Lizzie received two letters four days after she returned home from her visit with Charlotte. One short one from her father, one long one from William.

She opened her father's letter first.

My Dear Lizzie,
It will please you to know that I have had a visit from Mr. Darcy. He will have some news for you.
Do know Lizzie, that whatever I say, or do, I love you. Even if I may not show it to you or your sisters, I love you all very dearly. You are marrying the best, Lizzie, but you will have a very different life. You will have a larger house, more staff, a larger income. But I do not want you to be marrying him because of this. I want you to marry because you love him. I do know he loves you. He made that point quite clearly.
I cannot part with you, my dear Lizzie, to anyone who loves you, or is less worthy, than he.
Your father.

William will have news? Lizzie tore open his letter and began to read.

Dearest Lizzie,
I am pleased to inform you that you are soon to be Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. Yes your father has approved of the marriage. I will be present for the reading of the bands on Sunday and then will be heading to London to get a special licence so we may marry anytime we see fit. I shall make every endeavor to see you while I am in town. I do so long to see your eyes.
Your father asked me to give one reason why I loved you. When I did not reply he asked me 'Is it that hard to think of a single reason why you love my daughter?' I laughed and replied, 'No sir, it is not that hard to think of a reason. It is only hard to pick only one'. And do not laugh, for it is true. You Lizzie who are my best friend, my confidant, my one and only. You who are my playmate, and my troublemaker, and my rock. You who are everything to me. And I would not change that for the world.
I would now like to take the time to mention that you have taken something of mine. You, Elizabeth Bennet, have absconded with my heart. I am not asking for it back, or for payment in return, for I am glad you have it. As long as it is with you I know that it shall be safe in your hands.
It has always been yours, Lizzie, from the first moment I met you.
I can see you now, clutching the edges of this letter, smiling that wonderful smile of yours, and I know you will read this letter a hundred times in the future. So, I want you to know I miss you and I love you.
Soon to be legally yours,
William

He was right. At the end of the letter, she was clutching the letter so tightly the edges were crinkling and smiling so widely her cheeks hurt. She was getting married. Elizabeth Bennet, the girl who said she would never find a man she wanted to marry, was getting married.

She heard her Aunt calling her down to dinner and she gingerly folded his letter back up, placed it in the envelope, and retrieved the others from her trunk. She held the newest packet in her hands and smiled to think how far she and William had come. She untied the package, placed the newest letter on top, and tied the stack up again, placing it with all the other letters.

Two days later, they were driving down to Derbyshire. Lizzie was looking out the window in front of her, waiting for the trees to clear and to see the Gardiner's summer home. They would be there for over six months. And William would be coming. She had sent him a letter the day before, telling of her plans to travel with the Gardiners. She hadn't told them that he was her fiancée, but she had told them that he meant quite a lot to her. She would not see him for quite some time, but she knew that once they were together, they would be inseparable. She only hoped her mother would not try to get too involved in her wedding. Yes, she would like help, but her mother did not understand that she would want a simple wedding.

She walked to Pemberley and back every day. Hoping to see William or Georgiana. Even Mrs. Reynolds would be a welcome sight, but yet she saw no one. She was nine days into her visit, when her Aunt and Uncle called her down to breakfast.

"Lizzie, wonderful news." Her uncle was seated drinking his coffee.

"What is it, Uncle?" She sat and helped herself to some toast.

"We have been invited to lunch." Her aunt smiled.

"Whit who?" Her mind wasn't focused on what her aunt was saying.

"With who?" Her uncle laughed, which caught her attention. "With Mr. Darcy, of course."

Lizzie's knife clattered on her plate. "Mr. Darcy is here!" She stood to get her bonnet.

"As well as another guest of his. A..." Her uncle searched a letter which was by his plate. "A Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. I must say, Lizzie. Your friend has impeccably neat handwriting." He laughed.

"Yes he does Uncle." She smiled at the thought of all the letters in her room.

"You also had a letter this morning." He picked up a letter from the small silver tray and handed it to her. She knew the writing the moment she saw it.

"May I go outside to read it?"

"When you have finished breaking your fast." He nodded to her plate.

She felt as if her food could not be eaten quickly enough. When she had finished her tea, she stood and made her way out the double doors of the dining room to the terrace she tore open William's letter.

Dearest Lizzie,
I am coming to Pemberley and should arrive about the same time as you get this letter. I have the licences and have something special for you. I do long to see you. Do not be alarmed, but my aunt thinks that you are attached to Richard, after I sent him to fetch you on that morning you agreed to marry me. That will not stop me though. I will win your heart from Richard if it is the last thing I do.
I would put a sonnet in this letter, to express my admiration, but i remember as children, you hated poetry, unless it was The Odyssey, although I do not know how you can stand to read that. I puts me to sleep almost instantly. One more reason why I do not deserve for you to love me.
But do know, even if I do not express it through a poem, that I love you.
William.

She never knew why he could not read The Odyssey without falling asleep. She loved it, with the made her way to the swinging bench and sat down lightly. The sun on her face caused her to drift off to sleep.

She was sitting in the library at Pemberley with William, discussing Camelot.
"Look what I found!" Richard came out of one of the stacks with three large books. "The most boring book of my knowledge."
"And what would that be?" She sat up straight in her chair.
"The Odyssey." He said proudly.
Here is where she spent a good deal of time defending the epic she loved so much.
"I wager, that I can read this entire epic in less time then you, Miss Elizabeth." Richard said.
"And if you lose said wager?" William asked.
"Then I do her bidding for the rest of the week."
"And if I win?" William asked. "For I would like to play, seeing as there are three books?"
It was a strange wager, but all agreed that the two who lost would have to do the winners bidding for the rest of the week. William was asleep within the first twenty pages. Richard was asleep by the end of the hour. Lizzie read the entire day and all through the night, soaking up the words of Homer as quickly as she could. Both Richard and William woke up occasionally, never when the other was awake, and start reading where they had left off. Morning came and she read through breakfast and towards lunch. When she finished she threw the book on the ground, making the other two fall jump out of their chairs and flail onto their stomachs.

"Lizzie?" They both scrambled up to their feet.

She jumped up and yelled, "I AM VICTORIOUS!", and then proceeded to sway on her feet.

"Lizzie!" William jumped up and grabbed her by the waist just as her knees gave out from under her.

"You must do my bidding, sirs, for the rest of my stay." She smiled, but still made no move to free herself from his arms.

"Lizzie?" A voice called to her.

"And what would you have me do?" William said softly.
"Lizzie!" She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Aunt!" She straightened.

"It is time to ready for lunch."

When they reached Pemberley, she was surprised to see Richard standing there instead of William.

"Well, I never..." Her uncle muttered under his breath.

Her uncle got out of the carriage, and held out his hand. Lizzie's aunt descended first and when Lizzie looked up from stepping down, she saw him standing in the door.

"Will!" She let go of her uncle's hand. Propriety be damned. She ran straight past Richard and flew into William's arms.

"Lizzie." He held her close.

"Lizzie! What on Earth are you doing!" She heard her aunt behind her. She sighed into Will's chest, knowing she would have to break contact soon.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you down." He said softly.

"I forgive you."

"I have something for you." He reached into his pocket and pushed her away lightly.

"Is it the item which you picked up in London?" She had received his first letter fifteen days ago and she had been longing to see him.

"Yes." He held out his hand and in between his thumb and index finger held a ring. It was an emerald surrounded by a ring of emeralds on a delicate silver band.

She brushed a finger lightly against it. "Will..." She whispered.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it." She bit her lip. She lightly slid her finger through the ring and let him finish pushing it onto her finger.

"Lizzie!" She heard her uncle move up the stairs and she slowly turned. "Do you have something to say?" He was halfway on the stairs.

"Yes, Uncle. You remember Mr. Darcy." She smiled as she looked back at Will before she added. "My fiancée."

Her uncle stopped. "So your father was not joking with me."

"Lizzie. Please tell me you told him." William said seriously.

"I told him half..." Her voice rose. There was a loud laugh and they turned to face Richard.

"I apologize." He covered his mouth. "That was uncalled for." His face turned bright red.

"No. Richard. You are right." She smiled and started laughing again.

Lunch was needless to say, awkward. Everyone stared at her and William.

"Wheres Georgie?" She asked as the plates were cleared.

"She is coming down today." He smiled.

"I look forward to seeing her again." She smiled back.

"Would you like to go for a walk Lizzie?"

"Yes. I would like that very much." They both stood.

"Lizzie..." Her aunt cleared her throat.

"Oh, yes." She blushed. "Richard, would you like to be our chaperone?"

"Of course." He stood to join them. Lizzie glanced at William only to see his ears were a pleasant shade of red.

The trio made their way out into the garden. William leaned close and whispered into her ear. "I will be glad when we will not need a chaperon."

She blushed.

"I will pretend I didn't hear that." Richard spoked his head between the two of them.

"And I challenge you to a duel." William stopped and pulled Lizzie behind him.

"What have I done this time? Richard sighed.

"You are in competition for my lady's hand." He picked up a stick off the ground.

"William! What are you doing?" She laughed.

"I am protecting our courtship. My aunt seems to think that you fancy the Colonel. I just have to dispose of the competition." He said as seriously as he could.

Richard looked stunned. "What! Aunt Catherine thinks that Lizzie and I are-"

"Is that so hard for you to believe Colonel?" Lizzie interrupted.

"He has insulted you, my queen!" Will held her hand and made her forget everything for a moment.

"Please, Sir William. Dispose of the traitor." She motioned to Richard who searched desperately for a stick.

"With pleasure." William let go of her hand and the two cousins waged war on each other and the three of them ran through the grounds like they did when they were children. They ran around for what seemed like forever and ended up in front of the fountain, where a great duel began. Finally William jabbed his stick and hit Richard, who lost his balance and fell into the fountain. As Richard splashed and spluttered up Lizzie began laughing so hard she began to cry. She grabbed onto William for support and he held her waist, supporting her body. Richard got out of the fountain and stood as dignity as he could.

"I," he paused and shook some water out of his hair, "am going to change." Then stormed off.

MRS. GARDINER POV

She saw the Colonel walking into the house and stopped him outside the main door.

"Colonel! What happened?"

"I was reliving some memories with your niece and my cousin." He said smiling.

"Are you close to your cousin?"

He nodded. "Yes, ma'am. He is more of a brother than a cousin."

"Do you trust him around my niece?"

"Yes."

He was confidant, although a bit ridiculous dripping on the floor. "Do you think he loves my niece?"

"More than his own life." He took a breath. "Ma'am, I know my cousin. He is a good man. And when he loves, it is not halfway. He will be more than good to her and will take blame for things that are not his fault. I can guarantee that he will protect and love her as long as he lives."

She saw his face. Every word was the truth. "Thank you. Would you know where they would be?"

"By the fountain, ma'am." He smiled.

"Then I will let you dry off. Thank you, Colonel. You have been most helpful." And with that she went to find her niece.

The two began laughing again and turned to begin another walk.

William took her hand again and they both fell quite.

"Lizzie, when did you realize you loved me?" William stopped her.

She walked a few step and turned to face him. "Right here."

"At the fountain?" William took a step towards her.

"Yes. That day that I fell in." She mirrored his step. My dream. My perfect, wonderful dream.

"And why was that the day you realized you loved me?" He took another step so they were only inches apart.

"Well, I realized I loved you when I saw you at Meryton. But looking back that was the day I fell in love with you." She stepped onto the edge of the fountain.

"Lizzie!" He grabbed her hand.

"When I fell in, and you pulled me out and held me so close." She took a step along the edge. "I have never felt so safe as I did in your arms that day." She noticed they were at eye level. "I like being this height." She smiled.

"I would like you to come down." He smiled. "I like to be taller than you and you are safer with both feet on the ground." He tugged her hand lightly.

"I like being able to see your eyes without struggling." She let him pull her off the edge of the fountain.

"And I like it when I can rest my chin on top of your head." He pulled her into an embrace and she could hear his heartbeat.

"I changed my mind." She said softly. "I like being this short."

"And why is that?" He laughed and she felt it in his chest.

"Because I can hear your heartbeat." She looked up at him. He inched closer and closer until his lips were only a few inches from hers.

"I like it when you can be this close to me." He closed the distance a little more.

"I find I like it to."

"May I kiss you?" She saw him glance at her mouth.

"I would like that." She whispered.

He gently closed the distance and lightly placed his lips on hers, pulling away quickly. But after those few seconds, Lizzie was breathless. She felt his lips, only a brushing distance away.

"Lizzie, I-"

"Lizzie?" She heard her aunt calling.

She pulled away and took a few steps back.

"Lizzie, are you coming inside?" Her aunt rounded the corner.

"Yes Aunt." She bit her lower lip and took a small step away.

He kissed me. He actually kissed me. And it had felt wonderful and amazing and perfect and sweet. I expected... I don't know what I expected.

"Lizzie, are you alright?" She jerked to face her aunt's voice.

"I am wonderful, Aunt." She said softly.

"He kissed you." Her eyes widened.

"What!"

"You are wearing the same look I imagine I was wearing when you uncle kissed me for the first time." She was smiling.

"What?" She couldn't imagine her Aunt and Uncle being like her and Lizzie.

Lizzie's aunt placed a hand on her arm, stopping the two of them. "I know you want to be with Mr. Darcy. But I want you to know that many people do not feel the way that you two feel. Just don't let your emotions get the better of you." She smiled and began walking away. "You can stay out a little longer. Just be cautious." Her aunt walked away.

Lizzie smiled and turned to see William, still standing by the fountain.

Lizzie's ring:
eragem dot com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x/5e063 19eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/w/m/wm6453i-vintage-co cktail-ring-tourmaline-diamond-18k-gold dot jpg