Chapter 11: The Reveal

Georgiana waited impatiently in the parlour with the Gardiners. All three were in anticipation of the news they expected to hear this evening. When Elizabeth and Mr Darcy were announced, the faint blush on both sets of cheeks was noted by the small party awaiting their arrival. Georgiana was the first to break the silence.

"I hope you are feeling better for the fresh air, Elizabeth." She could no longer reign in her excitement. "I trust it was most enlightening," she said sweetly, with a tone of mischief. Mr Darcy saved his fiancée from the ensuing silence.

"It was indeed, Miss Elizabeth was remarking upon the charming prospect of Pemberley, to which I agreed - though I think I may be a slight bit biased." Talk turned to the estate and Mr Darcy welcomed the Gardiners to return as they pleased. Lizzy's aunt and uncle were honoured with the suggestion and extended an invitation to the Darcys to their home in Cheapside whenever they next found themselves in London.

Dinner was a cheerful affair. Whilst Mr Darcy allowed only a calm smile and sparkling eyes to visibly portray his joy, his fiancée's happiness overflowed into her face, into her demeanour and into her lively conversation. He could not help his wide grin upon looking at his Elizabeth and she returned it with a knowing smile of her own. Besotted, he failed to notice his sister regarding his countenance with a joyous smile herself. Georgiana was elated.

After dinner, once the Gardiners had excused themselves to bed, Darcy made to sit beside Elizabeth. He took her hand in his as he had done during her convalescence and delighted in the feeling of her soft palm.

"Dear Georgiana," he said, the calm facade disappearing completely. "I would like to introduce you to your future sister, my fiancée Elizabeth Bennet." He rejoiced in the fact that he could refer to her by such terms and she shivered at the sound of that word on his lips. It was almost as gratifying as when he had called her Lizzy in that voice that was reserved for her privately.

"Oh Fitzwilliam," she cried ecstatically. "Now she need never leave Pemberley! I am so happy I could burst." Elizabeth looked fondly from her betrothed to her new sister. She thought they would enjoy some time alone together to talk about what had passed between them on the balcony and so she bade them farewell for the night, after expressing her heartfelt delight to Georgiana.

Fitzwilliam handed her up from the sofa and walked with her to the door. "I am loathe to part with you dearest, but sleep well. I shall dream of you," again, he added silently. Holding her neck gently, he leaned down in front of his sister and kissed her soundly.

"That seals it," she chuckled lightly. "You cannot change your mind now!"

"As if he would!" Georgiana jested. "He's been besotted with you for far too long to relent now!"

"Georgiana," he admonished affectionately. "It is true though, I will never change my mind about you, Elizabeth."

"Well now I will most definitely have sweet dreams," she smiled affectionately at both of the Darcys. "I wish you a pleasant night. Until tomorrow," she breathed.

"I look forward to it," he replied at the same time as Georgiana said "I can't wait." All three chuckled and with one last affectionate caress of his hand, she was gone into the night.

...

She awoke to the sound of a knock on the hard, wooden door of her borrowed bedroom. As soon as she was sufficiently recovered to walk about, she insisted that Fitzwilliam reclaim his own bedchambers. He agreed reluctantly and after much persuasion from the lady in question for he wanted her in as much comfort as possible. He eventually relented after she commented that her father would not approve of her sleeping in his bedchambers before they were married. It took only the hesitation in his imagining her there after they were married and she had already made to remove herself into another room.

Having reclaimed his own rooms, he was now at liberty to enjoy her lavender scent lingering in his morning air. It would seem that neither he nor his fiancée were able to sleep in this bed currently.

She found, upon opening her eyes lazily, that he was standing at the door with a grin that spread across his whole countenance. She returned his smile, feeling content that her mornings would continue in this fashion far into the future. She chuckled, thinking upon how much had changed.

Although it was certainly not proper for him to stand before her when she was in such a state of undress, he could not find it within himself to care. She was stunning, as ever.

"Good morning, my love," he said softly. "Your father has arrived at Pemberley and is currently taking breakfast with Georgiana and the Gardiners. I thought perhaps we might join them and then I could take them fishing?" He had ideas of other ways they could spend the morning, though those would have to wait until after they were married.

"Why, my father is at Pemberley already!" Her voice was thick from sleeping. "I should dearly love to join you for your sport," she added. He smiled affectionately and crossed the threshold, making his way to the bedside.

"It would seem that I can refuse you nothing, my love," he replied. "But you must promise not to fall in again." He flinched, remembering.

"Do not worry about that," she said sweetly, "for I never make the same mistake twice. I wouldn't want to risk having another weeks' bedrest." He laughed with her, then took her hand into his tenderly. He was sure that he would not withstand it if she hurt herself again.

"I am glad to hear of it. I do not think either of us could bear to live another week such as the past." She could hear the underlying pain at his recollections and sat up, pulling his face to hers. They were thus engaged when Lizzy's maid knocked on her door.

"You are too desirable for your own good, Lizzy," he grumbled.

"Fitzwilliam," she blushed. He was silenced, wanting nothing more than to return to the pleasant activities they had been undertaking before the interruption.

"I shall leave you to ready yourself, my love," he said, with a more decorous kiss on her hand. She smiled at him as he left and began to whistle. It occurred to her that she had never heard him whistle before and had he still been facing her, he would have remarked upon how perfectly the mask of delight spread across her face. Alas, he was already halfway down the hall.

...

After finishing with her toilette, Elizabeth made her way to breakfast through the grand halls that were soon to be hers. Her head was full however, not of raptures of the beautiful home that Fitzwilliam had extended to her, but to the great man that owned it. She sighed as she came upon his handsome form, waiting outside the breakfast room. As if not wanting to disturb the harmony of his quiet contemplation, she drew up silently beside him.

Placing her hand into his, she prepared to share the happy news with those dearest to her. Only Jane was missing from the happy picture, though Lizzy took comfort in the fact that her favourite sister was likely pursuing a similar happiness of her own. Fitzwilliam stood proudly by her side as she announced her engagement to the intimate circle of family. It was clear from the lack of shock on Mr Bennet's countenance that Mr Darcy had already applied for his consent, for he gave a knowing wink to the Gardiners, before turning to Lizzy and, seeing her on the arm of her betrothed, becoming overwhelmed with emotion. It would seem that they had altered his opinions of the formidable Mr Darcy throughout the early morning. He chuckled, turning to his favourite daughter.

"I could not have parted with you, my dear Lizzy, to anyone less worthy." He smiled at his new son and embraced his daughter. Darcy dropped her hand and moved on to breakfast in order to allow the two some privacy. It was indeed a happy day.