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“Tea would be lovely.” Elizabeth smiled at the young maid. “And some bread with butter.”

“Very good, miss. I will pass the word to the kitchen at once.” With another curtsey and apology for not having the fire already lit before, the maid disappeared.

True to her word, it was not long before a housemaid appeared carrying a tray. In addition to the tea, bread, and butter, they had sent up also coffee, a dish of cold meats leftover from the previous day, a small jar of preserves, and another of honey. Elizabeth declined the maid’s offer to pour the tea, knowing the servants would have plenty to do below stairs. As it was, both maids she had seen looked exhausted, and she wondered if they had slept at all.

Elizabeth ate sparingly, more to pass the time than from real hunger. The weather had turned cold, too cold even for her to venture out for a walk before the sun rose to warm the countryside. Gradually, the sky outside brightened, the deep blue yielding to the pinks and oranges of dawn. The trees in the distance, moments before just shadows, now glittered with the morning frost.

“I do miss the country sometimes,” came a voice from behind her. “The sunrise is not so beautiful in London.”

Elizabeth turned and smiled at her uncle. “Indeed, I am surprised you can see the sunrise at all in London.”

“Sometimes we cannot. If there are strong winds to carry away the haze, we might have a few days where we can see it, but that is not regular by any means.”

Elizabeth’s smile softened with genuine affection for her uncle. “I do not think I should like living in London very much then.”

“Then it is very good that Mr. Darcy is not much for the city. I imagine he spends a great deal more time at Pemberley than Darcy House.”

Elizabeth agreed before the import of her uncle’s words fully penetrated her mind.

Her uncle only grinned at her surprised expression. “You must not suppose, Lizzy, that your feelings are at all concealed. Mrs. Ellington and I both noted the change in both you and Mr. Darcy following your walk out-of-doors yesterday, and believe ourselves to be correct in assuming that gentleman will call today as soon as is polite.”

His words provoked a blush in Elizabeth, which she hoped was concealed by the pink light filling the whole room. “I did not wish him to speak to my father yesterday, as I did not want to distract anyone from the wedding.”

Mr. Gardiner’s smile was triumphant. “I knew it to be so, and so did your cousin. Your aunt did not think so, as she thought Mr. Darcy would wait a few days until the business of the wedding was concluded. You have given me a great deal of joy, Lizzy, for it is not often that I am more perceptive than my wife.”

Elizabeth let out a small laugh at how positively boyish her uncle appeared. As they broke their fast together, Mr. Gardiner began to reimagine the trip he and his wife had planned to the Lake District in the summer, for they should like to remain much longer in Lambton now that their niece should be at Pemberley.

“You need not stay in Lambton, Uncle,” said Elizabeth. “Certainly, you must stay at Pemberley. Darcy will agree with me, I am sure, once I speak with him.”

“I am certain Mr. Darcy will agree to whatever you request, my dear niece,” Mr. Gardiner said with a smile.

“Am I to understand that I am to lose another daughter?” asked Mr. Bennet, who had entered the room without their noticing.

“Papa!” Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise.

“I come to have breakfast with my daughter and brother, and am met with the prospect of losing another daughter to an eligible gentleman. If only I had taken your mother seriously when she told me what Netherfield being let would mean for our family, then I might never have called on the fellow.”

“You can hardly blame Mr. Bingley for Mary’s wedding,” Elizabeth pointed out. “David has been our neighbour all our lives.”

“That much is true,” Mr. Bennet acquiesced. “But all the way to Derbyshire, Lizzy? You could not have found another gentleman of ten thousand a year closer to Longbourn?”

Elizabeth could not suppress her smile at her father’s witticism; she knew that he would not deny Mr. Darcy if he was making such remarks. Truly, she had never supposed he would hesitate to agree to the match, for Darcy had shown himself to be a fine friend to her family.

Indeed, at eleven o’clock, the Darcys arrived at Longbourn. Knowing the other gentleman’s errand, Mr. Bennet immediately invited Mr. Darcy to speak with him in his library, leaving the ladies and Mr. Gardiner to their own pursuits. Mr. Gardiner, with an arch smile at Elizabeth, remarked only that her father seemed unusually eager for company, but Elizabeth paid him no heed. The two gentlemen remained closeted for no more than a quarter of an hour, as there was little to be said. Darcy had already had a very generous settlement drawn up, and there was little to discuss. Nothing in either man’s manner betrayed what had passed in the library, until Mr. Bennet sent a maid to call Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Ellington, and the Gardiners into the room.

Mrs. Bennet arrived looking presentable, but clearly tired from the excitement of the previous day. Mrs. Ellington appeared a few moments later, it taking her longer to navigate the house due to her injury. The Gardiners entered together, Mrs. Gardiner’s smile gentle and expectant, Mr. Gardiner as composed as ever, his eyes bright with interest. When the door closed behind them, Mr. Bennet urged everyone to be seated, ensuring his wife, his cousin, and his sister and brother-in-law were all comfortable before relating his news.

One could not imagine a set of responses so different. Mrs. Ellington smiled contentedly and congratulated the couple in tones of quiet pride. Mrs. Gardiner offered her warmest wishes as well. Mr. Gardiner, far too sensible to indulge in excess, simply nodded approval of his wife’s words and looked pleased. Mrs. Bennet, however, sat motionless for several long moments, as if she did not quite understand what her husband had said. Mr. Bennet repeated the announcement once more, and only then did Mrs. Bennet become animated.

“Darcy? Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet gasped, clutching her chest. “Oh! Oh, my nerves! Lord bless me! Three daughters married!” She then threw her arms about Elizabeth, who was nearest to her. “Oh, my dear child, how shall I bear such happiness?”

When Mrs. Bennet finally released her daughter, it was only to be able to seize Darcy’s hand in her own. “Oh, dear me... pray forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I am quite overcome, and I fear I am talking a great deal of nonsense. It is only that I am the happiest mother in Hertfordshire to surrender my dear Lizzy into such hands as yours!”

“You are quite forgiven, Madam,” Darcy replied, although his manner suggested that he should like to pull his hand away if he could do so without giving offence.

Mr. Gardiner, recognising the look of distress on the younger man’s face, stepped forward and offered his own hand. “Mr. Darcy, I am very glad indeed to congratulate you.” Darcy, thus released from Mrs. Bennet’s grasp, returned the handshake with evident relief. Mrs. Gardiner then took Mrs. Bennet’s arm in her own, and in a manner that suggested she had similarly manoeuvred her husband’s sister many times before, suggested that they ought to inform the kitchen to expect two extra guests for dinner that evening.

Kitty and Georgiana, who had until then been silent, went to the newly betrothed couple and offered their congratulations with unaffected enthusiasm. While each was delighted that their sibling had found someone with whom they might spend their lives, this happiness was far surpassed by the prospect of calling each other sisters as well. Missing the third member of their trio, the young ladies immediately announced their intention to visit Lucas Lodge, for Maria must hear the news at once.