Chapter 19
Five hours and two horse changes later, Elizabeth’s chaise pulled up in front of Mr. Darcy’s house on Grosvenor Street. She climbed down and bid the innkeeper’s daughter and the driver farewell before mounting the steps to the door.
She knocked, and only moments later, the door was opened by a butler. Elizabeth gave him her card and asked to speak with Mr. Darcy.
He immediately invited her in.
She was taken to a small parlor. While it was elegantly furnished, she was nearly certain it was seldom used. The furniture was pristine as if it had never had a single person sit in it since it was made, and the fireplace practically glowed with spotlessness.
Less than a minute later, she was joined by her husband-to-be, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps it was the separation they had endured that made it so, but he appeared more handsome than ever. His expression was a mixture of worry, hope, and joy at seeing her.
Elizabeth held her hands out to him, since words failed to materialize on her lips. He also seemed unable to articulate his feelings upon being reunited with her.
In just a few strides, he crossed the room. Instead of grasping her hands as she expected him to do, however, he swept her up into a warm hug. In her ear, as though it was a sigh of relief, he whispered, “Elizabeth.”
“Mr. Darcy, I am so glad to see you,” she said softly in return.
He pulled back just enough so that he could see her, though his arms remained around her. “Fitzwilliam,” he said. “That is my name. I would love to hear you use it.”
Elizabeth reached up and touched his cheek, still having difficulty believing she truly was with the one man she cared so very much about. Almost as if in a dream, she said, “Fitzwilliam.”
The light in his eyes that had glowed with warmth suddenly blazed with fire. “I am going to kiss you now,” said Fitzwilliam.
Unable to speak, Elizabeth simply nodded. Then, Fitzwilliam ducked his head and kissed her.
Of course, Elizabeth had read novels and even fairy tales which tell of kissing. She had been curious about it, but she had never imagined such a simple thing could be so powerful as to change her so completely.
If she had thought anything on the subject, she had assumed it would be like holding hands but a bit more intimate. It was nothing of the sort.
For Elizabeth, it was as if the entire world faded away, and the only thing left in it was herself and Fitzwilliam. His kiss was gentle at first, but it was not short. Instinctually, she responded, which seemed to light a fire between them, and his kisses grew fevered and less controlled.
Just when the experience was on the verge of overwhelming Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam pulled back, but only just enough to switch to holding her instead of kissing her. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and said, “I love you, Elizabeth.”
Before she could return his declaration of affection, he stood and said, “It is a very good thing we will be married tomorrow.”
“So soon?” asked Elizabeth.
“Would you prefer to wait? I have a license, and with it we can marry any day you wish. I only thought you would wish to do this as quickly as possible, so your father has as little time to discover you missing.”
“No, I would rather not wait,” said Elizabeth. “The longer we delay, the more likely it is that my father will attempt to interfere. I was merely expressing my surprise that you had managed to arrange everything so well.”
“Very well,” said Fitzwilliam. “Tomorrow morning then. You can stay the night with Lady Priscilla. I procured a month’s lease on a pleasant apartment for her.
Once that lease is up, she will join us as your companion at Pemberley.
At least I assume you would prefer to go to Pemberley as the weather gets warmer. ”
Elizabeth smiled. “I very much look forward to it. You have talked so much about it that I can only assume I will love it just as much as you do.”
Fitzwilliam smiled, and for a moment, Elizabeth thought he might kiss her again. Instead, he sighed and let her go. Then he took a step back.
Suddenly she felt cold and lonely. The feeling must have shown on her face, for he said, “Much as I would love to continue, I am afraid that such activities should wait until after our wedding.” He bent down and kissed her cheek.
It was a gentle gesture, but it was full of promise that made Elizabeth’s spine tingle.
“I suppose you are correct,” she said.
Mr. Darcy made arrangements for Elizabeth to be taken to Lady Priscilla’s apartment, but in order to avoid being tracked, she left Darcy House by the back door, and she entered the carriage before it even left the carriage house.
Elizabeth’s reunion with Lady Priscilla was all that was warm and kind, and she was glad she would be able to keep the older lady’s company in the future.
~~~~~
Elizabeth slept fitfully that night. A part of her mind refused to relax as it was constantly expecting the duke to burst in and force her back home.
He did not. Eventually, morning came, and with it a bit more hope and a bit less anxiety.
Lady Priscilla helped Elizabeth prepare for her wedding day.
She had Elizabeth’s favorite dress with her.
It was one of the many preparations they had made ahead of time.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have any of Elizabeth’s jewelry or jeweled hairpins.
All of that had been left at Pollaner. So, her hairstyle was rather simple.
Elizabeth didn’t mind, and she was nearly certain that Fitzwilliam wouldn’t even notice, but Lady Priscilla fussed over the lack for quite some time.
The two ladies made their way to the church where Fitzwilliam and Colonel Fitzwilliam were waiting. Though Elizabeth greeted the colonel, she only truly had any attention for the man who would shortly be her husband.
Fitzwilliam was dressed as smartly as she had ever seen him, though his stance indicated that he was nervous.
As she approached, he took her hand and kissed it, and Elizabeth was warmly reminded of his kiss from the day before.
He, too, must have been thinking of it, for his eyes were alight when he stood back up.
The two of them made their way down the church aisle, followed by Lady Priscilla and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who would act as the witnesses. As they walked, Fitzwilliam said, “I hope you don’t mind such a small and hurried wedding.”
“No,” said Elizabeth. “There are only four people in the world I would wish were here today. Mr. Bennet, Jane, Mary King, and my brother, Edward. Even so, I cannot regret their absence. I am certain I shall have opportunity to celebrate with them at some point. Today, however, specifically this moment, is about us. You and I. It matters little to me who else is here. This is the moment when our two paths in life merge and become one.”
Fitzwilliam looked at her as though he wished to say something in response, but they had reached the front of the church by that point, and the rector was waiting to begin the ceremony.
Elizabeth knew she would never forget the fervency with which Fitzwilliam made his vows, nor would she forget the promises she made in return. Within mere minutes, the deed was done. They signed their names on the register, and they were married.
The two of them left the church in Mr. Darcy’s carriage, while Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Priscilla waved them away.
Once the newlyweds had arrived at Darcy House, they made their way up to the mistress’ suite.
One of Mr. Darcy’s maids helped Elizabeth with her hair and dress, though Elizabeth missed Anna’s good-natured chatter as she did so.
She was so nervous that she was certain the young maid would have been able to put her more at ease.
Then, Fitzwilliam entered, and all thoughts of others left her mind immediately.
What followed was as common and unique as love itself. When it was over, and Elizabeth lay in the arms of the man who was now, in all ways, her husband, she knew she would never be the same again.