“I am.” She stepped into the carriage.
Darcy gave the signal, and they were off, the carriage gathering speed away from Longbourn, away from Hertfordshire, toward London and safety.
Elizabeth sat upright, staring out the window as her childhood home receded into the distance. She clutched her reticule in her lap.
“Are you well?” he asked, wondering if he should take her hand.
“I do not know,” she admitted. “Ask me again when we reach London.”
They rode in silence for some time, the only sound the clatter of hooves and the creaking of the wheels.Then Elizabeth spoke again. “Mary knows what to do. By the time they discover I am gone, we will be...”
“Far away. Beyond their reach.”
“Do you think your aunt and uncle will agree to shelter me?”
“I sent an express to them during the supper dance, explaining the situation.” Darcy leant forward. “Miss Bennet—Elizabeth—I need you to understand. Once we reach London, you will be under the protection of the Fitzwilliam family. No one will force you to do anything against your will. If, when you reach your majority, you decide you do not wish to marry me after all, I will help you establish yourself in whatever life you choose. You are not trapped.”
Her brow arched. “That is kind of you, Mr. Darcy. But I have made my decision. I intend to honor our agreement.”
“Even so, I would have you know that you have the power of choice. Always.”
Elizabeth smiled, and in that smile, Darcy saw a glimpse of the woman she might become once freed from the constraints that had bound her.
“I believe you may be a better man than you give yourself credit for, Mr. Darcy.”
“I am trying to be the man you deserve.”
They fell silent again, but this time the silence was more restful, almost companionable. Elizabeth eventually leant her head against the side of the carriage, and her eyes closed.
Darcy watched her sleep, this woman who had turned his life upside down with nothing more than her wit, her spirit, and her fine eyes. In three weeks, he would havethe right to protect her, to cherish her, to spend every day of his life trying to make her happy. He had never wanted anything more.
When the wheels hit a rut in the road, Elizabeth was jolted against the side of the carriage. Before she could be thrown again, Darcy moved to sit beside her and drew her gently against him.
Momentarily, she stiffened. Then, still half-asleep, she softened against him with a small sigh. Her head dropped naturally onto his shoulder. She fit perfectly.
“Thank you,” she murmured, the words barely audible.
Darcy allowed himself a smile. “Sleep, Elizabeth. I have you.”
She did not answer—already yielding once more to slumber—but her hand found his coat and curled into the fabric, holding on.
The carriage rolled on through the morning. And for the first time in longer than he could remember, Fitzwilliam Darcy felt blessedly, completely content.
3
The household at Longbourn stirred to life toward midday. Mrs. Bennet was the first to wake, her voice echoing through the corridors as she called for Hill to bring her tea and toast. The night had been a triumph, she repeated to anyone within earshot, and she anticipated an even more glorious day ahead.
In her chamber, Mary Bennet lay awake, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she listened to the sounds of the house. She had not slept. How could she, knowing what Elizabeth had done? Knowing what she herself must do?
She dressed quickly, moving to her window. The sky was clear and bright, the kind of day that promised nothing but ordinary pleasures. How deceptive appearances could be.
She shook out her sister’s favorite walking dress—a practical green muslin, along with her pelisse and the bonnet Elizabeth wore on her rambles. Hanging them in the back of her wardrobe, she would wait.
She calmed herself and went down, where her mother already held court at the breakfast table, though only Jane and Kitty had joined her thus far.
“There you are, Mary!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “I was just telling your sisters what a success the evening was. Mr. Bingley danced with Jane twice! Twice! And Mr. Collins was most attentive to Lizzy. I declare, we shall have two weddings before the year is out!”
Mary took her seat and accepted tea from Hill. “Where is Lizzy?” she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
