Mr. Darcy sputtered, “You are . . . Hollydale House is . . .yours?”
Elizabeth was slightly taken aback by his outburst. “Mr. Darcy,” she said, a teasing but uncertain lilt in her voice, “you are teasing me. You know Hollydale House is mine.”
He stared at her, clearly still agog. “I—I did not know. I thought it was your father’s.”
Before anyone else could react, Mr. Bennet seized the moment. “You proposed to my daughter, and you did not know she was an heiress?”
Mr. Darcy, still appearing dazed, simply shook his head. The room erupted into laughter—except for Elizabeth, who thoughtshe might cry. She touched Mr. Darcy’s arm and looked up into his face. “You truly did not know?”
His cheeks were quite ruddy now. “You must think me quite the fool.”
She could feel the tears coming now. “Not at all, Mr. Darcy.”
His brows pinched together in confusion.
“You wanted me more than you wanted anything I could bring to the marriage.” She blinked the tears back. “I think you quite the best man I have ever met.”
Her mother, who had been caught up in the laughter, clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “We must have a toast!” she exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement.
“I believe I have my orders,” Papa said. He called Mr. Riggs in to pour drinks for everyone, and soon the entire family was holding a glass, even the youngest Gardiner children, who held small cups filled with more water than wine. Mr. Bennet raised his drink, his voice carrying warmth and affection as he spoke. “To Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy,” he said.
The room echoed with the clinking of glasses, and Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy exchanged a smile.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The grounds of Hollydale stretched before them, blanketed in a soft layer of pristine snow. The muffled quiet of the winter landscape lent the estate an almost ethereal beauty. Darcy’s gaze swept over the familiar surroundings, now transformed into something enchanting as he walked with Miss Elizabeth at his side.
They walked arm in arm along the garden path, the air crisp and cold. The snow had been carefully cleared to allow their passage towards the garden, but Darcy hardly noticed. His attention was drawn entirely to Elizabeth and the quiet joy in her expression.
As they rounded a bend, the joyful shrieks of children at play reached their ears. In a small clearing, the Gardiner children were engaged in a vigorous snowball fight, Mr. Gardiner helping the youngest build his arsenal, and Mrs. Gardiner watching from a safe distance with an indulgent smile.
“It seems the Gardiners are enjoying themselves,” Darcy observed, a hint of amusement in his voice as he watched youngMaster Gardiner attempt to sneak up on his eldest sister with a particularly large snowball.
Elizabeth beamed. “Indeed, they are. Aunt Gardiner was absolutely thrilled when you invited them to Pemberley. She is anticipating spending Twelfth Night there, for she has been longing to see the estate in its winter glory for years.”
“It was a pleasant surprise to hear she had lived among us once. I knew of the Wrights, but I am afraid I never met them.”
“It is a funny thing that I was here several times as a child and never caught sight of you.”
“It is not so strange, as I was away at school during most of those years.”
She nodded, and they greeted her Aunt Gardiner, who said, “Your uncle is enjoying himself as much as his children are.”
Mr. Darcy smiled. “Do you think the children would enjoy coasting downhill on a sledge? We still have one somewhere at Pemberley.”
Aunt Gardiner’s expression revealed her alarm at such a notion. “Oh, I do thank you for the offer, Mr. Darcy, but—”
“They would love it!” Uncle Gardiner declared as he trotted up to join them. “We rarely have a deep enough snow to allow it, and where would they coast in London in any case?”
“But Edward—” Aunt Gardiner protested.
“I will remain with them, Meg,” he assured her. “Mr. Darcy, if your servants are able to locate your old sledge and there is still snow enough to use it, we will give it a try.”
Darcy chuckled. “I will ask then, but before I produce it, I would ask that you discuss it with your wife. I have no desire to be in her black books.”
Uncle Gardiner doffed his hat, sending a shower of snow to the ground, and took Aunt Gardiner’s arm. “Come, dearest, it is only a little snow. The children will convince you.”
“You are very good, seeing to the children’s entertainment,” Elizabeth said as she watched them go.
