He turned his hand to mine, holding my fingers like I might burn him for a second time but that he was willing to risk it. He was willing to risk everything for me once more.
“I love you, Elizabeth,” he whispered. His blue eyes shone with the truth of it. “I never stopped.”
Time froze as the sun came over the horizon and lit the world in brilliant glory. The snow sparkled like a million tiny diamonds, each reflecting my heart’s desire back at me.
“I love you, too, Mr. Darcy,” I whispered back. My mouth said the words with ease because my heart was singing them.
“Call me William,” he replied with a widening smile. And then he kissed me.
Chapter 24
One Year Later
New Years Eve
London stood out before me in all its glory. Every building was lit up in preparation for the new year. In just five minutes, this year, the most beautiful year of my life would end, and the next would begin.
For the first time in a long time, I was excited and sad for the new year. I would miss this year only because it had been so wonderful, but my excitement over what was coming next made it more than bearable. With William at my side, my world would always be better each and every year.
“Come get your champagne for the toast,” Jane called to me from the kitchen. Standing with her fiancee, she had never looked more beautiful or radiant. In just two months, she would make the most beautiful bride I’d ever seen. I couldn’t wait for their year-long engagement to be over.
“Don’t spill it all over my brother’s kitchen,” Georgiana chided, coming up behind her with a dishcloth. Since the doctors had declared her in remission several months ago, her face had filled out, though she still kept her hair in that pixie cut.
She shook her head. “You Americans have no idea how to pour champagne.”
Charles laughed and added more champagne to Georgiana’s glass. She grinned at him. “That’s better.”
“I’ll get yours, Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy told me. He grinned before heading into the kitchen and Georgiana chuckled as she handed him a glass.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Only three minutes to go.
I pulled out my cellphone out to find a message from Lydia. She was safely in California and on the set for her new movie. She sent me a selfie of her outside with the cast and crew as they prepped to start filming the follow-up to her debut film.
I texted her back that she looked great and to break a leg. I’d see her for the Oscar’s Award Ceremony in just a few months. We were going to rock the red carpet together this year.
She was favored to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her debut role.
“Are you ready, my love?” William asked me coming up and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I sighed with contentment and leaned into him as we looked out at the city together.
“I am, Mr. Darcy,” I told him. He chuckled and shook his head.
“You just love calling me that, don’t you?”
I grinned. “I only call you that because I love you. I fell in love with Mr. Darcy.”
“And what about poor William?” he asked, spinning me to face him. I loved the way his eyes lit up as he found my face.
“I love him, too,” I replied. “But, Mr. Darcy is who you are to me. And I love him with everything I have.”
He grinned as the grandfather clock in the library started to chime. It was midnight and the new year had begun. The sound of fireworks filled the air.
Mr. Darcy and I tapped our glasses together and took a sip. The bubbles tickled my nose.
“Look inside,” he whispered, his voice cracking. I frowned, looking up at him.
“What?”