Page 21 of Raised at Rosings (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse #4)
Chapter Twenty
Darcy had much to consider and, in all likelihood, little time in which to do so. He felt the urgency to confess, fearing the longer he waited, the more difficult and daunting the task would become. Still, he was clueless as to how he would confess his feelings to Elizabeth. So with agitated steps, Darcy paced the stone path of Matlock House’s garden, the cool morning air a contrast to the heat of his anxiety. He couldn’t make himself go further away from Elizabeth, despite his home being so near.
For the past several years, he’d been avoiding women. The incessant fluttering of their eyelashes and the constant stream of gossip grated on his nerves, and he had as little to do with them as possible. He was, as Mrs. Reynolds would term it, smitten with a breathtaking woman, but the challenge of winning her over left him flustered and unsure of how to proceed.
Richard had shown him earlier just how mistaken he was when it came to his original thoughts about proposing, or even really interacting with Elizabeth in a meaningful way. Darcy wanted to do things right. The question was, what was the right way to do things?
He had just completed what must have been his fifty-seventh circuit of the small garden when he came face with Elizabeth as she stepped outside. Though every instinct urged him to retreat, Darcy chose instead to follow his heart and moved toward the woman he loved. Without thinking, words made their way from his lips. “Have you found yourself in need of a refreshing walk this morning, Elizabeth?”
Drawing a shawl closer around her body, Elizabeth smiled and, walking towards him, replied, “Yes, I am rather fond of a nice walk in the morning. There is just something about nature that restores me.”
“Yes, I know.” Darcy inwardly winced the moment the words left his mouth. What a ridiculous thing to say. At this rate, he would make a complete spectacle of himself. Clearing his throat, Darcy asked, “I was just strolling about the garden. Would you be interested in joining me? Or would you rather stroll about on your own? I can leave if you wish me to.” While waiting for Elizabeth’s reply, Darcy felt the tension in his shoulders tighten and he silently congratulated himself for at least not insulting her outright.
The smile that spread across Elizabeth’s face nearly caused Darcy to stumble. He was so distracted by the glory of her smile that he almost missed it when she said, “I would be delighted to accompany you on a walk about the garden.”
Instinctively, Darcy offered his arm, attempting to ignore his elation at her touch. He had to maintain his composure long enough to declare his love, and in time, to propose. There remained much to be done before he could allow himself the luxury of celebration. It did not help that he could almost feel the heat of her hand through the fabric of his coat. Though it might have just been his imagination.
The pair of them walked in silence for only a few steps before Darcy paused and said, “First and foremost, I must offer my sincerest apologies for my aunt’s behavior. Her actions were inexcusable, and I deeply regret that I was unable to prevent them.”
With a reassuring squeeze of his arm, Elizabeth responded, “I’m certain you would never do anything to put me in harm’s way. You’re far too protective. You do not carry the weight of Lady Catherine’s choices; they are hers alone.”
Darcy felt a warmth spread through him as Elizabeth commended him, her unwavering belief in his goodness touching him deeply. Continuing on down the path, Darcy said, “Thank you. Your belief in me means quite a lot.” Hesitating, he added, “I was told you arrived at Matlock House unharmed but wearied. No one provided any more details. Are you truly well?”
“Though shaken, I escaped the situation unscathed. I am well, especially after a good night’s sleep.” It might have been his imagination, but it felt as if Elizabeth squeezed his arm that much tighter as she added, “I will admit that it was not a comfortable experience and I would never want to repeat it, but it is over.”
His heart in his throat, Darcy murmured, “I am more grateful than I can express that you emerged from the ordeal unscathed.”
They walked for a time, pausing briefly for Elizabeth to admire various plants. Then, having completed the circuit, they continued walking. Darcy couldn’t bear the thought of parting from Elizabeth before he had laid bare a few essential truths, despite his pounding heart.
Finding it easier to speak while walking, Darcy ignored his typical hesitation, and his words tumbled out in a rush. “I searched for you, but you, with your characteristic brilliance and strength, had already extricated yourself from the situation before I arrived.”
Elizabeth was quick to say, “I would not have been able to manage it without the aid of two children I met.”
“Yes, Molly and Matthew,” Darcy said. “I found them during my search for you. You might be happy to know they are currently at Darcy House under the loving care of my housekeeper.”
Elizabeth turned to face him, her expression eager. “Truly?”
Shrugging self-consciously, Darcy said, “I could not leave them there. It was no place for two children, especially when they had gone so far as to help you. And when I asked if they wanted to escape their difficult circumstances, their faces lit up with relief, and they eagerly agreed to come with me.”
This time, Darcy was certain that Elizabeth squeezed his arm as she spoke. “I am so glad. I was worried about them.”
“They are both safe and sound now, likely enjoying hourly meals prepared by my cook, who’s convinced they require extra nourishment and pampering. They have probably had a whole tin’s worth of biscuits by now.”
Darcy had only walked a few paces beside Elizabeth before frustration overtook him. He had yet to say what he truly meant, and with sudden resolve, he blurted, “I cannot express how incredibly frantic I was when I realized what my aunt had done. Knowing you were in danger, my mind was a maelstrom of paralyzing fear and fierce resolve. It illuminated the true depths of our friendship and revealed nuances of our relationship that I had not realized before.”
Elizabeth froze, her heart in her throat. She knew Mr. Darcy had previously spoken of their friendship with Georgianna. Her letters had even contained several indirect references to their friendship, and at the time, Elizabeth had been happy to know he thought so well of her. Now, however, things had changed. She now understood, with a pang of longing, that her feelings for Mr. Darcy exceeded mere friendship. She wanted more. Did his comment subtly suggest a shared desire, or was she allowing her optimism to run wild?
Swallowing thickly, Elizabeth asked, “What exactly did you discover about our friendship?” A dizzying hope filled Elizabeth as she waited for Mr. Darcy’s response. Part of her wanted to make him stop and look at her, but the other, larger part of her feared that any interruption, however slight, might prevent him from saying what she wanted so desperately to hear.
Mr. Darcy kept on moving, his long strides eating up the earth at a faster speed than before, as if he was hurrying away from something Elizabeth could not see. She was grateful she was accustomed to walking with a larger stride than most young ladies, otherwise she would have struggled to keep up with him, even in the small little garden that they circled.
Elizabeth was uncertain how long she waited for Mr. Darcy’s answer. It was at once both an eternity and the span of a few heartbeats before he said, “When we first started truly coming to know each other, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed myself when we were together. It took some time to adjust to the fact that we were developing a friendship. Even though I found it peculiar to be friends with a woman, it wasn’t inconceivable.” Looking at Elizabeth with a wry grin, he added, “I know you may be offended by the fact I found it so unusual to befriend a female, but you must realize that, in our rigidly structured society, genuine friendships between men and women are rare—a fact I’m sure you’re aware of given your own experiences.”
It took Elizabeth a moment to recover enough from Mr. Darcy’s smile to think, let alone reply. “The only friendship I know of between a man and a woman would be the Matlocks, so I will forgive you for thinking it so impossible to be friends with me.”
“I will gratefully accept your forgiveness, though I hope you’ll understand when I confess that the fear of losing you to my cruel aunt’s machinations made me realize I feel something far deeper than friendship.” Stopping his long strides, Mr. Darcy faced Elizabeth, the warmth of his gaze intense as he took both her hands in his. “Elizabeth, I have realized that I have come to love you.”
Elizabeth felt the ground disappear from beneath her feet at his declaration. A breathtaking sense of exaltation surged through her. She was weightless and only tethered to reality by the reassuring warmth of Mr. Darcy’s hands clutching hers.
It must have seemed to Mr. Darcy as if she was not responding quickly enough because he rushed to say, “I am by no means expecting anything from you in return. I understand that my feelings are my own, and you will not necessarily feel the same way. Though I do hope that one day you might be able to look on me with affection.”
A wave of affection threatened to overwhelm Elizabeth as she battled the impulse to throw her arms around Mr. Darcy’s neck. Elizabeth instead asked, her voice laced with a hint of playful challenge, “Were you supposing that it would take me a long time to return your feelings?”
A faint blush, barely noticeable, tinted Mr. Darcy’s cheeks as he looked her in the eye, his gaze unwavering. “While I hope you could return my affection sooner rather than later,” he said, his voice a low murmur, “I am willing to wait as long as it takes.”
Intrigued by his curiously gallant words, Elizabeth decided to put his charm to the test. “And if I am never able to return your affection?” she inquired.
If Elizabeth had not been studying him so closely, she would have missed the subtle widening of his eyes, like a flash of surprise, before he softly replied, “Then I will spend the rest of my life making sure you are happy in whatever life you choose for yourself. If you are happy, I will find a way to be satisfied, even if I am not what makes you happy.”
Drawing closer to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth freed one of her hands in order to reach up and rest it over Mr. Darcy’s heart. “Then it is fortunate that you are my source of happiness, because I would never want you to be simply satisfied with life.”
Wrapping his free hand around hers where it rested lightly on his chest, Mr. Darcy twined their fingers together. Lost in each other’s eyes, they stood motionless, only the solid beating of their hearts breaking the stillness of the morning, until Mr. Darcy finally breathed, “Are you telling me you return my affection? That you want to be the best part of the rest of my life?”
“Affection seems to be too small a word for what I feel. Even the word love feels inadequate to describe the depth of this emotion. What I feel for you is so large that I am surprised it all fits inside my heart.” Swallowing against the growing lump in her throat, Elizabeth professed, “I only know that being granted your love will be the greatest gift I ever receive.”
Had she later been asked the details of what happened next, she would have found herself quite unable to explain it. One moment she was confessing her love, and the next, she felt the soft warmth of Mr. Darcy’s hands on her face, and his lips were meeting hers in a surprising kiss. It only lasted a moment, but it was enough for Elizabeth to realize she did not wish for a long engagement.
Darcy looked down at Elizabeth, her eyes wide and her face flushed, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. He fought the overwhelming urge to kiss her again, the feel of her lips still fresh on his. Forcing himself to take a step back, Darcy murmured, “Can I take this to mean that you might consent to be my wife?”
“If you had bothered to ask me,” Elizabeth responded, a playful glint in her eyes, “I might have said yes by now.”
A wide grin spread across Darcy’s face as he wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, pulling her close. He murmured, his voice a low rumble, “Elizabeth Rose Bennet, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Elizabeth’s answer was a quick, resounding, “Yes!” He resisted the urge to kiss her again but couldn’t help but grab her waist and spin her, her laughter filling the air. Joy overflowing, Darcy joined in the laughter as he brought her back to the ground, steadying her until she had her feet under her once more.
Darcy’s thumb brushed against the delicate curve of her cheekbone, and compelled by a sudden tenderness, he murmured, “Thank you. You do not know how much this means to me. I promise to spend the rest of my life working to make you just as happy as you have made me.”
Laying her hand over his as his fingers traced the soft curves of her skin, Elizabeth said, “I believe the feeling is mutual.”
Darcy was uncertain how long they simply enjoyed one another’s presence and murmured sweet reassurances before they were interrupted by a deep chuckle. “Have you finally realized that you are perfect for each other?”
Dragging his gaze away from the enchantment of Elizabeth’s eyes, Darcy spotted Richard standing near them, his eyes dancing in mirth. Though slightly embarrassed at being caught unawares, a warm smile bloomed on Darcy’s face as he confessed to his cousin, “Though I am anything but perfect, Elizabeth, in her grace, has honored me with her affection and love by agreeing to be my wife.”
Clutching Darcy’s arm with both of hers, Elizabeth chided, “While neither of us are perfect, I believe Richard said we are perfect for each other, which is something I agree with.”
“She has you there, old man,” chuckled Richard. Stepping forward, he clapped Darcy on the back heartily and added, “She will keep you on your toes and make you the happiest of men with the best run estates in the nation.”
“Too true,” Darcy grinned first at Richard and then down at Elizabeth, who still held his arm. “You manage Rosings with such efficiency that even with a millstone like Lady Catherine around your neck, the estate thrives. Once we marry, I can relax, knowing you'll handle everything with the grace of a seasoned diplomat and the strength of a Roman legionnaire.”
Stepping back from Darcy, Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and mock glared at him as she demanded, “If you want to spend any time with your perfect wife, you will have to do your own share of the work. If we each tackle our necessary tasks, I believe we can each enjoy half our time free from obligations. Just think of the opportunities to read and debate.”
Darcy leaned close, the sweet scent of her hair filling his senses as he murmured, “Do not forget the games of chess.” His lips lightly brushed her temple before pulling away.
“All right, you two,” complained Richard as he separated them and then, standing between the couple, prodded them back to the house. “Father is up and would like to discuss what we will do with the Gorgon that is his sister. There will be time enough later to moon over one another. Mother will be overjoyed to aid in planning Elizabeth’s come out and wedding, but only once we have seen the last of Aunt Catherine.”
With a wide grin plastered on his face, Darcy walked alongside Richard, their steps perfectly in sync. Though his heart soared with happiness over the love that he shared with Elizabeth, a cold resolve settled over him—his aunt would answer for her foul deeds. He was not going to allow Aunt Catherine the freedom to endanger the woman he loved ever again.
They found his uncle waiting for them in the morning room, taking a sip of his morning coffee. “Ah, it seems you found them, Richard. Have the pair of you eaten? I had thought we could discuss matters over a hearty meal.”
Clapping Darcy on the back once more, Richard laughed, “Yes, I found them in the garden, and you were right—it seems that recent events finally brought matters to a head.”
Darcy, pointedly ignoring Richard, escorted Elizabeth to the ornate table, the scent of bacon and sweet bread filling the air. He smoothly pulled out a chair and reassured her, “I will fetch you a plate.”
A surprised smile from Elizabeth was all the thanks he needed as he moved to the sideboard to collect some of the items that he knew Elizabeth preferred. He was not yet done when his uncle chuckled and said, “So they have finally admitted that they are in love. About time!” Speaking to Elizabeth, he continued, “You will be a marvelous mistress for Pemberley, my dear, and though I do not think he deserves a remarkable woman like you, I believe you have it in you to keep him in line and from becoming too dour.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Uncle Reggie,” Elizabeth beamed as Darcy placed a plate in front of her. Shifting her gaze to Darcy, she murmured, “You managed to get me all my favorites, thank you,” a smile playing on her lips as she touched the soft fabric of his sleeve.
Cutting up a piece of ham steak, Uncle Reginald grinned. “Already you are becoming the perfect doting couple. Judith will be relieved.”
“Yes, the only problem is that she will now focus on me,” complained Richard as he sat down with a full plate and began to dig in.
Gesturing with his fork, Uncle Reginald said, “Do not worry too much, son. Your mother has a wedding to plan first, so you still have a few months free from her pestering.”
Walking into the room, Aunt Judith chuckled. Kissing Elizabeth on the cheek, she said, “They forget that women long ago mastered the art of multitasking.” Then, peering down at her, she tilted her head and added, “You are looking well, dear. I am glad you have recovered from your ordeal. Though I believe that my nephew might have something to do with it.” With a blush and a grin, Elizabeth nodded up at Aunt Judith, who smiled back.
The room was filled with the gentle clinking of cutlery and the soft sounds of chewing as she moved to the sideboard. Aunt Judith picked up a pastry and a cup of steaming coffee and proceeded to sit next to her husband. Taking a sip, she sighed appreciatively before turning to look at the others and asking, “So, what shall we do to humble my intolerable termagant of a sister-in-law?”