Page 71 of The Widower of Pemberley

“That explains it all! Jane—I mean Miss Bennet—she is exactly like that. Exactly like that. She forces you to become a better version of yourself. But Darcy, after you have married Elizabeth, you will be the happiest man in the world. Marriage will not be like it was with your first wife.”

“I do not know whether I would like the unending ecstasy,” Darcy replied, “that would be required to be the ‘happiest’ man in theworld.”

The tension in Darcy’s body was returning after the clarity of the realisation that he could not shoot Wickham and that he also could not risk himself by facing his fire either.

Every man who saw her would want Elizabeth. But she would see in him what Mary had seen. And she would never…well he did not expect her to love him.

Except he wanted her love, even though he had no right to hope for it, since he did not love her.

He certainly did not feel like the ‘happiest’ man in the world.

“No, no,” Bingley replied. “That is not what it means to be the happiest man in the world. It merely means that you are delighted with the woman you married. That you have a good life, and then children, and that, well, you like each other. Very much.”

“That does not seem,” Darcy said tartly, “to match the description of the ‘happiest’ man in theworld. ‘Happiest’ is relative, and it requires exceeding, or at least equalling, everyone else.”

Bingley laughed. “It is so like you to require precision on such a point, particularly when you are about to marry. I imagine when you have more children, you will not even agree that the boy is the handsomest child in the world.”

“As a mathematical proposition, that would be unlikely,” Darcy said, smiling.

He liked the idea of a child—boy or girl—with Elizabeth’s eyes and colouring.

“For my part,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “henceforth I shall only wish people ‘lastingly and rationally happy’. I do not know Miss Elizabeth well enough to expect that from your marriage, or its opposite.”

“Would the opposite be ‘inconstantly and irrationally unhappy’?” Bingley asked.

“Exactly! My dear fellow,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said cheerfully, “you have now proved that youcanargue like Darcy about the precise meanings of words!”

“Only as a matter of amusement,” Bingley replied with his easy grin.

“If it should prove to be that opposite case,” Darcy said, “I hope that the inconstancy of our unhappiness might make the situation less grave than it appears at first sight.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed, while Bingley gave him a judging look.

Georgiana returned to the room carrying Emily. His sister was glowing and smiling. “Your Elizabeth looks beautiful.”

“Do not tell him that,” the colonel replied. “Remember, from the first he was repelled by her beauty.”

Georgiana giggled. “What nonsense. Fitzwilliam never looks away from her. I have high hopes of finding a gentleman I can respect and love who looks at me in the way that Fitzwilliam looks at Lizzy.”

“You are in a better mood.” Darcy studied his sister.

Georgiana smiled beautifully. “We talked a great deal about George while Lizzy’s hair was being done by Sarah. I am still sad that he cannot be the man I wish him to be, but…but you two are marrying, and that will make you both the happiest couple in the world.”

She wiped her eyes.

“Darcy absolutely refuses to be the happiest,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said.

Emily cheered, “Miss Lizzy! Miss Lizzy! Miss Lizzy!”

Darcy took his daughter into his arms and said, “Youwill be the happiest child in the world at having a new mother.”

“She promised to always play with me,” Emily replied. “You know, children need to be played with a great deal.”

“That is true,” Darcy agreed.

“The girl will be horribly spoiled, but she has a good nature that will limit the damage,” the colonel offered.

“I do not mean to let Emily be spoiled,” Darcy said.