Chapter Twenty Two:

Darcy needed to find Elizabeth but first, he had to find his way out of Rosing without coming face to face with Lady Catherine he wasn't sure if he could keep his cool if he bumped into the Lady at this moment, he blood boiled with rage that he was unsure he would be able to control if he had to communicate with that so-called Lady. Darcy escaped back down the kitchen and out the kitchen door as he knew his aunt would never lower herself to enter the kitchens. He headed towards the parsonage with great haste there was no time to lose.

Mr. Bennet couldn't shake the thought he had held in his head for the past few days and the more he thought about it the more plausible it seems to be he, but surely not his Lizzy surely his most sensible and favorite child she would never have taken the risk and he was sure if she had he would have known, she was more then aware of what could happen if she had taken such risk, But the more time he spent in the company of the young Miss Darcy the more she reminded him of his daughter Elizabeth. The young Miss Darcy was a pure joy to be around she shared many of the characteristics of his Lizzie and her love of walking and being outdoors was just one of these similarities, but it was the eyes that caught his attention most they were his own eyes that he had shared with his ow daughters Lizzie and Lydia, these two girls where more Bennet then Gardiner. It was true that Miss Darcy's looks were more like her father's but there was no mistake that she has Bennet's eyes. As his thoughts began to wander he was interrupted by his most serene daughter Jane, she was a true beauty the image of her mother when he first met her, Golden hair and blue eyes and true kindness that her mother didn't process.

"Jane my dear, how to do your fair this morning," he asked his daughter gently

"I am well Papa, thank you" she replied

"Jane I don't wish to distress you at all as I know you are in a delicate way and I may be barking up the wrong tree, but I would like to ask you something about Miss Darcy" he spoke quickly watching for her reactions and was gratfied with a response.

Jane quickly look away and tried to busy herself with the floral arrangement on the side table she could not look her Papa in the eye and avoid looking at him at all.

"Ow ... What would you ask me, Papa I only know what you know" she voiced

"It's just she reminds me so much of someone, don't you think Janey," he asked.

Jane blushed and looked away again, re-fixing the floral arrangement she had just amended. Jane knew what her father was relating to, Miss Darcy's personality was so similar to her sisters, and of course, her father would notice this, and the expression in their eyes was so similar to her sisters. Mr. Bennet knew his daughter well and could sense she was becoming uncomfortable with his question's so he continued on he needed to know the truth and Jane had never been able to lie to anyone never mind her own dear Papa.

"Who would that be Papa"

"Lizzie" He stated

All the color drained from Jane's face as she quickly sat down on the nearest chair, Mr. Bennet knew his suspicions were correct and her stomach dropped Jane picked up a letter that had been left on the side and began to fan herself like her mother would have done.

"Janey are you well?" he asked in concern.

"I am not sure Papa, will you call my husband I think I must lay down pray please excuse me" she whispered as she rose to exit the room.

Mr. Bennet was know sure, his suspicions were correct, he did the maths for the final time in his head and its lead back to the last month his daughter had Mr. Darcy has been acquainted and if he remembered correctly she had disappeared at the ball and had been nowhere to be found till Jane had found she had assured him she had found her reading a novel in the library that she had become engrossed with. Jane and Lizzie both seem at that time caught up within themself and he had passed it off as a phase young girls went through. If he remembers correctly to back them it was as if Lizzie had been waiting on someone or something she always seemed to be on edge and then his sister Gardiner had asked if the girls would join her on her trip to America and Mr. Bennet been the fool he was had put Lizzie uncharacteristic behavior down to the trip she most of been waiting for her aunt to have the discussion of them joining her with their father and then they had left and then that stage visit that he had been paid by Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet kneed to know the truth and there was only one way for that to happen he had to speak to Lizzie.

Darcy had almost given up on trying to find Elizabeth the maid at the parsonage had told him she had gone for a walk among the wildflowers in the groves but he had been searching that area for nearly thirty minutes, he decided to change direction and head towards the lake where he spotted her perched on a stone her shoes and stocking off dipping her feet while she read a book, he could have watched her all day but then his thoughts fell back to the urgent express and approached her. He coughed to catch her attention.

"William, how nice to see you, please join me" she shuffled along the rock.

"Elizabeth, I have searched for you, we must talk urgently"

she looked worried

"Whatever is the matter Willam is it Catherine Anne, is she hurt"

"No no, it's not Catherine Anne she is perfectly well my love" he chuckled and she visibly relaxed.

"Then what is so urgent that has distressed you Mr. Darcy" she teased

"I've just received an express"

Mr. Darcy went on to relate the contents of his letter from Wickham and his aunt's wrongs against him and her, how it was his aunts doing that they had been prevented from being a family and the dangers that may lurk ahead of them, that would be encouraged by that Lady. Darcy advised that he had shared the letter with Richard and they both thought it would be best to not let Lady Catherine know that they were aware of her request to Wickham and to her spies at Pemberly. Taking a deep breath Darcy went on to share the final part of her plan and hoped that she would agree to the plan.

"Elizabeth, I hope you know that nothing in the world means as much to me as you and Cathrine Anne. There is nothing I want more than for us to be a family for you to be my wife legally and you to be legally seen as the mother to our daughter" he paused and took another deep breath.

"Elizabeth Bennet... Wish you do me the great honor in my life and become my wife?" he asked.

She looked at him startled for a moment but she knew her own heart and she knew he was her would mate, her help meet the one her heart had cried out for, for all these years.

"Yes... Yes William I will be your wife" she flung her arms around her neck and nozzled her face into his neck.

"Elizabeth there is more to the plan. I believe we should marry quickly that we keep it a secret for the time bean especially, from Lady Catherine. I could get a common license and we could ask Mr collins to marry us in the next few days before we leave kent as we have both been in residents long enough and could be vouched of course this is if your father agrees and we can convince Mr. Collins to keep are secret it is the only way I can be close with you and keep you safe at all times"

Elizabeth thought about all that Mr. Darcy had said and agreed with her plan she knew her relatives would also agree but she would need to be completely honest with her father.

"I agree Willaim the sooner we are legally wed the better, I think my father will agree, but I will need to be completely honest with him first. I will have to be truthful about Catherine Anne. I am not sure how he will react to such news William. I am of age and I do not need his consent so I think we should plan for the worst but hope for the best, however, I would like to be honest with him and I hope for his forgiveness and blessing," she spoke with a determination to him.