Too Close to Mr Darcy

by Claire Cartier

  Before she could gather her senses, Mr. Darcy stood and hunched under the carriage’s low ceiling. Elizabeth started to fret as he maneuvered to position himself in the cramped space on the floor.

  What was he doing?

  Outside, the carriage driver shifted his head this way and that to better see why the carriage car was suddenly swaying and whining. All he could see was Mr. Darcy’s broad straight back as the gentleman was now kneeling before the bench where Miss Bennet sat and looked as if she had just seen a ghost.

  “Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy said before Elizabeth had had the time to even inquire if she had heard him right, “as I live and breathe, nothing would bring me greater happiness and satisfaction than to have you share the rest of my life with me. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Many unsolicited thoughts rushed into Elizabeth’s head then. But what of the difference in their social statuses? What of Miss Anne, of Lady Catherine?

  With a blink, she wiped her mind clean. None of it mattered, her heart sang. Suddenly, she had the feeling that having Mr. Darcy by her side would make everything safer and worthier.

  She could not keep him waiting. Her blank expression clearly brought misery to his face.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “The honor would be mine.”

  In his elation, Mr. Darcy rose too enthusiastically, bumping into the low ceiling. He winced and rubbed his head. Elizabeth chuckled, a spirited laugh that bubbled up and out of her, releasing the last remnants of misgiving. Here, in front of her, was the man she loved and the one she was going to honor for the rest of her life.

  Swiftly recovered, Mr. Darcy stooped over her and took her radiant face in his hands. Elizabeth sat frozen. He leaned forward so that his forehead rested against hers. Both closed their eyes.

  “Thank you,” Mr. Darcy said in barely more than a whisper.

  Elizabeth trembled, exhilarated from the tension between them. Her entire being was enveloped in his presence, his warmth, his scent. She took shaky, shallow breaths.

  Mr. Darcy leaned in and kissed her warm lips.

  Epilogue

  Although she had only slept for a few hours the previous night, Elizabeth looked radiant and fresh. Plentiful sunlight streamed in through the parted curtains and bathed her dressing room in shimmering brightness. The light gently complimented the peach, cream and rose hues in which the room was furnished and decorated.

  “You look marvelous,” Jane, who was perched behind Elizabeth, said after examining her sister’s reflection in the mirror before them.

  “I am not even dressed yet,” Elizabeth tried to argue but secretly she had to agree. She had not found her image so pleasing in months.

  The supple, dewy skin on her cheeks glowed, her eyes sparkled and her lips had assumed an attractive pink color that needed no rouge to make them more prominent. She was still in her robe and the hairstyle, which Jane was currently crafting, was nowhere near finished and yet her whole appearance exuded vitality and charm.

  “I wish Mama and Papa could still be here to see you like this,” Jane said with a dreamy smile and picked up the silver brush again. It was that same brush that had traveled with Elizabeth on her journey to Rosings and had now followed her to her new home at Pemberley.

  “Mama might have been too busy calculating the true worth of the estate to notice and Papa would have probably buried his nose in a dusty tome in the library, avoiding any hint of commotion,” Elizabeth said with a smirk and both girls laughed, recalling their dearly missed parents’ antics.

  “You are right,” Jane said. “I am certain they are both smiling at us from above and—”

  “And Papa is probably saying, ‘Well done, Mrs. Bennet! We have two married. Only three left to match off.’” Then Elizabeth added in a higher, squeakier voice, “‘Dear Mr. Bennet, do not forget about the one in the convent. That gets us down to only two!’”

  Both girls laughed again.

  “Your impression of Mama and Papa is superb!” Jane said through happy tears. Then, once she calmed, she sighed and resumed her work on Elizabeth’s unruly dark locks. “I miss them.”

  “I do too. At least all of us can be together this time. It was a pity that Lydia was too sick to make it to your wedding and Mary had her veiling ceremony just then. It was still a splendid wedding though.”

  “Yours will be even grander,” Jane said with a wink and swept her hand theatrically over the room and the view from the window.

  “I know. I hardly deserve any of it,” Elizabeth said, staring out at Pemberley’s vast gardens, its dense forests and sprawling wooded hilltops. She shook her head.

  “You deserve every bit of happiness and fulfillment that this marriage will bring you,” Jane said and caressed her sister’s head. Then she withdrew her hand. She was already ruining the little bit she had accomplished with Elizabeth’s hair and the time they were all supposed to leave for the chapel was quickly approaching. Jane’s fingers started working faster. “Mr. Darcy is such a perfect match for you in both looks and wits! I only know him briefly and yet I am certain you would be happy here with him.”

  Elizabeth sighed with contentment.

  “Who would think that we would come such a long way from having Mr. Bowles as our only marriage prospect to each of us marrying such a fine gentleman.”

  “And both while being employed as lady’s companions in their households, no less. Are we not wicked?” Jane said. Both girls had to keep their lips pressed together to keep from bursting into yet another fit of laughter as they heard a knock on the door.

  A beaming Anne de Bourgh entered the dressing room and quietly shut the door behind her as if she were in hiding. In response to the Bennet girls’ surprised expressions, she pressed a finger to her lips to signal for them not to betray her presence.

  “Miss Anne?” Elizabeth whispered and turned to face her.

  “Lizzy!” Jane scolded. “Stop fidgeting! I will never be finished.”

  Elizabeth turned back obediently and looked at Miss Anne’s reflection in the mirror before her.

  “You really must stop calling me Miss Anne already. In just a few hours, we will be family. Anyway, I cannot stay long. Mother is looking high and low for me. She insists we leave early to avoid the commotion. Do you know that the whole world is invited to your ceremony?” She chuckled merrily.

  Miss Anne beamed, resplendent in her rich maroon gown. There was no trace of the weak, sickly girl Elizabeth had encountered upon her arrival at Rosings. In her place was a confident and vigorous young woman whose vivacity was nearly palpable in the room.

  Elizabeth blushed on account of several things Miss Anne had just said. First, it was difficult for her to consider Miss de Bourgh as anything else than her mistress. It had been the only capacity she had ever known her in. And now, she would be gaining another sister.

  Oh, well, she had learned to consider Mr. Darcy as the man she would soon share her life with, had she not? This could not be any more difficult.

  Second, she knew that many of Mr. Darcy’s relatives had been invited to the wedding as well as her entire family, but she had no idea how grand an affair it was truly going to be. The thought unsettled her. Would she ever get used to living life on such a grand scale at Pemberley? Her pulse sped up and she inhaled deeply.

  “Not the entire world I would hope…” she managed to say through a suddenly constricted throat.

  “Ah,” Miss Anne said and curled her lip knowingly. “If you mean Miss Ashburn, you should not fret. She will not be in attendance.”

  “I never asked whatever became of her in our letters…”

  “She is still employed at Rosings and still follows Mama like a shadow, but Fitzwilliam would not let her anywhere near Pemberley even though Mama has rarely ever traveled without her.

  “I suspect Mrs. Byrd has been sworn to secrecy about the entire affair that you had to suffer through because I do not see the rest of the staff shunning the conniving girl like I do and o
ur housekeeper was the only other person, apart from us, who knew of her involvement.

  “As for Mama, I have written to you many a time how ashamed she has been by her own actions. In fact, she considered feigning an illness herself so she might avoid coming to the wedding, but Fitzwilliam insisted she came. The man truly respects the meaning of the word family and is clearly willing to look past her shortcomings.”

  Elizabeth remembered the letter from Lady Catherine she had received shortly after her return to Longbourn. It had been spare in wording and no more than just a note, but the mere fact that the old lady had gotten past her own pride and obstinacy to apologize had warmed Elizabeth’s heart. How much she must have suffered to compose it!

  Inside, Elizabeth knew that the apology was perhaps only a strategic maneuver on the old woman’s part, but she had been too wrapped in her own happiness to find faults. At the time, all she had thought was that it was good that Rosing’s doors would not be closed to her and her future husband as she planned on visiting her dear friend Anne often.

  Presently, Elizabeth smiled at her former mistress.

  “Once you get to know him, you do see that he is the kindest man on Earth.” Then she added with a wink, “I am lucky you allowed me to snatch him from under your nose.”

  All three girls chuckled.

  “You did not. We have to all admit that Fitzwilliam would not have any other woman stand by his side at the altar but you. I never thought the two of us were well suited anyway. I am sure that one day, when I meet my own Mr. Darcy, sparks would fly between us the way they do every time you two look at one another.”

  Elizabeth blushed beautifully.

  “I really must go now,” Anne said and headed for the door. “In fact, one of the reasons we are in such a rush is that Mama wants me to meet Cousin Richard whom I have only ever seen when both of us were still in the hands of our nursemaids. I only vaguely remember a screaming young gentleman with a lot of freckles and constantly bruised knees, but who knows…”

  Elizabeth and Jane giggled softly. “Good luck,” the two of them said in unison.

  “Oh,” Miss Anne exclaimed, turning at the last moment before disappearing behind the door. “I almost forgot I came to give you this.”

  She hurried back to the dressing table and placed a small parcel on top of the cluttered surface.

  “Whatever is it?” Elizabeth asked, surprised.

  “Open it.”

  Elizabeth did and gasped in awe. The paper smoothed away, the parcel contained the diamond-and-amethyst necklace that she had been accused of stealing.

  “But I cannot…” she whispered reverently.

  “You must,” Miss Anne said. “You have to admit that the little trinket was partly responsible for you and Mr. Darcy coming together. It would be rather symbolic.”

  Elizabeth picked up the exquisite jewels. They caught the light and refracted it into a beautiful dancing rainbow across her face.

  “They are beautiful,” Elizabeth said. “Thank you. I do not suppose I should give Lady Catherine a hug when she was even more responsible for what happened?”

  The three of them laughed again.

  “I will see you at the chapel,” Miss Anne said and this time she headed out the door without turning.

  She nearly bumped into another woman who was awkwardly making her way into the dressing room. Despite the newcomer’s ample figure, Miss Anne managed to quickly squeeze past her and disappear.

  “Lizzy!” the enormous woman gushed. “How gorgeous you look! Like a dream! If only your mother could see you!” Tears welled in her sparkling with tenderness eyes.

  Elizabeth and Jane exchanged a sly look.

  “Why, thank you, Cousin Henrieta,” Elizabeth said.

  The woman gazed at her benevolently, a most cordial smile gracing her lips. Unwittingly, she was rubbing her protruding stomach.

  Cousin Henrieta had become nearly unrecognizable, both in appearance and in character, since she had conceived her first child. Her plump cheeks glowed, her features had softened and even her voice had lost its sharp edge.

  “I only came by to tell you that Lydia and your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner have just arrived and are heading straight to the chapel. I instructed them not to come up here. We are running short on time as it is. Mary, Kitty and the Philipses should be on their way there too.”

  “Oh, it would be so lovely to see them all again,” Elizabeth said longingly.

  “Quick, Lizzy,” Jane said sternly. “Turn around this instant! Cousin Henrieta is right. We must hurry.”

  “I will be out of your way,” Mrs. Collins said. “I only came to give you this.”

  She placed a tiny plain black box in Elizabeth’s lap.

  “These came into my possession after we inherited Longbourn and all of its property,” Mrs. Collins said and cleared her thought uncomfortably. “I think it only proper that you should wear them today. They were your mother’s.”

  Elizabeth opened the box to find a pair of small diamond earrings. She brought them to her lips and gently kissed them. A wave of nostalgia rushed through her, stinging her eyelids.

  “If we keep getting interrupted like this,” Jane grumbled once Cousin Henrieta was finally out the door, “poor Mr. Darcy will have to look for another bride to take, so he does not look like a fool standing before the altar all by himself.”

  “If I keep receiving gifts like these, there will be little use for a hairstyle or even a dress,” Elizabeth said, now in better spirits. “Soon I will be all covered in jewelry.”

  “I do not suppose anyone would think of bringing in any more of these instead of jewels,” Jane said and rattled the nearly empty box of hair pins. “I must run next door and fetch some more. I left my case there. I will only be a second. Do not move, Lizzy!”

  With a final stern look and a wag of her finger, Jane disappeared into the hallway.

  Elizabeth was on her own. She took in a deep breath and stared at her reflection in the mirror. It all felt so unreal. Only a few months ago, she had been traveling to an unknown future in a foreign place to serve as a lady’s companion. Today, she was going to become Mrs. Darcy and the mistress of the largest and most breathtakingly beautiful estate she had ever seen. It felt as if she had been transported within the pages of one of her favorite novels.

  “I hope you are happy, Mama,” she whispered into the empty room. “For I certainly am.”

  The door clicked open.

  “See, Jane?” Elizabeth said cheerfully. “I have not moved at all. I was not even breathing!”

  There was no response.

  Elizabeth turned sharply with the risk of ruining her half-finished hair.

  “Jane, are you—” she started saying, concerned, but the words caught in her throat. “Mr. Darcy? What are you doing here? I thought you were at the chapel already.” She felt her pulse quicken. Nervously, she added, “Jane is just next door. She is fetching some—”

  “Hush,” Mr. Darcy whispered. “No one knows I am here. I simply had to see you before I left for the chapel.”

  “But I am not ready,” Elizabeth said weakly. How handsome he was in his elegant tailcoat! “You are not supposed to—”

  “Please, do not worry,” Mr. Darcy said gently. “I will be on my way. I only came to give you something that could not wait.”

  “But Mr. Darcy, I cannot possibly accept another gift. I have already received all the jewelry I can wear without looking like a Christmas tree!”

  “You do not need any jewels,” Mr. Darcy said and stood behind her, admiring her reflection in the mirror.

  He was so close, she could feel his warm breath on the side of her neck. Elizabeth shivered in her dressing gown.

  “You are perfect as you are,” Mr. Darcy concluded.

  “Then,” Elizabeth said and turned to face him, her heart fluttering, “What was it you wanted to give me?”

  “Only this,” he said and kissed her lips tenderly.

  Also by Clai
re Cartier

  Reluctantly Mrs. Darcy

  Author's Note

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for joining me again for another variation of the timeless love story about ODC. I hope you enjoyed this reimagining and that it left you with a smile at the end. It means a lot to me that you’ve picked up a copy of this book. It gives me courage and satisfaction to keep writing.

  I highly value your opinion and am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Too Close to Mr. Darcy. You can reach me at:

  authorclairecartier@gmail.com

  Alternatively, you may sign up for my Readers' List, and I will notify you as soon as my new book is available. I'm hard at work on it already. I will not send any other emails apart from a new release notification (unless you really want to hear from me :)), so your email address is safe with me.

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  Until then, I hope you are well and I will see you soon between the covers of my next book!

  Sincerely,

  Claire