Lady Anne laughed as she laced her arm through Elizabeth's.

"And what about Derbyshire?"

"You shall have to decide for yourselves," Elizabeth smiled and they all walked inside.


17.

They were received by the butler, as he took coats, bonnets, hat, spencers, gloves and walking stick.

"The master is waiting for you in the parlour, Miss Lizzy," he said with a look of both concern and affection, and both Darcys knew that this man had probably been here since she was born.

"Thank you, we shall join him," Elizabeth said and turned to her guests. "Would you mind? Papa was anxious when I left."

"Not at all, Miss Bennet," Mr. Darcy said. "We would like to be introduced to your family."

Elizabeth smiled and led them through the house. They noticed that it was bigger than it looked from the outside and it was tastefully decorated, though there were unfinished books, paintings, and half-embroidered handkerchiefs scattered around. The consequences of so many daughters, Mr. Darcy thought with a smile. When they walked into the parlour, the same man they had seen before was sitting down with a book on his hand, sans walking stick and hat.

"Papa?" Elizabeth said.

"Lizzy, my love, there you are!" the man said, and then was startled to see the unknown couple behind his favourite daughter.

"Papa, allow me to introduce Mr. George Darcy and Lady Anne Darcy of Pemberley. Sir, Your Ladyship, this is my father, Mr. Thomas Bennet."

Bows and curtsies were exchanged before Mr. Bennet said:

"Darcys, you said? There was recently a Mr. Darcy here who is a friend of my future son-in-law, Bingley. Is he a relation of yours?"

"Yes, Mr. Bennet," Mr. Darcy replied. "He is our son."

"And remember Georgiana, Papa? She is also their daughter."

"Oh, yes, the young lady you have been writing to, I remember. Please, do take a seat. My wife has gone to visit her sister in Meryton, but I am sure Lizzy will do very well as your hostess."

Elizabeth called refreshments while the Darcys took a seat.

"I am so sorry for appearing in such a way at your home unannounced, Mr. Bennet," Mr. Darcy said.

Mr. Bennet waved his hand. "Do not mention it. Lizzy said you were very kind to her when she was in Derbyshire and anyone who is kind to my daughter is more than welcome. But I must admit that at first I was worried. It did not seem that your business here was agreeable."

"Allow me to assure you, sir, that our business here was merely to extend a hand in friendship to Miss Bennet," Lady Anne said. "My sister's... well, I am afraid that we had to apologise to Miss Bennet for her words and manners as I now apologise to you for her attitude."

"What did she say to you, Lizzy?" Mr. Bennet asked her daughter as refreshments were brought.

"Oh, nothing of consequence, Papa," she replied as she poured tea. "She did not believe I was good enough company to Miss Darcy."

"Did she, now?"

"I assure you, she is alone in her estimation," Mr. Darcy argued. "Georgiana was delighted in Miss Bennet's company and Fitzwilliam has vouched for Miss Bennet's character."

"Fitzwilliam?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"Mr. Darcy, Papa."

"Oh, yes, of course. Well, I can very well believe that Miss Darcy enjoyed her company for I am not bragging when I say that my Lizzy is usually very much loved wherever she goes."

"Papa!" Elizabeth blushed, but still smiled. "That is not even true! I have it on good authority that some people do not like me at all."

"People with bad judgement, Miss Bennet," Lady Anne smiled, knowing she was referring to her sister.

"And she has spoken very favourably of your daughter, too," Mr. Bennet added. "By Lizzy's description, Miss Darcy reminds me of my Jane, which is the highest compliment I can make to a lady."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Indeed! It is a very fine compliment, I assure you," she told the Darcys. "I have not thought about it, but you are right, Papa. She does remind me of Jane," she said as if thinking out loud and then said: "Jane is shy and reserved, but also very kind and sweet."

"We have heard excellent reports on her," Mr. Darcy told them. "And you might be speaking of Georgiana by that description as well."

There was a knock on the door and when they bid them to enter, Mrs. Hills appeared in the parlour.

"Yes, Mrs. Hills?" Elizabeth asked.

"I am sorry to interrupt, Miss Lizzy, but Miss Bennet, Miss Mary and Miss Kitty ask if they may join you here."

"We would be happy to meet them," Lady Anne told Elizabeth.

"Yes, Mrs. Hills, bring them here."

The first lady to enter was one of the most beautiful the Darcys had ever seen. She had blue eyes, blond hair and a kind smile on her face. She was wearing a white gown with lace and a fine shawl, and seemed to be shy and sweet. The next girl was what most people would call plain. She had a light blue dress that did nothing for her figure, brown hair and eyes, and a very serious disposition. The last girl was the youngest, as far as they could tell. She was very pretty and seemed somehow shy and lively at the same time. She was wearing a white gown with small pink flowers and a curious look in her brown eyes.

"Sisters, these are Mr. George Darcy and Lady Anne Darcy of Pemberley, parents of my new friend, Miss Georgiana Darcy, and Mr. Bingley's friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy," she smiled playfully at the Darcys who could not help but smile at this long, but seemingly necessary introduction. "Sir, Your Ladyship, these are my beloved sisters, my eldest, Miss Jane Bennet, and my younger sisters, Miss Mary and Miss Kitty."

They all curtsied as their name was pronounced and then Jane turned to the Darcys.

"'Tis a pleasure to meet you," she smiled shyly. "I have heard much about you from my favourite people, Mr. Bingley and Lizzy."

Mr. Bennet gasped in faked indignation. "Do you see how it is, Lizzy? She is about to get married and her poor old father is easily replaced by her future husband."

They all chuckled, but Jane was seriously distressed.

"Oh, no, Papa! You shall always remain my dear papa. 'Tis only that I have not heard of them from you."

"I shall forgive you, Janey, but you must try to convince Lizzy to never marry," he joked.

"You were right, Mr. Bennet," Lady Anne smiled. "She does remind me of Georgiana."

She remembered the times when Georgiana took Elizabeth's teasing seriously and was afraid she had given offence.

"We have heard wonderful things of you, too, Miss Bennet," Mr. Darcy said. "From Bingley, Fitzwilliam, and Miss Elizabeth."

"Oh, they are so very kind," she flushed and looked down for a moment. "Is the young Mr. Darcy here? Mr. Bingley would be very happy to see him! I know he has written asking for his company."

She looked anxious and they immediately knew she wanted to see Fitzwilliam and assured him of her friendship.

"No, I am afraid Fitzwilliam remains in London on business."

"Business, Mr. Darcy?" Mr. Bennet asked. "Does your son help you much with the running of your estate?"

"He does the running himself," Mr. Darcy smiled, eager to speak well of his son, especially in Miss Elizabeth's company. "He was always very interested in the running of Pemberley and so he started taking small tasks when he was very young. He took more as he grew and by the time he was five and twenty, I found myself doing very little."

"And do you mind?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"Not at all. It brings me much relief to know that my son will be perfectly ready to run everything himself once I am gone. And besides," he smiled. "He does an excellent job at being master, so it allows me to relax and enjoy more time with my wife and daughter."

"Does he feel too much strained?" Elizabeth asked and then realised what she had said. "Oh, I apologise."

"Please, do not," Mr. Darcy smiled. He knew Elizabeth had felt guilty for implying he put all the pressure on Fitzwilliam, but he was happy that she cared about his son's well being. "I do not think he does. He enjoys the work and knows he only has to ask if he needs help, though I admit he takes too much responsibility on himself without anyone asking for it."

"And he is very headstrong," Lady Anne chuckled. "But we force him to take some time off from time to time, do not worry," she smiled at Elizabeth who blushed.

She then remembered that they had heard Lady Catherine's accusations and all the things she had said and blushed harder. The Darcys saw this and took it as another good sign. Fitzwilliam had to be wrong!

"I hope," Miss Kitty suddenly said, blushing. "I hope Miss Darcy will be able to come to celebrate Lizzy's birthday next week. We have been anxious to meet her."

Kitty felt shy and withdrawn without Lydia, but could not stop her own curious and lively mind from making itself known sooner or later.

"Yes, we have agreed to let her come to Miss Elizabeth's birthday and, if we are still invited, we would be happy to come, too." Mr. Darcy replied.

"You are most welcome!" Elizabeth smiled.

"Thank you, Miss Elizabeth, we will be very pleased to come," Lady Anne said.

"We feel also more at ease to allow her to stay now that we know your father," Mr. Darcy added.

"Jane, Lizzy and I will take good care of her," Mr. Bennet promised.

"I know you shall," Lady Anne smiled. "But, for now, we have stayed too long. You have been most kind."

"You are welcome to return whenever you wish," Mr. Bennet shook Mr. Darcy's hand as the ladies curtsied and said goodbye.

"Would you walk us out, Miss Elizabeth?" Lady Anne asked.

"I would be happy to," Elizabeth replied and walked not only to the door, but to the carriage that had returned from the inn to take them back.

"I hope you have forgiven us for Catherine's behaviour," Lady Anne told Elizabeth, holding her hand.

"There is truly nothing to forgive, Lady Anne. If you would allow me to be blunt, I know what it is like to be judged by the behaviour of a member of your family, and therefore, I shall not judge you for your sister's."

"You are very kind and more mature than your one and twenty years would suggest, Miss Bennet," Mr. Darcy said.

"Oh, no, sir!" she smiled teasingly. "I am still twenty and shall remain so for nine more days!"

The Darcys chuckled and Mr. Darcy then said:

"And we shall be back, then."

They said their goodbyes and the Darcys left to meet their angry sister at the inn and start the journey back to London. It was no matter. Lady Anne and Mr. Darcy were happy and anxious to speak to Fitzwilliam.

"You must be tired, Catherine. Why don't go home and we will deal with Fitzwilliam?" Anne asked her sister.

"No, Anne, I will have my say with him, too, and then, I shall leave. It has been a very trying day on my nerves," Lady Catherine replied in a way very reminiscent of Mrs. Bennet, a fact that would have completely mortified her had she known.

The Darcys sighed and prepared themselves for another onslaught and a repetition of that morning's discussion. They would need to wait until Lady Catherine was gone before they broke their own news to Fitzwilliam. They hoped that by that time he was not too distraught by Lady Catherine's retelling.

Finally, they arrived at Darcy House and were welcomed by Williams, who told them that Master Fitzwilliam was in his father's study and Miss Darcy was in the music room.

"Mother, Father! I wondered where you had gone all day," Fitzwilliam said as he stood up. Then he saw his aunt. "Aunt Catherine, I did not know you were to come."

"I was not. I have finally found you, Fitzwilliam," his aunt said.

"Finally, Aunt?" he asked, amused. "I have not been hiding."

"I was here this morning very early, looking for you. When I did not find you, we headed straight for Hertfordshire."

"Hertfordshire?!" Fitzwilliam asked worried. "What business could you possibly have there?"

"Your own, of course! I went there to save you from yourself. That insolent, impertinent girl has been spreading rumours that you two are to marry!"

"Insolent, imperti—," Fitzwilliam repeated until he understood. "I assume you mean Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Yes! That headstrong, selfish girl!"

"Aunt, I sincerely doubt that she would spread such gossip."

"You do not know her, Fitzwilliam! You should have heard the things she said! She is resolute in her pursuit of you!"

"Aunt," Fitzwilliam sighed, pained. "Believe me, I have it from the best authority that Miss Bennet is not interested in marrying me."

"You are wrong, I tell you! I got it from the girl herself!"

"Did she say: I want to marry your nephew?" Fitzwilliam was getting frustrated and tired, and he was still too hurt to be having this conversation. "I highly doubt she would say that."

Lady Anne and Mr. Darcy remained silent as they had done when Lady Catherine had attacked Miss Bennet. As much as they wanted to intervene, the best way to deal with Lady Catherine was to let her get it all out. And perhaps, only perhaps, Lady Catherine would reveal something very different that what she meant to reveal.

"Of course not! But it was in her every look, her every word! She has lured you with her impertinent retorts, her alluring smiles, and low necklines, but you are too intelligent to be mislead and blinded by a few curves on a well endowed country chit!"

"Aunt!" Fitzwilliam jumped from his seat behind the desk now, and placed his hands on it. He was red from both embarrassment—for he was indeed very attracted by all those things his aunt said about Elizabeth—and fury. "Must I remind you that you are speaking of a lady?!"

"Think of how unsuitable she is, Fitzwilliam. She has no dowry to speak of, the lowest connections imaginable, a vulgar family, her father's estate entailed away, and she is sister-in-law of the son of your father's late stewart!"

Fitzwilliam was ashamed to realise how much his aunt's words resembled those he had once uttered and was even more ashamed when he realised he had uttered them during his proposal to Elizabeth.

"Worse yet," his aunt continued. "She has no manners, she runs and plays like a child, and laughs out loud!"

"Yes, Aunt, laughing is a horrible fault, indeed," he said ironically.

"Do not speak to me in such a way, boy!"

"That is the problem, Aunt. I am not a boy and I shall not be treated as one," he said, not knowing how much his words echoed those uttered by Elizabeth hours before. "You had no right to accost Miss Bennet in such a way, and in her own home no less!"

"You are the only heir to Pemberley!"

"I am very well aware," he replied. "But I do not see how that gives you the right to abuse innocent young ladies."

"It gives me the right to know of your concerns!"

"Mine, perhaps, but certainly not Miss Bennet's. And I do not appreciate you prying into my private affairs."

"Very well, I did not wish to tell you this, but I will prove to you how mercenary that girl is!"

"Mercenary? Miss Bennet? No, Aunt, you are wrong."

"I am not. She said, and I remember her every word 'the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.'"

Fitzwilliam looked pale and almost fell down.

"She said that?" he whispered.

"Yes, she did! Extraordinary sources of happiness, indeed! She wants your money, you fool boy."

"What else did she say?" Fitzwilliam asked, ignoring the insult. He felt a warm feeling in his chest that suppressed anything else.

"Let me think... Oh! She said that if you were not by honour nor inclination confined to my daughter, you could make your own choice, and if she was that choice, why may not she accept you if it is was her wish? And worse of all! I asked her to promise me that she would not enter into an engagement with you and she absolutely refused! She said she was resolved to act in that manner which will constitute her own happiness. Do you now see she wishes to entrap you?!"

Fitzwilliam sat down slowly and closed his eyes. He felt the warmth in his chest spread to the rest of his body until he was engulfed by a warm and happy feeling he could only name as hope.

"Fitzwilliam," he heard his aunt say from the fog of comfort he was surrounded with. "This circus around your eligibility will end once you have a wife. It is time you marry."

Fitzwilliam smiled. "I agree, Aunt."

"And you must fulfil your mother's wish," she said. "Do you understand your duty?"

Fitzwilliam looked at his parents and his smile grew.

"I do. I shall act in the best interest of our family name and lineage, and I shall fulfil my mother's wish."

Lady Catherine seemed to relax then.

"I am relieved to find you so reasonable. Will you see that Miss Bennets gets her due?"

To his aunt's surprise, but not to his parents, Fitzwilliam now chuckled.

"Indeed, Aunt, I shall see that Miss Bennet gets what she deserves and is put in her rightful place."

"I knew you would say so. I shall leave now," she nodded to Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne. "I will see myself out."

With that, she went away.

Mr. Darcy smiled. "That was very well played, Fitzwilliam."

"I did not lie to her," his son smiled.

"No," Lady Anne chuckled. "But what you said was so misleading, she assumed you complied."

"Aunt Catherine does have the tendency to hear what she wishes to hear, and that is why I must ask to you what did Elizabeth say exactly."

"Your aunt was right about that. She did say all those things and more," Mr. Darcy said.

"More?"

"I cannot really explain it, but she seemed worried about you and your sudden departure," Lady Anne said. "Fitzwilliam, you must have been wrong about her. She did not look like a woman whose heart had not been touched. Remember the look you shared after she rescued Georgiana from Miss Bingley's remarks!"

"I do remember," Fitzwilliam sighed, and let his head fall in his hands. "But I also remember how she ignored me afterwards."

"Your mother is right. Why would she have said such things in front of your parents if she did not mean them?" his father asked. "You said yourself that she is not a person who would trifle with someone."

"And although she did not say anything explicit about you, she did say that she did not marry Mr. Collins because she did not love or respect him. She could have told Catherine that she had nothing to worry about because she did not love you either and be saved much trouble, but she did not."

"'Tis too much," Fitzwilliam said as he stood up. "Dare I hope?"

"You should dare, Fitzwilliam," Mr. Darcy said.

Their son stood motionless for some minutes, before he moved to the door.

"I shall leave immediately!" he said.

"Immediately?" Lady Anne chuckled. "No, indeed! 'Tis too late now, and you would have to wait until tomorrow to visit Longbourn even if you reach Netherfield to-day."

"Yes... yes, you are right, of course," he stopped by the door. "I will pack and leave at first light."


"Good morning, Fitzwilliam," Lady Anne smiled at her son from her place on the breakfast table.

She had insisted to be there extremely early to see their son before he left.

"Good morning, Mother, Father," he said and sat down.

"You do not look as happy and excited as you did yesterday," Mr. Darcy commented.

Fitzwilliam looked tired as if he had not slept a single hour of the night.

"The little confidence I had left me through the night," he admitted.

"Why?" Lady Anne asked, lowering her cup of coffee. "I thought we gave good, strong arguments last night."

"What if Miss Bennet refused to promise she would not marry me to disoblige Lady Catherine; so as not to give her the satisfaction she required? I know she will not be made to do what she does not wish to do. She is strong enough to stand her ground and she has been the only one with enough courage to stand up to me and scold me. How do I know she did not do the same thing to my aunt?"

"All you have said is true," Mr. Darcy commented. "'Tis a force of nature, your Miss Bennet, and it was marvelous to see her so angry and strong. At dinner last night, we told you why we decided to be there and not say anything until your aunt left, but I must admit that we wished to see how she defended herself."

"She did so admirably," Lady Anne said.

"Indeed," Mr. Darcy agreed. "She refused £7,000, you know?"

"What?" Fitzwilliam said.

"Lady Catherine offered her £7,000 to cut all communication with anyone named Darcy, including Georgiana."

"Oh, such humiliation! As if she had not insulted her enough! How can I beg her forgiveness?"

"We already have," Lady Anne said, "and she deemed it unnecessary. She said she knew what it is like to be judged by your family's behaviour."

"Yes, she knows," Fitzwilliam said dryly, "for I have judged her for that, too! I cannot believe it of Lady Catherine!"

"I could not either," Lady Anne shook her head. "But you can believe it of Miss Bennet?"

"I know that she has so much honour and integrity that she will not be tempted by money. We all knew this," Fitzwilliam said.

"Indeed, but she could easily have taken the money and promise never to marry you. That amount would be a blessing added to her dowry, and she has no reason to believe you will ask again," Mr. Darcy explained. "Fitzwilliam, I think she would not have taken the money either way, but I also know she was absolutely determined to not give her such a promise."

"What do you fear, son?" Lady Anne asked.

Fitzwilliam sighed. "It is just that I have only one more chance. If she rejects me, it is the end. I could never ask a third time! If I ask, I will have to accept and respect her decision. If I do not risk it, there is still hope, if I do, it might be over."

"But if you do not try, you will never know," she argued. "How will you feel ten years from now, knowing you had a chance and you did not take it?"

"I know you are right, of course."

Mr. Darcy reached his hand out to pat his son's and said:

"It shall be all right, Fitzwilliam. We would never send you there if we did not have a good feeling about this."

"Good morning," Georgiana said as she entered.

They all replied and went on with breakfast as usual, talking of different matters, until it was time for Fitzwilliam to leave.

"I shall send to prepare the carriage," he said.

"Carriage?" Georgiana asked. "Where are you going, Brother?"

"Netherfield," he replied.

"Oh! I have a letter for Elizabeth, would you take it for me?" she asked.

"Of course."

"I shall be back," Georgiana said and left everyone at the entrance as she headed for her bedchamber.

"Do not look so nervous, Fitzwilliam," Lady Anne smiled as she held his son's hands. "You are going to be very happy from this day forward."

"No," he shook his head. "I will not make the same mistake and assume and imagine things that may never come to pass. I shall only hope."

"I can understand that."

"Master? Would you take this?" Rogers, Fitzwilliam's valet, asked, distracting him from his parents for a minute.

Lady Anne looked down at the ring finger of her right hand and then up to Mr. Darcy. Her husband understood her inquiry immediately.

"If that is what you want, then I approve," he whispered to his wife.

Lady Anne smiled at her husband and when Fitzwilliam turned back to them she took his hands again, but this time, she gave him the ring that Mr. Darcy had given her for their engagement. Her son looked up in surprise.

"Mother, no, I cannot."

"You most certainly can."

"It is yours, as mistress of Pemberley."

"No, it was intended for a Darcy bride, which I have not been for many years. She will one day be mistress of Pemberley," she said and then noticed Fitzwilliam's expression. "Very well, she might be mistress of Pemberley one day. I want her to have it, Son."

"Are you sure?" he asked, touched.

"Absolutely."

"Father?"

"It is your mother's. If she wants Miss Bennet to have it, I do not mind my son's wife wearing it."

"But it is a Darcy heirloom."

"And so, it is to be passed from one generation to another. Someday, you will give it to your son to give his bride," Mr. Darcy said.

"And I am sure Miss Bennet will not mind it then."

"Isn't it too presumptuous?"

"Take it as an amulet, if you wish," Lady Anne suggested.

"Thank you, Mother," he said, his eyes filling with unshed tears at his mother's gesture.

He kissed his mother's cheek just as Georgiana was coming down the stairs. He put the ring into his coat pocket and turned to his little sister.

"Here," she said, as she give him her letter. "Safe journey."

"Thank you, Georgie."

He was turning to leave when he heard Georgiana's voice.

"Are you not forgetting something?"

Fitzwilliam looked back at her, startled.

"I do not think so, am I?"

"Indeed you are! Every time you leave, you ask me if I wish something from your travels."

"You are right. And you always tell me that coming back is the best gift I can give you."

"Well, I have a request to-day."

All Darcys were surprised by this, for Georgiana had never asked for something before.

"Of course," Fitzwilliam finally said. "What do you wish for, Georgiana?"

"It has been many years now since I have wanted this particular thing, and I hope you shall finally offer it to me."

Fitzwilliam looked at his parents in confusion, but they seemed as surprised and confused as he was.

"Which is?"

"I wish for you to bring me back a sister," she said slyly.

Fitzwilliam smiled as Mr. Darcy chuckled at his daughter's request.

"Such impertinence!" Fitzwilliam smiled still. "I wonder where you are learning it."

"From my future sister, I hope," she replied.

"I shall do my best to please you, Georgiana," Fitzwilliam kiss her cheek and finally left to his destiny.

"How did you know?" Mr. Darcy asked his daughter.

"Oh, Father!" Georgiana smiled. "It was obvious! I know you believe me a child, but I hope you do not think me obtuse!"

"Never, my dear!" Mr. Darcy said.

"But, how?" Lady Anne insisted.

"I know Fitzwilliam was miserable," she said as they returned to the house, "he has been for so long. At first I feared it was because of me and..." she trailed off. "But as time went by, and his treatment of me did not change I thought it had to be something else. Then, I remembered the letters; those in which he had only good things to write about this mysterious woman and I thought it might be love," she sat down on a couch in the parlour. "When he came back from Rosings so sorrowful, and then I found out that Elizabeth had been there, I knew that had to be the connection. I do not know the particulars, of course, for I do not read minds, but I know that Fitzwilliam was not himself until a certain day in July when I met Elizabeth. He was happier then than he had been in such a long time. And then, she was gone again and he leaves right after her, and later joins Mr. Bingley at Netherfield. When I saw his excited mood last night, and I saw him so nervous this morning, I knew something was about to happen."

Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne were stunned for a moment, before they started chuckling.

"We will have to be more careful around this cunning spy," her father said and kissed her forehead. "Yes, my dear, your brother is heading to Hertfordshire to ask for Miss Bennet's hand, and hopefully, you shall have a sister soon," Georgiana beamed. "But do not get ahead of yourself. Your brother has already paid a high price for presuming."

Georgiana nodded, wondering if she would ever know the whole story.

"Was that the reason you took to Miss Bennet so quickly?" Lady Anne asked. "Because you knew of your brother's feelings for her?"

"Yes... No..." she replied and sighed. "At first, at the inn, I wanted my possible future sister to like me, but when she visited at Pemberley, I admit I forgot all about marriage and only wished for her friendship."

"You are very lucky to have obtained it," Mr. Darcy said, remembering Miss Bennet's words. "She is a loyal friend to you, and let's pray she will soon be a loyal sister."


Author's Note:

Hi, guys! Thank you again for your reviews! You are awesome! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

I know that men did not give engagement rings back then, but sometimes the wealthy did offer some kind of gift to their fiancée, and sometimes, it was a ring. So, I won't call it an 'engagement' ring, but it is almost that.

You know what's coming next, right?

Stay safe and healthy!

Jen


I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.

Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.

This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.