Chapter 32

John Lucas came to call most days, accompanied by his sisters. Charlotte and Mariah would speak with Elizabeth, or play with Little Will, while John and Kitty began their courtship. Elizabeth was entirely in favor of the match, and seeing how much they were growing in love, was determined to write to her Mother so that she would be prepared when she returned home to accept him as a son-in-law. Charlotte assured Elizabeth that both their parents approved the match, thinking he could probably do better if he spent a season or two in London, but that by marrying Kitty would save them the cost of renting a house.

Letters from Mrs. Bennet and Mary began pouring into Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet wrote about what a beautiful baby Jane had, such blonde curls and blue eyes, just like her Mother. Annabelle was shortened to Belle, and she made the most adorable cooing sounds. Mary's letters were shorter, but Elizabeth did get a sense she was enjoying herself. Their trip was interrupted by their Uncle Gardiner needing to return to his business sooner than he anticipated, but was determined to visit Derbyshire, where his wife had grown up, and visit all her old haunts.

Elizabeth's heart gave a skip. Pemberley was in Derbyshire, she knew that much. Would it be anywhere near where her Aunt Gardiner had grown? The Bingleys had done very little entertaining considering Jane's earlier condition, and they had related no news about the Darcys. Would there be a chance of her family coming across any of them? Forcing this news to the back of her mind she continued on with her duties.

"Oh, Lizzy, I am in love!" Kitty declared one afternoon after having walked every garden path Longbourn had with John, Mariah acting as chaperon while Charlotte kept Elizabeth company inside.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, "Indeed? With whom?"

"Do not tease me!" She declared with all the force of a girl of eighteen could muster about her first love.

"Has he declared himself?"

"No," Kitty fell upon the sofa in an unladylike heap. "He says his Father will not condone the marriage until he has spent an entire year learning about the farm."

"An whole year," Elizabeth tsked. "Better to marry in haste then repent at leisure."

"Oh, I would never repent marrying John," Kitty replied solemnly. "He is the most perfect man in the world. Did you know he won a medal for fencing while at school?"

"No, I did not." Elizabeth smiled, and continued to listen to the many reasons why John Lucas was superior to any other man in the county.

"You must send Will to Oxford," Kitty proclaimed. "John says it is the best school."

"His Father went to Cambridge," she replied.

"I thought Mr. Collins had gone to Trinity?" Kitty asked, confused.

"Indeed," Elizabeth stammered. "I meant that Trinity is in Cambridge." Elizabeth knew perfectly well that Mr. Darcy had gone to Cambridge. She was only all too thankful that Kitty had heard her and easily dismissed it, other than someone who would have tried to pry more information from her.

"Well, if you do not send him to Oxford, it will be to your detriment." And with that, Kitty left the room, no doubt to write in her private journal about the events of the day.

The courtship of Kitty and John Lucas was wildly discussed in the parlors of Meryton during the course of the Summer. Everyone had their own opinion of the match, but it was agreed by all that such happiness was long over-do at Longbourn, and perhaps the gray pall that had covered that house was finally beginning to lift. Jane Bingley's child had been born, Kitty soon to marry, and Little Will Collins growing big and strong every day.

Elizabeth was finally accepting more company to her house, though in small numbers, and never for longer than the appropriate thirty minutes. She had heretofore declined any invitation to dinner, especially since such dinners usually turned to dancing, though Kitty had tried to beg and cajole her into accepting at least one. She so desperately wanted to stand up with John.

"If I do not attend he will stand up with some one else!" She had cried.

"Mama will return before the next Assembly, I am sure she will declare it fitting for you to go," Elizabeth tried to assuage her guilt.

Between the running of the house and land and raising her child, Elizabeth was feeling as if her life was draining away from her. She had looked in the mirror one morning and had noticed her first gray hair. Looking for other signs of age, she felt relieved that her skin was still smooth and supple, and other parts of her body were where they should be. She had never been a vain woman, always deferring to Jane's beauty, but she had hoped to marry again and to use her looks as an alluring inducement. Though she did not relish the idea of a second marriage, she knew the benefits far outweighed any discomfort on her part. To put a fine point on it, Longbourn needed a man, and Little Will needed a Father.

"Four more months," she huffed to her reflection. She would be out of mourning and able to enter into a courtship, should she choose. Though her first marriage had started without love and little respect, she had hopes for a second marriage.

These thoughts fluttered through her mind as she perused the days mail, smiling at Mary's neatly scrawled hand atop one. She had already visited the nursery and broken her fast, so she decided to take a walk and read the latest news from her sister in the garden. Sitting atop a stone bench which overlooked a small pond Elizabeth broke the seal and read:

"Dear Elizabeth, though you know how I loathed joining our Aunt and Uncle on this trip, I must confess I have enjoyed myself, and feel saddened that it is soon to end. My mind as been opened to new vistas and met many new and interesting people. Though I prefer the derelict structures we have visited, Aunt has an affinity for the larger homes, of which we have seen many. The most beautiful, however, would be Pemberley, the seat of Mr. Darcy. To think such a stoic man could own such an extraordinary home. We have not been inside, due to the family being in residence, but we were able to tour the grounds. We have heard some happy news. The Darcy's are expecting their first child soon. We asked the Head Gardener to please convey our congratulations, telling him I was an acquaintance of his. Later that day we received an invitation to take tea the next day.

Aunt Gardiner was all aflutter, trying to decide which of her dresses would be suitable, while Uncle Gardiner persuaded her any of her dresses would do, so as long as she was wearing it on her person. Mr. Darcy had a carriage sent for us, and we received every attention while there. His sister, Georgiana was present, such a shy girl, though she remembered me from Jane's wedding. We exchanged news, and when he heard that Mr. Collins had passed he seemed to choke on his tea. His wife is pretty, though quite young..." Mary's letter continued on but Elizabeth had stopped reading.

So the Darcys were to have their child soon. Though Elizabeth kept trying to persuade herself that she was happy for them, she could not prevent the tears from streaming down her cheeks.

Unable to properly function throughout the rest of the day, Elizabeth had instructed Hill to prepare the meal without her, and informed the others of the house that she was indisposed and not to be disturbed.

A/N: The next installment of chapters will be the last and I probably won't be able to get them out until Monday. Until then!

*** Sorry about the typo, I reworked the plot in the latter part of the story a few times that the "girl" mistake skipped my notice. Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag on that one ;-)