Chapter Ten

* * * * *

Elizabeth felt herself drifting into consciousness and tried with
desperate attempts to remain asleep, she could feel Fitzwilliam's arms
around her and knew it to be a dream; she attempted to stay in those
arms, but felt herself waking quickly. She kept her eyes closed, but
felt a sudden surge of inexpressible joy as those warm, strong arms
maintained their hold of her. She opened her eyes and felt tears
threatening as she realised that her husband was back with her, holding
her, loving her. She would be able to bear anything as long as he was
there.

She slowly manoeuvred out of his warm embrace and raised herself on an
elbow, taking a simple pleasure from regarding him whilst he slept. His
expression was calm and peaceful, his breathing steady and reassuring.
As she lay there watching her husband sleep, Elizabeth found her mind
wandering back to a time over eighteen years previously, when she had
lived through the exact same agony of someone dear to her eloping. The
pain had been doubled on this occasion, for Elizabeth had felt herself
reliving those emotions, whilst at the same time suffering the sudden
loss of her dear mother, on account of this terrible affair. She
shuddered suddenly at the thought of how it have concluded so
differently, and yet again, Fitzwilliam had rescued her family from
terrible consequences. However, it was no longer just her family,
Isabella was his daughter also. Their family.

Elizabeth's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden realisation that her
husband's eyes were open and that he was watching her with a slightly
confused as well as amused expression on his handsome face. She felt
herself colour slightly and looked away, smiling in slight embarrassment.
This in turn caused Fitzwilliam to smile, before leaning over to kiss
her on the cheek.

"It brings me such joy to see you smile," he stated, leaning back
and regarding her with a look of tender love.

"I am glad to see it in you, also." Elizabeth smiled softly at
Fitzwilliam and sighed, relaxing her head on his chest. "I do not know
what to say to her, how to address her." She felt her husband gently
caressing a curl of dark hair along her brow; it helped to soothe her
somewhat.

"My dearest, she has caused you the greatest pain out of us all, for
the pain was doubled for you and you lost your Mother, anger would not be
questioned. But I know that is not in your nature. If I know you
rightly, I would say that the only emotion you are currently feeling is a
great disappointment, with the pain still being carried." She raised her
head and looked into the eyes of the man she loved,

"How is it possible that you know me so well? I had not spoken a
word and yet you have perceived my every feeling. But there is one thing
that you did not foresee; your arrival has halved my pain. For I cannot
recall having felt such loneliness as that which I have experienced in
the past few days. You are a part of me, and when you are gone, I feel
as if I am not whole. My pain was greatly lessened upon your return." A
sudden overwhelming surge of love for the woman beside him descended upon
Fitzwilliam and he kissed her with a sudden need; Elizabeth returned it
with a will.

* * * * *

Both Amelia and Isabella were awoken that morning by a knocking at the
door.

"Come in," Amelia called, getting up and pulling a shawl about her
shoulders. Isabella pulled a robe about her and the next moment, their
brother Henry entered. He did not at first notice Isabella and went
straight to Amelia,

"Are you well? How did you sleep? I know not whether Isabella is
yet returned." His younger sister looked startled,

"If you do not know that she is returned, simply turn and see with
your own eyes." Henry spun around and gazed at his older sister,
motionless for a moment. Isabella surveyed him with saddened features.
Her brother's face held a mixture of emotion; that of joy mingled with
his father's gravity; at that moment, wisdom beyond his years was
revealed through his gaze. Isabella remained silent, waiting for his
reaction, as a criminal does awaiting sentence. He cast a glance at
Amelia and saw her appearance of simple joy at the return of her elder
sister. He felt the same joy at her appearance, and yet found that he
could not forget the terrible suffering that her actions had caused. In
the end, he approached her and took her hand, holding it tightly in his
own, yet his face still held some on its former solemnity,

"Isabella, I am glad to see you returned." Their eyes met, and
Isabella knew that he forgave and was pleased to see her, but that the
agony that she had caused could not simply be that easily recompensed.
Yet, in that shared moment, the eldest Miss Darcy and only son shared a
rare exchange of brother and sisterly love.

* * * * *

As Mr and Mrs Darcy crossed the main hall together, on their way to the
dinning room, they chanced to look up at the grand staircase and were
amazed to see a rare sight. Their three children were descending the
stairs together, Amelia in the middle, with her brother and sister on
either side of her. Elizabeth's eyes immediately fell on her two younger
children's faces and she immediately able to see that in their eyes,
Isabella was home, and that was enough. Her eyes travelled to the face
of her eldest daughter, and as she perceived the terrible pain and sorrow
in those dark eyes that were her own, she simply wished to rush up and
embrace her tightly. She wishes for nothing more than to forgive her
daughter and put this ghastly affair behind her, but she knew that a
lesson had to be learnt. Fitzwilliam and she planned to have an
interview with Isabella later that morning, and she reluctantly decided
to continue with what they had decided.

Upon first seeing her parents, Isabella had immediately averted her eyes.
However, she had been unable to keep them away from her parents' faces
and had made eye contact with her father, meeting a grave, solemn face,
with just a hint of love revealed through his expression. She found
herself not daring to meet her mother's eyes; yet upon reaching the hall,
it had been her mother who had subtly touched her hand as she had passed
her, giving Isabella great comfort.

Breakfast ended, and Isabella was called through to see her parents in
one of the sunlit drawing-rooms on the ground floor. Her father was the
first to speak, and did so at once.

"Isabella, we cannot and will not attempt to hide the dreadful
consequences that your thoughtless action has caused this family. But
you are our daughter, and we love you greatly. But the terrible
suffering that you have caused cannot be and would never be overlooked.
It cannot be hidden from you that as a result of hearing of the
elopement, your Grandmother suffered a sudden, terrible seizure and died
as a result. Your sister was also an innocent victim and as a result of
overhearing your conversation with that despicable young man, took all
guilt upon herself and was given over to hysterical bouts of weeping,
becoming very ill. Although the result of your actions was terrible, the
suffering caused a greater amount of pain for your Mother and her parents
in particular. Over eighteen years ago, your Aunt Lydia did a similar
thing and eloped suddenly, without word to her family and through this
caused terrible pain for the Bennett family. Your Mother and I were not
yet married then; however, your elopement was of a similar nature and
would doubtless have caused a repetition of those emotions that they
endured in the similar case of your Aunt. Even though the death of your
Grandmother is tragic, you must not take the guilt entirely upon
yourself, the doctor explained that there were several other reasons for
Mrs Bennett's death."

"This had to be explained to you, Isabella, so that you would be
able to comprehend the great pain that this action has caused my family
and me in particular," Elizabeth added. "I will not pretend that the past
week has not been a torture for us, especially with the absence of your
Father, but I saw the faces of your brother and sister as they descended
with you this morning. Amelia's was one of pure joy. She thought
nothing of how she had suffered and simply forgave with an innocent
selfless love. They both were glad to have you back and took real joy
from that. I myself have missed you greatly, and though you must work to
regain our trust, you are my daughter, I love you and am glad to have you
back." She saw the tears that feel down Isabella's cheeks and took her
eldest daughter in her arms, embracing her tightly.

After they had pulled apart and were smiling at each other, now both with
tears in their eyes, Fitzwilliam spoke,

"Your Mother has spoken wisely. Although I was very angry, the
thing that drove me onwards and made me eventually desperate to find you
was the thought of having to lose you, my precious daughter to a villain
like that. I have missed you Isabella, and although you still have to
regain our trust, I cannot work against the love I have for you. I am
simply glad that you are returned safely to us." It was then that he
took her in his own arms and hugged her to him. Although it was quicker
that Elizabeth's, his emotion was no less strong or real. Isabella felt
tears of relief and disbelief running down her cheeks.

"I have done nothing to deserve such love as this," she stated after
they had sat down together. "I have caused you nothing but grief and
pain. I was so foolish and selfish, yet you welcome me back with more
understanding than anyone could ever deserve. I don't deserve you. What
have I done to have such a wonderful family?" She shook her head and
felt more tears rising. She sighed and leant back, "I shall never forgive
myself."

"If we have then why should you harbour anger against yourself
still?" her mother asked, "you have suffered as we all have and it is
easy to see that you are sorry. Dearest, you have every reason to
forgive yourself if we are ready to as well. Do not trouble over it, the
pain will eventually pass, and you will grow in character from this
terrible experience."

* * * * *

This is the best I could do, am really sorry that it's so short, but I
won't be able to update for a few weeks now because I'm going back to
school and will have mountain-loads of work. So I shall not be able to
post the next chappie for ages. I just want to thank Tranquill and Lilz-
Angel who have been great reviewers over the progression of this story.
But my big thanks go to IvyLeaves who has been lovely and reviewed every
chapter from the beginning! I will update eventually and I'm sorry if it
takes ages,

Thanks,

Love,

*Breeze*