That night he dreamed of Elizabeth again. The next morning, even though he knew he shouldn't, he rode through the area, hoping to see that woman again and see if it was Elizabeth or not.
He didn't know exactly why he wanted to see her, and what he was going to do if it was indeed her. Sometimes he wanted to convince himself that he just wanted to make sure she was alright. Other times he thought he wanted to see her again to put the past behind him once and for all. He still didn't understand why he had been fascinated with her for so long…, and still was. Objectively he had met women who were more beautiful, more refined, and certainly more suitable to be Mrs. Darcy. Lady Maria was a clear example!
He spent more than three hours riding around, but he did not see any young woman similar to her. Exhausted, he returned home to have lunch with Georgiana, and for the rest of the afternoon, he went for a walk alone on the beach...
His childhood had not been happy; her parent's marriage had been arranged. They were two very different people; two strangers, who despite being married for fourteen years, never really knew each other. His father for many years was Mrs. Wickham's lover. His mother and several of Pemberley's leading servants knew it, and there was even gossip that George Wickham was George Darcy's son. However, his father denied it, and a few days before he died he confessed that his affair with Caroline Wickham had started after she was pregnant. He also confessed he was in love with her when they were both single, but since she did not meet the requirements to be Mrs. Darcy, he did not marry her.
In that sense, Darcy was a man of impeccable morals and did not approve of infidelity in marriage. Marriage was a sacrament and a promise made before God!
The next day, he resolved not to ride in the area again. But in the afternoon when he went to Lady Maria's house and passed in his carriage by that area, his eyes unconsciously looked at the same place where he had seen that young woman...
August 1813 – December 1813
Over the next few months, Darcy continued his courtship of Lady Maria and Mr. Stevens with Georgiana. In early August Mr. Stevens proposed to Georgiana and she happily accepted.
A week later, Darcy received a letter from his steward. He had to return to Pemberley and before he left, he visited Lady Maria...
"…it's a shame you have to go to Pemberley. Do you know when you will be back?" she asked with some concern since he was afraid that Darcy would change his mind.
"I will probably be back in November or December. I have to stay at Pemberley until harvest."
"There are many months left until you come back. Can't your steward take care of the harvest?"
Darcy looked at her as if she had three heads, "No, several of the decisions I have to make myself. In addition, a good landowner must take care of his estate and the tenants."
"You are right." She commented with feigned sadness: "I am just going to miss our conversations and three or four months is a long time." She sighed. "At least I will hear from you through Georgiana."
"It won't be necessary." He took a deep breath and simply told her "Lady Maria, in these months that I have been courting you, I have thought carefully about a possible future together. We both belong to the same social sphere; you meet all the requirements to be my wife. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
Relieved Lady Maria nodded and hugged him, "Yes, a thousand times yes. I am so happy…"
The Earl XXXX agreed with great relief, knowing that Darcy was a very wealthy gentleman, and would not need his daughter's dowry. Unfortunately, in recent years, due to a series of bad investments, gambling debts, and excessive spending, his daughter's dowry has been reduced from the original £30,000 to just £10,000. But they were going to discuss the marriage contract when Darcy returned from Pemberley since they were to be married in February.
The next day he returned to Pemberley alone as Georgiana decided to stay in London with Mrs. Annesley to buy her trousseau. She was to marry Mr. Stevens in early December...