Page 22 of The Happiness of a Most Beloved Sister (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Nevertheless, it would alleviate his beloved’s misplaced guilt if the rift could be repaired.

Moreover, Elizabeth made a valid point about their—his more than hers—meddling being wrong.

Darcy need not promote a match between Bingley and Miss Bennet, only reverse the harm he had already caused.

It could be easily done at no trouble or expense to anyone with the lady already in London.

As a bonus, with Mrs Bennet in Hertfordshire, Bingley might come to know Miss Bennet better and determine once and for all whether they would suit without the expectations of her family and neighbourhood forcing his hand.

Darcy opened his mouth to propose such to Elizabeth in the hopes of cheering her further but snapped it closed again when he recalled that he ought to speak to Bingley first. For all he knew, his friend had already developed a tendre for a different lady and would be disinclined to pursue Miss Bennet again.

If that were the case, Darcy would only be raising Elizabeth’s hopes to cruelly dash them.

He would keep his peace until he knew for certain whether his plan would come to fruition.

He would set out for town without delay so as to speak to his friend as soon as may be.

It had already been several months since Bingley had given up Miss Bennet, and the chances of him becoming entangled with another young beauty increased by the day; he never went longer than six months without an infatuation.

A disadvantage to this plan, of course, was that Darcy would be forced to give up his daily walks with Elizabeth.

He ached to remain with her and indulge his own ardour, but he could not be so selfish when she was counting on him to fix his blunder.

Hopefully, she would be willing to allow him to court her properly after Bingley was reunited with Miss Bennet.

Should his plan go awry…he did not like to think of that, but he dearly hoped that Elizabeth would at least appreciate his efforts and still admit his suit.

Knowing he would be required to separate from her imminently, Darcy settled in to bask in Elizabeth’s effervescence for as long as possible.

They left off distressing subjects and spoke of pleasanter things, such as his favourite dog—she loved to laugh at Freddy’s exploits and his own indulgent treatment of the rapscallion—and her expectations of joining her aunt and uncle on a pleasure trip that summer, until the hour grew late and they were required to part.

Darcy made a point of escorting Elizabeth back to the parsonage, where he reluctantly bid her farewell at the gate.

He then lingered to watch her safely enter the house, savouring the last glimpse of her he expected to enjoy for an unknown duration.

Halfway up the flagstone path that led to the door, she halted, then turned to scurry back, his handkerchief held out to him.

“I almost forgot to return this to you. I thank you for the loan.”

Much as he wished to tell her to keep it, if only to leave her with a piece of himself, Darcy reluctantly accepted the scrap of fine linen back into his possession; it would do her reputation no favours if she were to be discovered with it.

Aside from it being cut for a man’s use, his initials were prominently displayed in one corner, and she would not have a ready explanation for the scripted FD when her own were EB. How I long to change that!

As he tucked it into his pocket, his fingers brushed against a hard object therein.

The flower stone. He stroked it as he had often done of late, taking comfort from the smooth patch he had worn into its surface, right where the centre of an actual blossom would be.

He was again struck by how much his token reminded him of the lady before him, and it was but the work of a moment for him to decide that it belonged with her. Truthfully, it always had.

Reaching out, Darcy gently cupped her hand and drew it towards himself, depositing the stone into her palm.

He then folded her fingers closed over it.

Her cheeks were as pink as her gown when he said, “I should like for you to have this. I found it in our—that is, in the orchard where we often met, and I have frequently reached for it in moments of distress.”

“Oh, I could not…”

“Please. Take it and allow it to bring you the same comfort. ”

Elizabeth seemed to search his eyes with her own for several long seconds before nodding and withdrawing her hand, the pebble still gripped within it. Darcy released her, but not without a pang. “I thank you, then. You are too good to me.”

“It is you who are too good. I shall miss your company when I depart for town tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened with what Darcy read as alarm and disappointment. Much as he despised causing her any sort of grief, it warmed him to think she might miss him as well. “You are leaving? I thought you meant to stay for several weeks yet.”

“I am afraid that business calls me back, else I would remain.”

Elizabeth’s shoulders sank. “I see.”

“I hope…that is, do I ask too much to be allowed to call on you again?” he stammered. Clearing his throat, he continued, “Should our paths cross again.”

A smile bloomed across Elizabeth’s face, bright and wonderful to behold. “I would like that.”

“I am glad to hear it.” Darcy took up her hand again and raised it to his mouth, where he bestowed upon her fingers the lightest possible kiss. “Until we meet again, Miss Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s eyes were large in her face and glittering like sunlight glinting off the surface of the most priceless gem. Darcy’s breath caught as he stared into their depths for several long, pregnant moments.

At length, he stepped back and slipped his hand from hers, knowing that he must be on his way if he was to bring her the happiness she deserved. He tipped his hat a final time and trudged back towards Rosings.