* * * * *
Jane noticed that Elizabeth had not returned to the drawing room, so after excusing herself, she left Miss Darcy with her husband and went in search of her sister. Elizabeth did not hear Jane come up behind her and started when Jane touched her shoulder.
“When did Mr. Darcy leave?”
“Just now. He asked me if I wanted to go with him, but . . . ”
“ . . . but you did not,” finished Jane.
“I know he will come back just as soon as he can, but I do not like to be separated from him.”
“There will always be those times when couples must be apart.”
“Half the day and all the night. It seems like such a long time.”
“You will marry soon, will you not?”
“Yes, but how I wish it could be tomorrow.”
Jane sympathized with Elizabeth, knowing how little she liked to be away from Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth had little obligation to her family, thought Jane. Mrs. Bennet had been offensive, and their younger sisters were equally ambivalent regarding Elizabeth’s happiness. Their opinions were not important. Jane knew that there were few opinions that mattered to Elizabeth and that all the people that were truly important to her were already in London. There was no reason for the marriage to be delayed. Nothing would be gained by making a spectacle out of the affair, and their mother would surely insist on that if they married in Hertfordshire.
“Lizzy, why not? Why should you not marry tomorrow? Mr. Darcy will have a license. There is nothing to prevent your marriage and an abundance of happiness to promote the idea. I know you do not wish to be apart from Mr. Darcy, and now you will not have to be.”
“But what of Mama?”
“What of her? I am certain that she will be more than willing to forgive you when she learns of your marriage, and I have no doubt that Mr. Darcy would agree to it. We can invite our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner and Miss Darcy. It will be a cozy, simple affair with just the seven of us. You need nothing else.”
The thought of being married to Mr. Darcy so quickly brought a flush of excitement to Elizabeth’s cheeks. Jane looked at her with pleasure, knowing her suggestion would be to the happiness of both.
“Marrying him tomorrow would be my dearest wish.”
* * * * *
ALMOST AS IMPORTANT IN DARCY’S mind as obtaining the license was doing so quickly and returning as soon as possible to Elizabeth. He sensed her discomfort at parting with him and knew her happiness would be restored only when he returned.
While waiting for his turn at the office from whence the license would be issued, he let his thoughts drift back to the first moment when he saw Elizabeth, and absentmindedly drew the purple ribbon from his pocket. As was his habit, he laced it through his fingers and then brought it to his lips and kissed it. His thoughts turned to the last time he held her and kissed her.
Elizabeth was a beautiful woman, more so than any he knew. There was no one whose company he sought more. There was no one from whom he received such pleasure in conversation. The sound of her laughter rang through his mind, and he stilled for just a moment as he remembered the gentle voice that she employed to tell him that she loved him. Her skin was so soft and warm, her fingers a mixture of delicacy and strength. She had endured much because of him, but that special light had returned to her eyes, that endearing liveliness once again animated her features. How blessed he was to know her, and even more so to know that she was his. All that was lacking in his life was their marriage, and that was nearly assured as the clerk handed him the completed license. He took his leave of the building and returned to his carriage.
* * * * *
“JANE, MAY I ASK YOU a question?”
“Of course.”
“How did you feel on your wedding day? I know you were happy, anyone could see that, but what was it like?” Elizabeth took her eyes away from the window to look at Jane.
“It was a beautiful day for me. It was as if every feeling of happiness that I had ever experienced came together on that one day. Sometimes I felt lifted out of my body. I loved Charles so much. I knew I would never want to forget anything about the day, so I made every endeavor to see everything and feel everything. A wonderful sensation of peace settled in my heart when I entered the church and saw Charles waiting for me. I confess that he had never looked so handsome to me as he did at that moment. It is a memory I shall always cherish and that I entertain whenever I am away from him.”
“Were you afraid?”
“I was nervous, but not afraid. I will say, though, that when we arrived at that part of the ceremony where we were actually wed, all agitation left me and I knew without a doubt that I had made the correct decision. I did experience a moment of sadness when I thought about Papa. I know Papa would have liked Charles, and he would have liked your Mr. Darcy just as well. I had always thought he would be there when I married.”
“I shall miss Papa, also. I take comfort in knowing that he would approve of my marrying for love. That reminds me, though. When Mr. Darcy left me so suddenly that morning at Netherfield, he thought he was acting in accordance with the expectations of his father.”
“What do you mean?”
“His father told him he could never be happy in a marriage unequal as to fortune, family, and connections. Fitzwilliam overcame those feelings, but it was hard for him, and then I became engaged to Mr. Grinly and all the sadness happened.”
Jane took Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed it. “That is all to be forgotten. You and Mr. Darcy have come to a good understanding together. All the confusion has passed.”
“You are right. It would have been gratifying, though, to have met with the approval of his parents.”
* * * * *
ELIZABETH AND JANE WERE QUIET, lost to the sound of horses and carriages as they waited for Mr. Darcy’s return when Georgiana entered the room. “Please forgive me for intruding Mrs. Bingley, but Mr. Bingley has requested that you join him in the library. May I take you to him?”
“I think you must, for I have no idea where in this large house the library might be.” Jane looked back at Elizabeth as she walked out of the room, but the latter had returned her attention to the road outside.
Having safely delivered Mrs. Bingley to her husband, Georgiana felt that now would be a good time to get to know Miss Bennet a little better. She returned to the room where Elizabeth was waiting for her brother and sat down on a chair opposite the window. Georgiana cleared her throat, hoping delicately to gain her attention. It was obvious that she had not heard her enter the room.
“Oh, Miss Darcy!”
“Forgive me. I did not mean to startle you. You are waiting for my brother, are you not?”
“Am I that transparent?”
Georgiana laughed. “I know that Fitzwilliam loves you.”
“Do you really?”
“He has told me that he does.”
“Your brother has told me how much he cares for you, Miss Darcy. He is a good man.”
“He is the best of brothers. I do not want to appear impertinent, but I would like to tell you something about him.”
Elizabeth looked at Georgiana expectantly.
“I was in London when he received the letter from Mr. Bingley announcing your engagement to Mr. Grinly. I just want you to know that before he received that note, he had already determined on returning to Hertfordshire in the hopes of gaining your forgiveness and regaining your affection. You cannot believe the agony into which he was thrown as he read that letter.”
Elizabeth felt that she did understand. “I did not mean to hurt him. I thought he did not care for me.”
“Only then,” continued Miss Darcy, “when I saw him with that letter, was I able to comprehend what you went through when he left Hertfordshire the first time. May I ask . . . may I ask how you found it in your heart to forgive him?”
“Do you believe that I have?”
“Yes, or you would not be sitting here eager for his return.”
“You are right,” conceded Elizabeth. “It has been a long road for both of us. I thought he did not love me, and so I agreed to marry a man I did not love. I blamed your brother for hurting me, but I never realized that he might be running from demons of his own. I tried to forget him when I became engaged to Mr. Grinly, but when your brother returned to Netherfield, I knew that I still loved him.”
Georgiana nodded.
“Circumstances allowed me to change my mind if I wished, but I sent your brother away. I was resentful, angry, and fearful of being hurt again. Mr. Grinly realized my feelings for your brother and requested that we end our engagement. He felt that he would not be able to bring me happiness. He also told me something else that I shall never forget.”
“What is that?”
“Mr. Grinly told me that the only people who can hurt us deeply are the ones that we love. He told me that I belonged with your brother and that I should forgive him. The next morning, I received a farewell note from your brother, and Mr. Grinly returned to his home.”
“That must have been horrible!”
“I tried to convince Mr. Grinly that we could be happy and that we ought not break off the engagement, but he was right. My mother was quite upset with me, so I removed to Netherfield and have been there since.”
“You must be very close to Mrs. Bingley.”
“I am. I spent much time alone walking about the countryside, and every day I found myself returning to the places around Netherfield that held special significance for your brother and me.”
“Did you love him then?”
“I did, and I came to realize the depth of my love for him. My sister asked Mr. Bingley to drop some hints in a letter to let Mr. Darcy know I was thinking about him.”
“No!”
Elizabeth laughed. “I assure you, it is true. She felt the only way I would be happy was with your brother, so she invited him to Netherfield. I knew before he came that we would be reunited. He asked me to marry him almost as soon as he arrived . . . ”
Georgiana smiled.
“I suppose that piece of news should have waited until your brother announced it.” Elizabeth laughed.
“Rest assured, I will act very surprised when he tells me.”
“I cannot live without him, Miss Darcy. He invited the Bingleys to come to London with him so that I could join the party. He is so kind. Since I have told you all, I will add that his errand today is to procure a license so that we may marry as soon as possible.”
“And how soon will that be?”
“I hope very soon. I shall speak with him tonight, and we will set a date.”
“He must have traveled directly to your home to gain your father’s consent.”
Elizabeth’s smile faded for a moment. “No, sadly my father is dead, and my mother’s permission is not required.”
“I am sorry.”
“Miss Darcy, since we are to be sisters, I would be very happy if you were to call me Lizzy.”
“I am so excited. I hope I can attend your wedding.”
The ease and friendliness of Georgiana gave her a sure place in Elizabeth’s heart. She knew she would love Georgiana very much.
Chapter 21
AS SOON AS DARCY ENTERED the house, he was met with a peal of feminine laughter. He was unaccustomed to hearing that in his home. When he peered around the door into a small sitting room, he found Elizabeth and Georgiana deep in conversation. As they did not notice him, he remained quiet to watch how they behaved.
“ . . . stayed with me until Mr. Bingley’s carriage arrived,” said Elizabeth as she described the circumstances of her fall to Georgiana.
“That must have been awful, Lizzy!”
Still unseen, Darcy could not but smile at hearing his sister call Elizabeth by her familiar name. He wanted them to love each other, and it seemed as if they were well on their way to doing so.
“I was unconscious for several days, but then I woke up. I found out that Fitzwilliam had been coming to see me every day.”
Apparently, Georgiana knew of their engagement, because Elizabeth would not have referred to him by his Christian name unless Georgiana had known of it. He had planned to tell Georgiana that evening, but now realized that that was quite a miscalculation. Elizabeth must have unintentionally told her or Georgiana must have surmised. In either case, he was glad, because it seemed to have drawn the ladies even closer together.
“How long did he stay with you?”
“After I was awake, he would come for just a few minutes but sometimes he would stay for an hour. We poured out our hearts to each other. Other than Jane, there is no one who knows as much about me as does your brother.”
Darcy was shocked to hear this. He now realized just how much Elizabeth had opened her heart to him, how valuable her confidence was, and he was once again pained at the memory of how he had crushed those precious feelings. If only . . . If only . . . If only . . . repeated in his head. Darcy quietly entered the room.
“Fitzwilliam, you are back!” cried Georgiana. “Oh, congratulations, Brother! Lizzy told me you are to marry. I am so happy for you, I truly am! I wish you joy!”
“Thank you, Georgiana.”
“When will you marry? Lizzy told me the date is undecided. Please marry soon.”
“If you will excuse us, dear sister, I would like to speak with Elizabeth concerning a date right now.”
Georgiana smiled and ran lightly from the room.
* * * * *
MR. DARCY TOOK ELIZABETH INTO his arms and rested her head against his shoulder. “I am very pleased that you and my sister like each other.”
“She is a sweet girl.”
“London has been her home since our father died. I wanted to ask you, but only if you agree, if Georgiana could live with us at Pemberley after we are married.”
Elizabeth stepped back for a moment to look at him. Of course, she could not refuse him anything, but she was gratified that he would think of her and request her opinion.
Darcy returned her gaze with a hopeful look on his face. He knew that Georgiana would benefit from being with Elizabeth, and he wanted them to be together.
“That would be delightful.”
“Thank you. I am sure we shall all be very happy together.”
“There is a point on which I would like to speak with you. I would like to talk about the date on which our happiness together will begin.”
Darcy was pleased that she would begin a subject that he had wished to broach with her. He felt his hope rising as he saw the look of firm resolve on her face.
“I have our license right here.” Darcy withdrew an envelope from his pocket.
Elizabeth nervously continued. “I would like to marry soon. Very soon, indeed.”
“How soon, beloved?”
She lowered her eyes and then turned away from him, as if fearing his rejection. When she did not speak, he put his hand on her shoulder and slowly turned her back towards him. Looking up, and with a voice barely audible, she made her request.
“Tomorrow.”
Darcy felt the floodgates of his heart open up with joy. Not only was it what he most desired, but she desired it, also.
“That, my love, deserves a kiss.”
She gratefully allowed herself to be taken up in his arms.
“Tomorrow,” he whispered.
* * * * *
ELIZABETH AND DARCY WENT IN search of the others. “You are all invited,” announced Darcy, “to a wedding . . . ”
There was a murmur of excitement amongst them.
“ . . . tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow” was repeated with surprise and delight. Jane went to Elizabeth and embraced her. “Lizzy, I am so happy.” She turned to Mr. Darcy. “Sir, you are too good. Thank you for making Elizabeth so happy.”
“Trust me, Mrs. Bingley, she can be no happier than I.”
“I am so excited,” cried Georgiana. “A wedding tomorrow! This is so wonderful!”
They
all sat down and listened while Georgiana quizzed the happy pair on their plans for the wedding. Those plans were very simple. They would go to St. Clement’s and be married. Elizabeth would immediately invite the Gardiners while Darcy wrote to the clergyman.
The rest of the evening was spent in general conversation with the subject of the wedding something to which they always returned.
* * * * *
LONDON
My dear Aunt,
I have such wonderful news to relate. I am to be married tomorrow, and you are all invited.
I am marrying Mr. Darcy. All our differences have been resolved, and there is nothing but happiness between us. We were to marry at some future time from Longbourn, but Mr. Darcy has procured a special license and has arranged with the rector of St. Clements for our marriage to be solemnized at eleven a.m. tomorrow.
I want to assure you, my dear Aunt, that this early date is a result of our desire to guarantee our happiness, and it should not be construed to be scandalous. I know you will come to love Mr. Darcy almost as much as I do. He is looking forward to meeting both you and my uncle.
With all my love, dear Aunt.
Elizabeth Bennet
* * * * *
ELIZABETH GLANCED AT THE CLOCK over the fireplace in her bedchamber. It read one a.m. She had been sitting in front of her dying fire and spent candle, reading, and she was preoccupied with anticipating the very moment when she would become Mr. Darcy’s wife. This was a moment of which she had first dreamed many weeks ago while nestled in her bed at Netherfield. She could not identify the instant when she first realized the wish of her heart, and though she would not say it came on slowly, she did understand its depth and never more so than when she and Mr. Darcy shared their first kiss.
She had never kissed a man before. Indeed, it would be a most improper thing to do, but her mind was less concerned with proprieties than it was with love and desire. Elizabeth knew she could not give herself to someone whom she did not love. She had tried to do that with Mr. Grinly. In her heart, she once again thanked him for making her realize how much she loved Mr. Darcy and that he loved her enough to let her go. Now, at this early morning hour, she could say that today was the day of her wedding. While they were growing up, she and Jane spent much time discussing men and marriage, and today it was all to come true. Elizabeth never imagined that she would not be married from Longbourn, but neither had she imagined that her father would not be there to give her away. Mr. Bennet would have liked Mr. Darcy very well, and while her father would have struggled to give her up to any man, if he had to choose, she knew he would have chosen Mr. Darcy.
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