Page 100 of The Crown’s Gift

"Your letters were excellent company."

"That is not the same."

"No."

He kissed her. Cold air, warm mouth, the faint scent of snow and leather—Elizabeth felt every week of absence collapse. Darcy drew her beneath the shelter of a cedar. Her arms went around him, and the kiss deepened until caution gave way to hunger.

His hand moved along her back and stopped at her waist. Elizabeth felt the effort of restraint in his body.

"We should return," he said against her temple.

"Probably."

Neither moved.

From beyond the cedar Kitty called, "I have finished the tree."

Elizabeth laughed against Darcy's coat.

"Your family remains vigilant," he said.

"Papa assigns them in shifts."

They returned rosy from weather and other causes. Lady Bennet looked at Elizabeth, then at Darcy, and announced that the wedding date must not be later than March because prolonged engagements invited colds.

Sir Thomas observed that marriage did not cure weather.

"No, but it permits them to be snowed in together," Lady Bennet replied.

Darcy nearly choked on his tea.

The date was set for the fifteenth of March.

That night Darcy and Elizabeth sat near the drawing-room fire while Mary played. The room held conversation, pages turning, needles moving, Bingley's laugh, Lady Bennet's instructions, and the crackle of wood.

Darcy leaned close. "Pemberley will never sound like this."

"Do you regret it?"

"No. We shall make our own noise."

Elizabeth slipped her hand into his beneath the edge of her shawl.

* * *

The royal reply arrived in February.

This time Sir Thomas opened it without delay. The whole family gathered in Netherfield's drawing room, including Jane and Bingley, Darcy and Georgiana, and the Gardiners newly arrived from London for wedding preparations.

Queen Charlotte wrote that the King had received Sir Thomas's letter during a quiet morning. His understanding came and went, but the names Netherfield and Bennet reached him.

He had asked for the letter to be read twice.

At the end, he dictated six words:

A life well used is thanks enough.

Sir Thomas could not continue.