A/N: I have shortened this chapter from the original ebook version. The chapter notes associated with the portion on the cutting room floor have been added to the chapter notes of Chapter 42. The last posting generated more reviews than usual and many commented on how they enjoyed the chapter notes on historical tidbits. So I added the chapter notes to Chapter 42 to give you more reason to believe that Lady Catherine accepted defeat.

Also after this chapter, there will be 7 more plus the epilogue. My plan is to finish posting the story next week, then wait a week to let people catch up with the reading, and then post the epilogue. A week after that the story will be taken down except for a few beginning chapters to be enrolled in KU, which does not allow the story to be posted anywhere else. I will post this note at the description part of the story so that new readers will be aware of this. Thank you to all for following and favoriting this story, and especially to those who also review. Please keep the reviews coming. I use them to guide my writing especially of the next story. You may have noticed that the paragraphs have been shorter (not shortened, just broken up more) in recent chapters because one of you kindly pointed out that long chapters are harder to read.

Chapter 44: The Journey to London

The business at Pemberley took more time than expected. He needed to discuss with his housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, and his butler, Mr. Houghton, about the imminent arrival of the new mistress of Pemberley. The whole staff was overjoyed to hear that finally their master had found the lady he cherished to be his life companion and equally importantly, to produce the next generation of Darcys. They had secretly become anxious because over the years, they had witnessed quite a large number of young ladies who had come to Pemberley in various parties rather openly displaying their ambitions to become its mistress, and yet their master was always unmoved.

Mr. Darcy also needed to ponder on a Christmas present for Elizabeth. He had already chosen a ring with a yellow diamond as the engagement ring as he had noticed that Elizabeth favoured yellow gowns. He finally chose a purple amethyst necklace with a diamond pendant from the mistress collection of Pemberley. He remembered his mother wearing this necklace and for some reason it left a strong impression. He was certain that Elizabeth would look exquisite wearing it when they went out during the season as her eyes often displayed the hue of deep purple in the evening. For the rest of the family, he had while still at Wentworth-Woodhouse asked his man in London to purchase shawls, brooches, music and the like for the ladies and toys for the children as he was certain that he would meet the much-talked about Mr. Edward Gardiner and his family soon after arrival. The men would get the best port that had been in the Pemberley cellar from before the war against Bonaparte.

When he began his journey to town, he needed the weather to cooperate in order to arrive before Christmas. As it was, the weather was fine and the roads more than passable until the last leg of the journey. He had to push through blinding snow by the time he got close to Darcy house on Park Lane just west of Grosvenor Square; then he realized that Arlington Square, where the Bennets' townhouse was located, would be just another mile further. it was already well past dinner time, and the storm did not show any sign of letting up. On the morrow it would be Christmas. All of a sudden, he had the inexplicably urgent desire to see his love before Christmas arrived. Even though he was quite hungry and tired from the journey, he decided to direct his coachman to stop at Arlington Square, uninvited though he might be, because if he decided to go home first, he was afraid he would be tempted to stay in until the next morning when the streets might have become impassible.

The butler from Longbourn, Mr. Hill, opened the door when he heard the persistent loud knocking on the front door. He admitted that he was distracted while watching the Bennet, Gardiner and Phillips families gathering in the drawing room playing games and singing carols, and did not hear the knocking until then. His face showed the surprise he felt when he saw who was standing there all covered in snow. While he was helping Mr. Darcy take off his overcoat in the hall, Elizabeth came to the second-floor landing outside of the drawing room door to see who might be visiting at this hour. Elizabeth was so surprised that she was stunned speechless, and just gaped at her betrothed with an open mouth. If Mr. Hill had not been there, Mr. Darcy would have gone up to Elizabeth and kissed those enticing parted lips. Once Mr. Hill walked away with his outdoor garments, he bounded up to the second floor and stretched out his hands for Elizabeth to take, which she did by stepping toward him and stretched out her own hands.

"Are you glad that I have come?" asked Darcy a little diffidently.

"Of course, I am glad! Even when your hands are so cold! I was wishing for it and scolded myself for being a goose!" Elizabeth assured.

"Hmmm… a goose! I wish you were one as well! Your hands are so warm…and…soft….and look delicious!" He started nibbling at her hands making Elizabeth giggle uncontrollably.

At that point Mrs. Bennet also appeared at the door and asked, "Lizzy, who is visiting at this hour…." When she saw the antics Darcy and Elizabeth were engaged in, she exclaimed, "Mr. Darcy, what an unexpected pleasure! We thought you would not come until the new year. Did you just arrive from the north? Have you had dinner this evening?" Mrs. Bennet was not a Gardiner for nothing. She was very perceptive especially on topics concerning food.

Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth coloured a little, and Mr. Darcy remembering his manners greeted Mrs. Bennet cordially, "Good evening, Mrs. Bennet. I just came from my estate in Derbyshire. Since the Bennet house is not far from my own on Park Lane, I thought I should stop in for a brief greeting in case the snow would prevent me from calling on the morrow."

"Then you must not have had dinner. Come and sit by the fire, and Elizabeth will order a plate for you. We had goose tonight. It was cooked according to my Mother Bennet's recipe. We still have the plum pudding out in the drawing room, but you must eat your dinner first!"

Mr. Darcy replied blithely, "Yes, Ma'am! I would be honoured to partake of your Christmas Eve feast. To tell you the honest truth, that was a big reason for me to stop here first before going to my house to have dinner all by myself. My cook is passable but nothing like the culinary art that you exhibit at every meal."

Mrs. Bennet was very pleased by Mr. Darcy's praise, and said to Elizabeth, "Your Mr. Darcy is very gracious in his praise. I hope this will encourage you to pay more attention to menu designs in the remaining few weeks you are at home. On second thoughts, I shall order Mr. Darcy's tray myself. Now please lead Mr. Darcy to a quieter corner of the drawing room." She turned to walk downstairs to the kitchen.

Mr. Darcy was glad that Mrs. Bennet would be leaving him and his love alone for a minute and in no time at all, got Elizabeth into his arms for a short but fervent kiss. "Hmmm…so much better than goose!" He murmured. They heard a throat clearing and jumped apart instantly.

This time, Mr. Bennet was at the door, and he said, "Mr. Darcy and Lizzy, taking advantage of the mistletoe?" He looked above their heads and sure enough there hung a sprig of the greenery. "We did not expect you, Mr. Darcy, but you are of course very welcome to share our time during this joyous holiday. Come, come, we are quite a boisterous crowd, but you will surely get used to us before the evening is out. Lizzy, please ring for more glühwein so that Mr. Darcy could warm up although I imagine he has been getting a bit heated up since he got here," Mr. Bennet said with a knowing smile.

Chapter notes:

Glühwein is a mulled red wine served warm.