Author's notes: Half chapter
PPP
28th June 1817
London
Dear Mr. Darcy
I hope you are recovering well from your sprained ankle and you can walk without difficulty soon.
The purpose of this letter is to let you know that I have been thinking about my future and especially that of my niece seriously, and I have come to the conclusion that at it is not appropriate for me to visit you at Pemberley at this moment.
I want to release you from our engagement.
Cordially,
Elizabeth Barton.
"Are you sure what you are doing Lizzy?" asked Mrs. Barton with concern.
"The the only thing I know is that I have many doubts and fears." She took a deep breath, "I don't trust Mr. Darcy and therefore, I cannot continue my engagement with him."
"I understand your doubts and fears and even share some of them completely, but don't you think that before making this decisions, you should first listen to him?"
Lizzy nodded slightly and sighed, "Yes, I know that I should listen to him; but at this moment I cannot go to Pemberley, nor can I continue with the engagement… It is the best for my peace of mind."
Mrs. Barton nodded, "I will always support you, but I think you should think better about the consequences of what you are going to do since maybe one day you may regret it."
Lizzy nodded, "Maybe, but right now I urgently need to go to Ramsgate for a few days to visit Jane… the last two nights I dreamed about her and Patrick… I miss them both so much! It is not fair that they left me alone!"
Mrs. Barton hugged her tightly, while caressing her hair, "I miss them too, Lizzy… Everything will be fine, you can go there for a few days. Mrs. Maxwell will be very happy when she finds out that you are going to visit her…"
Lizzy, after hesitating another day, sent the letter to Darcy, subsequently wrote to Mrs. Maxwell, and the good lady enthusiastically invited her to stay as long as she wished in her house.
Two days after Eleanor and Richard's wedding - Lizzy only attended church - she left for Ramsgate alone. The Maxwells were waiting for her at the coach Inn, and greeted her effusively. The carriage passed near the house where she lived with Jane; so many bittersweet memories came to her mind...
PPP
It had been over two weeks since the incident with the tenant, and Darcy was anxious to get back to his normal life. He was much better, although he still felt pain when he put his foot down. He was counting down the days until Elizabeth came to Pemberley, and even Georgiana was going to visit Pemberley just to meet her.
That afternoon Mrs. Reynolds brought him the mail, his face lit up when he saw that there was a letter from Elizabeth...