I don't own Pride and Prejudice.
Having read the letter twice, Elizabeth handed it to her husband for him to look over. There was something that worried her about that last paragraph. It almost sounded as if her father were saying goodbye, and not just temporarily.
"We return to London soon, would you like me to go speak with him?" He asked when he finished reading it, clearly coming to the same conclusion she did.
"I confess, it would put my mind at ease to know if something was truly wrong, or if we are just reading more into it than is there." She worried her bottom lip, afraid to ask for more of the man who had already done so much for her and her family.
"Say no more, I will ride to Longbourn when we return to London, and ascertain your father's health for myself. If it is as we fear, I will bring in the best doctors I can find. Just know, I would do anything for you, Beth." Gently, he rescued her lip, before devouring her mouth with his own.
"Oh!" Came a startled gasp from the doorway, and both broke apart to see Georgiana and Kitty standing there, dressed and ready for their party.
"Lizzy, brother, you aren't dressed yet, the guests will be arriving any minute!" Kitty urged them.
"Then you two better scamper off so we can get ready." William winked at the two girls.
"We saw how quickly you were getting ready. Perhaps it would be best if we sat in here, while you two went off to your own dressing rooms to prepare." Kitty glared playfully at her brother, arms crossed in front of her, Georgiana mimicking her seconds later.
William couldn't contain his laughter at the sight of the two girls, "Run along you two, I promise your sister and I will be down shortly." He sent both girls off with a kiss to the forehead, with had both grinning ear to ear.
"I dread the thought of giving them up." She couldn't help but confess.
"Then I shall reject any suitor who comes for them, and we shall keep them here forever. Just say the word and I will send Richard away, and we shall keep Mary as well." He grinned at her giggles.
"It is tempting. I find I hardly knew Mary and Kitty before we married, and now can't imagine life without them here with us. However, they deserve all the happiness in the world, and I can't be selfish. So I will watch them grow, and fall in love, and have families of their own...we shall just have to write a clause in the marriage contracts that they have to settle close to Pemberley so that I never have to be long without them. At least Richard's estate is only a short carriage ride away..." She was cut off by a thin body almost barreling into her own.
"Did you mean it, you wish to keep me here with you?" Mary asked, tears running down her cheeks.
Pushing the girl away from her gently so she could look her in the eyes she spoke, "Of course I do! One of my biggest regrets is that it took me so long to try and get to know you. However that is in no way your fault, but rather mine. Would that I could keep you with me forever, however, I have already noticed a gentleman trying to secure you, and know it won't be long before I give you up. But know this, no matter how far you settle, if you settle with this gentleman or someone you have yet to meet, I will always be here for you, wether by letter, or by carriage...we both will be."
Elizabeth watched proudly as the children ran excitedly through the ballroom where Kitty and Georgiana had set up their party. There were different games for the children to play, the girls who could play the piano forte took turns doing so. There were tables laden with food and plenty of punch for everyone. The children all wore their new clothes, the Gardiner and Darcy children blending right in, as they were all given a set as well.
"Lizzy, come dance with me!" One of her young cousins cried as they ran across the room. She excused herself from the group of women she had been speaking with, and allowed herself to be pulled out onto the impromptu dance floor.
She smiled at Jane who was already there twirling their younger cousins about, and noticed how the other children were watching them, "Why don't you see if your other cousins would like to join us. Just don't pull them away from the games if they are running them."
As the children scampered off, she approached some of the other children, and soon she and Jane had children dancing all around them. This wasn't the normal dancing she was used to at balls and assemblies, this was more free and chaotic, and if she was being honest, more fun. The children would all squeal with delight when they would spin the around, and she couldn't contain her smile. Seeing the elder members of their party take over the games so that the younger could join them made her smile even more.
When the song ended the children all pouted, but another one was begun, and they ran off to pull siblings and parents out to join them. Before long the room with filled with laughter, and children excitedly telling their parents who they last danced with.
"Mama! Mama!" One little girl tugged shyly on her mother's arm. "Did you see Miss Mary, Mama?" She saw her sister blush a bit being within ear shot, "She has glasses just like me, do you think I will be as pretty as her some day?"
Mary had tears in her eyes, as she smiled at the girl, "I bet you will be even prettier." Holding out her hand she asked if she wanted to dance with her, and the girl nodded eagerly.
"Your sister is very sweet, Amy has been much teased her her glasses," Amy's mother, Mrs Foster said sadly.
"Such a sweet child, it pains me to hear that this is so." She glanced at the floor, where Amy glowed with pleasure. Richard had joined the two, brining with him a few other children. Watching Amy now, you would have never thought she would have been picked on.
"Seeing her now, makes me hope things will change for the better." The woman smiled.
"We shall have to see what we can do to make it so." She smiled at the woman, before another child came to claim her.
She caught a glimpse of her husband twirling a little girl around, more bouncing on their toes waiting for their turn. She could envision him dancing with their daughters years in the future, little girls with his dark locks and her green eyes. She could see their children playing with those of Charlotte and Andrew, as well as the rest of her sisters.
"Tell me Elizabeth, what do you know of Mr Vincent Lucas?" Aunt Catherine asked later, watching the young man talk with Anne.
In the weeks since they had stopped bleeding the young woman she had truly begun to thrive. She had continued to take morning walks with Elizabeth, which had helped increase her appetite. She was slowly gaining weight, and no longer looked like she would collapse under the weight of her dresses. It helped that she was Mary and Elizabeth's size, and the two were always willing to let her borrow one of their dresses, which were a much lighter weight. Her complexion was still pale, but now had some color to it. Even now, she could see the slight blushing the girl's cheeks.
"I know him to be a good man. He is, as you know, the second son of Sir William Lucas..."
"Yes, Yes, I know all about his father and his harpy of a mother. What I want to know is if he is a good man who has a backbone and can protect my daughter long after I am gone? He appeared to have some backbone when he arrived, but does he have enough to stand up with her against the Ton?"
"Will he treat her as she deserves to be treated, as his equal? Will he take her inheritance as his own and abuse it, leaving her to suffer? Will he care for her?"
"Aunt Catherine, let me assure you now that should Vincent have intentions toward your daughter, they are of the most honorable sort. I have said before, those of us who grew up together in the country, knew the likelihood of us ever entering your circles were almost nonexistent. As such we had a lot simpler dreams...a loving spouse, a happy home, a few children, and a comfortable living."
"He chose the law as his profession because he was good at it, and would be able to support a family one day. I will be honest with you, he would likely not pursue Anne, as he would feel her too far above him, no matter the feelings he may come to have for her. He would ask so most likely be daunted by the thought of running such a large estate, as his father never took the time to teaching him. He is intelligent though, much like his eldest sister, and would learn quickly if given the chance."
"As for your question about how he would treat Anne, well, I've watched him with the other women in his family, and I can assure you, you would have no concerns there. Should the two find they suit, and he were encouraged to pursue her, he would be a most loving husband, and hopefully some day a father. What's more, is I think you would find him a charming son as well." She smiled when she saw the wheels turning in the older woman's head.