Chapter 16

Mr. Darcy rose early to organize the last papers and finish his work at Rosings. He had already spoken with the steward and had explained all the repairs that must be done in the summer months and when harvesting and planting should begin. He only had to write a letter to Lady Catherine's solicitor and another to the town magistrate to finish his work. Both letters had to contain specific details of tenant disputes and possible solutions. Therefore, Mr. Darcy was furious when his cousin entered the studio to interrupt his work.

"Anne, what are you doing here?" Mr. Darcy asked, annoyed. The night before, he had not slept well thinking about Elizabeth. He knew everything would change when they arrived in London and was uncertain what to do.

"I do not understand why you asked me if you knew very well why I am here. My mother is in a terrible mood because you are leaving the day after tomorrow, and she says I must take advantage of every moment you are here. Please do not worry; I asked Mrs. Jenkinson to sit in the chair outside the office in case my mother tries to create a compromising situation. Now, you can continue working, and I shall continue embroidering this handkerchief for Georgiana."

Mr. Darcy did not like that Anne was rude to him, but he understood that her mother was constantly pressuring her, and he even felt compassion for her. Mr. Darcy continued working and forgot that his cousin was there.

While embroidering, Anne looked at Mr. Darcy, thinking about when to say what she had planned. She knew she had to speak casually so her cousin would not realize her intentions.

"I imagine Georgiana will miss Miss Bennet very much. Also, it will not be easy to find someone with her affability and determination. I must confess that I like how she is not intimidated by my mother's impertinent questions."

"I am sorry, Anne, but I do not understand..."

"I am sorry, Darcy. I did not want to interrupt you. I promise I shall remain silent."

"No, please explain yourself."

"I do not desire to be indiscreet. Forget what I said."

"I prefer that you explain it."

"I just do not want to interrupt your work."

"You have already interrupted me, Anne."

"Alright, I thought you knew, which is why I made that comment. I overheard Miss Bennet talking to Mrs. Collins about living with her sister," Anne explained.

"I heard that rumor too. Apparently, Miss Bennet has told everyone she plans to leave her position, but not me," Mr. Darcy said bitterly.

"But it is logical that Miss Bennet would want to live with her sister if she has married and has a home to offer her." What Anne told her cousin was true; she had heard Elizabeth talking to Charlotte, but what she would add next was something she had devised.

"Is Miss Jane Bennet married?" Mr. Darcy asked.

"Yes, and now she wants her sister to get married too so she can have her own home. From what I hear, Miss Bennet's sister's new husband has many important wealthy friends. To be honest, Darcy, I do not think Miss Elizabeth will have much trouble finding a husband. I had never met someone who perfectly matched beauty and amiability."

"Indeed, Jane Bennet's new husband must be some tradesman known to her uncle or the lady she worked with," Mr. Darcy said aloud.

"Probably, and that is why Miss Elizabeth will find a husband in a very short time. In fact, her new brother must already have several friends to introduce to her. My mother always says that successful merchants like to marry gentlemen' daughters because they believe that can help clean their money's origin."

Mr. Darcy stood, poured himself a glass of water, and turned his back on his cousin as he watched the garden from the office window. He needed to process everything Anne told him and find a solution to those unexpected circumstances.

Anne felt like laughing at seeing Mr. Darcy so distressed, but she knew she had to continue talking to achieve her dream as soon as possible. She wanted to provoke her cousin to do what he wanted but did not dare to do.

"I hope everything turns out well for Miss Bennet. As you know, that fool Collins is Mr. Bennet's heir, and now she has nothing. If she marries a good man, she will regain her status and will not have to work anymore."

"If she marries a tradesman, she will not regain her status," Mr. Darcy said without looking at his cousin.

"Well, maybe not her status as a gentleman's daughter, but she will have a safe and secure life again. Before she leaves, I will tell Miss Bennet to write to me; I do not want to lose contact with her. I am sure I will have much enjoyment reading her letters about the balls she attends and the many suitors she will have. Mrs. Jenkinson told me that many tradesmen are nearly or richer than many gentlemen. I imagine that her sister will give her many pretty dresses and she will be able to walk around the beautiful parks of London…" Anne continued talking for several minutes while Mr. Darcy looked out the window.

Suddenly, Mr. Darcy saw Georgiana and Elizabeth walking in the garden. His sister spoke very animatedly, and Elizabeth listened. He noticed that Elizabeth seemed sad, as if she had not slept well, as if something was worrying her. He had spent so much time observing her that he thought he knew every gesture of her pretty face.

'Could you be worried about your future, my dear Elizabeth? I have to do something to help you so that you never have to be separated from us,' thought Mr. Darcy as he looked at Elizabeth.

For her part, Anne was happy with the results of her plan. If everything went as planned, she would be free very soon. She had realized that Elizabeth did not like her cousin very much, but she knew that a woman in her situation would never dare reject a gentleman like Fitzwilliam Darcy.

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"What do you think of this new dress, Louisa?" Caroline asked excitedly.

"It is very pretty and suits you nicely," replied Louisa.

"It is fortunate that I had this gown made a few weeks ago. It would have been a disaster to wear old clothes to a social gathering as important as this. I hope your husband is ready. This time, I want to arrive on time. I want to spend as much time as possible with Countess Matlock and the new Baroness Norton."

"Arthur is ready; he went to talk to the coachman. We are waiting for Charles; he told me he wanted to accompany us and would be ready in five minutes."

"Charles? What happened to him that changed his mind?"

"I do not know, Caroline. But he has been so sad the last few days that seeing him more cheerful made me very happy. I believe getting out of the house will do him good."

"You are right; in recent days, he has not wanted to go out anywhere; it would be good for him to go with us. If we are fortunate, Charles may meet the woman of his life today," Caroline said, admiring her gown in the mirror.

Mr. Bingley's valet helped him tie his cravat and left. Mr. Bingley was happy and optimistic. After almost a week, he finally received news from your attorney. The following day, he planned to go to Mr. Gardiner's warehouse in Cheapside. If everything went as planned, in a few more days, he would be able to locate Jane and offer his protection. Mr. Bingley knew this would create trouble with his family and some of his friends, but none mattered to him. Jane Bennet was the woman he loved, and he was willing to do anything for her.

When Mr. Bingley was ready, he went in search of his family to leave for the Browns' house. That night, he felt content and full of hope, and he did not want to stay home alone, waiting for the hours to pass.

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Jane was sitting in the carriage next to her husband. She felt delighted that she could not help but smile all the time. Andrew was a loving, attentive husband who always knew what she wanted. Jane still wondered why, when she met him, she thought he was not handsome. Whenever she looked at him, she thought there could not be another man as handsome as him.

For his part, Andrew looked at Jane every time he could. He held his wife's hand in his and felt that this small gesture made him feel pleased with his life. When he met Jane, he thought she was one of the prettiest women he had ever met. But now that he also knew her noble heart and sweetness, he was sure that no woman could be more beautiful or perfect than her. He felt deeply in love with her and wanted to do everything he could to make her happy. Jane was his wife and the love of his life.

"How do you feel, dear?" Andrew asked, kissing Jane on the cheek.

"I feel perfect. This gown that Aunt Amanda gave me is gorgeous," Jane replied, stroking her husband's chin.

"Clara and Matilda said that in that gown, you look like a princess out of a fairy tale, and I agree with them," Andrew whispered in his wife's ear.

"You do not know how grateful I am for coming with me today because I know you would rather be home."

"I shall not lie to you, my dear. I am much more interested in spending an evening with my nieces and you, but I know that it is important that people see us together. I do not want to expose my dear wife to malicious rumors. Fortunately, Aunt Amanda stayed with the girls. For them, she is like a grandmother, and they love her very much."

"Thank you, Andrew, for giving me a family and accepting me into your life," Jane said, unable to shed a few tears. She could not help but get emotional when her husband spoke to her with such tenderness.

"Jane, my beautiful wife," Andrew said softly, kissing her lips. Just then, the carriage stopped. "I think we have arrived, my dear."

Andrew got out of the carriage and then helped Jane. Then he offered her his arm, and they walked towards the entrance.

"Darcy is in Kent but will return in a few days. Mr. Bingley, please help me convince him to stay in London for a few days. It will do him good to participate in the remainder of the season. I do not like him being locked in Pemberley like a hermit all year," said the Countess.

"My Lady, I believe you know your nephew very well and know that no one can convince him to do something he does not want to do," Mr. Bingley explained.

"Do not say that, Charles. Do not worry, my Lady; we shall speak to Mr. Darcy. We are his closest friends, almost like we were family," Caroline said with her best smile. She was delighted chatting with Countess Matlock.

"I thank you very much, Miss Bingley," replied the Countess. She did not like that young lady constantly interrupting the conversation she was trying to have with Mr. Bingley. That is why she was so happy when she saw Andrew and Jane entering the room. "Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, excuse me, but I must greet Lord and Lady Norton. They have just arrived."

As soon as the Countess left her side, Caroline searched for Louisa. She was chatting with some ladies while her husband drank brandy and chatted with some gentlemen. Mr. Bingley went to where his brother-in-law was because he was not interested in meeting anyone that night.

"What do you think about Lord Norton, Louisa? He is tall, and although he is not a man I would consider handsome, I must admit that he has the bearing of noblemen," said Caroline.

"I consider him handsome, and he also seems to be pleasant. Titled gentlemen are usually very conceited," Louisa said as she looked at Andrew. "I imagine the woman holding his arm must be his wife."

"It is most likely, dear. If I had married a baron, I would not let go of his arm either," Caroline said, causing her sister to laugh. "Let us approach Mrs. Brown so she can introduce us to the guests of honor?"

"Good idea, Caroline, but we should wait a few minutes. We should approach them when they have finished speaking with the hosts and the Countess."

Louisa and Caroline watched the couple from afar. They could only see Baron Norton and the back of his wife. They took advantage of observing the details of her dress and hairstyle and agreed that they were exquisite.

"It is a pleasure to have you in my home," said Mrs. Brown. "Many people came especially to meet the new Baroness Norton, and I must say, they will be very impressed when they discover how beautiful you are, my Lady," said Mrs. Brown. She was happy that Lady Norton's society debut was at her home.

"Thank you very much, Mrs. Brown. My wife and I are very grateful for your invitation, and of course, we would like to donate to the beautiful cause you support," said Andrew.

After chatting for a few minutes with their hosts, Jane and Andrew greeted Countess Matlock and spoke with her for a few minutes. After that, Andrew saw some gentlemen he knew and decided to introduce them to his wife.

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Hurst approached Caroline and Louisa to ask them a few questions about the new arrivals.

"This is the first time Lord Norton and his wife have attended a social event. Rumors say they were both mourning," Louisa said.

"It seems to me that Lord Norton is introducing his wife to some acquaintances. If we stay here, we shall have a chance for Lady Margaret to introduce them to us," Caroline said.

Mr. Bingley, Mr. Hurst, Louisa, and Caroline watched as the newcomers greeted some gentlemen. Then, Jane and Andrew walked in the direction where they were, and they could see who the new Baroness was. For her part, Jane immediately noticed four pairs of eyes staring at her in amazement. Finally, Mr. Bingley could not wait another second and approached them.

"Miss Bennet, you do not know how glad I am to see you. If you only knew everything I have done to locate you from the moment I learned of Mr. Bennet's death. But it is no longer necessary because…"

"Good evening, sir. Excuse me, but who are you?" Andrew asked, taking his wife's hand possessively.

Jane could not help but blush, not from embarrassment but from anger. She did not understand why Mr. Bingley dared to speak to her that way and say those things in front of her husband. But she would not let him or anyone else ruin her evening.

"Dear, let me introduce you to Mr. Bingley. He was my father's neighbor for a few months when he lived in Hertfordshire. Mr. Bingley, this is my husband, Lord Norton," Jane said.

Mr. Bingley did not know what to say; he just looked at his beloved angel in that man's arm without understanding what was happening. For their part, Louisa, Caroline, and Mr. Hurst did not know what to do either. The impact was so significant that no one could find words to explain what was transpiring.

P&P

"Cousin Elizabeth, you should not miss the opportunity to visit Rosings. I do not think you will ever receive such a generous invitation again, especially now that your circumstances have changed so much," Mr. Collins said. He immensely enjoyed reminding Elizabeth that she no longer had the life of the daughter of a gentleman but a woman without money or consequences.

"Dear, Eliza's head hurts; I think we should better let her rest," Charlotte said to prevent her husband from further disturbing Elizabeth.

"I am also very sorry that I cannot visit Rosings, but tomorrow at breakfast, you can tell me everything that happened and what Lady Catherine said. She always has something wise to share with others," Elizabeth said, smiling.

"You are right, Cousin Elizabeth. Lady Catherine is always very generous with her wisdom…"

"Dear, Lady Catherine does not like her guests to be late."

"You are right, my dear; we better go now."

As soon as Charlotte and her husband left the parsonage, Elizabeth went into the small sitting room to write to Jane. But she could not help but feel sad and preferred to go for a walk to clear her mind.

Elizabeth knew she should talk to Georgiana but preferred to do it in London. She could not spend a minute closer to that man, not after what she heard the day before.

Mr. Darcy was impatiently awaiting Elizabeth's arrival. He wanted to talk to her, learn a little more about her plans, and make her understand that she did not need to sacrifice her life. He had made a decision, and he only hoped he could be in London to tell her his decision.

When the Collinses arrived without Elizabeth and explained she was ill, Mr. Darcy became very worried. He had seen her a little down and wanted to ensure she was alright. So, he explained to his aunt that he had to review some documents but would return on time for dinner. Although Lady Catherine opposed, Mr. Darcy did not listen to her because he left the room as quickly as he could.

On his way to the parsonage, he saw Elizabeth walking towards the meadow bordering the lagoon and decided to follow her.

Elizabeth was thinking about Jane, her mother, and her sisters. Despite everything that had happened, they were better, hoping to start over and have a better life than the one they left behind. Suddenly, a voice spoke to her, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Miss Bennet, Mrs. Collins informed us that you were ill. How do you feel? Do you need anything?" Mr. Darcy asked nervously.

"I am feeling a little better, sir. Walking has done me good, and my head almost no longer hurts. I appreciate your concern," Elizabeth replied. Although she did not mean to, she sounded very sharp.

Mr. Darcy noticed Elizabeth was sad, disturbed, and nervous. Then, he remembered everything Anne had told him and thought that perhaps she was like that because she had resigned herself to accepting a life away from him. Therefore, he felt it was unnecessary to wait another second to tell her everything he had dreamed of telling her on so many occasions.

"Miss Bennet, in vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.''

Elizabeth could not believe what she had just heard and was convinced she was in the middle of a dream that had suddenly turned into a nightmare.

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Thank you very much to everyone who leaves comments and follows the story with enthusiasm.

For those readers who are not enjoying the plot of the story or have difficulty understanding my poor English, I apologize, but there is not much I can do to solve these problems. I am translating a story that is already completed, so I can't change anything. Regarding my English, if I have to take time to check everything I write, I can't publish a chapter a day, and that's what most of my followers want. The good thing is that this site has many "actual writers" who can craft better plots and who are native English speakers/writers. It doesn't offend me or make me feel less if you decide not to continue reading the story. Good luck, and thank you very much!

We're nearing the end of the second part!

In the next chapter, Caroline will try to discredit Jane, while Elizabeth will tell Mr. Darcy everything she thinks of him

See you soon!

Saludos,

Yo