Dear readers: Please keep in mind that this story has 28 chapters and an epilogue. Once I've finished rewriting it, I'll leave it for two days and remove it from this site.

Chapter 27

Albert took a deep breath, and knowing that he only had five minutes to say everything, he went straight to the point. "Darcy, the day we met outside Mr. Gardiner's house, I should have told you the reason why Miss Elizabeth and her sister returned so abruptly to their home."

Mr. Darcy looked at his eternal rival in bewilderment, and Albert continued explaining. "The previous evening, Mr. Gardiner had received an express from Mr. Bennet informing him that his sister had a serious accident."

"What? Do they need help? How is Mrs. Bennet now?" Mr. Darcy immediately asked worriedly.

"Mr. Gardiner informed me that Dr. Lewis said the lady's injuries are serious, but she will recover with time and due care. So, at the moment, I do not think they need anything. But if they need help, Peter Daniels and his family are in Hertfordshire to support them," Albert explained.

"Peter Daniels?" asked Mr. Darcy, intrigued but thought he understood why he was there.

"Well, Darcy, I think my five minutes are up. I apologize for not giving you the information at the right time, but I want you to know that I have realized I made a huge mistake, so I am here to fix my horrible decision. Thank you for your time."

Albert was ready to leave the office when Mr. Darcy asked him. "Why did you not tell me everything that day?"

"I need much more than five minutes to answer that question, Darcy," Albert replied with sadness in his voice.

Mr. Darcy noticed something was amiss with Albert, but he would not make things easy for him. It was time for them to have an honest conversation and end their endless competition. "I believe I have more than five minutes," Mr. Darcy said, motioning for Albert to sit. He also served him a glass of brandy and listened to Reed's explanation.

Albert did not know where to start, so he went straight to the point. "Because I did not want you to win. For several days, I had noticed a rapprochement between you and Miss Elizabeth, and I had also realized that she only saw me as a friend."

Mr. Darcy had not expected such honesty, but he was somewhat appreciative. "Are you interested in her? That is why you came to tell me that there was an understanding between you and Miss Elizabeth when, in reality, there was nothing more than a friendship?"

"No, I am not interested in her, at least not in the way you are," Albert said and could not help but smile, seeing Mr. Darcy uncomfortable. "I shall not deny that when I met Miss Elizabeth, I felt very attracted to her; I even thought that maybe she could be the one for me. But I am a practical man, Darcy, and I could tell she was not interested in anything more than a friendship. Also, we are very similar in temperaments but aspire to have very different lives. I suppose I would have redirected my interest to another person, but at that point, you came into the equation, and I started acting like a fool." Albert did not know why but needed to get everything out of his chest to be at peace with himself.

"And suddenly, for you, this all turned into another competition between us," Mr. Darcy completed.

"Indeed, and Miss Elizabeth does not deserve to be used in this absurd dispute between us. Believe me, I can see now how wrong I was."

"May I ask why you decided to be honest with me?" Mr. Darcy was curious about what had brought about such a drastic change in the ever-controlled Albert Reed.

Albert took a sip of brandy and began to tell Mr. Darcy about his family and what he had discovered the day before. "After reading those documents, I have realized that many of the principles I had believed for years are based on my own prejudices. I am still proud of my roots and my family, but I have been unfair in assuming that origin alone can determine the ethics or worth of a person. I do not need to prove my value to anyone. I am sure that I am a good person, and for that reason, I must behave as the honorable and decent man that my parents taught me to be."

"Does that mean you will not be as competitive as you were until now?" Mr. Darcy asked curiously.

"No, I shall continue to compete with myself to be better and better, and I shall not allow anyone to think they are superior to me just because of their origin," Albert replied emphatically.

While listening to Albert, Mr. Darcy realized he had recently had a similar experience and decided to share it with him. "Reed, since I was a child, I was encouraged to believe that I belonged to a higher class and that there were others who were destined to be below me regardless of their merits."

"And I suppose that as a son of a tradesman, I was one of them, right? Probably, It was not easy for you to accept that I always beat you at boxing," said Albert smiling. "Before you remind me, I know very well that I never beat you at fencing."

Mr. Darcy smiled and related many things that he believed until very recently. "Reed, when I went to fetch my sister from the Gardiners', I assumed the worst and said horrible things to Miss Elizabeth that she did not deserve. So, you were right for not believing Miss Elizabeth's explanation."

Mr. Darcy confessed what he had told Elizabeth, and Albert could not help but exclaim. "What a fool, Darcy! And consider that another fool is telling you this."

"My pride has also led me to make many mistakes, Reed. But just like you, I have realized I have been wrong for much of my life. I have loved Miss Elizabeth for a long time, yet I preferred to stay away from her because I was sure she was not suitable for me. After all, she did not have a good dowry and proper connections." Mr. Darcy poured Albert another brandy, and they continued to confess their sins.

After almost two hours of pleasant conversation, Albert realized it was time to leave. "Thank you for listening, Darcy, and I wish you the best of fortune with Miss Elizabeth. She is an excellent lady and deserves a man who loves and values each of her qualities."

"I know, and I plan to do my best to make her happy if she accepts me. But before you go, tell me what you plan to do about that man who talked to you yesterday?"

"As soon as I can, I shall travel north to talk to my father and do my best to repair the damage my uncle did," Albert explained.

"I wish you the best with your family, Reed," said Mr. Darcy.

"Thank you, Darcy," replied Albert.

Finally, Albert left calmly, knowing that he had done the right thing, while Mr. Darcy thought that his relationship with Albert Reed would have been different if both had not been taught so many prejudices by those around them.

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Georgiana was surprised to see how changed Anne was. She looked so happy with her husband, spoke, and gave her opinion as she had never done before. But what caught her attention the most was how Herbert talked to Anne. It seemed that he thought there was no one more perfect and adorable in the world than his dear wife. At times, Georgiana and the rest of the guests seemed uncomfortable with such sentimental displays of love and devotion.

"Georgiana, did you like the strawberry shortcake? It is a special recipe from Herbert's Mother, and he makes it like no one else. Right, my dear and beloved husband?"

"Yes, my beloved princess and I do it just for you. Although everything by your side tastes much better, my beautiful Mrs. Watson," Herbert replied as he kissed his wife's hand.

"The tart was delicious, Anne," Georgiana replied as the newlyweds gazed adoringly at each other. However, Georgiana also realized that Richard was speaking almost exclusively to Sarah as if no one else was in the room. Fortunately for her, Lady Grace and Lord Wilson were excellent company, and she was able to spend much of the evening chatting with them about their shared passion, music.

Dinner was delicious, and the newlyweds' happiness was contagious, leaving Richard feeling more buoyant than ever. "Very soon, I shall have to leave London and spend much of the summer training new troops in Newcastle."

"Do you like living in London very much? Because I imagine it must not be easy to be away from this city full of entertainment for so many months." Sarah loved chatting with Colonel Fitzwilliam, and she could not help but feel a little sad knowing that he would soon be leaving.

"I am a very flexible person, and I adapt easily to any place. It is just that lately, I have made some excellent friends that I am sure I shall miss when I have to be away from here," the Colonel said, looking at Sarah. He knew that a woman as beautiful as her, who was also sensitive and well-educated, probably had a line of suitors, and a poor second son like him had little chance, but he had to try.

Sarah felt very happy, and she replied automatically. "Dear Colonel, when friends are true, no distance can separate them. Besides, you can always keep in touch through letters, do you not think?"

"You are correct. Do you think your father would mind receiving letters from me from time to time?" he asked tentatively.

"If you tell him about military strategy and the like, he will be happy for you to write to him, and I am sure he will always reply to every one of your letters," Sarah said with a beautiful smile.

The evening was so pleasant that Lady Grace invited everyone to dinner at her house in two more days. The following day, Sarah and Lady Grace would take Anne to the modiste to order a new wardrobe. She had eloped from Rosings with almost nothing, not because she had not been able to pack her clothes but because she hated all those horrible gowns her mother had forced her to wear for years.

Georgiana was so excited about the idea that she asked if she could join them. So, over the next few days, Anne visited different shops, choosing everything she liked. Lady Grace often did not agree with her tastes, but she understood that the poor girl had always been forced to do what others wanted, so she gave her total freedom to choose what she pleased.

Lady Catherine spent a week at her brother's house trying to locate Anne, but no one wanted to help her. Lord Matlock did not wish to estrange his nephew, so he let his sister yell all she wanted, but he did not do anything she asked.

For her part, the Countess did not have her husband's support, and Richard told her that if she continued to interfere with Mr. Darcy's personal affairs, he would tell Lord Matlock that she had sold several of the family's jewels to pay his son's gambling debts. The Viscount sometimes could be more reckless than his father in managing money.

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Mrs. Bennet was still a little disoriented but was not in as much pain anymore, so they were not giving her laudanum. Dr. Lewis had been very emphatic in saying that she should only have it if it were strictly necessary since consuming too much could cause other health problems.

Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary had taken turns looking after their mother at night, and Kitty relieved them in the morning so that they could rest. Mr. Bennet also accompanied his wife during the day, but Lydia visited her mother's bedroom for no more than a few minutes every day. That is why Kitty was surprised when she entered the room.

Mrs. Bennet was half awake, so she was delighted when she saw her favorite daughter. "Oh, my dear Lydia, you do not know how glad I am to see you."

"Thank you, Mama. It is just that I have been busy doing other important things because very soon I shall give you a big surprise that will make you very happy," Lydia murmured in her mother's ear so Kitty would not hear. But Lydia did not know how to speak softly, so even a whisper from her was perfectly audible.

Kitty was very disappointed. She had been getting up early several mornings to accompany her mother, and she had never been as happy to see her as she was with Lydia. But she was also frustrated hiding Lydia's behavior. She knew perfectly well that when she said she was in her bedroom, she left the house and disappeared for hours.

"Kitty, Mama is thirsty. Why do you not give her some water?" Lydia ordered.

Kitty was about to ask her why she did not do it herself, but seeing Mrs. Bennet so helpless, she felt sorry and helped her mother drink water.

Jane was accompanying the Daniels; they had arrived early to visit them. They were getting to know the surroundings of Longbourn and walking around the estate.

Elizabeth was resting in his bedroom, and Mr. Bennet had locked himself in his study to read the paper, expressly requesting that no one disturb him. Therefore, it was Mary who received the newcomer. "Good morning, Miss. I am Dr. Arthur Davies, Dr. Lewis's assistant and apprentice." The young doctor handed his card to Mary and explained why he was there. "Dr. Lewis asked me to come to examine Mrs. Bennet's condition. He told me all about the case, and I read about it last night and all the way from London to here. First, I dedicated myself to reading about the best way to treat fractures in those parts of the body that cannot be immobilized like the ribs, and then…."

Mary did not know what to say. The young doctor seemed to have explanations for even the smallest things. She could tell he was extremely dedicated and wanted to make a good impression, but she knew nothing about broken bones. However, she could not deny that everything the doctor said was interesting. "So you mean to tell me that healing a broken leg is easier than a rib just because it is easier to immobilize a leg than a person's torso?"

The doctor could not help but smile. He realized that was the first time he had told a young lady as pretty as the one in front of him about his profession, and she had paid him attention. "Precisely, Miss. Please excuse me; sometimes I get so passionate about everything I am learning that I forget that not everyone is interested in medicine."

"Do not worry, doctor. I did not know that I was interested in medicine, but you are very entertaining and explain things well," said Mary, realizing she was in the parlor speaking to a stranger and blushed. "I am sorry, doctor. I am Mary Bennet, and I shall let my father know you are here, and then I shall take you to my mother's room."

"I shall be waiting here, Miss Mary," Dr. Davies replied.

Mr. Bennet and Mary went to Mrs. Bennet's bedroom with the doctor and remained there for nearly an hour. The doctor examined the patient and was very patient in explaining what was happening and answering Mrs. Bennet's questions, including the one that mattered most to her, "Dr. Davies, are you married?"

"No, Mrs. Bennet, I am not married," answered the doctor, a little surprised by the lady's interest in his personal life.

"You know, doctor. I have a daughter named Elizabeth. She is a little impertinent, but she is pretty and knows very well how to run a house," said Mrs. Bennet. Since she had seen the doctor, she thought he could be a good match for her most rebellious daughter.

"I do not know whether it is compatible with the profession of doctor to have a rebellious wife," said Mr. Bennet, laughing.

Mary felt very embarrassed. She did not like seeing her father having fun at her mother's and the doctor's expense. Especially since his mother was ill and the doctor was working.

"Doctor, can you show me how to change my mother's bandage? I would like to be able to assist her in case you or Dr. Lewis cannot travel."

"Of course, Miss Mary. I shall explain what you must do first, and then we shall change Mrs. Bennet's bandages together."

Finally, Mr. Bennet left the bedroom, and Mary and the doctor discussed the patient's care for almost an hour. Luckily, Mrs. Bennet had fallen asleep and did not interrupt them with her impertinent and out-of-place questions.

P&P

Peter and Jane were walking happily, making plans for the future. Jane did not know how she had fallen in love with Peter. It had been a gradual thing that started as a friendship, turned into admiration, and finally into love. She felt valued and protected by his side, and for the first time in her life, she felt safe, without fear of the future.

Roger was a little uneasy about his granddaughter. He thought she needed a change of environment because of her mother's constant pressure. Also, her shyness did not allow her to express and show others the beautiful girl she was. That is why he planned to help her and wanted to share his plans with her. "My dear granddaughter, I want to propose something to you that I have been thinking about for a long time, and I believe it would do you a lot of good. After Peter and Jane are married, I plan to spend a few months in Florence learning about the art and history of the great classics, and I would be delighted if you could come with me. What do you think?"

"Indeed, Grandfather? I would love to! What a wonderful idea. Thank you very much for inviting me." Emily was pleased with Roger's idea. She needed to escape from her mother and Albert Reed for a while. She had given up hope that he would ever notice her; she knew he was in love with Elizabeth Bennet. That trip would be an excellent opportunity to begin anew and forget everything that afflicted her.

"I am glad you like my idea. And we shall not be traveling alone because Lady Grace and Sarah Wilson will be with us, and I am planning to invite someone else, but I wanted to ask you first."

"Who do you want to invite, grandfather?" Emily asked curiously.

"I want to invite Miss Kitty Bennet. I get the impression that the girl needs someone to guide her and give her some attention. Miss Mary strikes me as a girl who enjoys more private activities, and Miss Lydia, I doubt she wants to learn history and art," Roger explained to Emily.

"I agree with you, Grandfather," Emily replied. Roger and his grandchildren had talked a great deal about the situation of the Misses Bennet, and they were very concerned with the younger sisters, who seemed so uneducated and vulgar compared to Jane and Elizabeth.

But they thought Kitty seemed more open to learning while Lydia could only be sent to a boarding school and pray that they could teach her manners and respect.

Roger and Emily broke the news about their future trip to Peter and Jane, and they were very happy for them. Peter knew that his sister needed time away from her mother and the constant pressure of rigid English society. Peter was Emily's guardian, so he promised to speak with his mother so she would not interfere with Roger and Emily's plans.

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"Bingley, I need you to allow me to use Netherfield. I need to spend some time in Hertfordshire. I am asking you for this as a special favor," Mr. Darcy said. He had everything ready to leave immediately for Hertfordshire, and he preferred to stay at his friend's property than at the inn in Meryton. Georgiana chose not to accompany him because she was helping Anne settle into her new home and thought Elizabeth and her brother needed time alone to converse.

"Of course, Darcy. But may I ask why you want to travel to Hertfordshire?" Mr. Bingley was very curious about his friend's unexpected request. For his part, he was still unsure if he wanted to return there. The last time he spoke to Jane Bennet, she seemed very distant.

"I must go to accompany and support Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Her mother had an accident, and I want to help in any way possible." Mr. Darcy told Bingley about his interest in her and that, after much hesitation, he decided to fight for her love.

"Darcy, allow me to come with you; maybe I can help too. Besides, now that you plan to court Miss Elizabeth, I think I should do the same with Miss Bennet." Mr. Bingley was glad. If he went with Mr. Darcy back to Hertfordshire, he would have the perfect excuse to be near Jane.

Mr. Darcy did not want his friend to suffer and explained Miss Bennet's present situation. "Bingley, at the moment, Peter Daniels and his family are in Hertfordshire supporting Miss Bennet. Although I have no further information about their relationship, I believe they are more than friends."

Mr. Bingley was very disappointed but understood that he had waited long to make a decision and that he had allowed his sisters to interfere in his affairs too much. "I understand, Darcy. I believe you are correct and you should go alone. But please let me know if things are different or if anything changes."

While the friends were exchanging opinions, Caroline found out that Mr. Darcy was in her brother's office, and after looking in the mirror and making sure she looked perfect, she went there. "Mr. Darcy, you do not know how good it is to see you again. You had abandoned us, but now that you are here, you must stay a little longer and have tea with us. It would have been best if you had come with my dear Georgiana. You do not know how much I miss her."

"I am sorry, Miss Bingley, but it is time for me to go," Mr. Darcy replied.

"What? If you have only just arrived," protested Miss Bingley.

"Caroline, do not insist. Darcy is in a hurry. He must leave for Hertfordshire as soon as possible." Mr. Bingley enjoyed seeing the puzzled look on his sister's face.

"Mr. Darcy, why are you going to that place full of savages," Caroline said in horror.

"Because I need to visit Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her family," replied Mr. Darcy without moving a muscle on his face.

Caroline could not hide her disappointment and spoke without much thought. "A man as elegant and refined as you should not stoop to visit an impertinent and uneducated country chit like Miss Eliza."

"Miss Bingley, let me tell you that my opinion of Miss Elizabeth is diametrically different from yours. Also, from today on, I hope that you will never again speak to me in such a manner about a person whom my sister and I hold in great esteem, or I will be forced to cut all ties with you." Mr. Darcy hoped he never had to have a conversation like that again.

Caroline was so enraged that she did not even want to reply. Instead, she just nodded and looked at her brother, waiting for him to say something, but he kept silent.

"Now, if you will excuse me, Bingley, thank you again for allowing me to use Netherfield. Good day, Miss Bingley." Mr. Darcy said goodbye, leaving Caroline enraged.

"Charles, will you let your best friend make such a foolish decision? Do you remember how he helped you when you were about to make the same terrible mistake?" Caroline asked, yelling.

"Precisely because I consider myself his friend, I shall not say anything and allow him to make his own decisions," replied Mr. Bingley. Then, he ignored his sister, who continued to bother him for the rest of the day.

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The previous evening was enjoyable, thanks to the presence of the Daniels. Peter had finally talked to Mr. Bennet and Roger with Kitty to see if she was interested in accompanying them on their trip to Florence. She accepted immediately, and Emily explained their plans for the days they would spend there. Kitty did not understand much of what Emily told her but was glad to have the opportunity to spend time with people who seemed to be genuinely interested in her.

Dr. Davies spent much of the afternoon with Mrs. Bennet.

Since it was a little late to return to London, Roger invited him to stay with them. His friend's estate was big enough to accommodate him without a problem, and it was only four miles from Longbourn. That is why the dinner was an instance of conversation and camaraderie, but the only one absent was Lydia. She said she did not feel well and preferred eating in her room.

The following day, Elizabeth could not help feeling nostalgic, so she went for a walk to clear her mind. She walked along the main trail that linked Longbourn to a small lake. She was returning home to have breakfast with the rest of her family when she saw a horseman approaching. At first, she did not give it much importance until she took a good look and thought she recognized the rider.

Mr. Darcy knew it was too early for a social call, and the day before, he arrived too late to go to Longbourn. However, he was so impatient that morning that he rode around Longbourn to distract himself. So when he saw Elizabeth in the distance, he immediately went to where she was.

Once beside her, he dismounted his horse and nervously greeted her. "Miss Elizabeth, first of all, I want you to excuse me for not coming sooner. Due to some misunderstandings, I was unaware of your mother's accident. I am here because I want you to know that you can rely on me for everything you need and to tell you that… Elizabeth, you do not know how much I have missed you."

He had not planned on saying the latter and would apologize, but Elizabeth answered impulsively, "I have missed you too, Mr. Darcy…and of course, Georgiana too," she added, a little embarrassed.

Mr. Darcy was so happy that he could not help but take Elizabeth's hand and kiss it tenderly. "Miss Bennet, If you only knew for how long I have been dreaming about you..." Mr. Darcy could not continue talking because he feared saying too much. He did not want to scare Elizabeth with his ardor and uncontrolled love. "Elizabeth, you are the most wonderful woman I have ever met."

"And the one who has tried your patience in more than one opportunity, right?" Elizabeth asked, laughing. She was happy but very nervous; whenever her emotions were intense, she used her sense of humor to feel comfortable. She did it when Mr. Darcy infuriated her with his haughty attitude, and she did it now that her feelings for him were quite the opposite.

"Without a doubt, my dear Miss Bennet. Though I think I have gotten on your nerves too on more than one occasion, or am I wrong?" asked Mr. Darcy with a smile that showed his happiness.

"Perhaps, but it must be because I have little tolerance for pompous and conceited men," Elizabeth said, enjoying their verbal banter more than ever.

"And I, to the impertinent women who insist on contradicting me at every opportunity," added Mr. Darcy as he offered his arm to the woman he loved to escort her to Longbourn.

They walked for nearly a mile as Mr. Darcy's horse followed close. He told her everything that had happened in London with his family in the last few days, and she confirmed that Mrs. Bennet was slowly recovering. She also told him about Jane's engagement to Peter Daniels and Kitty's future trip. Mr. Darcy preferred not to mention Albert's actions; he just wanted to leave that in the past.

As they were about to reach the house, Mr. Darcy would ask Elizabeth about her summer plans because he wanted to invite her to Pemberley. But Kitty came running in search of Elizabeth and interrupted their conversation.

At first, she was a little scared to see Elizabeth with that severe gentleman, but she knew there was no time to lose, so she told her what afflicted her. "Lizzy, Lydia just left the house. She thought I was asleep, so she got up and headed for the barn. I think she intends to elope with someone because the other day, she told me she would be the first to marry."

"Thank you, Kitty. Please, go to the house and let Papa know. Mr. Darcy and I shall go to the barn." Kitty ran back home at once in search of her father.

When Lydia arrived at the barn, Wickham was waiting there with everything ready to leave for London. But before they could board the carriage Wickham had hired, Elizabeth took Lydia by the arm and stopped her.

"Where do you think you are going, irresponsible girl?" Elizabeth said furiously.

"Let me go, Lizzy. You have no right to tell me what I can do. You are envious because I am more beautiful than you, and my dear Wickham prefers me."

"I told you, my love, that your sister would come between us, all because of that man who hates me," Wickham said, pointing at Mr. Darcy. "I do not know what lies he has told you, Miss Elizabeth, but I sincerely love Lydia."

"Miss Lydia, this man is a scoundrel who will only bring ruin and unhappiness into your life," said Mr. Darcy. At that moment, he saw his sister's reflection in that poor, silly girl.

"I am not interested in anything you say," Lydia said in a capricious, childish voice. "Let us go, my love, and forget about these people."

"Lydia, if you take one more step, I swear that I shall never in your life allow you to come near my house, your mother, or any of your sisters," said Mr. Bennet, who had arrived at the barn by then.

"Papa, what are you doing here?" said Lydia nervously. For the first time, she began to doubt what she should do. Her father was furious and looked at her threateningly, and she got a little scared. "Wickham, maybe we do not have to elope. My father is here, and he can give his consent for us to get married here. Imagine what a beautiful wedding we can have. But, father, you must buy me a beautiful wedding gown..."

Mr. Wickham felt trapped and noted that Lydia no longer wanted to accompany him. So he decided to take out a knife from his pocket and put it on Lydia's neck, "If you do not get in the carriage with me right now, I shall kill you, foolish and disgusting chit."

P&P

Many thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and enthusiastically follows the story.

In the next chapter, you will have the last chapter

Saludos,

Yo