Page 123 of Obligation and Redemption

“When I was last in town I ran into Wexley and his father at my club. They invited me for dinner and that is where I saw her. We had a pleasant evening, and that was the last and only occasion we were in the same company since the ball. That was last month. She has much to offer a man and will soon become engaged; I have no doubt.”

“Did you love her?” Elizabeth could not believe that she had asked such a personal question of her husband, but she had to know.

“No.”

“You would ask a woman you did not love to marry you?”

“You must know, Elizabeth, that marrying for love is a luxury many cannot afford. I had never planned to marry for love, so that was not a part of my decision to ask for her. Lady Annette had a substantial dowry, she was attractive, she had many accomplishments, and her connections were impeccable. I have also come to realise that she is exceedingly dull and ill-humoured.” He smiled at Elizabeth’s astonished countenance.

“Don’t look so shocked. No one is perfect.

I am convinced that if I had married her, I would have had a very sedate and tedious existence.

She would have been the perfect bride for a man of my station but not perfect for me.

No, I am thankful that I was unable to offer for her. ”

“Maybe she would have changed for the better after you married her.”

“No, I would have approved of our very boring existence, not knowing any differently, and she would have continued on as before, or worse turned into someone else altogether after she had secured me.”

“Maybe that would have been better for you.”

“One thing I know, life will never be sedate or tedious with you, Elizabeth, and I believe I can finally see the merit in such a life.”

She laughed, “I have much to offer after all, it would seem.”

“Yes, you do,” he said as he let go of her hand and then brought his own up to her face for a gentle caress. “Elizabeth, I missed you.” Darcy saw that she had an uncharacteristically timid look upon her face. “I confess that I hoped that you might have missed me too.”

“I did,“ she said looking away, embarrassed to have admitted what she had been thinking all along .

Darcy was becoming familiar with Elizabeth’s vulnerabilities and thought it charming that she might actually have been a little jealous of Lady Annette, but he wanted to reassure her of his growing esteem.

“Do you remember when I told you that I would share with you some of your qualities that I find enchanting?”

“I remember.”

“I already told you how beautiful I find you, but it is worth saying again. I was blind when I entered Hertfordshire, eyes clouded by my own conceit. No one could have found favour with me, so please do not let those words you overheard continue to bother you, as I know they have. Elizabeth, you are not only lovely, but also a delightful companion, graceful in your presence, and exceedingly alluring,” he said as he glanced to her person.

Here she blushed, looking down to her hands.

He smiled at her embarrassment. “Do not worry your pretty head; I intend to keep my promise. You are also intelligent, witty, refined and playful. I have never before known a woman to stimulate me in every possible way as you do.”

“You cannot mean all that you say. I know you cannot.”

“But I do, and I would not lie to you. What could I gain by doing so?”

“You could gain what you want most from me. You promise to wait until I too want to be with you. You are saying these pretty words to seduce me, to try to entice me into favouring you.”

“Can pretty words seduce you then, Elizabeth?” His mind had unwillingly gone to Wickham again.

“No, words do not. Sincerity. That is what I desire most from you right now, from anyone.” She thought some more. “And I need to feel cherished.”

“What else do you need?” he said, drawn in to her.

She looked away considering if she should open herself to him again. In a small voice, Elizabeth finally said, “I need to feel, to feel loved. Unlike you, I always hoped to marry for love, or not at all. I must sound like a sentimental fool to you, but I must speak as I feel.”

Darcy had never been in love and could not know for sure if that was the feeling that was budding within.

He knew he felt high esteem and regard for her.

Maybe one day he could sincerely give her what she needed.

“I hope one day you get everything you need, Elizabeth. You must understand that I want to make you happy, whatever that means.”

She thought of the baby that she was all but certain to be growing inside of her and knew that even if her husband could never love her, that one day she would have a child, his child, who could fill the void within her heart.

ELIZABETH RECEIVED A RESPONSE from her aunt, as well as another letter from Jane, enclosed within. She was sitting at breakfast with her husband when the letters arrived. “Are you not going to read your letters?” asked her husband.

“I thought I might wait until after breakfast.” Elizabeth was hoping to read her aunt’s response in the privacy of her room. She was quite certain that she was with child and hoped that her aunt would reassure her that her symptoms had been those experienced by women in like condition.

Darcy wanted to see his wife’s countenance upon receiving news of her sister’s renewed hopes and saw that she had a letter from her aunt and also one from her sister.

“I have some letters to read as well. Why don’t we retire to our sitting room after breakfast, and we can enjoy one another’s company while we read our mail? ”

For the sake of harmony, Elizabeth agreed to the scheme.

Just because she would now be relegated to her husband’s company did not mean that she must share the news contained in her correspondence.

Elizabeth had found him quite capable in the past at reading her facial expressions, so she would just have to work hard to control them.

So when she had finished her tea and bread roll, Darcy walked with her up to their shared room.

They sat by the large fire, he in a chair and she on the settée.

Elizabeth settled in comfortably, slipping off her shoes and pulling her feet up and underneath her skirts, prepared to savour the words contained within the pages of her letters.

She opened the one from Jane first and silently read.

March 11, 1811

Dear Lizzy,

I have such news to tell! I can hardly write for the shaking in my hands.

You will never believe me when I tell you that I had a surprise visitor two days past at my aunt and uncle’s home.

We had started our day as usual when we were summoned to the drawing room to accept two gentlemen callers.

The door opened into the room and who should walk in?

Mr. Bingley and your Mr. Darcy! Of course, you must have known that they would be calling, but you did not say.

I must forgive you there, for I am the happiest of creatures.

They stayed for dinner, but Mr. Darcy did not return again because he said he would be leaving for Pemberley soon.

Indeed, he may be with you as you read this.

His friend returned the following day and then today he asked to speak with me in private.

Lizzy, oh how I wish you could now share my happiness with me, for he asked me to marry him!

After my aunt gave him adequate time to propose, she suggested he go to my uncle’s warehouse to make it official.

I am so happy, my dear sister. If only you were here, my joy would be complete.

Even more so, I wish we could share in your own hopes, for my aunt has told me that I am to be an aunt!

Oh, my dear sister, how blessed you are.

Since Mr. Bingley is such good friends with your husband, maybe after we are married, he will take me to visit you.

How I long to see you and congratulate you in person.

Please take care of yourself. I confess that I have been so worried about you since last we met at Longbourn.

Well, I must finish before he returns and write to my mother. She will be delighted about our news .

Much love,

JB

Tears had begun to fill her eyes as she read Jane’s letter.

Could this be true? Could she truly be engaged to Mr. Bingley?

The answer to her question could easily be found in the man before her, who, when she looked up to him, displayed a heartfelt smile of true warmth upon his fine features.

“You knew? You were there? Is that why you went to London?” He continued staring at her with delight infused upon his countenance.

“Does this make you happy, my dear?”

“I thought you did not approve. I thought you would never encourage the match. What happened to change your mind?”

“I was wrong to interfere in my friend’s affairs.

He needed to decide for himself, and I simply apologised for my part in separating him from your sister.

It was really quite easy after that. One look at them together and I realised my error.

He loves her, and I now see that she cares for him.

I had not seen it before because I, in my foolish pride, thought that I knew best. I ignored what was obvious to all. ”

Now Elizabeth was truly crying as she attempted to wipe away her tears with her handkerchief. “Forgive me. I cannot seem to stop crying. I have been so emotional lately.”

He reached over to wipe off another tear running down her cheek. “Are you pleased?”

“I hope your friend will work hard to deserve her. She is the very best of women, you know.”

“Yes, I do know. If you admire her, she must be a wonderful creature. So, he has asked her then?” She nodded her confirmation. “I knew he would need little time to complete the task.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy, I mean Darcy . How can I ever express to you what this means to me?”