Chapter 1
The carriage moved steadily, the horses’ steps barely perceptible above the howling wind. It was a cold, cloudy day in early November, while inside the carriage, all was warmth and joy.
Sitting beside Mr Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy glanced at his beloved Miss Elizabeth, facing him from the opposite bench. Beside her sat Miss Bennet and, by her side, the ever-smiling and amiable Charles Bingley.
After months of distress, Mr Darcy’s life was complete. Delight replaced torment, love took the place of frustration, and past restraint turned into the happy anticipation of a blissful and passionate future. Elizabeth was with him where she belonged and where she generously agreed to be after he proposed a second time.
She forgave his ridiculous pride, his laughable arrogance, and his ungenerous intervention in separating Mr Bingley from Miss Bennet.
Eventually, all was well. Fate had given him a second chance, one he embraced tightly, careful not to lose it again.
He had been engaged to Elizabeth for over a month, as was Bingley to Miss Bennet. It was a time of utter happiness, the beginning of the rest of his life.
Lost in his thoughts, Darcy looked at Elizabeth and met her wondering gaze. He smiled, and her eyes laughed back at him while she bit her lower lip in a gesture that aroused his senses: those lips he had tasted countless times during solitary country walks, those eyes that had captured his attention—and then his admiration—almost from the beginning of their acquaintance.
He first intended to procure a special licence and marry as soon as possible. However, after talking to Elizabeth, he decided they should have a proper engagement to enjoy, discover, and become accustomed to each other while avoiding speculation about a hasty marriage. The Bennets had suffered enough from the gossip aroused by George Wickham’s elopement with their youngest, Lydia; they had to behave appropriately to avoid further distress. Even more, the engagement was a good time for Elizabeth to spend with her family—especially with her father and Jane—as they would leave for Pemberley after the wedding and likely remain for several months. He selfishly allowed her more time with her family now so he could have her all to himself later. And she gladly approved his plan—through kisses and smiles of delight.
“What a perfect coincidence that you had to travel to London, Mr Bennet,” Bingley said. “I believe it was an excellent idea for Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth to join you.”
“I am sureyouthink so,” Mr Bennet answered with his usual false candour hiding his sarcasm that Bingley failed to perceive. “As I do not wish to begin our relationship with deception, I must admit I could have postponed my business with Mr Gardiner for a while. However, I could not bear to hear more about visits with or to Mrs Phillips, the Lucases, and all the other four and twenty families in Meryton congratulating us for the coming happy events. Your engagements signalled the end of my peace of mind and tranquillity. so escaping to town—which I rather dislike—was my only salvation.”
Elizabeth scolded him affectionately. “Come, Papa, you are too harsh with our friends and relatives.”
“Undoubtedly, although you are not allowed to speak so, young lady, as you intend to leave your poor father.”
“But, Papa, you should be happy that you will always have an escape if you ever require one again. You may visit us whenever you like,” Elizabeth continued in jest.
“Indeed, sir, whenever you like,” Darcy added, and Mr Bennet turned to him.
“The prospect of your libraries was among the strongest motives for giving my blessing to your marriage,” Mr Bennet replied, half-serious, half-joking in his usual way.
“That, and because Mama would have gladly made herself a widow otherwise.” Elizabeth laughed again, joined by the others as Mr Bennet sighed and shook his head at such a true statement.
Their conversation continued in the same manner, moving from one subject to another with perfect ease, familiarity, and affection.
Mr Bennet had come to know and appreciate both his future sons-in-law. Moreover, his opinion of Darcy improved with every moment they spent together, and the feeling was mutual. Darcy learned to accept the elderly gentleman’s wit—not with the same delight as Elizabeth’s teasing, but with equal ease. While Bingley usually spent his time at Longbourn with the ladies—never leaving Jane’s side—Darcy divided his time between strolls with Elizabeth and long talks with her father. Both activities made Elizabeth happy, and her pleasure was the reward he sought.
The journey passed pleasantly, and they reached London in the early afternoon. The first stop was in Gracechurch Street, where the Gardiners received them with such warm greetings that the two young gentlemen remained for a couple of hours.
“Tomorrow, I shall talk to my solicitor about Mr Bennet’s situation. Perhaps he may have some advice,” Darcy said to Mr Gardiner as the gentlemen enjoyed a drink. “Mr Talbot has been in our service for over thirty years and has always proved worthy of our trust. His sons—all three of them—are equally diligent and reliable in their duties. I have not yet required anything from the Talbots that was unsuccessfully accomplished.”
“Very well then,” Mr Bennet answered. “Considering Lydia’s marriage, I want to be certain Wickham will never be able to acquire more than he deserves.”
“Sir, you should not worry about Wickham,” Darcy responded hesitantly.” I shall keep him under close observation.”
Mr Bennet dismissed him with a gesture. “You have wasted enough of your fortune and time on Wickham, and I shall never be able to repay your generosity. It is finally time for me to stop being lazy and careless and to put my life in order. I must avoid any such unfortunate circumstances in the future.”
“As you wish, sir.” Darcy ended a conversation that was unpleasant for all. “Would it be convenient for all of you to have dinner at my house tomorrow? I know it is short notice, but we are family now; hopefully, a formal invitation is unnecessary.”
“Tomorrow evening would be perfect,” Mr Bennet replied, and Mr Gardiner readily agreed. “Now, let us return to the ladies. I can see that Bingley has only tentative control of his patience, and I suspect Darcy has similar feelings.”
The visit with the Gardiners added more to Darcy’s contentment. He appreciated them from the first moment they met at Pemberley. Their acquaintance strengthened in the following weeks as they searched for Wickham and Lydia.
During the carriage ride to the other side of town, as Bingley chatted joyfully, Darcy realised that, while his relationships with Elizabeth’s relatives had improved, he was increasingly distressed at the notion of talking to his own relatives. And yet, the problem needed to be solved—without delay.
“I must stop and talk to the Matlocks,” he suddenly told Bingley. “I shall walk home from there so you can send the carriage to my house once you get home.”
“Very well…but you do not seem too happy at the prospect. I imagine you expect opposition to your betrothal.”
