[ Beloved. ]

❝ Beyond my lack of pregnancy or your choice in marrying me at the expense of her daughter’s expected arrangement? I haven’t the smallest idea. ❞

It was no secret that the Lady de Bourgh disliked Elizabeth, considering her marriage to the woman’s nephew so quickly on the heels of an argument over him with her, there were precious few other opinions his aunt would have had. And while this should not have bothered her, some little bit of it made her bitter, especially when he chose not to come to her defense as was the case much too often.

The only advantage to the Lady’s summoning was she would be able to see her dear friend Charlotte at dinner and might be able to steal her away for a moment or two to properly greet her the way an old friend should.

    Oh! His wretched aunt! He detested, most resolutely, how the old bat treated his Lizzie. That she would so blatantly… It mattered not. None could change her, not even those of her relation. It would not do to attempt it. Apropos of this, it pained him to see how Lady de Bourgh would find fault in anything that his wife seemed to do – minuscule or otherwise.

    Darcy’s hands ran the length of Elizabeth’s arms, twice before taking up her hands and holding them tightly. “ I held no connection with Anne de Bourgh. None of merit. ” A smile was offered, though his eyes held a depth of sadness that drained. “ Our lack of a child so far is none but our own concern. And I will not have it plague you so. I love you. If I have only the company of my sister and wife for the rest of my days, I will be most pleased. It is more than what I have come to deserve. ”