Chapter 10
Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage in front of Grosvenor Chapel, together with Mr and Mrs Gardiner, taking in the surprisingly modest church that she liked immediately. Mr Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and two other young gentlemen were already there, and they walked towards her.
It was a cold yet sunny winter morning, and strangely, Elizabeth’s heart was light too, despite the fact that she was only minutes away from being bound forever to an almost stranger.
Her future husband’s visit to the Gardiners’ the evening before last, when he had only just returned to London, spoke more eloquently to Elizabeth than any praise she had heard.
She might not know much about her partner in this marriage business, but some things were beyond doubt.
He was a selfless and kind-hearted man who, though exhausted and hungry himself from the long journey, had been more concerned with feeding his servants.
He was certainly a man of his word, who had done the almost impossible to return in due time.
And he had shown her trust, respect, and consideration by trying to protect her from any nasty gossip, including from his closest family.
It was certainly not enough for a happy marriage but surely more than most arranged marriages began with. All in all, she had no cause to repine — just as she had told Lady Catherine.
Mr Darcy reached her and offered his arm, which she took with some restraint and trepidation, as it was the first time they had touched each other.
“Miss Bennet, allow me to introduce my eldest cousin, Viscount Garvie, and my friend Mr Charles Bingley. You already know Garvie’s younger brother, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Garvie, Bingley, this is my betrothed and the woman who has improved my life, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
She curtseyed, and the gentlemen bowed to her. Her cheeks warm, she mused drolly that Mr Darcy was exaggerating her qualities again — if only a little bit.
“As for the rest, I believe you are all acquainted. Miss Bennet, my uncle and aunt Lord and Lady Matlock will come and greet you as soon as we arrive home after the ceremony.”
“I would be honoured.”
“Since you are probably wondering, my other aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has returned to Kent. We had a long conversation which I believe convinced her she had no reason to stay in town any longer.”
She smiled at him with a genuine sense of relief. She could not deny that she had feared that woman would turn their private wedding into a public scandal.
“Shall we enter? We are expected,” Mr Darcy said, and, with her legs unsteady, her knees becoming weaker, and her hands getting colder, Elizabeth took her last steps as Miss Bennet.
The ceremony was unexceptional, and she hardly noticed anything about the church, except for the black wooden pews in stark contrast to the blinding white of the impressive columns that bordered the altar, or about the vicar’s words, merely responding when prompted; and she barely realised when it was over, smiling absently at the congratulations and well wishes offered by their small party.
She startled when Mr Darcy said, seemingly mere moments later, “May I escort you home, Mrs Darcy?”
She held her breath for a moment, then took his offered arm, and they walked together towards an elegant carriage with an elaborate crest on the side.
She looked back at her uncle and aunt, who were entering their own conveyance, and the other three gentlemen stepping into a third one.
Mr Darcy helped her climb inside then followed her up, allowing a footman to close the door behind him.
Her heart began to race as she realised that, for the first time, she was alone with her husband.
“I hope you were not displeased with the ceremony? You looked preoccupied,” he said in a friendly voice.
“No, not at all…” She glanced at him, sighed, and added, “In truth, I confess I was indeed so preoccupied that I hardly heard any of the ceremony, but I assume it was as beautiful as the church.”
His expression softened with a smile. “I imagined as much, and I thank you for telling me the truth. To be honest, I was equally distracted myself.”
“I believe that, since we have spoken so openly from the beginning, the truth — even when it is embarrassing — would be the best way to conduct ourselves.”
He hesitated a moment, a shade of darkness in his eyes and a slight pallor on his face.
“I agree. I promise never to deliberately deceive you, Miss B…Mrs Darcy. Disguise of any sort has always been my abhorrence. But I admit there are things that I am not at liberty to disclose and answers that I might not be able to offer if you asked me. It may not be possible to reveal to you some private matters, but I shall never tell you a lie instead.”
His answer, worded in such a way as to not make any promises aside from not lying to her, sounded as strange as his voice, and it puzzled her, but she was content for the time being.
“And, of course,” he continued, “I shall not insist on you revealing to me anything you do not want to.”
“That sounds like a fair arrangement, Mr Darcy.”
“I am glad you approve. Perhaps we should begin to use our given names? If you agree, of course?”
“I do agree,” she responded. “Fitzwilliam sounds like a formal and impressive name.”
“And long,” he replied, smiling, as though he had already had this conversation before.
“Yes. But I think it suits you well.”
“I am glad you approve of it, Elizabeth.”
The carriage suddenly stopped, and a footman opened the door.
Her heart was beating irregularly again as her husband hurried to climb down, then stretched his hand out to her.
This time, she placed her gloved hand in his.
His fingers closed upon hers for a moment and, even through their thick gloves, she felt suddenly warm.
Once she was out, he placed her hand on his arm and led her inside the house.
She did not stop on the street to take a better look at her new home; there would be enough time for that later.
She noticed in passing the elegant door and the shiny brass of the knocker and nodded in greeting to the liveried footman on the top step.
She glimpsed inside and saw the others had already arrived and were chatting animatedly, as friends did.
Elizabeth felt like the only stranger — and somehow an intruder.
Once in the entrance hall, she was surprised to see a large gathering of servants — she hastily counted about twenty — and an older lady taking a step forwards.
The servants formed three rows behind her, probably according to their status within the household.
She waited patiently as they all handed their pelisses and coats, hats and gloves to the footmen directed by the butler.
“Mrs Darcy, please allow me to introduce our servants. They expressed the desire to welcome you. This is our housekeeper, Mrs Green.”
The woman curtseyed and bowed her head, speaking with apparent emotion, “Mrs Darcy, on behalf of the entire household, allow me to express the most heartfelt welcome and congratulations to you and our master. We are all here to serve and help you with anything you wish.”
“Thank you, Mrs Green and everyone. I am deeply touched by your warm reception,” Elizabeth declared genuinely.
“Mrs Darcy, if I may? This is Janey, the maid assigned to your personal needs. She will see immediately to your trunks, as they have been delivered. Of course, you may choose someone else if you are displeased with her service.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Janey. I trust you have made the right choice, Mrs Green, and I am sure I shall be very pleased,” she said, keeping her smile.
“You are very kind,” Mrs Green continued. “As for the rest of the servants, we shall not bother you with all their names now. We shall return to our duties.”
“Mrs Green, a moment please. If Mr Darcy does not mind, I would love to find out everyone’s names and positions now.”
She looked at Mr Darcy, who was obviously satisfied with her kind gesture.
Mrs Green, as well as the other servants, looked equally surprised and pleased, and the housekeeper began to introduce them one by one, with a few words about each, beginning with the most senior: Mr Lethbridge, the butler, and Mr Marston, Mr Darcy’s valet.
Elizabeth had a warm smile, nod, or word for all, even in one case a small touch for a shy young girl who would not raise her head enough for Elizabeth to hear her answer.
When Mrs Green completed presenting those gathered, adding that several maids and footmen could not be spared but she would personally bring them on the morrow to be introduced to Mrs Darcy, Elizabeth thanked her again and said, trying to encompass all of them with her eyes, “It was wonderful to meet you all. I hope you will excuse me if I confuse your names in the first few days — I promise it will not take long before I shall know all of them by heart.”
“When one has a kind mistress, one never minds by what name one is called,” Mrs Green replied, and a few chuckles of approval — including that of Mr Darcy and the colonel — were heard in reply.
With that, the servants returned to their duties, and Mrs Green informed them that breakfast was served.
“That was truly an excellent first impression and a flawless entrance, Mrs Darcy,” a female voice said, making Elizabeth startle. Only then did she notice, hidden by a marble column, an elegant couple whose identity she immediately guessed.
“Aunt! This is an agreeable surprise! I did not expect you to be here so early,” Mr Darcy said. “Elizabeth, allow me to introduce you to my uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Matlock.”
Elizabeth curtseyed, slightly anxious. The air, light and pleasant only moments earlier, had become a bit strained.
“I am honoured to make your acquaintance,” Elizabeth declared politely.
“We are content — and relieved, I admit! — to finally meet you, Miss…pardon me, Mrs Darcy,” Lady Matlock said, nodding in return.