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The days after Lydia’s return were surprisingly peaceful ones at Longbourn.

Although everyone agreed she had behaved with strength and maturity in effecting her own rescue, it took only a few days for her to return to her foolish, headstrong ways.

Still, it was generally conceded in the neighborhood that she should serve as an example to other young girls of how important it was to safeguard one’s honor and virtue.

Aunt and Uncle Gardiner stayed for only a few days before leaving with the children for London, but there were several opportunities for quiet conversations with Elizabeth as they watched the children play in the garden.

“Are you still committed to this engagement, Lizzy?” began her uncle one day.

“Oh, yes. Having learned of his efforts to assist the family makes me all the more certain,” replied she. “I do love him.”

“He is a very fine young man,” added her aunt. “And he is certainly devoted to you. You must write to me immediately when you have news.”

After the Gardiners’ departure there was nothing for Elizabeth to do but watch and wait and plan.

The following Monday, the family heard carriage wheels on the drive.

Kitty, as was her custom, ran to peer out of the window.

“It is a fine curricle. But who is the driver? I believe it is that disagreeable Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth willed herself to sit still over her embroidery, though Jane caught her eye and smiled. Darcy followed Hill into the room, greeted Mrs. Bennet formally, acknowledged the sisters, and sat in a straight chair, his hat in his hand.

“Are you come to stay at Netherfield, Mr. Darcy?” inquired Mrs. Bennet.

“No, Madam. I am staying for a few nights in the inn at Meryton.”

“I thought you might have come down with Mr. Bingley. We are all wondering if he plans another visit.”

“I believe you may see him around Michaelmas, Madam. He is planning to come down for a few weeks of shooting.”

“Ah. We thought he might quit the place at Michaelmas.”

“I do not believe he plans to give it up at all. In fact, it is possible he may spend more time here.” Darcy looked over at Elizabeth and Jane .

“Well, let us hope so.”

“Mama, Mr. Darcy informed us at Pemberley of his keen interest in gardening.” Darcy raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“I thought I might show him about some of the walks you have created here.” She turned to Darcy.

“Mama planned and directed all of the installations herself, Mr. Darcy. I am sure you will admire her advantageous use of small spaces.”

“By all means, Lizzy. Remember to show him the wilderness.” Mrs. Bennet did not like Mr. Darcy and was delighted to have him off her hands if only for a few minutes. Jane remained resolutely seated while Darcy stood obligingly.

After a sedate walk across the lawn, during which they chatted about London, Elizabeth led Darcy up the step and into the little walled garden of the wilderness. “Everyone’s favorite refuge.”

“Elizabeth.” He took possession of both her hands and covered them with kisses before sweeping her into his arms. “Do you still love me?”

She took his face into her hands and stood on tiptoe so that she could kiss him. “How could I not? I love you more now! I cannot bear to be apart from you.” He returned the kiss ardently, and when she felt she must breathe or die, she clung to his neck, laying her head on his shoulder.

“My heart belongs to you,” he murmured, stroking her lips with his fingers. And after a long moment, he added, “I must speak with your father.”

She kissed him gently and whispered against his mouth, “And are you ready?”

“One more kiss,” he replied, suiting his actions to his words. Then he retrieved his hat, which had fallen nearby, smoothed a lock of hair away from Elizabeth’s face, and offered her his arm with a smile. “Lead on. I am ready.”

Elizabeth hung back. “I believe I will wait here for you, dearest. I am not quite ready to face my mother.”

“A wise choice. I will come for you here when it is all over.” And with that he placed his hat on his head and strode across the lawn.

Elizabeth spent an uncomfortable twenty minutes in the wilderness awaiting Darcy’s return. When he did come back, he was smiling. “All is well. Go to your father in his library. He wants to see you. I will rejoin your mother and sisters.”

“Are you out of your senses to be accepting this man?” Mr. Bennet’s opening words did not sound encouraging.

But Elizabeth had an answer for every argument, and by the end of their brief conversation, she had convinced her father of Darcy’s worth and of their sincere attachment.

Only then did he inform her that he had already given his consent.

As expected, Elizabeth’s sisters gathered around to exclaim over her and embrace her before the younger ones began to talk of being bridesmaids.

Mrs. Bennet was silenced for a full half-minute before she began to wonder and bless herself, to question Mr. Darcy concerning his favorite dishes, and to consider who in the neighborhood should be first to receive the great news.

Mr. Bennet arrived on the scene to extend an invitation to him to remove from the inn and spend the rest of his stay at Longbourn.

“After all,” he said. “You can do so now with complete propriety. And this house is more comfortable than the inn. If anyone wants me, I will be in my library.”

Darcy’s things were brought in from the curricle, as he had not yet bespoken his room in Meryton, and Mrs. Bennet hurried away to dress, having decided that Lady Lucas would be the first recipient of her news.

The sisters scattered to their own apartments and occupations, and Darcy and Elizabeth were left standing by the fireplace in the drawing room.

After he kissed her with great discretion and one eye on the door, Elizabeth put her hands on his chest. “Sir, we have not yet finished our tour of the garden. My mother will be disappointed if I do not show you the hermitage.”

“And is it a very private hermitage?” He stole another kiss.

“Yes, very private. The hermit will not mind us at all. ”

Indeed, so secluded was the hermitage that Elizabeth permitted Darcy to leave his exploration of her lips in favor of kisses along her jawline and neck, straying occasionally back to her lips and eyes, encouraged by the soft sounds she made.

She was tenderly grateful afterward that he managed to accomplish all this while leaving some appropriate distance between the two of them, and when she dropped her arms and took hold of the lapels of his jacket, he stopped.

Her voice was soft and husky. “I fear my knees have forgotten how to hold me up.”

He guided her to a bench and seated them both. “Soon, dearest Lizzy. Very soon we will be together always.”

She burrowed into his side. “Mmm. I can hear your heart.”

“That is good, since it belongs to you.”

The next three days were idyllic. The perfect late-summer weather invited long country walks and shared confidences.

She was afraid of horses because the girls’ single riding-horse had once bitten her.

He preferred London hours to country hours and needed an ironclad self-discipline to rise at a decent hour when at Pemberley.

She detested stitchery of any kind but smuggled candles upstairs in order to read novels.

He avoided Shakespeare’s comedies in favor of the tragedies and histories.

She longed to read all of Shakespeare in its original, unexpurgated version.

He promised that she should, for he would not permit the bowdlerized versions in his library.

Both were happiest in the country. And both envisioned a nursery full of beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed children who looked like the other parent.

“We must have horrid little boys,” said Elizabeth. “And dear little girls.”

“And they must all resemble their mother.”

“Except those that look like their handsome papa,” she finished for him.

Darcy spent a couple of hours closeted with Mr. Bennet in the library working out the financial settlements. They were necessarily one-sided, but Darcy had taken great pains to ensure that Elizabeth and her children would be provided for under any circumstance.

They took a final walk in the garden on the morning of Darcy’s departure. “I do not know how I shall go on without you,” sighed Elizabeth. “When will you return?”

“Soon, my dearest. I must see my solicitor about the settlement and return here to review it with your father. You and our children will always be provided for, and your father and I have already discussed that. He is satisfied with the arrangements.”

Their plans for the wedding had been easily settled.

Mrs. Bennet’s arguments in favor of St. George’s Hanover Square and a special license had been overcome in favor of Elizabeth’s wish that the wedding take place at their familiar parish in Longbourn, presided over by their dear Dr. Price, with her sisters surrounding her, and in the presence of their families and their dearest friends.

Michaelmas had been tentatively fixed as the time, and one of Darcy’s tasks would be to acquaint Mr. Bingley with the plans in the hope that Netherfield could be counted on to entertain some of their guests.

Darcy expressed his certainty that his friend would oblige them, and he confessed privately to Elizabeth his hopes for a wedding between Bingley and Jane.

Elizabeth and her mother would make at least one journey to London in search of the all-important wedding clothes.

They stood in the little wilderness saying their goodbyes. “Write to me, Elizabeth. Now that we are engaged, we can write as often as we please.”

“I have not forgotten.” Elizabeth drew a sealed letter from her pocket and placed it in his. “And here is a letter you may read this evening when you get home.”

Darcy seized her hands and kissed them over and over, as he loved to do, before drawing her into an embrace.

Elizabeth stood with her parents and sisters on the sweep, waving farewell, determined that he should not see her cry. After he had driven away, her sister Jane threw her arm about Elizabeth’s shoulders. “Dearest Lizzy,” she said in her quiet voice. “You will not have too many more farewells.”