Darcy pulled her closer, until barely a breath separated them.
"Then marry me.Let us do this right."His eyes searched hers, vulnerable as she'd never seen them."Let me show you every day how much I adore you."
Elizabeth nodded, crying and smiling until her face ached with it.
"Yes.Yes, I'll marry you."
Darcy kissed her then, gentle and reverent despite the desperation thrumming beneath.His lips moved against hers like a prayer, like worship, like coming home after years of wandering.When they broke apart, both breathing unsteadily, Elizabeth couldn't help but ask:
"Were you truly in rut?"
Color stained his cheeks above the stubble.
"Triggered by your heat, yes.I've never—it's never happened before."His thumb traced her cheekbone with infinite tenderness."You undo me completely, Elizabeth Bennet."
She smiled, feeling light enough to float.
"Good.You've undone me as well.It's only fair."
He kissed her again, and this time it held no desperation, no fear—only promise.Only future.Only them.
CHAPTERELEVEN
From her window at Longbourn,Elizabeth watched the sun climb over frost-silvered fields, its light transforming the familiar landscape into something altogether new—rather like herself, she supposed, on this morning of all mornings.
Soon, Elizabeth stood before the mirror while Jane's fingers worked through the buttons of her white dress, each tiny pearl sliding into place with a soft click.
"Are you nervous?"Jane's reflection met hers.
Elizabeth met her sister's gaze steadily in the glass."No.Only eager."
Her hand drifted to her throat, fingers tracing the unmarked skin.Tonight.The claiming mark would come tonight, but the marriage vows came first.Darcy had insisted on doing everything properly—church, witnesses, the blessing of both families.No more stolen moments in darkened chambers, no more shame or secrecy.
Yes, yes—she understood the necessity, valued the correctness of it all.The propriety deserved her gratitude, she supposed.Yet beneath that dutiful appreciation thrummed a restless hunger for the hours to pass.
The church overflowed with neighbors and relations, the Bennet family occupying the first rows while the Bingleys filled the opposite side.
And there, in the third row, sat Caroline Bingley.
Stiffened spine, pursed lips painted coral, gloved fingers gripped her prayer book until the leather creaked.The sourness on Caroline's face could have spoiled fruit.Elizabeth moved forward, each footfall closing the distance between herself and the gentleman Caroline had chased through countless seasons.Still, Caroline remained in her pew.She would see this through—would watch Darcy pledge himself to the woman she'd branded common, declared unsuitable, pronounced entirely unfit for a man of his breeding.
Supposedly, Lady Catherine had written a letter to Darcy.
Unfortunately, it had fallen into the fire.
Darcy waited at the altar, and his expression when he saw Elizabeth made her breath catch somewhere between her ribs.Love blazed in those dark eyes, mixed with desire, possessiveness, wonder—everything he'd hidden for so long now laid bare for all to see.His hand was perfectly steady when he took hers, though a slight tremor ran through him and into her at the contact.
They spoke the same vows that had bound couples for centuries.Nothing new in the words themselves.But Darcy's "I do"—oh, that she would treasure.Her own echo brought his fingers pressing into hers, his eyes aflame with one truth written plain:Mine.Finally mine.
Elizabeth had never heard anything so dear.
The wedding breakfast erupted into joyous chaos the moment they entered Longbourn.Mrs.Bennet alternated between tears and laughter, clutching anyone who would listen to exclaim about her clever Lizzy marrying ten thousand a year.Mr.Bennet surprised everyone with an emotional toast that had him clearing his throat repeatedly and adjusting his spectacles.
Jane beamed from her position beside Bingley, who clapped Darcy on the back with enthusiasm that would have toppled a smaller man.
"Darcy!Mrs.Darcy!I cannot stop smiling!Look at my face—it hurts from smiling!We're to be proper brothers now!Proper brothers!Jane, did you hear?Brothers!"
Darcy's response was characteristically dry—"Thank you, Charles"—but his eyes kept finding Elizabeth across the room, tracking her movements through the crowd.She felt his gaze like a physical touch, warm against her skin even from a distance.
