The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy

by Jennifer Joy

  Several maids and footmen crowded outside the door. Rooms had been readied and baths had been drawn. It was time to wash off the remains of yesterday and begin anew.

  Elizabeth looked about the room. Though everything was ready for their comfort, nobody was in a hurry to leave.

  Father was merrier than he had been in a long time. The threat he had felt against himself was gone, and he laughed heartily and freely despite his injuries. Mother would have loved to see him thus. He cackled until he was out of breath when Lord Harvisham mentioned how the news of Lady Catherine offering a permanent position to a murdering, thieving fraud would be received in society.

  The earl would not be able to shield the great lady from the full consequences of her ill-fated decision this time. Mr. Madden’s story would be plastered on the front page of every newspaper on the morrow and the connection to her would be made no matter how badly she wished it not to be. But she had a good friend in Lord Harvisham. (Or foe. It depended on how one looked at the battle between those two opposing forces.)

  Jane sat contentedly beside Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth saw the pride in her eyes as she gazed upon her husband. To be sure, Elizabeth was proud of him as well. He had not yielded to Miss Bingley’s protests, but had held firm.

  The Hursts remained out of sight. Mr. Hurst had a cold from his uncomfortable stay in the leaky hunting cabin. The warmer climate of Australia would do him well, and he was apparently too delighted to avoid debtor’s prison as well as relieved to come out from under Miss Bingley’s thumb to complain.

  Mr. Tanner sat beside Mrs. Annesley. They spoke quietly between themselves. Elizabeth had not known Mr. Tanner capable of so many smiles. She suspected there would be a wedding in the Spring.

  Mary listened to Lydia jabber about the excitement awaiting her in London with patient forbearance. Elizabeth wished more for Mary. She was happy at Uncle and Aunt Philips’ home, but she could not stay there forever. However, Father soon turned his attention to Mary, teasing her about the new heir to Longbourn. Apparently, he possessed a large estate of his own as well as a baronetcy. Mary was not impressed in the least until Father informed her that he was a leading member in the Horticultural Society of London, and boasted the finest rose garden in all of England. And … he was as yet unattached.

  As for Elizabeth, she sat between William and Georgiana, perfectly contented where she was with her new sister and her best friend. She and William had not ridden off into the sunset, but he was still her hero. Her beloved betrothed.

  He leaned toward her, whispering in her ear, “Elizabeth, will you marry me?”

  “Of course!” she replied without hesitation. They had agreed as much before.

  “Today?”

  New life surged through her weary limbs. That the worst night of her life should end with the most blessed event she had dreamed of was the perfect conclusion to their turbulent courtship.

  Caring not for the soot covering her face, William tilted her chin up and kissed the middle of her forehead in the tenderest gesture. Breathless, she answered, “What a splendid idea.”

  Epilogue

  Their wedding was a simple affair. Their haste made it so, but Elizabeth would not have changed it for the world. All that mattered was that she loved Fitzwilliam Darcy and she would not wait a moment more to become his wife. (William was not the only one to suffer from a lack of patience.)

  Her favorite green dress had burned in the fire — everything except for her nightshirt on her back had burned — but between Jane and Lady Lucas, not only Elizabeth, but the other ladies to have suffered the loss of all their possessions at Longbourn, looked not only presentable, but lovely.

  While she had been devastated to know Mr. Madden had stolen her emeralds, they would have been lost in the conflagration along with everything else. His theft had ultimately saved them, as they were found soon afterward when a search of “Mr. Collins’” room was performed at de Bourgh House (much to Lady Catherine’s chagrin).

  The jewels awaited her at Darcy House and they sparkled all the more as her wardrobe was replaced — and generously added to — in record time and she wore them to dinner parties, operas, theater performances, and the ballet. It was anxiety-free diversion and she enjoyed it along with William, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley. However, when the last stitch in the final garment of their wardrobes had been tied off, Elizabeth declared it was time to quit London for Pemberley.

  Georgiana — Lord love the girl — remained in London with her Fitzwilliam relatives. She may have been influenced to prolong her visit in town when Mr. Nelson so happened to call during their stay at Darcy House. He had noted her keen interest in the case of the missing Miss Pembroke, and he had thought she might like to know that the lady and her child had been safely restored to her family. His call had been brief, but it had left a lasting impression on Georgiana. It would have to last. If William had any say in the matter, Georgiana would not be allowed to so much as look at a gentleman until the ripe age of thirty. Pray he not be “blessed” with five daughters, thought Elizabeth.

  They traveled at a leisurely place, stopping so William could show her all the places she had yet to see along the way. They even made a detour to see Kitty (who was unable to travel at all in her condition) and regale her with gifts for the coming addition to her family. William would make a wonderful father.

  They read and conversed at length … and Elizabeth perfected her kissing art along the way.

  They departed at dawn for Pemberley on the final day of their journey. Elizabeth was as anxious to see, as William was to show her, the home they would share. The home where they would welcome the next generation of Darcys and live a life free of murder and investigations. (One could hope!)

  The path wound down a hillside and the view opened up before her to reveal Pemberley sitting peacefully at the top of a slope, surrounded by manicured parkland and backed by forested hills. A solid, stone fortress embellished by the rays of the sun warming its walls and sparkling off the polished windows like diamonds.

  One window in particular drew her attention. It was larger than the others on the East side of the house and boasted an intricate rose garden outside the doors.

  “Is that the library?” she asked, tapping her fingernail against the carriage glass in the direction she looked.

  William grinned. “Only you could locate a library before stepping foot in the house.”

  The landscape outside Pemberley was stunning, and Elizabeth longed to explore every inch of it. But as lovely as the setting out of doors was, the interior was awe-inspiring.

  She spun in a circle on the marble floor of the grand entrance hall, her mouth open and words failing her other than to repeat “It is beautiful” for the hundredth time.

  Mrs. Reynolds, the housekeeper, looked as pleased as William did at her reaction.

  “Will Mrs. Darcy like me to give her a tour of the house once she has refreshed herself in her rooms?” Mrs. Reynolds offered.

  William, with a wicked grin and a raised eyebrow that meant he was up to something, said, “Show Mrs. Darcy her rooms, then I will give her a tour. You know where to find me.”

  Going up the stone steps padded with crimson red carpet, Elizabeth followed Mrs. Reynolds into a bedchamber as large as the waiting room, dining room, and front parlor at Longbourn had been. A large bed with a blue silk canopy and countless pillows leaning against the headboard rested between two rosewood tables. A writing table was placed in front of a large window offering an incomparable view of the untamed woods beyond the park. Double paneled doors led to a sitting room adorned with blue wallpaper the color of the summer sky and cushioned couches with lamps on stands and tables. No more reading by candlelight for her.

  Already, the maids had emptied her trunks inspecting gowns for wrinkles and setting aside those requiring a press before hanging them in the armoire.

  Splashing her face with the basin of fresh water brought in and changing out of her dusty travel clothes, Elizab
eth followed Mrs. Reynolds in search of William.

  The housekeeper opened the door and stood to the side to allow Elizabeth to pass. It was the library! The glorious, heavenly library!

  William stood in front of the door leading out to the garden, surrounded on either side by large windows and encased by tall bookcases as high as the ceiling. Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat at the beauty of so many treasures lining the shelves. But the books paled in comparison to the man standing before her.

  He held out his hand, and she followed him deeper into the room where a settee and several cushioned, velvet chairs surrounded a fireplace. She envisioned many wonderful hours in William’s company here.

  “I have yet to see the rest of Pemberley, but I know this will be my favorite room,” she said.

  “What a coincidence. It is my favorite room, too,” William pulled her closer to him, and nodded to someone behind her.

  Elizabeth turned just in time to see Mrs. Reynolds hold up a key and, with a parting wink, she closed the library door and locked it. The last time she had been locked inside a library with William, she had been livid. She had bit him! Not today. Today, she hoped Mrs. Reynolds would lose her keys.

  “Trapped in the library with Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth said through her smile.

  “Do you have any objections, Mrs. Darcy?” William brushed his lips over hers.

  “None at all, my dear husband,” she nibbled on his lips, reveling in the effect she had on him. “I promise not to bite this time,” she whispered.

  He nuzzled the tender skin below her ear. “Do not make promises you cannot keep.” His breath tickled her neck and sent delicious shivers from the tip of her head to her toes.

  “Very well. Then allow me to make one promise I will keep.” She held his head steadily between her hands. “I will love you completely, happily, inseparably forevermore. I choose you. I will always choose you.”

  “The inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. What a happy beginning.” William picked her up, cradling her to his chest as he had done when he had rescued her from Wickham’s murderer and from the blazes of Longbourn. Nothing — not crazed killers, manipulating relatives, nor devastating tragedy — had separated them.

  Now, in the security of William’s embrace, Elizabeth felt the first chapters of their life together coming to a close, opening to blank pages with which to fill with their coming adventures — with excitement and love. She would see to it.

  The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, chapter one…

  Thank you

  As a special Thank You to my readers, I’ve added a BONUS chapter exclusive for my newsletter subscribers. Do you want to know what happened to set sparks flying between Mr. Tanner and Mrs. Annesley? Sign up for my Historical Romance New Release Newsletter to find out!

  Thank you for spending your precious time reading The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. I hope you enjoyed reading my latest story. Please click here to leave a review — I read all of them!

  I’m grateful for the amazing people who help me through the creative process and make my stories better with their constant support and spot-on suggestions. Mammy, Mom, Dad, Renán, Anji, Missy, Betty, and Rita. I appreciate each of you so much. Thank you.

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  About the Author

  When Jennifer isn’t busy dreaming up new adventures for her favorite characters, she is learning Sign language, reading, baking (Cake is her one weakness!), or chasing her twins around the park (because … calories).

  Her wish is to continue to write sweet romances and mysteries with happy endings for years to come.

  While she claims Oregon as her home, she currently lives high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with her husband and two kids. All of them are fluent in Spanglish.

  Right now, Jennifer is imagining a new Happily-Ever-After for Darcy and Elizabeth, as well as a few other characters she’s met in her travels over the globe. She senses they have stories worth telling and promises to keep a detailed account of their many adversities (because, let’s face it, it makes for fun reading!).

  Other Books by Jennifer Joy

  Historical Romances

  Darcy’s Ultimatum: The Cousins Series, Book 1

  Anne’s Adversity: The Cousins Series, Book 2

  The Colonel’s Challenge: The Cousins Series, Book 3

  Earning Darcy’s Trust

  Accusing Elizabeth

  Love Never Fails

  Win, Lose, or Darcy

  The Honorable Mr. Darcy: A Meryton Mystery, Book 1

  The Indomitable Miss Elizabeth: A Meryton Mystery, Book 2

  Cozy Mysteries

  Cabs, Cakes, and Corpses: Murder on the Equator, Book 1

  Rum Raisin Revenge: Murder on the Equator, Book 2

  Cold Case Crumble: Murder on the Equator, Book 3

  Sweet Contemporary Romance

  Written in the Stars: Starlight Terrace Proposals #1