In the stable, the horse nearest Elizabeth turned its neck toward the door, ears alert, and knickered, and Elizabeth heard hoofbeats on the gravel outside.
Callers.
Her throat tightened. She shook her head. Surely Darcy had left Netherfield by now.
A rider passed in the distance in front of the door on a tall, dark steed and Elizabeth saw his tall top hat: It was Mr. Darcy in spotless riding coat with ramrod straight posture. Then she saw the second rider with him. Mr. Bingley! Her breath caught.
She quickly wiped her hands and tried to smooth her skirts, regretting her earlier jaunt through the mud. She stepped out the stable door.
"Miss Bennet!" Mr. Darcy said, clearly surprised to see her there. His gaze slid down to her muddy hem.
"Mr. Darcy," she nodding pertly and turned to Bingley with genuine affection. "Mr. Bingley! How good to see you again."
Bingley's face turned deep crimson. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Elizabeth. Are the members of your family in good health?"
Elizabeth smiled warmly. "All well, thank you. Even father is improving."
"That is splendid news," Bingley dismounted as the groom took his horse. "I have missed your lovely home," he said, glancing around fondly.
Elizabeth doubted it was their home he had missed quite so much, but she simply smiled. As they waited for the groom to take the second horse, Elizabeth snuck a glance at Mr. Darcy. He said little, and wore a somber expression on his face. Perhaps he had come solely to bring Bingley to see Jane.
Well, even so, that was enough as long as Jane had a chance at happiness.
"I thought you returned to Kent with your aunt."
"My plans changed," he said, still frowning.
Elizabeth smiled brightly at Bingley. "It is a great pleasure to see you again. My sisters will be very pleased."
Bingley removed his hat and wrung it nervously in his hands. "Do you really think so? Have they acquired many new acquaintances over the winter?"
"None they like as well as you," Elizabeth grinned at him.
"I told you so," Darcy said, self-satisfactorily.
Elizabeth choose to ignore him.
Bingley said, still holding his hat, spoke, "Miss Elizabeth, I must thoroughly apologize to all the members of your family for my actions these past few months."
"Nonsense, Mr. Bingley. We are all old friends here." Elizabeth took his arm. "Everyone will be very happy to see you."
Bingley smiled, relaxing, and set his hand on her arm. "You are most kind to say so."
They walked from the stable, making the amiable conversation of dear old friends while Darcy walking behind them. Instead of the annoyance he thought he might feel, he felt a flush of good will that the two people to whom he was closest liked each other. He was pleased his good friend was so dear to Elizabeth and vice versa. It was vexing, he realized. He wished to not feel the rush of emotion toward Elizabeth, and yet, he found his friends only increased his joy.
"Lord, it's that boring Darcy fellow! And Mr. Bingley walking with Lizzy!" Lydia yelled from upstairs to her sisters as Elizabeth, Darcy and Bingley entered the hall at Longbourn.
Elizabeth smiled embarrassment at the men. "I am sorry. My sisters are nothing if not boisterous. And vocal."
She then entered Longbourn's foyer. "Hello? Mama, Jane? We have company."
"That Mr. Darcy," she heard her mother say from the other room as she bustled in. "What can he want?"
To her credit, Mrs. Bennet blushed when she looked up and saw him in her home.
"Nothing, Madam, but to bring my friend to call. You may remember him?" Darcy said and gestured to his companion.
"Mr. Bingley!" Mrs. Bennet nearly leapt into the air. "How wonderful to see you." She ran to him and vigorously shook his hand. "I hope you are very well."
"I am, Ma'am, thank you. You are in good health as well?" Bingley smiled, seeming to be genuinely happy to see her.
Behind Mrs. Bennet, Jane appeared, a shy smile on her lips. "Hello, Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy."
Bingley reddened again. "Miss Bennett. It is very good to see you. I fear I owe you an apology of the highest order for not calling sooner."
Now Jane blushed. "No apology is necessary, Sir."
"Bingley!" Kitty called, seeing him from upstairs. Then she and Lydia made quick work down the stairs.
"Girls, you sound like a herd of water buffalos," Mrs. Bennet said through her teeth, still smiling sweetly.
But Elizabeth could see that her sisters' footfalls mattered not to Bingley. His eyes stayed fastened to Jane's face. She doubted he even heard them.
"I was wondering if you might take a turn with me and perhaps show me Longbourn's gardens," Bingley said. Jane nodded and he led her out the door and into the sunshine. Her sisters and Mama moved to the window to watch them stroll out on the lawn.
"Is he going to propose?" Kitty asked.
"Shhh! We can't hear them if you talk," Lydia answered.
Elizabeth turned and saw Mr. Darcy was watching her intently. She was startled but pretended not to notice.
"Miss Elizabeth, are there gardens in the back of the house as well?' Darcy asked quietly.
"Er-no. There is a pig sty and, of course, the stable. But there is a pleasant creek on the side of the house."
"Would you care to show me?"
Elizabeth glanced back at her sisters, crowding the large window. She should change her dress, and yet the idea of fresh air was very appealing. "Yes, that would be very nice."
They exited the room through a side door and likely their absence was not even noticed for a while.
Elizabeth walked next to Mr. Darcy, her dirty hem growing wet (although perhaps more clean) in the damp grass. She had many questions-and pert comments as well-for Mr. Darcy. She was unsure of where to begin. She waited for him to make conversation, but then realized she might be waiting a very long time. Finally, she could wait no more.
"Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor father by hiring your physician. Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest of my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express. All this time, we thought it was my mother's brother. But your aunt told me differently the other day."
Darcy smiled ruefully. "If you will thank me,'' he replied, "let it be for yourself alone. Much as I respect your family, I believe I thought only of you. But firstly, I must apologize for my aunt's behavior. She told me of your conversation at Collin's wedding breakfast. I am deeply embarrassed that she has spoken to you thus." Here, he paused and stared down at the lawn. "But there may have been one small benefit of her poor manners."
Elizabeth listened.
"Although I deeply regret that she insulted you, when she told me of her conversation, it taught me to hope,'' said he, "as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before." He smiled stiffly again. "I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that, had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly."
Elizabeth smiled in response. "You do know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that. After abusing you so abominably to your face, I could have no scruple in abusing you to all your relations.''
Mr. Darcy looked at her earnestly. "Though your accusations were ill-founded, my behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence.''
"Mr. Darcy, we cannot quarrel for the greater share of blame of that evening. The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved in civility."
Darcy looked very serious. "I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I then said, of my conduct and my manners during the whole of it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. I shall never forget your reproof: 'had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.' Those were your words. You know not how they have tortured me; - though it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice."
"Oh! do not repeat what I then said," Elizabeth said quickly. "These recollections will not do at all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it.''
"Miss Bennet," he said looking stiff in a way she may have once thought was arrogance, but now she understood was uncertainty. "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.''
This made Elizabeth stop. She listened without moving, allowing herself to truly appreciate how she felt. Mr. Darcy stood in front of her with his solemn eyes. A warmth bloomed in her chest towards him, and an unlikely urge to step up to him and kiss him came to her. That, however, would be completely objectionable. But, she noted, that was her first reaction. How differently she felt toward him now than at Hunsford. She scarcely believed he could be the same man. She realized she was not the same person either.
"Indeed, I do find I feel very differently than I did in April." She looked up at him, an eyebrow quirked up playfully. "If you ask me again, you may get a completely different answer."
Darcy paused, studying her again.
"This is not a trick to punish me? Though I will admit to deserving it."
She slipped her hand into one of his. "Mr. Darcy, this is no trick."
His mouth relaxed into a smile. ""Very well. Elizabeth Bennet, might you put me out of my severe misery and finally agree to become my wife, once and for all?"
"Are you sure that's what you wish? With my family-my objectionable relatives-and all?"
Their hands still together, he lifted hers up to his mouth for a gentle kiss. "If you had one hundred more relatives, I would still wish for it."
"I will happily consent to that," Elizabeth said, grinning broadly. "Our relatives may keep us very busy."
"Hopefully, we may find ways to entertain ourselves that excludes them," Darcy said, a half-smile forming on his lips.
Just then Mrs. Bennet opened the door and screeched. "Lizzy! Do come! Mr. Bingley has asked for Jane's hand! I must tell Mr. Bennet. After I tell Lady Lucas, that is. We will need all new dresses." She clutched her hand to her heart. "Oh, a daughter married! Lady Lucas will be positively green with envy. Lizzy, do come here this moment!" She narrowed her eyes at Mr. Darcy.
"Well, perhaps we should wait a few days before telling the rest. Maybe I can win her over in that time," Darcy said.
Elizabeth sighed. "Never fear. She will be won over as soon as she hears the words, 'second daughter engaged.' You may never live this down."
"She is easier than my aunt," Darcy said. "You know Lady Catherine holds no influence with me, but she will be against this for a while."
Elizabeth reluctantly let go of his hand. "Well, it's fortunate I'm no longer afraid of Lady Catherine. There is one question."
"Yes?"
"Shall we have Mr. Collins officiate?"
"I can think of no one more qualified," Darcy said, smiling and his straight teeth showing.
"Nor can I. That is most vexing."
Epilogue - Netherfield, Six Weeks later
Mrs. Bennet pulled at her brand new gloves as she stood proudly watching guests arrive at Netherfield for the wedding breakfast of her two eldest daughters, Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth. "Well, Mr. Darcy, although your aunt could not attend, we could not have landed on a more ideal day for a wedding banquet? Even if you have to share it with another couple." She said.
Darcy, next to Elizabeth and her sister, smiled at his new mother-in-law and chose not to remind her she had spent half the previous morning fretting over the imaginary cloud formation. "Indeed, you said the day would be fine, and you have proven your ability to predict the future. Bingley, I say we must take our new mother-in-law with us now to Newmarket each year so that she may tell us which horses will win."
Mrs. Bennet tittered happily. "Hardly! I care not for horse racing. Although I do seem to be a keen soothsayer. Did I not say that Jane and Bingley would match perfectly? Ah, there are the Lucases. I must greet them." she said and hurried toward her guests.
In her absence, Kitty, also in a new dress, pushed their father forward in his new invalid chair. "This must be the happiest day of Mama's life. Two daughters married in one day. She will never give my future any consideration," she said.
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged knowing looks. "I can assure you, Kitty, Mama will have nothing but your future husband to worry of very soon."
Lydia, clad in a particularly fashionable new dress, was close behind her. "It is a shame more of the militia are here to celebrate with us."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at this and ignored her sister, instead leaning down to address their father. "Papa, are you quite comfortable? Do you need a shawl?"
He smiled, his increasingly expressive face showing how well he was recovering, "No, am well." His hand trembled a bit, but he reached out and touched her cheek. "My girls. Am so proud. G-good new sons."
Darcy leaned down as well to address his new father. "Thank you, Sir," he said.
Mr. Bennet winked at his daughters. "He paid me to say that."
"Of course," Darcy added, straightening up. "And it was worth every penny."
Elizabeth laughed, as another carriage pulled up to Netherfield's entrance. Lydia appeared next to her on the steps
"Lizzy, Mama wants you and Jane to show Lady Lucas your bouquets so she will see how they match your dress.."
Kitty stepped forward. "I will take them to her," she offered and was handed both small arrangements. "Lydia, you must push Papa!"
"Lord," Lydia said and shut her eyes in exaggerated irritation. "Very well. Papa, let us make our way to the refreshment table."
When Lydia and her father left, Elizabeth felt warmth at her side as Darcy covertly slid his hand into her gloved one.
"Tell me, Mrs. Darcy, Is this day all you hoped it would be?"
She smiled before turning to him. "Better. Who might have thought one year ago that all of us might be standing here?"
Darcy's lips curved upward. "Besides your mother?"
"Yes, besides my fortune-telling mother?"
"I might have hoped so, in a secret way. And I may have admitted it if you had asked me on a good day."
Elizabeth laughed. "Sir, that is untrue. So is today a good day then?"
He lifted her hand to his lips. "Every day after today is a wonderful day, Mrs. Darcy."
Elizabeth found she could no longer suppress her smile.