She shook her head, frowning most unattractively. “So? Charles has nothing to do with this. I am trying to talk some sense into you.”
“Exactly,” Darcy said, calmly pushing her away. She was much too close and he was exhausted from an enjoyable evening with his rambunctious soon-to-be family. “Just as Charles has nothing to do with your actions, so Lizzy has nothing to do with the actions of her sister.”
Caroline scoffed. “Don’t you think that’s a touch naive, Darcy?”
He sighed. “Perhaps it is. After all, I was guilty of prejudice in the past, but this is different.”
“How is it different?” she asked petulantly and he half expected her to throw herself to the floor in a fit of pique. He had never seen her like this and it made him rather uncomfortable.
“Well, for one thing, I love her. That is it, mostly. I have spent months struggling with myself and then I finally saw that there is no point. Why struggle when there is nothing to be gained from it. I love her and she is the most spirited, wonderful woman I have ever met.”
This time, Miss Bingley was lost for words. Darcy seized the opportunity and moved past her, towards the stairs.
“I must bid you good night, Miss Bingley. I have an early start. My future father-in-law has insisted I go shooting with him in the morning.”
Chapter 36
“Oh Lizzy,” Jane whispered, looking as if she was about to cry.
Lizzy sat bolt upright and glared her sister. “What is it? Has something happened? Please do not hide it from me simply because it is my wedding day.”
Their aunt laughed. “My darling, I think she is simply overcome by how beautiful you look. So am I, for that matter. How could I have imagined that my free-spirited young niece could transform into such an elegant bride? You are a picture.”
Jane wiped tears from her eyes. “You are the most beautiful, perfect bride I have ever seen.”
Mrs. Gardiner groaned playfully. “Don’t forget to count yourself, my darling Jane. You were quite lovely on your wedding day. I had a tear in my eye as your father walked you up the aisle.”
Lizzy agreed wholeheartedly. “She’s right. You ought to have seen her. And me for that matter. You and Bingley…” she sighed and clutched her hands together. “It was a wonderful ceremony.”
In those first fevered days, they had initially whispered about a joint wedding. Lizzy had liked the idea and Darcy had wholeheartedly agreed—or seemed to. She had sensed his reluctance and it had taken some effort to prise the truth from him.
It turned out that Darcy was very taken with the idea of marrying at Pemberley, where his parents had married, and his paternal grandparents before that. Added to his desire was the fact that his dear sister was in Derbyshire. Elizabeth had not hesitated: she refused to even consider a wedding venue that wasn’t Pemberley since it mattered not a jot to her where they married.
“I am glad we opted to have two weddings,” she said dreamily. “For now we are able to have two gatherings instead of one.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Mrs. Gardiner smiled.
It had already been settled: after the wedding, the Gardiners would embark on the tour that they had been forced to postpone. Lizzy and Darcy were to join them after a few days’ rest. Lizzy was almost as excited about that prospect as she was about her wedding.
Almost.
They fussed around, trying on different sashes and endlessly changing Lizzy’s hair, much to her amusement. Time passed at a remarkable clip: it seemed like only minutes had passed when Mrs. Reynolds, Pemberley’s housekeeper, knocked at the door of the guest suite in which Lizzy and Jane had slept the previous night.
“It is time,” she murmured, looking at Lizzy with such love that it made her heart melt.
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds,” she whispered, impulsively reaching out and clasping the woman’s hands.
If Lizzy had been asked the year before what she imagined Darcy’s household was like, she might have conjured up an image of a troupe of servants cowering in fear. In reality, it was a warm home despite its colossal size, and Darcy treated his staff with a surprising level of respect and kindness. Mrs. Reynolds had gone to great lengths to show Lizzy every nook and cranny of the historical house, and on their tours, Lizzy had learnt of her deep fondness for Darcy.
“I could not have hoped for a better wife for him,” Mrs. Reynolds whispered, reaching into her pocket for a handkerchief.
By the time they strolled across the grounds to the little chapel, Lizzy was convinced her face was a swollen, puffy mess. She wasn’t sure there had been a day in her life on which she had expended similar volumes of tears. She had had no idea it was possible to be so happy as to be constantly on the verge of tears.
It was not an unpleasant feeling.
Mr. Bennet was waiting outside the chapel doors. He was notably calmer than he had been on the morning of Jane’s wedding, though there was still a nervous energy about him that he did not usually exhibit.
“Are you ready, Papa?”
He smiled. “My dearest Lizzy. It is not me you should be asking! I have only to walk you up the aisle. You, on the other hand, are about to venture into a new life.”
She smiled, excited at the thought and yet lonesome for the life she would leave behind.
He squeezed her hands in his. “Well?”
She sighed and wiped her eyes one last time. “You will come and visit often, just like you promised?”
He nodded. “Of course. Why, the lake here is one of the most abundant in all of England. I would be a fool not to come.”
She laughed. “Ah yes. That is the only thing that draws you here.”
His expression softened. “Of course not, my dear. How could I stay away when my favourite child will be here?”
Chapter 37
They entered the small chapel and Lizzy’s knees almost buckled when she saw Darcy waiting beside the altar. He always dressed well and looked handsome, but on this morning he looked particularly dapper. She smiled as they made their way slowly up the aisle and their small congregation of guests looked warmly upon them. She was a little discomfited at the sight of an older woman dressed in black, who was accompanied by a sickly-looking young lady. Lady Catherine de Bourgh. It had been clear at Rosings that Lady Catherine disapproved of Lizzy, and that was before she had had the audacity to marry Lady Catherine’s nephew.
But Lizzy’s spirits could not be dampened, not even by that indomitable woman. She smiled at them and moved past. Nothing could take her happiness away on that day; nothing. The tiny chapel was so filled with love and hope that it was impossible to dwell on anything negative.
Soon they reached Darcy. Her father left her side and she looked up at Darcy. In a matter of minutes, he would be her husband. She could scarcely believe it!
He smiled down at her and her breath caught in her throat. If he had stood side-by-side with the Darcy she encountered at the Meryton assembly the previous year, she did not think she would recognise him! He was still the same Darcy, but she had seen a different side to him which had been hidden under the man’s frosty demeanour.
“I am usually amused and heartened by the signs of your frantic thinking,” Darcy murmured. “But not today.”
She smiled. “You have no reason to fear, Darcy. I am simply trying to remind myself that all of this is real and not some fantasy.”
“You flatter me.”
“I rather think I do,” she shot back in a low whisper so only he could hear. “But you have earned it.”
They stood there, locked into place by the force of the other’s gaze until the rector cleared his throat in a not so subtle manner. Lizzy blinked, so wrapped up had she become in Darcy. It was like there was some force that surrounded them when they were together, rendering everything else duller and less interesting. It had always existed between then, but its first incarnation had been the friction that made them bicker and strife. Lizzy smiled. She far preferred it this way, though she was th
ankful that she and Darcy could still engage in rigorous discussions, whether they were debating a book or the most advantageous move at cards. She loved a stimulating debate and she knew of no one else who would argue his case so stridently.
“My dear,” the rector whispered. “It is heartening to see two young people so captivated by one another, but I must perform a christening later this morning.”
That caused Lizzy to jolt from her reverie. No, she certainly did not wish for the wedding to be delayed any longer. She straightened her features and nodded solemnly at the rector, whose eyes shone.
“As I thought,” he said, clearing his throat again. “I must say, I have known Mr. Darcy for a long time, and I must proclaim that the good Lord knew what he was doing when he crossed your paths. I have never seen such a wonderful match.”
Lizzy smiled again, wondering if she had ever known such happiness. She did not think so.
Chapter 38
They stood outside the chapel and Lizzy linked her arm through her husband’s as they joyfully accepted well wishes and congratulations from their friends and relatives as they streamed out of the chapel.
“Oh, Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet seemed almost incapable of standing independently, let alone speaking.
Lizzy smiled and took her mother’s hands. She was so full of love on that day that she could not even be frustrated by Mrs. Bennet’s dramatics. “Thank you, Mama.”
Her father was similarly overcome with emotion to the extent that he struggled to form a sentence.
“Fitzwilliam,” a young lady with a slight build exclaimed. “And Lizzy! Oh, I am so proud and happy for you both!”
Lizzy smiled tenderly at her new sister and embraced the young lady with just as much feeling as she would Jane. “Georgiana, thank you. I must say, I am looking forward to getting to know you better now that your brother and I are married and there are no more wedding arrangements to occupy the majority of our time.”
“Yes,” Georgiana said, eyes sparkling. “My brother has told me you greatly enjoy the outdoors; as do I. We shall wander for hours, exploring the grounds of Pemberley until you know each and every inch of it!”
Elizabeth sighed with contentment: she could not imagine a more pleasing way to spend her time.
“That sounds simply wonderful.”
There was a disturbance somewhere in the chapel and Miss Darcy was suddenly thrust forward without warning. Lizzy caught her arms and steadied her, staring aghast to see what had happened. The cause became clear a moment later, when a stern-looking woman materialised in front of them having forced her way through the group of well-wishers and out of the chapel.
“Darcy,” she said haughtily. “So this is your bride.”
Lady Anne de Bourgh said nothing and lingered behind her mother, staring at Lizzy with a strange melancholic gaze.
“Yes, Aunt Catherine,” he said, gripping Lizzy’s arm a little tighter. “I believe you have already met my dear Elizabeth.”
Lizzy smiled tightly. “Yes, indeed. It is good to see you again. Thank you for coming,” she said, bowing her head. “It means a great deal to my husband.”
Lady Catherine made a strangled sound in response and stalked away. It was curious: Lizzy had never seen her so subdued.
Jane and Bingley came next, and Lizzy smiled apologetically at them, mindful of the fact that they had just been pushed out of the way. That was not obvious from their expressions, though, and it reminded her just how much she loved them both. They truly were the most agreeable two people she had ever had the great pleasure to know.
“Oh, Lizzy!” Jane cried, embracing her again. “I am so very pleased for you that I do not even have the words to tell you.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Darcy!” Bingley said, kissing Lizzy’s hand and clapping Darcy on the back in a movement that was more of a thump than a pat. Darcy did not seem to mind: Lizzy had witnessed his great affection for his friend on many occasions now.
“Thank you, Mr. And Mrs. Bingley.”
Jane glanced at Bingley with a look of such pure love that Lizzy might have found herself close to tears had she not already been on the brink all day.
“Miss Eliza.”
That familiar voice put Lizzy on edge. Darcy had been adamant that there was no need to invite Miss Bingley, but Lizzy had insisted. After all, the woman was dear Bingley’s sister, and she had no wish to cause him offence. Besides, the woman was harmless. Had she not tried everything in her power to keep Lizzy and Darcy apart? And hadn’t love brought them together regardless? No, Lizzy—while not altogether enamoured by the younger Bingley—had made a decision that she must be tolerated for the sake of her darling relations.
“Miss Bingley,” Lizzy smiled, taking the woman’s cold hands. “I fear it is Mrs. Darcy now, though I am aware that the title ages me so. Thank you for coming.”
Miss Bingley smiled a tight strange smile and took her leave. Lizzy found herself slightly warming to the woman. Calling her Miss Eliza had been deliberate, she was sure, but Miss Bingley had at least been civil.
“Lizzy!”
Lizzy turned and found herself almost bowled over by her aunt’s embrace. She gasped for breath, feeling relieved by the sudden shock of laughter that was a relief from the deep emotions of the day.
“Aunt Gardiner! I fear you might have knocked me to the ground had I not been braced against Darcy.”
“I am sorry, Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner said, looking childishly joyful and not in the least bit sorry. “I was simply overcome by excitement. I cannot tell you how happy I am for you. I only realised it was real when I saw you standing at the altar, unable to help yourselves from joking with one another. This truly is a perfect match.”
Lizzy sighed with contentment. Here she was, surrounded by all those who were nearest and dearest to her, as well as new friends whom she already adored.
“Come, Mrs. Darcy. Let us return to our home and entertain our guests. I may even dance a set or two.”
She giggled at the thought: her unfavourable first impressions of him had been based on his reluctance to dance, after all. “Really? Or do you just tease me, husband?”
“No,” he murmured. “I have been practising. I think you shall be pleasantly surprised.”
“Truly? Darcy, I do not know whether you are serious!”
“That is just what I intended,” he said with a wry smile. “You shall just have to wait until after the wedding breakfast to see it.”
“I love you,” she whispered. “With all of my heart.”
Chapter 39
As it turned out, Darcy was serious about the dancing. He had resolved to excel at everything which she liked and everything that made her happy. He discovered on the occasion of his wedding day that dancing was not so unpleasant when it took place in a small group of intimates. He even found to his surprise that it could be immensely enjoyable, depending on the dance partner.
Luckily for Darcy, he and his new wife shared many interests in common—interests he did not have to work at to enjoy. The park at Pemberley saw more activity that spring that it had ever seen, even though the newlyweds were more inclined to host small gatherings than raucous hunting parties. Their most frequent guests were Edward Gardiner and his wife. Mr. Darcy liked them best out of all his new relatives and they had taken to him too. The foursome spent long hours exploring the grounds of Darcy’s estate when they weren’t exploring the farther reaches of the county.
The Bingleys were always welcome at Pemberley, though they found themselves able to visit less frequently, owing to the recent birth of their first daughter. This had dismayed Darcy because he knew how close his wife was to her elder sister, but he had recently had cause to stop worrying.
It had been almost twelve months since Bingley’s marriage, and he had spent the time since in residence at Netherfield. That proximity to his in-laws had almost driven the mild-mannered Charles mad and done the same to his sweet-tempered wife. It was especially so after little Elizabeth was born.
So it had come as no surprise when Bingley wrote and asked Darcy to keep alert for news of any suitable estate becoming available in Derbyshire or nearby. Bingley had implored him not to tell Lizzy at this early stage, just in case the move did not take place as soon as they might hope.
Darcy smiled to himself. He had heard from a friend of his that Lord Wainsgrove was thinking about selling Hammersley House because he could barely keep up with the place in his advanced years. Darcy had been hunting on the grounds and felt it was perfect for the Bingleys and their expanding family.
“What is it, husband?” Elizabeth asked, looking up from her book.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief. He realised with a sinking heart that she could tell he was scheming something. There was no way she would leave him alone until she discovered the truth—it was a characteristic he adored, but now he felt conflicted. He had promised Bingley that he would keep their secret until the Bingleys’ move was finalised.
“It does not seem like nothing,” she said. There was a serenity in her voice that he had not noticed before.
He watched her carefully. Something was wrong with this situation, he realised. He frowned and shrugged.
“It is nothing.”
Lizzy shrugged, that mysterious smile still on her face. “Ah. I must have been mistaken.”
Now Darcy was concerned. He put down his newspaper and watched her for a while. Her forehead was unlined and she appeared perfectly engrossed up in her book.
“Lizzy, my darling,” he started, not knowing how to phrase the question in his mind.
“Yes?”
“Ah…” he cleared his throat. “Nothing.”
She returned her attention to her book and he kept watching her, switching between alarm and curiosity. Finally, he got up and paced the floor.
Mr Darcy to the Rescue: A Pride and Prejudice Regency Variation Page 13
