Page 39 of Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

March 1820

Pemberley Estate

Derbyshire

Darcy

Thank you for settling the affairs for me regarding Sedgwick House. I was pleased with it when I saw it a few weeks ago, as you know. It will do well for my family.

We shall be in Derbyshire before the end of this month. Look for us.

CB

Darcy sat back, very pleased and anticipatory of the Bingleys coming to live permanently in a house not five miles from Pemberley. He truly couldn't imagine a better situation to have arisen. Sedgwick House was a surprise, considering how much larger it was than Netherfield, but Darcy supposed Bingley was thinking forward to the future, of having more children and all. He didn't really consider it for long though, as he started to imagine calling on Elizabeth there and inviting them to dine at Pemberley. He wasn't sure how long it would take, but he would court her again.

He wanted Elizabeth—no, he needed Elizabeth.

He hoped that she might return his affections. She didn't so many years ago, but things had changed between them with the passage of time. He felt she understood him better now.

So he penned a brief reply to his friend and sent it off. Then he relaxed in his chair behind his desk, letting his imagination bring to mind the long-missed vision of Elizabeth Bennet in Derbyshire once again.