Page 74 of When Elizabeth Said Yes

He didn't know if it would ever happen, but how he wanted her to love him as he loved her.

Well, only time would tell if that were possible. For now, he had to trust in his plan, as difficult as it was.

After a long and sleepless night, with Darcy extremely aware of how close she was in the bed next to him, and being totally unused to spending the night with someone else in his bed, Darcy got up at dawn and went downstairs to recheck the preparations that had already been checked multiple times. He hoped his sister had slept well. She had looked pale the night before, and they had another long day's travel ahead of them.

He did not know whether Elizabeth had slept. He had thought several times, when he was awake, that she had also been awake, but they had not spoken.

They just needed to get to Pemberley. And then they could start their lives properly together.

◆◆◆

Georgiana was quiet on the ride back to Pemberley, and Elizabeth found herself dozing several times. It had been impossible to sleep with a man, her husband, in the bed beside her. And after that kiss, well, she could think of nothing else. But exhaustion took over, and the gentle motion of the carriage lulled her to sleep.

Occasionally, she jerked awake, and every time, she could have sworn Darcy's eyes were on her. Was he spending the entire carriage ride watching her? She hoped she did not look too unattractive in her sleep.

Night had fallen by the time they reached Derbyshire. Darcy was keen to get to Pemberley, and so they pushed on instead of stopping at an inn.

When they reached the entrance to the estate, Darcy informed her that she was home.

She looked out of the windows eagerly, but of course there was very little to be seen.

"You can see it properly in the morning," he said, and Elizabeth was sure her disappointment was clear on her face. She was so excited to see her new home.

They seemed to be driving for an age before the carriage stopped. The footman opened the door, and Darcy jumped out first before standing to help out his sister, who was clearly fatigued by the journey and kept touching her head, and then Elizabeth. She held his hand, a thrill coursing through her body that made her smile at him before looking up at her new home.

Even in the dark, she could tell it was vast. Well, she'd known it must be, but this was beyond her wildest expectations. There were candles in a couple of the windows, but most of it was in darkness, only lit by the moon when it passed out from under a cloud.

"This is Pemberley," she said in a hushed whisper.

"This is Pemberley," he said, and she could hear the pride in his voice. She understood it, too. Even in the dark, she could tell it was beautiful.

"Welcome home, Georgiana," he said to his sister, who was standing behind them, practically falling asleep on her feet. "Welcome home, Mrs Darcy."

Elizabeth swallowed. Mrs Darcy of Pemberley. Goodness.

Chapter Forty-Three

Elizabeth thought she understood Darcy enough to know that while her bedchamber and his had interconnecting doors, she would not see him again once they went to bed.

She thought she understood that he wanted them to know each other. He wanted there to be a connection, and she appreciated it, even if her heart wasn't sure that she wanted to be parted from him.

She was shown into the most sumptuous room she had ever slept in. A grand four-poster bed was in the middle. There were vast paintings on the walls and a large window with a window seat. She couldn't wait to see the view in the morning.

"Do you have everything you need?" the maid, the very same Hannah who’d been sent on from Longbourn, keen to remain in the Darcys’ employ rather than returning to Lady Catherine, asked.

Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you."

"I’ll return to help you dress for bed," Hannah said, before ducking her head and disappearing downstairs, leaving them alone once more.

Darcy hovered in the doorway. "I will just check Georgiana is settled. And then I will see you in the morning."

Elizabeth nodded and smiled. She felt like she understood him better now. It wasn't that he didn't want to be near her. It was that he wanted to do things right. And if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right.

"I'll see you in the morning," she said.

Then, taking the candle from him, she stood up on her tiptoes and pressed the briefest of kisses to his lips.

"Good night, Darcy."