By popular request, here go the peacemaking attempts. Hope you all enjoy! :)

Chapter 7

Darcy was on his way to the parlor where his aunt had been last reported when he met his sister in the hall.

"Brother! You are home!" she cried happily, giving him an impetuous hug.

"I missed you," he told her, smiling. "I have grown so used to having us all here together that I take you for granted. A change of scenery makes me realize what a fortunate man I am to have such a wife and sister always with me."

"Yes, Fitzwilliam, I wanted to talk to you about Lizzy. I… is it wicked to tell you something she asked me not to?"

His brow darkened. "That depends. If it regards her welfare of course you should tell me."

"Well, I think Aunt Catherine upset her very much yesterday."

"I thought as much," he said with a cold sort of anger. "She seemed unusually upset when I saw her this morning."

"She looked like she had seen a ghost when she got through talking with Aunt."

"And she is too concerned with my feelings to tell me."

"She did say something about hoping that, as they must meet sometimes, it could be on friendly terms," added Georgiana, fearing that she might have said too much.

"Thank you, Georgiana," he said. "I will see Lady Catherine directly. Now run along."

His word had always been law with her and she went to her room without another sound and only one, hopeful glance back. He smiled at her, but his dark eyes were flashing dangerously.

Alone, he stood for a moment collecting his thoughts. Then, with the words, "I must make her see, for Elizabeth's sake, not mine… She must see," muttered in a determined voice, he strode towards the parlor door. He opened it and went in, closing it firmly behind him.

Lady Catherine rose as he entered and stood facing him with a back like an iron rod. How unhappy she looks, flashed though Darcy's mind. I wonder if she was ever happy a day in her life.

"Aunt."

"Nephew."

"I was not expecting you so soon."

"That was clear from the fact that you were not here to receive me," with a haughty sniff.

Darcy ignored this remark. It served no purpose but to add to the list of imaginary injuries she had suffered at his hand and he was having none of that.

"The question must follow, why did you come?"

"If you remember Darcy, you invited me," she said with dignity.

"My letter contained certain conditions which I requested you comply with or abstain from coming. The most important of which being that you treat Elizabeth with the respect that she deserves as my wife and the mistress of Pemberley!" His voice rose with every word. "This you clearly did not do. Have you any excuse for your discourteous behavior and neglect of my requests?"

"I did not come to be insulted!" she began angrily.

Darcy, thoroughly roused now, interrupted her, "But you came to insult my wife?"

"I came to tell you I was prepared to forgive you for breaking off your engagement to Anne…"

"For the last time Aunt, we were never engaged!" He fairly shouted the words.

She stared at him. This was a side of her reserved nephew she had never seen before. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

He made a violent effort and controlled himself. "Even if I had been promised to Anne, would you really have insisted on a marriage in which both of us would have been unhappy, because, after seeing Elizabeth, I could never be happy with another nor make her so?"

"You are still under whatever spell she cast on you I see," she said almost bitterly.

He looked at her earnestly. "Yes, I am, and, I pray, will be for the rest of my life. She has bewitched me; body and soul, and I am not ashamed of it." The words were spoken quietly, firmly.

Lady Catherine moved to a window and looked out over the shades of Pemberley. He remained silent. She turned back to him with a face that was devoid of all expression.

"Well Darcy," and there was something in her voice which he could not define, so foreign was it to her. "You have told me the truth. You never were one for disguise… and I esteem that. Your wife appears to have your whole heart to an unusual degree. I shall leave you now, with the knowledge of your perfect happiness to ease me."

She walked briskly out of the room before he could say another word. In the hall she called to a footman to have her carriage readied. He bowed and went quickly to do her bidding.

Darcy, who had followed her out of the parlor, said hastily, "Leaving so soon Aunt?"

She inclined her head in an affirmative but said nothing.

Elizabeth stood by the grand entrance, arranging a bouquet of summer flowers which Georgiana had gathered. The sun was shining on her dark curls. She looked very sweet and very beautiful. Hearing Lady Catherine's step, she turned towards the sound. Her ladyship stopped and looked at Lizzy with her head on one side. Lizzy met her gaze squarely but without any trace of malice.

Finally, Lady Catherine said, "You are a very fortunate woman Mrs. Darcy to have a husband that loves you so much… and I think he is not wholly misguided in his attachment."

Lizzy bowed her head in sudden confusion and Lady Catherine went out without another word.

Fitzwilliam hurried out to the step where her ladyship's carriage was waiting.

"You will come again, Aunt?"

"Perhaps."

All at once he felt a need to make her see how he appreciated her effort. "Come for the christening, in December," he said with sudden decision and a suggestive smile.

"So I was right," his aunt said dryly. "Well, perchance I shall come. Goodbye Darcy."

"Godspeed." He kissed her hand and assisted her into the carriage.

Elizabeth came out and stood beside him. She reached for Lady Catherine's hand and took it impulsively. "We hope you will come see us again and bring Anne with you."

Lady Catherine patted her hand. "You are very kind, Mrs. Darcy."

The carriage started, and in a few minutes, Lady Catherine de Bourgh had disappeared down the drive.

Fitzwilliam put an arm around Elizabeth. "Whatever did she mean back there in the hall Fitzwilliam?" Lizzy asked, half teasing, half in earnest.

He did not reply but instead wrapped his arms around her completely and kissed her soundly. The footman on duty looked the other way and tried not to smile.

"Is that answer satisfactory?" he whispered.

"I suppose so," she said, laughing a little and looking up at him lovingly.

He pressed his lips to hers again for a last, quick kiss and then left her with a parting smile, for the stables.

Lizzy watched him go; shook her head a little and laughed again. There were happy tears sparkling in her bright eyes.