by J Dawn King
Jane let her breath out slowly. How she longed to be loved with fervent intensity. It was Elizabeth’s hour. Jane resolved to think only of her sister’s happiness. Looking back at the couple, she looked closely at Darcy’s face. His eyes were locked on Elizabeth’s and their warm intensity threatened to melt Jane Bennet at the knees. She could only imagine how her sister felt.
They were saying their vows, promising to love and cherish each other for all of their years together, through trouble and peace. Jane could not help but realize how quickly both she and Bingley gave up and gave in at the slightest trouble. She glanced at him again, this time finding his eyes locked on her in an impassioned stare. She could no longer look away.
***
It had already been a busy morning for the bride and groom. Amongst his many responsibilities, Fitzwilliam Darcy had not only written to bring his betrothed up-to-date on the events of the evening before, he had gone to the Meryton Inn along with the colonel to meet with Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock. The results of that meeting had been explosive.
By the time they arrived, the heir to Longbourn, Mr. William Collins, no longer was in possession of the living at Hunsford. Darcy’s aunt had evicted him when his efforts at breaking up the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet had been unsuccessful. When she found out the man was betrothed to none other than Caroline Bingley, the last straw had been put on the camel’s back. Mr. Collins was to move his possessions out of the parsonage before the week was out.
Darcy reminded his aunt of two facts. The first was that a living could not be revoked at the whim of the benefactress especially when Anne was, in actual fact, the Mistress of Rosings. It would be she who would make this decision. The second fact was that Miss Caroline Bingley came with a dowry of twenty-thousand pounds. Lady Catherine’s mood and decision underwent an immediate change. Mr. Collins, who had been groveling in the corner in an attempt to be reinstated to the position of rector at Hunsford parish, shared his hope that Lady Catherine would care for those funds— as her wisdom in all things money-related was assuredly better than his. Darcy had watched as his aunt almost appeared to grow in stature at the parson’s words. Darcy chose not to warn the man how his patroness went through money like water ran through a bucket filled with holes. It was not his place.
The other matter they discussed with Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock once Collins had been dismissed from the room and Lady Matlock had been retrieved. Miss Georgiana Darcy and Miss Anne de Bourgh would remain with the Darcys under the care and protection of the couple and Richard. Anne had been pleased with the arrangements. It had been at her recommendation that Mary Bennet would also be invited to live at Pemberley. Having her new friend close brought her tremendous joy.
With Miss Lucas and Miss Mary Bennet being installed at Pemberley, there was the potential for lively interchange amongst the four single ladies. Having Elizabeth to oversee their social calendar, which would of necessity be minimal, there was hope for much merriment. Darcy looked forward to it and Richard knew he would be spending all his extra time in Derbyshire.
It was then that Lady Matlock let her second son know of his gift from her dowry and that no more funds from her father would be made available to either of the Fitzwilliam siblings. Darcy had never seen Richard speechless. The implications of Richard leaving the military and having a home of his own, being able to eventually support a wife and family, brought joy to his heart. His father and aunt must have been livid that money would no longer be under their control.
The meeting was short. At the end, Darcy and Richard escorted Lady Matlock to the chapel where they met Bingley with Anne and Georgiana. The day, though disappointing to Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock, promised delight to those who entered the building.
***
“Do you, Fitzwilliam James Alexander Darcy, take Elizabeth Anne Bennet…?” Darcy loved this woman with a depth of feeling that almost shook him physically. Her eyes— those laughing, sparkling, eyes—were filled with humor, kindness, and love for him and he longed to take her into his embrace and never let her leave. The chocolate curl that rested on her cheek looked as soft as the fur on a kitten, and his fingers itched to embed themselves in the mass he imagined fell past her waist. He noticed the pause and the clergyman looking at him expectantly. “I will.” He could not recall ever speaking truer words than those.
“Do you, Elizabeth Anne Bennet, take Fitzwilliam James Alexander Darcy…?” How could she not cherish this man? Elizabeth thought him the most handsome man she would ever look upon. What filled her heart, however, was his honorable goodness. She remembered his grief on the day she entered the glen; she remembered the strength of his arms as he held her with gentle firmness; and she remembered the first time his lips met hers. Magnificent! She noticed the pause. “I will.”
Before they could be pronounced man and wife with the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy to those congregated to serve as witnesses, Darcy gathered his Elizabeth in his arms. “I love you, Mrs. Darcy.”
“As I love you, Mr. Darcy.”
He kissed her with a tenderness that brought tears to Mrs. Bennet’s and Lady Matlock’s eyes and envy to Jane’s and Bingley’s. A unified sigh went up from Mary, Kitty, Lydia, Anne, and Georgiana as they gazed with dreamy eyes at the couple. Colonel Fitzwilliam looked straight at Charlotte. He winked.
Epilogue
One year later – Pemberley, Derbyshire
Darcy faced a dilemma unlike any other in his life until that point. His arms ached to hold his wife. At the same time, they ached to hold the squalling bundle tucked tightly to Elizabeth’s side. A daughter. She would be named after his mother and his now deceased cousin, Anne. The tiny face was barely visible amidst the swaddling bands. He watched as her little mouth puckered and her eyes sparkled. His heart filled to capacity then plummeted to his feet. Thoughts plaguing the father of a daughter burst into his head and he determined right then that there was no man worthy of her hand—at least not until she was well into her majority and perhaps long beyond.
“Mr. Darcy, would you like to hold your son?” The midwife and her assistant had finished cleaning the young man and he, too, was wrapped tightly in the palest of blankets. Alexander James Darcy had silently made his presence known upon arrival, vocally asserted his opinion when the nurse requested it, and immediately fallen asleep. His twin had been much more vocal, and Darcy wondered if that was the way their relationship would be as the siblings grew together.
“Yes, pray give him to me.”
As he held his son to his chest, gently patting him on the back as if born to fatherhood, his mind jumped back to the time in the glen. How different his life— and the life of Georgiana and Anne— would have been without Elizabeth. Thinking back to her arrival into his most private moment at Netherfield Park, he wondered how long it would have taken him to ask Elizabeth to be his wife had there not been a compromise. Heavens, but he was happy for that compromise!
***
Five years later – Pemberley, Derbyshire
If Darcy had been asked his hopes and dreams for the future, nothing could have prepared him for the reality of six years of marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. Two more sons had been added to their family, but it was little Annie who ruled the roost— or tried to. At five years of age, her main goal in life appeared to be besting her twin at everything. In the manner of children born at the same time, they seemed to have their own language. Elizabeth handled it with ease.
“Papa, Papa!” The sound of running feet arrived before the words did. He was not surprised when Anne Darcy burst into his study at her usual pace. “Papa, you must come. We need you.”
Unnoticed by his daughter were the piles of unanswered correspondence. Since the birth of the twins, it had become Darcy’s habit to delegate more and more of his responsibilities to his steward. Life with his family was far too precious to miss out on.
“Yes, poppet, what seems to be the problem now?” He allowed Annie to thin
k she was pulling him from his chair. At the doorway, he bent and scooped her into his arms. Unlike when she was little, she resisted and squirmed for release. His heart ached at her burgeoning independence. “Tell me now, Annie dear, or I will keep you in my study under lock and key.”
The threat meant nothing to his daughter. “No, Papa, you would not.” Whatever was on her mind gave birth to an impatience that reminded him at times of Elizabeth. “Please put me down, Papa, for we need to hurry, and I am faster than Alex when I run.”
Darcy set her on her feet and raised a brow until she noticed.
“Well, possibly I am not always as fast as Alex.” Only one time had she bested him in speed. That her brother had not known they were actually racing was a moot point to his twin. It, however, meant the world to her. “Papa, our cousins are almost upon us, and, as the eldest, I need to be on hand to greet them. Pray, come quickly, Papa.”
What else was a father to do? His long legs ate up the ground, keeping up with his daughter with ease. It would be good to see the Fitzwilliam family. Richard and Charlotte married not long after the Darcys. Never was the former Miss Lucas able to have her own residence. Darcy’s cousin had followed the wedding party to Pemberley and refused to leave until she was his bride. They had two sons who were images of their father. Charlotte kept a firm hand on all three.
Mary Bennet and her husband, the vicar of Kympton, had been married two years. As of yet, they were not blessed with children. Mary’s tender care of her close friend, Anne de Bourgh, during the remaining months of her illness had sealed her reputation for quiet attention to the needs of others. At her request, Anne had been laid to rest next to Lady Anne Darcy in the family crypt. She never returned to Rosings.
Kitty and Lydia were still at home with their family. Though the militia had been away from Meryton for more than half a decade, neither girl lost their love of a red coat. They both determined to marry for only the deepest love—as long as the groom was an officer.
Mr. Collins had followed through with his intentions and had given the full value of Caroline’s dowry to Lady Catherine to invest as his patroness decided. Not many months later when he met with a life-ending accident, the rector left his widowed wife with no money and, fortunately for all concerned, no children. Caroline’s eviction from Hunsford prompted her arrival on Bingley’s doorstep in Hertfordshire.
During the week Mrs. Caroline Collins resided at Netherfield Park, Bingley made arrangements for her care. He purchased a small home near their sister, Louisa Hurst, and set up an allowance for Caroline’s needs. It had taken a brief period of time to realize his sister was unchanged in attitude. Having been under the thumb of Lady Catherine de Bourgh for over five months, Caroline had a vile temper, a disdain for her former husband that bordered on hatred, and a deep-seated revulsion of being told what to do.
When he returned from escorting Caroline to her new home, Bingley promptly went to Longbourn and proposed again. This time, Jane accepted. The Bingleys, who had been wed slightly under five years, would be arriving at Pemberley not far behind the Fitzwilliams. They were accompanied by their two daughters.
“Papa, Papa.” Little Annie pulled on his fingers. “Do you see the carriage? Are they almost here?”
Darcy looked around, realizing he was missing a few important members of his family. Not only were Georgiana and the children missing, but so was Elizabeth. This highly unusual turn of events, especially when he knew they were aware of the impending arrivals, was deeply concerning.
“Poppet, where is your mother?” He could not keep the anxious panic from his voice. His daughter knew him well enough not to reveal all she knew.
“They are compromised, Papa.” She was most proud of her achievement over her brother. Her plan could not have been carried out without the presence of her mother and aunt.
“What? Compromised? Of what are you speaking, Annie?” Darcy dropped to his knee and took her small arms in his hands, his voice filled with concern. “Anne? What have you done?”
In her five years of life Miss Anne Darcy had never had her father speak to her so sternly. She struggled to contain the tears that pooled in her eyes. Her voice quivered as she answered. It had seemed like a good plan.
“Papa, when last Alex and I had a disagreement, you told us to compromise. I thought I understood. It sounded important.” Anne took a shuddering breath. “Alex called me a silly girl and I forgot the word until later. I asked Aunt Georgie about it and she told me a compromise is when you plan a trick on someone to get them alone. That is what I have done. I have compromised, just as you told me to.”
Darcy pulled his baby girl into his arms and let out his breath. He could not keep from shaking his head. Where did she get these ideas? A smile crossed his face as he marveled at her reasoning. It was wrong, for a certainty. Nonetheless, her thinking it through to that extent at a tender age was a thing of pride.
“What did you do to Mama, Aunt Georgiana, and Alex, Poppet?”
“I told them I saw a new foal in the stable. When they left to go look, I came and got you. See? I am alone with you. I compromised.”
He leaned back and moved his hands to her tiny face. How he loved this child! Taking his thumbs, he wiped away her tears, brushing her soft chocolate curls away from her face at the same time.
By then, he could hear the laughter of his wife, sister, and son as they came around the corner of the house. When Alex saw Anne in their father’s arms, he ran full tilt to them, all traces of frustration from the trick his sister had played gone.
“Annie, are you well?” Alex stumbled to a stop when he hit his father’s side. “Annie?”
Young Master Darcy was a much smaller version of his father. He took his responsibility to protect his sister and younger brothers seriously. Seeing evidence of tears was upsetting to him. He loved his sister dearly.
As soon as Annie saw how worried her brother was, she backed out of her father’s arms and grabbed her brother’s left hand.
“Did you see the foal?”
“No, Annie. What I saw was a drawing that looked like a camel with two humps on four broomsticks with a long tail. Was that supposed to be a horse?”
With that, the arrival of the cousins was forgotten in the bickering that started. Within seconds, the adults had been abandoned as the twins ran back to the stable, arguing all the way.
“Fitzwilliam, what has happened here?”
Darcy did not notice his sister roll her eyes as he pulled his wife into his embrace. Elizabeth was just as unaware when Georgiana departed and entered the house to visit the nursery where her two youngest nephews were currently napping, smiling as she went.
“My dearest Elizabeth, our sweet, innocent daughter was arranging a compromise.”
After six years of wedded bliss, there was room for few surprises. Elizabeth merely looked at him with a question in her eyes.
Darcy gazed into the part of his wife that first attracted his attention—her eyes. Their sparkle still drew him in. He loved everything about her face: her high cheekbones, her pert nose, and her full lips. He loved having her arms around his waist, just as they had been that first time in the glen. He loved it when she turned her head and rested her cheek on his chest, knowing she was listening to the steady beat of his heart. He loved her and was happy every day of his life that she was his wife.
“I will explain later, dear.” In the background, he heard the clop of horses’ hooves and the jangle of harnesses. Company was soon to arrive.
Darcy turned his head to confirm it was indeed Richard and his family on their way up the driveway. Refusing to step away from her until the last possible second, he was surprised to see a second coach coming close behind the Fitzwilliam carriage. It had a crest on the door proclaiming it to belong to Lord Marcus Melton.
At five and twenty years of age, Lord Melton was wealthy, unattached, and according to Elizabeth, a handsome man. He was as amiable as Bingley and as responsible as Darcy. Lord Melton’s
pursuit of Georgiana had been persistent since he returned from overseeing his investments on the continent.
Miss Georgiana Darcy lost her heart almost immediately to the gentleman. Her shy nature and the constraints of propriety allowed them limited time together. She was frustrated that they never had time alone. Little did she know that he was equally as frustrated.
Both Darcy and Elizabeth recognized the looks that volleyed back and forth between them when the two were in the same room, pretending to not notice each other. It was love—and desire.
“Were you aware the Viscount would be arriving today, Fitzwilliam?” As Elizabeth prepared to welcome the guests, she pondered what might be done to promote the match. Both she and her husband approved of Lord Melton being welcomed into the Darcy family.
“No, Elizabeth, I believe his last note indicated he would arrive next week. I wonder at his coming so soon.”
Though he said the words, he did not wonder at all. Marcus Melton had already made his intentions known to Darcy. He easily recognized a man in the throes of love and was pleased for his sister. It appeared to meet with Georgiana’s approval when he discussed the possibility of a match.
“Fitzwilliam? Do we allow them to continue suffering in their separation? Your sister is now two and twenty years old. She desires to be wed and her heart is attached to the Viscount.”
Before either could continue the conversation, Georgiana brushed passed them to greet her cousin and his family, her eyes never leaving the coach coming up the drive behind them. She, too, recognized the crest on the door.
When all the parties were gathered in the drawing room, Darcy watched as his sister stood at one end of the room looking longingly towards the other end where the Viscount was standing. Lord Melton was doing the same from the opposite end of the room. Without moving his eyes from his sister, Darcy walked up behind Elizabeth where she was listening to Charlotte Fitzwilliam. Leaning down he put his mouth close to his wife’s left ear and whispered the one word that had been going through his mind and hers since the arrival of Lord Melton.