Page 122 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Aunt Maddie emerged from the carriage behind her, and Elizabeth went directly into her arms. Uncle Edward followed, smiling as he waited his turn.

“My dear girl,” Aunt Maddie said. “Let me look at you.”

Elizabeth submitted to the inspection.

Her aunt took both her hands. “You look happy, Lizzy.”

“I am very happy, Aunt Maddie. More than I thought possible.”

“Then I am satisfied.”

Uncle Edward kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “I understand I have been summoned to Derbyshire to give you away.”

“Yes, Uncle. I am to marry one of the best men I have ever known.”

He bent and kissed the top of her head. “I thought matters would end in this agreeable way.”

The second carriage stopped behind them, and Elizabeth laughed when little Edward began calling her name before the door had opened.

Within minutes the quiet entrance hall at Ashcroft was filled with trunks, servants, embraces, questions, and Mrs. Radcliff welcoming everyone at once.

Elizabeth had not realized how much she missed the familiar noise of a lively family until it surrounded her again.

After the travelers had been shown to their rooms and little Edward had been carried away by their nurse, Elizabeth and Jane escaped to Elizabeth's chamber.

Jane closed the door and took Elizabeth by the hands.

“Now tell me everything, you sly thing. I had no idea you were courting anyone. You scarcely mentioned Mr. Darcy in your letters. I knew more about his sister than I did about him.”

Elizabeth laughed. “There was nothing to tell at first, and afterward I hardly knew what to tell you. Everything changed so quickly.”

“Well, I am here now, and you cannot escape me. I want to know how you came to love him, how long he has loved you, and whether he proposed properly.”

“He proposed very properly.”

Jane drew her toward the bed. “Begin there, then.”

The sisters sat together for a long while as Elizabeth told her about Darcy and all that had happened during the weeks they had been apart.

Eventually, Jane said, “Charles came to see us after Mr. Darcy’s express arrived. He told us that he and Caroline had also been invited to Pemberley for the wedding and that Mr. Darcy had asked them to remain for several weeks. Charles let me read the express, but it contained very little beyond the invitation. I could hardly believe you were to be married when I had not even known you were in love.”

Elizabeth took both her sister’s hands.

“Once I am married, I shall invite you to Pemberley as well. You and Charles may continue your courtship there.”

Jane colored. “I should like that very much. Charles has been so patient with me, Lizzy. He has never pressed me for more than I was ready to give him. Even when I knew why he came to Gracechurch Street so often, he allowed me to pretend he was merely bringing Caroline to visit us.”

“He loves you very much, Jane. I saw it at Longbourn when we first knew him. It was written plainly in his eyes.”

Jane sniffed and wiped at a tear.

“I could not think of marriage while Mamma’s death was so near. Charles understood that without requiring me to explain it every time he came. He was simply there, and I began to look forward to his visits more than I ought to have admitted.”

Elizabeth took her hands. “There is no reason not to admit it now.”

“No. There is not.”

Jane drew Elizabeth into her arms.