He nodded and came toward her, taking both her hands in his and bringing them to his chest.

“My dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth. I shall miss you while you are away.”

She looked at him in wonder.

“Surely that does not surprise you?” he said with a smile.

She startled and looked away. “Yes, sir, I’m afraid it does.”

“Elizabeth, when a man loves a woman as I love you, separations are not desirable occurrences,” he explained in a soft voice.

She wasn’t sure if he was reprimanding her or flirting. He lifted one hand and kissed the inside of her wrist delicately. Definitely flirting.

“Promise you will write to me, dearest,” he requested in a low voice.

Without thinking, she found herself responding with a soft, “Of course.”

He kissed her bare hand and she felt a strange warm sensation where his lips met her skin. “Safe travels, Elizabeth.”

“You as well, Mr. Darcy.”

He gave her one last look, then escorted her outside where her father was overseeing the luggage being loaded onto the carriage.

“When will I see you again?” she asked. She was curious about the plans he had made with her father and wanted to prepare herself, but he smiled at the question.

“Your father said he will bring you to London a few days before the ceremony.”

She wanted to ask why they were marrying in London and not from Longbourn or Pemberley or even Margate, but she didn’t have a chance. Her father interrupted and then Mr. Darcy was walking up the lane to Rosings.

Chapter 11

The house in Margate was a small blue cottage surrounded by a flower garden just beginning to bloom. It was close enough to the sea that waves could be heard in the background, but the water could not be seen. The Bennet family poured into the home, quickly exploring and deciding who would get each room. There were three bedrooms to be distributed among five girls. Before their father’s changes, they would have split into pairs: the two eldest and the two youngest, leaving Mary at odds. But now, they were all conscious of a new order and unsure how to proceed.

Lydia had originally declared loudly that she and Kitty would take the large room with the pink paper and the soft green linens, but when she heard her father’s footsteps, she remembered she was the youngest and, therefore, least entitled sister and that she was to be on her best behavior or risk being sent home.

When Mr. Bennet entered the hall, he found five pairs of eyes looking at him expectantly. He chuckled and asked what they were about.

“How would you like the rooms arranged, Papa?” Mary asked softly.