Darcy sat in his study, brows furrowed deep in concentration. Jane and Charles had already departed for Longbourn at the news of Mr. Bennet’s sudden passing. Although Darcy was not closely acquainted with Mr. Bennet, he felt the loss just as much.

With Mr. Bennet’s sudden death also came the inopportune matter of property inheritance. Darcy knew not if Mr. Collins would dawn sympathy on the Bennets and allow them to keep their stay at Longbourn. Although he was sure that Charles could temporarily provide the Bennets with a comfortable style of living, he knew that no such arrangement was to be of permanent standing.

He had hoped, of course, that Mr. Collin’s wife would be able to persuade her husband into letting the Bennets reside on the property on behalf of her close friendship with Elizabeth. However, when Mr. Collin’s conceited disposition was heavily considered, Darcy could never be too sure.

This was an urgent matter in which he could bear an ignorant stance, for it heavily tied in with Elizabeth’s happiness. He knew that Elizabeth was in deep lament of her dear father’s death, and he could only grieve with her for his absence alongside her. Rubbing his temples wearily with tired fingers, Darcy came to the one and only source that could be of his assistance.

Try as he might to go around his ill-fated conclusion, two words echoed persistently into the deep stretches of his mind: Lady Catherine. If he could persuade the Lady in any direction to his favor, there was no doubt that Mr. Collins would give in to his self-esteemed patroness.

Darcy sighed and hopelessly shook his head, remembering that his aunt currently refused to correspond with him after his refusal to marry Anne. But nothing could be done about that. Just as he was going to call Mrs. Reynolds to prepare for his departure to Rosings, Mrs. Reynolds stepped into the room.

“A letter from Mr. Bingley, Sir,” she bowed.

Darcy nodded hi head in gratitude before hastily opening the letter.

Fitzwilliam,

I call upon you for urgent matters. After Mr. Bennet’s death, Mr. Collins is contemplating the future of the Longbourn estate. I got news in town the other day that he and Mrs. Collins are both staying with the Lucases while they decide the manor’s fate. Unfortunately, Mr. Collins has called upon Lady Catherine for her aid. Your Aunt is on her way to Hertfordshire to visit the Longbourn estate and offer her suggestions. It is in my hopes if you can come and settle the matters before either Lady Catherine or Mr. Collins make a most disadvantageous decision for the Bennet family. For the moment, the Bennets do not know of this, as Jane thinks it wise to keep such a predicament away from her mother’s worries.

Yours & c.

Charles Bingley

Darcy’s eyes widened. Mr. Collins was acting faster than Darcy thought he would. Immediately, he hurried to the front of the manor.

“Mrs. Reynolds, I need you to send word to Netherfield Park of my soon arrival,” he called before hurrying outside to order the carriages himself.

No time could be wasted

Elizabeth sat by the fireplace, staring out the window. Her body was numb and her mind a blur. She was dressed in black from top to bottom, and although Lydia and Kitty wore lighter colored dresses soon after the burial, Elizabeth insisted on wearing black.

While Lydia, Kitty, and Mary made great efforts to resume life normally, Elizabeth found it to be a rather impossible task. Her mind repeatedly thought of only one thing: her father was gone and was never to return. When her thoughts did drift, however, from her father’s death, nothing comforting could be brought to mind.

Mrs. Bennet busied herself with chores, both trying to distract herself and appear normal to others, although it was quite clear to everyone that she was worrying tremendously about the future of her daughters’ fates. Charles had taken Jane back to Netherfield, where the Jane quietly mourned for her father. Though Elizabeth was free to visit Jane whenever she desired, her visits were filled with silent tension as their father’s death loomed the atmosphere, filling every gap between conversations. Matthew tried his best to console his fiancée, but Elizabeth found little comfort within the breadth of his arms. Elizabeth sighed and a loose tear escaped from the corner of her eye.

“Lizzy! What are you doing wasting your time when you ought to be preparing for your wedding?” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed as she appeared by the hallway, hands cross on her hips.

“Just another moment, Mama,” Elizabeth grudgingly answered, hiding her irritated face from her mother.

“Insolent girl, you are soon to be a married woman. What will Matthew say when he finds you nonsensically staring out the window every single day? What kind of a wife will you make for a man? Hurry and get up from your seat. I will tolerate no laziness under this roof,” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet in a raised voice before she threw up he hands in frustration and swept from the room.

Elizabeth sighed and rose from her chair. Now she was left to cope with her mother’s nerves alone without her father’s defense. She made her way to the drawing room and scattered a few pieces of paper across the table. Absentmindedly, she mixed the papers around, not in the mood of doing anything.

“Lizzy, what have you been doing recently?” asked Lydia with a smug smile as she skipped to a stop in front of Elizabeth.

“Mourning,” Elizabeth answered without even looking at her sister. Of all people, she did not want to be in Lydia’s company.

“You are not,” said Lydia, the smirk on her face growing wider.

Elizabeth glared at her.

Lydia ignored her and chirped, “Delivery service.”

Walking up to the table, Lydia dropped two stacks of letters. Stunned, Elizabeth blinked blankly at her sister.

Her sister looked back at her and shrugged. “Enjoy,” she grinned before turning on her feet and skipping out of the room.

Curious, Elizabeth drew the stack of letters closer to her. When she saw the first envelope, she gasped. On it was her address, scribbled out with a handwriting that belonged to none other than Darcy. Tucked before the envelope was a small note, and Elizabeth automatically removed it from the stack and quickly read it.

Miss Elizabeth,

It was Mr. Darcy’s wish to have all of his letters delivered to you. He also requested me to inform you that it was I who kept the letters from reaching their addressee years ago. My actions were done in consideration for what would be the best for you and Mr. Darcy. I am sure you will understand, for all this was done as a sisterly precaution to protect you from harm.

Yours sincerely, &c.

Caroline Bingley

Elizabeth froze after she read the note, her mind whirling with thoughts. She could not believe the nerve of Caroline to keep those letters from her while claiming to do the righteous thing. Shaking Caroline’s thoughts aside, she proceeded to opening the first of the envelopes.

Dearest Miss Elizabeth,

It is of my deepest pain and sorrow that I inform you of my departure to France. Urgent business sends me abroad to another country, although I grieve at the thought of being apart from you. I would have in all my greatest wishes to bid you farewell in person, but I knew not if I had the strength to tear myself from you. I beg you not be angry at my sudden departure, for it was with tremendous threat to my family’s business that I was persuaded to make this journey. I will write again soon in detail when I arrive in Italy. Until then, I will think of you often and love you all the more.

Yours &c.

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Tears stained the paper and Elizabeth numbly reached for the next letter. The next one explained Darcy’s business in detail and of Caroline’s residence with him and Georgiana. He had stated everything clearly so that no misunderstanding could occur, and Elizabeth grieved that those letters never reached her hands in time. When she was finished, letters were strewn all over the desk, and Elizabeth picked them up randomly, reading and scanning different parts over and over again.

…I did not think a person would be capable of feeling all these sentiments at once. However, I find myself in such a predicament. How can one miss another so much, love another so ardently, yet be at so far a distance that the only outcome is a fervent love paralleled with painful frustration?...

The next,

…I do not know of your feelings or emotions, but feel that mine ought to be professed clearly. Many will call me a fool for pursuing love so hopefully and helplessly, but I will never cease to love you even if you withdraw all your feelings from me…

And the next,

…Although you reply none to my letters, I hold in my greatest and highest hopes that you might be reading them at this very moment…

And the next,

…I am now caught at a crossroad, and I must explain my thoughts to you. If I return now, a fair portion of my family’s business will cease to exist. However, I have thought of a solution. If you are willing, I can ask for your father’s permission and you can stay with us in France. There is a flat next to mine that you can share with Georgiana and Caroline, and it will be of no burden at all. In fact, Georgiana is quite excited at that prospect. I think it will be pleasurable for you to visit awhile, for I think Italy will suit your taste very well. I will not have you traveling across countries alone, so I will send my men to accompany you on the journey if you are willing to comply. If, however, it is not your wish to leave your family and travel abroad, please consider the other option. If your feelings for me are still what they were nearly a year past, please have faith in my soon return…

And the last,

…It has been a year since we have thus been separated. How much longer I can endure this, I know not. Dearest Elizabeth, I beg you to write back and tell me of all your sentiments. My feelings for you have not changed, nor shall they ever. But if it is truly your wish to break all of your acquaintance from me, I will respect your decision and let it be…

Tears streamed down Elizabeth’s cheeks as she sat in her chair. She was sobbing freely now, and the letters in her hand trembled wildly with her shaking fingers. She bit her lip, trying to calm herself in the midst of her tears.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Mrs. Bennet, oblivious to her daughter’s current state, dashed in with a panicked yet excited look.

“Lizzy,” she cried, flailing her arms about her head. “Hurry! Jane, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy are waiting at the door.”

Elizabeth heart leapt wildly at the last name she heard, and she froze in her seat. How was she to greet him with her eyes bright red and swollen? Hastily, she began to shuffle all the letters together to put them away, but Mrs. Bennet would not allow her.

“Lizzy, what is that? What are you doing? We have no time to clean; the guests are at the door. I’m sure they’ll understand for a little mess on the table, for they gave us no warning for their arrival,” she exclaimed, dragging Elizabeth out the door.

Elizabeth had no time to protest as her mother was already half dragging her down the hall, and she only had a brief moment to free herself from her mother’s grasp and wipe away her tears. Trailing behind her mother, she saw the door open and heard footsteps coming into the house.

A turn at the corner, and Elizabeth stood, face to face with Darcy.

a/n: my greatest apologies for such a long wait. i'd like to blame it on AP exams. Anyways, hoped you liked the chapter, thanks for reading, and please drop a review.