Page 244 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“From Kendall.”

Elizabeth read it. When she reached the end, she lowered the paper and held out her hand to him.

Darcy took it and sat beside her. Elizabeth leaned against him, and he put his arm around her.

“It is finished,” she said.

Darcy kissed her temple and drew her closer.

Chapter 62: Longbourn

Mr. Bennet stood in his library surrounded by books and open trunks.

“I begin to suspect I own more books than any sensible man requires.”

Alexander lifted another stack from the desk and placed it carefully into a trunk. “You have been saying that since we began.”

“And I have become more convinced of it with every shelf.”

Mary entered carrying a letter. She rested a hand briefly on Alexander’s shoulder before looking at her father.

“Jane has written. Charles has decided to contribute three thousand pounds to the parish fund.”

Mr. Bennet stopped packing. “Three thousand?”

“Yes. He told Mr. Fernside that if this is to be his parish, he intends to do his share.”

Alexander took Mary’s hand and drew her nearer. “That puts the fund well beyond what we originally hoped to raise.”

“It does. We shall be able to help a great many families.”

Mr. Bennet looked around the library. Several shelves were already bare, and books filled three trunks on the floor.

“You and Alexander appear determined to improve Longbourn considerably after I leave it.”

Mary smiled. “We intend to take good care of it, Papa.”

“I know you do.”

He picked up another book and placed it in the trunk.

Mary watched him. “Papa, you do not have to take every book to Margate.”

“I most certainly do. I am leaving you the house, the furniture, the tenants, and Lydia. I draw the line at surrendering my library.”

Alexander closed the full trunk and secured the fastening.

Mary looked down at Jane’s letter. “I shall write to Elizabeth and tell her about Charles’s contribution.”

* * *

Mary’s letter reached Darcy House three days later.

Elizabeth was sitting beside Darcy in his study when she read the passage concerning the parish fund.

“Charles has contributed three thousand pounds to Mr. Fernside’s parish fund. Mary says he told Mr. Fernside that if this is to be his parish, he intends to do his share.”

Darcy smiled. “That sounds like Bingley.”