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“That is surprising.”

“Indeed, it turns out the little fellow has been spending time in the kitchen or elsewhere amongst the servants, who no doubt have been speculating about my cousin’s fate and her opinion she has some claim over me.”

“Oh dear! Were you able to put his mind at ease?”

“I hope so. I reminded him the two of you mean more to me than anything in the world. It is absolutely true, you know. I love you with all my heart. Nothing will ever come between us—ever again.”

In a bold display of “public” affection, Darcy graced Elizabeth’s lip with a passionate kiss. “I love you, Elizabeth.”

Richard happened upon a startling discovery when he entered Anne’s room the next morning. She sat in the window seat overlooking an expansive maze garden, her eyes flooded with tears. Richard’s approach from behind caught her unawares.

“Anne?”

“Oh, Richard, I have been such a fool!” she confessed, not bothering to turn and face him.

“Anne, how long have you been awake?”

“They are a family,” she spoke poignantly.

It had been enough said. “Yes, Anne, they are a family—never to be parted.”

“Whilst I stand here on the outside, looking in.”

“You know, Anne, it does not have to be that way.” Richard sat beside his cousin and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “You can always make amends.”

“After all the havoc I have wreaked upon Fitzwilliam’s life, I hardly know where to begin.”

Not long afterwards, Richard joined Darcy, Georgiana, and Elizabeth in the drawing room. He stood in the middle of the room and announced, “Anne is awake.”

Abruptly tossing his paper aside, Darcy jumped to his feet. “How long has she been conscious?”

“Anne has been awake for some time. I had a good long talk with her this morning,” he uttered.

“I must see her, at once,” Darcy proclaimed.

Richard raised his hand to halt his cousin’s progress. “And you will, in time. For now, she asks to speak privately with Mrs. Carlton.”

Darcy and Elizabeth glanced towards each other. Elizabeth smiled at him in reassurance, and then walked up the stairs to Anne’s apartment.

The mid-morning sun beamed through the crack in the shades, prompting Elizabeth to walk over to open the curtains as had been her habit each morning. Elizabeth did not know what she might expect and thus was surprised to see Anne sitting up in her bed. She was even more startled by Anne’s extended hand, silently beckoning Elizabeth to sit with her.

“I feel I owe you an apology, Mrs. Carlton,” Anne explained. “Cousin Richard tells me that you would be enjoying your wedding journey, if not for me.”

Elizabeth was not quite certain how to respond to what surely must have been the greatest change in sentiments she had ever witnessed. Perplexed, she responded tentatively, “You are correct. Mr. Darcy insisted on postponing our wedding until you recuperated. Are you saying you are reconciled to this fact?”

“Indeed. Some would say it is about time.”

“What has occurred to bring about this change of heart?”

“I had a long conversation with Cousin Richard. He spoke at length of the mayhem my stubborn persistence has hurled on our family. However, that alone was not the deciding factor.”

“Then what was, if I might ask?”

“It was you, Mrs. Carlton. You see, I have come to realise it was you who sat by my side for so many hours, read to me, cared for me. You demonstrated such selflessness when you could just as easily have exhibited scorn or derision towards me, as I surely meant to do towards you, or would have done if the situations were reversed.”

“How did you ascertain my part?” Elizabeth asked in a half-whisper.

“Does it matter?” Anne asked. “Suffice it to say, I have it on good authority.” Elizabeth then wondered whether Anne had feigned unconsciousness. Had she recovered sooner than was known by her nurse? The question would remain unasked.

Anne espied a glass of water on her bedside table. She attempted to prop herself up, so she might have a drink. Elizabeth reached for the glass and handed it to her, even held the glass in her grasp as she aided Anne in taking a sip.

Anne smiled in gratitude. “You see I do not begrudge my cousin his happiness one bit,” she continued. “I deluded myself far too long in believing he and I shared a future, despite his words to the contrary. I mistook his kindness for something more. He is a good man. He deserves more than the utter disregard for his feelings I have shown him these past years.”

Anne reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “He deserves happiness. I believe he has found that with you. Though I would never presume to think you two need my blessing, I wish to tell you that you have it.”