Although he did not look worried in Elizabeth’s presence, as they approached the end of the three weeks necessary to obtain their License, Darcy was distressed and restless. Marriage in Scotland was a solution, but it was a desperate one. He wanted to marry in the presence of friends and family at his Pemberley Vicarage and not travel half the country to escape his aunt’s plan.
He was not surprised when Mr Bennet approached and invited him to a private discussion in the library. But unlike what he imagined in the past, he discovered he enjoyed being with Mr Bennet. Even more, he needed someone in whom to confide his worries and search for advice.
The maid brought the glasses for brandy, an excellent one Charles had received from his father from a time when England was not at war with France.
“What a horrible thing to happen in France!” Mr Bennet said. In my youth, it was so simple and easy to go to Paris and now, I have heard everywhere there is destruction and despair. Someone had to stop him; otherwise, he would have destroyed all Europe.”
“I would have liked to take Elizabeth to Paris after the wedding!” Darcy said sipping the fine brandy with much pleasure.
“It is exactly this wedding I want to discuss! But first, I want to thank you for all the efforts you made to help my family. I really do not know how I will repay your gestures…”
“Please, sir, do not say a word more, I accept your thanks; however, I beg you never to open that discussion again. I told Elizabeth I did it all for her… but lately, I realised I also did it for you!”
Mr Bennet looked in surprise to the young gentleman in front of him. He was sincere and he could not but congratulate Elizabeth for choosing such a man for a husband.
“Since my parents’ death, I have had a constant void in my life…!”
“I am honoured if you think I could in any way fill that void!”
It was all that needed to be said between the two gentlemen on that subject.
“Son,” Mr Bennet called Darcy, trying to practice the new relationship, “as you know, yesterday, I accompanied Jane and Charles to the Vicarage.”
Darcy just nodded.
“Mr Taylor, the Vicar, is an old friend, he has been Vicar since I was a young boy; he married us and baptized the girls and more than once every season he is our guest at dinner. He was rather saddened by a letter he received from Lady Catherine. It was that codicil, and her ladyship claims the marriage cannot take place.”
“I know, she sent such a letter to Pemberley Vicarage too.”
“I had a long discussion with Mr Taylor and he told me that he would need proof that Miss Anne de Bourgh agrees to renounce her right of betrothed.”
“But that engagement is not recognised by the law!” Darcy said both furious and sad.
“No, but Mr Tylor exchanged messages with your Vicar − to have a common point of view − and although legally you are not attached to the young lady, morally you are! And the church is about morality.”
“So, they refuse to marry us!” Darcy said, “unless I bring Anne here and make her confirm her renunciation.”
“Well, I do not think the young lady’s presence is necessary. A letter also signed by her Vicar would be enough.”
“Anne will never sign such a letter. Unfortunately, my cousin is a puppet in my aunt’s hands.”
In the distance, they could hear laughter and happy voices so unfit to their state of mind.
“I am so sorry, sir, to drag Elizabeth into such a situation… and you… after all that happened in London, I am so disappointed, yet my solicitor will arrive here in two days, directly from Pemberley. Most probably he has sent some messages to London, so I do not know for sure what his mission at Pemberley was…”
They sat in silence for a long while until a maid came to invite them to dinner. Just as they prepared to step into the dining room Mr Bennet stopped and said, “I have every confidence that whatever solution you find it will be in Lizzy’s and your best interest and I approve what you intend to do.”
There was such a strong emotion between them that Darcy’s eyes filled with tears, an occurrence that happened only at his parents’ death. He put an arm on Mr Bennet’s shoulder thanking him in a warm yet silent way.
It was all Elizabeth needed to see to calm down; her father and her love would find a solution.
Chapter 18
The solicitor, dirty and extremely tired, arrived at Netherfield on a cloudy afternoon, secretly wishing for a hot bath and good night’s sleep. His plans were gladly postponed as Darcy wanted to know the result of his trip to Pemberley. It took only ten minutes of intense discussions for Darcy to understand that he had been right to have confidence in that man.
“Mr Bentham, you just secured me as your client for life,” he said, inviting the man to eat and rest.
Three weeks ago the young man could not believe his luck when Mr Darcy knocked at his door, “I need a fresh look on this matter,” he said.
Mr Bentham was young and ambitious; a client like Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy was the dream of every solicitor in London. He wanted to know all the details, and, in the end, he just said, “Give me three weeks, sir!”
The time limit expired that night. Darcy appreciated his punctuality but also the young solicitor’s diligence and intelligence.
Just after the discussion he first had with his uncle, Darcy realised that the old solicitor - their family had employed almost forever - was not capable of solving such a delicate matter. And he had been right, his attentiveness lasted only as long as Lord Matlock approved his nephew’s decisions. Most probably his orders were changed when the family found out about his impending marriage to Elizabeth.
∞∞∞
That evening Darcy sent several messages: to the Vicar asking for a meeting the next day at noon and to Mr Bennet to join him at the Vicarage. The longest was for Elizabeth. It was all about his love. However, at the end, he asked for her presence at the meeting with the Vicar.
The next morning Mr Bennet was waiting for Darcy outside; he wanted to know if it was wise to bring Elizabeth. Darcy smiled, trying to imagine himself twenty years later eager to protect his beautiful daughter from all the evil in the world. His daughter would have Elizabeth’s eyes and smile, but she would adore riding and swimming, and she would look at her father the way Elizabeth looked at Mr Bennet.
Mr Bennet was not in a hurry; smiling, he let the young man carry his dream to the end.
“Mr Bennet,” Darcy finally said, “Elizabeth is not only my love but my friend and partner. This meeting is about our future, I need her near me… us!” he stated, slightly worried as he realised he was taking the daughter of that man away from him…
Mr Bennet nodded; indeed he was sad to lose Elizabeth, but he was happy to give his precious daughter to a man like Darcy. He did not hide anymore that Lizzy was his favourite, and he was ready to contemplate with much confidence her departure for Pemberley.
“Well, my son,” he said while waiting for Elizabeth, “I know a means to restore my happiness after Lizzy’s departure…”
Darcy looked at him with wonder, “Anything, sir!” he said.
“A week alone in the Pemberley library might make me happy again!”
They were laughing when Elizabeth arrived. She was worried, and she looked at them rather critically.
“When she has this gaze,” Mr Bennet said, addressing Darcy, “Take your horse and go hunting for a half-day!”
And they began to laugh again much to Elizabeth’s fury who did not look at them again the entire way.
∞∞∞
The Vicar, Mr Taylor, received them with deference but a look of sadness, he wanted so much to solve that problem for the Bennets’ sake.
They sat at the antique table where many of the parish problems had been solved for centuries. Darcy presented his solicitor with such pride that not only Elizabeth began to suspect the end could be a happy one. They were all eager to listen to Mr Bentham, who seemed delighted yet intimidated by the
importance of the meeting.
“Madam,” he said, “gentlemen, I had this mission to verify the codicil to Mrs Anne Darcy’s testament, provided by her sister Lady Catherine de Bourgh. This codicil was legally drafted by a solicitor in the presence of two witnesses and it was signed by Mrs Anne Darcy. It stated that Mrs Anne Darcy consented to the betrothal of her son, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy to his cousin Anne de Bourgh.”
He made a pause and arranged the papers in front of him, while his listeners began to show signs of impatience. However, they had to respect a specific protocol imposed by the matter.
“First of all, I searched in London for the solicitor who drafted the document. As he was very old at the time of that event, he died the next year, and his practice had not been continued. It took me some time to find his documents. By law, they were deposited at the Royal Courts of Justice, where I could not find any document issued by this solicitor in the name of Mrs Anne Darcy. Also, it was impossible to find any trace of the two witnesses.”
“What does it mean?” the Vicar asked with much hope.
“Sir,” the solicitor said addressing the Vicar, “every document of this kind is a copy of the original which is kept in the solicitor’s archive or in our case in the Royal Courts of Justice archive. Without its original, this document has no value!”
Everybody in the room sighed in relief.
“But it could take time to obtain official confirmation of my findings,” the solicitor continued, “so I departed for Pemberley where I received help from Miss Darcy, who gave me all the details I needed about madam, your mother. Mrs Darcy became ill in April at Pemberley. She, unfortunately, died six months later. During and all this time she had been kept in bed by the illness that became more aggravated month after month.”
Elizabeth did not care anymore about propriety; her betrothed needed her. She put her hand on his hand in plain sight; he had tears in his eyes remembering his mother’s illness and death. Surprised by her gesture, he smiled and kissed her hand. He was no longer alone.
Mr Bentham kept a respectful silence seeing Darcy’s grief.
It was Elizabeth who finally spoke, “Please, Mr Bentham, go on!”
“I have here for the Revered documents that attest that Mrs Darcy did not leave the house from April on. They are from her doctor and from Mrs Darcy’s Vicar, who still lives and remembers in detail that period.”
They were all astonished, but they did not yet understand what was happening.
“Sorry,” Mr Bentham said with a confident smile that informed his words. “I forgot to tell you the presumptive document was signed in London in July!”
Elizabeth wanted to jump from her chair and kiss Mr Bentham, and everybody around the table had the same state of mind.
“Congratulations, Mr Bentham, you just made all of us very happy!” Mr Bennet said.
The Vicar shook Darcy’s hand and said, “Tomorrow morning, you may come, sir, for the License!”
Chapter 19
They departed as soon as Darcy had the License. It was a happy crowd travelling day and night eager to arrive at Pemberley and put behind them the turmoil of the last months. They wanted to forget about Lydia and the scandal around her marriage, but most of all they needed to look confidently to the future and prepare two weddings. The sisters decided to have both their weddings on the same day and the grooms could do nothing but accept their decision.
“It is how our life will be, brother Charles!” lamented Darcy with a false worry. He truly enjoyed the way Elizabeth took over running the household the very minute she arrived at Pemberley.
The time she spent alone made Georgiana want them to come back, finally making peace with the idea of a sister-in-law who will be forever near her brother. She was happy that Pemberley lived again full of happiness and people celebrating. From the very first moment, she decided to be the Gardiner children’s mentor and teacher and she took that duty so seriously that from that moment on the poor lads had a school improvised for them.
The wedding was to take place in a few days and Pemberley began to prepare for that happy event.
∞∞∞
Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, led Elizabeth to her room.
“I hope madam,” she said, “the apartment is convenient for you; it belonged to the late mistress!”
Elizabeth thought with much consideration to Darcy's mother... it was by far the most beautiful bedroom she had ever seen.
Mrs Reynolds showed Elizabeth the impressive dressing room where Anne Darcy’s outfits still remained.
“It is the master who ordered us not to remove Mrs Darcy’s belongings, but as you see, we made room for yours until you decide what you want to do with the rest.”
Elizabeth smiled, she had perhaps ten dresses. She remembered how Georgiana and Darcy talked about their mother, how elegant she was, with a flair for fashion. She regarded the dresses made in luxurious fabrics, mostly silk, and she decided it was enjoyable to have them there.
“I think, Mrs Reynolds, we will use every dress from here and those in London. I am sure Miss Darcy would also want to have some of her mother’s dresses and I intend to adjust some for me!”
Mrs Reynolds smiled, from the first moment she had liked this young lady who was so polite and benevolent yet so determined.
“They will look wonderful on you, madam! We have a skillful seamstress who would be so glad to do that work for you.”
To her surprise, her apartment had a particular room, all in marble, where there was the tub, waiting for her. It was a tremendous pleasure to discover her new place to live. The richness of her apartment was beyond any imagination. While in the hot bath, she had the time to reflect on what life had given her. She was happy and intended to make all those living around her benefit from her happiness.
Finally alone to enjoy the room, she wanted to see every corner, to touch each exquisite object: the precious vases full of autumn flowers, the little statues in alabaster, then the massive bed with elegant sheets, the windows that looked onto the park and the lake where Darcy had proposed to her. She was tired, yet she could not rest, so excited was she about her new life.
She could put an end to the awful pressure her father had lived under during the last years: her mother and the unmarried sisters would always have a place to live. She finally fell asleep, but her dreams were far less impressive than reality.
It was Mrs Reynolds who came to wake her up, gently whispering, “The master said if you feel too tired, you could have your dinner in bed!”
“No!” she cried like a child making Mrs Reynolds smile.
“Then madam I will send the maids to dress you!”
She did not have to worry anymore about her hair or her dresses, about her shoes being impeccably clean. The maids at Longbourn worked everywhere: in the kitchen, in the rooms, outside… In the morning, their bedrooms at Longbourn had been akin to a battlefield while trying to get a maid to help the sisters dress.
Elizabeth went down to dinner with the smile of a queen, which was how Darcy saw her. He came and kissed her hand, leading her to the chair of the mistress of the house. The greatest surprise was the Colonel who arrived like a tempest just in the middle of the meal, disturbing everybody but bringing an incomparable joyousness. Darcy stood up to hug him, it was the best news after receiving the License. The Colonel was like a brother and Darcy hoped he would expand his happiness by being present at the wedding.
“You will not believe this,” he said with his thunder-like voice, “Aunt Catherine has a new plan, to marry me with Anne!” He laughed so loud that everybody began to laugh at the same volume, a horrible deed of the past became only a joke at their table.
∞∞∞
They decided to go to sleep early, Darcy sent away the maid and invited Elizabeth to follow him, “Come, my lady, I will show you to your room.”
It was a ruse, she was sure, yet she smiled. When he took her hand, she removed it in haste, worried that someone might see them.
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“Nobody can see us, Elizabeth,” he said, “this part of the house is only for the family and Georgiana decided to sleep in a room near the Gardiners’ children.”
“Do you mean I am sleeping in the family wing?”
Smiling, Darcy stopped to look into her eyes. “You are sleeping in the apartment of the mistress of the house. Where did you think you would be lodged?”
“Not in this part of the house before we are married!” she said. “What if my mother wants to come to my room? Or my sisters?”
“Then they will be led here where you will stay forever.”
He caressed her face while she whispered, “Someone may see us!”
It was like a signal. He took her into his arms and leaned her against a wall. She did not dare to cry out, but she tried to free herself, only this time it was impossible, “Stay still, Elizabeth, let me kiss you. I have not touched you in days!”
“Someone may catch us!” she repeated.
But he only laughed, “My love, in our house nobody would dare catch us!”
“Then, at least, come into the room,” she said still afraid to be seen.
“Finally!” he said, and he took her into his arms like a precious burden to stop only in her room. He placed her on the bed, kissing her and caressing her naked shoulders.
“This is not what I meant!” Elizabeth said, scared by her own words.
“And what did you mean by ‘let us go into my room!’, dear lady?” he asked with the same ironic smile looking directly into her eyes.
Elizabeth blushed, “I thought you would only kiss me!”
“And what was I doing?”
“You…” but she could not say more.
So he continued kissing her; soon enough she was half-naked as her dress easily slid down to her waist. She blushed as he suddenly got up and took off his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt; she had never seen him without a shirt and his torso made her stare in wonder. It took only a moment to approach her, and soon they were in such an embrace that made her shout.
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