Chapter Twenty-Six #2
Darcy hadn’t realized Anne had invited Gavin but saw no reason to make an issue of her doing so. “That would make me very happy.”
They followed the others into the parlor, where Darcy spent a happy morning watching Elizabeth while her mother and sisters discussed the wedding and the breakfast, which Mrs. Bingley had offered to host at Netherfield, in such detail that he didn’t feel he’d miss a moment if he happened not to attend.
Not that he had any intention of missing the wedding of his future sister by marriage.
Planning in the parlor eventually became lunch, with Bingley joining them.
With Mrs. Bennet now behaving reasonably and Miss Lydia sulking to the point of refusing conversation, lunch passed quite amicably.
Darcy could tell by the ease with which Mrs. Bennet and Miss Kitty interacted with the Bingleys that they must see each other frequently, and with pleasure in each other’s company.
The only low point was after lunch when the Bennet women decided they must leave, but Darcy promised to follow soon to call on Elizabeth.
The next several days passed quite agreeably.
The Gardiners arrived, staying overnight at Netherfield with the Bingleys and adding to the cheer there.
Although the deep cold of January settled in with vigor, when the wedding day arrived, the mood in the church echoed the happy days leading up to the ceremony.
And unlike at Bingley’s wedding, the union of Miss Kitty and Mr. Carter afforded Darcy the opportunity to sit beside Elizabeth.
As they watched her younger sister marry, she reached to hold his hand.
He’d never found a wedding ceremony quite so enjoyable before.
It wasn’t until they stood to make their way from the church that Darcy noted the tension in Elizabeth’s slim shoulders and the way her gaze darted about. He offered his arm, leaning close to ask, “Is something the matter?”
She gave a quick shake of her head and took his arm.
Thin lines about her firmly pressed lips and slightly narrowed eyes belied her headshake, but they strode up the aisle, nearing the church door.
Before they stepped out into the weak winter light, a tremble went through her.
Darcy escorted her down the steps, then to one side of the walk.
Releasing her arm, he turned to face her.
“You’re afraid,” he stated, pain coiling in his gut at her misery.
“The last time I attended a wedding here, someone attacked me.”
Darcy looked about, seeing only friends and relations. “But that will not happen today.”
“I-I thought I saw her. Mrs. Clegg. Yesterday, in Meryton.”
“Thought you did?” he repeated, fighting back a flash of worry.
“I went to the corner, where I thought I saw her turn, but no one was there.” Elizabeth cast him a quick, nervous look. “But I didn’t look right away. I stood there for a moment, uncertain if I wished to look. If she’d been there, she would have had time to leave.”
He shook his head. He hated to see Elizabeth so anxious. “It wasn’t that terrible of a bruise. You regained the full use of your hand quickly.”
That drew forth a flash of anger, much to his relief. “It wasn’t the bruise, or even the rock. I told you, it’s the hatred. Even the invectives wouldn’t have been so awful, if they weren’t spewed with such venom. I cannot get past the idea that she very much wished violence on me.”
Darcy cast another look about, but they were in no way alone. He didn’t dare flaunt propriety by taking Elizabeth into his arms, the banns not read even once yet. He struggled to understand how she must feel, so he could guess what to say.
Elizabeth let out a sigh, her shoulders drooping. “I’m being dramatic. I’m sorry.”
“No.” Darcy shook his head. “You were attacked, and we have no way to know how spontaneously, or how deep her need for retribution might go.”
A wry smile curved Elizabeth’s lips. “That is how you will reassure me?”
“Were you in Meryton alone when you saw her?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I was with my mother, Mary and Kitty. Lydia refused to accompany us.”
“Will it help if you’re never alone?”
“You can hardly spend more time with me than you do. At least, not until we’re wed.” Elizabeth frowned. “And that doesn’t solve anything, really. I must learn not to be afraid. She hates me, and she attacked me, and now it is over. Time has passed. I must forget the incident took place.”
“Do you still wish to marry here?” Darcy didn’t want her to leave their wedding in a state of fear.
“I hadn’t thought not to. Would marrying somewhere else be running away?”
“You should be happy on the day of your wedding.” He couldn’t help but smile. “At least, I certainly hope you will be happy when you marry me.”
“It shall be the happiest day I’ve known, no matter where we marry and even if a madwoman accosts me,” Elizabeth said lightly.
But Darcy could read the thought that went through her mind…that if Mrs. Clegg again attacked her, she would have a similar memory on her wedding day as Mrs. Bingley must. “I will find her before our wedding,” he vowed. “I’ll write my man again after the breakfast.”
“Thank you, but for now, may we speak of something happier? And we should likely seek your carriage, if I can find one of my sisters to ride with us. I didn’t mean to create such a fuss. It’s Kitty’s wedding day.”
“You’ve created no fuss at all.” He offered his arm. As they headed down the line to where his carriage waited, he thought of a topic which might distract Elizabeth from her worries. “I believe I’ve found someone to fill the living in Kympton. He should arrive Monday.”
“Oh?” she asked politely, looking about.
Hoping she merely sought one of her sisters to ride with them, Darcy continued. “Yes, a Mr. Greyson. He’s a widower with two children. A girl and a boy, ages six and four. He seems very respectable, and responsible.”
“Mr. Greyson? Howard Greyson?” Sir William’s jovial voice said. “A good man, Mr. Darcy. Fine man. I knew his father.”
Darcy and Elizabeth turned to find Sir William and Miss Lucas walked behind them.
“Charlotte,” Elizabeth said with warmth. “I’ve hardly had the chance to see you since I returned. Will you ride with us to Netherfield?”
“We’d be happy to,” Sir William said, obviously taking the invitation to include him, too. “I can tell your Mr. Darcy all about Mr. Greyson the senior. Good man.”
Charlotte winked at Elizabeth.
Seeing Elizabeth smile at her friend was more than enough reason for Darcy to put up with Sir William’s rambling for the duration of a carriage ride. “Yes, do join us, Sir William, Miss Lucas.”
“Where’re you putting Greyson up?” Sir William asked as they resumed walking. “Wherever it is, there’s no need. He shall stay with us.”
“That is very kind of you,” Darcy said politely, though he would write Mr. Greyson and offer him the choice.
Sir William rattled on about Mr. Greyson the senior but seemed to know little about the son other than that his father was a good man, and so he must be as well.
Darcy knew of examples where that wasn’t true, such as Wickham, but didn’t go to the trouble to say so.
They reached the carriage and handed the ladies in, then Darcy gestured to Sir William to proceed him.
The older gentleman turned a smug smile on him. “Told you, didn’t I, back at the ball, that you fancied Miss Elizabeth. You make a fine couple. You have my felicitations.”
Although he knew full well that such words would once have aggravated him, happiness welled in Darcy and he offered a convivial nod. “Thank you, Sir William.”
Appearing pleased with himself, Sir William climbed in.
The wedding breakfast went well. The newly made Mr. and Mrs. Carter appeared quite happy and left for his estate with many waves and smiles.
Darcy wrote his man, then put the matter of the missing Mrs. Clegg, Miss Bingley, and Wickham from his mind once more, preferring to ride over to visit Elizabeth.
Their banns were read for the first time the following day, along with those for Gavin and Miss Mary. The Gardiners left the following day, promising to return for the double wedding in three weeks. Darcy felt nothing could dim his happiness.
Until the day before the banns were to be read a second time, when he returned from an afternoon calling on Elizabeth to find an urgent missive from his man in London.
A woman matching Mrs. Clegg’s description had been seen by several merchants in Meryton, but Mrs. Clegg eluded every attempt to locate her.
Darcy stared down at the letter, trying to think of any reason Mrs. Clegg might be in Meryton, let alone Hertfordshire, that didn’t involve Elizabeth.