CHAPTER 40 A London Wedding
He arrived at Darcy House by mid-afternoon and sent a note to the Gardiner residence telling them of his arrival.
Soon he received a response, informing him that the wedding would proceed as planned on the morrow and inviting him to dinner.
Thankfully, it was plainly stated in the note that Wickham would not be present at dinner, and so he felt free to accept.
If he could not be with Elizabeth, then he would at least spend time with her relations.
He arrived at Gracechurch Street by six and was pleasantly surprised to find that the parts of the house he hadn't yet seen were large and well-appointed, with tasteful, modern furnishings. He was re-introduced to Mrs. Gardiner by her husband, whose company he already knew he preferred, and conversation was both intelligent and convivial. Only Lydia’s wayward comments occasionally disturbed his equanimity and each instance was of short duration.
They sat in the drawing room after dinner and he was introduced to Gardiner’s four children whom he found both intelligent and well-behaved. He was in the process of discussing Pemberley with Gardiner, when Lydia once more brought up the subject of Wickham.
“I do not see why my poor George was not invited tonight,” she opined for the third time. “I am certain he would have livened up the evening tremendously.”
“We have already discussed this, Lydia,” said Mrs. Gardiner patiently. “You shall see him tomorrow at the church and then the both of you shall be given a small wedding breakfast here.”
“But why must it be small?” asked Lydia. “And why could Mamma and my other sisters not come?”
“You know they are in mourning, dear. And Fanny was not quite up to travelling.”
Darcy took a glance at Gardiner who returned his look with one of apology. And then Lydia addressed him.
“And I am certain,” Lydia was saying, “that my trousseau is woefully insufficient. Why, I am certain I shall need at least two more evening gowns as we shall doubtless entertain a great deal where we are to live. By the way, where are we to live, again?”
“It is a place quite north of here,” answered Gardiner, “called Newcastle.”
“Newcastle,” repeated Lydia. “It sounds pleasant enough. Is it near any place I know? I have never been further north than Luton, you know.”
“Newcastle is rather closer to Scotland, Miss Lydia,” said Darcy.
“Scotland! That is rather far. I can only hope we shall be able to frequently visit Mamma and my sisters.”
“Yes, perhaps,” said Gardiner. He turned to Darcy. “And how is Purvis Lodge coming along? Are the renovations going as planned?”
“Purvis Lodge!” cried Lydia. “What do you mean?”
Apparently Lydia had not been told of the impending move of her family.
“Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley have purchased Purvis Lodge for your family, Lydia. And they shall move there in the next few months.”
“Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley! But…why them?”
Apparently Lydia had not been told of the engagements.
“Your two sisters have recently become engaged, Lydia,” said Mrs. Gardiner, throwing him a look of apology. “Jane to Mr. Bingley, and Lizzy to Mr. Darcy.”
“I cannot believe it!” said Lydia “Lizzy does not even like Mr. Darcy.”
“Lydia!”
“Well, it is true. He did, after all, insult her at the assembly.”
Mr. Gardiner looked as if he would try to silence her again, but Darcy spoke instead. “‘Tis true, Miss Lydia, Elizabeth did not like me much at first but…we have worked out all our differences and now we shall be married.”
He hoped that Lydia would be satisfied with that.
Lydia looked at him skeptically. “But you are so serious all the time, Mr. Darcy. And Lizzy is so…”
“Lighthearted?” finished Darcy. “Yes, I am aware of that. And that was why I fell in love with her.”
“So you do love her…” murmured Lydia. “And I suppose she loves you as well?”
“She has told me so,” he said with a half-smile.
“And it probably isn’t just your money, is it?” asked Lydia, while Mrs. Gardiner said her name loudly once more in an attempt to intervene.
But Darcy was not distressed in any way, having already come through the most trying part of his relationship with Elizabeth, namely getting her to fall in love with him. By comparison this was hardly anything. But he only said, “No, it is not just my wealth.”
He saw that the Gardiners relaxed a little and he gave them a small smile of reassurance.
“Well then,” said Lydia, “do you think that we might visit you once in a while? Your estate - Pemberley, is it? - is also in the north, is it not?”
Darcy swallowed, never imagining he would have to invite Lydia and Wickham to Pemberley once he was married.
But if he had to do it, then he would. Nevertheless, the only answer he could give at present was, “Your husband may be too busy in his new regiment to be making such visits but…we shall see.”
Soon after that, the evening came to an end and Darcy found himself once more in his carriage.
The wedding took place the following morning and he stood with Wickham at the front of the church while Lydia was walked down the aisle by Gardiner.
Afterwards they all repaired to Gracechurch Street for the wedding breakfast. Lydia, who had seen that Darcy’s carriage was nicer than the Gardiners’ had insisted that she and Wickham ride with him and, not wishing to be rude to Elizabeth’s sister, he complied.
Wickham, who had been more gracious than usual during the ceremony, now began to revert to his usual self. And it took all of Darcy’s patience not to say anything too inflammatory to the scoundrel. But it was difficult.
“Lydia tells me that you have invited us to Pemberley,” he said at one point as they sat in the well-appointed dining room. “I must say I am surprised.”
“I did not invite you to Pemberley,” he said shortly, trying for a mixture of blandness and severity.
“Did you not?” asked Wickham.
“Mr. Darcy,” said Mrs. Gardiner who was sitting beside him, “will you not try the meat pie? It is one of our cook’s specialties.”
Thankful for a reprieve from Wickham’s insolence, he replied, “Yes, ma’am, I shall.”
It was then that Lydia began to talk of their upcoming visit to Longbourn. “Oh, I shall be happy to see my friends and family again! And, though Jane and Lizzy are engaged, they still will have to defer to me because I am a married woman now! Will that not be amusing, Wicky?”
“Yes, indeed, my dear.”
“And how shall we get to Longbourn?” she asked suddenly. “Will you allow us the use of your carriage, Uncle?”
“I am afraid that will not be possible, Lydia. For my carriage is needed in London. But I have taken the liberty of getting you tickets for the afternoon coach.”
Lydia’s face fell. “The stage coach?”
“I daresay it will be quite comfortable,” said Gardiner.
“If I may, Mr. Gardiner,” said Darcy. “I am heading to Hertfordshire this very day and would be happy to take Mr. and Mrs. Wickham in my carriage. If you think you can obtain a refund on the tickets…”
“I shall have no problems with that, but…you take too much upon yourself!”
“Yes,” said Wickham who, for once, was not being completely disagreeable, “we shall be fine travelling by coach.”
But Darcy could only take note of Lydia’s unhappy countenance and reiterated his offer to take them. She would have a difficult life as Wickham’s wife and he thought he could at least do this one last thing for her.
Thus, a few hours later, he found himself riding beside his own carriage as it headed for Hertfordshire with Lydia and Wickham inside. Unfortunately, towards the last hour of their journey, it began to rain, and thus he was forced to tether his horse to the back and ride within the compartment.
Only another hour, he told himself, and this shall be over.
Lydia chatted gaily throughout the trip and spoke of the many dresses and accessories she had purchased over the last weeks while Darcy, in turn, maintained a solemn expression and continued to look out the window.
“So will you have us at Pemberley?” he heard Wickham say once more. “We are brothers now, after all, or will soon be. Will that not be a marvellous reunion? You cannot fail to invite the relations of your soon to be wife, can you?”
Darcy kept his face calmly towards the window and only said, “We shall see.”
He wondered if he could have Wickham at Pemberley again.
Perhaps he could send Georgiana to Matlock for a few weeks if that were to happen.
It would not be the end of the world. And Pemberley was large, so he supposed he would not have to spend more than an hour or two each day in Wickham’s company…
Darcy closed his eyes and hoped they would soon be at Longbourn. But he knew he would do anything for Elizabeth.