Together we walked out of the back area and into the main museum. I loved this place nearly as much as Jane did. There were big windows down the main corridor that let in lots of natural light but kept the paintings out of the sun. Beautiful works of art filled the space, creating a tranquil sea of emotions captured forever.
Jane stopped short, nearly knocking me over in the process. She stood rock still in the middle of the gallery staring straight ahead and going pale. One look at her face told me what she saw, and sure enough, there he was.
Standing in the center of the sunlit gallery was Charles Bingley.
His reddish hair was neatly combed back, and he wore a suit that reminded me of Mr. Darcy’s. He stood strong, but I could see his hands shaking even from this distance. He was staring hard at Jane.
“Jane?” he called out her name. His voice didn’t shake, though.
Jane was as much a statue as any sculpture in the room. I gave her a gentle push on the shoulder to make her take a step forward. She glanced at me, fear in her eyes. I motioned her toward him
“At least hear what he has to say,” I whispered.
She nodded and took a hesitant couple of steps, stopping short of being near him.
“Hello, Charles,” she whispered. I sent as much positive energy her direction as I could.
“Jane, I came to apologize,” Charles announced. He took a step toward her and then hesitated.
“For what?” Jane asked, her voice coming in slightly stronger.
Charles took a deep breath. He looked around the room and then focused on her. His eyes softened, and he smiled. He took another step.
“I’m sorry for ever leaving you,” he told her. He went to one knee and held up a small, black velvet box. Everyone, even me, gasped. “Never leave me again.”
He opened the box and presented it to her. Even from where I was standing, I could see the glimmer of a diamond.
Jane stood there for a moment, then slowly nodded. A combination of a sob and a laugh left her as she flung herself down and into Charles’ arms.
“Yes,” she whispered, still laughing and crying at the same time.
I pulled out my phone and quickly snapped a picture, knowing that Jane would want the memory. It was beautiful. He had her in his arms as they were surrounded by the beautiful works of art they both so loved.
He’d picked the perfect place to propose. This was Jane’s pride and joy. Proposing here demonstrated that he did know her. He loved her. The whole room radiated with their love, and it was more beautiful than the art.
I wiped a tear from my cheek and smiled. I was so incredibly happy for Jane. Something bittersweet tugged on my heart. Mr. Darcy was behind this, too. I knew it. He had told his friend to go back to Jane. He’d admitted he was wrong.
Charles was helping Jane stand. She just held onto him and smiled wider than I’d ever seen her smile before. She radiated such joy, and she wasn’t going to let him go anytime soon.
I looked around, watching the art patrons clap and cheer. A dark figure by the door caught my attention. It was Mr. Darcy. He smiled as he caught my eye before turning and disappearing out into the street.
I went to catch him, to thank him yet again for making the people I cared most about happy, but Jane called my name. I turned to answer, and I knew he was gone. I looked one last time and then headed over to congratulate Jane and Charles on their soon to be happily ever after.
Chapter 22
A few days later, I sat behind the nurses’ station filling out paperwork. Despite going to a paperless system years ago, I still somehow managed to have mountains of paperwork for my patients. I just wanted to finish and head home. I’d already reported to the night nurses, so once I finished putting in the last few sets of vitals and notes, I could leave.
A shower and bed sounded like the best thing in the world.
“Hey, Lizzie,” the charge nurse called to me. “There’s someone here to see you.”
Lydia and Jane rarely visited me at work, and if they did, it was always at lunchtime so I could buy them cafeteria food. I knew it wasn’t them, and despite my dreams, I knew that Mr. Darcy would never show up here.
I sighed, hit save, closed my screens, and went to see who wanted me. Maybe it was a former patient. Those always made my day.
It was not a patient.
I came to the entrance of the unit to find a woman in an expensive pantsuit and a mean look on her face waiting for me. She looked like a grandmother, but without any of the requisite kindness. I recognized her from Mr. Darcy’s office.