She reached up and combed her fingers through his hair. “I am surprised, but delighted!”
Darcy pulled her closer, enclosing her tightly within his arms. He pursed his lips as if pondering his next words, then asked, “Can I always expect you to defy my directives when I am away? Dare I ask how many times you have walked to Braedenthorn on your own?”
Elizabeth leaned her head against his shoulder. “My dear Fitzwilliam, this was truly the only time… save for the day two weeks ago when the weather was so pleasant. I can barely restrain myself when the sky is so blue and the air is so warm, for my condition shall soon keep me housebound!”
“Elizabeth!” Darcy exclaimed. “Braedenthorn is not a stroll; it is a three-mile hike! I will not allow it as long as you are carrying our child!” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Besides, you should not be walking about without an escort. If something happened to you…”
Elizabeth cupped his face with her hands and turned it toward her. She leaned in with a smile on her lips and a sparkle in her eyes and kissed him, rendering him silent. His arms tightened about her even more, and his hands pressed lightly against her back.
“Nothing has happened to me and nothing shall. It is a very easy walk, as you have declared many times yourself.”
“That was before…” Darcy looked down at her dress, which only had a barely discernable bulge. “What would have happened had you been too tired to return?”
Elizabeth laughed. “The Bingleys do have a very nice carriage that I am sure they would allow me to take. Although it is not as nice as yours…”
“Ours!” Darcy corrected her.
Elizabeth nodded her head and smiled. After a year of marriage she still had a difficult time believing all this was hers. “Ours.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. “I regret causing you concern. I had such a longing to see little Annabeth. She is now just beginning to smile.”
“From now on you take the carriage. Do you promise?” he asked, wanting reassurance.
Elizabeth breathed in deeply. “Yes, I promise.” She fingered the collar on her husband’s coat. “Tell me, how was your time in London?”
“All transpired well. Fortunately there were no surprises.” He leaned over and kissed the top of Elizabeth’s head. “You will not believe who I came upon while stopping in at my solicitor’s office.”
“Who?” Elizabeth asked.
“Mr. and Mrs. Willstone and Emily.”
Elizabeth pulled back in surprise to study her husband’s face. “And how were they?” she asked.
“They are all doing well. Emily is about to have a new brother or sister. She has grown considerably. I am told that Miss Matthews has a strong attachment to a young man from Bristol.”
“Truly? Was the meeting between you awkward? Did you sense any ill feelings?”
“I felt awkward at first, not knowing how they perceived me. I did apologize, however, for the misunderstanding and hoped they would understand.”
“And?”
Darcy grasped Elizabeth’s hand and brought it to his lips. “Mrs. Willstone was very gracious and attributed my actions to secure your regard as romantic in the least. They expressed a wish to dine with us when we come to Town for the season.”
“I should like that very much. I so look forward to seeing Emily again.”
“As she also wishes to see you.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Any other news?”
“Your aunt and uncle are well. Kitty is doing much better living with them and caring for the children. Since Mary wed Reverend Flourand and moved to Birmingham, Kitty found living with the Wickhams and your mother not especially palatable.”
A twinkle appeared in Elizabeth’s eyes, and she grasped Darcy’s coat sleeve, giving it a tug. “We must introduce her to someone.”
Darcy looked down with a sly grin. When he looked up, he said, “I already have.”
“You have? Who?” Elizabeth asked with eager, yet incredulous interest.
“Hamilton was with me when I stopped by to visit them. He was in port for a few weeks. He certainly had a captive audience in Kitty, who laughed at every one of his jokes and who was enthralled by his stories of being at sea.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “But certainly he cannot afford to marry someone like Kitty. She has nothing to contribute to the marriage.”
“I am not saying that they will, but Hamilton will do well in the navy, and he does have a fairly substantial inheritance. He merely likes people to
“He is a good man. I think they would be good for each other.” Elizabeth bit her lip as she pondered whether to ask her next question.
“Go ahead and ask,” Darcy said. “I know you want to know.”
“Has there been any news of Wickham’s whereabouts?” Elizabeth asked, fearful of the answer.
“None. Your aunt said that Lydia is convinced he will return shortly and she most likely will take him back.” Darcy paused, his face clouding over. “But if he returns and the creditors come looking for him, his steward will send him packing.”
Elizabeth let out a melancholy sigh and again rested her head against her husband’s shoulder. There was nothing she could do to stave off the heartache that Wickham might inflict on her family. She knew, however, she could trust the measures her husband had taken in providing for Lydia and her mother in the event of Wickham behaving as they strongly suspected he might.
“Oooh!” Elizabeth suddenly exclaimed, jolting up out of her serenity. She lifted her head and placed her hand across her waist. “Butterflies!”
Darcy shook his head, looking from her to the area around them. “I see no butterflies, Elizabeth.”
“No, I felt them! That is how Jane described the first indications of movement! It is as if there is a butterfly fluttering about inside!”
Darcy placed his hand in the same area. “You felt the baby? Can I feel it?”
“I do not think you will be able to now. In due time, though, the poking arms and kicking legs will be sufficiently strong for you to detect.” She giggled and said, “There it is again.”
Darcy let out a deep sigh of contentment. Still holding Elizabeth on his lap and keeping his hand firmly against her stomach, he leaned his head against hers. “Do you mind if we stay up here a little while longer?”
Elizabeth tilted her head up and kissed the tip of his chin. Very softly Elizabeth whispered, “I will stay here with you as long as you wish—forever, if that is your bidding.”
Darcy looked down at her, his eyes piercing through to her very soul. His fingers went up and gently stroked her face, and she leaned into them, keeping her eyes upon him. He loved her. He loved her eyes. They had transfixed him ever since the very first time he saw her. They still had the power to stir him. Very gently he pulled her face closer and claimed her lips with his. Their kiss deepened, evidence of the ever-growing love they each had for the other. Their embrace tightened as if to ensure nothing would ever come between them.
Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy would never take their love for granted. They were far too mindful of the fact that had either one not given the other a second chance, their lives would now be dramatically altered. Instead of the abiding love that filled them, they would be consumed with something else… something far more unbearable than regret.
The End
I wish to thank Mary Anne Hinz, who has been a great help to me in initially editing each one of my books. I appreciate her and thank her immensely. She does a great job!
I certainly must thank Jane Austen, to whom I owe all my inspiration, and who gave us her original story and all the wonderful characters that continue to touch the hearts of people today.
