Chapter 32 #2
“Everybody in Meryton agrees that Mr Bingley is the perfect match for Jane,” Mrs Bennet interjected. “Even Lady Lucas, although I know she is dying of envy.”
“Lizzy, may we go shopping on Oxford Street?” Kitty asked. “I do not know where it is, but Maria Lucas told me Sir William mentioned it. You surely must know it.”
“I have only been shopping once since I arrived in London,” Elizabeth answered. “But yes, we may go wherever you want.”
“Lizzy, by the by, I forgot to tell you! Do you know Mr Wickham eloped with Mary King? What a silly thing for him to do. She is so plain, and her face is full of freckles. She might have ten thousand pounds, but surely he could have done better!”
Elizabeth quickly glanced at Georgiana, who looked rather amused.
“Mr Wickham is known for his imprudent actions,” Mr Bennet interjected. “Let us not ruin our appetite with talk of such annoying things.”
“Speaking of annoying things, Mr Collins has returned,” Lydia said. “Oh, my Lord, if I have to listen to him one more time, I swear I shall die of tedium!”
“You are not alone, my dear,” Mrs Bennet said. “Mary, let us not forget to write to my sister Phillips tomorrow. Now that we are gone, she must be tired of hearing only about Charlotte Lucas’s engagement.”
With such subjects of conversation, some amusing, some embarrassing for Elizabeth, the evening passed.
The long, tiring journey sent all the ladies to their rooms soon after dinner.
As it was already late and cold out of doors, Darcy decided to remain in the house.
With the new arrangements, his presence was not a danger to propriety.
He and Mr Bennet spent more time in the library, where Elizabeth found them later on.
With a long look at Elizabeth and an excuse to Mr Bennet, Darcy left, allowing father and daughter some privacy.
Dizzy from the brandy and from the good news, Mr Bennet embraced her tenderly and congratulated her.
“My dear Lizzy, I am lost for words. I confess I still cannot believe this is true! Please tell me that you are happy. I know you respect Mr Darcy, and with good reason. But do you truly love him? Are you not marrying for gratitude or for friendship with his sister?”
“I do love him, Papa. I have loved him for a while, but not even I dared to dream he might propose to me. I learnt he had loved me since we were in Hertfordshire, but he did not dare say a word.”
“Well, I am glad to hear that. And relieved. Of course, I gave Mr Darcy my blessing. He is the kind of man to whom I would not dare refuse anything, regardless.”
“Papa!” Elizabeth laughed. “I hope you did not give him too hard a time! He is truly the best man I have ever met. Including you,” she jested, kissing his cheek.
“Well, I should hope so, my dear. I am not much of a catch. I always prayed you would find a husband better than me in every way,” the gentleman answered in earnest. “So far, both you and Jane have succeeded. I have only one requirement, for you and for Darcy. Allow me to tell your mother about this engagement whenever I find it appropriate. I know I shall have no peace for days after such news.”
“Very well, Papa,” she agreed, embracing him lovingly.
Outside the library, Elizabeth found Darcy waiting, leaning against the wall.
With no words, her eyes locked with his in the relative darkness, and she rose onto her toes, cupped his face with tender hands, and lowered his head for a kiss more meaningful than any expression of gratitude.
***
On Christmas Eve, Darcy’s house was fuller than he could remember.
With the Bennet family, the Gardiners — and their four children — Bingley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, there was little room to spare around the table.
Bingley’s sisters were not invited, as Darcy had confessed to his friend about Miss Bingley’s shameless intervention.
Georgiana was still restrained, sitting between Elizabeth and Mrs Annesley. She had spent some time with Elizabeth and Jane and spoken a little to the other sisters, but there were too many people whom she had just met for the first time for her to feel comfortable.
The acknowledged betrotheds smiled at each other, spending all their time together. The unknown pair only exchanged glances and smiles over the table.
Once the dinner ended, all moved to the drawing room for drinks.
“I have to say, this is the best Christmas I have ever had!” Mrs Bennet declared. “Mr Darcy, I cannot apologise enough for believing you were arrogant and unpleasant when I first met you. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Those times are long forgotten, Mrs Bennet,” he offered generously. “Besides, your opinion was based on my actions, and I have only myself to blame.”
“Oh, how generous of you to say that! And to have all of us in your house! And with Jane engaged to Mr Bingley. Upon my word, one cannot imagine a better Christmas!”
Mr Bennet sipped from his glass, a mischievous smile on his face that both Elizabeth and Darcy noticed.
“Mrs Bennet, now that you mention it, there is something I have to tell you.”
“Mr Bennet, I know you always like to tease me, but there is nothing you can say to ruin my evening!” the lady said, sipping a little from her sherry.
“I have no intention of ruining your evening. Quite the opposite. I might make it even better.”
“Better? I cannot see how you could improve perfection, Mr Bennet!”
“Well, allow me to try proving you wrong, my dear Mrs Bennet. Mr Darcy, hold my glass. There is something I must share with my wife!”
***
Longbourn, February 1812
On a cold yet sunny day, the entire neighbourhood was gathered in front of the church to witness the most unlikely and astonishing event: the wedding of Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Their wedding day was shared by Miss Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley, but that couple gave nobody any concern or surprise, since they were the perfect match, and their marriage was long expected.
Those two weddings followed two others: Charlotte Lucas to Mr Collins and Mary King to the former officer George Wickham.
Whilst marriage seemed to have benefitted Mr Collins and his wife so far, of Mary King and her husband there was little news, since both had left Hertfordshire and were now residing near Bath.
Rumours said that Mr Wickham was working as a clerk to one of Mary’s distant uncles.
The once handsome and admired officer was soon forgotten, especially since gossip about his flaws of character had reached the neighbourhood.
At the present wedding, among the attendees were Mr Darcy’s sister, with her companion, and his cousin the colonel. Also, unexpectedly, Miss Darcy seemed to be on friendly terms with the younger Bennet sisters, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia.
On Mr Bingley’s side, there was only his eldest sister, Louisa Hurst, and her husband — who were not on friendly terms with anyone.
It was universally admitted that the Bennets were the most fortunate family that ever existed in the neighbourhood — something that Mrs Bennet had agreed with since the Christmas evening when her husband had given her the extraordinary news of Lizzy’s engagement to Mr Darcy.
Two months had passed since then, and Mrs Bennet still feared it was only one of her husband’s tricks. Only when the wedding service was over could she breathe easily.
After the ceremony, the entire party left for Netherfield, except for Mr and Mrs Darcy, who were expected in London, Mrs Bennet explained to all her friends.
“You must understand that my Lizzy will now have responsibilities according to her new position in society that you and I cannot even imagine,” she told Mrs Phillips, Mrs Long, and Lady Lucas.
“It is one thing to be married to — let us say — a clergyman, or even to a rich man like Mr Bingley, and completely another thing to be the wife of Mr Darcy, who owns the largest estate in Derbyshire. He has a fortune as great as an earl, you know. By the by, did I mention that his uncle is an earl and so was his grandfather? And he has invited us to stay at Pemberley for the whole summer!”
Nobody could contradict Mrs Bennet in her claims, as in truth, nobody could imagine how it would be to be the wife of a man like Mr Darcy.
Only Elizabeth knew. After she bade farewell to her family and friends and the carriage door closed behind them, her husband’s arms embraced her tightly, and he claimed her lips for a long kiss — the first one of their married lives.
There was no business awaiting them in London, except for a week of blissful privacy to start their life together. Georgiana had decided to remain in Hertfordshire and return to London later, with the Gardiners, to allow her brother and new sister time to themselves.
“I hope you will not find it dull with me alone, Mrs Darcy, after being in the midst of your friends and family. I am known for not being a pleasant nor an entertaining man,” he teased her.
“Not to mention arrogant and haughty, Mr Darcy. And not fond of dancing or parties,” she replied, her fingers tantalising his face.
“True. Yet you cannot blame me, since you knew all this long before I proposed to you. And still, you married me.”
“I did know all this long before I fell in love with you, sir. And still, I did,” she answered, her lips touching his daringly, while his arms held her even tighter.
Pemberley, April 1812
The carriage drove at a slow pace through Pemberley Park, surrounded by beauty that was hard to describe.
While Mrs Annesley loudly expressed her admiration, Elizabeth was silent, only holding her husband’s hand.
She was wearing Lady Anne’s necklace and the earrings and bracelet from Georgiana.
Her husband’s presents to her did not need to be exposed.
After two months of exquisite felicity in London, they were finally going home — to Pemberley, the place to which all were bound by long-lasting memories.
The place she had carried in her heart for more than ten years seemed even more beautiful to Elizabeth, perhaps because now she saw it as his home. Their home.
She glanced at her husband several times with her eyes filled with emotions, and he tenderly kissed her hand. Her heart was racing, filled with past memories and present happiness, as well as promises for the future.
The carriage stopped in front of the house, and Darcy helped his wife, his sister, and her companion out, holding his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders. She looked at him again, her eyes sparkling and her face beaming.
A short distance away, Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, ran to greet them with her arms open. Georgiana embraced her, and then the housekeeper stopped in front of Elizabeth, covering her mouth with her hand.
“My dear girl, it’s you! It’s really you, and you are back at Pemberley! You have changed so much, but I remember your eyes!”
Then she immediately minded her words and curtseyed, bowing her head.
“Please forgive me. I forgot myself. Welcome to Pemberley, Mrs Darcy, and please receive my warmest congratulations on behalf of myself and the entire household,” she said ceremoniously.
Elizabeth embraced her with genuine affection, tearful with emotions.
“I have not forgotten you, Mrs Reynolds, and there is nothing to forgive in your loving reception. I have so many fond memories of you.”
“Come, let us enter,” Darcy suggested, placing his arm around his wife again. “Elizabeth has returned to Pemberley, and she will never leave it. We shall have a lifetime to share old memories and make new ones, as we are all home, together.”
Elizabeth’s heart swelled with joy as her beloved husband spoke the words she had longed to hear. “Indeed, my dearest, we have at last arrived home,” she replied with a smile. “Together.”