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"Thank you," he said.

He did not extend an offer of a visit to the Wickhams. He would not allow George Wickham in his home, and he was sure Elizabeth would understand that she would have to visit her sister in Newcastle, or see her when she visited her mother, as that man would never be allowed across his threshold.

And then he rode harder than he'd ridden in his life.

He rode back home, back to his beloved Pemberley, back to his Elizabeth.

◆◆◆

The sound of hooves tearing up the path made Elizabeth run to the window.

When she saw the rider coming at great speed, her heart raced. Was it a messenger with bad news? Something about Lydia…or something that had happened to Darcy?

Her mouth went dry and she put a hand to her chest, as if she could slow the erratic beating of her heart.

And then she saw who the rider was.

Darcy.

Without thinking, she raced down the stairs, not bothering to grab her cloak, and out of the door. She met him on the driveway with his horse kicking up dust around them.

He jumped from the horse, his eyes bright, a smile taking over his face, and in two strides, he was before her. And he took her in his arms and kissed her as if he never wanted to let go.

"You are well," she said breathlessly when they pulled apart. "Wickham did not fight you. The measles did not catch up to you."

"I am well," Darcy said. "I have missed you, but I am well."

She didn't even think to ask about Lydia, such was her excitement at seeing him again.

"It is done," he said. "I hope she will be happy. But your sister is married to Wickham and they are off to Newcastle via Longbourn. He will have a commission and she will be a respectable woman."

Elizabeth gasped. "I can't believe you managed that."

He smiled. "I'll tell you all the details later. Suffice to say, your sister is very happy and I hope she remains so. Wickham... Well, perhaps he has got what he deserved. But for now, I am just pleased to be home," he said, taking Elizabeth's hand and leading her inside as the groom ran out to take the horse. "She has ridden hard, Holmes, so make sure she's well looked after. And Georgiana, she is still well?" he asked.

Elizabeth nodded. "Oh yes. Stronger every day. We've been out walking, taken tea. I think she is past all concern."

"Good," Darcy said with a sigh. "I have worried about her. And I have missed you," he said.

And then he stopped right there in the hallway of Pemberley, where anyone could happen across them, and took her face in his hands and kissed her once again.

"I love you, Elizabeth."

And she said, "I love you too, Darcy. Fitzwilliam… I love you."

His eyes widened with joy.

And he kissed her once more, with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close, never wanting to be parted from him. She had married him to save her family, but she had fallen in love with him along the way.

However she’d got there, Elizabeth knew that Pemberley, with Darcy, was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Epilogue

Eighteen months later

The sun was high in the sky, and Elizabeth Darcy and Jane Bingley lay back on the picnic blankets, enjoying the last of the summer heat.