“That is Wickham all right,” said Fitzwilliam, no small measure of disdain seeping into his voice. “Wickham has always been far too impressed with his abilities. That, as much as anything, has ensured his downfall tonight.”
“What happened outside?” pressed Mrs. Bennet. “Thus far, you have said nothing about Elizabeth’s escape.”
“There is not much to say, Mama,” replied Elizabeth. “When we exited the house, Mr. Wickham tried to take me to a horse waiting nearby, but before he could, the approach of Lord Matlock’s carriage distracted him. I used the opportunity to knock the pistol out of his hand and flee.”
The way Mrs. Bennet’s eyes widened to prodigious proportions, the company might have laughed in other circumstances. The mood was so grave that it drew nothing more than a snort from Mr. Bennet.
“Elizabeth Louise Darcy!” cried her mother when she recovered from the shock. “You struck a man holding a weapon? He might have killed you!”
“I think, my dear,” said Bennet, taking his wife’s hand in calm support, “that Elizabeth’s bravery prevented an even greater tragedy. There is no telling what that scoundrel might have done to her had he taken her away.”
“No telling at all,” said Fitzwilliam, his manner deadly serious. “Wickham wanted ransom, of course, but I would not trust him to restrain himself.”
“There is no need to consider such gloomy subjects,” said Mr. Bennet, inserting himself in the discussion, resolved to end it. “Elizabeth freed herself, so that must be the end of the matter. Getting lost in what if is a dangerous prospect, prone to far too much fancy.”
“With that, I must agree, Mr. Bennet,” said Lord Matlock. “The most important factor of this affair is that Wickham is now in custody and his schemes are at an end. There is no needto remain confined to the house. Unless I have heard awry, the freedom to explore Pemberley to her heart’s content will be agreeable to Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth recovered enough to respond to his lordship’s tease. “At first light, Lord Matlock. If my husband wishes to accompany me, he may come, but I shall explore Pemberley like I should have the moment we arrived.”
“Excellent, Mrs. Darcy,” replied Lord Matlock. “I think the estate will welcome someone who will appreciate her as she deserves.”
With the formal discussion at an end, the company fell into private conversations with those nearby, the younger girls in a group together, Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Darcy nearby watching over them, with Bingley, Miss Bingley, and Jane in another tight group. Lord Matlock stood with Fitzwilliam and Bennet, no doubt discussing next steps surrounding Wickham. In other circumstances, Darcy might have joined them, but Elizabeth needed him more than he needed to be part of those discussions. No one in the room did anything other than smile with indulgence at the impropriety of Darcy gathering Elizabeth close to his breast, imparting comfort and a sense of closure. Never again would they fear the actions of George Wickham against them.
“It truly is over,” breathed Elizabeth as she settled in next to him.
“All but the consequences,” agreed Darcy.
A strange hesitancy settled over Darcy as he considered the events of the night, how close he had come to Wickham taking her away from him, the uncertainty and desperate terror he knew would have been his companion every waking moment if he had succeeded. The nightmares he would have suffered, phantasms he knew with certainty he and Elizabeth would suffer in the coming months. Then the need to clarify his actions welledup within him, and the words spilled out before he could contain them.
“Elizabeth . . .” murmured Darcy. “I . . . want you to know . . .”
Sensing his distress, Elizabeth pulled away and looked up at him, curiosity mixed with concern. “What is it, William?”
Taking in a deep breath, Darcy said: “To let you walk out of that room with him was the most difficult thing I have ever done.
Elizabeth understood him at once. “William,” chided she, “I never doubted that. Had we not done what he instructed, one of us would have died.”
Courage failed, and Elizabeth looked away. “I was terrified he would choose to kill you as he said he would.”
“As I was terrified for you,” said Darcy, marveling at how well this rare and precious woman already understood him.
“There was nothing we could do, no other option.” Elizabeth looked back at him, an expression of infinite tenderness shining from her brilliant eyes. “Do not second-guess our decision, William. We did what we must when there was no other decision to make. I have no desire to consider what might have happened. Let us be grateful for whatdidhappen.”
Darcy drew her in close again, listening to her soft sigh as she settled in so close that not even a whisper could fit between them. “I have been blessed with a wise and beautiful wife. Let us live by your maxim, for I do not wish to always allow the past to rule us.”
“If you please,” said the earl, bringing the company’s attention to him, though it was clear he was speaking to Darcy and Elizabeth, “there is another matter of which we must speak. I did not think to mention this in the moment’s urgency, but my wife and Anne will join us at Pemberley, perhaps as early as tomorrow.”
Elizabeth straightened, the courage for which she was renowned again coming to the fore. “Of course, Lord Matlock. It will please us to host them.”
The earl nodded and thanked Elizabeth, though he added: “I know that Anne has made little attempt to know you better, and it may be awkward to host her in a house over which she thought she would preside as its mistress. Thank you for your forbearance, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Not at all,” said Elizabeth. “Once Anne might have thought she would be the mistress of Pemberley, but she has never tried to make me feel uncomfortable now that I hold that position. I have no hesitation at all about welcoming her here.”
Grateful though he was, the earl did not make any further fuss over the matter, which was, as Elizabeth said, a small one. The hour was late, and Darcy knew the family would soon return to their bedchambers for the night. The thought that the bedchamber might now carry adverse connotations occurred to Darcy, but he resolved to push it aside. It was their home, and he was not about to allow George Wickham to taint what was theirs.
“I would like to return to our rooms, William,” said Elizabeth, proving she was in tune with his thoughts.
“My thoughts were the same,” agreed Darcy.
