Page 54 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings
“I thought I would…” Her voice broke. She looked at the ground between them. At the dirt, gravel, and scattering of grass. Somehow their joined hands entwined even more.She tried to speak past the lump in her throat.
“I thought… I would be the only one to remember,” she said. “That I would be the only one… burdened with it until the end.”
More tears flowed down her cheeks. Elizabeth squeezedher eyes shut.
“No, never,” Mr. Darcy said, drawing her closer. She could feel his fingers brushing away her tears. Holding her face.
…that was when Elizabeth realized just how lonely she had felt all those months.
To carry the strangeness and unbelievable reality of what they had experienced, all alone. She leaned into his hand, raising her own to press it to her cheek.
“Elizabeth…” Mr. Darcy whispered.
She opened her eyes.
Their gazes locked.
…and then Mr. Darcy pulled her into his embrace and kissed her.
Chapter 34:
True Love’s Kiss
Their lips moved softly against each other’s at first.
Brushing. Tasting. A reverence.
Elizabeth could feel a warmth growing within her heart. Expanding like the sun.
“I love you,” Mr. Darcy whispered against her lips.
They kissed again.
It was as if they wished to recover the lost time. Unable to let go. An ever increasing intensity.
Everything their hearts wished to say was parsed through their lips and embrace. Everything unspoken.
When they finally pulled apart, they gazed into each other’s eyes. Elizabeth smiled. Radiance was spreading through her being.
Then she gave him a mock stern look.
“Well, Mr. Darcy, I hope you intend to marry me after taking such liberties with my person.”
He blushed, but did not release her from the circle of his arms.
“Madam, if there ever was any doubt about that, let me rectify it right away. There is no one else I would like to spend the rest of my life with than you.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat.
Like the warmth of a fireplace against the cold.
“I would like that,” she said softly.
She leaned forward and touched her lips to his once more.
Epilogue
It was only once they were walking back from Oakham Mount, hand in hand, that Elizabeth asked what was burning in her mind.
