5th December

Mr Darcy arrived at Longbourn soon after Charlotte and Maria had left to return home. As he entered the parlour, Elizabeth, busy tidying away some ribbons looked up and felt a slow smile form, even as heat rose into her cheeks.

'You came.'

'Of course, I did. It was an easy decision to make - Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who I am to marry, or Mr Collins, who I wish to- Ah, well never mind all that. Are you well today, Elizabeth?'

She moved toward him, even as he moved toward her. They were alone, although there were bangs and footsteps reverberating throughout the house, but still they managed a brief embrace. As they separated, he cupped the back of her head with a hand drawing her head forward to drop a kiss on her forehead, before releasing her.

She gestured to the sofa, and they both sat.

'I am very well, and what is more, mamma is well enough to come down for dinner today. That is what all the noise is about, we are preparing things so that everything is as she would want.'

He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. 'That is good to hear. You have not yet told me her reaction to our news.'

Elizabeth dropped her gaze as the heat rose once more. 'She was… pleased,' she replied.

'Pleased?'

The second youngest Bennet bounced into the room. 'That is why mamma is finally getting up. She was almost bou-'

'Kitty,' Elizabeth warned.

Kitty dropped into a chair opposite the sofa and crossed her arms. 'Hmph.'

Elizabeth glared at her sister before returning her gaze to Mr Darcy. 'Mamma feels she needs to be up and about, so that she can start organising our wedding, especially now that Jane and Mr Bingley have to wait out his mourning.'

'We should probably decide on a date, then.'

'Maybe we can have the banns called this weekend. I have yet to tell you my news. My great friend, Charlotte Lucas, is to marry Doctor Williams. They are having their banns called on Sunday. Could we do the same?'

His smiled almost split his face in two, his happiness at her suggestion obvious. 'Certainly. I will speak with your father about it.'

Elizabeth nodded briskly, as an idea formed. 'Yes, you go and sit with my father while Kitty and I finish our work.'

Kitty groaned, dragged herself to her feet and slumped out the door. Elizabeth shot him an amused smile and stood.

'Go now. I must finish this room before mamma sees it!' She shooed him out and into the passage and watched as he knocked on the study door. Once he was safely inside, she returned to the parlour and her tidying, but this time she was smiling as she worked.

Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy were just finishing their third game of chess when a knock at the door preceded the entry of his middle daughter.

'Papa, Lizzy sent me to tell you that mamma is on her way down. She wants you to be waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.'

Mr Bennet nodded. 'This game is near over. I concede, sir. Well played.' He stood. 'I will be there in just a moment, Mary.'

The gentlemen left the room, hearing steps on the stairs and were just in position as Mrs Bennet reached the top of the stairs, flanked by her two eldest daughters.

'Welcome back, my dear,' said Mr Bennet, quickly mounting the stairs, to hand his wife down.

'Oh, Mr Bennet, I am very glad to be out of that room at last. I am so very tired of looking at those walls, I must have them re-papered. Oh, my dear Mr Darcy, you are here too! I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you and Lizzy are to marry. I never thought that girl would- well never mind that. Oh, you're too kind!'

This last comment was due to his offering her an arm as she reached the bottom of the stairs. He escorted her through to the dining room, followed by the Mr Bennet with his two eldest on each of his arms.

Mary, Kitty and Lydia were already awaiting them, standing behind their seats at the table and as their mamma entered the room, they clapped, and Kitty cheered. Mrs Bennet beamed at them all with tears in her eyes.

Mr Darcy led her to her seat at the foot of the table and helped her to her chair. Once the matriarch was seated, everyone else took their places and dinner was served.

It was an evening that Elizabeth through she would remember forever. The food was delicious as Cook had obviously made a special effort for the Lady of the house. Papa had unearthed some of his special wines for the occasion. Even Mr Darcy was relaxed and cheerful, chatting with her mother and Lydia, seated adjacent and opposite to him. She was, of course sat on his other side. The only sour point in the evening was Kitty, who spent most of the meal visibly sulking after the following exchange.

Mrs Bennet had just asked Mr Darcy about his estate, Pemberley, when Kitty muttered, 'Not that YOU deserve it.'

Unfortunately, her words fell at a quiet spot in the general chatter and were heard by everyone there. Mr Bennet frowned and was about to speak when Mr Darcy broke the silence.

'As my father's only son, it became my DUTY to look after my inheritance for any future generations. I do my best to maintain and increase the prosperity of the estate, but there are many who would do nothing but spend, without thinking of the consequences or the needs of their staff and tenants.' He paused, looking at her intently. She had folded her arms across her chest and was frowning at her plate. 'I know who you are thinking about, and what his usual lies are about the situation. Let me tell you now, he was given his inheritance, and was fully compensated for the living he chose not to take up. He did not wish to take orders, you see.'

'You cheated him!' she shot back with a glare.

'He cheats himself, over and over. He was given one thousand pounds as per my father's will, and he was given an additional three thousand pounds for the living he signed away.'

He paused while gasps went around the table, and Mrs Bennet exclaimed, 'Four thousand pounds!'

Mr Darcy continued. 'Had he invested that money in the four percents, he could have lived comfortably on the interest while working towards his alleged goal of a career in the law. Instead, he spent it all in just a few years. Once it was gone, he had the audacity to come back to me demanding that I give him the living he had signed away.'

'I do not believe you.'

'I have proof of all our transactions. Does Mr Wickham?'

Kitty slumped in her seat and turned her face pointedly away from his intent gaze. 'I am sure he does.'

'In that case, I look forward to seeing it,' he said gently, before turning back to Mrs Bennet to continue where he had left off.

Stilted conversations began and gradually the awkwardness of the situation wore away and the joviality around the table returned. The meal closed with a spectacular dessert, a trifle piled high with whipped cream and some of their preserved fruits.

They decided against separation of the sexes after the meal, instead they all removed to the drawing room, where Mr Bennet dispensed port to his guest, and Mrs Bennet, aided by Jane, dispensed tea to the ladies.

Kitty, however, declined all refreshment and left for her room, claiming a headache. Elizabeth hoped that during her time alone, she would consider everything she had been told about Mr Wickham, both by Mr Darcy and her father, and finally realise the truth.

Elizabeth had been speaking with Mr Darcy for a while when something caught her eye.

'What is it?' he asked, after he had realised her attention had wandered.

She simply shook her head, silently asking for a little patience, as she watched her parents interact.

Mr Bennet had settled Mrs Bennet in a comfortable chair beside the fire, leaving the tea tray service to Jane. He was now sitting in an adjacent chair, talking quietly to his wife, and what had caught her notice was that he was gently stroking her arm as they spoke, and her mother was dabbling at her eyes with her handkerchief.

'Something has upset mamma,' she eventually said, realising that Mr Darcy had been gazing at her with concern in his eyes. Shaking her head, she looked away from her parents. 'But that is not unusual. What is unusual, is that papa is comforting her. I have not seen that for such a long time.'

Mr Darcy briefly rested his hand on her arm, giving it a light squeeze before he let go. 'While she was so ill, I spent time with him in his study while you were upstairs with her, and we talked. He does care about her, you know. His relief when you came down to say she would survive was palpable.'

Her eyes drifted back to the fireside. Her mother and father were leaning towards each other, and Mrs Bennet was smiling at something her husband had said. He lifted a hand and gently touched her cheek, his thumb brushing a tear away.

Elizabeth's eyes filled, and she looked away, allowing them their privacy. 'I am…' She paused, and her brow wrinkled. 'I don't know what I am, actually. Relieved that they still have some affection? Pleased for them? The words really don't express what I am feeling. I suppose all I that matters is that I hope it lasts, this time.'