Here's the next chapter! Got it in before bed :D

Chapter 37

Elizabeth and Jane were girls again, styling each other's hair for dinner. Rose knocked about an hour before the meal, and Jane gave Rose one of her own combs, twisting her hair off of her neck and leaving a few waves to frame Rose's face. Delighted, Rose stood in front of the mirror, observing herself from every angle and tapping at the base of her hair. "Will it stay?"

"So long as you do not shake your head overmuch. Lizzy and I will add pins."

Elizabeth did, amused at how Jane's presence made Rose want to emphasize her girlish qualities.

Rose asked, "Is Mr. Bingley the man who at first broke your heart?"

"It was a bruising, that is all."

"But now you are to be married. How wonderful!"

Jane smiled. "Yes, it is. Quite wonderful."

"I had thought my uncle and Miss Elizabeth might marry, or my brother and Miss Elizabeth. But now, I do not know. I should like Miss Elizabeth to marry one of them so she may become part of our family, though I suppose she could not be my governess then, which is not something I would like."

Elizabeth smothered a chuckle. "Whomever I am to marry, I will be happy work with you on your Latin."

Rose wrinkled her nose. "I would rather climb trees."

Elizabeth smiled.

Jane laughed. "Lizzy told Mama she had stopped climbing trees, but we all knew she had not."

"Miss Lizzy—" Rose glanced at Elizabeth upon using the nickname. Elizabeth nodded, and Rose continued, "Miss Lizzy is wonderful at climbing trees, though that is a secret between us. Many ladies climb trees, she says, but they do not speak of it except amongst themselves."

Jane nodded. "Lizzy is wise."

The entire household dined together. Rose wore a cheerful, sky blue muslin with pale yellow calico at the sleeves. The dress was miraculously unstained and a little tight about her waist and shoulders. It would need to be let out to accommodate her growth, Elizabeth noted as servants brought out the soup.

Elizabeth sat at Jane's left with Rose at her right. Mr. Bingley sat across from Jane, with Mr. Darcy at his right, across from Elizabeth. Col. Fitzwilliam sat across from Rose and began an animated conversation about Rose's hairstyle before segueing somehow to local insect life.

Mr. Darcy was solicitous, asking about Elizabeth's enjoyment of the soup, which she deemed excellent, and her opinion of various inconsequential things. Elizabeth wasn't certain what to make of it. Mr. Darcy was not one for small talk. He asked after Jane's health, and the Gardiners, to Elizabeth's surprise, without disapprobation for their background in trade.

Mr. Darcy was amiable in all respects, and as the meal progressed, Elizabeth grew more confused. Jane stole glances at Elizabeth as they laid out the roasted pheasant. Elizabeth averted her gaze as she cut into her meat.

She had known Mr. Darcy capable of politeness, but unlike Mr. Bingley, who was amiable to all, no matter their relative station, Mr. Darcy did not engage with those he considered beneath him.

Perhaps Elizabeth had been overly harsh in her judgment. Mr. Darcy answered questions about the grounds, and even offered to take them all on a walk the following afternoon, provided the weather remained fair, so his guests might see and enjoy them.

Mr. Darcy said, "Miss Elizabeth, if you wish, you should accompany your aunt and uncle tomorrow. I know it has been difficult being so far from your family."

Elizabeth, surprised at his consideration, said, "If Miss Rose does not mind pushing her afternoon lessons back another day…"

"It is no trouble!" Rose said in a rush. "Will Miss Jane and Mr. Bingley join us? And Uncle Richard and Mama?"

Mrs. Darcy, who had been whispering something to a maid, looked up, "I would not wish to impose," she said.

"This is your home," Mr. Darcy said. "You cannot impose."

Mrs. Darcy was silent for a stretch. "Thank you," she said. Her voice hitched, and Elizabeth knew something had changed. Mr. Darcy was usually cold to his stepmother, but his expression now was all warmth. He even smiled.

The smile surprised her most. Mr. Darcy did not submit to idle conversation. He addressed them all with genuine warmth. If this was the Mr. Darcy his servants and friends saw, then Elizabeth understood why they spoke so highly of him.

They finished eating and retired, men and women to their separate areas for after-dinner entertainments.

Rose said, "Do you think they have captured the other highwaymen yet?"

"Why?" Elizabeth asked.

"If so, I think they would have mentioned it," Jane said.

"My brother seems happier."

Mr. Darcy did. Elizabeth was glad she was not the only one who had noticed.

Mrs. Gardiner said, "Perhaps he's in love."

Elizabeth's mouth went dry and her face warmed.

"Some Sherry?" Mrs. Darcy offered a glass to Mrs. Gardiner.

Jane took Elizabeth's hand and squeezed it.

Rose asked, "Did you wish to play a game? Commerce?"

"You are old enough for Commerce?" Jane asked with false innocence.

"Yes, I have played since I was nine."

"I am not so skilled," Jane demurred. "But if you would like to play a hand—"

"Jane," Elizabeth admonished. Jane's sweet face hid a facility of cards that rivaled a Captain Sharp.

"What?" Jane held her hands out in front of her and smiled.

Elizabeth shook her head. After a few hands, Mrs. Darcy joined her daughter, evening the odds. Then the men joined them in the parlor. They played other games until Jane yawned.

Mr. Bingley, who had, upon returning to the parlor, seated himself beside Jane, said, "My dear, you must be tired."

"I do not wish to spoil anyone's fun," Jane said, smiling. But another yawn foiled Jane's attempt at proving herself alert.

Elizabeth took Jane's arm and said, "It would be best for Rose and me to make our way to bed as well."

"Already?" Rose groaned.

"I thought you wanted to go to the folly tomorrow and teach me which colors I should use when painting a sunrise…"

Rose cocked her head. "Yes, I said that. Maybe Miss Jane would like to learn too?"

Jane said, "That would be delightful. But perhaps, not so early tomorrow."

"We can paint leaves. Then Mama can come too. She is unfit for conversation before her morning chocolate."

"Rose!"

"You have said as much yourself, Mama."

Jane and Elizabeth stood and linked arms. Rose, not to be outdone, came around Jane's other side and linked her arm around Jane's free one. The three made their goodbyes and returned first to Jane's rooms, and then to Rose's.

Rose changed for bed, and Elizabeth read to her until the girl fell asleep.

Placing the book on the counter, Elizabeth first returned to Jane's room, and peeking inside, saw her sister was fast asleep. Closing the door quietly behind her, Elizabeth made her way to the library.

It would be a fine thing to have a book, she told herself. She had no expectations, of course, of meeting any others of the household in the library this evening.

And, to her disappointment, the room was dark. Elizabeth, lantern in hand, wandered along the wall, looking at the shelves.

Footsteps.

Elizabeth turned. It was Mr. Darcy. She had not expected him, but when she saw him, she acknowledged her unspoken hopes.

Elizabeth said, "Mr. Darcy. I apologize if I am disturbing you."

"You are not."

Elizabeth said, "I hoped to speak with you."

Just as Mr. Darcy said, "If you have a moment…"

"Please," they said together.

Elizabeth laughed and looked down at her hands, fingering the lantern's handle.

Mr. Darcy said, "Constable Tully and I have agreed to offer Mr. Wickham transport to the Australian colony instead of sending him to the Excises Court."

Elizabeth looked up in shock. "But you despise Mr. Wickham."

Elizabeth asked, "Is it because you regret denying Mr. Wickham his inheritance?"

"No. Mr. Wickham seduced and nearly ruined my sister Georgiana. He did it not for affection, but because he wanted her allotment of 30,000 pounds from me."

"Mr. Wickham did not ask your consent to marry her?"

"He would not. This was for the best, but…" Mr. Darcy explained how he had paid Mr. Wickham's debts out of deference to Mr. Darcy the elder who had grown ill. "I feared learning of Mr. Wickham's gambling would prove catastrophic to my father's health. He lived only a short time after, but he was able to die in peace."

Elizabeth, horrified, exclaimed, "Mr. Wickham is the very devil! I cannot—! And then to seduce your sister after? The words I said to you, and the harshness of my sentiment was beyond the pale."

"You had no way to know. This is not a revelation I make lightly, and I would appreciate your discretion not to speak of it."

"I would never!"

"I know." Mr. Darcy stepped closer.

Elizabeth was arrested by his presence. His gaze lit a fire through her, and she was aware of his scent and the slight crease between his brows as he stared at her. His intensity no longer unsettled her. Mr. Darcy carried so many burdens. He and Mr. Wickham had been raised together since childhood, and that monster had betrayed Mr. Darcy again and again.

Elizabeth said, "He deserves to hang."

"Wickham protected your sister. And Bingley. And he has, at least, shared with us what he knows of the bandits. I suspect it is more revealing than they expected. Wickham was always observant, in his way."

Thank you," Elizabeth said. She clutched the lantern. Her hand shook.

"What is it you wished to ask me?" Mr. Darcy said.

"It was only… Jane had wondered, did you write to Mr. Bingley, after…"

"I did."

Tears rose to Elizabeth's eyes.

"I only wished to protect him, before, but in so doing so I wronged him, your sister, and, worst of all, I wronged you. I expect nothing for this redress, and I had not intended to speak of it."

"You would not." Tears rolled down Elizabeth cheeks. "You never seek to put yourself in the best light, even when you ought."

Mr. Darcy ran his hand through his hair, disheveling it.

Elizabeth said, "It is impossible for me to thank you enough for this gift."

"Though it is improper, I had hoped to find you here this evening." Mr. Darcy held out his hand, resting his thumb on Elizabeth's cheek. He wore no gloves, and the warmth of his skin against hers tingled. "You saw something in the handkerchief Mrs. Reynolds was carrying, and that is why you were in the laundry, is it not?"

"I should have spoken with you and Col. Fitzwilliam. I was uncertain, and I did not—"

"Since I was a child, they taught me above all things to value my position. Family. Duties. Expectations. When others saw me, they noted first these and little else. I clung to expectations because without them, I feared I was nothing.

"And you, rash, impertinent, stepped outside of everyone's expectations and became something more. You made me question myself, and, at first, I hated it. You spoke to me with no regard for my station and accepted me, or not, exactly as I was."

The lantern rattled in Elizabeth's grip. With his free hand, Mr. Darcy steadied hers. "I know you wish to marry for love. If it pleases you, I hope you will allow me to court with you. If, in time, your affections for me grow as mine have for you, then—"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes!"

They stood, clutching the lantern between them. Mr. Darcy leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Elizabeth's chest fluttered, so light she might fly to the ceiling. She lifted her chin, and he brushed his thumb over her lips. "Until tomorrow," he said.

"And tomorrow and tomorrow again." Elizabeth grinned. She could not help it. A courtship. A kiss. A dance.

Love.

Elizabeth breathed again when Mr. Darcy shut the door. Then, books forgotten, Elizabeth ran back to her sister's room and woke her. "Oh Jane, I have the most wonderful news!"

XYXYXYX

Thank you for reading! Last chapter tomorrow :D

V