25. 24 November 1811
DARCY
Mrs Bennet was trembling with excitement as Mrs Hill knocked on the door of the bookroom. When Mr Bennet called out, “Come,” Mrs Hill announced Darcy and then stood aside for him to enter. As she left, she firmly closed the door.
Darcy felt that, if he was to meet with the father of any other lady in the entire kingdom, he would walk into that meeting feeling confident.
But he did not feel sanguine about meeting the father of his lady.
Mr Bennet had wished for another outcome, and they had not seen one another since the rumour and Elizabeth’s flight from Longbourn.
He did not feel confident at all. He hoped the man would be wishing to return to his reading so avidly, he would not continue to throw roadblocks in the way of what Darcy was convinced would be his and Elizabeth’s happily ever after.
He could not help smiling at the thought of Elizabeth’s response to his kiss.
Mr Bennet happened to look up just as Darcy smiled. He sighed heavily before rising, bowing, and waving Darcy to a seat.
“Sir, I asked Miss Elizabeth to be my wife, and she accepted me. I brought the marriage articles for your perusal and signature.”
“Your courtship was far too precipitous, Mr Darcy. There were rumours about my daughter bandied about—yes, I know that was not your doing, but rather the fault of Miss Lucas—but it happened. Then I heard from my wife that Mr Goulding will no longer be calling. My daughter fled her home, and I have no idea where she has been living for the past few days and nights. And now you are here, saying that you proposed and she said yes.” Mr Bennet’s frown became more pronounced.
“Is there some…reason…why all these events are happening so quickly?”
“Mr Bennet, there is no imperative on the timing of the wedding; we have not even come close to anticipating our vows. That said, I posit that outside forces have squeezed us into moving more quickly and feeling more deeply than we would have thought possible when I first let you know that I would be calling on your daughter. You decided to inform me that, not only was there another suitor, but also that you strongly favoured the other. This had the effect of worrying both Miss Elizabeth and myself. I could not love her any more than I already did, but I cannot help but think that you hastened Miss Elizabeth’s feelings for me even as you attempted to do the opposite. ”
Mr Bennet shook his head, but Darcy rather thought he was scolding himself rather than disagreeing with Darcy.
“Miss Lucas starting a rumour,” Darcy continued, “caused Elizabeth to feel protective of me, and thus increased her tender feelings.
You sending your wife to Netherfield in an attempt to separate your daughter from me only made her more agitated.
She had already arranged to visit a respectable home in the company of my sister and her companion, but your actions caused her to visit that home earlier and to stay longer than her original intentions.
“No, there is no need for marrying soon. However, at every step of our relationship, others have threatened our future union, and this has made our future union much quicker than anticipated. I am not positive what will happen if Miss Elizabeth’s eagerness to start our life together is thwarted.”
Darcy removed from his pocket and unfolded the marriage articles. “I do not think you will wish to make any changes, sir.”
He was confident that a thinking man would not wish to make changes—or, indeed, refuse consent—because the arrangements for Elizabeth and any children they had were very generous.
Actually, the amounts settled on her and given in pin money were almost unheard of, according to Darcy’s attorney, although the same attorney had agreed that such terms were satisfactory, given Darcy’s fortune.
Unbeknownst to everyone other than a single banker, his attorney, and Darcy himself, his yearly income was five times the amount endlessly whispered and passed around.
Darcy did not reveal the size of his fortune in the marriage settlement, but if Elizabeth’s father gave them permission to wed, he would tell his future bride.
Darcy watched Mr Bennet read the marriage articles, and he saw the sardonic expression become replaced by shock and…perhaps awe.
“I will not sign these until I speak with Lizzy,” Mr Bennet said.
“Of course, sir.”
Elizabeth was in her father’s bookroom half an hour before she came out. But the fact that she held the marriage articles in her hand and had a dazzling smile on her face as she left told him everything he needed to know.
Mr Bennet entered the parlour, looking rather dissatisfied, and he made the announcement of the betrothal in a flat voice.
But Elizabeth was radiant, her mother was quietly weeping while smiling, and her sisters surrounded the two of them with congratulations for him and warm wishes for happiness to her.
A fortnight later, the remaining items on Darcy’s list of things to accomplish before marrying were all checked off.
Darcy’s relations gathered at Netherfield once again, the Gardiners travelled from London to Longbourn, and Bingley finally held the ball he had promised to host—now converted to an event to celebrate the betrothed couple.
He invited all the neighbours and the officers of the militia as well as those who had come for the wedding.
Caroline’s idea of ballroom decor was as flamboyant as expected but also unexpectedly fussy. Still, Darcy and Elizabeth gave the Bingleys and the Hursts such sincere thanks, along with promises of visits to Pemberley, that she seemed delighted with her success.
Two days later, the day of the wedding finally arrived.
As often was the case, the wedding breakfast, on which Mrs Bennet had spent many days in preparation, seemed to speed by.
Elizabeth’s mother received praise from almost every friend, relation, and neighbour who attended, and thus she was happy to declare the wedding and breakfast a complete triumph.
That afternoon, the bride and groom were ensconced in their comfortable carriage, travelling towards Darcy House in London. Darcy had immediately pulled the shutters down on all the carriage windows and then switched seats so that he sat next to his Elizabeth.
She laughed up at him, saying, “I imagine that I know some of what is going through your mind. But I have something to show you first.”
“Mmm, the last time you mysteriously promised to show me something, it was your kiss just after my proposal. So, yes, madam, please do show me.”
He playfully closed his eyes and pursed his lips, as if she would be kissing him again.
Instead, he felt something lightweight settle on his lap. His eyes flew open to see what it was…. His love had placed a lady’s dress in his lap?
Something stirred in his memory. This cream-coloured muslin, those pale pink and salmon-coloured flowers embroidered along the neckline…. He unfolded it and then studied the bottom hem. Ahhh. They were not easy to see, but there were traces of stains from mud.
“Six inches deep in mud, you arrived,” he murmured.
Elizabeth chuckled. “The servants tried three different times to remove the stains. We just could not get every bit of mud off.”
He clutched the dress up to his heart. “Thank goodness you did not prevail, for otherwise we would not have this dear reminder of our very first meeting.”
“That is what I thought when I kept the dress. My mother wished to give it to the ragman, but I said, ‘No. It is an important symbol.’”
Darcy gathered Elizabeth into a hug, the dress now between them as he kissed the tip of her nose. “Did she ask what it symbolised?”
“No, thank goodness. It would take a while to explain.” She smiled.
“It is not just a reminder of the day we met. It is a reminder to you of your first list and how you reordered your priorities that day. It is a reminder to me of how you made a fresh new list rather than writing the things that Miss Bingley dictated. It is a reminder to both of us of your lovely marriage proposal.”
“Thank you for saving this memento, Mrs Darcy. Thank you for saying yes, my dearest Elizabeth. And thank you for loving me, Lizzy.”
The precious memento remained crushed between them for some time.