Falling for Mr. Darcy (42 page)

Elizabeth reached out her arms to her sister and they took hands. “Jane, you look so beautiful. Charles will hardly know what he is about when he sees you.”

Jane blushed and said, “Oh, Lizzy, you look very beautiful as well. My happiness on this day is only increased by sharing it with you and Mr. Darcy.”

“You do look very happy, Lizzy,” Aunt Gardiner observed, “but perhaps a little underdressed for the occasion.”

Elizabeth looked down at her stays and chemise and chuckled. “Do you think so, Aunt?” She laughed. “Perhaps I ought to put on my dress now. I would not want to scandalize the town.”

The three ladies laughed as Elizabeth’s aunt lifted her dress from where it lay displayed on the bed. Elizabeth paused as she watched her and briefly thought how blessed she was to have her aunt helping with this process. She had never really been close to her mother, and as it was, her mother’s voice could be heard throughout the house in a fit of nerves as she spoke with cook over last minute directions for the wedding breakfast and scolded one of her sisters over her manner of dress. Elizabeth was grateful to have this tender moment with her aunt instead and smiled her thanks.

She gingerly stepped into her dress and allowed her sister and aunt to pull it up as she eased her arms into the sleeves. She turned to examine herself in the mirror as they fastened the tiny buttons up her back. Elizabeth had chosen a dress entirely of ivory silk. The top had the most beautiful matching Brussels lace overlay that her aunt had found for her in London. The dress fit snugly to her figure until her hips, where it flared elegantly. She smiled as she smoothed the silk skirt and took a deep breath.

I am going to marry William today,
she kept telling herself. No matter how many times she said it, though, it still felt too wonderful to be true. Her aunt finished with the buttons and rested her hands on Lizzy’s shoulders as the three of them looked at each other in the mirror. A knock on the door brought Hill with a bundle in her hands.

“A package come for ya’, Miss Elizabeth.” She curtsied and handed over a small, tissue-wrapped item.

Elizabeth smiled as she recognized the handwriting on the attached letter. She looked up at her aunt and Jane who politely excused themselves but not before Aunt Gardiner reminded her not to be long, as it was almost time to go to the church.

Sitting carefully on the bed, she opened the letter from Mr. Darcy. Her smile was soft and happy as she read the missive.

Dearest Elizabeth,

Today you are granting me my greatest wish. Thank you once again for consenting to be my wife. For as long as I have had your acquaintance, I have often wondered whether you are not a ‘Phantom of Delight,’ unreal in your beauty and loveliness. The day you said you would marry me gave me such pleasure, and I knew, then, that you were real, for I could not dream something so wonderful. I hope that we share more than a mere inkling of love, for I do not wish to starve ours away with this sonnet. The words have always reminded me of you. I will see you later today, my love. I will be the one smiling like a love-struck schoolboy at the front of the church.

Most sincerely yours,
Fitzwilliam Darcy

She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my sight;
A lovely Apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament;
Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair;
Like Twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful Dawn;
A dancing Shape, an Image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and way-lay.

I saw her upon a nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A Creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A Being breathing thoughtful breath,
A Traveler between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly planned,
To warm, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright,
With something of angelic light.

— Wordsworth

Elizabeth wiped a tear from her face as she set the note aside and opened the tissue-wrapped package. A soft and silky fabric fell into her lap. She picked it up and recognized the handkerchief she had admired at the shop in London.
But how did he know?
She kissed both the letter and the handkerchief when she heard her mother’s frantic call that it was time to leave. She placed them both in the top of her packed trunk. After the wedding breakfast, she would be leaving Longbourn with William.

* * *

Darcy stood serenely at the front of the church watching Bingley pace back and forth across the floor in front of him. He smiled at his friend’s nervousness and wondered why he did not feel the same. It is because this is not just a beginning for me. It is the end of loneliness and the end of solitude. He breathed deeply in contentment. The day had finally arrived. If Darcy was feeling anything, it was impatience that the two weeks of their engagement had not gone more quickly and that this morning was not going fast enough, either.

“Charles! Calm yourself, man! This is the greatest day of your life, is it not?”

Mr. Bingley stopped and gave a glorious Bingley smile. “That it is, Darcy! I am just nervous for Jane. I know how much stress her mother can cause, and I am sure Mrs. Bennet is in fine form this morning.”

Darcy nodded his head and wondered for a moment whether he should worry about Elizabeth. He shook his head as he thought that, as soon as her aunt had arrived in town, Elizabeth had been spared much of her mother’s effusions over the wedding planning.

The reverend came up to the two grooms and gave them some last-minute instructions, letting them know the service would begin shortly and they should resume their spots. Bingley quickly took his place beside his friend and fidgeted with his hands instead.

Darcy looked over the crowd of people. His eyes fell upon his Aunt and Uncle Fitzwilliam, his cousin the colonel, and his other cousin James, who was Richard’s older brother. The members of his family were all in one row and smiling brightly at him. His aunt gave him an indulgent smile, and his uncle gave him an encouraging one. James nodded his head, and when Darcy turned his gaze to his cousin Richard, he groaned quietly to himself as Richard was bobbing his eyebrows up and down and making kissing faces. Darcy smiled and shook his head. He would have to remember not to look at
this
cousin during the service.

When his eyes caught those of his sister, both his happiness and hers could not be expressed clearer than the expressions on their faces. Over the past few weeks, Elizabeth and Georgiana had continued their relationship, and they were now very fond of each other, giving Darcy a calm sense of contentment.

He looked away from his family and was not disappointed at the obvious absence of his Aunt Catherine and, by consequence, his cousin Anne. The former had been outraged by his letter informing her of his wedding and had written a scathing response. He could not allow that kind of treatment towards Elizabeth and so had chosen to cut off Lady Catherine.

When his eyes rested on Miss Bingley sitting with her sister, he pressed his lips together in humor. All those around her were discretely fanning themselves or constantly needing their handkerchiefs while she sat completely unaware. Looking at her reminded him of the moment she had learned of his engagement.

Bingley had convinced his sister to extend an invitation for tea to Elizabeth and Jane, and she had entered the room reluctantly to greet her guests. He, Bingley and Georgiana were already there, sitting next to the ladies.

Miss Bingley immediately noticed Elizabeth’s ring. “Miss Eliza! What is this that I am seeing? Am I to wish you joy?” she asked in utter astonishment and disbelief.

“Yes, Miss Bingley. It is as you see; I am engaged to be married.”

Miss Bingley’s eyes narrowed and she said insincerely, “How nice for you. Do I know the gentleman?”

“Yes, I believe he is among your acquaintance.” Elizabeth secretly eyed Darcy, who had resolutely kept silent.

“Indeed! Tell me, who is this gentleman who has been so fortunate as to secure you?” She sneered in barely concealed sarcasm.

“It is I, Miss Bingley. I am most fortunate, indeed. Thank you,” Darcy had then spoken as he took Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it.

Miss Bingley had sputtered a few words of congratulations and remained unusually silent for the rest of tea. After a while, she had claimed a slight headache and excused herself.

Music began to fill the church, and Darcy was brought back from his memory. He looked around, noticing that Elizabeth’s family had found their pew and everyone was now standing and looking towards the back of the church as the music drifted and changed to indicate the beginning of the services.

He pulled at the sleeves of his jacket and glued his eyes to the church doors, willing them to open and Elizabeth to appear.

* * *

Mr. Bennet blinked his eyes to keep away the tears as he felt each of his daughters intertwine a delicate arm with one of his. It was not an easy task for Mr. Bennet to give away his two most sensible daughters at once. The music could be heard through the doors and he noticed when the tune changed, indicating it was his time.

He turned to Elizabeth and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I could not have let you go to anyone less deserving, Lizzy.” He turned to Jane and kissed her too. “Or you, either, Jane.”

“I love you, Papa” Jane said.

“Me, too.” Elizabeth laughed as she leaned in to kiss his cheek.

Mr. Bennet shook his head as if to dispel their affection and grumbled as he cleared the emotion from his throat. “Now, now. Enough of this. I believe it is time.”

With his nod to the two altar boys, they pulled the great doors open, and he began escorting his daughters down the aisle to their waiting grooms.

* * *

Darcy was lost to all other thoughts as his eyes captured the scene of his Elizabeth walking down the aisle to him. She was exquisite and ethereal in her beauty. Everything else in the room disappeared, and he was aware only of her. As he finished his inspection and met her gaze, her beautiful smile beckoned him. Before realizing it, he had walked the last remaining steps to her instead of waiting for her to come to him. He heard a few of the guests snicker or swoon at his impulsiveness. Outside his awareness, he barely registered the distinctive chuckle of his cousin. He did not care; she was his, and he had to go to her.

Mr. Bennet relinquished Elizabeth to her betrothed, and Darcy escorted her the rest of the way to the altar. After placing Jane’s arm on Bingley’s, Mr. Bennet solemnly took his place next to his wife in the family pew.

The reverend began the services with a prayer. In turn, each couple repeated the required promises. The words of the vows flowed around them as Jane, Bingley, Elizabeth and Darcy each spoke them reverently, binding themselves to their partners.

When prompted, Darcy and Bingley turned to their brides.

Darcy held Elizabeth’s hand as he placed the ring on it. He looked deeply into her eyes as he said his part reverently. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

They continued looking into each other’s eyes while Charles made his oath to his bride and placed the ring on her finger. After another solemn prayer by the reverend, he pronounced to the witnesses they were man and wife.

“May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

Darcy looked down at his bride and kissed her lovingly. “Hello, Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth smiled happily at her husband and replied, “Hello, William.” The words were barely out of her mouth before he bent to kiss her again.

* * *

Elizabeth walked on the arm of her new husband into the cottage he had reserved for their first evening as man and wife. The next day, they would travel the last of the distance to Pemberley and stay there for many weeks. Elizabeth left her husband’s side as he went to instruct the footman where to place their trunks.