Before setting off for Brighton, Mr. Darcy wrote a second letter to Elizabeth. He knew that the Colonel had sent a duplicate note to Pemberley, so Elizabeth would know that Lydia was safe, yet he still found a desperate need to pen her a note. It was almost as if he was closer to her somehow.

My lovely Elizabeth,

I hope you are well and are enjoying your time at Pemberley.

Your father and I arrived at Darcy House this evening to the glad tidings of Colonel Fitzwilliam's success in preventing the elopement. The Colonel wrote that he had also sent the same note to Derbyshire, I am sure you are as relieved as both your father and I. Although, I was confident I could have forced Wickham to marry Lydia, this is by far the more beneficial outcome. Luckily, the knowledge of their stupidity is narrow. I will make sure that the Forsters are under no illusion that they are as much to blame as anyone for this discretion and that their silence is essential.

We will depart for Brighton at first light in the morning. Although we have already travelled a long way, your father is keen to get to Lydia. I have given him the option of returning to Pemberley or back to Hertfordshire after we have concluded our business in Brighton. He has not yet made a decision; I will write when I know more.

I am saddened that this sorry business has taken me away from you, I was hoping we would be apart as little as possible before we wed. I do not regret supporting your father however, but I am counting down the hours until we are together again.

I will write again soon when we have firm plans, take care my beautiful future wife

I love you,

William

Darcy sighed as he thought about his love, how his life had changed since that fateful day Elizabeth visited Pemberley. He pondered what their married life would be like, he hoped it would be full of love, laughter and children. He was reminded of their interrupted conversation about their future marital relationship when the Bennetts arrived at Pemberley. He had often pictured what it would be like to have Elizabeth in his bed, but now it was be a case of when rather than if.

Darcy could feel a raging sense of lust taking over his body. He got up and went to seek his housekeeper. He needed to get his mind off his personal thoughts and also ensure that all was set for their departure in the morning.

Back at Pemberley, Elizabeth was also pining for her Fitzwilliam. How she could go from a single, headstrong woman to a love sick fool, she could not fathom. However, she was eternally grateful to be betrothed to the man of her dreams. The more she knew of his mannerisms and ways, the more she realised how she had misjudged him in the past; his shyness could be mistaken as pride, his self protection as aloofness. She was saddened by the time wasted and any hurt she may have caused him after his first proposal. She made a promise to herself, never to waste a moment with Mr. Darcy again. That was if the turmoil of this business with her sister had not scared him off. She knew deep down that her doubts were dumbfounded, but somehow she could not shake the persistent niggle in the back of her mind.

She glanced over to see Jane, Mr. Bingley and her aunt conversing together. Her sister, although to the unknowing eye seemed as pleasant and attentive as ever, but to Elizabeth however she was not quite herself. She would make a point to speak to her in private after they had retired for the evening.

"How is your head now Elizabeth?" asked Georgiana, breaking through Miss. Bennett's thoughts.

Elizabeth smiled at her future sister, " I am quite well Georgiana, thank you. I hope you are not finding having us all here a little hectic. I know my little cousins can be quite a handful."

"Do not be silly, having Pemberley full of such laughter and fun is so lovely. They are precious children and I look forward to getting to know them better. I confess, I will sorely miss them when they leave. Have you heard from Fitzwilliam?"

"Yes, just a short note this afternoon. He wrote after they made their first stop on their trip to London. He said he will be home as soon as his business is concluded."

The youngest Darcy smiled at Elizabeth, "I am glad to hear. I always miss him terribly when he is away from home, although I find his absence much easier to bear with you here. Do you know when you and Fitzwilliam will get married? I cannot wait."

The two women were soon in animated conversation about flowers and dresses, piquing Jane's attention from the far side of the room. She was glad to see how well Georgiana and Lizzy were getting along, but she was forlorn with the fact that she knew her sister was keeping something from her. She knew one of them getting married would alter their relationship, she just had not realised it would be so soon.