Chapter 15. Mr Darcy’s Happy Days #3
Then Fitzwilliam Darcy rose and gave Elizabeth Bennet her first kiss. Overcome by his feelings, he kissed his fiancée a second and then a third time before he merely embraced her.
“We must return to the others…” he said. “But know that after today, I shall never let you go.”
When they entered the parlour, hand-in-hand, Georgiana squealed with happiness and ran across the room to embrace first Elizabeth and then her brother, chattering and laughing the whole time. Elizabeth’s laughter echoed Miss Darcy’s and soon everyone in the room chuckled.
“When is the wedding? May I call you ‘Elizabeth’? Brother, where will you go for the honeymoon?” Georgiana asked so rapidly that no answers could be heard. Eventually Mrs Gardiner requested a tea tray from the kitchens while Mr Gardiner poured himself a finger of bourbon.
Darcy declined the spirits, remaining close to Elizabeth as the couple first discussed a wedding date of early January, but then deciding that late December was more desirable.
They decided that they would wait until next spring to honeymoon, travelling north from London to Pemberley in April and May to spend the entire summer in Derbyshire.
Georgiana would spend the months of April and May with Lord and Lady Matlock before joining her brother and new ‘sister’ at Pemberley for the summer.
If the summer proved to be warm, Mr and Mrs Gardiner and all their children would travel to Pemberley for the month of July and enjoy the hospitality of the Darcy family.
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After debate between Elizabeth, William, and her aunt and uncle, it was decided that Mr Gardiner would send a letter to Mr Bennet announcing the wedding planned in December and Mrs Gardiner would write to Mrs Phillips with the news to ensure it was immediately spread among the families in Meryton.
Eventually, Elizabeth received a letter from Mary wishing her well and a second one from her mother asking questions about how her daughter managed to capture such a man as Mr Darcy, what happened to Jane, and what had Elizabeth learned at Hunsford–was Charlotte Collins planning to turn her out in the hedgerows the day Mr Bennet died?
There was nothing said of Kitty or Lydia in either letter.
Mr Gardiner received a note from Mr Bennet stating he had no concern for Elizabeth’s marriage so long as it did not affect him.
October and November passed quietly with almost daily visits to Gracechurch Street or to Mayfair.
The four older Gardiner children enjoyed their visit to Mayfair on a dreary winter afternoon when they were allowed to run and shout in the ballroom at the top the house that Cousin Lizzy would call home after marrying ‘Darcy’ as they called the dark-haired man who called frequently at their home.
One morning in early December, Mr Darcy and Georgiana called at Gracechurch Street as was their usual course.
Mr Gardiner joined them at the beginning of the call to finalize the plans for their pastor to read the banns for the first time that Sunday.
After the third reading, they would be married the next Wednesday morning with a wedding breakfast at the Darcy home.
Mr Gardiner asked Elizabeth and William to join him in his office to discuss the settlement that must be completed. Georgiana remained in the parlour with Mrs Gardiner with a promise of a visit to the nursery to hold Charlie for a time.
Mr Darcy began the meeting with Mr Gardiner and Elizabeth by mentioning the amount of money he would settle on Elizabeth for pen money, household accounts, and as his ‘widow’ if she survived him.
“This is generous beyond any expectations I had, sir,” Gardiner said.
“William…” Elizabeth asked, “How rich are you?”
Darcy provided a general outline of his wealth that left Gardiner and Elizabeth speechless.
“So, the ten thousand a year is accurate,” Edward observed.
Elizabeth made notes as her fiancé spoke and now, she said, “Your investments with Uncle Gardiner have performed well but you may want to invest some funds with other trade concerns. And your investments in farms are growing.”
Darcy smiled and said, “My dear, our marriage will be interesting, and we shall teach our children how to grow their inheritance.”
“Speaking of inheritance,” interrupted Mr Gardiner. “Elizabeth has an inheritance from my mother as well as her own accounts. Beginning when she was eight years, she has invested in my trade ventures with her pennies.”
“Indeed?”
“Today, she holds almost two thousand pounds built from her own efforts,” Gardiner explained.
Fitzwilliam Darcy was impressed and told his fiancé, “You have a determination to lift yourself. What will that fund be in another twenty years?”
“As Elizabeth’s husband, you must direct me how to handle the monies,” Uncle Edward reminded Darcy.
The man smiled and told his fiancée, “You may do with it as you please, my dear.”
“And she is due a portion of my mother’s legacy,” Gardner added. “This began as a fund of seven thousand pounds and recently it reached twenty-five thousand. Elizabeth is due an equal share; there are nine children between my sister and my own brood.”
“What do you want to do, Elizabeth?”
Without hesitation, she replied, “Leave the money in place. We do not require the funds and once my sisters marry, I shall pay their portions out of my share to leave the legacy intact to grow for my cousins.”
After the discussions of the banns and settlement, they agreed to place an announcement in the papers. Then Mr Darcy mentioned an excursion to the theatre.
“I have no objections to attending the theatre,” Mrs Gardiner replied. “Charlie is old enough to be left with the Mrs Simple for an evening. And Nanny will be here.”
With Mr Gardiner’s agreement to the outing, Mrs Gardiner glanced at the happy faces of both her niece and Mr Darcy before she nodded. Georgiana smiled with delight.
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Two nights later, Elizabeth began arranging her hair when Aunt Gardiner came into the room carrying her long strand of pearls and a brush.
“My dear, I believe your hair must be up tonight and I thought that we should weave my pearls into it.”
When Mr Darcy called at the door, Howard let him into the house where Mr and Mrs Gardiner stood in the entry hall to greet him. After exchanging greetings with Mr Darcy, Mr Gardiner sent Howard up the stairs to summon his niece.
Darcy glanced up and froze as Elizabeth appeared at the top of the stairs. She looked radiant and he could not take his eyes from her. Her dress and hair were perfect.
“Elizabeth, you are lovely…”
“Good evening, William,” she murmured from the stairs before reaching the entry hall.
“Shall we?” he asked offering his arm. Mr Gardiner escorted Mrs Gardiner out to the carriage and the ladies climbed in first, followed by the two gentlemen. The carriage ride into the theatre was too short for Elizabeth but the laughter from Mr Darcy and Georgiana kept her smiling.
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At the theatre, Mr Darcy led his fiancée, sister and guests up the stairs and then further up into the area for box seats.
There were three chairs placed forward and three behind the first row.
Mr Darcy placed Georgiana in the third chair, Miss Elizabeth in the centre while Mr and Mrs Gardiner took the seats behind the front row.
Then he sat in the last chair on the front row while the lights went down, and the curtain rose.
In seats on the floor, Caroline Bingley sat with Mr Evan Robinson as her escort for the evening and with her attorney, Albert Belmont, who escorted Miss Gwendolyn Hobbs. Glancing at the boxes above the common floor, she immediately noticed Mr Darcy seated above her.
“Belmont,” she called over her shoulder. When he did not respond, Caroline turned and reached for the man’s arm. “Mr Belmont!”
Smiling at Miss Hobbs to apologize for turning away from her, Albert turned partially toward his client and hissed, “Yes, Miss Bingley?”
“Mr Darcy is here!”
This announcement made several people around them turn and look up to the boxes where they saw the man with an unknown woman and a girl. There were hisses from other audience members toward the couple as they continued to talk for a time but eventually, they fell silent and waited for the interval.
In the theatre box, Mr Darcy paid no attention to the people in the seats below him; his attention was captured by the musical performance and the young woman at his side.
He kept glancing at her and noticed how her attention appeared to be fully engrossed in the performance of Mr Handel’s composition.
But after a few minutes, she turned his way and graced him with a brilliant smile.
Fitzwilliam Darcy felt his face stretch with the width of his own smile.
However, Georgiana studied the audience and watched the reaction of many people to the appearance of her brother at the theatre. She particularly noticed the agitation of Miss Caroline Bingley. After several minutes, Georgiana slipped into the back of the box and whispered with Mrs Gardiner.
At the beginning of the interval, Georgiana spoke up, “Brother, I believe we should remain in the box while everyone else is walking about.”
“Remain inside?” he asked, tearing his attention from Elizabeth for a moment.
“Yes, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Gardiner agreed. “Miss Darcy and I observed a good bit of reaction from the floor when your presence was noticed.”
“I am certain the reaction was for the presence of Elizabeth Bennet,” Darcy said returning his attention to his fiancée. Elizabeth blushed prettily and laughed.
“William, just because no one has met me before, does not mean I am worthy of their attention.”
Mr Gardiner spoke up, “We can refresh ourselves after the interval once the crowd is back in their chairs. They cannot pursue us on the stairs once the crowd is seated again.”
Elizabeth turned to her aunt with questions on her face that Mrs Gardiner explained, “Most likely, Mr Darcy is sought out by notable gentlemen to discuss matters on every occasion.”
“As well as every mother with an eligible daughter,” Georgiana interjected. “Just because the paper announced your betrothal does not mean the truly desperate ones will not attack.”
“Georgie! You are reading too many novels again,” said Mr Darcy who frowned but secretly agreed with his sister.
Elizabeth reached out a hand to take Mr Darcy’s hand and said, “I hope I am not causing trouble for you.”
Georgiana said, “Once Fitzwilliam is married, the mommas will move on to the next rich bachelor. Men wanting to discuss business or politics will always be a problem.”
During the interval, Caroline Bingley deserted Mr Robinson and told Mr Belmont, “Take me to halls. We must find Mr Darcy and allow him to invite me for family dinner.”
“Miss Bingley, I am enjoying company with Miss Hobbs this evening,” Albert replied. “You can call on him later in the week.”
He looked around and asked, “Where did Mr Robinson go?”
From beside Mr Belmont, Miss Hobbs spoke, “Mr Robinson attempted to take Caroline for punch, but she refused. I believe he recognized some friends and went to speak to friendly faces.”
Caroline gave the other woman a nasty glance to which Miss Hobbs merely smiled generously. She recognized Miss Bingley as the social climber and had no wish to compete with her. Mr Belmont was handsome, but he pressed for favours she had no wish to grant anyone but her husband.
At that moment, Mr Robinson returned with cups punch for both ladies and Miss Hobbs graced that gentleman with her best smile.
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At the Hurst home the following morning, Caroline barely restrained herself from grabbing the paper from Mr Hurst when she arrived in the small dining room.
Caroline was not subtle by any description and both husband and wife noticed her anxiousness to see the paper.
Louisa rose from her seat and moved to stand beside Geoffrey and asked, “Might we look at the gossip columns?”
“Gossip, my dear?”
“The society news as your mother likes to call it,” she murmured in his ear.
Hurst turned to those pages, not dropping the paper to the tabletop where Caroline might snatch it from under his gaze.
“Was there anything of interest at the theatre last night, Caroline?” asked Geoffrey. “We were unable to join you and Mr Robinson. I hope Belmont and his escort were pleasant.”
“No,” she answered immediately. “Mr Robinson was a bore and cared more for Mr Belmont’s escort than he did for me.”
Geoffrey glanced up and though he refrained from saying anything, Caroline imagined him saying something about Robinson preferring a ‘younger’ woman.
Read the newspaper, Geoffrey said. “Here it is. ‘At last night’s performance of Mr Handel’s latest work, the audience was granted their first glance at the young woman shortly to become Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Miss Elizabeth B, living in the home of her uncle, Edward Gardiner of Gracechurch Street, was present with Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner for the entire performance.
The betrothed couple did not step out of the box during the interval and exited the theatre before the curtain calls. ’”
“Mr Darcy’s appearance in society would certainly have been memorable,” Louisa agreed. “Miss B… she must be the missing sister… the one that Jane…”
Louisa felt tears gather in her eyes while Caroline rose and left the dining room without another word while Geoffrey comforted his wife.
“My dear, will you write Miss Bennet a note of congratulations?” he asked. “Or shall I seek out Darcy at our club and offer my congratulations?”
“No, I will not write to Miss Bennet,” Louisa replied. “We have never been introduced to her and our names would only bring up painful memories.”
The next evening at his club, Mr Hurst sought out Mr Darcy to offer his congratulations on the match. He also shared news of Bingley’s departure from England and while Mr Darcy acknowledged the news, he never mentioned Charles Bingley again.
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