Dear reader, Just wanted to take a moment to reply to those who have messaged me. Book two of Through the Window is now out on Amazon. If you want to check it out the link is on my profile page. Thanks to everyone for the encouraging words and response to my Through the Window series. And for those who are continuing to read this story here is the next chapter. Thanks so much to everyone :)

Chapter 32: Spending Time with Elizabeth

After they ate breakfast and got dressed, Darcy drove them up away from the estate on a narrow dirt road. Elizabeth very much enjoyed the ride, and the surroundings were beautiful. "You seem to know your way around here very well. Have you spent a great deal of your time here?"

"Yes, I have. While my mother was alive, we came to Rosings almost every summer and spent time with my aunt and cousin. I guess it is a tradition that I am accustomed to now because Richard and I still come every year. Georgiana sometimes comes, but less so now. Over the years my aunt has become even more critical, and it's difficult for Georgiana to be around her," he explained as he pulled up to the clearing. They got out and walked down into the meadow.

Elizabeth's eyes opened wider as she looked around her. There was a beautiful old farmhouse sitting in the field. To the left of the house were a greenhouse and large older barn. In the distance, you could see the meadows and the forest beyond that. It was a lovely spot with the river running alongside the farmhouse.

"This was my uncle's pet project," Darcy pointed toward the house. "Not very many people realize this, but Rosings was at one time a fully sustainable farm and ranch."

Elizabeth laughed, "I would never have guessed that," she told him.

"My uncle was very much in love with the idea of the American wild west so for a long time he ran some of the property around here for that purpose. He had his own cattle, and he helped oversee his own food gardens. He even had a very lovely hot-house that he used for growing things throughout the winter months."

"Would it be all right if I take pictures?" she asked.

"Yes, but don't share them with Collins. My aunt wouldn't be pleased. She doesn't like to talk about my uncle's secret life. I'm sorry to say she thought it was beneath him to be out doing manual labor," he told her.

"Oh, what a shame," Elizabeth told him. "It looks like it was an amazing farm at one time."

"It was. I can remember coming here as a little boy, around the age of six or seven years old and playing in that barn with my cousins Richard and Anne," he told her.

Elizabeth snapped several photos of the house, "Does anyone live here now?" It still looked beautifully maintained although she saw no signs of anyone living there.

"No, I'm afraid not. After my uncle had passed away, Lady Catherine had the cattle sold and the gardens closed. My father tried to convince her to sublet the property to a local farming family, but she wouldn't consider it. I think she planned to tear the house down along with the barn and greenhouse, but my cousin Anne wouldn't allow it. You see my uncle left this property to Anne, not my Aunt Catherine. She can't do anything to alter the property without Anne's permission. Which is another source of contention between them I'm sure? Anne is very much like her father, and the two of them were very close. I don't imagine she will ever allow the house, the barn, or the greenhouse to be destroyed," he explained, "She's the one who pays for the upkeep. She pays an older gentleman from town to ensure the property is kept up, and the house is maintained."

"Anne sounds like she doesn't take after your aunt," Elizabeth commented.

"She doesn't take after Lady Catherine at all. She's very different," he told her. "I think she took after her father more than she did my Aunt Catherine."

"I heard she lives in America now?" she mentioned. "Charlotte said that Anne is married and her family is there."

"Yes, unfortunately, my aunt Catherine was not happy with Anne when she married her husband, James. She wanted her to marry someone that she approved of from within her circle," he told her. "James wasn't on the list of candidates suitable for the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh," he told her.

Elizabeth stopped taking pictures and listened more intently. "How did she meet James?"

Darcy led Elizabeth toward the barn. "Anne was on holiday. She was visiting a friend in the states when by chance she met James. She had an accident, nothing too serious but she was taken to a local clinic and James was the intern on duty that day."

"Oh, how romantic, was it love at first sight?" Elizabeth asked him.

"James swears for him it was, but Anne wasn't so easily persuaded. They dated while she was there in New York and then kept in touch when she was home," he told her. "James was so determined to marry her that as soon as he finished his medical training and became a doctor, he came here to be with her."

Elizabeth sighed, "I just love stories like that," she told him. "So how long before they married?" "I don't remember reading about her wedding in the papers."

"No, you wouldn't have," he told her. "Anne and James weren't married here. My aunt made it very clear that she didn't approve of James from the beginning and gave my cousin and ultimatum. When Anne refused to break things off with James and marry someone of my aunt's choosing, my Aunt Catherine refused to see or speak with her again."

"So, she cut her off completely?" Elizabeth asked surprised that she would be so callous with her only daughter.

"Yes, she did," Darcy explained. "Although now that Anne has reached the age of twenty-five she has full control over her trust fund and there isn't anything my aunt can do about it. Sadly they have not spoken in quite some time."

"Oh, but James being a doctor that must hold some value with Lady Catherine," she suggested.

"James runs a free clinic, and they live in New York City," he explained. "I'm very sorry to say, although my Aunt Catherine puts on a very good show she has very little real concern for the poor."

Elizabeth could see that Darcy approved of Anne's husband. "But you like him, don't you?" she said.

He looked at her and smiled, "Yes I do like him. He's a good man, and he loves my cousin very much regardless of what my aunt would say about him. They are very happy together and are expecting their first child near the end of the year."

"Maybe Lady Catherine will come around once the baby is born," Elizabeth told him. "Babies have a way of melting even the coldest of hearts."

Darcy smiled, "Perhaps you are right. For her sake, I do hope so," he told her.

Elizabeth turned her attention over toward the hothouse. "If it's all right I would love to get some pictures over there as well," she told him.

"Yes of course," he said as they walked toward the building together. "I can remember my uncle being very proud of his tomatoes. In the winter, he would carry on about having fresh tomatoes from his own gardens."

"I think I would have liked you uncle," she told him.

Darcy watched as she took the pictures she wanted. He knew his uncle would have liked Elizabeth too. He thought about how his aunt Catherine cut Anne completely out of her life. It was sad the two of them weren't on speaking terms, and Lady Catherine refused even to hear news of how Anne was doing. He knew she would never approve of his marrying Elizabeth, but he was determined to make her his wife. He only hoped that maybe one day his aunt would finally see that they weren't children any longer and they could be trusted to lead their own lives.

They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the area. Elizabeth got some truly beautiful shots. She had such a wonderful time with him she had to admit she almost hated seeing the day come to an end. She glanced down at her watch and knew that Charlotte would wonder where they were. "I suppose we do need to go back to the real world now, don't we?"

"I'm afraid so," he told her. They made their way back down the hill chatting about the area and of Will, and Richards many adventures with their cousin Ann.

She laughed when he told her about how Richard was always getting himself into trouble. "I imagine he must have caused his mother to have a lot of gray hairs."

"My Aunt Abigale used to say that Richard would be the death of her," he told her as he pulled the jeep to a stop at the end of Collin's driveway. "I thought maybe you might like to come here instead of going to my aunt's house."

Elizabeth thought about Lady Catherine and how she would carry on. She knew full well that her ladyship would not hold anything back in telling her how foolish she was for going out when she had clearly been warned not to. "No this is fine, thank you," she told him.

Darcy searched for something more to say. He so wanted to tell her how he felt, and how deeply he loved her, but he wasn't sure where to even begin. He never felt this way about any other woman in his life. He searched her eyes, was there a chance she felt the same way that he did or was he mistaking politeness and gratitude for something more, he wondered? "Lizzy about yesterday and some of the things I said to you concerning Richard..." he started to say when she stopped him.

"Richard and I are just friends," she told him. "I promise you there is nothing between the two of us." She realized now he behaved the way he did because he was jealous.

He leaned in closer to her, "And what about you and me?" he asked her, his voice thick with emotion. He stared deeply into her eyes. "Are we just friends too?" She was so wonderful, and he found himself wanting more than anything to reach over and kiss her. He leaned toward her, and she leaned closer to him. Just as he was about to kiss her, they both jumped apart. The sound of the front door opening and Collins calling out startled them both.

She let out a frustrated sigh, she turned back toward Darcy and smiled, "I would like to finish this conversation later," she whispered softly, then she got out of the car and headed toward the house.

"I told Charlotte that I heard a car drive up. We are so glad that you are all right dear cousin. But you should have heeded my warning and waited to go hiking up the hill. This all could have been avoided if you would only have listened," he condescendingly told her. "Lady Catherine was very unhappy about the situation."

Elizabeth smiled, "Yes you were right, it did rain," she told him knowing that she would hear this lecture for days to come. She heard Will start the jeep, she glanced over at him, and their eyes met. Will smiled at her and she smiled back at him. She felt as if she didn't have a care in the world, it had been such a lovely day. She turned and went inside with her cousin following her. Collins kept on lecturing her about how foolish she behaved and how unhappy Lady Catherine was but Elizabeth wasn't really listening to him. Her thoughts were still on what happened between her and Will. She could hardly believe it, but her feelings were beginning to change toward him. She thought about how it felt when he kissed her, and how close she had come to allowing him to kiss her again. It was Collins repeating her name again that interrupted her thoughts.

He looked at her intently. She was behaving rather odd. "Elizabeth, did you hear what I said?" he asked her.

"I'm sorry I was thinking of something else," she told him.

"I said you should not have gone hiking up that mountain as you did," he told her again. "You had us all upset. Why poor Charlotte was beside herself with worry."

Elizabeth looked over at Charlotte. "I am sorry Charlotte. I should have listened to you," she told her friend. "You did try to warn me; it was terribly inconsiderate of me not to listen. I hope you can forgive me?"

Charlotte smiled, "Lizzy I'm not upset with you," she told her. "I'm very glad Darcy was there, and you are both safe."

"If you don't mind I think I'm going to go up and take a shower," she told her.

Charlotte nodded her head, "Of course I don't mind," she said. "I will make you something to eat for when you come back down."

"Thank you, Charlotte," she told her as she climbed the stairs to her room.

Darcy smiled and laughed to himself, he saw it in her eyes. There was more to her feelings than just that of gratitude. She cared for him as he did her, he was sure of it. If Collins hadn't come out the door when he did, she would have kissed him. Just the thought of her wanting to be with him the way he wanted her, thrilled him. He took in a deep breath determined to follow through with his plan. He would call Rupert at once and have his mother's engagement ring sent to him by overnight air. He would give it to Elizabeth tomorrow and tell her how completely in love with her he was. He knew that his decision to marry her so soon would probably be a shock, but he reasoned that there really was no need to wait. He always went after what he wanted, with great determination in business and decided that his personal life should not be any different.

She would be surprised that his feelings for her were so strong so quickly. But he knew she would come to understand some of his inner conflict over wanting to be with her. She would see everything that he was sacrificing just to be with her and be flattered. He knew it would be difficult because of her family and the background that she came from, but he was sure that all could be overlooked. Once they were married, she would surely see how ill-mannered her family was and would not want to be with them often. They would live at Pemberley, and her family would stay at Longbourn. Visits would be few, probably only once or twice a year. Of course, if Elizabeth wanted to see them more often she could always spend time with them at Longbourn if she so desired. He also assured himself that his family and friends would overlook who she was, and where she came from because of him. He knew his Aunt Catherine would object, but he would deal with that. He knew that Richard could help him bring around his Aunt and Uncle Fitzwilliam so there would be less heartache for Georgiana. Darcy was very happy as he pulled up to Rosings. He knew that once they were married Elizabeth would be so grateful to him for rescuing her from her present situation, with her overly interfering mother and ill-mannered and wild younger sisters.

Elizabeth didn't say much while Collins carried on about her not listening to his advice. "Lady Catherine said she believes that you demonstrated a certain kind of stubbornness in your going even though you were told of the danger that you would surely encounter," Collins told her. "I should warn you, Elizabeth, that Lady Catherine was not happy with her nephews having to risk themselves to come out and get you."

Charlotte felt bad for her friend. "Collins, Lizzy has already apologized to us both," she reminded him. "I don't think continuing on like this is really necessary."

Collins shook his head in frustration. "I don't think either of you fully understands how upset Lady Catherine is. She's very concerned about her nephew's well-being. As well as their reputations."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed, "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" she demanded to know.

Collins seemed to squirm a little as both Charlotte and Elizabeth waited for his answer. "It's just that Lady Catherine wasn't happy that you and her nephew spent the evening alone together in that cabin," he mumbled.

Charlotte was about to protest when Elizabeth spoke first, "We hardly had any choice," she told him. "The road was completely flooded out; there was no way to cross it to get back."

Collins shrugged his shoulders, "I'm only warning you of Lady Catherine's feelings on the matter," he told her. "I think you can understand why she might have cause for concern."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, she was tired and had enough of Collins nagging. "Thank you for the sandwich, Charlotte," she said as she got up to leave. "I think I'm going to go up and write to Jane. I promised I would write to her the other day and have not gotten to it yet."

"I will talk with you later," Charlotte told her.

Just before Elizabeth went into her room, she heard Collins say. "Charlotte, you must speak with her," he told his wife. "You must find out if anything has happened between the two of them. Lady Catherine wants to know what went on."

"Nothing happened!" Charlotte snapped at him. "And I'm not going to interrogate my friend for Lady Catherine!"

Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh and went into her room. She really was very tired. She sat down at the desk near her bed and opened her laptop. She decided to write Jane and tell her all about what happened between her and Will. She thought about how shocked Jane would be when she read her news. She could still hardly believe the change between them herself. Just as she was about to write an email to Jane, she noticed that one had come through from her last night. She clicked it open and began reading:

Lizzy,

I got your text, and I wish I could tell you that I did have wonderful news. I wish I could tell you that Charles and I are engaged and soon to be married, but that's not going to happen. Over the last few weeks, Charles has distanced himself from me more and more. Yesterday he sent a note telling me that he was sorry if he hurt me. He said he regretted if he had given me any impression that he was contemplating a more serious relationship between us than he could commit to now. He said that he was probably going to be gone for the better part of the summer and that he hoped that I would find it in my heart to forgive him. He said that he truly hoped I would find all that I am looking for in the future. He said he enjoyed our times together and hoped we could remain friends, but he wasn't ready for anything more serious, and he didn't want to mislead me.

Oh, Lizzy, I am truly heartbroken. I really thought that he loved me as much as I did him. I know we only knew each other for a few short months, but in that time, I knew in my heart he was the only man who I would ever want to spend my life with. How could I have been so wrong about him...about us?

I have decided to go ahead and take that modeling job in France. It will do me good to be busy and be away from here. Mum is, of course, upset. I know she's hurting for me, but she goes on daily about how none of her daughters will ever find husbands and how all of us will starve to death as old maids. I feel as if I let her down as if I let everyone down. I am so sorry to ask but could you cut your visit with Charlotte short and come home soon? Lizzy my heart is breaking, and I feel as if I won't ever recover I really need you. Please say you will come with me to France.

With all a sister's love

Jane

Elizabeth couldn't believe what she read. Charles was completely in love with Jane, she was sure of it. She shook her head in confusion, "Was it possible that his sister had somehow influenced him to end things with Jane?" she mumbled to herself. Caroline did seem like she never really liked Jane. She was always so kind and sweet to her face, but Elizabeth wondered if the desire to be friends with Jane was real or just a front. She took in a deep breath and began her reply.

Dear Jane,

I am so sorry that this has happened. I know how deeply you cared for Charles. Don't be so hard on yourself, or doubt that he cared for you. I believe he does love you very deeply. I don't know what has happened to change his feelings toward you. Please, Jane, don't blame yourself, and please ignore Mum and the thoughtless things she says. Try not to give up all hope; maybe there is someone I can speak with to find out what has happened to change Charles heart so completely.

Of course, I will be home tomorrow evening.

Love you,

Lizzy

Elizabeth finished her email and sent it off. Glancing over at the clock, she saw how late it was and decided she would have to wait until the morning to see Will. She couldn't stop thinking about Jane, she got to her feet and began pacing the floor, it had to be Caroline that persuaded Charles to end things with Jane. There was no other possible explanation. She decided to speak with Will first thing the next morning. He was after all Charles's best friend he would know what was really going on. She felt better knowing that Will would surely help.