The sadness had finally been replaced with the joy that had resided in the large house when Darcy suggested they go to a play in London, where they could meet with old acquaintances and enjoy the memories of ----shire and Neatherfield. Elizabeth was eager to see her beloved sister Jane and her husband Mr Bingley so she readily agreed. The pair set off for the review in high spirits and arrived at the house the majority of the party had occupied for the winter of the first year they had known each other. The Darcys were pleased to see the Bingleys and Hursts had arrived just earlier. Elizabeth and her sister Jane were inseparable for the first few hours but neither husband minded, although Miss Bingley and her sister Mrs Hurst were most disgusted with the antisocial behaviour.

"I can still not understand why he married her." Exclaimed the unmarried woman.

"Nor I Caroline, but truly it is your duty to make him see that she is not a suitable wife." The idea was laughed at to begin with but it sat in the mind of the devoted woman for some time. She proceeded the very next evening to reply to a letter she had received earlier that month. She sent it express and enclosed payment.

            It was only a matter of days before Miss Bingley received the reply she had been waiting for. Although she had still not been able to gain from Mr Darcy the smiles or looks he gave his wife, she had done as much as she could to the point. She had even acted as friendly toward Mrs Darcy as was believable for the time they had spent together. Mrs Darcy also received a letter from the same source some days later. However, it was only known to herself as she did not see it necessary to confide such a thing to her dearest sister as the letter was written very ill and made little sense. But her mood was not as it had been earlier and this was noted by Darcy, although the proud man said nothing directly about the subject. Jane also noticed and it was she who asked one evening about her sister's manner.

"It must be that I miss my children more than I thought I would. The sooner I am back at Pemberly the better." She smiled for her sister and invited her to bring her family to the estate for a visit. Jane said she would discuss it with her husband but there shouldn't be any reason for them to refuse the invitation.

"But Lizzy, will Mr Darcy mind that you have not asked him?" That bought the laughter, which had been lacking to the dark haired woman's face.

"Darcy does not mind who I invite. With exceptions of course, but you are not those I promise you." The smiles and laughter the two were sharing lasted through the next day and indeed Darcy was more than happy to second the invitation to the Bingleys. It was a different matter with the Hursts and the unmarried sister, as they would be attending the great house at Christmas and that was soon enough for both husband and wife. Plans were made between the four and it was decided they should leave in the next few days so as to bring the cheer back to Pemberly and for their guests to collect their two children, both boys and both energetic.

            Mr Darcy had a last surprise for his now jovial wife. There was a great bookshop, which he had been meaning to visit on the last excursion to town but he had left no time for it in his desire to return to Pemberly.

"You mean to take me to another review." She guessed as the carriage made it way down the lane ways.

"Not at all, I now realise how much you enjoy them." The half smile of jest played at the corners of his mouth as she retorted,

"Then you must be taking me to see your dear aunt, Lady Catherine DeBourge. For you know how much her company stimulates my mind."

"Yes, it sharpens your wit considerably. But I am then the victim of your tongue and I have no wish to recollect the manner in which I was addressed when you were near Rosings last." Lightly scowling his wife feigned anger.

"I thought it was decided we should never mention that again, but if you will bring up my behaviour…"

"No, I beg, hold your tongue," but although he was serious the laughter there made her smile in return.

"A truce then. I shall never mention again your abominable behaviour when I first met you in ---shire, or that you slighted me and said 'she is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me',"

"But now dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth I will only dance with you, for you are the handsomest woman of my acquaintance." He lightly caressed her cheek and she laughed for a moment and then went coldly still, the letters' content leaping to mind.

"Mayhap, dear husband, you should tell me where we are bound so I know how long from home we shall be." His chuckle was touched by the concern at her strange behaviour, never had she been so quick to change mood.

"We are almost there, I do hope you like it." The carriage stopped in front of the shop and once inside Mrs Darcy was exactly how she had been when first discovering the library at Pemberly. Darcy leaned close to her ear and whispered,

"You may have anything here you desire, dearest wife. A gift from me as I will always love you." Smiling she spent quite some time choosing her book. There were two which she liked greatly and could not decided between. Noticing this Darcy purchased the second as a gift also, but in secret, so as to make it a surprise. His wife was waiting for him outside and he hurried to meet her. However when the tall Mr Darcy appeared from the doorway a sudden crowd had formed and in the middle, his dear wife and some man he knew not. The man was brandishing a letter, which Elizabeth refused to take from him although it was addressed to her. Frowning Mr Darcy made his way towards the pair and heard what his wife was saying.

"I wish to have nothing more to do with your master. I have told him this repeatedly. I would like you to take back the letter to whence it came, as I have no desire to read it." The servant was about to reply but Darcy appeared behind her.

"Perhaps you should take the letter. The crowd will then disperse and you can do with it what you will."

"You take it, for I have no inclination to, crowd or no." Their eyes clashed but he stepped forward with his hand outstretched to receive the offensive post.

"I was told to deliver it to her personally, no one else." The man had hidden the letter behind his back.

"I am her husband, give me the letter." The paper exchanged hands, Mr Darcy offered a coin to the man, who took it and departed like smoke. Jaw set he walked with his now rigid wife to their carriage and began the journey to Pemberly. The book he had bought hidden in the folds of his coat.