Chapter Eighteen:

Elizabeth sank on the stone bench in the garden of the parsonage, it was all too much, he was too much she was overwhelmed, but she knew she still desired him, they had both made mistakes and had both paid the price. Ow what the life could have been if she had waited for him if only she had believed in him, she thought as she sighed. Darcy gently stroked her hand she felt a blush rising in her cheeks and a sparkle in her deep blue eyes.

Before she knew what she was doing Elizabeth found that she was, edging closer to Willaim, she was drawn to him, he in return edged closer to her. Elizabeth had been dreaming of him for the past four years of him, his kisses and caresses, without realizing her actions she leaned forward, and without hesitation kissed him lightly on the lips, it felt so right, it felt like an explosion of her feeling burst from her. It was a moment before he responded to her, the kiss was slow at first but the fire they felt for each other had built up and still fiercely burned even after all these years, his tongue entered her mouth their kiss became more urgent and they were soon caught up passionate embrace.

Like a bolt of lighting hitting her, Elizabeth quickly pulled herself up and away from him. Shacking she stepped back ow how she had fallen for him again so quickly she thought she couldn't allow the same things to happen again she couldn't take the heartbreak again.

After the last time, they had kissed like that neither had had the ability to stop the passion which had led further until her maidenhood was unrepairable. Elizabeth new she couldn't take that chance again no matter how much she desired him she couldn't take the risk of ending up with a child and increasing for a second time without been married once was a naive mistake twice was stupidity.

It was a small miracle that she had managed to hide her daughter from society, she didn't want to be known as a wanton woman and she didn't even know what he wanted he could walk away at any time and take her daughter with him. They would need to discuss her relationship with Catherine Anne if she couldn't be her mother she wanted to be in her life she would not allow him or anyone to take that away from her not when she had only just found her beloved child. nAt that moment Darcy vowed he would never take advantage of her again and that he would never let her go again, she was her soul mate, his helpmeet, his true love, he had been given a second chance and he wasn't going to ruin it he was going to do it all he could as a gentleman by courting Miss Bennet before making her. his wife so she could officially become the mother of her child. There were things they needed to sort out first and they knew they would need time to heal and regrow their trust and in each other. Elizabeth had to be reacquainted herself with their daughter, and he needed to know why she wasn't able to contact him all of them years ago but he was determined he would court her and marry her she would be the next Mrs. Darcy, she was the only person who could make him and Catherine Anne truly happy.

"Mr. Darcy I will not be parted from my child again I won't know I have found her" There were tears in her eyes.

"Elizabeth," he gasped "I'm so sorry, I would like to court you properly, marry you so we can be a proper family, but there are things I need to sort first if that is acceptable to you things I need to know." he breathing was labored from their shared passion, he ran his hands through his hair he needed to escape from her before his passion was uncontrollable and was shown to the world.

"But have no doubt my love you will be my wife and the official mother legally to our child" he whispered as he wiped her tears away.

Larger sparkling brown eyes glanced up at him before nodding, he could get lost in her eyes, the eyes she had given to his daughter the eyes that only ever showed him what true love was.

He knew he would need to return to Rosing Park soon as they had been gone longer than he had planned as his aunt would want to see Catherine Anne, he could use the excuse of the children playing together causing them to be tardy, his aunt wouldn't have any objections to her grandaughter playing with a viscount.

There were things he needed to sort out he needed to speak to his stewards, things didn't make sense know he thought about it especially his aunts timing to Pemberley after his daughter arrival it was uncanny, he needed to know what knowledge she had and why had she turned up at Pemberly out of the blue especially leaving Anne in the condition she was in at the time with her life in the balance.

He would take his time so his aunt wouldn't be aware he was seeking out information, Richard he knew would help him. If his aunt had somehow had kept Elizabeth and his daughter away from him, she would regret it and would pay, he wouldn't make the mistake again of trusting his aunt she has changed since the loss of her daughter but he still remembered the women she was, he was sure she knew back then more than she let on and not just about his daughter.

"Elizabeth, I must return to Rosing with Catherine Anne, we will be missed soon if we do not return in time for tea"

Elizbeth needed time to think about everything he had said and his leaving would grant her it.

"I understand William, I will call nurse... William will you bring Catherine back again tomorrow to play with Edward?" she pleaded with her eyes.

"After all they are cousins" there was a twinkle in her eyes now and a slight smile on her face.

He nodded, he had already planned on returning the next day to see her he knew he wouldn't be strong enough to stay away he would follow Elizabeth Bennet to the end of the world.

Elizabeth rose and left and a short time later she returned holding hands with Catherine Anne, how they warmed his heart this is the picture that he had been missing for the past years, the picture of their family, he hated to leave her now he had found her but it had to be done. When they were a family and at Pemberley he would have the likeness painted to remind him of this memory forever. Elizabeth watched as Mr and Miss Darcy walked away she now knew why she was so drawn to that little girl that was the little girl she had grown, loved, and kept safe, she was the prettiest child she had ever seen she could not wait to see her again. Know she looked closely at Catherine Anne she noticed her own looks at well as Mr. Darcys within the child and her manner was more like hers than Darcys, she chuckled to herself.

Jane returns to the parsonage ahead of her husband she wanted to talk to her sister alone, she found her in the garden having been advised by the nurse that Mr. Darcy had already left with his daughter to return to Rosing Park, fearing the worst she approached her sister. Elizabeth Looked up at her sister and smiled with tears in her eyes after a few deep breaths she went on to explain the miss understanding between her and Mr. Darcys. Mr. Darcy claims that he had never received any of her letters, that he would have married her regardless of her condition as he was an honorable man but he appeared to love her still.

That he had been delayed by in his return to Netherfield by her cousine been injured while he was serving his majesty army abroad and that he had returned to Longbourne to find that they had already left for America. The fates had conspired against them, Elizabeth knew she would have to ask her father if Mr. Darcy had returned to Meryton after they had left for their new life. Elizabeth also shared with Jane the sad fate of Anne De Bourgh and her child that she had been seduced and paired the ultimate price and the ultimate sacrifice Anne had given her child with her name and her inheritance.

"Lizzie I can't believe all that you have told me" responded Jane, " Poor Miss De Bourgh, how she must have suffered, and she had left Rosing Park to Catherine Anne."

"Yes, she truly saved my daughter, I will owe her a debt that I will never be able to repay her... for her kindness towards my child" whispered Lizzie.

On his walk back Jasper planned to speak to Darcy about his intentions towards his sister and also find out what had stopped him from seeking her out, especially to see if he had received any of her letters or not he would want to know this man to man before he would give his final blessing to anything and would encourage her father in law of the not to either.

Soon Jasper returned from his extended walk and was updated by his wife as Lizzie refreshed herself the trio soon sat down to tea once the servants had been dismissed, Jasper spoke.

"Lizzie, I want you to know I intend to speak to Mr. Darcy on your behalf, act in your stead we just feel it is best that I also speak to him, of course, your father could but he doesn't know all the information"

"Of Course Jasper, I am honored you wish to act in my steed, but I truly trust the gentleman" She replied.

"I must say, Lizzie, how did you mistake, Catherine Anne as Anne De Boughs Child she has the Bennet eyes and your mischievous looks," said Jane

"Too true, my dear, and she is such a beautiful child she must be related to the beautiful Bennets sisters" chimed Jaspers

Before she could respond they were interrupted as the rest of the family return from their trip from canterbury cathedral they were soon joined by the party with tales of the trip and how overwhelming it had been for poor Mr. Collins. Who secretly aspired to be the Archdeacon of Canterbury. While the family was seated, Elizabeth was able to confirm to her shock from her father that indeed Mr. Bennet had received a strange visit from Mr. Darcy shortly after they had left for their travels as he was passing through the area. Mr. Bennet went on to say he presumed that Mr. Darcy was checking on Netherfield Park for Mr. Bingley at the time.

Jane and Jasper who had been attending the conversation rather than to Mr. Collins conversation which had drifted from Canterbury cathedral back to his favorite conversation of Lady Catherine. Know understood that Mr. Darcy deserved a second chance of happiness with their sister they both knew that she had pined for him for all these years, she would never admit it to them but they could see the life that had sparked in her eyes in the past few hours that had been missing for years, this was her chance to finally be with her family.