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Elizabeth
wondered when she would see her family again. Surely Mr.
    Darcy
could not object if she travelled to Longbourn for a brief visit someday. Or
perhaps he would object; she had been afraid to raise the question with him.
    "You
must go up to bed, Lizzy!" Mrs. Bennet cried. "You will need your
sleep tomorrow." Elizabeth winced at her mother's coarseness, and made her
escape before it could become any worse.
    Jane
followed her up soon after, only to find her sister already in bed in the dark.
She set the taper beside the mirror and began her nightly preparations as
quietly as possible. But a sound, and then another, came from the direction of
the bed.
    She
hurried over to sit beside Elizabeth, rubbing her shoulder with her hand.
"Dearest Lizzy, you must not listen to our mother. I am certain tomorrow
night will not be so bad; you will see."
    Elizabeth
had spent little thought on the prospect of her wedding night.
    It
was just one more unpleasantness to come in a future that held little else.
    No
matter how terrible the event might be, it would be nothing to spending her
life with Mr. Darcy. She tried to still her sobs. "It is nothing, Jane. I
am sad over leaving my home, no more. I will miss you so very much." The
thought made her cry again.
    Jane
took her hand. "I know, but we will write often, will we not? I am looking
forward to visiting you and seeing the famous Pemberley."
    "I
wish it could be so, but I must warn you, I do not believe I will be allowed to
invite any of you to Pemberley." Elizabeth turned a tear-stained face to
Jane. It was better to tell her now than to disappoint her hopes later on, or
worse, make her think Elizabeth did not want her to visit.
    "Not
be allowed to! Lizzy, I cannot imagine what you are speaking of."
    "Mr.
Darcy does not approve of our family. Th e connection is a degradation to his
pride. I cannot imagine he will welcome any of you to Pemberley."
    "How
could he not approve? He loves you. How could he fail to accept your
family?" Jane said soothingly.
    "Jane,
I know whereof I speak. He has often told me as much." Elizabeth buried
her face in her pillow.
    "I
cannot believe it. You would not have chosen to marry such a man."
    "I
had no choice."
    "Lizzy,
what do you mean? Do not tell me he ... " Jane paused, hesitating to think
so ill of anyone, least of all her sister's husband-to-be.
    "No,
he did not hurt me. He kissed me where others could see. What else could I do
but to agree?"
    "Oh,
Lizzy, I am so sorry. But he is a good man, I am certain of it, and I know you
will grow to care for him. It is obvious how much he loves you."
    Elizabeth
wiped her eyes, realizing the distress she was causing to her most beloved
sister, who had already paid a high enough price at Mr. Darcy's hand. "No
doubt you are right, Jane. I am sure all will be well."

    Chapter 5

    Elizabeth
did not look back as the carriage pulled away from Longbourn, though her family
was all outside to see the newlyweds on their way. Her lack of composure was
such she feared she might cry if she did, and she had already disgraced herself
once before the wedding by bursting into tears in her father's arms outside the
church door.
    Though
everyone had commented kindly on her bridal nerves and her distress on leaving
her family, Elizabeth did not doubt that Mr. Darcy must have been displeased
when his bride appeared before him at the altar with red-rimmed eyes.
    On
the seat across from her Mr. Darcy was watching her keenly. She shivered a
little when she encountered his gaze. He said, "It has been an emotional
day, has it not?"
    She
nodded, not trusting her voice. Something in her face must have alerted him,
for he reached out to pull down the shade on the carriage window. Moving
carefully across to her--even the luxurious Darcy carriage could not compensate
for the uneven road--he sat down beside her and put his arm around her.
    His
unexpected kindness undermined her determination. Tears began to stream down
her cheeks. With his