Page 17 of Missing

"Mr. Dalton, what did you say? I thought you…"

"I said I admire and love you, Miss Bennet.

I also want you to know that if you are willing to give me another opportunity, I shall do everything possible to earn your respect, affection, and admiration.

From the first day I saw you, I felt a passionate admiration and regard for you, and I promise that I shall never disappoint you again.

I have no doubt that I love you and that you are the only woman who can make me happy. "

Elizabeth could not believe what she was hearing. She had cried the last three nights, not knowing what would become of her life, convinced that William no longer wanted her. And now, he was declaring his love for her.

"Mr. Dalton…" Elizabeth said, smiling with excitement. "You know I love you and want to spend the rest of my life by your side."

"Dear Elizabeth, you cannot imagine how happy it makes me to hear that you love me. But before making any plans for the future, I need you to listen, for there is something significant you must know about my origin."

Elizabeth nodded and allowed William to speak without interrupting him.

"Only my closest family knows this secret that I shall now tell you.

My parents have always been proud of me and have loved me unconditionally.

But they always preferred to keep the truth of my origin hidden, for fear that other children and their families might think ill of me.

Elizabeth, I am adopted and do not know who my parents were.

" William preferred not to tell her how the Daltons had found him, for he disliked discussing that subject.

Besides, he did not think it necessary at that moment.

He wished to celebrate, not to dwell on his painful past.

"William, I did not know that, but I am glad you could find a family with the Daltons."

"I know I was fortunate. I have had the best parents any child could dream of, and that is why I have always tried to be the best son. But I want to be very clear with you: I have no idea who my real parents were, but I assume they were poor peasants."

"William, do you think that matters to me?"

"I shall not blame you if it makes you change your opinion of me. But if you accept me into your life, I want it to be with full knowledge of who I truly am. Because I love you, I cannot lie to you."

"Well, it is not important to me, my love.

You are William Dalton, a hard-working and honest man, the son of two exemplary parents who taught you to be who you are today.

" Elizabeth could not help but throw herself into her lover's arms, crying with emotion.

She felt so pleased and relieved to envision a future filled with love.

"My dear, please do not cry. It breaks my heart to see you unhappy. I do not want you to be sad anymore. Please do not worry about anything. I am here to care for you and protect you from everything and everyone," William said, kissing his beloved on the forehead.

"Oh, my dear William, do not worry, please. These are happy tears!" explained Elizabeth, kissing William's hand.

William was certain that no one could be happier than he was at that moment. Elizabeth had accepted him without reservation. She would not allow any social prejudice to separate them, and she was willing to face her family if necessary to be with him.

For several minutes, they embraced, whispering words of love. William swore more than once to his beloved Elizabeth that nothing and no one could separate them.

"We shall be together forever, we shall grow old together, and we shall be blessed with many children with your beautiful eyes," William said, full of emotion.

"Oh, William, I love you!"

After almost half an hour, William told Elizabeth he wished to meet her family and speak to her father. "My dear, I want to talk to Mr. Bennet and ask his permission to marry you. Do you think your father can receive me today?"

"Things are a bit hectic at my house; as you know, my sister is getting married in a few days.

But I do not want to wait any longer either, and I doubt my father is helping with any wedding preparations.

So I am sure he will have time to talk to you.

Besides, I can ask uncle Gardiner to intercede for us if necessary.

Come with me; I want to introduce you to my family.

" Elizabeth noticed William becoming solemn and added, smiling, "Do not tell me you are afraid of my mother and sisters? "

"Of course not, I am not afraid of your family, my dear Elizabeth. It is only that I am not skilled at talking to people I do not know well. But for you, I shall do everything possible to show my friendly side so your family has a good impression of me."

Elizabeth was overjoyed to see William striving to be a better man to please her. She hoped that Mr. Bingley's sisters had returned to Netherfield and would not be there to trouble her and William with impertinent questions and comments.

William offered his arm to Elizabeth and told her that his mother had convinced him to travel to Hertfordshire and fight for her love.

He also explained that he planned to stay several days at the inn in Meryton to be near her and settle everything with Mr. Bennet.

Although William did not tell Elizabeth, he feared her father might oppose their relationship.

But William would not leave her. He knew she would be twenty-one in six months, and he was willing to wait as long as it took to be with her.

When they entered the house, Elizabeth heard the voices of her mother and Jane in the drawing room and asked William to accompany her there. However, she could not help but feel nervous when she saw that Louisa and Caroline were still at Longbourn.

"Lizzy, where were you? I need you to help me with a few things because Madeline is busy with the children now," said Mrs. Bennet in her usual high-pitched voice. But when she saw Elizabeth accompanied by a tall and handsome gentleman, she immediately fell silent.

"Mother, do you remember Mrs. Violet Dalton?"

"Of course, a very kind lady and Madeline's favorite aunt," Mrs. Bennet replied, not understanding Elizabeth's question.

"Mother, this is William Dalton, Mrs. Dalton's son," Elizabeth explained.

"Oh, my dear Mr. Dalton, it is a pleasure to receive you in our home!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, welcoming him warmly.

Elizabeth introduced William to everyone present, and he greeted them formally.

Charles and Jane were kind, Louisa distant, but Caroline, for several seconds, did not know what to say.

That man was one of the most handsome she had seen in a long time, and she thought that if he were a wealthy heir, she would have fallen in love with him at first sight.

◆◆◆

Violet looked at the ragged clothes and the gold chain with a small medal bearing the letter F.

At first, she had preserved all those items in case the little boy's family ever decided to look for him.

Later, however, she chose to keep them as a memory of the day she found her son.

Although she had not given birth to William, he was her son, and nothing and no one could convince her otherwise.

She prayed that William would be able to settle all the misunderstandings with Elizabeth.

He was handsome, honorable, and had an established financial position that would allow him to provide a good life for his future wife and family.

But if, for whatever reason, Elizabeth failed to see that she and William were made for each other, Violet resolved to travel to Hertfordshire herself to persuade her to give William a chance.

She was willing to do anything for him, for he was an exemplary son and the heir to the Dalton name.

In another part of town, George Darcy reviewed the latest report sent by the Pemberley steward.

Everything was going remarkably well; the land and the associated businesses were prosperous.

Everyone thought his annual income amounted to ten thousand pounds, but for quite some time, it had been much more than that.

His investments and hard work had undoubtedly borne fruit.

Yet, despite having the best solicitors and advisors, he always feared what would happen to the empire he had built once he passed away.

Georgiana was young and innocent, and he was horrified by the thought that some scoundrel might seek to take advantage of her to gain access to her inheritance. The only comfort he found was in knowing that Richard and George Wickham would be there to protect her.

Still, he could not help but dwell on the past. His life would have been very different had his son not drowned in that river.

Mr. Darcy often imagined what his child would have been like had he lived.

More than once, he had dreamed that the boy had survived that dreadful accident and had been raised by another family, returning one day to Pemberley.

But if his son were alive, how would he recognize him?

And why, if he lived, had he never sought out his family?

He knew that the notion of little Fitzwilliam being alive was folly, yet that faint and impossible idea gave him some relief when grief overwhelmed him.

Alas, the hope that his lost son might one day return was nothing more than a dream, and George Darcy knew he did not have many years left.

He therefore needed to convince Richard to retire from the army and take over the Darcy estate until Georgiana married a worthy man who would help her manage her remarkable fortune.

◆◆◆

William was stunned by Mrs. Bennet's behaviour; he did not remember her, for they had probably met when he was still a boy. Yet the lady did not cease speaking of what a good child he had been.