Chapter 28
Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet asked Wickham not to do anything to Lydia, while Mr. Darcy couldn't help but feel guilty about everything. Somehow, he knew that Wickham was trying to hurt the Bennets to get back at him.
"Mr. Wickham, please, my sister is only a girl," Elizabeth said as she begged him to release her.
"Wickham, you were always warmly welcomed into our home. This is no way to repay our hospitality. Leave my daughter, and we can go home to talk and sort this all out," explained Mr. Bennet. He knew that a desperate man was capable of doing anything.
"Wickham, don't you realize that the gallows await you if you hurt Miss Lydia? So let her go, and as Mr. Bennet said, we can talk about this and find a solution. Let's go back to the house..." added Mr. Darcy.
"No, Darcy, I don't trust you. Also, I know that, as always, you will have everything, and I will have nothing. If I can't be happy, you never will be either," Wickham yelled resentfully.
Lydia was not a bright girl, and while everyone around her talked, trying to find a solution to the problem that she had created, she processed what her dear Wickham had just said. First, he had yelled at her, and then, he had called her a stupid and disgusting chit. But what Lydia lacked in intelligence she had plenty of arrogance and pride, so the moment she understood those insults, she felt deeply offended for the first three seconds and completely furious the rest of the time.
"How dare you talk to me like that, you stupid ugly man," Lydia said, red with rage. She was so furious that she didn't even realize that Wickham had a knife on the back of her neck, and so without even thinking about it or turning around, she kicked him in that part of the body where she knew she could do more damage. Lydia had gotten along with the boys since she was little, and the tenants' children had told her some secrets about the male anatomy.
Wickham was so intent on arguing with Mr. Darcy and enjoying seeing him so distraught that he only found out what Lydia was up to when he felt a tremendous pain that made him instinctively fall to the ground writhing in agony.
"You are a liar, Wickham, and I never want to see you again," Lydia said. After that, she kicked Wickham in the same spot and continued whining for several seconds. "Papa, I want to go home with you," Lydia added, and she began to walk back to Longbourn, followed by her amused father.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were so amazed at all that had happened in less than a minute that they couldn't help but laugh heartily at the sight of Wickham writhing on the floor in pain. "I think you've run out of luck, Wickham," said Mr. Darcy mockingly.
"Who would have thought that a fifteen-year-old spoiled girl would be the one to put you in your place, Mr. Wickham," added Elizabeth, also laughing.
Alerted by Kitty, Peter went to the barn and saw part of what had happened. "Darcy, my grandfather took it upon himself to call the magistrate, and as soon as he is here, I will denounce this man for attempted kidnapping."
"It's best we leave Miss Lydia out of all this, Daniels. I had bought enough of this man's debts for years to send him to the Marshalsea forever," Mr. Darcy explained.
"You are right; I will let my grandfather know," replied Peter.
Wickham regained speech and desperately said. "Darcy, you can't do this to your father's godson. Also, we were friends for so many years..."
Peter motioned for Mr. Darcy not to say anything, and he spoke. "If Darcy does not send you to prison, I will do it. What do you prefer, go to jail for attempted kidnapping or debts?" Peter asked defiantly.
For the first time in his life, Wickham felt defeated, so much so that he didn't even want to reply. When the magistrate arrived, Peter took care of everything and assured Mr. Wickham that he never wanted to hear from him again. Months later, Wickham was sent to serve time in one of the kingdom colonies.
When Lydia returned to Longbourn, she did it most naturally and as if nothing had happened. After dealing with his daughter's problems, Mr. Bennet decided to ignore her and continued reading the latest philosophy book he had bought.
When Roger, Peter, and Mr. Darcy arrived at Longbourn, they found the whole family reunited in the drawing-room. As always, Lydia was talking about her dealings with Wickham like it was nothing important, and her older sisters tried to correct her while Mr. Bennet stood by the chimney reading without any concern.
"Kitty, don't play the heroine because I had already realized that Wickham was nothing more than a liar. I was just pretending that I liked him. And don't look at me like that, Lizzie, because even if you don't like it, I'll be married to an officer before that you and much more handsome than Wickham."
Elizabeth was going to answer her, but Jane took her hand so she wouldn't say anything since she had noticed the presence of the men and she wanted to avoid an awkward scene. "Lydia, I think it's best we don't talk about that for now."
"Jane, you're my older sister, not my mother, and if you don't like what I say, you can go..."
"Aren't you going to say or do anything, Bennet?" Roger asked Mr. Bennet in such an accusing tone that he did not have another alternative but to ask his daughter to be quiet for a moment.
Mr. Bennet raised his head from his book a little embarrassed and answered as casually as he could to the rest of the room. "Lydia is nothing more than a silly girl, and she never will learn to keep her out-of-place opinions to herself."
"And how will she learn if the person who must teach her makes absolutely no effort to do it?" Roger asked.
Everyone present was absolutely petrified, and no one dared to say anything. The only one enjoying the scene was Mary, who had dreamed for years that someone would tell her father what he deserved.
Mr. Bennet could not answer Roger's question, so he kept talking. "From now on, what your daughter does will also affect my granddaughter and your daughter's reputation. And let me remind you that she will soon be my granddaughter too. So if you don't control this spoiled girl who was about to elope with a criminal, I will keep my family as far away from you and her as possible."
Mr. Bennet esteemed Roger, and to have been rebuked in that way by a man of such moral and intellectual stature as he was, made him feel deeply ashamed. He stood up, approached Roger, and, extending his hand, said, "That won't be necessary; I'll make sure that Lydia doesn't put our family's harmony at risk again."
After saying that, he ordered Lydia to go to her room and kept her locked up for a week. Also, he took her pin money away, and only when she turned eighteen did Mr. Bennet allow her back out into society.
Mrs. Bennet tried to intercede for her beloved daughter, but her recovery was very slow, and it took her a long time to regain mobility, so she could do very little for her.
The following days, Mr. Darcy visited Elizabeth every day, and they walked around Longbourn talking a little about everything and getting to know each other better. In addition, he strengthened his friendship with the Daniels as they dined many evenings together at the Bennets' home.
He had spent almost two weeks in Netherfield, and he had to return to London, so before he left, he decided to talk to Elizabeth about his feelings while they took a walk in the garden. "I hope your mother is feeling better, Miss Elizabeth."
"Yes, she is, and now at least she can get up for a few hours even though she can't go downstairs," Elizabeth explained. However, she was very uneasy because she noticed Mr. Darcy's nervousness.
"Miss Elizabeth, I must leave for London in three more days."
"Why so soon?" Elizabeth asked, disappointed.
"If I could, I would stay a lot longer... but..."
"I understand. You are a busy man, and I..."
"Elizabeth, if I could, I would spend the rest of my life by your side."
"Mr. Darcy, I..."
"Elizabeth, I've been in love with you for a long time and because of my stupid pride instead of...
"That's in the past, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, taking his hand.
"Elizabeth, will you marry me? I don't want to live another second of my life without you." Mr. Darcy took her beloved's hands and kissed them very tenderly.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy, I want to be your wife and spend the rest of my life by your side," Elizabeth replied, her voice cracking with emotion.
After spending several minutes talking about their mutual feelings, they returned to the house where Mr. Darcy spoke with a surprised Mr. Bennet, who had no choice but to give them his blessing.
P&P
In his study, Mr. Bingley was reading the letter from his dear uncle Benjamin Bingley. His father's younger brother decided to try his fortune in the new world. When he was twenty-five years old, he went to Canada, where he had managed to obtain land and set up a prosperous business. The last time he saw him was when he traveled with his wife and his two sons to England five years ago, but they always exchanged letters and maintained permanent contact despite the distance. Finally, in his last letter, he once again invited him to spend a few months with them to show him how incredible the landscapes of his new land were.
"Mr. Bingley, Miss Wilson wishes to speak with you," the butler announced.
He was surprised because she had not visited them for more than a month. "Isn't Caroline here to receive her?"
"No, Mr. Bingley. But she also told me that she wanted to talk to you. So what do I tell her, Sir?"
Mr. Bingley told the butler to show her into the drawing-room, and he went there. He just hoped she didn't come to talk to him about business because he wasn't in the mood to answer questions or give advice. "Miss Wilson, my butler told me you wished to speak with me. I am very sorry that Caroline is not here. Please tell me, how can I help you?"
"Mr. Bingley, I will come straight to the point and explain the reason for my visit bluntly. Although you have not asked for my advice, I think there is something I should tell you because until very recently, I was in a very similar situation to yours, and someone helped me see how wrong I was."
Mr. Bingley thought that this was the strangest conversation he had ever had in a long time. "You have managed to arouse my curiosity; I am all ears."
Sarah took a deep breath and told him a little more about herself, the difficult situation of her family, and how she had sought to approach several men to get a rich husband, and he was one of them. Also, she explained that Caroline and Louisa had done everything possible to bring them closer. "I imagine you're wondering why I'm telling you all this? I want to suggest that you do not allow your sisters to continue intervening in your life as they have done until now. You are a good man whom I came to appreciate, and I think that your good disposition and perhaps your desire not to be involved in conflicts have made your two sisters feel entitled to dispose of your life as they please."
At first, Mr. Bingley looked at her in disbelief, but after reflecting for a few seconds, he asked with some regret, "Is it so obvious in the eyes of others how my sisters have manipulated my life?"
"I don't know if in the eyes of others, but mine." Sarah stood up and said goodbye, but before leaving, she added, "I wish you luck, Mr. Bingley. Sometimes it is not that difficult to change when one really desires to be a different person."
"Thank you, Miss Wilson. You have given me much to think about," said Mr. Bingley, sincerely grateful.
He went back to his study, and in his best handwriting, he answered his uncle's letter announcing that he would visit him at the beginning of the summer and that he planned to stay with him for a while.
When he told his sisters that he would spend some time with Uncle Benjamin in Canada, they got agitated and tried to convince him not to go, but their pleas were in vain. He was determined to be happy and never again let his sisters treat him like a little child without will.
P&P
When Mrs. Bennet found out about Jane's engagement with Peter Daniels, she was happy and surprised at the same time. Since she couldn't leave her room yet, Peter agreed to visit her there. At first, she was a little disappointed that he was not as handsome as Mr. Bingley. But when Peter answered all of her questions with courtesy and deference, she immediately changed her mind. Also, she was more than happy when she found out that he had a beautiful estate in Derbyshire and an exquisite house in London. Finally, Mrs. Bennet got tired, and Jane and Peter left her alone so she could rest.
"Thanks for being so patient with my mother, Peter. She can be very indiscreet and impertinent at times," Jane said, a little embarrassed.
"Do not worry, dear. My mother is worse than yours, so you will also have to be patient," added Peter. He had told Jane how his mother saw the world and how pretentious she was. Jane understood and decided to try to know Dorothy to gain her acceptance.
But Mrs. Bennet hardly had time to absorb the news of Jane's engagement when Elizabeth told her that she was engaged to Mr. Darcy.
"Lizzie, please do not play with my poor nerves! How do you think I will believe that you will marry that proud and disagreeable man?"
"Mama, lower your voice, please. He is outside your room because he wants to greet you," Elizabeth said, smiling.
"So it is true? Oh, Lizzie, my dearest child, ten thousand a year and very likely more! Mrs. Bennet yelled excitedly but fell silent when she remembered that he was waiting to talk to her.
Finally, Mr. Darcy entered the room, and Mrs. Bennet was so astonished that she hardly spoke, which Elizabeth greatly appreciated. "Mama, Mr. Darcy has to go back to London tomorrow, so he wants to say goodbye to you."
"Oh, Mr. Darcy, thank you for being so considerate and coming to my room to converse with me. I hope you come back soon and don't forget that you are engaged. My Lizzie will be looking forward to seeing you again because I know she loves you very much." Mrs. Bennet said, convinced that Mr. Darcy had regretted becoming engaged to Elizabeth and was looking for an excuse to leave her.
"Mama, Jane, and I are going to London next week to buy our trousseau. Aunt Gardiner will help us buy everything we need," Elizabeth explained.
"Mrs. Bennet, I wish you a speedy recovery, and I'll see you in a month when I return for the wedding. Good day, madam." Mr. Darcy was pleased that the meeting with his impulsive future mother-in-law had gone better than he expected.
Half an hour later, he had to say farewell to the woman he loved. "It will not be easy for me not to see you for nearly a week, my dear Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy said sadly.
"Don't worry, Mr. Darcy. You won't even notice when I'm back in London contradicting and teasing you," Elizabeth answered jokingly to hide her own sadness.
Elizabeth handed him a letter for Georgiana, and Mr. Darcy kissed her hand and finally left for London. The day before, Peter and the Daniels had returned to London because Roger wanted to start planning the trip with his granddaughter.
P&P
Albert arrived the day before but did not want to talk to his father after several days locked in a carriage. He needed to spend time with his family in harmony before breaking the news.
So after five days, one morning, he went to the family company and was lucky enough to find his brother and his father gathered in the office planning the week's activities.
Before asking the questions he wanted to ask so much, he limited himself to recounting all the facts that he knew up to that moment and handing over to his father the documents Mr. Morgan had given him. Samuel was shocked, and his first reaction was to deny everything. "Albert, you shouldn't even take seriously what that man has told you. You know very well that none of this can be true. Right, father?"
Mr. Reed was avidly reviewing the documents, and when he heard his son's question, he raised his head and, with tears in his eyes, replied, "I'm afraid what Mr. Morgan told your brother is true."
"Father, how could Uncle Albert have done such a thing?" asked Albert anxiously.
"Albert, Samuel, I can't give you a definitive answer, I'm afraid your uncle took this secret to his grave, but I think I have an idea of what could have happened." Mr. Reed wiped away his tears, drank a glass of water, and told his children his brother's story. He said to them that he was a brilliant man but that they had not had the opportunity to study because they had to help his father, who at that time was just starting his company. His brother Albert had always been risky in his investments, and since most of the time he was lucky, that had helped him believe in his instincts.
When the business was more consolidated, Uncle Albert dedicated himself to looking for new investors to grow the business. Mr. Reed told them that one of the last deals he had done didn't pan out, and eventually, the company had lost a lot of money, but within two months of that incident, Uncle Albert had recovered most of the funds, and no one could really understand how he had done it.
"Do you think that money was Mr. Morgan's father?" Albert asked.
"Yes, son, I'm afraid that's how your Uncle got the money back because all these papers are signed exactly on the date that all of that happened. Of course, we still need to investigate a little more, but now, many things make sense," Mr. Reed replied.
"But why didn't you and Grandfather inquire more about the origin of that money, father? Maybe you could have prevented all the suffering of that family." Samuel didn't understand how a situation like that happened, considering how honest his father and grandfather had always been.
"Samuel, at that time, your Uncle was already sick, and the following months were challenging. He suffered greatly because his illness consumed him for six months, and to avoid the pain, he had to take large portions of laudanum every day," explained Mr. Reed.
"Father, I need you to tell me a little more about my Uncle's life to understand many things he always told me. Please, father, he was such an important person in my childhood that now I feel that I do not know who he really was," Albert explained.
Mr. Reed had always loved his brother very much, even though they were very different, but he knew that since Albert was born, his brother had considered him a son because of his sad history. "Your Uncle loved you very much, Albert. Please never doubt that."
When Albert Reed Uncle was twenty-two years old, he met the beautiful Lady Morris, who was only twenty-one years old. At first sight, she had been attracted to the young tradesman and had made up a horrible story about how her husband, a man thirty years her senior, had forced her to marry him. The truth was that Margaret married the old Baron Morris wishing that her future son would be the new Baron and keep her husband's fortune and title because he had only had daughters from his first wife. Unfortunately, after more than two years of marriage, the old Baron had not been able to sire a child in his young wife, so Margaret decided to look for a man with similar physical characteristics to her husband to achieve the desired child. Also, she was dying to lay with a young man.
Unfortunately, Albert always believed that she loved him as much as he did and was devastated when she died giving birth to their child, who also died within hours of being born. Margaret had promised him that they would run away together, and he had everything planned to start a new life away from England. She had also fallen in love with the young merchant, but she did not intend to run away but to remain Albert's Mistress until her husband died and then marry him and have everything, her husband's money and title and Albert's love.
"That's why your mother and I named you Albert, and I think your uncle always saw you like that son he had loved and lost without even knowing him."
"I understand, father," said Albert, sincerely hurt by his Uncle's sad tale. "Father, I want us to return the Morgans everything we stole from them one day."
"I think exactly the same as my brother," Samuel added.
"Of course, we will. Tomorrow I will ask my solicitor to contact Mr. Oliver Morgan and let him know that we are willing to return everything that belongs to him if all the documents are legit."
"Son, your Uncle, was not a bad man, but his experiences made him resentful. I know he always had a great influence on you, but I'll repeat what I've always told you since you were a child, the value of a person is in how he acts regardless of their origin." Mr. Reed stood up and hugged his son very affectionately to comfort him.
Albert stayed with his family for a week and returned to London, still troubled thinking of his Uncle's turbulent life but happy knowing they would be able to repay what they owed to the Morgans after so many years. Besides, he couldn't help but reflect on the reasons his Uncle always had for feeling so much resentment towards the gentlemen and aristocrats in general. "I will never again judge anyone from their origin," Albert promised himself, feeling optimistic about the future.
P&P
Two weeks after the Lydia incident, all the Bennet sisters left for London. Lydia threw one of her famous tantrums because she also wanted to go to London, but Mr. Bennet told her that no one had invited her, so she was forced to stay in Longbourn. Lydia looked to her mother for support, but she explained that someone had to stay with her and no one was better company than her.
The Daniels had invited Kitty to stay with them, and Mrs. Gardiner, seeing Dr. Davies's interest in Mary, decided to invite her to see if something would come up between them. It was not easy for Mary to accept the invitation, but Jane and Elizabeth insisted so much that she had no choice but to accept.
Dorothy Daniels reluctantly welcomed Jane at first but seeing how the sweet Miss Bennet always followed all her advice and seemed to please her in everything made her change her mind. She also liked the attention she drew from everyone for her angelic beauty, making her feel important. When she finally met Mrs. Bennet, she too made a good impression on her. Mrs. Bennet treated Dorothy as if she were the most distinguished and elegant person in England, making her feel special. In high society, she was the one who always had to look up to others, so it was a nice change that now, others treated her with such respect and reverence.
Jane and Elizabeth decided to organize a double wedding to cause as little disruption as possible at home. But unfortunately, their mother was still not well, and she could barely participate in their wedding.
Mr. Darcy invited all of his family, except for Lady Catherine, who lived alone in Rosings, cursing everyone but mostly Anne. To ingratiate themselves with his rich nephew, the Earl and his wife attended the wedding and behaved kindly to everyone. Richard and Georgiana enjoy the days in Hertfordshire and the wedding breakfast. But the ones who enjoyed it the most were Anne and Herbert because they had the opportunity to eat delicious food and chat with their new family.
Unfortunately, Mr. Bingley could not attend his friend's wedding because he was on a trip to Canada, but he sent them a letter wishing them well in their future life.
Besides, all the Daniels attended the wedding, and Jane also invited Lady Grace, Sarah Wilson, and her father because they had become good friends. For her part, Elizabeth invited her entire family, including Uncle Edmund and his apprentice. Dr. Davies had taken it upon himself to travel to Longbourn every week to check on Mrs. Bennet, and all the family was very grateful for that.
Elizabeth also invited her good friend Albert. They had had the opportunity to share even more lately. Once Albert realized that he had nothing but brotherly affection for Elizabeth, their bond and friendship solidified. Albert told her what had happened in his family and his Uncle, and she listened and advised him. Albert had no sisters, and Elizabeth had no brothers, so they found in each other's advice and word a view of the world they hadn't known before, and that seemed very interesting to both of them.
"Well, my dear Miss Lizzie, or rather, Mrs. Darcy, you are already a married woman, and I hope you do not forget your friends. I truly think you have chosen a good husband. Despite being a bit stubborn and extremely pompous, Darcy is an honorable man that will always do his best to make you happy," said Albert sincerely.
"Don't worry, Mr. Reed, I'll remind my husband that he is just as human as the rest of us. You know, I'm already an expert on that," replied Elizabeth, laughing. "But before I go, can you tell me if you have talked to Emily? She leaves in a few more days for Florence."
"I have not dared yet. I am afraid that she will reject me. What do I do if she says that she does not want to...?" Albert said uncomfortably.
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh heartily, which caught the attention of her husband and other attendees at the wedding breakfast. "You men are so silly sometimes. If you don't talk to her, I swear I will."
"Alright, I know very well that you're capable of doing that. However, I don't know what's worse, to endure the disappointment of her rejection or that everyone thinks I'm a fool, so my dear friend has to intercede for me," replied Albert resignedly.
"Mrs. Darcy, I think it's time to go. We have to get to London before dark. I'm sorry, Reed, but we have to say farewell to everyone and be ready in half an hour," Mr. Darcy explained. It wasn't easy for him to accept that his wife had such a close friend, but he knew well that they were just friends and that he had to control his possessive nature and jealousy because Elizabeth deserved a husband who trusted her, not an insecure jerk.
Albert wished them to be very happy and have fun touring the Lake District. "Good travel, and enjoy the beautiful northern landscapes, my dear friend Mrs. Darcy." Then he steeled himself and went to talk to Roger and Emily, who were chatting animatedly with Kitty, Sarah Wilson, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"May I know why you were laughing so much, my love?" Mr. Darcy asked, trying to sound disinterested. He didn't want his wife to notice how he felt when he saw her chatting animatedly with her friend Albert.
"I was laughing because you men sometimes act worse than boys." Then, seeing her husband's intrigued face, she explained, "Mr. Reed has been trying to ask Emily a question for several weeks, and he still can't bring himself to do it."
Mr. Darcy watched as Albert approached the lady in question and couldn't help but smile and say, "How amusing it is to see the ever so confident Albert Reed acting like a fool." Then he offered his wife his arm, and they began to say goodbye to all the friends and family that had accompanied them that day.
Albert was so nervous that even though the conversation was so lively, he didn't move a muscle on his face. "I am glad your father is joining us, my dear Miss Wilson. It is good to know that I will have male company on the long journey."
"Besides, it gives me the chance to write to Lord Wilson and not lose contact with him," the Colonel said, looking at Sarah. They had a beautiful friendship, and he hoped that she would not forget him in the months to come.
"Mr. Daniels," Albert said with a trembling voice.
Roger saw how troubled the young man was and decided to intervene. "Would you like to write to me, Reed? I'll be happy to correspond with you," Roger added as he watched as his granddaughter and Mr. Reed looked at each other longingly.
"Yes, Mr. Daniels, I would love to correspond with you," and looking at Emily, he added. "Miss Daniels, if you don't mind… I know you're going to be very busy, but maybe, and if you don't mind, of course, I'd like to write to you through your grandfather. But I totally understand if you prefer not to. You will have so many interesting things to do…."
"I'll always have time for a good friend, Mr. Reed," Emily answered with a slight blush. Albert thanked Emily effusively, and once that difficult situation was over, everyone continued speaking.
When Georgiana heard about the trip to Florence, she was very excited about the idea. She needed to forget so many sad memories and thought a trip would definitely help her do it. Lady Grace told her that she would be delighted if she accompanied them if her guardians gave her their permission.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were the first to leave, and half an hour later, Jane and Peter set off for Ramsgate, where Roger had a beautiful house with a view of the sea. They would spend the honeymoon there as far as possible from Mrs. Bennet and Dorothy.
P&P
Seven months later…
"What do you think of those two, darling?" Peter asked Jane, indicating to Albert and Richard. They were on the port's quay impeccably dressed, and each of them had a bouquet of beautiful flowers in their hands.
"I think they are anxious because the ship with two pretty young ladies will soon arrive," Jane replied to her dear husband. They were living in London because Jane was with child and she had had some complications, so Peter didn't want them to go on any long trips until the child was born. Also, Dr. Lewis lived in London, and he did not trust any other doctor with the care of his beloved wife and future heir.
"I hope Emily and my grandfather agree to spend a few days with us to tell us all about their trip," Peter said.
"My love, I know you have missed your sister and grandfather very much. The same thing happens to me with Lizzie and my other sisters," said Jane comforting her husband. "I will make sure they spend time with us."
"I am the luckiest man to have you in my life, my beloved and beautiful wife," replied Peter, excited.
They approached Albert and Richard and waited with them for the ship that brought their loved ones to finish docking in port. Once everyone disembarked, Peter and Jane greeted them warmly. Then, Albert and Richard approached the ladies and handed them flowers. Despite the distance, communication continued, and both were determined to strengthen the bond now that the ladies were back in London.
Jane invited Kitty to live with her, and she gladly accepted. She had changed a lot on the trip, and she didn't want to be apart from her new friends, especially Lady Grace, her new husband, and grandfather Roger.
Lady Grace and Lord Wilson were married in Italy, and Sarah became the sole heir to her new mother's fortune. It was a marriage that would benefit them both and with which they were both happy. Lady Grace never thought she would marry again, but her new husband was understanding and loving, and he had no interest in curtailing her freedom or interfering with her business. He only wanted her company and engaging conversation.
Meanwhile, at Longbourn, Lydia spent much of the day alone with her mother. Every day she would throw a tantrum for some reason, but Mrs. Bennet was always too tired or sore to help her, and her father just didn't care. With no money and no support from either of her parents or sisters, Lydia had no choice but to accept her fate and spent most of the days at Longbourn bored.
P&P
Elizabeth was walking through the vast park that surrounded Pemberley. The worst of winter had passed, and the beginning of spring could be seen all around. She had been living there for more than six months, and it felt like it had been her home her entire life. She was immensely happy and still felt like she was on her honeymoon, even though her husband had had a lot of work lately and couldn't spend as much time together as they desired.
That morning she received mail from London and Longbourn with a series of good news. But she had even more important information to share with her husband.
"Elizabeth, I have been looking for you for several minutes. I thought you were in the gardens, or at least that's what Mrs. Reynolds told me," said Mr. Darcy as he kissed his wife on the cheek.
"I'm sorry, Fitzwilliam, but the day is so beautiful that I didn't even realize when I started to walk away from the gardens and I was in the middle of the park. After such a harsh and cold winter, it feels good to enjoy the sun," explained Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy looked around to make sure no one was looking at them, and he hugged his wife, kissed her, and whispered suggestively in her ear, "Winter is cold in Derbyshire, but I always saw to it that my wife was not cold."
After kissing passionately for a few minutes, Elizabeth broke off the kiss to give her husband some news. "Fitzwilliam, please, we'll have time for this. I have some important things to tell you," Elizabeth said, trying to free herself from her husband's embrace.
Mr. Darcy just wanted to take his wife to his room and forget about the world. He had been working for so many days that he missed spending time with her, "Well, my dear, tell me what is so important, even more, than your husband's kisses." he told her. Then, he offered his arm, and they continued walking.
"Georgiana confirmed that she will be arriving next week and that Kitty will be traveling with her and Richard. But that's not all; in her letter, Jane told me that Mary and Dr. Davies would marry at the end of April, isn't that wonderful?"
"I'm happy for them, though I'm not surprised," Mr. Darcy explained.
"But that's not all, because Jane told me that her sister-in-law, Emily, is marrying Mr. Reed a week after Mary's wedding. I am so happy for them. You know, Albert was so afraid to propose because he was terrified that she could reject him."
"I understand him perfectly, and I am glad he finally dared to propose. I think they make a nice couple," Mr. Darcy said.
"I agree with you. They definitely make a beautiful couple."
"So many weddings? I guess we're invited, and you want to attend." Mr. Darcy said while he stroked his wife's hand.
"Yes, we're invited, but there's one more wedding we have to attend a week after Albert and Emily's. So, in other words, we will have three weddings in three weeks."
"Cupid has been very busy lately. And whose third wedding is?"
"Richard and Sarah Wilson," Elizabeth replied, and she enjoyed the surprised look on her handsome husband's face.
"How about we go back to the house, my dear. Hearing about so many weddings made me hungry, and soon it will be dinner time. Also, I want to spend the whole evening with you."
"I have one more news to tell you, my love," Elizabeth said nervously.
"Another wedding?" said Mr. Darcy incredulously.
"Fitzwilliam, I'm with a child," said Elizabeth. "Before you ask, yes, I'm sure."
Mr. Darcy hugged his wife and overwhelmed with joy, said, "I love you, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth."
FIN
P&P
Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to leave supportive comments and followed the story enthusiastically.
Thank you very much, Muchas gracias, Merci beaucoup, Muito obrigada!
Saludos,
Yo