“None of us would have dreamed that Mr Wickham was hiding another wife. It is not your fault.”
“Perhaps,” he said. He took her hand and covered it with both of his. Warmth of another kind flooded her, and Elizabeth found herself wishing that Stephans had stepped out of the room. Indeed, she wished they could be alone for the rest of the evening.
He leaned forward. Breathless, Elizabeth felt certain he would at last cross the distance and kiss her, when a gentle knock sounded on the door. Stephan walked across the room to answer it, reminding them of her presence. With a rueful look on his face, Mr Darcy retreated to a respectable distance.
Elizabeth tried not to let the annoyance show in her face. Had any bride ever had to wait so long for her first kiss from her husband?
Mr Darcy stood as the supper tray was brought to her bedside. “I will come and see you in the morning,” he said. “For now, eat and rest. Take good care of her, Stephans.”
“I will, sir,” she said.
“Do not forget to eat and rest, yourself,” Elizabeth called to him.
Mr Darcy smiled. “I shall,” he said, although she suspected it was an idle promise. Between dealing with the law, soothing the uproar in the household, and caring for various relatives in crisis, she suspected it might be little short of dawn before Mr Darcy could retire.
On impulse, Elizabeth threw a kiss to him from her bed, thrilled and not a little shocked at her own daring. He cast a last, longing glance at her from the door, his eyes filled with promise.
Chapter 31
“Are you sure you are well, ma’am?” Stephans said anxiously. “Mr Darcy said I was not to leave your side unless I was sure nothing was the matter.”
“Yes, Stephans, I am well,” Elizabeth replied. She looked at her maid through the mirror and smiled. Several days after the most terrifying events of her life, she was well and truly recovered. Though she had thought she might never thaw when she was waiting for her husband to find her, even the first morning after her ordeal had seen her much improved. A good night’s sleep tucked into several layers of blankets had done wonders for her.
Then, too, Elizabeth thought with a blush, Will had stayed by her bedside throughout the long night, keeping vigil.
“Very well, Mrs Darcy. I shall take this laundry downstairs, then return to help you dress.” Stephans curtsied, then left the room with the laundry over her arm.
Elizabeth slid her legs over the side of the bed and walked over to her writing desk. She opened her journal and began to write down all that had happened over the last few days.
∞∞∞
Things have finally settled down after the last few days of heartbreak. After Wickham’s accident, the constables were called in from Lambton. During the investigation, we told the authorities everything except the details of Wickham’s previous marriage. Whatever happens, that must remain a secret for Georgiana’s sake.
To everybody’s relief, Lady Catherine will not suffer any legal consequences for her role in Wickham’s death. After all, she was protecting Georgiana and me. After collecting all the testimony, the constables thankfully agreed that it was an accident, and one provoked as much by Wickham himself as by Lady Catherine. His own bad choices had created the perfect storm leading to his death. In the end, no charges were brought.
Thankfully, the revelations that led to that confrontation were kept entirely out of it. No one must ever know that Georgiana’s marriage was not legitimate, or she would be ruined. As for the previous Mrs Wickham, we can only hope that she has as clear a view of his character as we now have, and will not miss him too badly. In a pecuniary sense, she will be better off than before. Will sent her a letter containing an explanation of her husband’s death, if one missing more than a few salient facts, and enough money to start a new life.
Georgiana must find a new life for herself too, and under no less challenging circumstances. She is so very young, and the pain of witnessing her husband’s death and being utterly disillusioned as to his character has been very great. Wickham intended to get Georgiana away from Pemberley to maintain his leverage over her money, and he did not much care if I died in the woods if it was necessary to achieve his aims.
For better or for worse, Georgiana had already started to suspect he was not the man she had thought he was, even before discovering that their marriage was invalid and that Wickham would go so far as to kill for her fortune. Losing her husband has still been difficult for her, as it would have been for anyone. I have asked her to make Pemberley her home for as long as she wishes. I am glad to say that she has accepted the offer. If the Wickham’s visit was disastrous in some respects, it has at least reunited Will with a beloved sister, and introduced me to a very dear sister-in-law.
Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh have gone home to Rosings Park. They departed yesterday, and the house is now quiet, with the investigation over. I was a little sad to see them go, as I have grown quite fond of Lady Catherine, even with all her eccentricities. However, I will be glad not to have to manage her for a little while. Anne became very dear to me as well over the course of their visit, and I suspect her of hidden depths. Perhaps in years to come I will invite her here to Pemberley so we might get to know each other better.
Colonel Fitzwilliam also departed yesterday, as he went to see Lady Catherine and Anne back to Rosings, and then will continue to his regiment. He has been a great help to us and has become a close friend. I am beyond grateful that he was here during the holidays, and especially after the accident that changed our lives forever. Indeed, I will be most happy to have him here at Pemberley again as soon as his duties with the regiment allow.
I am hopeful that Pemberley will now be a more peaceful place. With everyone having left, save for dear Georgiana, I am looking forward to some much-needed time to get to know my husband…
∞∞∞
A knock sounded at the door. Putting her quill down, Elizabeth called out, inquiring who was there.
“It is me,” Mr Darcy said as he poked his head around the door. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth replied, closing her journal and standing from the desk.
Mr Darcy closed the door behind him and moved to meet her in the centre of the room. Trying to suppress a blush, Elizabeth realised they were and truly alone. She clasped her hands in front of her, suddenly at a loss for anything to say.
“I hope I am not interrupting?” To Elizabeth’s surprise, Mr Darcy seemed to be as nervous as she was.
