Page 48 of Through the Eyes of Love

“Mrs. Darcy, you will be beautiful to me forever.”

“And nothing can ever change how I feel about you.”

Mrs. Reynolds smiled and excused herself, and by the time she had quit the room, Elizabeth was in his arms again.

* * *

Elizabeth sat closebeside her husband, profound recollections filling her mind. “After my father was stricken, I told Jane I always believed our lives were enchanted. At that time, we had no idea what would happen to our family.”

“What did you mean by that?”

“We had the security of a loving family, proper clothing, and a warm fire in the winter. There was always enough food for us and to entertain our friends—all of that had its own kind of enchantment.”

“I never thought about it like that. According to your way of thinking, the life I lived before the firewasenchanted. But you cannot compare anything to the way the enchantment of the cottage has changed our lives.”

“Our love is blind to any unknown forces that might interfere.”

“I would challenge anyone who tried to come between us. You may not be aware that your husband is an excellent marksman and an accomplished swordsman.” He grinned, allaying any fears she might have that he could be serious about challenging someone.

“Let us hope it never comes to that!” They both laughed before she kissed him. “What do you think about the special cream Lady Matlock gave me? I put some of it on my face for the wedding but not since then.”

“We have been in our chambers for seven days and not seen anyone. I love all of you and your face cream will never change that. Apply it when you believe you are somewhere your birthmark might make you uncomfortable.”

“Now that I have my own jar, I thought the same thing.”

“Where were we before you asked me that question? Ah, yes, I remember. . . ” She was quickly in her husband’s arms and they resumed their kisses.

Over the following weeks, the happy couple spent every moment together and saw no one other than the cottage servants and Mr. Bethel. She and Fitzwilliam took long walks in the gardens and enjoyed the warm weather.

They were both delighted by how well the charred plants were beginning to grow back—in particular, Elizabeth’s attention to the rose garden had been well worthwhile. She could never have dreamt that trimming the burnt plants would lead to her current happiness.

Fitzwilliam pointed to the manor house. “The walls have been restored and the roof repair is finished—that area is where the first rooms we shall occupy are located. The family wing is now secure and the rooms are beginning to take shape.

Construction noises greeted Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam as they entered Pemberley. She was delighted the rebuilding was going so well.

“I wish to show you what is left of the library. It was not safe to do so until now.”

When her husband opened the double doors, she gasped at the size of the enormous room. She spun around—the vision was overwhelming! Large windows all across the back wall illuminated the beautiful hand carved bookcases, which were two storeys high and filled with thousands of books, most of them burnt or charred. The remains of sofas, chairs and tables were scattered in clusters around the room. Near the back wall, she could make out what was left of a small writing desk. She was awestruck at the scale and substance, even with the devastation!

“I can tell it was nothing short of magnificent. I am certain you spent many hours here exploring the world through your books.”

“Yes. I was an only child for a long time and spent many hours on my own in here. My father had those rolling ladders installed so I had access to everything. The library was often my refuge when the weight of being master got to be too much.”

“I too spent many a cold winter’s day sitting before the fire in my father’s study at Longbourn with a book in my hands.”

“Look over there: can you see the remains of a large mound of books?”

“Yes, but why would anyone leave that many books so haphazardly piled near the door?”

“An excellent question from my perceptive bride. Do you remember when I told you the constable came here to investigate the fire? This is where he found the evidence that the fire was intentionally started in the library, and that it was not an accident. Books were also set ablaze next to the draperies in the drawing room, and there may have been other fires started elsewhere in the house, but many areas are still unsafe to inspect.”

She shook her head. The evil was unfathomable! “I still cannot believe it! If someone was desperate enough, I might understand them stealing jewellery or money to survive. But why would Wickham wish to destroy this beautiful house and hurt you and Georgiana?”

“Vengeance, my love, nothing more than his depraved desire for revenge. During his other ill-treatments of the Darcy good will, part of his intention was to harm me but, in the end, all he really cared about was the money. When he attempted to seduce my sister in Ramsgate, his only goal was to get his hands on Georgie’s dowry. He knew if she married him, she would be condemned to a life of misery as well as bringing shame and scandal to the Darcy family. This time, his goal was the moneyandto cause us to suffer.”

“He nearly killed you and destroyed your ancestral home, but I am comforted to know he can never harm our family again.”

“As am I, my love.”