Page 111 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“I have no wish to deny it. I had, and all my plans were successful,” her husband admitted.

“Aaa yes, that Wickham fellow, the favourite of your mother and youngest sisters. What an entertaining storyteller he was. Do you know what happened to him?” Mr. Bennet asked.

“When I last heard of him, two years ago, he had been discharged from the Militia because of his debts. It seems he owed his fellow officers and many other creditors over seven thousand pounds. It appears he was somewhere in the North, but I have no further knowledge of him,” Mr. Johnson replied.

“Well, I really do not care much about him. I wonder if dinner is ready?” Mr. Bennet enquired.

“It is, Papa. It has been for a while now, and I have come to fetch you. Georgiana, Jane, Charles and Mama are already there. The rest are still in their rooms, but they should be ready soon, too.”

“I will put Bennet in the nursery and join you soon,” Cece said, taking her son from Elizabeth, and leaving the room followed by the two gentlemen.

“Bennet and Bennet,” Elizabeth’s father mused with his usual mockery.

Elizabeth and Darcy remained behind for only another moment. One just for them alone. He took her hands in his and kissed them tenderly. Then he caressed her face and claimed a gentle kiss, as a sweet promise for later, in the privacy of their apartment.

In the dining room, everyone was already settled around the table, waiting for the master and mistress. Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the head of the table, and he was expected to sit at the opposite end.

Before she sat, he whispered to her, just as he had done five years ago, on their wedding night, his words covered by the joyful, loud voices.

“The mistress of my all...”

Book One: The End