Chapter 31

'Wilson, why did you stop?' Darcy opened the carriage door in a hurry. He was impatient to reach his destination. Not long ago they had arrived at Netherfield. To his surprise, they were not expected at all, and Bingley was out. The housekeeper was warm and welcoming toward him especially when he introduced his sister. He excused himself, and he left Georgiana in charge to sort out their accommodation. As soon as he could, he got back in his carriage toward Longbourn.

He did not need an answer though why his driver stopped as he saw Bingley and Miss Bennet walking toward him in the lane with a servant some steps away behind them. He stepped down from the carriage.

'Darcy, finally. I was counting the days before you would come back.' Bingley greeted his friend warmly.

'Did you not get my message?'

'Message? Ugh, man. You have no idea how busy I have been. I have not checked my mail in the last few days. I do not get much anyway.'

'Then I do not understand. If you did not know I was coming, how come you were expecting me?... You knew I would be back?'

'Aye, yes, I know you. I knew you needed some time to process things. I hoped to see you once that was over, which I can see is the case. Good to see you.' Bingley was grinning widely. Darcy was still somewhat confused. He shook himself and straightened to greet Miss Bennet.

'Miss Bennet, how lovely it is to see you.' He raised his hat and bowed deeply. Jane, having observed their conversation, looked at him with steel in her eyes.

'Why are you back, Mr. Darcy?' Darcy was surprised at her lack of greeting. He swallowed. When he saw her expression, he deflated. Straight to the point, I see.

'You know.' She nodded sharply.

'Sir, if nothing has changed, maybe it would be better if you let it be. Your aunt's attack was handled if that is why you are here. You do not need to address that with her. She is… she is trying to let you go. It has been hard on her. She has neve… In the beginning, it was like she was mourning. What would be the point to meet? It would only hurt her… I will not let you.'

'She is trying to let me go?' He said almost to himself. But he never got to be hers. He had caused her much pain. He felt the worst kind of cad. He shook his head. Jane saw his guilty face.

'It is not your fault. She knows that. You did not raise her expectations. It just happened. One cannot control whom they love.'

'Love?'

'Yes, love.'

'Good God!'

'Have you moved on?' He shook his head. 'Are you sure that you cannot offer for her? You are your own man; you do not owe anybody explanations. Do you need more money?' He kept shaking his head. 'Well, make a decision, sir. But if your status is more important to you than Elizabeth, then leave her alone. In that case, you do not deserve her.' As she spoke she stepped closer to Bingley. What a woman, Darcy thought. He looked at his friend and nodded toward him with a raised eyebrow. Bingley just smiled widely. He looked at Jane in admiration.

'Miss Bennet. I deserved your words. Every last one of them. You have no idea how I have castigated myself. Let me assure you that I have come because I cannot be without her. I do not want to be without her. She has ruined me for any other. If she forgives me, I will make it right.'

'Really?' Jane, after the shock of getting what she wished for her sister, smiled widely; she became a ball of energy '... Oh, you took your time. Oh, go-go quickly. Every minute counts. Oh, how happy she will be. She told me, you know, that although she was trying to let you go, she would keep hoping you would come back to her. And now you did! Oh, Heavens. Oh, Mr. Darcy.' With that, she hugged the surprised man. She whispered into his ears, 'Thank you for making my sister happy. Love her. That is all she wants.'

Bingley's coughs parted them. 'Miss Bennet, maybe it is better if you are there…' Jane looked from Bingley to Darcy.

'Maybe you are right. May we ride with you, M. Darcy?'

'Oh, of course, please.'

'Come on, Kathy. We are going home. We have to hurry.' Jane called out to the servant girl.'

'Are you sure, Miss?' She ran to her. She hesitated about stepping up in the carriage.

'Why yes, we are not leaving you here. I need you to chaperone me anyway.' She laughed. She could not wait to be home.

'Look, Lizzy, whom we brought you. He was lost in the lane… Oh, Mr. Lucas. You are here. Hmm. Nice to see you… after all this time.' Jane was taking her bonnet off as she entered the room where they left their sisters.

'Miss Bennet, nice to see you, too.' Lucas was on his feet quickly.

'Uh.' She looked at Bingley and then Darcy. 'Gentlemen, this is Mr. Lucas. He has just arrived back from his tour. Because of the war, he had gone to Ireland.'

'Yes, Ireland and Scotland.'

'This is Mr. Bingley, … uh, he rents Netherfield, and this is Mr. Darcy, a friend of Mr. Bingley's from Derbyshire.'

'Very nice to meet you both. How do you do? I have hardly arrived, but I have heard about you.' He bowed to the gentlemen.

'Indeed?' Darcy responded stiffly as a plank.

Elizabeth as soon as she lay eyes on Darcy, froze. Her breathing stopped for a few seconds. Her stomach was in knots and she had to swallow. She could not look away from him. How good it was to see him standing in the doorway. She drank his sight in. How she loved his hair that never stayed as it should. The ringlets created a dishevelled look in contrast to how usually his attire was perfect. Not so much now. How she missed his noble mien, always in control. His aristocratic facial features, his straight nose and his square cheekbones. He was perfect. Perfect for her. She had imagined this scene so many times. It was not in the company of all these people, even if family, but she did not mind as long as he was there. Mr. Bingley was right after all. He came. The question was why. Oh, she hoped, she desperately hoped. She searched his eyes. She wanted answers.

Darcy had imagined seeing Miss Elizabeth again plenty of times. Oh, she was even more beautiful than he remembered, he thought to himself. It was a painful relief to look at her after his self-imposed torture of three and twenty days. Not that he counted the days. It seemed like an eternity. It was good to be able to breathe again. He adored the gentle slope of her nose, her kissable pink lips, her beautiful eyes with those long lashes. As Miss Bennet addressed the man in the room, he noticed him as well. Who was he? Mr. Lucas? Mr. Lucas. Miss Lucas's brother, perhaps? Whoever he was, he was too close to Elizabeth. Too close. An irrational thought occurred to him. Was he too late? He looked at Elizabeth to see his fate. She was looking at him. Smile, please, smile at me, dear Elizabeth. Elizabeth valiantly tried not to faint, so she was not about to answer his silent plea.

'Elizabeth?' Her sister encouraged her. She took courage from her. Elizabeth became enough herself that she noticed that Mr. Darcy was considering Mr. Lucas. She glanced at Mr. Lucas and then back to him. His expression hardened and then looked at her questioningly, no, he looked at her with desperation. Oh, silly man! She straightened in her seat and stood.

'Mr. Darcy.' She made a slow curtsy. Darcy drank in her sight. Elizabeth spoke quietly, 'Welcome back to Longbourn, sir.'

'I am glad to be back, Miss Elizabeth.' They lingered in looking at each other. He could not stop himself and added, 'I could not stay away.' There it was – her smile. Darcy's heart skipped a beat. Thank you, he thought. He smiled back and nodded to her. He then greeted the others in the room.

He greeted Mrs. Bennet with the utmost reverence. In his eyes, she was Elizabeth's protector. Mrs. Bennet was a bit taken aback at his fervent greeting but returned his sentiments with a hesitant smile. She looked at Elizabeth and silently questioned Darcy. Darcy bowed his head and looked back at the matron with determination. She examined him for a few seconds and then nodded in acceptance. Darcy realized that he had just received a chance from her with her daughter. After the greetings, Mrs. Bennet excused herself to get refreshments but stopped at her husband's door.

'Thomas, you will not believe this. You will not guess who is right now in our parlour.'

'I am very sure you will help me out, my dear.' Indulgently, he gestured to her to go to him. It must be good news, he thought. His wife was all flustered. He did not have to wait long to learn the identity of their guest.

'Mr. Darcy has come back. He is in the parlour. Oh, he is so handsome!' She grinned.

'Is he now?'

'Go to greet him, Mr. Bennet. With God's blessing, we will have two daughters married in the near future.' Mrs. Bennet waved her hand that had her handkerchief in it. The lace zigzagged in front of Mr. Bennet's face. Mr. Bennet took his glasses off, took his wife's hand in his, and kissed it.

'Are you sure? I do not want Lizzy to be disappointed again. It was painful to see the first time.'

'I asked him about her and he responded positively. I think he came back for her. He will have to answer me if he makes her cry again. Invite him for a game of chess or something that men do. Get to know him. Warn him maybe. You know, man to man. Tell him that if he leaves again without Lizzy, I will chase him and get him back by the ear.' Mr. Bennet chuckled at his wife's sentiment.

'You are a lioness, my darling. All right, Fanny. I will do as you say. I want to see it for myself if he is worthy of our Lizzie.'

…

There are new pictures on the story site, including Pemberley and Rosings fantasy…

I did wonder about the punch if it was too much, but you, dear readers, always prove that you are awesome. I just really wanted Darcy to defend Elizabeth and say, 'All yours, doctor!'

So, Darcy is back. Should I end the story around here, or do you want more?