Darcy tucked Elizabeth’s arm in his, and they began to walk back toward the house. Darcy turned to her. “Speaking of servants, you now will require your own personal maid. I am sending a young lady for you from Pemberley.”

“My own maid?” she asked with surprise. “Goodness, I used to have to share one with my four sisters at Longbourn.”

“The decision rests with you whether you want to keep her, but I am inclined to think you will like her. Her name is Anna Harrington.”

Elizabeth instantly turned to him at the mention of her name. “Anna!” she said excitedly and clasped her hands together. “I think she and I will get along admirably!”

A satisfied smile appeared. “I thought she would be good for you.”

* * *

The Gardiners returned to London after having spent a pleasant fortnight at Braedenthorn. They had enjoyed their stay with their two favourite nieces, and Mrs. Gardiner particularly enjoyed visiting her friends in Lambton, including the Ketterlings. The couple reassured Elizabeth that they would return in a day’s notice for another wedding.

During the next month, the Bingleys and Elizabeth were invited to three small dinner parties, a whist party, and a ball. The hosts all appeared to be on quite intimate terms with Mr. Darcy, and they received their new acquaintances warmly. Bingley won them over with his friendliness, Jane with her kindheartedness, and Elizabeth with her liveliness and intelligent conversation.

Two weeks later, Caroline Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst arrived. Elizabeth had not seen Charles’s sisters since his and Jane’s wedding. A small dinner party was held to welcome them.

Elizabeth was certain that Caroline must have been disappointed that things did not go as she expected—or at least as she hoped—between her brother and Miss Darcy. While those hopes were now dashed, Elizabeth wondered whether Caroline still clung to hopes regarding Mr. Darcy and herself.

Later, when the men had joined Bingley in his study, Elizabeth found herself alone with Caroline, who took the opportunity to speak her mind.

“Tell me, Miss Bennet,” Caroline said, “whatever happened with your ward? Will you be returning any time soon as her governess?” She emphasized the last word in a vulgar tone.

“I do not believe so. I am confident the Willstones will find another.”

Caroline leaned in, as if wanting to share with Elizabeth some secret between them. Instead, her voice was accusatory. “Do not expect, Miss Bennet, to overcome your standing in society by merely residing with my brother at his estate. You are a governess, and that shall always be before you. If you suppose to attract the eye of some man of distinction and fortune, I would kindly offer you a word of advice. Do not get your hopes up. This arrangement will not change anything.”

Elizabeth remained silent while she collected herself. “There is doubtless some truth in your words, Miss Bingley. I would imagine most gentlemen would not pay me notice, and I have no intention of seeking them out.”

Caroline seemed satisfied. “It is good you understand your place.”

Elizabeth smiled knowingly back at her. “Oh, I understand my place. Believe me, I truly do.”

Later that evening Elizabeth overheard Miss Bingley’s excited voice.

“You see the futility in it, do you not? She wants to pass herself off as an esteemed lady, when she is not! You must alert my brother, so he will not earn the scorn of those in the neighbourhood!”

“I fail to see your point. Why should she not be received with the respect she deserves?”

“Because she cannot change the fact that she was a lowly governess! That will always be what people see! Certainly you can see that she has aspirations that are completely unreasonable!”

Finally, in a somewhat stern voice, Mr. Darcy said, “I see. Do you speak from your own personal experience, Miss Bingley, due to the fact that your father merely made his fortune in trade? Do you encounter people who have blocked your own aspirations?”

Elizabeth stepped toward them. She walked up to Mr. Darcy and unflinchingly slipped her hand through his arm. Elizabeth’s smile was returned by Caroline’s look of bewilderment and shock. Darcy, seeing Elizabeth’s bold action, had somewhat the same look on his face.

“Has he told you the good news yet, Miss Bingley?” she asked, looking intently at her. “Has he told you that we have recently become betrothed? Shall you now wish us joy?”

Caroline sputtered something unintelligible. She looked at Mr. Darcy, and her eyes pleaded with him for a repudiation of Elizabeth’s absurd announcement. Instead, he said, “It is true, Miss Bingley. You may have not heard, as we have not yet made a formal announcement. But we are to marry!”

For a brief moment, Elizabeth noticed a look of grief and resignation pass over Caroline’s features, but just as quickly, she threw back her shoulders and lifted her head high. “May I offer you my congratulations? I hope you will be happy.” She then turned and walked stiffly and quickly away.

Elizabeth waited a few moments before turning to Darcy, who was shaking his head in Caroline’s direction. Elizabeth gave his hand a furtive squeeze. “I feel rather sorry for her.”

“It is because you are not like her. You are not meanspirited.” He turned and looked at Elizabeth. His hand cradled her chin, tilting her face up toward him. “We ought to announce our engagement soon.”

Elizabeth met his gaze. “I believe you are right.”

There was only one thing Elizabeth wished to do, however, before they formally announced their engagement, but she was not sure how to bring it about. Later, as she spoke with Georgiana about the small gathering coming up at Pemberley in a few days, she asked her if she had any ideas on how she could accomplish this.

Georgiana thought a moment and then smiled. “Yes,” she said. “I think I do.”

* * *

It was morning, and Elizabeth was already sitting up in bed when Anna tapped at the door. She bid her come in, and Anna quietly and most efficiently helped Elizabeth dress. She was proving to be an exceptional personal maid. Elizabeth not only appreciated her friendliness but her excellence at all she did.

She was not at Braedenthorn, however. She was at Pemberley. After a small gathering the night before, she surreptitiously slipped out of the carriage as it made its way out the circle drive. Unbeknownst to Darcy, Georgiana brought her back in through a side entrance and skirted her up to the room that had been hers on her stay here.

Once Elizabeth was dressed, she put on her mud boots. Then she and Anna quietly took the back staircase down and walked out through Pemberley’s courtyard, to avoid encountering Darcy. Georgiana had taken measures with Mr. Grant, her brother’s valet, to ensure that he would hike up the ridge that morning. Mr. Grant was to have given him assurances that the sunrise “looked to be spectacular,” but he also conveniently delayed him somewhat until he heard the “all is clear” tap. That meant Elizabeth had already preceded him down.

The morning was only just beginning to dawn as she began her climb up the ridge. Fortunately, the sky had cleared, and while the path was slightly damp, it was not terribly muddy. When she reached the summit, it seemed as though nothing, in all directions, was yet awake.

She walked over to the bench that sat atop the ridge and took a seat. Her heart raced relentlessly as she waited. It was but a moment later that she heard the sound of twigs cracking from the path. She sat very still, keeping her eyes on the place at the summit where the path would bring him up.

She turned her head slightly when Darcy appeared. He stepped toward the edge of the ridge and looked down the other side. She could see that he looked toward Braedenthorn. It even appeared as though he looked down toward the paths that came up from there. She smiled quietly as she wondered whether he thought she would actually hike up all that way in the darkness.

He seemed so riveted as he looked out at the valley that Elizabeth wondered whether he would ever notice her. She finally decided to take matters into her own hands. “Ahem.” She cleared her throat, prompting Mr. Darcy to spin around.

He did not take the time to greet her or even ask what she was doing there or how she got up there. In a few long strides he came to stand in front of her and took her hands, pulling her to her feet. He wrapped his arms about her in a firm embrace and fervently pressed his lips to hers.

Elizabeth was so completely astonished by his fervour, so enthralled by his ardent display, that she felt she would collapse to the ground if she did not grasp onto him more firmly. He must have sensed this, for his grip tightened about her.

At last, reluctantly, he slowly drew away. “Pray, forgive me, Elizabeth.” He took in two deep breaths. “I have come up here so often, thinking of sharing the view and the sunrise…” He lifted her chin with two of his fingers, “…with you. Consequently, when I saw you, I could not even utter a polite, ‘Good morning,’ or ‘I am pleased you have come!’”

He leant over and briefly kissed her lips again. He drew back and said, “I am delighted to see you here, but heavens! You must have hiked up here in the complete darkness!”

“I wished to keep my promise.” Elizabeth lifted her fingers tentatively to push back some strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead. “However, I did not climb up from Braedenthorn. I stayed at Pemberley last night. Your sister helped me so you would not find out.”