“Oh, that girl. Who will ever take her off our hands? What man could want such an obstinate, headstrong thing? We were so blessed, Mary, that Mr. Hamilton was blinded by their childhood together. And then, she has gone and ruined it. Oh, Kitty…what are we to do? I pray that you or Lydia will make a good match to support Lizzy when your father is dead and I am thrown into the hedgerows.”
“Let us hope, my dear, that that calamity will be many years in the making. Might I present to you our good friend Mr. Darcy?”
“Mr. Darcy!” Mrs. Bennet shrieked, standing at once and knocking a small plate of biscuits off her lap. “How good of you to call, sir. Will you not sit down?”
“Why yes, I thank you. I must beg forgiveness, ma’am, at the hour. I was riding by and Mr. Bennet encouraged me to come and see the family.” His eyes darted across the room at the ladies before him. “How lovely it is to see all your daughters…save two?”
“Yes, as you know, our Mrs. Bingley is on her wedding tour, and Lizzy… Why, Mr. Darcy, are you not in Scotland? We received a letter that an acquaintance spoke to your wife, and you were for Scotland.”
He shook his head, waiting for the reaction he guessed Mr. Bennet was so looking forward to. “No, ma’am. You speak of my cousin Anne, I presume. She married my esteemed cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. I remain unmarried.”
Mrs. Bennet’s chin inched higher and her eyebrows rose. “Unmarried, you say? Well, that is good news, indeed. Kitty, ring for tea.”
“No, I thank you, ma’am. I do not wish to trouble you.” Darcy moved as if to stand, wondering whereshemight be.
“It is no trouble. Kitty, do as you are told. Or, better yet” —she stopped mid-sentence— “I have a better idea. Why not show Mr. Darcy the garden? It is lovely in the moonlight.”
“Mama …”
“Kitty, do as your mother tells you,” Mr. Bennet said with a twinkle in his eye. “And while you are taking a turn about the grounds in the dark,” he said, raising his eyebrows at Mr. Darcy, “advise Elizabeth it is too late for her to be out alone.”
Mr. Darcy stood immediately and extended his arm to Miss Katherine. “I would be pleased to accompany you outside. I am sure Longbourn has some flowers which have not frozen over as of yet.”
Miss Katherine excused herself to get her wrap. As he donned his own outerwear in the front hall, he could not help but overhear Mrs. Bennet’s excited whisper. “Oh, Mr. Bennet. We will have another wedding yet, mark my words. Kitty will make a lovely mistress of Pemberley. Mr. Darcy has attempted to pursue her for months and is now free to follow his heart.”
“You believe that, Mrs. Bennet. If it gives you comfort.”
* * *
Ten minutes had passedwhile he and Miss Katherine wandered the grounds of Longbourn. “Oh, let us try the edge of the grounds. I am sure she went to Oakham Mount but she never stays out this late. I am certain we will find her—” and then if by magic, she was there. Not quite thirty yards from where they stood, Miss Elizabeth, with her back toward them, was staring up at the moon. “If you will excuse me, sir. I remembered that I must speak to my mother.” And with that, Miss Katherine turned and walked briskly toward the house, leaving him alone in the dark with the woman he loved.
He took careful steps not to startle her, but she did not turn around. As he came within ten feet of her, he heard her talking aloud.
“Dear moon, you are back to tease me tonight, I see. You and your brilliance shining in the sky. Yet, you still cannot give me what I want. Who I want.” She sighed and shook her head. “No, I am destined to be the eccentric spinster aunt who will teach my beautiful nieces and handsome nephews passable Latin and to play their instruments very ill indeed. Oh, I am resigned to my fate,” she said, holding up her hand and wagging her finger at the moon. “Do not try and change my mind, as I now comprehend that he was exactly the man who in disposition and talents would most suit me—there will never be another.” She sighed and lowered her chin to her chest, and after a moment, let out a soft chuckle. “I know you are there, Kitty. You now know the truth which you have long suspected of the secrets of my heart.”
He waited before he answered, expecting her to turn around. She did not. “I hope I am not disappointing you when I say that I am not Miss Katherine.”
Miss Elizabeth spun around to face him with her mouth agape and her eyes wide. “Willia…Mr. Darcy. You are here?”
“As you see,” he said with a mischievous grin.
“And not in Scotland with Miss de Bourgh…I mean Mrs. Darcy.”
“No, I am not in Scotland.”
“Is she unwell?” She spoke rapidly, rubbing her thumbs over her clasped hands. “Such an odd time of night to be out, but we can return to the house for some refreshment.”
“I just came from the house, I thank you.”
“Is Mrs. Darcy inside? We must not leave her unattended with my…unfamiliar… family for an extended length of time.”
“I came alone.” He allowed the statement to hang in the air. “There is no one inside, but your family.” He looked her directly in the eyes and continued. “Miss Elizabeth, I have a confession to make.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” He took off his hat and rubbed his hand through his hair. “This is not the first time I have stood in the shadows and listened as you professed your thoughts to the moon.”
“It is not?”
