Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
As was her habit, Elizabeth awoke early the morning of her wedding, and even as she relished surrendering the name Bennet and taking the name Darcy, she was still amazed at how completely her understanding of her intended changed in just a few days.
He had affected her intensely from the moment she saw him at the assembly, and she once read that there was a thin line between hate and love and knew it was true for her.
While she pondered these thoughts, her aunt came bustling into the room, followed by her sister and a maid carrying a bathtub that was soon filled with water lightly scented with lavender and rose petals.
Elizabeth relaxed in the warm bath as her hair was washed, then sat in front of the fire in her dressing gown while Jane brushed out her hair.
The sisters whispered, each thinking this was likely one of the last times they would do this until Mrs Gardiner returned and sent Jane from the room on an errand.
“Elizabeth,” her aunt began, “how much do you know about what to expect … about tonight?”
Elizabeth blushed. “Having grown up on an estate, I have seen the farm animals, so I have some idea of the anatomy and … uh, the mechanics of it, I suppose. Neither Papa nor Mama would answer questions, and a few times, I read some of the books Papa would have preferred I not read, but they left me more confused than not. I have heard my Aunt Phillips and other matrons refer to it as a ‘duty’ and make it sound rather unpleasant for the female.”
“Your Aunt Phillips is incorrect, Elizabeth,” Aunt Gardiner replied after a moment, her cheeks heating slightly.
“From the little time I have spent with Mr Darcy, I believe he loves you deeply, and because of that, he will help you find pleasure in the act as he will.
Many women are told to lie still and think of something else, and I dare say that would be the advice your mother would have given you were she here.
However, I will say, trust your husband in this, my dear.
He will want to know what you enjoy and will seek your pleasure.
Be as honest as possible, and speak to him about what you like.
“Elizabeth, remember that your parents and your aunt and uncle Phillips are poor examples of the marriage state. If the other matrons around Meryton describe marital relations as a chore, I would say they have either not made love matches or have simply kept silent. I hope you have seen a better relationship between your uncle and me, and I can assure you that marital relations are anything but a chore. The most important thing you can do to have a good marriage is to communicate with your husband, both in bed and out of it. Tell him what you are thinking and feeling. Never assume he is a mind reader–even when he knows you better than he does now, he will still be unable to know what you are thinking much of the time. He will get better, but he will still be a man and oblivious to things that seem perfectly obvious to you. In everyday things, Mr Darcy has been in sole charge of his estate for many years and is used to making decisions. Do not allow yourself to be too upset if he continues this practice and forgets to consult you at times after you are married. Speak to him about your concerns and encourage him to solicit your opinion, but also allow him time to learn.”
Mrs Gardiner took a deep breath and laid a hand on Elizabeth’s.
“My dear, you are both, I think, of a passionate nature. I know you have sometimes spoken before you considered your words and regretted them almost immediately. In any relationship, it is easy to let little hurts fester until you blow up and let your anger loose. Do not let your feelings fester, nor allow arguments to last for days. Do not hold grudges against your husband, dear Elizabeth, but speak with him about your thoughts and fears. That is the key to a long and happy marriage. I know that your uncle had a similar conversation with your husband last night.”
Elizabeth nodded at the long speech from this aunt, whom she admired above her parents.
She could imagine this would have been a very different conversation with her mother and was thankful her aunt did the honours instead.
“Thank you, Aunt. I wish to emulate your marriage over that of my parents and many others I have seen. You and Uncle are happy together, and I have noticed the closeness you share, and I wish for the same in my marriage. I will try my best to heed your advice on this. I cannot promise it will be easy, as I am used to keeping my own counsel, but I will do my best to keep your words in mind.”
“I must warn you, Lizzy, there may be some pain the first time you are with your husband … intimately,” Mrs Gardiner warned.
“It should be a fleeting pain, especially if you are well prepared, and it will only happen the first time. But again, trust your husband in this and allow him to take the lead for now. And do not forget that you will likely find enjoyment as well. The marriage act itself will create an additional sense of intimacy between a husband and a wife, and it is something to be relished and most certainly not a chore or a duty. Remember that your husband loves you and will seek your pleasure along with his own. Allow him to lead you now, and you can take the lead when you are comfortable doing so.”
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of marital relations, Elizabeth hugged her aunt tightly for a moment.
Jane returned and joined the embrace. “I will miss my family, at least most of them. I am pleased to be marrying William, for he is very dear to me, but I will miss you, Aunt Maddie, and you, Jane. I will even miss my younger sisters, although not as much as the two of you.”
Mrs Gardiner laughed lightly. “You will remain in town for a while, you said, Lizzy. We will see each other for the next several months, and when you leave for Pemberley, we will exchange letters.”
“But it will not be like it was,” Elizabeth protested. She sat back and laughed wryly. “I am being silly, I know, but it will not be the same.”
Mrs Gardiner agreed, and they hugged each other tightly until they were interrupted when the maid brought in Elizabeth’s gown.
Jane and their aunt helped Elizabeth with her wedding gown and then retreated to prepare for the wedding while the maid worked on Elizabeth’s hair and fastened the emerald necklace and bracelet William sent to her that morning.
Finally ready, Elizabeth descended the stairs to wait for the others.
Once everyone was ready and exclaimed over Elizabeth’s appearance, they hurried to the waiting carriage. Darcy stepped outside when he saw the carriage arrive at Matlock House.
“You are not supposed to be out here,” Jane cried, stepping down from the carriage and shooing Mr Darcy inside before allowing Elizabeth to disembark. “Colonel, please keep Mr Darcy inside and out of the way so Lizzy may enter the house.”
The Colonel grinned before pushing Darcy into the house and into the study, shutting the door behind them. Darcy resisted slightly and grumbled about not being allowed to see Elizabeth ahead of the ceremony. Richard laughed at his cousin and teased him about his besotted state.
“Come now, cousin,” Richard jested. “Your bride is here, as is the bishop, so we need to get you to our makeshift altar in the drawing room and allow the bride to make her grand entrance.” He pushed William through one more set of doors into the room.
The only ones missing were Mr Gardiner and the bride.
With Richard beside him, Darcy took his place by the bishop and turned to watch Elizabeth’s entrance.
As Georgiana played, the doors at the back of the room opened, revealing Elizabeth to his greedy eyes.
He barely saw anyone else at that point; his world narrowed to the woman slowly approaching him.
Their eyes locked; she smiled at him softly and tenderly, and his heart melted a little more.
Finally, his Elizabeth stood at his side, her small hand in his.
Still looking deeply into her eyes, he squeezed her hand before bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.
The small audience chuckled at this show of devotion, and he tore his attention from Elizabeth’s dear face to the bishop’s voice.
It was a great struggle, but he managed to divide his attention between the woman at his side and the man in front of him, speaking the words that would bind him and Elizabeth together as man and wife.
“I, Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy, take thee Elizabeth Victoria Bennet. to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth,” Darcy stated, his voice serious and grave but his eyes were shining.
The bishop turned to Elizabeth, and she repeated her vows.
“I, Elizabeth Victoria Bennet, take thee Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy, to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. ” Elizabeth responded solemnly.
The bishop asked Richard for the ring, which he placed on his Bible and blessed before he handed it to Darcy.
His voice breaking slightly with emotion, Darcy repeated: “WITH this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” He slid the solid band on Elizabeth’s finger and brought it to his lips for a kiss, his eyes speaking of his love for his bride.