Chapter 40 Family and Friends
Elizabeth heard the carriage before she saw it.
She had been sitting with Mrs. Radcliff in the drawing room when the sound of wheels upon the drive brought her to her feet. Mrs. Radcliff laughed as Elizabeth crossed to the window.
“I believe you have been listening for them all morning.”
“Yes, ma’am. I cannot help myself.”
The Gardiner carriage came into view, followed by a second carrying the children, their nurse, and the greater part of the luggage.
Elizabeth was already halfway to the door when Mrs. Radcliff called after her, “You might allow the servants to open it, my dear.”
Elizabeth continued on.
She reached the entrance hall as the first carriage stopped. A footman opened the door, but Elizabeth was outside before the steps had been lowered.
Jane descended first.
“Lizzy!”
Elizabeth caught her sister in her arms.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Jane drew back at last and looked at her.
“Oh, Lizzy.”
“Jane, I have missed you so.”
Jane embraced her again.
Aunt Maddie emerged from the carriage behind her, and Elizabeth went directly into her arms. Uncle Edward followed, smiling as he waited his turn.
“My dear girl,” Aunt Maddie said. “Let me look at you.”
Elizabeth submitted to the inspection.
Her aunt took both her hands. “You look happy, Lizzy.”
“I am very happy, Aunt Maddie. More than I thought possible.”
“Then I am satisfied.”
Uncle Edward kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “I understand I have been summoned to Derbyshire to give you away.”
“Yes, Uncle. I am to marry one of the best men I have ever known.”
He bent and kissed the top of her head. “I thought matters would end in this agreeable way.”
The second carriage stopped behind them, and Elizabeth laughed when little Edward began calling her name before the door had opened.
Within minutes the quiet entrance hall at Ashcroft was filled with trunks, servants, embraces, questions, and Mrs. Radcliff welcoming everyone at once.
Elizabeth had not realized how much she missed the familiar noise of a lively family until it surrounded her again.
After the travelers had been shown to their rooms and little Edward had been carried away by their nurse, Elizabeth and Jane escaped to Elizabeth's chamber.
Jane closed the door and took Elizabeth by the hands.
“Now tell me everything, you sly thing. I had no idea you were courting anyone. You scarcely mentioned Mr. Darcy in your letters. I knew more about his sister than I did about him.”
Elizabeth laughed. “There was nothing to tell at first, and afterward I hardly knew what to tell you. Everything changed so quickly.”
“Well, I am here now, and you cannot escape me. I want to know how you came to love him, how long he has loved you, and whether he proposed properly.”
“He proposed very properly.”
Jane drew her toward the bed. “Begin there, then.”
The sisters sat together for a long while as Elizabeth told her about Darcy and all that had happened during the weeks they had been apart.
Eventually, Jane said, “Charles came to see us after Mr. Darcy’s express arrived.
He told us that he and Caroline had also been invited to Pemberley for the wedding and that Mr. Darcy had asked them to remain for several weeks.
Charles let me read the express, but it contained very little beyond the invitation.
I could hardly believe you were to be married when I had not even known you were in love. ”
Elizabeth took both her sister’s hands.
“Once I am married, I shall invite you to Pemberley as well. You and Charles may continue your courtship there.”
Jane colored. “I should like that very much. Charles has been so patient with me, Lizzy. He has never pressed me for more than I was ready to give him. Even when I knew why he came to Gracechurch Street so often, he allowed me to pretend he was merely bringing Caroline to visit us.”
“He loves you very much, Jane. I saw it at Longbourn when we first knew him. It was written plainly in his eyes.”
Jane sniffed and wiped at a tear.
“I could not think of marriage while Mamma’s death was so near. Charles understood that without requiring me to explain it every time he came. He was simply there, and I began to look forward to his visits more than I ought to have admitted.”
Elizabeth took her hands. “There is no reason not to admit it now.”
“No. There is not.”
Jane drew Elizabeth into her arms.
“I am truly happy for you, Lizzy. It wants only this, and I believe I too shall soon be a happy bride.”
Elizabeth held her sister close.
A knock sounded, and Aunt Maddie entered.
“There you are. I might have known I would find the two of you together.”
“Come and sit with us, Aunt Maddie,” Elizabeth said. “Jane has been telling me about Charles.”
Jane patted her eyes with her handkerchief as Aunt Maddie came farther into the room.
* * *
Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at Pemberley shortly before noon the same day. The Bingleys arrived later that afternoon.
The following morning, Mr. Darcy brought his guests to Ashcroft.
Elizabeth had expected Mr. Bingley to greet Jane first. Instead, he made a determined effort to greet Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff, Dr. Wynn, the Gardiners, and Elizabeth in proper order before at last reaching her sister.
Jane had watched his progress across the room. When Bingley finally stood before her, his face brightened.
“Miss Bennet. I have been looking forward to seeing you again.”
“Mr. Bingley, I am so pleased you were able to come.”
He took her hand and held it in his, his gaze lingering on her face. Jane’s fingers closed gently around his.
Colonel Fitzwilliam greeted Elizabeth with considerable warmth.
“So, you are the woman who has finally brought my cousin to his knees. I have known Darcy all my life, Miss Elizabeth, and I cannot remember ever seeing him so pleased with the world. I am very glad to meet the woman responsible for it.”
Mr. Darcy gave his cousin a look.
Elizabeth liked this handsome cousin, whose affection for Darcy was evident in every word.
“I shall endeavor to keep him so, Colonel.”
Darcy put Elizabeth’s hand through his arm. “Darling, do not encourage him.”
Miss Bingley had waited while they spoke. When Elizabeth turned to her, the handsome woman she remembered from London took her hands, her green eyes warm with pleasure.
“Eliza.”
Elizabeth drew near and kissed her friend. “Caroline. I am very glad you could come.”
“I confess I was astonished when Charles told me of the marriage. I had not even known you had met.”
Caroline glanced at Darcy, who still had Elizabeth’s hand resting upon his arm.
“I see how much I missed.”
Elizabeth laughed. “We fell in love over books.”
“Not the books you purchased at Hatchard’s that day Charles took us shopping.”
“Yes, those very books. Mr. Darcy even helped me with my studies.”
Little Edward entered the drawing room with his nurse and stopped when he saw Caroline.
His face brightened. “Aunt Caroline!”
Caroline immediately held out her arms. “Master Edward! Come and give me a hug.”
He ran to her and threw his arms around her neck.
Darcy bent his head toward Elizabeth.
“Your family appears well.”
“Yes, they all look very well, especially Jane. And they reached Derbyshire without breaking a wheel.”
His expression softened. “I shall be forever grateful for one broken wheel, Elizabeth.”
“So shall I, Fitzwilliam.”
* * *
The next several days passed in a manner Elizabeth could once scarcely have imagined.
The first banns had been read on the Sunday after Mr. Darcy’s proposal.
They would be married in another two weeks, after the final banns had been read, and there was still much to be done, though the two most important matters stood firm.
They wanted a simple wedding followed by a quiet wedding breakfast.
The distance between Ashcroft and Pemberley was short enough that the two households met every day. Mr. Bingley discovered numerous reasons to accompany Darcy to Ashcroft. Once there, he generally found his way to Jane and stayed beside her for as long as propriety allowed.
Caroline resumed her easy friendship with Jane and Elizabeth.
She walked with them, played with little Edward who adored her, and one afternoon spent nearly an hour with Elizabeth discussing fabrics after Aunt Maddie declared that an engaged woman who intended to marry in two short weeks required something new in which to be married.
Caroline examined a length of silk Mrs. Gardiner had gifted to Elizabeth.
“You have beautiful coloring, Eliza, and you are about to become Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley. You cannot continue telling me that any gown will do. If you do not care what you wear, you must allow someone who does care to help you.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I have never had beautiful clothes, Caroline. I come from a family of five daughters. Gowns cannot mean the same to me that they do to you.”
Caroline considered her for a moment. “No, I suppose they cannot. But there is a considerable distance between extravagance and allowing yourself something beautiful for your wedding. I intend to see that you have it.”
“I begin to remember why I like you so well, my dear friend. You are a breath of fresh air.”
Later that afternoon, Georgiana grew quiet and asked to return to Pemberley.
Darcy accompanied her to the carriage and handed her in.
“I shall remain here for a few hours longer, Georgie.”
The young girl looked from her brother to Elizabeth, then leaned forward and kissed Elizabeth’s cheek.
“I shall see you tomorrow, Lizzy.”
“Yes. Rest this afternoon.”
Darcy closed the carriage door, and they watched until it started down the drive.
He offered Elizabeth his arm, and they started toward the house.
“My aunt and Mrs. Radcliff have occupied much of your time with wedding arrangements, and you have borne it very well, sir.”
Darcy covered the hand resting on his arm. “I am to marry you at the end of it, my darling. I have found very little to complain of.”
She drew closer to his side.
“Elizabeth, I have missed our early morning walks. I have scarcely had you alone since your family arrived.”