Page 115 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Maddie must be sent for.”

“Yes, Mr. Darcy has already sent an express to Gracechurch Street.”

Mr. Radcliff crossed to Darcy and shook his hand before ordering champagne for a toast.

Dr. Wynn joined them soon afterward. He offered Darcy his hand, then kissed Elizabeth’s cheek.

“I wish you both every happiness.”

When the Darcys rose to leave, the Radcliffs invited them to return for dinner.

“Thank you, ma’am. We shall be here.”

Elizabeth accompanied them to the entrance.

Georgiana embraced her once more before going out to the carriage.

Darcy stayed beside Elizabeth.

He took her hand and kissed it. “Until this evening, my darling.”

Chapter 39: Letters to Tomorrow

October 19, 1811

The following morning, Darcy and Georgiana joined Elizabeth at the table in the back corner of the Radcliffs' drawing room. Elizabeth's books still occupied most of it, though she had cleared enough space for writing paper, ink, and the growing collection of notes the three had made during the past week.

Today they needed none of the books.

Elizabeth placed three sheets of paper before them. “Now for the letters. I am fearful that the person I was will not believe a word of mine.”

Darcy regarded the blank sheet before him. “We may require considerably more paper, for I fear the same will be true of me.”

Laughing, Elizabeth stood. “I will get more from the writing desk.”

Darcy took up his pen.

“The first difficulty is persuading ourselves to believe something impossible. We need to include something only we could know and something we can verify.”

For the next hour they worked with little conversation. Pages accumulated beside each of them as they recorded the events of the past year. Elizabeth wrote until her fingers cramped, rested them, and then continued.

The letter she carried on December twenty-first had to convince a young woman in April that within days Lydia would be lost, both her parents would be dead, and Longbourn would no longer belong to them. All five Bennet sisters would see their lives changed for the worse.

More importantly, Elizabeth had to tell her how to prevent it.

She was careful to record what she knew of Wickham and what he would do. Then she came to the part that mattered.

Papa may not believe the danger is as great as you tell him. Make him understand. If he will not act, go to Uncle Edward. Tell him everything and ask him to intervene. Do not wait for Lydia to do something that cannot be undone.

She underlined the final sentence.

Across the table, Georgiana had stopped writing.

Elizabeth saw the pain in the young girl's eyes.

After a moment, Georgiana resumed.

Mr. Darcy met Elizabeth's gaze before returning to his letter.