-you...it was you? You wrote the letter which brought Robin and Lady Grace here? You...you..."

"I am sorry, Elizabeth."

"Why?"

"Because..." How he wished he could lie and say because he had been mad for her even then. But he wanted no further deception between them. "Because I wanted him to marry Sabrina. I knew she was the right person for him, or at least, I thought she was, and I could see that your appearance was causing him to forget everything. His jilting Sabrina for you would have been a terrible mistake for him and for you."

"You decided this would be a mistake," she said dully.

"Yes."

"Once again, the great, imperious Mr. Darcy has an opinion that he feels is right and the rest of us must abide by it."

"It was not like that."

"That is how it appears to be."

"Elizabeth, please--"

"Why did you let Richard loose? Why did you let him get anywhere near me before Robin could arrive?"

"Because I realized the terrible wrong I had done you both, and tried to put it right. Just as I did for your sister and Bingley."

"Yet you loved me."

"I did not think you could ever love me! I was fairly certain you did not love Robin and I did not know whether or not you loved Richard, but I knew how he felt about you. I decided to give him a chance to court you."

"Right there is what I hate about you! You decide things. You decided I was not the right person to marry Richard, then you decided I might be. You took it upon yourself to write a letter to my fiancé which prompted him to come here, and quite possibly killed his mother! Robin said his mother had been unwell of late but that she had been excited about the wedding. If she had stayed in Somerset where she belonged, Lady Grace might still be alive!"

Darcy put a hand to his head, feeling dizzy. He had not known about that. A lump rose in his throat, remembering the loss of his own mother, so long ago. "I...I...words cannot..."

"For once, you are correct. Words cannot possibly make up for the damage you have caused here." Elizabeth's eyes welled with tears as she thought of how she had hoped this meeting would end differently. "I suppose, on such an occasion as this, I should thank you for your honesty. There are far too many men in the world who would have let the lies stand, and would not have been frank about their foolish misdeeds."

That did not sound like a compliment to Darcy.

"Now, pray excuse me. Given this...new information, I must decide what I intend my future to be."

"Elizabeth, you still love me. I know you do. You cannot stop loving someone in the space of ten minutes."

"No, that is true." A single tear trickled down her cheek. "I do love you, God help me. But that does not mean that I can live with you, and if I cannot live with you...then I must find my own way."

Elizabeth walked out of the room with studied composure. The moment the doors had shut, she ran as swiftly as she could in her skirts. She had just reached the main hall when she heard someone shout. She did not look back, thinking it was Darcy, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her progress and she turned to see that it was Richard.

"Elizabeth, what is wrong?" he asked.

"Oh, Richard!" she sobbed, throwing herself into his arms.

Richard felt a moment's panic--what if Sabrina saw them in such a compromising position? But he knew that Sabrina would understand.

The important thing was to get Elizabeth calmed down.

"Come, we shall talk in the library," he said.

"No!" Elizabeth did not want to talk anywhere in the house where Mr. Darcy might be able to listen. "I have something I must tell you, and I do not want anyone else to hear."

"Elizabeth..." Richard groaned. He had thought she was in love with his cousin, but if she had something to tell him...

Good Lord, how am I ever to get out of this mess without hurting her too badly?

"I think you shall be very interested in learning how you came about your injury," Elizabeth said with anger in her voice.

"My injury? But I know how that happened," Richard said.

"You do not know the half of it," she replied. "Come. I shall tell you all."

"Darcy! Darcy, you rotten bastard, where are you!" Richard yelled upon his return from his walk with Elizabeth.

Darcy had retreated to his library, thinking dully about his own stupidity. If only he had not written that letter...

Richard walked into the room. Darcy stood and said, "What is it now, Richard?"

A second later, his cousin's fist knocked him back into his chair. Darcy's head felt light and he did not dare get up.

"I think that makes us even now," Richard said, "though I still think I should bind your leg up and keep you in bed for several weeks to make it complete."

Darcy sighed. "I take it you have spoken to Elizabeth."

"I have indeed. Darcy, how could you do such a thing to her?"

"I did it to you, actually."

"No...I meant, toy with her emotions. You deliberately tried to change her feelings."

"Only for you. I never meant to fall in love with her, or have her fall in love with me."

"That does not sound much better, cousin."

"I know it does not...but for God's sake, Richard, what should I say?"

"You were always far too noble for your own good, Fitzwilliam. You should not have said anything about your plot." Richard took a seat in the chair across from Darcy's desk.

"No, no. I had to tell her. Lord Robin knew about the whole thing. I could not risk her hearing about it from him. Lord only knows what sort of things he would add."

"I do not think he would have said anything. He seems a decent sort. I presume that prior to this, Elizabeth had intended to break her engagement to him."

"Yes." Darcy looked at his cousin with hopeful eyes. "Does she still intend to do so?"

Richard sighed and shook his head. "I think she shall marry him after all."

Darcy looked rather suspiciously at Richard. "You do not seem as upset by this news as I thought you would be."

Richard smiled. "Which brings us to why I am not going to have you forced to stay bedridden for the next several weeks, for when you did that it brought me closer to the woman I love."

"What on earth--not Sabrina?"

Richard's smile instantly faded. "What is wrong with Sabrina? After all, you did rig this whole thing so we would marry, did you not?"

"But I thought you were still in love with Elizabeth."

"I do not know that I was ever really in love with Elizabeth. I must admit that I was infatuated with her, as she was with me for several years. I did not know what love was until I realized I loved Sabrina."

Darcy had to smile. "Well, at least something went right with my ill-fated scheme."

"So it did. As for the rest of it...Darcy, what are you going to do?"

"I do not know. But I cannot let her go, Richard. I love her too much."

"In this case, cousin, I fear you might not have a choice. Your confession may have done just enough damage that cannot be repaired."

"I refuse to believe that. I cannot accept it. I love her, and I know she loves me. And I intend to do everything I can to prove it to her...as soon as I can. All she needs right now is time. She shall be going to Somerset to attend Lady Grace's funeral. When she returns to Pemberley, I shall begin doing what I can to make her forgive me."

"I hope you are successful."

"You do not sound confident that I shall be."

"You will forgive me, but I know Elizabeth. Her temper is as implacable as your own. It shall not be easy."

"Nothing worth having is."

Richard thought of what his aunt would say if she knew about Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth. He thought of everything Darcy would have to face if he committed to this decision. "Do you feel she is worth it?" he asked.

Darcy did not answer the question, but he did not need to. The emotions in his eyes did it for him.

"Then go to it," Richard said, standing up and heading for the door. "Good luck to you, Fitzwilliam. I think you shall need it."

An Independent Lady

The ton had turned out in full force, many of them liking or at the very least respecting the great lady. The people who were fortunate to have loved her stood closest to the closed coffin, tears unabashedly running down their faces.

When it was all over, an attorney from the firm of Phillips and Kensington informed Lord Robin and Miss Bennet that the reading of Lady Grace's will would be the following morning, if it would be convenient for them both. Elizabeth, somewhat surprised that she should be included in this news, said it would be fine.

Although Elizabeth was still confused the following morning when they gathered, Robin knew what was coming. He had known since the day his mother had met Elizabeth, since the day she had known her death was undoubtedly imminent, that she would provide for the young woman she had taken under her wing.

"Ahem," Mr. Kensington cleared his throat. "Aside from some bequests to longtime servants, this is the main part of the will, which should be of interest to you both. 'To my son, Lord Robert Charles Hamilton, fifth Earl of Denby, I leave the sum of fifty thousand pounds to be his upon the event of his marriage as a wedding gift to him. Although I currently plan for his forthcoming nuptials, I have a sad feeling I may not live long enough to see them.'"

Robin's eyes again brimmed over with tears. Elizabeth took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"'To Miss Elizabeth Bennet I leave a sum of fifty thousand pounds to do with as she sees fit.'"

Elizabeth could make no sound. She put a hand to her mouth to hide her shocked expression.

"'Elizabeth, you have been what I so wished my daughter to be. You have made me just as proud as I always believed my Elizabeth would have if she had lived. You have given me what might be a stolen season, a brief time before my death when I could believe that my daughter's spirit was alive. For that I shall be eternally grateful. The money is yours whether you marry my son or not. Enjoy it for all you are worth.'"

"Dear God," Elizabeth whispered against her palm. So Lady Grace had known that Elizabeth's feelings for Robin had changed. She had fooled no one.

Except yourself. You managed to fool yourself into thinking Darcy had changed, when any bloody fool on the estate could tell you he had not.

"'The remainder of my estate shall go into a trust for the younger children my son might have, with Lord Robin being the trustee. The eldest child shall have his father's inheritance, and shall not need my money, but I would see my younger grandchildren dowered well, so their fate may be of their own choosing.'"

"That sounds just like Mamma," Robin said with a wistful smile.

"That is the end of Lady Grace's will. I shall leave the two of you now. I suspect you might have a good deal to talk about."

"Thank you," Robin said, rising from his seat and leading the man out. "We shall make arrangements for Elizabeth to receive her money shortly."

"Very good, Lord Denby."

When Elizabeth and Robin were alone, she said, "I do not want the money. I did nothing to deserve it."

"You did. I have spoken to Dr. Reese, my mother's personal physician. She had known for some time that her heart was faltering, but despite his advice, she threw herself into your Season."

"Please do not say that!" Elizabeth cried, and for the first time she realized what a terrible thing she had done in telling Mr. Darcy that he was the cause of Lady Grace's death.

"Do not misunderstand me, Elizabeth. I do not blame you for Mamma's...you knew her. You know that she had a will of iron. She wanted to launch you into Society and she did. She cared a great deal for you. If I had known about her condition, I still would not have felt it my place to tell her she could not do what she wanted."

"But you realize that she left me that money because she thought..." Elizabeth bit down hard on her lower lip.

Robin gave her a bittersweet smile. He had seen this coming, and he knew what she wanted to say. Oddly enough, it did not bother him as much as it might have. Losing his mother had been enough of a blow that the pinprick of losing Elizabeth's love--if he had ever truly had it in the first place--did not sting at all.

"Is that why you are wanting to refuse my mother's bequest?"

Elizabeth looked away in guilt. "I am sure I do not know what you mean."

"Elizabeth, I have always taken pride in the fact that I am fairly observant, but even if I had been a complete dullard, I would have noticed that you were in love with Mr. Darcy."

"I do not love him," she said staunchly.

"If you think you would injure me by telling me the truth, let me assure you that my hurt was of very short duration and has long since gone."

"I am not lying." Elizabeth looked at him. "He is everything I have ever thought him to be and much more. He is rude and arrogant and opinionated--"

"You are just as opinionated."

"But I have never done what he has!"

"I see. What did he do? Besides what you already knew, which was separating his valet from your sister and some nonsense with Wickham which was probably a complete sham."

Elizabeth told Robin of Darcy's interference between Richard and herself.

"But I did not think you loved Richard anymore," Robin said.

"I did not, but that was beside the point. It was his proud assumption that I was wrong for his cousin and that it was his duty to interfere that infuriated me. How could I love a man who would undoubtedly try to run my life in just such a manner?"

"I concede that to you, but I think you love him anyway."

Elizabeth sat back in her chair, knowing he was right and hating herself for it. "How could I marry him, knowing what he has done? How could I marry a man my parents are still in service to? That fact would be thrown in my face during every argument we would have." She sniffled. "It does not matter. I have agreed to marry you. I shall do just that."

Robin sighed. "I do not want you to marry me just because you think Darcy betrayed you or because you feel pity on me."

"I do not--well, I suppose I do. Although we have had our differences, I do not know how I would feel if my mother were to die unexpectedly. But that is not why I am marrying you."

"Then why are you?"

"I told you, because--"

"I release you from your promise. Do you still wish to marry me?"

"Robin, you cannot do that. What would everyone say? We celebrated our engagement not a week ago. It was announced that we would wed at the end of the month. People would engage in endless speculation--"

"I do not care."

"Do you love me?" Elizabeth had not once thought to ask why he was so calm with the news that she loved another.

Robin swallowed, not sure how to answer the question. Yes, he did love her. He thought her one of the handsomest women of his acquaintance. He respected her opinion and he knew if he married her that she would do her best to make him happy.

But he knew, in his heart, that marrying her was the wrong thing to do. He did not want a woman who loved another. He did not want someone who could never truly be happy with him. And in the back of his mind, there was another image that haunted him whenever the marriage question came up--the image of pale eyes flashing fire in the moonlight, and a stubborn chin, and a soft, tender mouth...

Best not to continue that line of thought.

"I think there is a part of me that shall always love you," he said finally. "One does not extinguish love as one does a candle at bedtime. I do not deny that I think you would make me an excellent wife in all ways but one, but I think it would be best if I did not marry you."

"Why?"

"Because I cannot make you happy, and I would eventually come to resent that if I tried."

Elizabeth thought that perhaps she should fight--after all, they were discussing something which would cause them no end of public spectacle--but she knew it would be futile. They both knew their engagement was over. He seemed to be as calm about it as she was.

"I am sorry, Robin," she said. "I wish I could love you."

"Do not apologize for not feeling something for me, for I know you do love me in your own way. We shall always be friends, I think."

"I should like that. You were a true friend to me in London, though I have not been as good a friend to you."

"You can make it up to me eventually."

"I can make it up to you now. Take the money your mother left me."

"Absolutely not. My mother wanted you to have that, and so you shall. Do not look upon the money as a curse. It will gain you independence from ever having to be in service. Indeed, there are many in this world who survive on much less."

"But--"

"There shall be no argument on the subject. I have more than enough money. I do not need yours as well."

"Robin, it is not right for me to take the money. It shall be hard enough to explain about the broken engagement."

"There should be no reason for people to talk. Everyone expected you to have a dowry. Mother always intended to give you one regardless of whom you married."

"What?" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Come now. You did not honestly expect her to help launch you into Society, find you an appropriate husband, and then ruin it all by refusing you a dowry. She always intended to give you something."

"But why? Of all the people she knew in this world, why did Lady Grace want to do this for a complete stranger? Why me?"

"Because she liked you. My mother had a habit of terrorizing people who worked in shops, but you did not bat an eye. You ran out after that miserable excuse for a dog of hers. You were--and still are--special. You gave a woman who had very little time left a chance to do something she thought never to do."

"And quite possibly ended her life too soon."

"I know Mamma. She would rather have had a few months enjoying herself than a few years trapped in fear of dying. Do not think that you were the cause of her death, ever. I shall never think you were to blame." He took her hand in his. "Elizabeth, it was my mother's dying wish that you take this money. She would be most upset to hear you attempting to refuse it. It is yours. Be happy. And even if you do not marry Mr. Darcy, you shall find that having a dowry of fifty thousand pounds shall--"

"Bring every fortune hunter throughout Europe to my doorstep. Look at poor Miss Darcy and Wickham."

"True. But you are not a naive fifteen-year-old girl."

"No. I was a naive twenty-one-year-old. I should hope that those days are behind me." Elizabeth sighed. "Robin...what are we going to tell people about our engagement?"

"I have given the matter some thought. It is troublesome, because if we say that I broke the engagement, Caroline Bingley shall crow all about London about how I had come to my senses. You would not be able to hold your head up for a good long while, large dowry or not."

"You would become a laughingstock if it were to become known that I had ended the engagement. People would think something was wrong with the Earl of Denby if a servant's daughter refused him."

"True. The only thing to do would be to say it was a mutual decision because we were marrying only for my dying mother's sake. It is a believable excuse."

"I suppose that would be the best thing, but Robin...are you going to be all right?"

He nodded. "I think my heart must not have been as engaged as I thought. Or perhaps events have happened to make this seem like nothing."

Elizabeth blinked back tears again.

"Now, Miss Bennet, I shall not let you leave this room until you agree here and now that you shall accept my mother's bequest."

Elizabeth sighed. "I wish I did not have to accept it. I wish..." There were so many things Elizabeth wished, but she knew voicing them aloud would not bring them about. "Of course I shall accept it. I would be the greatest fool in the world not to do so. Of course, there are many who would consider me the greatest fool in the world for letting you go."

"I am among them," Robin said with a small grin. "What do you intend to do now?"

"I do not know. I do not wish to go to London without Lady Grace to guide me. I cannot go back to Pemberley because of Mr. Darcy. And I cannot stay here, for my father must return to Pemberley, much as I have tried to convince him that he could find any number of gentlemen who would pay dearly for the chance to have him running their stables. It seems as though I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do."

"If I could make a recommendation..."

"Yes?"

"I have a small estate in Hertfordshire that you could let. Actually, it belongs to my mother, but as I am the trustee of her estate until I have half a dozen children, I am sure I could arrange for you to take the place. Or perhaps I could see if there is a way to include it in your settlement."

"No! Longbourn must go to your second son, not to me. If you could arrange for me to let the estate, I should be happy to do so." Elizabeth rose from her chair.

"Very well, then." Robin stood as well.

"Robin...thank you for everything. You have been so good to me, and I shall never forget that."

"You are welcome."

"If there is ever anything you need, do not hesitate to ask me for it."

He nodded and opened the door for her. Tom was waiting in the hall, looking uncomfortable at being in such a grand place.

"We should be getting back to Pemberley," Tom said.

"Actually, Papa, I think it would be best if we remained here for a few more days. I am going to have to speak to some attorneys about renting a place in Hertfordshire, and I want you to move with me when I take possession of the place."

Robin excused himself when he saw Tom's mouth gaping wide open.

"Elizabeth, where on earth do you think you are going to find the money for such a thing? Old Mr. Darcy only left you a thousand pounds."

"Lady Grace, may God bless her soul, left me a good deal more than that."

"To be given you upon your marriage to Lord Denby."

"No, the money is my own to deal with. It is enough to let Longbourn from Robin and live there. I want to do it, and I want you to come with me."

"How much money?" Tom asked.

"Fifty thousand pounds."

Tom nearly swallowed his tongue. "F-fifty thousand? Surely not such a great sum. Elizabeth, she must have thought that money would stay with her son otherwise--"

"That is quite likely," Elizabeth said. "And I told Robin repeatedly that I did not think I should take any of it, but he insisted that his mother would have wanted for me to have the money. He refuses to take it back, and Lady Grace...cannot."

"B-but you are to rent a place from him even though you will not marry him?"

"Robin agrees that our marriage would be a mistake. He was the one who suggested that I rent Longbourn."

"What about returning to Pemberley?"

"No!" Elizabeth said violently. "I shall never return to Pemberley. I cannot."

Tom, thinking that his daughter was remembering Richard and how close he would be to Pemberley when he married Miss Tysen, sighed. "I do wish you would forget about Richard--"

"Richard?"

"Yes. That is the reason you do not want to return, is it not? He is to marry Miss Tysen at Christmas."

"Hang Richard. I have not loved Richard in a very long time. He is a good friend and nothing more."

"But I thought that before all this..." Tom stopped suddenly, his mind making a connection that horrified him. "Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth squirmed.

"Not--not Mr. Darcy?"

She nodded, unable to say anything.

"Oh, Lord!" Tom groaned. "I shall never be able to hold my head up again at Pemberley!"

"I did nothing so foolish as Lydia did, and yet you were able to survive that. I did not throw myself at him. I did not even want to fall in love with him."

"But you did."

Elizabeth let out her breath in a huff. "Well, you need not fear of what people would think were Mr. Darcy to marry his coachman's daughter. He is the last man on earth whom I could be prevailed upon to marry. If you knew half of the things he has done, you would leave him in an instant. That is why I want you to come to Longbourn with me."

"I cannot leave Mr. Darcy."

"Nonsense. I have more than enough money to see the whole family through."

"If it were simply a matter of money, my dear, I would have been able to leave Mr. Darcy nearly two years ago."

Elizabeth looked sharply at her father. "What?"

"Well..." Tom looked sheepish. "Your mother was spending anything I could give her. I knew we would go through the money the late master had left us. I knew that Sweet Liar was our only hope of earning money that would last, for your mother would never think that a horse could be profitable."

"You mean you have money you did not tell Mamma about?"

Tom nodded. "I made some money from racing, but the real money came after. Mr. Darcy recommended that we be selective about breeding Sweet Liar, for that would make his offspring much more valuable. He was right. The money I made from that I had Mr. Darcy invest for me. I would have had enough to pay for Wickham to marry Lydia, and I fully intend to pay Mr. Darcy at the first opportunity."

"If you have enough money to leave, why are you still at Pemberley?"

"Because it is all I know, and all I want. I do not know how to be more than I am, and I do not wish to learn at my great age. My money was always going to be for you."

"Me? Why?"

"Because I knew, even when you were a young girl, that this life would never be for you. Jane loved her cooking, and Mary was so smart that she could get employment as a governess. I never knew what Kitty and Lydia would be good at, but they were never as discontent about the future as you were."

"Why did you send me to London to learn a trade, if you were saving money for me?"

"That was mostly your mother's doing, although I agreed with it at the time. I had hoped that perhaps you would enjoy working in your uncle's shop so much that you would consider investing in a shop of your own."

Elizabeth was touched that he would have done that for her. "Now that I no longer need it, perhaps you should retire and live on it yourself. You no longer need Mr. Darcy, or Pemberley. Mamma would be so happy to--"

"Yes, I am sure your mother would be pleased to have a house of her own, and many's the time I have considered it. She does not realize it, but we have been living off some of the money I have earned over the past several years."

"Perhaps now that I do not need it, you should again--"

"No, no. I think perhaps I shall give it to Jane and Bingley, or perhaps Kitty would like something more. Mary writes constantly and has told me that she has great hopes of marrying a clergyman, so I do not think she shall need anything. Perhaps a small dowry would help her."

"What about Ly--"

"She has received ten thousand pounds, or rather, that bounder of a husband has. She gets not a penny more. Indeed, I would take care not to inform too many people of your good fortune, Elizabeth, for the pair should surely be at your door if you do."

Elizabeth, recalling the circumstances in which she had managed to make Wickham marry Lydia, replied, "I had no intention of giving him money. But given how poor a manager he has proven to be in the past, I thought that perhaps every now and again a little something to Lydia, for her child, would not be a bad thing."

"If you give them a thing, they shall be back before you know it. No, better to let them make their own way."

Elizabeth sighed. "Papa, I do wish you would reconsider your decision to stay at Pemberley. You could have all the horses you want if you were to come to Longbourn."

Tom shook his head. "I wish I could say yes, Elizabeth, but Pemberley is my home. It was where I was born, and where I shall die. I could not leave it for anything."

Elizabeth could not understand, but she had to respect his decision. "You realize that I cannot go back with you. I cannot return to Pemberley."

"Something happened between you and Mr. Darcy," Tom said.

"Yes. We have had a disagreement, and I do not wish to see him again."

"I think perhaps it would be for the best."

"I shall need for you to stay here until Robin and I can come to an arrangement about Longbourn, and then I shall need you to send all my things there. It might take a while."

Tom nodded. "If this is what you want, Eliza, then I shall abide by your wishes."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said, knowing in her heart that she wanted something more.

Something she would never have.

Sheer Gall

The door opened just as Elizabeth stepped into the hall. "May I help you?" Dawkins, the butler, asked.

"I understand that there is an Eliza Bennet here. I wish to speak to her."

Oh, Lord. Elizabeth recognized the voice immediately--it was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

"May I ask who is calling, ma'am?"

"Do not be impertinent. Take me to her this instant."

"Dawkins?" Elizabeth called. The butler turned and gave her a frustrated look. "Please show Lady Catherine to the front drawing room."

Lady Catherine brushed past the blushing butler and glared at Elizabeth. "I need no servant to tell me where to go, Miss Bennet. I wish to speak to you at once, and I wish to do it in some privacy."

"You shall have all the privacy you wish for in the front drawing room," Elizabeth replied curtly. She noticed Anne de Bourgh standing behind her mother, clinging to her skirts and looking particularly afraid of her surroundings for some reason.

For heaven's sake, Robin is an earl. You are not likely to find something hideous lurking about.

Elizabeth walked toward the drawing room, knowing Lady Catherine to be a step behind and looking ready to do battle. Elizabeth could not imagine what offense she could have committed that would warrant the lady's presence.

"Would you care for some tea, Lady Catherine? Miss de Bourgh?" she asked politely.

"I am not here to be entertained, Eliza, nor do I think you mistake my reason for coming."

Elizabeth frowned. "I am not here for your entertainment, Lady Catherine, and I have no idea what has brought you here. I did not know you to be a particular friend of Lady Grace's, and as you are a week too late to attend the funeral services, I can presume that you have not come to pay your last respects."

Lady Catherine's complexion turned a mottled red. "How dare you speak to me in such a fashion! Insolent chit!"

"Perhaps it would be best if you told me the reason for your visit and then went on your way. It seems as though we shall never be on good terms." Elizabeth glanced at Miss de Bourgh, who seemed to find something amusing as she had a small smile on her face.

"A rumour of the worst kind reached me just yesterday at Pemberley, and I came here to...to..."

"Denby Park," Elizabeth supplied.

"I came here to find out the truth for myself."

"Which rumour about me would you like to address? I shall give you answers to all the ones that are undoubtedly swirling at the moment. Yes, I did receive a legacy from Lady Grace. No, I am not going to tell you how much it was. Yes, I am planning to let an estate in Hertfordshire from Lord Robin, but no, I am not planning to marry him." Elizabeth gave Lady Catherine a small smile. "Yes, I am the daughter of a cook and a coachman, but no, I do not think that makes me less worthy than a peer of the realm. Yes, my sister did recently marry, and yes, there was a reason for the haste. Yes, I did disappear from my own engagement party, but no, I was not unchaperoned. My father accompanied me and your nephew to Ramsgate, where we found Miss Darcy." Elizabeth took a seat in a chair. "Did that answer all of your questions, Lady Catherine? If so, then I think I should be showing you out now."

A small, choked sound came from Anne, who was clearly trying to hide her laughter. Lady Catherine looked at her daughter with a worried expression. "Anne, dear, are you all right?" She turned her anger back to Elizabeth. "If my daughter has become ill because of you--"

"I did not invite Miss de Bourgh--or yourself--here, Lady Catherine. Therefore, it cannot be said that I am the cause of any illness she might suffer as a result."

"You may think you are clever, Miss Bennet, but rest assured that I am far from being amused by you. The rumour I have come to find the answer to is that of you and my nephew."

Elizabeth wanted to groan. Had she ever done something so foolish as think herself in love with Richard? True, he was everything a woman would hope for, no denying it, but his cousin was...

Forget that road, Elizabeth. You hate Darcy, remember?

"Lady Catherine, I have no designs on Mr. Fitzwilliam. He is happily engaged and shortly to be married. I wish he and Miss Tysen all the joy they deserve."

"I meant my other nephew."

Elizabeth's breath caught, but she did not make a sound. What sort of rumours could there possibly be about Mr. Darcy and herself?

"What have you been told?" she asked.

"Am I to understand, based on what you said a moment ago, that your engagement to Lord Denby is at an end?"

"Yes, it is."

"I see Lord Denby came to his senses in time."

Elizabeth's jaw clenched, and she replied, "Our engagement ended by mutual agreement, Lady Catherine, otherwise I would no longer be here and I would not be leasing an estate from him."

"Why did you end the engagement?"

"What are the rumours saying?"

"That you ran off with my nephew the night of your engagement ball. That you...you are secretly married."

Elizabeth stared in wonder. How on earth had anyone managed to find out that she had left the party? Richard and Sabrina had reassured her that no one had noticed in all the other excitement of the evening.

"You were seen together leaving a church in Ramsgate. A ceremony had just taken place."

"What if I were to say yes? That I did marry your nephew on that day?"

Elizabeth had not thought a person's face could turn purple, but Lady Catherine's was coming close.

"It must be annulled immediately! Mr. Darcy was not free to marry you!"

"I fail to see how that would have stopped him, unless he was married...already." Elizabeth glanced at Anne, who still stood behind her mother, shaking her head furiously.

"He was not married, but he was engaged--to my daughter. What have you to say to that?"

"I am not sure what your ladyship would like me to say. It has long been acknowledged at Pemberley that Mr. Darcy was to marry Miss de Bourgh, which would make your coming here today moot, as I knew him to be engaged and would not have married him until he had cried off with Miss de Bourgh."

"I somehow doubt your type would wait for such niceties."

"I beg your pardon?" Elizabeth's hands were balled up in her lap. "My type? I have never seen myself as being any sort of type."

"Miss Bennet, I strongly disapproved of your marrying an earl. Indeed, I did my best to try to prevent it."

"Well, now I know how news of my origins were spread throughout London. And I have no doubt you were able to use the vindictive tongue of Caroline Bingley in that pursuit. Did you know that she had a far greater interest in marrying your nephew than I did when we were in London?"

"I am well aware of what the girl's aspirations are. Unlike you, apparently, she had more sense than to pursue them!"

"Caroline Bingley would pursue Satan into Hell if he had the right connections and a good estate in Derbyshire."

Another choked laugh out of Anne de Bourgh as her mother turned another shade of purplish red.

"How dare you use such language in front of my daughter!"

"Miss de Bourgh shall have to forgive me, but women of my 'type' never do learn proper conversation."

"I shall have no more of your double talk! Are you married to my nephew?"

Elizabeth wished, just for a second, that she could say yes. She finally answered, "No, I am not. We were coming out of the chapel having stood up for my sister and her husband."

Lady Catherine's complexion managed to clear somewhat. Though Elizabeth was furious with the woman for coming here on such a ridiculous errand, she was relieved. She did not wish for Lady Catherine to suffer an apoplectic fit in Lord Robin's house.

"I have heard other rumours as well, from the servants. They say you have been throwing yourself at Mr. Darcy all summer--"

"For the truth of what happened this summer, I suggest you speak to Mr. Darcy."

"I have. He says the rumours are false."

"I should hope so."

"He says he was chasing after you all summer."

Elizabeth could not prevent a strangled gasp this time. The nerve of the man! How could he have said such a thing--especially to his aunt?

"I think he was having a laugh at your expense, Lady Catherine."

"My nephew does not tease in such a manner, Miss Bennet, and therefore I must ask you if you will give me your promise not to enter into an engagement with my nephew."

Elizabeth thought on this for a moment. It would be so easy to give in to Lady Catherine, especially since it would be the truth. But the temptation to take this woman down a peg was too great. "No," she said. "I shall make no promise of the kind."

The color began to rise in Lady Catherine's cheeks again. "I beg your pardon?"

"I shall not give you any such promise."

"I shall not leave until I have it!"

"I would hesitate to announce my intention to remain for a nice long visit until I had spoken to the owner of the house. I think Robin may have some objection to your staying, as we are still good friends despite our broken engagement. I have no intention of giving you, a woman who is wholly unconnected to me and who has no right to demand such a thing, any sort of promise on the matter."

"Foolish, headstrong girl! I have told you that my daughter is engaged to Mr. Darcy and yet you still refuse to give me what I seek."

"If your daughter is engaged to him, then you should not fear that he would propose to me."

I would give my soul to marry you. Elizabeth supposed that was a proposal of sorts, but what a thing to be thinking of at the moment! Perhaps she thought of it only because Lady Catherine was demanding that no such declaration of love was possible.

"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind, the fondest wish between their mothers. They were intended for each other from the cradle, both descended from noble lines on their mothers' sides...and you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a girl of no family or breeding whatsoever, a girl whose family is in service to my nephew's, have the audacity and sheer gall to aspire to such a lofty position in the world--"

"I have stated repeatedly that I am not married, nor engaged, nor wishing to be engaged to your nephew. I am seeking no position other than the one which I currently occupy."

"If you were seeking no other position, you would be working in the kitchens with your sister or in the stables with your father."

Elizabeth rose quickly. "You can say nothing further to insult me, Lady Catherine. If you came all this way to do so, then I think it would be best if you returned to wherever you came from. I may not have your daughter's 'noble blood' but I do possess a great many other characteristics which should be considered worthy. Should Mr. Darcy propose marriage to me, it would be because he greatly admires those attributes which I possess and not because of who my parents were."

"Is that your final word on the matter? Are you going to just stand there and forget all the noble qualities my nephew stands for, all the things he needs in a wife that you can in no way give him? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?"

"I think it is time you made your exit, Lady Catherine. Your coming here, acting in such a manner, would in no way have induced me to give a promise not to marry your nephew. Indeed, were I even slightly interested in him, your manner would have persuaded me to be seriously tempted by any offer he might make. I have told you repeatedly that I have no claim on him, yet you treat me as though I did."

"I have never been spoken to like this in all my life! How dare you?"

"I dare quite a bit, as you have no doubt noticed. After all...I am no lady. I think Dawkins can show you out." Elizabeth bobbed her head without the slightest bit of respect and walked out of the room.

Lady Catherine stormed after her, but Elizabeth ducked into the library before she could be spotted. She watched the woman walk by, her daughter in her wake. They were halfway to their carriage when suddenly Anne said something to her mother. Lady Catherine looked furious, but walked on to the carriage as Anne headed back for the house.

Elizabeth walked out of the library and waited for Anne to appear.

"Miss de Bourgh?" Elizabeth was puzzled. "Did you forget something?"

"No. I just wished to tell you that...that I think you would be perfect for my cousin. And that I wanted to extend my condolences to both you and...and Lord Robin. I only met Lady Grace once, but she was a fine lady."

"Thank you, Miss de Bourgh."

"You know, I..."

"Elizabeth? Dawkins told me that you have visitors." Lord Robin walked into the hall. Anne turned pale.

"I do," Elizabeth replied. "Or rather, I did."

"Please excuse me, Miss Bennet. I must go," Anne said, her voice barely a whisper as she slipped past Robin. She practically ran to her carriage.

"That was odd," Elizabeth said as the carriage drove away.

"What?"

"Just a moment ago, she seemed to have more confidence than I have ever seen her possess in my life. Then you walked in and she had to leave. Perhaps she caught a glimpse of her mother when you opened the door."

Robin, who had barely noticed the young woman rushing out the door, shrugged. "So who was that?"

"Oh, Robin...you shall never believe it when I tell you." Elizabeth rang the bell for tea, and the two of them sat in the library for quite a length of time discussing Lady Catherine's visit.

"I cannot imagine who would have had the courage to tell Lady Catherine such a thing," Elizabeth said at the end.

"Who knows? Maybe Mr. Darcy told her himself."

"I somehow doubt that. I made it quite clear that I wanted nothing more to do with him."

"If he is the sort of man he ought to be, Elizabeth, that will not deter him."

"What sort of man do you think he ought to be?" she asked.

Robin smiled. "He would not give up on you easily. You shall see."

Elizabeth wished her heart would not gladden at his words, but it did.

Love Conquers All

"Darcy! How can you laugh at something so scandalous? Caroline Bingley comes from a good family, for all that they were in trade in the past."

"I laugh because Eliza is absolutely right. Caroline Bingley is just the sort of person to not care about the person as long as they have the connections." And, of course, because she was the only one who would be open with her opinion, especially to his aunt.

"I fail to see what any sensible man sees in her. She is far too pert, has no money, no connections, no breeding--"

Darcy allowed his aunt to continue in that vein, making her think he agreed with her. She allowed her wit to run long, and it was not until she mentioned the engagement that Darcy's ears caught something worth hearing.

"For all that she says it was a 'mutual decision,' I think Lord Denby finally realized the mistake he was making in marrying that girl and called it off. I have heard rumours that they were only marrying to satisfy his mother's wishes, and once she died they felt it best not to continue the charade. I do not know if that is true, but Eliza did receive compensation for her role in it and I wonder if it was for something more."

"They ended their engagement?" Darcy asked, stunned.

"Yes. Were you not paying attention? I said that she told me the engagement was off and that she was leasing some place from him. Apparently, she came into a sum of money from Lady Grace, or so she said. I think that perhaps he paid her off to get her out of his life. She was his mother's choice and once she died, of course, he did not have to marry her. I wonder if Lady Grace died of some sort of disorder of the brain."

"As I understood it, she had a heart attack. Her mind was as sharp as it was the day she was born when she died," Darcy said angrily.

Lady Catherine looked at her nephew, concerned. Eliza Bennet had said he had only been teasing her with his statement of their relationship over the summer.

"Darcy, if I did not know better, I would say you had feelings for the little--"

"Aunt..." Darcy sighed, for he knew he was to disappoint her with what he was about to tell her. He had been dreading this day for years, but he knew it would eventually come. "No matter how much you wish it to come about, I am never going to marry Anne."

Lady Catherine took the blow quietly, then said, "Nonsense. Of course you are going to marry Anne. That is what your mother wanted."

"Much as I think you would like to believe that, I do not think my mother wished me to be unhappy in marriage. Anne and I would not suit. We have both acknowledged that for some time."

"It is a fine match. There are so many similarities between you that there can be no doubt as to her being your perfect mate."

"Lady Catherine..."

"No, Darcy, I shall not be interrupted. I know you have been hesitant about marrying her until she is completely in good health, and I cannot blame you. Lord knows, I have been trying to bring her health around for the past year or so, with no little success."

Now I know why Anne always appears sickly and cross, Darcy thought.

"I believe, within another year or so, that she shall be more than ready to be married. Then you may make the announcement."

"I have no intentions of marrying Anne."

Lady Catherine looked at him, thunderstruck. "But Darcy, you must marry her."

"Why? I have not compromised her in any way. I barely know her. As far as I can tell, the only thing we have in common is that our mothers were sisters."

"There are many things you have in common! You are both of noble breeding, countenance, fortunes and good sense--"

"I am in love with another woman. I intend to marry her."

"You cannot. You have been betrothed to my daughter since the day she was born."

"There is no legal documentation to that fact, otherwise I would have found it with my father's things years ago. He spoke to me often on the subject of marriage, Lady Catherine. I feel certain that if we had been betrothed since the cradle, he would have told me."

"It was what your mother wanted. Do her wishes mean so little to you?"

"My mother might have mentioned our marrying once or twice, in the course of normal conversation after Anne was born. It went no further."

"B-but Anne has been expecting you to marry her! Your every action has indicated--"

"I have never, by word or action, indicated anything but a healthy respect for my cousin. If you or she have been misled in any way, it is of your own doing. I had hoped you had given up on this obsession of yours, but I see that hope was in vain."

Lady Catherine looked at him with cool determination. "You cannot marry Elizabeth Bennet. Do not bother denying that she is the woman you speak of with such eloquence."

"I have no wish to deny it. I love Elizabeth."

"But does she love you? Is that why she ended her engagement? If so, why is she still with Lord Denby without a chaperone?"

"She has a perfectly good chaperone."

"I saw no one of that description while I was there."

"Her father accompanied her to Denby Park, and what better chaperone could there be than her own father?"

Lady Catherine decided a different tactic might work. "Darcy, can you be so lost to sense and duty as to want to marry a girl whose father is still in service to you? Can you not think of how Society would laugh at you? She would never be accepted in the circles that matter, you know."

"She was accepted into them easily enough last Season. The world only knows the truth because you revealed it to them."

"I did not--"

"Aunt, please do not insult me by lying. I know what you did, both you and Miss Bingley. I would have been a fool not to realize it, though your motives at the time escaped me."

"I felt it was my duty to expose a fraud, especially one who was to marry an earl. But now that Society knows the truth about her, she shall not be welcomed back for a second Season, regardless of how much money she has or whom she might marry."

"I think that Elizabeth would not care about any of that. I know I do not. I prefer to live here at Pemberley anyway."

"How do you think the servants would react to having a girl no better than themselves as their mistress?"

"If they do not like the idea of working for her, they can find other employment."

"Darcy! How can you say such a thing? These people have been working for your family for generations!"

"I am not going to dismiss everyone simply because I am marrying Elizabeth. I am only saying that--"

"You have proposed to her?"

"I have not as of yet. I intend to rectify the matter soon."

"Darcy, if you marry her, I shall never speak to you again. You shall be publicly shunned, cut off from any decent society, and I shall wash my hands of you forever."

"If that is the way you want it, Aunt Catherine, then I am afraid that is how it must be. Would you like me to ask Mrs. Reynolds to send a servant to your rooms to pack your things?"

Lady Catherine had not thought he would dismiss her out of hand like that. She had thought her opinion and influence meant something to him.

"This is all I am to receive after all my years of looking after your interests?" Lady Catherine demanded. "I have raised Anne with the express intent of seeing her the mistress of Pemberley."

"I am certain that the same qualities shall make her an excellent mistress of Rosings. Indeed, I think that as soon as you inform her that I am marrying someone else, you shall find her to be in good health."

"You make light of my daughter's illnesses, claiming that she does not want to marry you! Anne has always wanted to marry you."

"Have you ever asked her?"

"I never needed to ask! She is a dutiful daughter. She--"

"Lady Catherine, to continue to argue is futile. I plan to marry Elizabeth Bennet if she will have me."

"I have no doubts that she will jump at the chance to marry you. She said it herself."

Darcy's heart leaped in his chest. "When did she say that?"

"When I spoke to her. She said that my words were more likely to influence her to accept any proposals you might make."

Had she not been absolutely furious with him, and unlikely to appreciate the gesture, Darcy would have hugged his aunt. He kept his composure and said, "Thank you for the information. Now, would you like me to summon Mrs. Reynolds?"

Darcy rode hard from Pemberley to Denby Park. His aunt had been appalled at his lack of good judgment, and had taken her leave of Pemberley at last. The servants, who could not help overhearing the reason for her abrupt departure, followed by their master's, did indeed have mixed feelings about the idea of having Eliza Bennet as the mistress of Pemberley. There were some, who felt the Bennets reached too far, who said without hesitation that they would not serve the young woman. Others were hesitant over whether or not she would know what to do--though Mrs. Reynolds pointed out that they had all assisted in her education over the summer, though not in anticipation of taking over Pemberley.

There were a great many, however, who had respect for the Bennets and for their master. If Mr. Darcy wished to marry Eliza, they would support him and be proud of his choice.

But first he had to find her.

Darcy pounded on the door to the house, tapping his foot impatiently and waiting for an answer. A tremulous butler opened the door and timidly asked, "May I help you?"

"I am here to see Miss Bennet. I was told she is here." Brushing past the ineffective butler, he strolled into the foyer. "Elizabeth?"

"Sir! I would ask you to keep your voice down."

"She is here, is she not? My aunt was here not two days ago."

"I should have known you would turn out to be her relative," the butler muttered. "If you would calm down, sir, I shall see about finding the young lady."

The butler disappeared, and Darcy looked around the hall. There were several closed doors. A moment later, one opened.

"Darcy, what the devil are you doing here?" Lord Robin asked, shutting the door behind him.

"I am here to see Eli--Miss Bennet."

"I see." Robin walked slowly toward him. "I suppose it does not matter that she does not wish to speak to you."

"She...does not? But she told my aunt--"

"I would not take anything Elizabeth said to your aunt seriously. She was having a bit of fun with her, not that the old bat did not deserve it. All the same, she does not wish to see you."

"I would rather hear it from her, if you do not mind."

"Absolutely not. I would not put Elizabeth through another of your confessions for a king's ransom. She has been through enough in the past week or two, would you not agree?"

"Do you not think I have not suffered agonies as well? And do not make yourself out to be such an innocent in all this. You knew what I had done and said nothing censorious about it."

"Indeed. But that night in the library, I also knew you were in love with her. A small fact you neglected to mention to me when we spoke."

"You never asked."

"Aah, that is no excuse."

"If you recall correctly, I did say she would marry you."

"Then you turned right around and declared that you loved her in Ramsgate."

"How did you--" Darcy sighed. "Of course. You were listening at the door."

"No, I was too distraught to care at the time. Elizabeth told me before we left Pemberley. She told me everything."

"Everything you already knew. I suppose, having seen it through her eyes, you now find me as reprehensible as she does."

"I admit, it did seem a bit high-handed of you to have done all that. At the time, I was grateful because I was supposed to have been the beneficiary of all your assistance. When I realized that you were in love with her...well, then it seemed far more high-handed than I thought."

"I do not intend to leave until I have seen Elizabeth."

"Why must you insist on making a spectacle of yourself? She has no interest in you anymore."

"Because I cannot live without her."

"You lived with her for many years without appreciating her. What has changed?"

Darcy sighed. "Everything."

"Sure. She put on a fashionable dress, learned to dance and became attractive to other men. You were abominable to her for so long, and just when she thought she could trust you, you shattered her dreams all over again."

"I never wanted to hurt her. I love her. I have been a complete fool, but I hope to have the rest of my life to make it up to her. Until Elizabeth...I had nothing. I was lonely. If I were the same man who had written the letter that brought you to Pemberley, I would have married my cousin. My aunt is furious with me because I refuse to marry Anne."

Robin sighed. "I am sorry, Darcy. I cannot let you see Elizabeth."

"And I tell you again, let her make the decision."

"Do not make me have you thrown out of here."

"Elizabeth!" Darcy roared. "Elizabeth, please come talk to me! I love you!"

"Dawkins! Seymour! Would you please escort Mr. Darcy out of here?" Robin was very calm, and Darcy knew that the man was getting his revenge for Elizabeth.

The two servants appeared, ready to lead Darcy out. "Elizabeth, please! I was nothing till there was you!"

"Let him go," Elizabeth said from the entrance to the library.

Darcy turned to look at her. Her eyes were wet, and he could see she had been crying.

"Are you sure?" Robin asked.

She nodded. "I would like to speak to him."

Darcy gave Robin a triumphant look as he walked past him into the library. Elizabeth shut the door behind him.

"I take it you heard what I said to Robin," he said.

Elizabeth nodded.

"I meant every word of it. I love you. I think I loved you even before I wanted to admit it. I think it was love that drove me to deceive Richard and my own stupid common sense which led me to write that letter to Robin. I thought that my parents would be ashamed of me because I had fallen in love with my coachman's daughter, but I do not care anymore. They are not here to prevent me from marrying you and even if they were, I would not be halted. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone, and I need you." Darcy knew he was babbling but he did not care.

"Mr. Darcy..."

"Please, Elizabeth, I know I have been the most arrogant of knaves. I have done things that hurt people in the name of being right. I have never thought of what others might feel...until you. You made me realize how foolish I was to interfere with others. You made me realize how foolish and narrow-minded I was. You made me believe that anything was possible."

"Mr. Darcy..."

"I know you loved me that day at Pemberley when I told you the truth. I know you must love me now."

"I do love you."

"And I know that...and..." Darcy almost could not believe he had heard her correctly. "You love me?"

She nodded. "Of course I do. Any man who can make a complete fool of himself in front of another man, especially the former betrothed of the woman he loves..."

Darcy could not wait another moment to take her in his arms. "Elizabeth...my darling Eliza." He took her chin in his hand and tilted it up to look at his. "Please say you will marry me."

"I do not know if I can. I do not know if I can trust you."

"Darling, I cannot promise that things will always be easy between us. We are two of the most stubborn people God ever created. We shall always have disagreements and occasionally some grief, but you always have that in life. There are times when you may be furious with me and times when I shall be just as furious with you. I want to take the chance. If I had wanted someone else, I would have married Anne or Caroline Bingley. Indeed, if you do not marry me, I may just go ask Miss Bingley. Would you wish that fate on me?"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest her outrage at his blackmail attempt until she saw his eyes. They were brimming with humour.

"You are teasing me," she said.

"Of course. I may go mad with grief if you do not marry me, but I would hope I would not lose all my sense." Darcy lowered to one knee. "Elizabeth Bennet, will you please marry me? Please?"

Elizabeth thought of how angry she had been with him, and of how she had been unable to stop thinking about him ever since.

You shall never love anyone else as much as you love this man.

"Yes," she said. "Only if you make it perfectly clear to everyone who asks why we are marrying that I am marrying you for your estate and you are marrying me for my dowry."

Darcy roared with laughter. "Oh, Elizabeth!"

She laughed as well, her laughter ending when his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that sealed their fate forever.

The End.