by Katie Bright
Elizabeth got out of the car and shut the door.
“Please let me apologise, let me make it up to you in some way.”
“Darcy, you’ve been living in a bubble for the last two years. But you can’t live in a bubble ignoring the world around you. I came here to help you break free, to tear the shutters off not only this old house but off you too. And instead, I found myself being sucked into the bubble quite willingly. I could spend the rest of my life with you in those few rooms, but you are too good a man to just withdraw from the world. Your good and kind deeds in this world should be as big a part of your legacy as Pemberley is. But you can’t do it by locking yourself away,” Elizabeth said as she cupped his face and kissed him on the cheek, then she walked away.
∞ ∞ ∞
Chapter Eighteen
Open Hearts
Darcy caught Elizabeth’s wrist gently and stopped her from leaving. She turned back to look at him, the tears welling in her eyes. He came and stood in front of her. His thumb brushing gently over her wrist as he searched for the words that needed to be said so desperately or he would lose her.
“You’re right, as you so often are. I have made my own prison here and have dwelt in it without even trying to break free,” he started. “I am no fool, I can see the merits in all your plans. In truth I am just angry with myself for not thinking of such an idea. But my mind has long distanced itself from the thoughts of weddings. There is part of me that would happily keep you in that bubble, for then I would not have to share you with the world. The world has enjoyed your company for so long, that I am quite jealous of it.”
The tears spilt down her cheeks as Darcy took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped them away. As he did so, the lock of hair that Elizabeth had cut from her head fell upon the snow. He bent down and picked it up and looked at it in his fingers.
“I loved you for so long. I had thought that your feelings might have changed for me, but every time I tried to ask you someone got in the way. I should have been more persistent. But I think that there was also some relief in not knowing. Then I could lie to myself, pretend that there was a second chance, even if that second chance never came. I have surrounded myself with false comforts instead of facing the truth, time after time. First with you and now with Pemberley. I think the time has come for me to look myself in the eye and be honest.”
She watched as he let the lock of hair blow away in the breeze.
“I don’t want a memento of you Elizabeth, I have stared at your photo until it haunted my dreams. I need to feel the warmth of your skin beneath my fingers, the touch of your lips on mine. I want to share my life with you, the mortal you, not some ethereal dream that disappears along with the shadows at dawn. I am willing to try if you are.”
“You know I am,” she replied.
“But what if we fail?” he asked.
“Then at least we’ve tried, we didn’t give up without a fight. Darcy, the business may not work out, you might lose Pemberley, but you’ll never lose me,” she replied.
“Is that a promise?”
“It is. Cross my heart,” she said as her finger trailed across her chest.
“For so long, I felt like I was drifting out to sea,” Darcy explained. “With no land in sight. The possibility of saving all this wasn’t even on the horizon. And I knew that with each passing month I was drifting further out. Then you knocked on the door and it was like someone had thrown me a rope and was pulling me back in.”
“You’re not the only one. I’ve been drifting through life for so long that I barely noticed everything that was passing me by. Seeing Georgiana that day at the wedding was like a clarion call to arms. I think I was too scared of change to save myself. But if I could save you, then perhaps you…could save me.”
Darcy held her in his arms.
“Do you need saving?” he asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“So did I.”
He kissed her beneath a wild winter’s sky as the snow began to fall once more. But this time it was more than the touching of lips. It was the pledging of souls.
∞ ∞ ∞
…Epilogue
The Sunny Road to Pemberley
The sun shone down as Elizabeth stood in the courtyard at Pemberley. She marvelled at the people who were coming and going about their business as the summer wind blew through the trees. Her mobile phone went off in her pocket and she answered the call.
“Yes Kitty, what do you want?” she asked her sister.
“Is there any sign of the florist’s van, because if I don’t get the floral displays put into place within the next half hour, I won’t have time to check on the chairs for the ceremony,” Kitty replied.
“No, I can’t see the van yet. I’ll give you a call when they come,” Elizabeth replied as Kitty hung up.
“Who was that?” Darcy asked as he wheeled another stack of chairs along the path.
“Kitty, asking about the flowers.”
“Your sister phoned you? She could have just opened a window and called.”
“Ah well, she doesn’t have to, not since the phone company put that mast on the church tower,” she smiled.
Darcy abandoned his chair and put his arms around her waist.
“I notice you didn’t ask them to dig the trenches for the broadband cables,” he whispered in her ear.
“Why would I, and miss seeing you wield a shovel with your shirt off?” she teased him as he kissed her neck. “But it’s all working out isn’t it?”
“Of course it is, I was only speaking to the owner of the cake shop the other day. She said that bringing the internet to Lambton is helping the local businesses to flourish,” Darcy replied.
“I know that, I meant us, Pemberley.”
“Oh, we’re more than just getting by. We are actually in profit. If we keep going like this, we’ll be able to restore the orangery as another venue,” he smiled as Mr Reynolds came out of his house and stood before them.
He was dressed as a chimney sweep and was busy fiddling with his collar.
“I bet I look a right twerp,” he said.
“You look charming Bernard,” Elizabeth reassured him. “And the bride to be was so happy to find out that we knew a sweep to bring her good luck at her wedding.”
“Yes, well, I’m very sure I wish them all the best, but I don’t see why I need such a stiff collar.”
“Because Bernard Reynolds I won’t have you seen in public looking like a tramp,” Mrs Reynolds replied as she came out to join them. “Now how are you getting up to the church?”
“Miss Georgiana’s taking me.”
“That’s the trouble with having two weddings on the same day,” Mrs Reynolds replied.
“Yes, but at least the church has one of them, we just have their reception,” Darcy added as he went back to his stack of chairs.
“Let’s see if we can make sure that the right party goes to the right reception this time,” Elizabeth added.
“It was only the once,” he smiled. “And those old dears went home with more than a piece of wedding cake, if you know what I mean.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh.
“Anyway, their reception is in the marquee and the other is in the house so there is little chance of a mix-up,” he said as he disappeared around the corner.
Georgiana came running out of Pemberley with her car keys in her hand and her phone to her ear. She put her phone in her pocket and caught her breath.
“Sorry, but that was the registrars for the ceremony. They are running late because they’ve got a flat tyre,” Georgiana explained.
“That’s alright, we’ve got plenty of time. We’re still waiting on guests as well as the flowers.”
“Good,” Georgiana replied as she and Mr Reynolds headed to the garage.
Mrs Reynolds stood beside her with her hands on her hips. She took a deep breath of the summer air and smiled.
“Well, you said you would do it,” she remarked.<
br />
“Do what?” Elizabeth asked.
“Bring this place back to life.”
“I promised to bring Darcy back to life.”
“Oh child, it’s much the same thing,” she replied. “Well, I better check on that cake. They’re unpacking it in the kitchen, and they sometimes need a touch up after travelling so far. As do we all.”
Elizabeth smiled as Mrs Reynolds returned to the kitchen. The sun was shining, and everything seemed right with the world. Ahead of her on the drive she could see the florist’s van making its way. Her phone rang again, but this time it wasn’t Kitty.
“Hello Pemberley Weddings, Elizabeth Darcy speaking, how can I help?”
The End
∞ ∞ ∞
About the Author
Katie Bright lives in rural Hertfordshire in a cottage called Longbourn with two ducks, three chickens and a cat named Toby Jug. She is a lifelong fan of Jane Austen and has been writing for many years.
She lives by three rules:
There is no such thing as too much Austen.
Breeches can never be worn too tight.
Ignore the Wickhams in life and wait for a Darcy.
Follow her on Twitter @katiebrightjaff
Or email her at [email protected]
Pride and Prejudice Variations Novellas
Rescuing Miss Bennet
Waiting for Mr Darcy
The Snowy Road to Pemberley
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