Author's Note: One last chapter for today. I think this is the one many of you have been waiting for. It's a bit short, and I may go back and add to it later, but we will see. I also added a few more details to chapter 15 - I thought I had explained how Wickham and Collins met, but apparently only did that in my head. I added that into the last chapter.

Chapter 16

Darcy had Mr Elliott leave him in Cheapside so he could tell the Gardiners and Elizabeth about their visit. They were unsurprised at Mr Bennet's attempts to delay the matter and would let both trustees know if they received word of his plan to visit. They expected him to delay a few days as he needed to try to get his story straight, but they fully intended to catch him in his lies.

Gardiner suggested that Bennet would show up in a few days and try to convince Elizabeth to lie for him. He had always felt his brother to be indolent but had never suspected him of being an outright liar. It was obvious that his sister knew Elizabeth was not their child, and he wondered what the other girls knew. Since all the girls were treated differently, he wondered how the others explained the disparate treatment.

Elizabeth had no answer for this. It was well known in Meryton that Elizabeth was her mother's least favourite daughter, but no one questioned this or wondered why. It seemed that no one remembered her mother, although she would think some of the older tenants or servants should have remembered. The Hills, for example, had been at Longbourn even before her father had become master.

Finally, Darcy asked for, and was granted, an opportunity to speak to Elizabeth alone. The night after the theatre, they had not had an opportunity to speak privately, and the days that followed had been too full. Darcy was nearly desperate for the opportunity to speak to her alone, and after a discussion with Mr Elliott in the coach on the return trip, they had decided on a plan that would protect Elizabeth and prevent any further attempts from Collins or Bennet to claim her inheritance.

He had initially eschewed the idea of an elopement, but as matters progressed, it seemed the best option. There was still one point that needed to be discussed, which was how would the courts view it if Darcy approved his own marriage to a woman who was, in essence, his ward. If Bennet protested the match, would he have any claim to do so? Granted, if he did attempt to protest, they would use the evidence that he had acted illegally as well. They had given Bennet a chance to confess to what he had done, and they still had every intention of pursuing that matter, but protecting Elizabeth took precedence.

Darcy was allowed a few minutes to speak to Elizabeth in the Gardiners' parlour while everyone else left the room.

"My dearest," he began, taking one of her hands in his, "I have been concerned about this situation since I first learned of it. However, after discussing the matter with Mr Elliott and Mr Gardiner, there is one thing we could do that would simplify everything. I told you a few days ago that I was waiting for you to tell me when you were ready, and I believe you did just that the other night at the theatre."

He paused and took a deep breath before bringing Elizabeth's hand to his lips. Then, he slid from the settee next to her to kneel in front of her, aligning their faces at the same level. As he gazed deeply into her eyes, he began, "I declared my love for you in this same room days ago, and you have expressed the same. Now, I ask you, Elizabeth, will you be my wife? With each day I spend in your presence, my love for you deepens, and I can no longer envision my life without you in it."

She smiled tenderly and reached her free hand to caress his cheek. "Yes, Mr. Darcy. I find myself falling more in love with you each day and longing to be your wife. I would be happy to marry you."

"Call me William," he whispered, nuzzling her hand. "May I kiss you?"

She nodded her agreement, and slowly, briefly, his lips caressed hers. He leaned back a moment and, seeing her eyes still closed and the soft smile on her lips, leaned in and kissed her again, a little more firmly this time and a little longer. When Elizabeth sighed, he retreated and brought her hand to his lips once more.

"That was lovely," she whispered.

"There is one other matter, my dear," he said, his forehead pressed to hers. "There is still the question of permission, and we need to speak to the solicitors on the matter. However, Elliott has suggested that we make for Scotland before Bennet arrives. Then, Bennet can meet with Elliott alone, and the two can go back and forth on the legalities of the matter while we make our way north. When we return, we can put an end to his efforts to marry you to Collins and begin the process of suing him for the funds he stole."

"Is that necessary? Suing Mr Bennet, I mean," she asked.

"Yes and no," Darcy answered on a sigh. "We do not need the money, but he should not be able to get away with what he did. He has stolen thousands of pounds from you, dearest. Should he not be made to pay for at least a portion of that?"

Elizabeth sighed. "What about my sisters? What will this do to them?"

Darcy moved from the floor to the seat beside her. "That remains to be seen. Some of it depends on what Mr Bennet says and does once he is caught in his lies."

Elizabeth nodded. "When do you suggest we leave for the border?"

"Are you willing to elope with me? We can take my sister and my cousin along as chaperones, that is, if Richard can take leave. Otherwise, I will see what else we might be able to arrange," he replied. "I would prefer not to elope, but both Elliott and Gardiner thought it best to get you away from London while they meet with Mr Bennet. Perhaps we can persuade Mrs Gardiner to accompany us?"

"I would love to have my aunt come," Elizabeth replied. "Why do they want me away from London?"

"If your aunt comes, we can tell your father you are visiting a friend. She is from Derbyshire, and we can put it out that you have gone there for a time," Darcy replied. "I can check in to obtaining a special licence, but there is the question of my granting you permission to marry me. Mr Elliott was going to speak to the solicitors about that before we departed. I have wondered about turning over the trusteeship to my uncle for a time, but I have concerns about him not granting permission since he would still prefer I hold out for a title."

Elizabeth groaned. "Why must this be so complicated?" she asked. "Could we not abscond tonight and take a ship directly to Scotland? After we are wed, we can go directly to Pemberley and pretend the rest of the world does not exist."

He laughed. "Have you ever travelled by boat, dearest? If it agrees with you, it would be an easier way to make our way to Scotland, and we would likely arrive there faster. Once we are wed, we could hire a carriage to travel to Pemberley for a brief honeymoon. However, it is October, and I am uncertain about the weather travelling so far north."

"My uncle would know," she replied. "At least, I think he would. To answer your question, I have never travelled by boat. I have never had trouble with other forms of travel, but I do not know how I would do on the water."

"Your uncle knows what I intended to ask you about, but not your aunt accompanying us. Come," he said, standing and bringing Elizabeth up with him, "let us find your aunt and uncle and make definite plans. We can leave tomorrow afternoon after we discuss matters with the solicitor."