He took both her hands in his. "Elizabeth, please tell me what is troubling you."
She looked down at their joined hands and said not a word for long moments. Finally, she spoke. “Lydia has proven herself to be so brazen and unconcerned about what is proper and respectable. I apologize for exposing you and your sister to such impropriety. I realize the situation could have easily spun out of control and caused embarrassment to you and your family. I would never have forgiven myself should that have happened.”
As she spoke, Elizabeth only met his eyes once, very briefly. For the most part, her gaze did not rise much higher than his chin. And now she had lowered her head again. Darcy looked at her chestnut curls and what little he could see of her face. He hated that she felt responsible for her sister's conduct. Miss Lydia was indeed shockingly lacking in principles, but the fault lay with her parents, not Elizabeth.
"Thank you, Elizabeth," he said gently. "I appreciate your concern for my family."
Darcy wondered what else was on her heart. He remained quiet, hoping she would reveal more to him.
Elizabeth knew she could no longer ignore reality. She had thought her own words and actions were what defined her, but that was only true up to a point. Her family also had the power to define her when they courted scandal the way Lydia had. It was time to stop pretending that she could avoid being lumped in together with them. It was also time to bare her soul to the man she loved. He had given her so much of himself. He deserved to know the truth about her deepest fears and shame.
She raised her eyes to his. "I have tried for so long to stand apart from my family, but clearly I cannot. I always feared no gentleman of worth would take the trouble to see my own worth because of my family. But you did take the trouble. You were willing to see past everything. The day you told me of your feelings, I treasured every word you said, but I also feared that one day my family would cause you to think less of me. I cannot bear to lose your respect, Fitzwilliam. And with my family teetering on the brink of ruin, I do not feel I have a right to hold you to the promises you have made me."
“Elizabeth, you will never lose my respect. I greatly esteem you," he declared, cupping her cheek. "It does not matter what your family does because I seeyou,Elizabeth. From the beginning of our acquaintance, I have seenyou.Your family has never obscured your worth or how brightly you shine. And should your sister’s behavior become known, you and I will face it together.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall.
“Are you sure, Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth asked with a watery voice. It felt as if she had a lump in her throat that was making it difficult to speak.
He took out his handkerchief and wiped her tears.
“I am absolutely sure. I would never part with you over something like this. I love you, Elizabeth,” he said with certainty in every word.
She thought her heart might burst at his declaration. “I love you. I love you so much. I was so worried that my family would ruin everything between us.”
"No. No, my love. I will not allow anything to come between us, not even your family! My love for you is an ever-fixèd mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken," he said, looking into her eyes.
Hearing him assure her of his love by quoting her favorite sonnet melted Elizabeth's heart and caused more tears to fall.
“Oh, Fitzwilliam!” Elizabeth said, fresh tears making it difficult to see him clearly.
"The best thing I ever did was to allow you to see me too. Keeping myself separate from people was no way to live. And had I continued to do so, I would have missed out on you."
Elizabeth closed her eyes at his words and squeezed his hands in her own.
He wiped her tears again, then lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them. He smiled at her lovingly, then said, “Your uncle may insist on knowing what I have said to make you cry so.”
She laughed. “I shall make certain he finds no fault with you.”
“Thank you,” Fitzwilliam said, giving her another smile. He stood up, then the next thing she knew, he was kneeling before her!
Elizabeth gasped and put her hand to her chest. Her heart was racing.He is going to—!
Fitzwilliam reached for her hand and held it.
“Elizabeth, I never thought I would find someone so perfect for me. Before I met you, I was incomplete, but you have made me whole. I love you more and more each day, and I want to give you my name so that everyone will know you are mine. Ipromise, your happiness will be my priority. You and I know the recipe for an ideal marriage, do we not?” Fitzwilliam asked with a smile.
Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, we do.”
“You are my everything, Elizabeth. Please, my love, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Yes!"
A huge smile appeared on his face. He stood, pulled Elizabeth to her feet, and into his arms. She was overflowing with happiness. Fitzwilliam loved her! He wanted her to be his wife! They held each other tightly. It felt so good to be in his arms. With his scent and his warmth surrounding her, Elizabeth was right where she wanted to be.
Pulling back a bit from the embrace, Darcy looked deeply into her eyes. His gaze flickered to her lips. Darcy slid his hand to her nape, then slowly lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her gently, lingeringly. Then, finally, he drew back, keeping her close.
“I shall be thankful every day of my life that I journeyed into Hertfordshire.”
