Mr. Darcy sat proud in his carriage even though his face exposed the fatigue that was rapidly creeping upon his person.
He had not slept well for the past two nights. The first due to his recurring dreams of Elizabeth the evening before Bingley's wedding and the second owing to the fact that he had just spent an entire night sitting upright on his ride from Kent.
His visit to Rosings was a triumph nonetheless! He had asserted himself to his aunt and practically dared her to violate him again and risk the lunatic asylum.
Parting the dining room, and slamming shut the doors behind him, he was hailed in the hallways by an assembly of servants each one wearing a larger and brighter smile then the next.
Ascending into his carriage and settling himself in to his seat he peered out the window just once to watch Rosings Park disappear into the darkness.
Darcy thought of how he finally saw the grand estate for what it truly was; an empty shell covering a bitter old woman.
He dared never again to enter his estate, Pemberley, without Elizabeth by his side.
He did want his home to become a casing void of love and happiness.
As the carriage began to slow its pace Darcy began to assemble his thoughts and prepare for what lay ahead of him.
Exiting his coach and stepping out into the morning sun Darcy looked upwards towards his grand London townhouse realizing that it would seem very desolate without her.
He guessed it would mirror the same hollow feeling his heart ached with over the past months.
How odd it appeared to Darcy as he entered his home, even though Elizabeth had never entered it before, her essence seemed to resonate through the walls.
Drifting past a line of bowing servants Darcy wondered what could cure his unease.
Sleep! That is what he required, as he took two steps at a time up the staircase.
His letters would have to wait, as he entered the master bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
Pulling his outer layer of clothing and boots off Darcy rested on the grand bed, refusing to wait for an attendant.
Lying on his back he began to tug at his cravat, revealing his unclothed neck.
As he lay still his began to race, wrestling with the future. He knew what he must do, but regrettably his plan would have to delay, he was in no state to travel again so soon.
As Darcy drifted off to sleep Elizabeth's face was not far from his mind.
Elizabeth. His Elizabeth!
While Darcy slept Lizzy was wide-awake and rushing behind her father to the front gate of Longbourn.
Finally reaching their target Mr. Bennet and Lizzy stopped to view the source of the clamour, and in the morning light stood Mr. Bingley's fine carriage.
The carriage was heavily packed for the newly wedded couple's honeymoon tour.
Lizzy could not believe that Jane and Mr. Bingley had come to call the day after their wedding, but in her typical manner Jane could not depart the county without being reassured of Lizzy's health and welfare.
Mr. Bingley helped his new wife out of the carriage and both, walking with a glow about them, began their trek up to Mr. Bennet and Lizzy.
Jane's sweet smile began to fade as she came to face her family, and as she stood opposite her sister her eyes were concentrated on the contents of Lizzy's hand!
"Good Morning Mr. Bennet, Miss Elizabeth! Jane would not see us leave for Bath without checking on her dear sister. I do hope we did not wake you." Charles Bingley said smiley broadly failing to realize the look of dismay on his wife's face.
Before Mr. Bennet could offer a reply, Jane broke into the conversation.
"Lizzy what is that?" Jane said pointing at her sister's hand. "That there, in your hand?"
How foolish Lizzy had been, she had forgotten to hide the necklace away when she left the study!
She had hurried after her father so quickly; foolishly believing that it might be Mr. Darcy awaiting their arrival outside that she still clutched the necklace in her trembling hand.
"Lizzy did you hear me?" Jane pleaded while stepping closer to her sister and between her husband and father.
Charles Bingley stood contemplating what was to be done. He could not let his closest friend be exposed in this way, and in front of Mr. Bennet! Darcy would have come to his aide if the situation was reversed.
Lizzy stood mute, her face becoming flushed looking for any escape from this unfolding saga.
Her hero came not in the form of a dashing knight, but in the form of Mr. Bingley clumsily finding words to form an explanation for the existence of this expensive treasure.
"Jane dear, I can explain." Bingley said, inching closer to Lizzy in an effort to block her from Jane's scrutiny. "Elizabeth was holding this for me."
Standing close to Lizzy, Bingley reached down and removed the necklace out of Lizzy's hand.
"This is a gift for you darling, your sister was good enough to hold it for me." Bingley offered a feeble smile to both his suspicious wife and father-in-law.
The party of four stood quiet for a moment and Bingley was content that his intervention had been a success.
It was Mr. Bennet who finally breached the silence dashing Mr. Bingley's hopes aside.
"Lizzy is this correct? The necklace is Mr. Bingley's, and is intended for Jane?"
Mr. Bennet and Jane watched Lizzy closely half expecting her to repeat her fainting spell from the previous day.
Mr. Bingley stood back, holding Darcy's gift to Elizabeth, wishing he had kept his good dead to himself. He knew this was not going to end well. No, not well at all!
Looking at her beloved father Lizzy knew she could not keep her secret much longer, and walking over to Charles she gently removed the necklace from his hand.
"Thank you Charles, but I do believe it is time for me to be truthful." Lizzy said returning to her position in the courtyard and facing the threesome.
"The necklace is not for Jane, Papa, and it is not from Mr. Bingley. In fact, it is a gift for me."
"A gift daughter; for you?" Mr. Bennet spoke looking directly at Lizzy and ignoring Jane's sudden change in breathing. "Who would present you with such a thing? A token that is so lavish."
"The necklace is a gift, a gift from Mr. Darcy." Lizzy finally said it! Her face began to blush as a reward for her honesty.
Lizzy awkwardly stood holding the necklace waiting for the backlash from her admission.
Jane moved closer to her sister, and reaching to touch Lizzy's arm she softly spoke words of reassurance.
"Lizzy pray how long has it been since Mr. Darcy has attached himself to you?"
"Attachment? No Jane, there is no understanding between myself and Mr. Darcy." Lizzy continued, her voice beginning to quiver from her own realization of her unsound relationship with Mr. Darcy. "He has made me no promises, no pledge."
Bingley chimed in overlooking the wrath rising in his father-in-law.
"No attachment, then why on earth would he give you such a gift? I declare I have never heard of Darcy being so reckless in my life. He must come and answer to these claims. If it was not for our honeymoon I would travel to town directly and bring him here now!"
Bingley's face reddened and Jane stepped in to calm him.
"Well Lizzy, Mr. Darcy must have some cause to gift you in this manner. You have no understanding as to why he would behave in this fashion?" Mr. Bennet questioned.
"Well I do suppose he acted so rashly by presenting me with the necklace because I believe that he…" Lizzy hesitated for a moment. "…that he loves me!"
"Loves you! Well this is serious indeed! Daughter you must be candid now; do you share Mr. Darcy's feelings of affection?"
Looking at her father, Lizzy said for the first time aloud what she had been feeling in solitude this many months.
"Yes Papa, I do believe I love him!"
Mr. Bingley stood steading Jane, as this recent admission was too much of a shock so early in the morning.
The small group stood out in the courtyard, the morning sun beaming down on them.
Lizzy stood feeling relieved that her true feelings were no longer sealed away.
Mr. Bingley began to search for words to voice his mixture of pleasure and surprise, but he was stopped by the distant shriek of the newly risen Mrs. Bennet.
The foursome looked towards the house just as the lady of the house, followed by Kitty emerged onto the pathway.
Mr. Bennet spun around and looked at his eldest daughter and new son-in-law.
"Not a word! Not a word!" And with a nod from Mr. Bingley, Mr. Bennet faced his hastily approaching wife.
Jane came to stand next to Lizzy touching her hand gently to alert her senses.
By the time Mrs. Bennet and Kitty came to join the gathering the necklace was tucked away in Lizzy's shawl safe from probing eyes.