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it before, but we will invite no one else to our home, Elizabeth. Believe my words.” They both knew the irony of their relationship. They needed close family and friends to sustain them, but solitary interludes held a real appeal.

CHAPTER 2
    â€œHappiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”
    Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice , 1813

    â€œI plan to ride into Lambton, Charles.Are you in the mood for a brief outing?” Darcy asked when he entered the drawing room.
    â€œI would enjoy such a time, Darcy. Let me change.” Charles Bingley missed the interactions he and Darcy once shared.
    â€œFitzwilliam, would you post the letters I wrote?” Elizabeth asked as she joined the others.
    â€œOf course, Elizabeth.Where are they?”
    â€œI left them on the tray for Mr. Howard’s attention. Thank you, Sir.” Elizabeth’s voice held an intimacy only Darcy recognized. Her “thanks” seemed innocent enough to the others in the room, but even something this simple held sexual tension for them.Their passions always rested just below the surface so when she said, “Thank you, Sir,” Elizabeth also allowed her eyes to drift up his body, and Darcy arched an eyebrow when she rested her attention on his countenance.
    He winked at her when she pursed her lips.“I will retrieve them, Madam.” Then he offered his wife a seductive smile as he left.
    Elizabeth held images of him in her mind as she picked up her needlework and joined her sister and aunt. “Aunt Gardiner, where are the children?” Elizabeth asked as she abandoned those images to the mundane activities of daily life.
    â€œYour uncle took them for a tour of the grounds.”

    â€œI am pleased Mr. Darcy asked Charles to join him for a ride today. My husband missed Mr. Darcy’s counsel,” Jane confided.
    â€œIt would be natural, Jane, being such good friends for so long.” Elizabeth had no idea whether Darcy felt the same as Charles; they never discussed it; she supposed he held similar feelings as Charles Bingley.
    â€œSince our marriage, Charles had only Mr. Hurst and our father for male companionship.”
    Elizabeth found this amusing. “Mr. Hurst is certainly not a conversationalist, and our father, though quite capable, usually cannot be bothered to do so.”
    â€œThat was Charles’s plight of late. We met Sir William one evening a fortnight ago, and I did not think I would ever get Charles to leave his conversation with the man.”
    â€œWell, I am sure our husbands will enjoy whatever men discuss when not with women.” Elizabeth allowed Darcy held thoughts of which she was not privy; this realization bothered her for some reason, although she tried to pass them off. “Where are Georgiana and Kitty?”
    â€œMiss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh are in the music room with the colonel,” Mrs. Gardiner offered.“I believe I saw Kitty in the garden earlier.”
    â€œMr. Harrison packs for his journey,” Jane added.
    â€œLet us have some tea.” Elizabeth put her needlework away. “Now as we are alone,” she took on a conspiratorial tone, “I am dying to know what each of you think of my new home.”
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    Sipping her tea, Elizabeth turned to her beloved sister. “Well, tell me, Jane, do you not love Pemberley?”
    â€œElizabeth,” Jane looked around the drawing room, “Aunt Gardiner and I spoke of the splendor of Pemberley yesterday. It is a magnificent estate and definitely lives up to its reputation.”
    â€œThen you approve?” Elizabeth asked as if someone might object.

    â€œAs for me,” Mrs. Gardiner teased, “the most perfect thing about Pemberley is seeing you with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth. To see you so happy at last is most gratifying.”
    â€œThank you, Aunt. I still worry about how to make Pemberley my own, but Fitzwilliam’s love makes the transition easier. Could either