by Lily Bernard
“Thank you, dear sister, but Aunt Madelyn already told me everything I will need to know.”
Jane released the breath she had been holding. “I am so relieved to hear that. Now, let us depart. It would not please William if you were late for your wedding.”
Jane and Elizabeth carefully descended the stairs and looked down to see their father watching them with tears in his eyes. When they reached the front hall Mr. Bennet was wiping his eyes with his handkerchief. “Jane, you look very lovely this morning. Your mother and sisters await you in the carriage.”
“Thank you, Papa. Lizzy, I will see you at the church.” Jane gave Elizabeth a kiss on the cheek and left the house.
“Well, Lizzy, it is just you and me now. I must tell you how very beautiful you look today.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“I am not just speaking of your dress and your hair, which are lovely, but I believe that all your inner beauty is also on display today. A father could not ask for more than to see his child so happy.”
“I thank you for all your love and support. Now, we must go. Our carriage awaits because William forbade me from walking the short distance to the church on my wedding day!”
“Your husband is a wise man.” Elizabeth smiled at her dear father and took his arm as they left the house.
Chapter 29
Their wedding in the Pemberley chapel was everything Elizabeth and Darcy hoped it would be. The smaller venue limited the guests to only those close family and friends whose presence was meaningful to the happy couple. Pemberley’s gardeners worked tirelessly, and the chapel was beautifully decorated. There was bouquet after bouquet of calla lilies, baby’s breath and plumeria, all flowers which symbolized beauty, purity and undying love.
Lydia looked beautiful as she led the wedding party down the aisle. She was followed by Catherine, Mary and Jane. They stood together on the left side of the altar. Darcy had asked his cousin, Richard, and Charles Bingley to stand up for him. Mrs. Bennet sat in the front pew and looked at four of her daughters with a satisfied grin on her face. David Brooks was seen staring at Catherine with love in his eyes.
When Mr. Bennet escorted his daughter down the aisle, he could not help but notice that the groom seemed mesmerized by the woman on his arm. Darcy thought Elizabeth looked like a Greek goddess as she slowly walked toward him. He saw his mother’s pearls, now Elizabeth’s pearls, and smiled at the thought of how much his dear mother and father would have loved his wonderful bride. Her beautiful, dark curls were pinned up on top of her head and she had decided against wearing a bonnet. Jane had pinned a sheer veil to the back of her hair and under her veil, Darcy could see two of the pearl combs that Jane had delivered to her this morning. He noticed that there were a few curls left hanging down her back and for a moment Darcy let his thoughts wander. He was looking forward to later that day when his wife’s hair was no longer pinned up and he would finally have the chance to run his fingers through her beautiful tresses.
Elizabeth looked beautiful in her cream-colored wedding dress and as she walked down the aisle, the sun was reflected on the tiny pearls which were sewn into her dress. Darcy thought Elizabeth looked like she was literally glowing. The bride only had eyes for her future husband. She had dreamt of this day for a very long time. Darcy looked very handsome in his dark blue jacket. Elizabeth could see his beautifully embroidered grey waistcoat and she knew she was marrying the best man in the world.
Elizabeth and Darcy looked into each other’s eyes throughout the ceremony. The vicar was unsure if the bride and groom heard a word he said but they were able to repeat their vows when the time came.
After the vows were exchanged and the register was signed, the happy couple walked up the aisle as man and wife. As they left the chapel, Darcy leaned over to whisper in his wife’s ear. “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”
Elizabeth smiled at hearing her husband’s words of love. As she walked with her new husband toward her new home, she looked up at Darcy and said what was in her heart. “So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet seasoned showers are to the ground.”
“Thank you, my love.”
“Thank you for what, Mr. Darcy?”
“Number seventy-five, you finally told me your favorite sonnet as I have told you mine. I must admit, it was well worth waiting for, Mrs. Darcy. Did I tell you yet how extraordinarily beautiful you look today, my wife?”
“I am delighted that I please you, my husband.” The happy couple smiled lovingly into each other’s eyes and knew that for now, there was no need for any more words between them.
The wedding breakfast was enjoyed by everyone in attendance except the youngest Bennet sister. Lydia was very disappointed in the entire affair. She could not understand how Lord Winthrope could choose Catherine over her. He never left Catherine Bennet’s side at the wedding breakfast except when he was seen walking through the rose garden with Mr. Bennet. Lydia was even more frustrated when the only other marriageable wedding guest with a title, Viscount Ashford, announced his recent betrothal. Lydia thought, ‘This trip has been a total waste of my time. Well, I did get Papa to buy me a new gown. I hope the officers in Meryton will like it.’
Many of the floral bouquets which adorned the church were brought to the manor house and placed on the tables that had been set up to accommodate all the wedding guests. Mrs. Covington and the kitchen staff outdid themselves. There were tables piled high with meats, cheeses, freshly baked breads and jams made with fruits from Pemberley’s orchards and farms. There were delicious cakes and pies and in the center of one table there was a beautiful three-tiered wedding cake. Even Mrs. Bennet was impressed by the quantity and quality of all the delicious dishes.
Mr. Bennet rose from his seat and asked for everyone’s attention. “Lords, Ladies and our family and friends, I am delighted that you are all here to toast our happy couple. As Mr. Shakespeare has said ‘the course of true love never did run smooth.’ Elizabeth and William’s path to today had more than the usual obstacles.” All the guests smiled and nodded their heads at the veracity of Mr. Bennet’s words. “On behalf of the Bennet family, we happily welcome William and Georgiana and all the Fitzwilliams to our family. Lizzy, I would not be rejoicing today if you had not married such a fine fellow. I believe I have already had too much of William’s excellent wine and should now end my toast. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and toast to Mr. and Mrs. Darcy!”
“To Mr. and Mrs. Darcy,” shouted all the guests. Many more glasses of wine were drunk and there were several additional toasts given. Eventually, all the wedding guests went home or retired to their rooms for a few hours of rest before dinner was served.
“I believe I could use a few hours in bed myself,” Darcy said to his beautiful new wife when they were finally alone.
“Do you really need to rest in the middle of the day?”
“My love, you never heard me say anything about resting.” Elizabeth blushed at her new husband’s comment and then took his arm.
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy climbed Pemberley’s grand staircase and when they reached the top, Elizabeth gathered her courage and asked, “Will you join me in my chambers? I will be ready in one-half hour.”
Darcy smiled at his wife and when they reached her chamber door, he kissed her forehead and continued to walk down the hallway until he reached the door to his bed chamber. When Darcy looked behind him, he saw that Elizabeth was still standing where he had left her. She was watching her new husband walk down the hall with a smile on her face. He returned her smile and entered his room.
When Elizabeth entered her chambers, Hannah was waiting for her. “I have prepared a bath for you, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Thank you, Hannah, that sounds wonderful.”
“Yes, ma’am. Let me help you take off your wedding dress and after your bath I will help you dress for di
nner.”
As Elizabeth was enjoying her bath, she thought about what Hannah said. ‘Which dress shall I wear? Should I wear a dress? Should I wear Aunt Madelyn’s gift? Where is my aunt when I need her advice?’
When Elizabeth entered her chambers after her bath, she told Hannah that she was no longer needed. “I will ring for you later when I need help dressing for dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hannah curtsied and left the room with a knowing smile on her face. Before Elizabeth did anything else, she unlocked the door to Darcy’s adjoining suite.
When Darcy knocked on the door a few minutes later, he heard his wife quietly say, “Come in.” He smiled when he turned the door knob and knew that his bride had already unlocked the only barrier that stood between them.
He entered Elizabeth’s bed chamber and when he saw his wife standing by her dressing table in a beautiful silk and lace robe, he could hardly speak. “Elizabeth, you are a vision of loveliness.” He walked toward her, “your hair is still pinned up. Was Hannah not here to assist you?”
“I dismissed Hannah after my bath. I thought my husband might enjoy unpinning my hair,” she said playfully.
“Mrs. Darcy, you have no idea how much I have been looking forward to doing just that.”
Darcy led Elizabeth over to her bed where he slowly and carefully unpinned his wife’s long, chestnut curls. As he dropped the pins on the bedside table and ran his fingers through her hair searching for more, Elizabeth felt urges that she had never felt before.
Something had been on Elizabeth’s mind since Darcy returned to her and she turned to face her husband. “William, may I see the scar on your back?” Darcy nodded and lifted his shirt over his head and turned so Elizabeth could see his scar. She was surprised to see how large his wound had been, and she had tears in her eyes as she softly ran her fingers over the long line of raised pink skin. “Oh, my love, how very close I came to truly losing you.” Elizabeth kissed the scar and briefly rested her cheek on Darcy’s back. As she sat up, she touched Darcy’s shoulders to turn him around, so he was facing her. She gently took his face in both her hands and began to kiss him. Darcy did not need any more encouragement and took his wife into his arms.
Aunt Gardiner was correct. The marriage bed was a place of tremendous pleasure and joy for both husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy never appeared in the dining room that evening and they hoped that everyone would forgive their absence. Later that evening, Darcy held Elizabeth in his arms when they were too tired for any more love making. “Elizabeth, are you still awake, my wife?”
“Mmmm, yes, I am awake, but I fear I may be asleep in a moment.”
“Before you close your eyes, I want to say something to you. Elizabeth, my darling wife, you are everything in the world to me. You have brought me so much happiness and I will never leave your side and...” Darcy paused when he noticed a sound he had never heard before - the sweet, soft breathing of his beloved wife sleeping beside him. ‘Perhaps I shall save my words of love for a time when Mrs. Darcy is more receptive.’ Darcy smiled as he closed his eyes and quickly joined his wife in her slumber.
Early the next morning, Elizabeth awoke, and it took her moment to realize that she was still in her husband’s arms and smiled. When she looked up at his face, she saw that he was already awake and looking at her with his own smile. “Good morning, my beautiful wife. How are you this glorious morning?”
“I am quite well, my husband, and I have never been happier.” Darcy pulled his wife closer and began to kiss her. Elizabeth pulled away and asked, “William, are we ever going to see our guests?”
“Soon, my love, very soon.” Darcy began kissing his wife and they quickly forgot all about their guests.
Elizabeth and Darcy did not wish to leave Georgiana alone at Pemberley for an extended period of time. When all their house guests departed, the happy couple left on a short wedding trip to Heatherwood. Elizabeth had never been to Scotland before and her husband was happy to show her all that their northern estate offered. She also wanted to go to Scotland so she could thank the staff at Heatherwood for the care they provided her husband while he was recovering. They went for long rides, walked the paths around the manor house and in the evenings, they read together in front of the fire. Their days at Heatherwood passed quickly and they were both anxious to return to their sister at Pemberley.
Several weeks after returning to Derbyshire, Elizabeth and Darcy were walking one of Pemberley’s scenic paths. “Do you think your parents were disappointed that we were married in Derbyshire and not Hertfordshire?”
“My dear husband, do you not remember that you told me about the look on my mother’s face when she first saw Pemberley? Any disappointment she might have been feeling was quickly forgotten when she saw the size of our home and the number of staff waiting outside to greet her. I am certain that she is already making calls to every home in Meryton describing every single detail of Pemberley, our wedding and every dish served at our wedding breakfast. And you need not worry about my father being disappointed either. He was so pleased by the size and contents of our library and he was sequestered in there until the moment before their coach pulled away.”
“Do you really think so? Your mother was much less, how shall I say this, vocal than I remember.”
“She was in awe of you and everything you represent. Also, being in the presence of Lord and Lady Matlock was the true silencer.” They both laughed.
As they were walking, Elizabeth continued to be surprised by the beauty which surrounded her new home. “Now that Catherine is engaged to David Brooks, my mother is happy beyond distraction. One of her daughter’s will be Lady Winthrope after all. Did I tell you that my father wrote me that my Uncle Phillips’ law clerk is now courting Mary? Papa said he is a very serious, hard-working young man. It seems that they would be a good match. So, it appears that despite her best efforts, Lydia will be the last Bennet sister to wed. If Richard were still Colonel Fitzwilliam and wearing a uniform, I believe my silly sister would have flirted with him without end. Instead, she met Richard Fitzwilliam, the son of an earl and master of Rosings Park and she was not interested.”
“Let us hope that your sister will grow up sooner than later.”
“If there is one thing I have learned, there is always hope, my love.”
The Darcys had decided to remain in Derbyshire until after the new year. Elizabeth was eager to stay close to Jane during her confinement and Darcy was happy to oblige his wife. They celebrated a quiet but joyous Christmas with Georgiana as they anxiously awaited happy news from Birchwood Manor.
Jane gave birth shortly after the New Year. Despite her mother’s plan to attend her oldest daughter when it was time for her first grandchild to arrive, Mrs. Bennet remained in Hertfordshire. It was decided that the length of the journey and the condition of the winter roads prohibited her traveling to Derbyshire. Madeline Elizabeth Bingley was a sweet, red-headed bundle of endless joy to her parents and her family. The Bingleys called their beautiful daughter, Maddie, and the Darcys were frequent visitors at Birchwood Manor. When the weather permitted it, most visits began with Darcy and Elizabeth racing their horses over the three miles which separated Pemberley from Birchwood Manor.
Georgiana was very happy living at Pemberley with her brother and new sister. She made it quite clear to them that she was not yet ready for her first season in the ton. With the happiness which prevailed at Pemberley, all the Darcys were quite happy to forgo the coming season. They were all very content to remain in Derbyshire for the foreseeable future.
Epilogue
July 1813
On a bright summer morning, Darcy and Elizabeth were enjoying breakfast when she suggested they take a ride to visit the Bingleys. Her husband readily agreed, and they were soon dressed appropriately for riding. As they walked to the stables, Darcy asked, “what do you say we put a small wager on our race to Birchwood?”
“I believe I would prefer a slower pace today. We can enjoy th
e beautiful scenery when we are not racing each other at a breakneck speed.”
“Whatever you wish, my lady.” Darcy helped Elizabeth into her saddle and performed a mock bow before mounting his own horse.
After riding for several minutes, Elizabeth asked, “is it not lovely to admire all the beautiful summer flowers and the trees in full bloom?” She was reveling in the natural beauty of Derbyshire.
“Yes, my love, I was just admiring the most beautiful view from my horse.”
“Will you not show me what has drawn your admiration?”
“I fear I am unable to show you what has drawn my attention for you are the view I was admiring.”
“Mr. Darcy, are you flirting with me?”
“Madam, I am at your service at all times.”
When they arrived at Birchwood, the Darcys were shown into the drawing room where they found Jane and Charles playing with young Maddie. Darcy found it refreshing to see parents enjoying the company of their young child. He knew that many parents of the ton were happy to leave the raising of their children to a nanny and governess. Elizabeth kissed Jane and then lifted her niece out of her mother’s arms and began playing with her. Darcy watched his wife holding his baby niece and his heart was full of love. He knew Elizabeth would be a wonderful mother and he silently prayed that he and Elizabeth would be parents one day. Darcy walked over to his wife and they both smiled at this precious child. Elizabeth turned to her husband and asked, “Would you like to hold Maddie?”
Before he could take the baby from his wife’s arms, Maddie’s nurse came into the drawing room and said that it was time for Maddie to take her nap. Elizabeth reluctantly relinquished her niece and sat down near her sister. “I believe Maddie is more beautiful every time we visit. You are very lucky parents.”
