Page 130 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

* * *

Though Elizabeth had much to learn, she and Fitzwilliam decided to set aside the demands of daily life for a time and enjoy each other’s company, for neither knew what the final days of December would bring.

Three days after the wedding, Elizabeth was in her parlor when a footman informed her that several trunks addressed to her had arrived from Meryton. She went downstairs and found servants carrying them through the entrance hall.

Fitzwilliam joined her and looked at the trunks. “Your father’s books have arrived.”

“Yes. There are even more than I remembered.”

He accompanied her to the parlor that was now hers, and Elizabeth began placing the books on the shelves he had prepared for them. Fitzwilliam opened another trunk and handed them to her one by one until the first bookcase began to resemble her father’s library at Longbourn.

Elizabeth ran her fingers over the familiar bindings.

Fitzwilliam placed another volume in her hands. “I think your father’s books look very well at Pemberley.”

She held the book to her chest. “So do I, sir.”

* * *

Before the first week of November had ended, Jane entered the parlor one afternoon with such happiness in her face that Elizabeth put down her book and rose.

“Mr. Bingley has asked you to marry him.”

Jane laughed as Elizabeth embraced her. “Yes! And this time, I accepted him.”

“Charles wishes to marry as soon as it can be arranged. He said he has waited long enough for me and has no intention of waiting any longer than the banns require.”

Elizabeth kissed her sister’s cheek. “He has been remarkably patient. I began to fear your first refusal had frightened him away.”

“Oh, Lizzy, I feared the same. But he has asked me again, and this time I knew better than to tempt fate twice.”

* * *

During the weeks that followed, Caroline often sought Fitzwilliam’s company. She remained pleasant with Elizabeth and helped Jane prepare for her marriage, but Elizabeth noticed that whenever Fitzwilliam entered a room, Caroline gravitated toward his side.

One morning, Elizabeth was breakfasting with Jane and Georgiana when Fitzwilliam, Charles, and Caroline returned from riding. Caroline removed her gloves as she entered.

“You might have joined us, Eliza, had you ever learned to sit a horse.”

She went to the sideboard while Fitzwilliam crossed directly to Elizabeth and kissed her cheek.

“Good morning, darling. I have been thinking about you for the last mile.”

Elizabeth took his hand and looked him over with appreciation. “You look very dashing in your riding clothes, sir.”

She laughed when Fitzwilliam bent to kiss her again before taking the chair beside her.

Later that morning, Caroline found Elizabeth alone in her private parlor.

“You looked askance at me this morning when I came in at your husband’s side.”

Elizabeth put down her book. “I did. You are often at his side.”

Caroline sat opposite her. “I cannot help myself, Eliza. I am perfectly aware that Mr. Darcy never loved me, and I know he is now a married man. Following him about accomplishes nothing except to make me miserable, but knowing that I must stop loving him and actually doing it are two very different things.”

She pressed a handkerchief to her eyes.

“This morning was a perfect example. He had been away from you for scarcely an hour, and yet he came into the breakfast parlor, went directly to you, and kissed you as though he had been gone for a week.”