Chapter 15

The following day, Colonel Fitzwilliam received two important letters. One was from his superior officer telling him he should report to the regiment as soon as possible, and the other was from his good friend Colonel Stevenson.

'I think I have the perfect plan to lure you into your own trap, Wickham. I am not like my cousin; you cannot fool me with your miserable tricks. I swear you will pay for all the wrong you have done,' Richard thought. He planned to contact the Cole brothers to solve the matter of that miserable scoundrel once and for all.

After waking, Richard had breakfast with Georgiana and bade her a very affectionate farewell. "Dear little princess, promise me that you will recover and that when you leave this bed, you will do so to start a new life and forget about everything that has happened," said the Colonel, very excited.

"I love you so much, Richard. Take good care of yourself, and do not worry about me," Georgiana said as she hugged her cousin.

Finally, Richard left Georgiana's room and could not help but cry a little. Then, he went to his cousin's study to say goodbye.

"Thank you, Fitzwilliam, for coming. It is always good for Georgiana to see you," said Mr. Darcy, sincerely moved.

"I know. I am very likable, and everyone loves me. Furthermore, I am her favorite cousin," Richard said with a smile. "Darcy, in addition to coming to say goodbye, I want to inform you that I am following in Wickham's footsteps and that nothing you say will make me desist. I shall not rest until I see him behind bars or dead."

"I have no objection to that. I only ask that you ensure that Georgiana is not involved in this matter. She has already suffered too much."

"Of course, rest assured that Georgiana will have nothing to do with this," Richard replied. "I just need to say goodbye to your wife and wish you luck in everything that lies ahead. We shall see each other in early spring on our annual visit to Lady Catherine, although I do not know if she will welcome you to her home when she discovers you are a married man," Richard said, unable to help but laugh.

"Do not even remind me of that; I prefer not to think about her reaction. Please, have a safe trip and inform me how things are going in your life," Mr. Darcy said goodbye, giving his cousin a good handshake.

"I shall do so," said Richard.

Once he left his cousin's study, Richard headed to the music room because a maid informed him that Elizabeth was there. "Mrs. Darcy, I came to say goodbye to you, to thank you for everything you have done for my dear cousin, and that it was a pleasure to meet you."

Elizabeth was practicing a piece on the piano because she wanted to give Georgiana space to be with her cousin. "The pleasure was mine, my dear Colonel. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you soon," Elizabeth said sincerely.

"We are now part of the same family, so I guarantee you, my dear Mrs. Darcy, that we shall see each other very often."

They talked for a few minutes, and before saying goodbye, Richard decided to say some important things to Elizabeth. "Mrs. Darcy, please take good care of my cousins. They greatly need your company, but above all, your guidance and support."

"Do not worry, Colonel, I am willing to support Georgiana in any way necessary. As for Mr. Darcy, I am sorry, but I do not think he needs my support, much less my guidance," Elizabeth said, laughing. What Richard told her seemed very absurd.

"Make no mistake, Mrs. Darcy, believe me, appearances are often deceiving." Richard noticed Elizabeth's perplexity and preferred not to say anything else. He could not interfere in his cousin's relationship with his wife. He was not the one to tell Elizabeth that her husband admired her deeply.

"Well, it is time to go. It was a pleasure, and I hope to see each other soon in better circumstances than the current ones," said Richard.

"Goodbye, Colonel."

Richard bowed and left the room. In another twenty minutes, he was in his carriage, departing Pemberley. He could not help but worry about his cousin Darcy. He sensed that very soon, something inevitable would happen between him and his wife.

'Darcy, I hope that when you decide to tell your wife how you feel about her, you focus on what's important and leave your stupid pride aside.'

P&P

Mr. Bingley awoke early that day to avoid meeting his sisters. Then, he ordered his valet and one of the servants to put his belongings into his carriage and finally moved to his aunt Amanda's house. Since he arrived so early at the Lewis', he had breakfast with them and explained his plans for the next few days.

"Do not hesitate, Charles, to ask me for help if you need assistance with legal matters. As you know, your cousin John is in charge of everything at our law firm, and I have a lot of free time."

"Thank you, uncle; after breakfast, I have to analyze some documents that the steward of Netherfield sent me," Mr. Bingley explained.

"Who would have thought that at my age, I would learn a little about managing an estate," Benedict replied, smiling.

"Dear Charles, if all goes well with Miss Bennet, I plan to host a dinner party for her and invite her, the Gardiners, and other friends. That way, you will show her that your interest is sincere and that at least part of your family supports you," Amanda said. She was very proud of her nephew for taking control of his life.

"Thank you very much, aunt; you do not know how much your support means to me," said Mr. Bingley, sincerely moved.

Once they finished breakfast, Mr. Bingley went to his room to help the servants organize his belongings. After that, he went to Uncle Benedict's study, and together, they tried to understand the steward's reports. Mr. Bingley knew that at the beginning of spring, he had to supervise the planting for the new season and that the Netherfield stable needed to be repaired as soon as possible.

Finally, when it was a reasonable time to make a social call, Mr. Bingley went to Cheapside. During the trip, he took the opportunity to review everything he planned to say to his angel and his Aunt Amanda's advice. First of all, he had to be honest and tell Miss Bennet everything that had happened in his life during the last few months, and he also had to apologize for leaving without saying goodbye.

When he finally arrived at the Gardiners' house, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The butler ushered him in and, after a few minutes, accompanied him to the drawing-room where Jane and Mrs. Gardiner were.

"Good morning, Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet. I am delighted to see you again so soon," said Mr. Bingley, looking at Jane.

"We are the ones who are happy to see you again, Mr. Bingley," replied Mrs. Gardiner. She noticed that Mr. Bingley was very anxious, and Jane was nervous, so she had to find a way to give them a chance to talk.

Mr. Bingley sat near Jane, but she kept looking at the floor while Mrs. Gardiner talked. After ten minutes, the Gardiners' eldest daughter entered the room to ask her mother a question, and Mrs. Gardiner took the opportunity to excuse herself and leave them alone.

Mr. Bingley knew that was the opportunity to say everything he had planned and did not hesitate to start talking. "Miss Bennet, I know I should have apologized to you, your family, and the neighbors of Netherfield a long time ago. It was extremely inconsiderate of me to suddenly leave without even saying goodbye. I should never have abandoned my responsibilities and new friends like I did…"

As Mr. Bingley spoke, Jane felt like she could not breathe, but she collected her courage and asked the question she had wanted to ask him for months. "Mr. Bingley, why did you leave so unexpectedly?"

Mr. Bingley was surprised to hear such a direct question but answered without hesitation. "Because I was confused, and I let others make decisions I should have made. Miss Bennet, I want to be honest with you, and I ask that after listening to me, you will also be honest with me," said Mr. Bingley. Then he took a deep breath and told Jane everything. He explained how much he admired her and how other people had convinced him she had no feelings for him, which was his main reason for leaving. "Miss Bennet, I noticed how your mother always tried to promote a rapprochement between us, and if I remained in Netherfield, your family could force you to accept me. I did not want you to be forced to do something you did not desire. I respect you too much to wish you a fate like that."

Jane was surprised because she never thought Mr. Bingley would speak to her so honestly. Therefore, she decided to be equally honest. "I understand, Mr. Bingley, that you felt insecure. Unfortunately, my mother does not know how to control her emotions, and I apologize for that. Now, I would like to know why you have decided to tell me all this."

"Miss Bennet, I have decided to be honest because… Well, I… I wish to have the opportunity to resume our friendship because my feelings for you have not changed. Indeed, I think they are even more devoted than a few months ago."

"I understand, although I cannot deny that I feel flattered because I also… admire you. Mr. Bingley, your unexpected departure made me suffer..."

"Miss Bennet, you do not know how happy you make me…"

Mr. Bingley was very excited and wanted to say many things to Jane, but she interrupted him. "Mr. Bingley, you were honest with me, and I want to be honest with you. I do not know if I can trust you. My situation now is very different than a few months ago," said Jane, unable to avoid shedding a few tears.

"Miss Bennet, please do not cry; please trust me," Mr. Bingley said, taking Jane's hand.

Jane wiped away her tears and explained everything that had happened with Elizabeth and how she was distraught not knowing where she was. "As you can see, Mr. Bingley, I need to sort out my life soon, and I need someone by my side who can love and support me and my sister. I need someone who knows what he wants and who I can trust," Jane said firmly.

"I understand you perfectly, and if you give me the opportunity, Miss Bennet, I shall show you that I am willing to earn your affection and trust. All I ask is an opportunity to show you that you can trust me and that I shall do everything in my power to protect you and Miss Elizabeth."

For the first time in many months, Jane felt that she was content. Apparently, Mr. Bingley was ready to become the man she needed. "Thank you, Mr. Bingley. I think we should give each other a chance to get to know each other better."

"I promise you, my dear Miss Bennet, that you will not regret it and that I shall be worthy of you. May I talk to your uncle, or would you prefer I write to your father?"

"I would rather you talk to my uncle," Jane replied, smiling. She was so happy not only because the man she admired was with her but also because she would soon be able to offer a home to her beloved sister.

Mrs. Gardiner returned to the drawing room, and the joyful couple shared the good news. Mr. Bingley was willing to court Jane and show her how sincere his love was. He hoped that after a few weeks, she would accept his marriage proposal and live with him in Netherfield.

P&P

Taking advantage of the sunny day, Elizabeth went for a walk because she needed time alone to think about what she should do. Two days after Colonel Fitzwilliam left Pemberley, Georgiana left her bedroom and spent some hours between the library and the music room. Although Georgiana had not wholly recovered, Elizabeth could see she was getting better every day. She knew that in time, her sister-in-law would be able to overcome the sad incident she had experienced.

But what worried Elizabeth most was the uncertainty of what would happen to her life. Mr. Darcy was still cordial but distant, and she did not know how to broach the subject of the future of their marriage. She was aware of Mr. Darcy's opinion of her and her family and believed it was best to annul their marriage as discreetly as possible. Indeed, she was considering proposing to Mr. Darcy that he allow her and Georgiana to travel to Scotland in the spring because she thought her sister-in-law would benefit from being in contact with nature and away from curious people who might ask intrusive questions. Furthermore, Elizabeth believed that Georgiana was not prepared to face London society, and she understood that Mr. Darcy must spend time in the city.

'Surely, it will do us both good to end this farce of a marriage. He needs a woman of his class at his side, and I need a man I can admire and love,' Elizabeth thought as she walked along one of the paths that bordered a small lake.

Elizabeth was fascinated by the nature surrounding the park adjacent to Pemberley. She could not help but imagine what it would be like in the spring when the sleeping nature would awaken.

"Mrs. Darcy, may I accompany you? Like you, I want to take advantage of these hours of sunshine to walk and enjoy nature. I have been very busy the last few days with matters around the estate, and it will do me good to get some exercise," said Mr. Darcy and offered his arm to his wife.

He was in his study working, and when he paused, he saw Elizabeth walking towards the park and decided that it was an excellent opportunity to put into action his plan to court his wife before declaring his love.

"Of course, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, and she accepted the arm her husband had offered her. Perhaps, as they walked, she would have the opportunity to talk about what worried her so much. "Mr. Darcy, excuse me, believe me, I have no intention of meddling in your affairs, but why do you work so much if, in the winter season, the work on the estate should be minimal?"

Mr. Darcy was a little surprised by the question, but he assumed that Mr. Bennet probably managed his estate differently. "Much of the planting begins in late winter and early spring, and there is much to prepare for everything to go well. Furthermore, in recent years, we have introduced new farming techniques to make the lands more productive, and there are many things that I still do not know and must learn and study…"

Elizabeth was impressed with the amount of work Mr. Darcy did. She knew Pemberley was much larger than Longbourn, but her father did very little for the land and its tenants. "Without a doubt, you have a lot of things to coordinate, and I think it is excellent that you do so much for your tenants."

"It is my duty because this land has been linked to my family for many generations. Furthermore, my obligation is to maintain the prestige of my family and lineage. The Darcys have always been respected in Derbyshire, and I shall do whatever it takes to keep my family considered one of the most admired in England."

Once again, Mr. Darcy evoked mixed feelings in Elizabeth. At first, when she heard him talk about how he worked very hard to make his estate as productive as possible, she could not help but feel admiration. But when he began to speak about the prestige of his family and the importance of his lineage, the pompous man she had once detested returned.

Elizabeth wanted a quiet afternoon, and since she was not sure she could keep silent if she heard her husband talk about his outstanding origin, she preferred to stay silent and admire nature.

For his part, Mr. Darcy felt very satisfied seeing how Elizabeth observed the nature around her in wonder. He was glad that words were not necessary between them and that they could enjoy each other's company. Without a doubt, they were increasingly united and ready to transform their relationship into a genuine marriage. The only thing that worried him was the situation of Elizabeth and her family, but the time would come to clarify that matter.

P&P

Georgiana had noticed that Elizabeth behaved very differently when her brother was around. With her, her dear sister-in-law was loving, kind, always in a good mood, and jesting. However, when Mr. Darcy arrived, she would immediately become earnest, excuse herself to leave, or remain silent.

Georgiana thought that perhaps they had a disagreement and wanted to help them reconcile. She felt guilty that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had not had the wedding they deserved. In addition, she was aware that her brother did not always know how to express his feelings and that many confused his reserved nature with arrogance.

For that reason, Georgiana decided to know more about her brother and Elizabeth's relationship before they got married. But also to tell her sister-in-law a little more about her brother.

Elizabeth was embroidering a handkerchief for Jane as she sat near a window of one of Pemberley's beautiful drawing rooms. From there, she could see the first snowflakes falling.

"What are you doing, Lizzy? I do not want to interrupt or bother you if you are busy," Georgiana said timidly.

"You never bother, my dear. I am just embroidering a handkerchief for my sister Jane. Sit here, and we can talk while I continue embroidering," Elizabeth said. She was always happy to be around Georgiana.

"I know you miss your sister Jane. Were you very close?"

"Yes, and I miss her a lot, but not when you are next to me," Elizabeth said, seeing some sadness in Georgina's eyes.

"I am glad you like being with me because I feel like I have gained the best sister I could have," Georgiana said, happier.

Elizabeth showed Georgiana what she was embroidering, and she gave her some ideas to make the handkerchief even prettier. After chatting about the weather and how cold winter was in Derbyshire, Georgiana dared to ask Elizabeth some personal questions.

"Lizzy, when did you realize you were in love with my brother? William is not only very handsome but also honorable and rich, so many ladies have always been interested in him."

Elizabeth felt very uncomfortable with the question and did not want to lie to Georgiana. But she knew that she was not ready to know the truth. She was still too emotionally unstable to suffer such a big disappointment and feel guilty for the situation her brother found himself in, a loveless marriage. That is why she decided to divert the topic as best as she could.

"I have no doubt that many young ladies admire Mr. Darcy. I witnessed one go out of her way to get his attention," Elizabeth said. Then she told Georgiana some of the things Caroline Bingley did at Netherfield.

Georgiana could not help but laugh but was not surprised because she had witnessed how Caroline behaved in the presence of her brother. "No doubt Miss Bingley will be very disappointed when she learns that my brother is married. But William and Mr. Bingley are excellent friends and will probably continue seeing each other, so she must bear the news."

"Have your brother and Mr. Bingley been friends for a long time?" Elizabeth asked.

"A few years ago, they met at university. Mr. Bingley did not know many people, and my brother helped him enter society." Georgiana thought this was the opportunity to show Elizabeth how good her brother was and told her how Mr. Darcy had guided and advised Mr. Bingley as if he were an older brother. "Even a few months ago, he saved him from falling into the clutches of a woman who wanted to marry him for his fortune. Probably someone similar to George, who intended to do the same with me. But my brother saved me and Mr. Bingley from having a miserable life for the rest of our lives. He is not only wise but also very generous. Mrs. Reynolds says that when William was a boy…"

Elizabeth pretended that she was paying attention to what her sister-in-law was saying, but the truth is that she felt a mixture of anger and pain. She had always suspected that Mr. Darcy, along with Mr. Bingley's sisters, had been responsible for separating her sister from the man she loved.

"Lizzy, are you feeling well?" Georgiana asked, seeing her sister-in-law looking so pale.

"Yes, it is just that I feel a little tired… The truth is that I need some air. If you will excuse me, dear…" Elizabeth said and left the room without really knowing where to go.

Georgiana returned to her room, happy to have helped her sister-in-law better understand her dear brother. She even thought Elizabeth's discomfort could be due to something else and was very happy for them.

Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth running out towards the garden. Although only a few snowflakes were falling, the storm would soon hit, and it was best that she stayed close to the house. So, he went out to the garden to talk to her.

"Elizabeth…Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy shouted to stop his wife. When he finally caught up with her, he told her in a concerned voice. "Elizabeth, do not leave the garden because there will be a lot more snow falling soon, and getting away from the house is dangerous. The paths can be blocked, and the temperature drops drastically."

"Sir, do you really care about my well-being? You do not need me anymore. Do you not think it is better for you if I..." Elizabeth could not continue talking because she was so angry that she did not know how to tell that man everything she thought about him.

For his part, Mr. Darcy thought that Elizabeth was tired of waiting for him to make up his mind, and without thinking, he said, "Elizabeth, since I met you, I have been fighting for the passionate admiration and respect I have felt for you. Without a doubt, the tremendous difference between our social standings made our relationship impossible, and although those obstacles still exist..."

"Admiration? Obstacles? "What do you mean, sir?" Elizabeth asked angrily. She did not understand why Mr. Darcy was saying those things to her, but she was unwilling to endure another humiliation.

"Elizabeth, you are an intelligent woman and should know that your place in society is decidedly inferior to mine. It is rational that my family and I have aspired to marry a woman with wealth and excellent connections, or at least with some manners. Your mother and sisters are decidedly vulgar, and you have an uncle in trade…"

"Sir, what is the point of telling me all this?" Elizabeth asked because she did not want to hear any more insults from that conceited and insufferable man.

"I tell you all this because I want you to know I am willing to ignore that to show you…"

"You needed a wife urgently; you could not afford to marry a Duke's daughter, could you not, sir?" Elizabeth asked disgustedly. She had not realized Mr. Darcy was trying to confess his admiration for her. She only heard insults and was not willing to allow it.

"I understand, but I want you to know that that is not why I want to remain married to you, Elizabeth. I want you to know that I am willing to accept social condemnation not for my sister's sake but for you."

"For me? Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for me, sir?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically.

"Yes, for you… Since our first meetings, I have felt great admiration and respect for you… and in these months that we have lived together, it has transformed into a deep admiration and regard. Elizabeth, I want you to do me the honor of being my wife, my beloved wife," said Mr. Darcy with satisfaction as he saw his wife's blushing. He wanted to kiss her, caress her face, but first, he wanted to hear her beautiful voice telling him that she accepted. He was sure that Elizabeth had been waiting since Netherfiel to hear him admit that he loved her and that she had probably given up hope.

Elizabeth turned away because she could not look Mr. Darcy in the eyes. She did not know what game he was playing, but she would not allow him to treat her in such a disrespectful manner.

P&P

Thanks to everyone who follows the story with enthusiasm and leaves supportive comments.

Today, I got up early, and while having breakfast, I translated this chapter. I did it quickly and apologize for all the possible errors, but I wanted to leave you this chapter as a Christmas gift :)

I'll be taking a vacation with my family and won't have access to my computer for several days, but I'll be back with the second part of the story next year :)

Happy holidays, Feliz Navidad, and have a prosperous year in 2024!

In the next chapter, Elizabeth will tell her husband everything she thinks about him. Meanwhile, in London, the Bingley sisters will begin to hatch a plan to separate their brother from his angel.

See you in 2024!

Saludos,

Yo