“I know it is her.Kitty told me.”
“Kitty?”
“Yes.Miss Darcy showed Kitty her mark, and when she saw mine this morning, she told me they were a match.”
Elizabeth sank onto a chair.“Oh, dear.”She was thrilled Claude would be in her close family.He was great fun, and probably just the sort to coax Georgiana out of her shell.But Fitzwilliam would be horrid to him, as he would be to anyone who wished to court his sister.
“What do you think I should do?”he asked.
“There is nothing you can do.She is not yet out.You only just returned from your tour.Neither of you are particularly ready for marriage.”
Claude laughed ruefully.“No, not particularly.I never thought to marry at three and twenty.”
“Just because you have met your soulmate does not mean you must wed immediately.”
“Does anyone ever wait longer than six months?”
“I have never heard of it, but I am sure it happens sometimes.”
Claude scoffed.
“Let us do this,” she suggested.“You go on to your estate as planned and settle in there.I will invite you to Pemberley this summer for our house party.You will be able to get to know Georgiana then and hopefully win over Fitzwilliam.”
“He will be awful, won’t he?”
“Yes.”
Claude groaned.
“I’m certain we can find a way.”
Claude sank into a chair and dropped his head into his hands.
Elizabeth rubbed his back and said, “This is a good thing, cousin.Just think!You do not have to search for your soulmate like your father and grandfather did.You know exactly where she is.You need only wait a little while.”
He took a deep breath.“I will try to see it your way, Lizzy.”
“All will be well.You’ll see.”
Darcy appeared in the doorway.“Elizabeth, everyone has gathered to see us off.Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, I am ready.”
She kissed Claude on the cheek and squeezed his hand, then went to join her husband.They walked out to the front of Netherfield where their families had gathered to wish them well.
She kissed her parents and her sisters, said goodbye to her neighbors, and let Darcy hand her into the carriage.As they rolled away from Netherfield, she could not help but think that she had almost missed this.
“What are you thinking?”asked Darcy.
“That I am glad I decided to get a soul mark.I would not have found you otherwise.”
He took up her hand and kissed it.“I would have found you regardless.I have to believe that.”
“Yes, but would you have been happy to fall in love with the daughter of a small country estate?Would you have accepted me so freely if it were not for the mark?”
Darcy could only stare at her, for she was right.He would have struggled and fought the connection.“I have to believe my heart would have prevailed in the end.”He kissed her hand again.“I could not live without you, Elizabeth.Mark or no mark.”
She smiled softly at him and leaned into his chest.“Nor I you, Fitzwilliam.”
