Spring returned to Pemberley, and with it, a sense of renewal that felt deeper and more personal than ever before. The scare with her father had reminded Elizabeth of the fragility of life, making the burgeoning world around her seem all the more precious. She watched Alexander, now a confident, running, chattering boy of nearly two, with a heart so full of love it felt like a physical pressure.
His personality blossomed daily. He had Darcy’s thoughtful grey eyes and a stubborn set to his jaw that was all his own, but he had inherited his mother’s boundless curiosity and a laugh that was pure, infectious joy. He was a bridge between them, a living embodiment of their love.
One warm afternoon, Elizabeth was in the walled garden, on her hands and knees, helping Alexander plant sunflower se
