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 28
Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet asked Wickham not to hurt Lydia, while Mr. Darcy could not help but feel guilty. He knew Wickham was trying to harm the Bennets to get revenge on him.
"Mr. Wickham, please, my sister is still a girl," Elizabeth said as she begged him to release Lydia.
"Wickham, you were always warmly welcomed into our home. This is no way to repay our hospitality. Leave my daughter go home, and we can resolve this matter talking," explained Mr. Bennet. He knew that Wickham was desperate and had few alternatives.
"Wickham, do you not realize that the gallows await you if you hurt Miss Lydia? Let her go, and as Mr. Bennet said, we can discuss how to resolve this matter and find a solution. Let us go back to the house..." added Mr. Darcy.
"No, Darcy, I do not trust you. Also, I know that, as always, you will have everything, and I shall have nothing. If I cannot be happy, you never will be either," Wickham yelled resentfully.
Lydia was not a clever girl, and while everyone around her was trying to solve the problem she had created, she processed what her dear Wickham had just said. First, he yelled at her and then called her a foolish and disgusting chit. Lydia lacked intelligence but had plenty of arrogance and pride, so the moment she understood those insults, she felt deeply offended and was furious.
"How dare you say I am foolish, you ridiculous, hideous man," Lydia said, enraged. She was so furious that she did not even realize that Mr. Wickham had a knife on the back of her neck. Without thinking, she turned around and kicked him in that part of the body where she knew she could do more damage. Lydia had played with boys since she was little, and the tenants' children had told her some secrets about the male anatomy.
Wickham was so focused on arguing with Mr. Darcy and enjoying seeing him so distraught that he only discovered Lydia's plan when it was too late. He felt a tremendous pain that made him instinctively fall to the ground, writhing in agony.
"You are a liar, Wickham, and I never want to see you again," Lydia said. After that, she kicked Wickham in the same spot and continued whining for several seconds. "Papa, I want to go home with you," Lydia added, and she began to walk back to Longbourn, followed by her amused father.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were so astonished that they could not help but laugh heartily at the sight of Wickham squirming on the floor in pain. "Fortune is not on your side anymore, Wickham," said Mr. Darcy mockingly.
"Who would have thought that a fifteen-year-old spoiled girl would be the one to put you in your place, Mr. Wickham," added Elizabeth, also laughing.
Alerted by Kitty, Peter went to the barn and saw part of what had happened. "Darcy, my grandfather took it upon himself to call the magistrate, and as soon as he is here, I shall denounce this man for attempted abduction."
"It is best we leave Miss Lydia out of all this incident, Daniels. I had bought enough of this man's debts for years to send him to the Marshalsea forever," Mr. Darcy explained.
"I understand; I shall let my grandfather know," replied Peter.
Wickham regained speech and desperately said. "Darcy, you cannot do this to your father's godson. Also, we were friends for so many years..."
"How do you expect me to have mercy on you after all you have done," said Mr. Darcy angrily.
Peter motioned for Mr. Darcy not to say anything else, and he spoke. "If Darcy feels sorry for your situation and does not send you to prison, I shall do it. What do you prefer, go to jail for attempted abduction or debts?" Peter asked defiantly.
For the first time in his life, Wickham felt defeated, so much so that he did not even want to reply. When the magistrate arrived, Peter took care of the situation and assured Mr. Wickham that he never wanted to hear from him again. Months later, Wickham was sent to serve time in one of the kingdom colonies.
When Lydia returned to Longbourn, she did it most naturally and as if nothing had happened. After dealing with his daughter's problems, Mr. Bennet ignored her and continued reading the latest philosophy book he had bought.
When Roger, Peter, and Mr. Darcy arrived at Longbourn, they found the whole family reunited in the drawing room. Lydia talked about her dealings with Wickham as if they were nothing significant, and her older sisters tried to correct her while Mr. Bennet was sitting by the chimney reading without any concern.
"Kitty, do not play the heroine because I have already realized that Wickham was nothing more than a liar. I was pretending that I liked him because I felt sorry for him. And do not look at me like that, Lizzy, because even if you do not want to, I shall be married to an officer before you. Also, my husband will be much more handsome than Wickham."
Elizabeth was going to correct Lydia, but Jane took her hand so she would not say anything. She had noticed the gentlemen's presence and wanted to avoid an embarrassing discussion. "Lydia, we should leave this conversation for another time."
"Jane, you are my older sister, not my mother, and if you do not like what I say, you can go..."
"Are you not going to say or do anything, Bennet?" Roger asked Mr. Bennet in such an accusing tone that he did not have another alternative but to ask his daughter to be silent.
Mr. Bennet raised his head from his book, a little embarrassed, and said as casually as he could to the rest of the room. "Lydia is nothing more than a silly girl, and she never will learn to keep her out-of-place opinions to herself."
"And how will she learn if the person who must teach her makes absolutely no effort to do it?" Roger asked.
Everyone present was petrified, and no one dared to say anything. The only one enjoying the scene was Mary, who had dreamed for years that someone would tell her father what he deserved.
Mr. Bennet could not answer Roger's question, so he kept talking. "From now on, what your daughter does will also affect my granddaughter and your daughter's reputation. And let me remind you that she will soon be my granddaughter, too. So, if you do not control this spoiled girl who was about to elope with a criminal, I shall keep my family as far away from you and her as possible."
Mr. Bennet esteemed Roger, and to have been censured in that manner by a man of such moral and intellectual stature made him feel deeply ashamed. So, he stood, approached Roger, and, extending his hand, said, "That will not be necessary; I shall make sure that Lydia does not put our family's harmony at stake again."
After saying that, he ordered Lydia to go to her room and kept her locked there for a week. Also, he took her pin money away, and only when she turned eighteen did Mr. Bennet allow her back out into society again.
Mrs. Bennet tried to intercede for her beloved daughter, but her recovery was prolonged, and it took her a long time to regain mobility, so she could do very little for her favorite capricious daughter.
The following days, Mr. Darcy visited Elizabeth every day, and they walked around Longbourn, chatting and getting to know each other better. In addition, he strengthened his friendship with the Daniels as they dined many evenings together at the Bennets' home.
He had spent almost two weeks in Netherfield and had to return to London, so before he left, he decided to talk to Elizabeth about his feelings while they took a walk in the garden. "I hope your mother is feeling better, Miss Elizabeth."
"Yes, she is, and now, at least, she can get up for a few hours even though she cannot go downstairs," Elizabeth explained. However, she was very uneasy because she noticed Mr. Darcy's nervousness.
"Miss Elizabeth, I must leave for London in three more days."
"Why so soon?" Elizabeth asked, disappointed.
"If I could, I would stay much longer... but..."
"I understand. You are a busy gentleman, and I..."
"Elizabeth, if I could, I would spend the rest of my life by your side."
"Mr. Darcy, I..."
"Elizabeth, I have been in love with you for a long time, but because of my stupid pride, instead of..."
"That is in the past, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, taking his hand.
"Elizabeth, would you do me the honor to marry me? I do not want to live another second of my life without you." Mr. Darcy took her beloved's hands and kissed them very tenderly.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy, I want to be your wife and spend the rest of my life by your side," Elizabeth replied, her voice cracking with emotion.
After several minutes of discussing their mutual feelings, they returned to the house, where Mr. Darcy spoke with a surprised Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth's father was not happy with the news but had no choice but to give them his blessing.
P&P
Mr. Bingley was reading a letter from his dear uncle Benjamin Bingley in his study. Many years ago, his father's younger brother had decided to try his fortune in the new world. When he was twenty-five, he went to Canada to obtain land and establish a prosperous business. The last time Mr. Bingley saw his uncle was when he traveled with his wife and his two sons to England five years ago, but they always exchanged letters and maintained permanent contact despite the distance. Finally, in his last letter, he once again invited him to spend a few months with them to show him how incredibly beautiful the landscapes of his new land were.
"Mr. Bingley, Miss Wilson wishes to speak with you," the butler announced.
He was surprised because she had not visited them for over a month. "Is not Caroline here to receive her?"
"No, Mr. Bingley. But she also told me that she wanted to talk to you. So, what do I tell her, Sir?"
Mr. Bingley told the butler to show her into the drawing-room, and he went there. He hoped she had not come to talk about business because he was not in the mood to answer questions or give advice. "Miss Wilson, my butler told me you wished to speak with me. I am very sorry that Caroline is not here. Please tell me how may I help you?"
"Mr. Bingley, I shall speak directly and bluntly explain the reason for my visit. Although you have not asked for my advice, there is something I should tell you because until very recently, I was in a very similar situation to yours, and someone helped me see how wrong I was."
Mr. Bingley thought that this was the most peculiar conversation he had ever had in a long time. "You have managed to arouse my curiosity. Please tell me, what is so important that you must tell me?"
Sarah took a deep breath and told Mr. Bingley a little more about herself, her family's difficult situation, and how she had sought to approach several men to get a rich husband, and he was one of them. Also, she explained that Caroline and Louisa had done everything possible to bring them closer. "I imagine you are wondering why I am telling you all this. Well, I want to suggest you not allow your sisters to continue intervening in your life as they have done until now. You are a good person whom I came to appreciate, and I think that your good disposition and perhaps your desire not to be involved in conflicts have made your two sisters feel entitled to dispose of your life as they please."
At first, Mr. Bingley looked at Sarah in disbelief, but after reflecting for a few seconds, he asked with some regret, "Is it so evident how my sisters have handled my life?"
"It was evident for me," Sarah stood and said goodbye, but before leaving, she added, "Mr. Bingley, sometimes it is not that difficult to change when one desires to be a different person."
"Thank you, Miss Wilson. You have given me much to think about," said Mr. Bingley, sincerely grateful.
He returned to his study, and in his best handwriting, he answered his uncle's letter announcing that he would visit him at the beginning of the summer and planned to stay with him for a while.
When he told his sisters he would spend some time with uncle Benjamin in Canada, they got nervous and tried to convince him not to travel so far from England. But their begging was in vain. He was determined to be happy and never again let his sisters treat him like a child without resolve.
P&P
When Mrs. Bennet learned about Jane's engagement with Peter Daniels, she was delighted and surprised at the same time. Since she could not leave her room yet, Peter agreed to visit her there. At first, she was a little disappointed that he was not as handsome as Mr. Bingley. But when Peter answered her questions with courtesy and deference, she immediately changed her mind. Also, she was more than happy when she discovered that he had a beautiful estate in Derbyshire and an exquisite house in London. Finally, Mrs. Bennet got tired, and Jane and Peter left her alone so she could rest.
"Thank you for being so patient with my mother, Peter. She can be very indiscreet and impertinent at times," Jane said, a little embarrassed.
"Do not worry, my dear. My mother is worse than yours, so you must be patient, too," added Peter. He had told Jane how his mother saw the world and how pretentious she was. Jane understood and decided to try to get to know Dorothy to gain her acceptance.
But Mrs. Bennet hardly had time to absorb the news of Jane's engagement when Elizabeth told her she was engaged to Mr. Darcy.
"Lizzy, please do not play with my poor nerves! How do you think I shall believe that you will marry that proud and disagreeable man?"
"Mama, lower your voice, please. He is outside your room; he wants to greet you before traveling to London," Elizabeth said, smiling.
"So, it is true? Oh, Lizzy, my dearest child, ten thousand a year and very likely more! Mrs. Bennet yelled excitedly but fell silent when she remembered Mr. Darcy was outside her sitting room waiting to talk to her.
Finally, Mr. Darcy entered the room, and Mrs. Bennet was so astonished that she hardly spoke, which Elizabeth greatly appreciated. "Mama, Mr. Darcy has to return to London tomorrow, so he wants to say goodbye to you."
"Oh, Mr. Darcy, thank you for being so considerate and coming to my room to speak with me. I hope you return soon. Do not forget that you are engaged. My Lizzy will look forward to seeing you again because I know she loves you very much." Mrs. Bennet said, convinced that Mr. Darcy had regretted becoming engaged to Elizabeth and was looking for an excuse to leave her.
"Mama, Jane, and I are going to London next week to buy our trousseau. Aunt Gardiner will help us buy everything we need," Elizabeth explained.
"Mrs. Bennet, I wish you a speedy recovery, and I shall see you in a month when I return for the wedding. Good day, madam."
"Mr. Darcy, please come back for the wedding. I assure you that Lizzy will make a fine wife and will never contradict anything you say."
Elizabeth looked at Mr. Darcy and smiled. Mr. Darcy smiled, too, because he knew nothing could be further from the truth.
Mr. Darcy was pleased that the meeting with his impulsive future mother-in-law had gone better than expected.
Half an hour later, he had to say farewell to the woman he loved. "It will not be easy for me not to see you for nearly a week, my dear Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy said sadly.
"Do not worry, Mr. Darcy. You will not even notice when I am in London contradicting everything you say," Elizabeth answered to hide her own sadness.
Elizabeth handed Mr. Darcy a letter for Georgiana, and he kissed her hand and finally left for London. The day before, Peter and the Daniels had returned to London. Roger wanted to start planning the trip with his granddaughter.
P&P
Albert arrived the previous day but wanted to avoid speaking to his father after being locked in a carriage for several days. He needed to enjoy harmony with his family before breaking the news.
So, after five days, one morning, he went to the family company and was fortunate enough to find his brother and his father gathered in the office, planning the week's activities.
Before asking the questions he wanted so much, he limited himself to recounting all the facts he knew and handing over to his father the documents Mr. Morgan had given him. Samuel was shocked, and his first reaction was to deny everything. "Albert, you should not seriously consider what that man told you. You know very well that none of this can be true. Father, please clarify this!"
Mr. Reed was avidly reviewing the documents, and when he heard his son's question, he raised his head and, with tears in his eyes, replied, "I am afraid what Mr. Morgan told your brother is true."
"Father, how could uncle Albert have done such a thing?" asked Albert.
"Albert, Samuel, I cannot give you a definitive answer. I am afraid your uncle took this secret to his grave, but I think I know what could have happened." Mr. Reed wiped away his tears, drank a glass of water, and shared his brother's story with his children. He told them that uncle Albert was brilliant but had not had the opportunity to study because they had to help his father, who was starting his company then. His brother Albert had always been risky in his investments, and since most of the time he was fortunate, that had helped him believe in his instincts.
"When the business was more consolidated, Uncle Albert dedicated himself to looking for new investors to grow the business." Mr. Reed told them that one of his last deals was unsuccessful, and the company eventually lost a lot of money. "Within two months of that incident, uncle Albert had recovered most of the funds, and no one could understand how he had done it."
"Do you think that money was Mr. Morgan's father?" Albert asked.
"Yes, son, I am afraid that is how your uncle got the money back because all these papers are signed exactly on the date that all that happened. Of course, we still need to investigate a little more, but now, many things make sense," Mr. Reed replied.
"But why did you and Grandfather not inquire more about the origin of that money, Father? Maybe you could have prevented all the suffering of that family." Samuel did not understand how a situation like that happened, considering how honest his father and grandfather had always been.
"Samuel, your uncle was already ill then, and the following months were challenging. He suffered greatly because his illness consumed him for six months, and to avoid the pain, he had to take large portions of laudanum every day," explained Mr. Reed.
"Father, I need you to tell me a little more about my uncle's life so I can understand many things he always told me. Please, father, he was such an important person in my childhood that now I feel that I do not know who he truly was," Albert explained.
Mr. Reed had always loved his brother very much, even though they were very different, but he knew that since Albert was born, his brother had considered him a son because of his sad history. "Your Uncle loved you very much, Albert. Please never doubt that."
When Albert Reed's uncle was twenty-two, he met the beautiful Lady Morris, who was only twenty-one. At first sight, she had been attracted to the young tradesman and made up a horrible story about how her husband, a man thirty years her senior, had forced her to marry him. The truth was that Margaret married the old Baron Morris, wishing her future son would be the new Baron and keep her husband's fortune and title. He had only had daughters from his first wife. Unfortunately, after more than two years of marriage, the old Baron could not sire a child in his young wife. So, Margaret sought a man with physical characteristics similar to her husband's to achieve the desired child. Also, she desired to lay with a young man.
Unfortunately, Albert always believed that Lady Morris loved him as much as he did and was devastated when she died giving birth to their child, who also died within hours of being born. Margaret had promised they would run away together, and he had everything planned to start a new life away from England. She had also fallen in love with the young merchant, but she did not intend to run away but to remain Albert's Mistress until her husband died and then marry him and have everything: her husband's money and title and Albert's love.
"That is why your mother and I named you Albert, and I think your uncle always saw you like that son he had loved and lost without even knowing him."
"I understand, father," said Albert, sincerely hurt by his uncle's unfortunate tale. "Father, I want us to return the Morgans everything we stole from them one day."
"I think the same as my brother," Samuel added.
"Of course, we shall. Tomorrow, I shall ask my solicitor to contact Mr. Oliver Morgan and let him know that we are willing to return everything that belongs to him if all the documents are legitimate."
"Son, your uncle was not a bad person, but his experiences made him resentful. I know he has always greatly influenced you, but I shall repeat what I have always told you since you were a child: the value of a man is in his character regardless of his origin." Mr. Reed stood and hugged his son very affectionately to comfort him.
Albert stayed with his family for a week and returned to London, still troubled thinking of his Uncle's turbulent life but happy knowing they would be able to repay what they owed to the Morgans after so many years. Besides, he could not help but reflect on his uncle's reasons for resenting the gentlemen and aristocrats.
'I shall never again judge anyone from their origin,' Albert promised himself, feeling optimistic about the future.
P&P
Two weeks after the Lydia incident, all the Bennet sisters left for London. Lydia threw one of her famous tantrums because she also wanted to go to London, but Mr. Bennet told her that no one had invited her, so she was forced to stay in Longbourn. Lydia looked to her mother for support, but she explained that someone had to stay with her and no one was better company than her.
The Daniels had invited Kitty to stay with them, and Mrs. Gardiner, seeing Dr. Davies's interest in Mary, decided to invite her to see if something would be possible between them. It was difficult for Mary to accept the invitation, but Jane and Elizabeth insisted so much that she had no choice but to accept.
Dorothy Daniels reluctantly welcomed Jane at first, but seeing how the sweet Miss Bennet always followed all her advice and seemed to please her in everything made her change her mind. She also liked the attention she drew from everyone for her angelic beauty, making her feel important. When she finally met Mrs. Bennet, she, too, made a good impression on her. Mrs. Bennet treated Dorothy as if she were the most distinguished and elegant lady in England, making her feel special. In high society, she was the one who always had to look up to others, so it was a pleasant change that now, others treated her with such respect and reverence.
Jane and Elizabeth decided to organize a double wedding to cause as little disruption as possible at home. Unfortunately, their mother was still not well and could barely participate in their wedding.
Mr. Darcy invited his family, except Lady Catherine, who lived alone in Rosings, cursing everyone but mostly Anne. To ingratiate themselves with his wealthy nephew, the Earl and his wife attended the wedding and behaved kindly to everyone. Richard and Georgiana enjoy the days in Hertfordshire and the wedding breakfast. But the ones who enjoyed it the most were Anne and Herbert. They had the opportunity to eat delicious food and chat with their new family.
Unfortunately, Mr. Bingley could not attend his friend's wedding because he was on a trip to Canada, but he sent them a letter wishing them well in their future life.
Besides, all the Daniels attended the wedding, and Jane also invited Lady Grace, Sarah Wilson, and her father; they had become good friends. For her part, Elizabeth invited her entire family, including uncle Edmund and his apprentice. Dr. Davies had taken it upon himself to travel to Longbourn every week to examine Mrs. Bennet, and all the family was very grateful for that.
Elizabeth also invited her good friend Albert. They had had the opportunity to share even more lately. Once Albert realized that he had nothing but brotherly affection for Elizabeth, their bond and friendship solidified. Albert told her what had happened to his family and uncle, and she listened and advised him. Albert had no sisters, and Elizabeth had no brothers, so they found in each other's advice and a view of the world they had not known before, and that seemed very interesting to both of them.
"Well, my dear Miss Lizzy, or rather, Mrs. Darcy, you are already a married woman, and I hope you do not forget your friends. I truly think you have chosen a good husband. Despite being a bit stubborn and extremely pompous, Darcy is honorable and will always do his best to make you happy," said Albert sincerely.
"Do not worry, Mr. Reed; I shall remind my husband that he is just as human as the rest of us. You know, I am already an expert on that," replied Elizabeth, smiling. "But before I go, can you tell me if you have spoken to Emily? She leaves in a few more days for Florence."
"I have not dared yet. I am afraid that she will reject me. What do I do if she says she does not want to...?" Albert said uncomfortably.
Elizabeth could not help but laugh heartily, which caught the attention of her husband and other attendees at the wedding breakfast. "You men are so silly sometimes. If you do not talk to her, I promise I shall."
"Alright, I know very well that you are capable of doing that. However, I do not know what is worse, to endure the disappointment of rejection or that everyone thinks I am a fool, so my dear friend has to intercede for me," replied Albert resignedly.
"Mrs. Darcy, I think it is time to go. We must get to London before dark. I am sorry, Reed, but we have to say farewell to everyone and be ready in half an hour," Mr. Darcy explained. It was not easy for him to accept that his wife had such a close friend, but he knew well that they were just friends and that he had to control his possessive nature and jealousy. Elizabeth deserved a husband who trusted her, not an insecure fool.
Albert wished them to be very happy and to have a pleasant time touring the Lake District. "Good travel, and enjoy the beautiful northern landscapes, my dear friend Mrs. Darcy." Then he steeled himself and went to talk to Roger and Emily, who were chatting animatedly with Kitty, Sarah Wilson, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"May I know why you were laughing so much, my love?" Mr. Darcy asked, trying to sound disinterested. He did not want his wife to notice how he felt when he saw her chatting animatedly with her friend Albert.
"I was laughing because you men sometimes act worse than boys." Then, seeing her husband's intrigued face, she explained, "Mr. Reed has been trying to ask Emily a question for several weeks, and he still has not found the courage to do it."
Mr. Darcy watched Albert approaching the lady in question and could not help but smile and say, "How amusing it is to see the ever so confident Albert Reed acting like an afraid child." Then he offered his wife his arm, and they began to say goodbye to all their friends and family.
Albert was so nervous that although the conversation was so lively, he did not move a muscle on his face.
"I am glad your father is joining us, my dear Miss Wilson. It is good to know I shall have male company on the long journey," said Roger.
"Besides, it gives me the chance to write to Lord Wilson and not lose contact with him," the Colonel said, looking at Sarah. They had a beautiful friendship, and he hoped she would not forget him in the coming months.
"Mr. Daniels," Albert said with a trembling voice.
Roger saw how troubled the young man was and decided to intervene. "Would you like to write to me, Reed? I shall be happy to correspond with you," Roger added as he watched as his granddaughter and Mr. Reed looked at each other longingly.
"Yes, Mr. Daniels, I would love to correspond with you," he added, looking at Emily. "Miss Daniels, if you do not mind… I know you will be very busy, but maybe, and if you do not mind, of course, I would like to write to you through your grandfather. But I understand if you prefer not to. You will have so many interesting things to do…."
"I shall always have time for a good friend, Mr. Reed," Emily answered with a slight blush. Albert thanked Emily effusively, and once that difficult situation was over, everyone continued speaking.
When Georgiana heard about the trip to Florence, she was very excited about the idea. She needed to forget so many sad memories and thought a trip would help her. Lady Grace said she would be delighted if her guardians permitted her to accompany them.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were the first to leave, and half an hour later, Jane and Peter set off for Ramsgate, where Roger had a beautiful house with a sea view. They would spend their honeymoon there as far as possible from Mrs. Bennet and Dorothy.
P&P
Seven months later…
"What do you think of those two, darling?" Peter asked Jane, indicating to Albert and Richard. They were on the port's dock impeccably dressed, and each of them had a bouquet of beautiful flowers in their hands.
"I think they are anxious because the ship with two pretty young ladies will soon arrive," Jane replied to her dear husband. They were living in London because Jane was with child and she had had some complications, so Peter did not want them to go on any long trips until the child was born. Also, Dr. Lewis lived in London, and he did not trust any other doctor to care for his beloved wife and future heir.
"I hope Emily and my grandfather agree to spend a few days with us to tell us about their trip," Peter said.
"My love, I know you have missed your sister and grandfather very much. I also miss Lizzy and my other sisters," said Jane, comforting her husband. "I shall make sure they spend time with us."
"I am the most fortunate man to have you in my life, my beloved and beautiful wife," replied Peter, excited.
They approached Albert and Richard and waited with them for the ship that brought their loved ones to finish docking in port. Once everyone disembarked, Peter and Jane greeted them warmly. Then, Albert and Richard approached the ladies and handed them the flowers. Despite the distance, communication continued, and both were determined to strengthen the bond now that the ladies were back in London.
Jane invited Kitty to live with her, and she gladly accepted. She had changed much on the trip and did not want to be apart from her new friends, especially Lady Grace, her new husband, and grandfather Roger.
Lady Grace and Lord Wilson married in Italy, and Sarah became the sole heir to her new mother's fortune. It was a marriage that would benefit them both, and they were content with their situation. Lady Grace never thought she would marry again, but her new husband was understanding and loving, and he had no interest in curtailing her freedom or interfering with her business. He only wanted her company and engaging conversation.
Meanwhile, at Longbourn, Lydia spent much of the day alone with her mother. Every day, she would throw a tantrum for some reason, but Mrs. Bennet was always too tired or sore to help her, and her father did not care. With no money or support from either her parents or sisters, Lydia had no choice but to accept her fate and spent most of her days at Longbourn.
P&P
Elizabeth was walking through the vast park that surrounded Pemberley. The worst of winter had passed, and the beginning of spring could be seen all around. She had lived there for over six months, and it felt like it was her home her entire life. She was pleased and still felt like she was on her honeymoon. Her husband had had a lot of work lately and could not spend as much time together as they desired.
That morning, she received correspondence from London and Longbourn with good news. But she had even more important information to share with her husband.
"Elizabeth, I have been looking for you for several minutes. I thought you were in the gardens, or at least that is what Mrs. Reynolds told me," said Mr. Darcy as he kissed his wife on the cheek.
"I am sorry, my dear Fitzwilliam, but the day is so beautiful that I did not even realize when I started to walk away from the gardens that I was in the middle of the park. It feels good to enjoy the sun after such a harsh and cold winter," explained Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy looked around to make sure no one was looking at them, and he hugged his wife, kissed her, and whispered suggestively in her ear, "Winter is cold in Derbyshire, but I always saw to it that my wife was not cold."
"I know, my dear. I am very grateful for your diligence."
After kissing passionately for a few minutes, Elizabeth broke off the kiss to give her husband some news. "Fitzwilliam, please, we shall have time for this. I have some important things to tell you," Elizabeth said, trying to free herself from her husband's embrace.
Mr. Darcy wanted to take his wife to his bedroom and forget about the world. He had been working for so many days that he missed spending time with her, "Well, my dear, tell me what is so important, even more, than your husband's kisses." he told her. Then, he offered his arm, and they continued walking.
"Georgiana confirmed that she will arrive here the following week, and Kitty will travel with her and Richard. But that is not all; in her letter, Jane told me that Mary and Dr. Davies would marry at the end of April. Is not that wonderful?"
"I am happy for them, though I am not surprised," Mr. Darcy explained.
"But that is not all because Jane told me that her sister-in-law, Emily, is marrying Mr. Reed a week after Mary's wedding. I am so happy for them. You know, Albert was so afraid to propose because he was terrified that she could reject him."
"I understand him perfectly and am glad he finally dared to propose. I believe they make a nice couple," Mr. Darcy said.
"Indeed they do! They make a beautiful couple."
"So many weddings. I guess we are invited, and you want to attend." Mr. Darcy said while he stroked his wife's hand.
"Yes, we are invited, and we must attend. But there is one more wedding we have to attend a week after Albert and Emily's. So, in other words, we shall have three weddings in three weeks."
"Cupid has been very busy lately. And whose third wedding is?"
"Richard and Sarah Wilson," Elizabeth replied, and she enjoyed the surprised look on her handsome husband's face.
"I was not expecting that. I honestly thought Fitzwilliam would never marry. It is time to return home, my dear. Hearing about so many weddings made me hungry, and soon, it will be dinner time. Also, I want to spend the whole evening with you."
"I have one more news to tell you, my love," Elizabeth said nervously.
"Another wedding?" said Mr. Darcy incredulously.
"Fitzwilliam, I am with child," said Elizabeth. "Before you ask, yes, I am sure."
Overwhelmed with joy, Mr. Darcy hugged his wife and said, "I love you, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth."
FIN
P&P
Many thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and enthusiastically follows the story.
In the next chapter, the Epilogue!
Saludos,
Yo