Page 68 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
Mr Darcy looked between them. “To some, yes. You may be seen differently now. You have no right to the lands or anything of that nature, but the connection alone may be of value. Lord Matlock values such connections. Lord Mortimer is an old foe of his. In time, it may help us all. If you wish it to be known who your father was, I can help make it known.”
Thomas gave a small nod. “I thank you but I think I must consider matters further. For the time being, I’d rather be accepted for who I am.”
“And you shall be,” Mr Darcy said. “You already are.”
Georgiana threw her arms around her brother. “I love you.”
Elizabeth stood aside, watching it all unfold, her chest full. She had known this would be a turning point—for all of them.
As the group prepared to return to Longbourn, Elizabeth leaned towards her father and whispered something. He gave her a knowing look and nodded before stepping into the other carriage with Georgiana and Thomas.
Mr Darcy turned to her. “What’s this?”
“I asked for a moment alone with you,” she said as they settled back into the carriage.
He looked at her, heart quickening.
“I wanted to tell you,” she began, “how much I admired what you did. You spoke with understanding and grace. You kept your word. It meant a great deal.”
“I meant it all,” Mr Darcy said. “I’ve been wrong in many ways, but I hope I may make things right.”
“There is one thing you’ve already done right,” she said softly. “You’ve convinced me.”
He turned sharply. “Convinced you?”
She smiled. “You asked me once—if I could ever see you differently. And the answer is yes.”
He held her gaze, breath held.
“I’ve struggled with my feelings,” she admitted. “I thought we might be friends. Then more. But I wasn’t sure. You seemed so distant… so proud.”
He began to speak, but she raised her hand.
“Let me finish, before I lose courage.”
He nodded again.
“You’ve shown me that you are not the man I once thought you to be. You’ve owned your mistakes. You’ve changed. And I see now that I was not innocent either. I let my own pride cloud my judgement.”
She looked up at him, eyes bright. “You said you admired me. And now I can say the same. I admire you. And I wonder—would you consider staying in Hertfordshire a little longer?”
Mr Darcy’s expression broke into a soft smile. “Bingley still holds Netherfield for some months. Arrangements can be made.”
“There’s a wedding to plan,” she said lightly.
He took her hand. “Then we shall have time. And when that time comes… you shall have your answer.”
She smiled back. And in that carriage, the future began to take shape.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Darcy
Three months had passed since the dramatic halt at the edge of the border road, and now, all was a flurry of lace, ribbons, and well-polished shoes. The household was alive with activity. In just a few days, Georgiana Darcy would be married—not to some titled gentleman chosen by her family, but to Thomas Bennet, the man she loved and had chosen for herself.
The path had not been without its difficulties.
As expected, Lady Catherine had broken all contact. Her most recent letter had not even addressed Georgiana by name, preferring instead to ‘that girl’, and declaring her niece lost to all sense and reason. Darcy had taken one look at it, folded it in half, and tossed it into the fire.
