Page 109 of The Crown’s Gift

"That is not an answer."

"Yes, Lizzy. I shall write. I shall visit. I shall irritate Darcy with advice he did not request."

"He may request it."

"Then I shall irritate him by withholding it."

Lady Bennet stood in the doorway, her cap crooked from sleep.

"I knew I would find you together. You always have important conversations after sensible people are in bed."

Elizabeth held out a hand. Her mother joined them.

"You are not to forget us in Derbyshire," Lady Bennet said. "I know you say you will not, but Pemberley has many rooms and great ladies calling."

"Mama, I could not forget you in a monastery."

"I should hope not."

She stroked Elizabeth's hair. "I spoke too often of husbands when you were girls. I feared Longbourn. Before Netherfield, every birthday meant one year closer to your father dying and Mr Collins turning us out. I thought if I could marry you all, I could stop being afraid."

Sir Thomas took her hand.

"You were never vulgar," Elizabeth said. "Loud, yes."

"Very loud," Sir Thomas added.

Lady Bennet ignored him. "I wanted you secure. I did not always remember you must also be happy."

"I am both."

"Yes."

Her mother cried then, not dramatically but with the exhausted grief of letting a child go well.

Jane came to find them. Then Mary, drawn by the light. Kitty and Lydia appeared last, claiming everyone had walked past their room though they slept at the other end of the corridor.

The family crowded the library in dressing gowns and slippers.

Sir Thomas looked around at the room once used to avoid them and surrendered it completely.

They remained until the fire burned low.

At Longbourn, Darcy also sat awake.

Bingley found him in the breakfast room at two.

"You are not reconsidering?"

Darcy looked horrified. "No."

"Then why are you dressed?"

"Why are you?"

"Jane is at Netherfield. The bed is empty. I dislike it."

Darcy poured him brandy.