Chapter Twelve
THE WEDDING
Early Morning
The Meryton Inn
It mattered not that first light was barely on the horizon, for Fitzwilliam Darcy was already groomed and dressed for this eventful day.
It would be nothing like his first wedding, the lavish event Lady Catherine insisted upon to impress her friends in Town when he and Anne were married.
Instead, he would be surrounded by simple country folk including Elizabeth’s family, and a few of his closest friends and relations who had come from Town.
More importantly, he would be marrying a woman who loved him and one whom he loved in return.
“Elizabeth,” he warmly sighed, inhaling the sweet lavender scent which lingered on the handkerchief she had given him the previous evening. Mrs. Bennet had hosted yet another lovely dinner at the manor house, this time for his out-of-town guests and her immediate relations.
The food was splendid and the company was surprisingly well-suited to one another.
After what happened at the charity ball, William had not anticipated Mrs. Bennet could be such a cordial hostess.
Not to mention she oversaw all of the preparations for the wedding and wedding breakfast. Fortunately, the woman had the help of her eldest daughters and Mrs. Gardiner.
Even so, not once did he hear her complain about her “poor nerves.”
Because Elizabeth had arranged the seating for last night’s dinner, William pleasantly found himself seated on Mr. Bennet’s end of the table, next to Elizabeth and across from the Gardiners and Lady Gwendolyn.
His dinner companions were engaging, and there was no lack of conversation to be had.
Predictably, Lady Gwendolyn appeared very pleased to see her initial matchmaking was not in vain despite the circumstances.
Her opinions and witticism flowed in tandem with Bennet and Elizabeth, who relished in twisting the English language.
“Mr. Darcy,” Bennet wryly said. “You have proved to be a delightful diversion this evening. After knowing you better, I can see my daughter will be a formidable opponent when it comes to a battle of wits.” He chuckled.
“It will give me great pleasure thinking of you at her mercy in the days to come.”
“I am not afraid of your daughter, sir. In fact, it was her keen mind, as well as her argumentative nature, that first drew my notice.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth playfully bristled. “‘Argumentative nature,’ you say? With that in mind, I believe I shall be hard pressed not to continue my sport at your expense.”
“I shall look forward to it, my dear,” he countered. “Who knows, you may find me rather daunting. Now that I know you better, who is to say I shall not anticipate your discourse?”
“We shall see,” she answered, with a twinkle in her eyes.
Despite Mr. Bennet’s failings, William deemed he would be proud to call the older gentleman Father once he and Elizabeth were married.
‘Twas a pity the man’s health was so poor, for Bennet’s mind was sharp and he delighted in verbal play.
It warmed William’s heart to see father and daughter conversing in this manner, and in the end he did not mind being the brunt of their good-humoured abuse.
On the other hand, knowing how close the two of them were, it saddened William to think how much his Elizabeth would suffer when her father was no more.
To that end, he would do his best to ensure that his beloved would have many more opportunities to visit him after they married.
He knew only too well how difficult it was to lose a parent, both parents, and he was determined to support Elizabeth in whatever way he could from that respect.
Pemberley would always be there, but Bennet would not.
Carefully folding her handkerchief, he kissed it and tucked it into his breast pocket while recalling her playfulness. When the others were saying their goodbyes in the courtyard, she had taken his hand and slyly pulled him around the hedges and to the side of a large tree.
“At last I have you to myself,” she said, allowing him to take her into his embrace. “Please do not think me wanton, but I could not let you go without a few moments alone.”
“Never.” He kissed her gently on the lips.
“I wanted to give you a small token of my love before you leave.” Reaching into her pocket, she gave him her newly-finished handkerchief. “Can you see it well enough in the moonlight?”
“I can,” he said, taking the cloth and carefully examining it. “It is lovely, Elizabeth.”
“I think I shall like my new initials very well.” She smiled radiantly. “And look here; I have entwined them with Sweet Williams. I … I thought you might carry it in your pocket when we meet again at the church?”
“My dearest love, no one has ever given me anything more precious.” He brought her hand to his lips before folding the fine linen and lovingly placing it within his breast pocket. “I shall gladly keep it here next to my heart, where it belongs.”
“That is all I ask, for my heart is yours, William, and tomorrow I shall be your wife.”
“Yes, and I shall be your husband.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Elizabeth, I could not be happier.”
“Nor I.”
Had Jane not come looking for them, he might have stood there holding her and stealing kisses for far longer than he ought, for their parting came all too soon.
Now, however, it was a new day, and in a few hours they would be man and wife.
Soon she would be his bride, and despite everything that had happened since that unthinkable evening at the charity ball, Fitzwilliam Darcy was happy.
In an odd way William felt like a young man again barely out of university.
He had endured so many trials since that time with the death of his father, his failed marriage and the guilt he yet harboured over Anne’s death and that of their son.
Nevertheless, God had given him another chance to prove himself worthy.
In gratitude, he vowed he would do everything within his power to make Elizabeth happy as they built their life together.
The very thought of their joining brought a smile to William’s face.
In that respect, Elizabeth was everything he could possibly desire in a partner.
She was a warm, caring, and passionate woman whom he would gladly take to his bed every night.
Because of the love they shared, he was sure there would never again be arguments provoked by locked doors or the feigning of illness to avoid his advances.
Because of their love, intimacy would be freely given and there would be the promise of more children.
Before leaving Town, William had given instructions to his housekeeper in preparation for his return with Elizabeth.
Darcy House would be thoroughly cleaned and every room adorned with flowers from the solarium and local hothouses.
Following Anne’s death, he had abandoned the original master bedrooms for a suite of guest rooms which had no reminders of those troubled times.
In these rooms, Elizabeth would find more flowers and a lovely meal served with his finest wine.
Knowing how much Elizabeth loved literature, he had chosen two of his favourite books from his personal collection and enclosed the first of many missives he would write over the coming months and years.
In addition to her books, William had purchased two necklaces from the jeweller who had sized his mother’s rings.
The first was but a modest pendant cross set with five small emeralds on a simple gold chain, while the more formal necklace with matching earrings was an elegant double strand of small emeralds and diamonds accented with slightly larger tear drop emerald stones.
He could not resist purchasing either necklace since the rich emeralds reminded him of Elizabeth’s vibrant eyes, the dark green orbs which had captivated him from the very first. Smiling to himself, William was elated knowing Elizabeth would be his wife in just a few hours and within a matter of days, his family would finally be complete.
The de Bourgh Cottage had seen many repairs since William took possession after his marriage to Anne, and it had been updated with several conveniences for his family’s use. Situated very close to the seaside, it would be the perfect place to relax and enjoy his time with Elizabeth and the girls.
Elizabeth had never been to the Eastern Coast of England, and he looked forward to showing her that area.
Perhaps they might even take one or two days and visit some of the neighbouring ports.
Then, with Canterbury being less than twenty miles from the cottage, he planned on stopping there for a day or two on their way back to London.
Elizabeth would be delighted to visit the famed ruins and take a tour of the old cathedral which was noted in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Their time spent in Kent would not only be a new adventure for his family, but it would be restorative for William before returning to a week of activities in Town put forth by the countess.
To that end, William had agreed to his aunt’s proposal for a ball in celebration of his marriage to Elizabeth.
In addition, Lady Gwendolyn had offered to host a dinner for that same purpose.
Since the season was not quite over, Lady Eleanor had suggested that being seen in public with his new bride would do much to quell the gossip which had overshadowed their hasty marriage.
While William would rather forgo those formalities, he knew that his aunt’s suggestion was sound.