by Kristi Rose
Elizabeth met William’s gaze. “And she loves him.”
Chapter Twenty
Press Release from William Darcy, CEO Pemberley International
Dear Pemberley International Family,
I reach out to you today because there has been a fair amount of chatter about me in the media, chatter about my personal life. I felt that, though my personal life belongs to me, you deserve to be in the know. As I tell you my story, I implore you to consider it with an open mind. To set aside what you might have read from other sources and consider this straight from the horse’s mouth, as they say.
After my parents’ death, I was more than content to step into my father’s shoes with the company and hold tight to my sister, Georgiana. This is how we coped with our loss. We focused on family and the legacy our parents left us. It wasn’t until my aunt dispatched me to assist her with a financial issue that I became aware of how lonely I was. You see, I met a woman. A woman with a sharp wit, fine eyes, and a sense of family as strong as mine. Even if I believe a few members of her family don’t deserve her loyalty. To say I was smitten, well, that’s an understatement. I’m not embarrassed to tell you that I proposed. Without due cause. At least from her perspective. She immediately turned me down. Appalled by even the thought of it. It struck me then, how selfish a being I was. However, through her eyes, I saw the man I was becoming. And I didn’t like him. Through her rejection, I became a better man. I did better, as they say. I walked the walk. I learned to set aside my biases. I learned to keep a more open mind.
Trouble was I knew she’d never have me. She deserved a man worthier, and though I strived to be that man, I feared I’d be too late. The only action I could take was to show her who I was at heart. So, this I did. And because of my wants, her actions have been vilified. Gossip columnists have poked at her for her ethics and poked at me for being wealthy. And that’s fine. I know that both Elizabeth and I have been nothing if not honorable. I can live with what others say because I know the truth. I know I love Elizabeth Bennet. I believe she loves me. Finally. She sees the man in me that I want to become, and maybe even likes the man I am now.
And this gossip-mongering almost robbed us of the chance to find what everyone searches for. That one person to walk the journey of life with. The one who makes you a better person. If you haven’t found that special someone in your life, I suggest you hire a matchmaker, too. I happen to know an excellent one, and if she’ll have me, I plan to spend the rest of my life showing her how much I adore her.
A wool blanket was spread out on the ground. A second blanket was over her shoulders as she stood next to William and watched the sunset. Dusky colors in lavender, denim, and burnt orange streaked across the sky.
Experiencing the sun’s passing into night was an awe-inspiring experience. Sharing it with only Elizabeth was just as he’d dreamed. Only better. Because sometimes dreams can’t live up to the real deal. Because the real deal exceeds all imagination.
His post on Pemberley International had gone viral. Yes, there’d been negative consequences to his actions, but mostly the end result was positive. He’d gotten the girl, hadn’t he? That’s all that mattered. Hannah had done her own social media attack, surprising everyone with her angry vitriol. She was exposed to be the leak. His aunt escaped to a place sunny and foreign, trying to recover from her shock. Joanna Bennet had been weirdly quiet. As if their actions had rendered her speechless, or wordless in this case. Elizabeth had confronted her mother in private. When asked why she went after her daughters and the matchmaker company, Joanna Bennet could only repeat what she’d said in her articles. Love was a dream for foolish romantics. Elizabeth knew then her mother was stuck, perhaps too afraid to change.
Elizabeth found a spark of hope when she suggested her mother end her relationship with her husband and move on. Not that Elizabeth wanted her parents to divorce. But doing nothing wasn’t working either. Her mother’s response was horror. Elizabeth needed time, but she’d devise a plan to bring these two back together, or she wasn’t worth her weight in matchmaker salt.
“Elizabeth,” he said and faced her. She had to know what was coming. He basically told the world what his plans were.
“Mm?” She glanced from the sunset to him.
“Elizabeth,” he said again and dropped to one knee. He had her attention now.
She gasped. “What are you doing?”
From his pocket, he took out his mother’s engagement ring. The large diamond surrounded by sapphires would look amazing on her finger. But then so would a simple band, as long as it meant they were together.
“This was my mother’s. My grandmother’s before that. I love you, Elizabeth Bennet. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I know I have lots of strikes against me. I’m arrogant, I’m impatient—”
She dropped to her knees and flung her arms around him. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Together they tumbled to the ground.
“I’ll love you forever,” he said. He stretched out next to her and slipped the ring on her finger.
“Promise?”
“Promise.” He lowered his head and kissed her. In that moment, William Darcy knew he’d been waiting his entire life for her. When their lips met, their fates were sealed, their hearts entwined.
Epilogue
One Month Later
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that weddings have the tendency to turn brides into monsters.
But not Elizabeth. She didn’t care that the morning broke with steady showers. The Scottish believed that was good luck. She wasn’t going to worry about the actions of her mother. She and William had a plan to deal with that. If anything untoward was said or a photo leaked, William and Elizabeth would share all their own images of the wedding, including ones of Joanna hobnobbing. And Elizabeth wasn’t bothered by the fact that she had no idea where they were going to honeymoon. She trusted William. And truthfully, she wanted to be with him and would go anywhere. If she could get a preacher up to her room, she would snag William, get married in the privacy of the guest room, and slip away with no one being the wiser.
She only wanted to be with him.
“It’s time,” Jane said, standing at the bedroom door. “Are you nervous?”
Nervous? No. Excited? Yes. She was ready. Anxious to see William and make him hers.
She stood and smoothed her hands down the front of her wedding dress. The custom design was ivory lace and tulle in a ball gown style with a full English net skirt. A flower-embroidered lace bodice covered a simple sweetheart underdress. The back dipped open and low to her waist in a V.
Holding her dark tresses up at the side was her paternal grandmother’s diamond hair clip, her something old. Thankfully, her father had cherished the keepsake or he might have sold it. Her something new was the rose-colored garter Jane had gifted her. Her something borrowed was the diamond necklace and earrings Gigi had loaned her. Darcy brides had worn the set at their weddings for generations. Her something blue was the linen handkerchief William had given her last night, her new monogram embroidered in the center. She would hold the handkerchief with her bouquet.
Jane rushed to her. “You look beautiful. This dress—”
Elizabeth shook her head. “It’s not the dress. It’s love. It’s William. I noticed the same about you on your wedding and, at first, I assumed it was because everything had finally come together. But this is what true love looks like on someone.” She gave Jane a long hug. After she pulled away, she said, “You asked if I was nervous, and I can honestly say I’m not. I want to hurry up and marry this man.”
Jane laughed. “Well, let’s go then.”
They linked arms and walked together downstairs where their father waited. William and Elizabeth wanted to keep their wedding simple. One man standing up for him and one woman for her. A long white carpet spread from the end of the patio stairs across the lawn. Twenty feet. William waited at the end. Four rows to a side with eight chairs per row was the max number of gue
sts allowed. William’s Aunt Catherine was not in attendance. Caroline sat next to James Rushworth. Emma held hands with Knightley.
The band launched into “Here Comes the Bride.” The time had come to get married. Jane flashed her a smile before she went through the door and disappeared. When Elizabeth stepped out, her gaze immediately went to where William was waiting for her. He wore a medium gray tux and stole her breath away.
His gaze, as he swept over her, was fierce, almost possessive. She grasped her father’s arm to keep herself from running down the aisle to him.
As she walked, guests on either side of her passed in a blur. All she could focus on was William. She’d often dreamt about marrying the one. And here she was. She was blessed. Life and love could have gone all wrong for her and William. He’d been in front of her the entire time, and she’d almost lost him. She’d been blinded by her need to resist change, angered by his desires to protect the rich, but now understood money had nothing to do with it. He’d been protecting his family.
She’d spend her life making it up to him. She held his gaze, and as she and her father drew closer, Elizabeth’s pulse quickened. William, likely as impatient as she, stepped forward, meeting them in the aisle. A few members of the crowd chuckled. He held out his hand. Her father relinquished his hold on her, giving her to William, and moved to sit in the first row, separated from his wife by Kitty. Elizabeth expected nerves, but found only happiness. They moved to stand before Bill, who was officiating.
“Dearly beloved,” Bill Collins said. “We are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman. We are all close to one or both of these individuals, and I cannot imagine a better-suited pair than Elizabeth and William. If there is anyone who does not feel these two should be joined in wedded bliss, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
William took the bouquet from her hands and handed it to Charlie standing next to him. He then took her hands in his and stepped closer. “Who could possibly object?” he whispered.
She shook her head. “No one. But everyone should because it’s unfair to be this happy.”
He squeezed her hands.
Bill walked them through the traditional vows, but William stopped him before the blessing of the rings.
“I have something I need to say.” William closed the small space between him and Elizabeth.
With her hands cupped in his, he held them to his chest so she could feel his heartbeat underneath. They stared into each other’s eyes.
Traditional vows were not enough to tell Elizabeth and the world how he felt. “So long as there is breath inside this body, I will love you. When the waters of life get rough, I will hold on to you instead of letting us drift apart. Together there is nothing we can’t overcome. Apart there is so much that could come between us. I’ve waited my entire adult life for you. I would have never settled, but remained unwed, waiting for you.”
She stepped forward, leaning into him, and Bill stuck a hand between them. The crowd laughed.
Bill said, “There will be no kissing yet. Let’s bless these rings and get you two married.”
“Yes, please,” she said, her regard only for William.
He let go of her hands to slip the wedding band on her finger. He grinned like a fool when she slipped his band on him.
Bill said, “William and Elizabeth, through the commitment and promises you have made, you have expressed your love. Perhaps you have kissed before, more than once. But today, now, you will kiss again, not as friends who fell in love. Not as a man who loves a woman, but also partners in marriage. With this kiss you swear your devotion and commitment. Remember this kiss. Remember this love. Hold fast and treasure it. Today, your kiss is a promise. It is with these in mind that I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
William stared into Elizabeth’s eyes, smiled, and then put his lips close to her ear.
“Hello, Mrs. Darcy,” he’d whispered. She’d felt his smile on her cheek. “I’ll love you forever, Elizabeth.”
He then kissed the sensitive spot right below her ear, his nose brushing lightly against her face. Goosebumps had traveled down her body.
“You are my everything,” he’d said before kissing her dimple. Rendering her a nitwit who couldn’t do anything other than hold onto his lapels.
Pulling back, he’d stared deep into her eyes and murmured, “I am yours for eternity,” That’s when he’d kissed her properly.
He brushed his lips across hers once for love, deepened a second kiss for happiness, and seared his lips to hers a third time because he’d been waiting an eternity to love her and he was never letting go.
Want to know what William said on his questionnaire? Download the free questionnaire today!
Elizabeth and William’s adventure continues on their honeymoon. Read all about it HERE.
Books by Kristi Rose
The Wyoming Matchmaker Series
The Cowboy Takes A Bride
The Cowboy’s Make Believe Bride
The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride
The No Strings Attached Series
The Girl He Knows
The Girl He Needs
The Girl He Wants
The Meryton Brides Series
To Have and To Hold (Book 1)
With This Ring (Book 2)
I Do (Book 3)
Promise Me This (Book 4)
Marry Me, Matchmaker (Book 5)
Honeymoon Postponed (Book 6)
Matchmaker’s Guidebook - FREE
The Second Chance Short Stories can be read alone and go as follows:
Second Chances
Once Again
Reason to Stay
He’s the One
Kiss Me Again
or purchased in a bundle for a better discount.
The Coming Home Series: A Collection of 5 Second Chance Short Stories (Can be purchased individually).
Love Comes Home
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Kristi Rose was raised in central Florida on boiled peanuts and iced tea. Kristi likes to write about the journeys of everyday people and the love that brings them together. Kristi is always looking for avid readers who are willing to do beta reads (give impression of story before edits) and advance readers who are willing to leave reviews. If you are interested, please sign up for her newsletter. Aside from her eternal gratitude, she also likes to do giveaways as well.
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