Page 15 of Darcy's Disguise (The Bennet and Darcy Chronicles #3)

EPILOGUE

T he night air wascool and crisp, the vast expanse ofPemberley’s gardens stretching out before Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, bathed in silver moonlight.

Elizabeth stoodbeside Darcy on the veranda, hands resting lightly on the railing, her gaze lifted to theinfinite stretch of stars above them.

The wedding celebration had ended.

The house was quiet now.

And for the first time since their wedding that morning—they were alone.

Darcy sighedcontentedly, his arm wrappingnaturallyaround her waist, pulling her just a little closer.

Elizabeth let herselflean into him, resting her head against his shoulder. "Well, Mr. Darcy," she murmured,a smile curving her lips, "I must say, today has been a rather eventful day."

Darcyhuffed a quiet laugh, tilting his head slightly toward hers.

"Indeed, Mrs. Darcy," he murmured,the warmth in his voice undeniable."Though I must admit, I found the events quite to my liking."

Elizabethsmiled, closing her eyes for a moment,breathing him in.

Mrs. Darcy .

She would never tire of hearing it.

"It was a beautiful ceremony," she said softly, tracing small patterns on his sleeve.

Darcy nodded. "It was."

"And Jane," Elizabeth continued, tilting her head to look up at him,her eyes bright with joy, "I have never seen her so happy."

Darcy’s lipstwitched into a smirk. "Bingley has barely stopped smiling since the moment he arrived at Pemberley," he said,his tone amused."I suspect he will still be grinning when their own wedding day arrives."

Elizabethlaughed, the sound light andfree. "How wonderful it is," she mused, "that everything has turned out so well."

Darcyturned slightly, looking at her more fully now. "Did you ever doubt it?" he asked,his voice low and teasing.

Elizabeth lifted a brow. "Mr. Darcy," she saidarchly, "I have spentmost of our acquaintancedoubting everything about you."

Darcychuckled, shaking his head. "And now?" he asked softly.

Elizabeth smiled, reaching up tocup his face gently. "Now," she whispered, "I cannot imagine my life without you. You are the most trustworthy man of my acquaintance." She grinned. “And the most handsome.”

Darcyexhaled slowly, his hands sliding around her waist, pulling her flush against him. "Good," he murmured,his voice thick with something unspoken.

Then he kissed her.

When he pulled away,Elizabeth was breathless. "I must say," she mused,her voice teasing, "I am very fortunate to have married such a capable tutor."

Darcy arched a brow.

Elizabethgiggled."Why, sir, you taught me quite a lot, if you recall."

Darcychuckled, pressing a soft kiss toher temple. "And yet," he murmured against her skin, "I suspect I was the one being taught, in the end."

"That is entirely true," she said smugly.

Darcyshook his head beforecapturing her lips again.

This kiss wasslower, deeper—full of all the things they could finally say, now that there were no more doubts, no more secrets, no more distance.

Only them.

Only forever.

As the night stretched on, Elizabeth and Darcy remained on the veranda,wrapped in each other’s warmth, speaking of everything and nothing.

They spoke of theirfuture, of Pemberley, of laughter-filled dinners and long morning rides.

They spoke ofJane and Bingley, of thehappiness that surrounded them.

And as the starsshimmered above them, as Darcypressed one last kiss against her brow before they retired,

Elizabeth knew she was home.

And she was loved.

Andnothing had ever been more right.

The end until next time…