by Wells, Linda
“You look all grown up. I guess you will marry soon.” She said softly. “And then it will just be me.”
“I cannot imagine being married yet. And after living at Darcy House, I cannot imagine being its mistress at my age and Lizzy was not much older than me when she married. I am in no hurry to be married at all. Maybe you should come to Pemberley with us!”
“I …no, I think I would be better off at Longbourn and with Jane.” Lydia watched as Jane advanced down the aisle with Lucas and waved at her. “We have a lot in common, and I …do not really know Lizzy that well.”
“I did not either, not really, but she is wonderful, Lydia.” Kitty beamed. “Really wonderful!”
“I THOUGHT THAT YOU were with child! Your father said that you were.” Mrs. Bennet said when she spotted Elizabeth.
“I …” Elizabeth startled and looked at Mr. Bennet, who was regarding her with concern as he watched the colour drain from her face. She looked to Darcy who was already halfway down the aisle, escorting Georgiana to her seat while the rest of the guests were nearly in place. “I … No, if I had been I would have said something to you. That is certainly news that would bring joy.” She quickly turned away as unexpected tears pricked her eyes.
“Well, I do not know what you are waiting for, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy needs his heir.”
Elizabeth stiffened. “Thank you for the reminder, Mama. I had almost forgotten my duty to him.”
“Lizzy, she does not mean to be …”
“Papa, do not make excuses for her.” Elizabeth turned to face her mother. “Come with me, Mama.”
“But I must take my seat!”
“Your seat can wait.” Elizabeth turned and continued to a far corner, and before her mother could say another word, spoke in a calm, relaxed voice. “And before this wedding begins, I want to make it perfectly clear to you that as my family is hosting this event, the rules of our household apply. We do not tolerate rudeness. If you have no pleasant or thoughtful remark to make on any aspect of this day, the people of our family, the way that we conduct our lives; or our plans for the future, we do not want to hear it. I will not allow you to ruin the most joyous day in Mary’s life. She has suffered for years as the unwanted, unnoticed child. Today she is the bride, she is the bride of an exceptional man, and I would call him that regardless if he was still a lieutenant in the Navy or if he was the crown prince. You will not say a word against her or him.”
“Lizzy Bennet!”
“My name, madam, is Elizabeth Darcy.” Her eyes flashed.
Mrs. Bennet shrank. “I cannot imagine what you are thinking. I have been very good. Your father is pleased with me.” She lifted her chin.
“I simply ask that you think before you speak, Mama.”
“Perhaps I should just not say a word the entire day!” Mrs. Bennet turned on her heel and walked back to the narthex.
“Would that you were capable.” Elizabeth sighed.
“Lizzy, what on earth?” Mr. Bennet asked as he saw his wife enter the sanctuary.
“I asked her to behave, Papa. I asked her to think before she speaks. I do not want Mary to be hurt, or Fitzwilliam. Thank you for keeping her from home this morning, Mary appreciated it.” She looked up at him. “Did you think I was pregnant?”
“Yes Lizzy.” He took her hands. “Were you?” Seeing Elizabeth’s eyes well up, he pulled her close and hugged her. “I am so sorry. I can imagine your mother’s remarks. I will wait next time until you say something.” He let go and handed her his handkerchief. “Mr. Darcy …”
“He is positive we will be parents again, soon.” She sniffed.
“So you will be.” He looked around the empty room. “It seems that we are ready.”
“I will go get Mary.” She smiled. “She is so very happy, Papa.”
“I know.” He smiled. “She just told me.”
KITTY AND LYDIA looked back down the aisle to see Georgiana walking down on Darcy’s arm, followed by the Gardiners. Charlotte and Mrs. de Bourgh walked together and it seemed that Bingley had been pressed into service to guide Mrs. Bennet to her seat. She beamed and gushed over the handsome man calmly walking beside her. Kitty smiled at him and rolled her eyes a little at her mother. Bingley saw her smile and his eyes widened in surprise, then hearing Mrs. Bennet exclaim again over the church, he rolled his eyes in return, then crinkled them in a smile as he saw his charge seated. Bowing, he moved away and took a seat beside Layton and Alicia, and looked again at Kitty.
A signal from the back of the church told the priest that the bride was in place, and he nodded, stepping out before the congregation along with his clerk and de Bourgh. Michael stood next to his brother and looked him up and down, but saw absolutely no need for any support. De Bourgh stood ramrod straight, completely composed and with an intensely focussed expression on his face as he gazed down the aisle. The doors to the sanctuary opened and Mr. Bennet appeared with Mary on his arm. His expression could best be described as humble. He gently guided his daughter, and glancing down, saw that not a trace of nervousness was visible.
“I admire you, Mary.” He said softly. “You come to your husband with absolute confidence. No quaking for you.”
“Look at him, Papa.” Mary whispered as she felt buoyed by his gaze. “How could I feel less?”
Behind them, Elizabeth listened and smiled, rejoicing in Mary’s conviction and blessing the man who had the sense to see her potential. She smiled at Darcy as they passed, and he returned it, taking Georgiana’s hand in his to squeeze in place of his wife’s. The service began, and Mr. Bennet solemnly placed Mary’s hand into de Bourgh’s, kissed her cheek and officially relinquished his rights to her and took his seat.
“Steady, Brother.” Mr. Gardiner leaned forward and whispered.
Mr. Bennet nodded and blinked. Just when I have discovered this woman who shares my blood, she is taken away forever. He looked to Elizabeth who was smiling at the couple saying their vows. He glanced across the aisle to see Darcy as he looked from Elizabeth to Mary, and gasped softly. It was paternal pride that shone from his eyes.
“Oh, Mr. Bennet.” Mrs. Bennet sniffed and dabbed her face. “Imagine Mary making such a match!” Mr. Bennet turned to regard her, wondering if she was feeling happy for her daughter’s joy.
“I, Peter, take thee, Mary, to my wedded wife …”
“How did she attract him?” Mrs. Bennet wondered.
“ … to love, cherish and obey, till death do us part …”
“She does seem to like him, look at how she stares in his eyes …”
“ … with my body I thee worship …”
“Oh, I must warn her of tonight!”
“Those whom God hath put together let no man put asunder.”
Mary tried hard to blink away the tears that filled her eyes and de Bourgh, just as emotional, gripped her hands tighter than before, assuring her that she was no longer alone.
“ … I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together …”
“Together.” De Bourgh whispered as the priest delivered his blessing.
“ … and live together in holy love until your lives’ end.”5
“Peter …” Mary squeezed his hands tighter, and that grip is all that kept them from ignoring all of propriety and falling into each other’s arms. Instead, they stood still and did not hear a word of the Priest’s brief sermon on the duties of man and wife. They barely let go in time to receive communion, and locked together in their gaze, finally rose to their feet to accept the congratulations of their family and friends.
“Congratulations.” Darcy took de Bourgh’s hand and grinned. “Welcome to the family.”
“I thought I was a member already.” He laughed and smiled when Mary stepped up and received Darcy’s tight embrace and kiss on her cheek. “Enough of that, now.”
“Quiet, Brother. I earned this hug.” Darcy smiled down at her. “I am so happy for you, dear. Despite his questionable look, I think that he just might be a good man.”
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br /> “I know that he is.” Mary looked back to her new husband who was being embraced by Elizabeth. “Thank you for everything.”
“You are welcome.” He let go and sent her off to hug everyone else. Elizabeth quickly slipped beside him and he put his arm around her waist to draw her to his side. “I am a mess.”
“So am I.” She laughed and accepted his handkerchief. “I felt an urge to cheer when he put the ring on her finger.”
“I saw that, I could see you trembling with joy.” Turning, they slowly made their way down the aisle, leading the rest of the family towards the door and to the carriages. Darcy bent to her ear, “I kept thinking, Come on, Phantom, move!”
“It was not a horse race!”
“I think that de Bourgh would beg to differ, the poor man was close to expiring this morning, just as he reached the finish. How was Mary?”
“Oh, uncharacteristically dreamy.” They stopped and looked back to see them alone by the registry and lost in each other’s arms. “Oh dear.”
Darcy sighed. “He could not wait for the carriage?”
“Mary!” Elizabeth called.
Her head snapped up and she blushed when she saw Elizabeth. “Oh!”
“Still chaperoning, Darcy?” De Bourgh covered his embarrassment.
“As long as you make it necessary, Brother.” Darcy laughed and taking Elizabeth by the hand, walked outside.
Shaking his head, Michael appeared behind them and gave his brother a shove. “Plenty of time for that in the carriage, come on! This is a church, may I remind you?”
“Leave our brother alone!” Charlotte smiled and gave Mary a sisterly kiss on her cheek. “Oh, so many things that I have to teach you about these de Bourgh men!”
“I cannot wait to hear all of their secrets.” Mary smiled as de Bourgh took her arm.
Mrs. de Bourgh appeared. “Another beautiful daughter!” She sniffed and let go, then straightened. “I am so very proud that Peter had the good sense to marry you, my dear!”
Mrs. Bennet stood by the door and watched as Mary was enfolded into her new family. “Mrs. Bennet.” Mr. Bennet said softly. “It is time to go.”
She startled and lifted her chin. “Well, that is done; and a good thing, too. I could not imagine her ever marrying. Could you, Mr. Bennet?” She dabbed her
eyes and watched as Mary was hugged by Mrs. de Bourgh. “And he is so rich, should Mr. Darcy die, he will look after us.”
“Mrs. Bennet,” He said tiredly. “This day is not about you.” He turned to join the happy crowd, leaving her standing alone.
“I never said that it was.” She sniffed and followed him.
Once again alone, the new couple walked together, following the rest of the family. De Bourgh kissed her hand and smiled. “I told you to keep me under control.”
“I have to take the blame for you kissing me in church?” She gasped. “That is unfair; I just vowed to obey you!”
“That is right, and we just heard a sermon on wifely duty.” His eyes twinkled. “At last we get to put all of our friend’s kind advice to good use.”
“Oh my.” She looked down shyly and watched as her hand was again raised to his lips. Silently they walked out to the last waiting carriage; and their very welcome privacy. When the door was soundly shut and they were underway, de Bourgh wasted no time at all drawing her into his arms. “Peter …”
“Hush.” He kissed her. “I will not waste a second, never again.”
“THE DECORATION IS UNCHANGED.” Mrs. Bennet picked up a porcelain vase and looked it over when she paused by the entrance to the ballroom. Mrs. Mercer involuntarily leaned forward to snatch it from her, and leaned back again when it was absentmindedly set back down.
Elizabeth sighed, comments on decoration she could tolerate. “I saw no reason to waste money on unnecessary change, particularly when Mr. Darcy and I are quite happy with our surroundings.”
“Oh, but dear Mr. Darcy is such an important man, and you really must decorate his home with the very latest of style. You must prove that you are worthy of him.” Darcy growled and his hand pressed tightly against Elizabeth’s back.
She nudged him, trying to convey that she was in charge of this particular battle. “I believe that I have his approval, Mama.” She said quietly.
Unable to remain silent, Darcy turned to address Mrs. Bennet. “She does. My wife is an excellent judge of style, she does not need decoration to distract visitors from the pleasure of her company, and she does not waste the funds that hard work and careful spending has preserved for our and our children’s future.” Mrs. Bennet’s eyes grew wide and she darted a look at her daughter.
“Fitzwilliam.” She felt his body had stiffened. “Mama was just concerned that our home be decorated in the style that befits our status. It is well.” He looked at her doubtfully but acquiesced to her determination.
“Where is Rosalie, Lizzy?” Mr. Bennet asked quickly.
“She is upstairs, but I will have her brought down later. Her cousins Annabel, Grace, and Margaret are here. They play very well together.” She looked up at Darcy with a mischievous smile. “Freddy is a little too small for parties.”
“Frederick.” Darcy said under his breath.
“You do prefer proper names, dear.”
“My name is Fitzwilliam; would you love me if I was known as Fitzy?”
“I wonder. If I had heard Georgiana calling out Fitzy in the park that day, would I have looked at you twice?”
“I have been called Fitzy!” Fitzwilliam walked over, drink in hand.
“You it suits.” Darcy said dryly, and taking Elizabeth’s elbow turned her decidedly away from her mother. “Is this some army affectation or was this a school name?”
“Oh, school.” He laughed. “Can you imagine me charging the enemy, sword raised, calling out, “To me, Men! Follow Fitzy!”
Lord Matlock laughed and joined the group. “My father would have rolled in his grave.”
“As would my mother if she had heard such derogation of her family name.” Darcy said positively.
“But I do call you Will, on occasion.” Elizabeth smiled.
“Lizzy.” He said with a slight warning in his voice. “That is not for common use.”
“Oh ho!” Fitzwilliam laughed.
“What are you laughing at?” Evangeline joined them. “Nothing admirable, I suspect.”
“Name-calling, dear.”
“You two are such children.” She smiled. “How do you tolerate your boy, Elizabeth?”
“Oh, with great difficulty.”
“Such love.” Darcy smiled and looked up. “Ah, at last they arrive.” Lifting his glass he raised his voice. “To the happy couple! Long may they live in peace, love, and harmony.”
“Hear, hear!” The crowd cheered.
“Give us a kiss!” Fitzwilliam cried. “Come on de Bourgh, you’ve been chomping at the bit, let us see what you’ve got!”
“Quiet, Fitzwilliam.” De Bourgh growled and looked at Mary. “Shall we?”
“Peter …” He smiled and swooped her up in his arms for a very ardent kiss. The ladies gasped and the men set down their glasses to applaud. Mary steadied herself against his chest. “Oh my!”
“I saw a pirate do that once.” He chuckled.
“I never saw that mentioned in your journals!” Mary laughed and blushed when Kitty and Georgiana arrived to wave their fans at her.
De Bourgh grinned. “Ahhh, some things I just kept in my head. I am very talented with swinging about on a rope as well.”
“I cannot wait to see that demonstration.” Layton crossed his arms and remarked to his wife.
“I would like that myself.” She winked when he looked at her with wide eyes and whispered. “I can see you now.”
“Oh, see me.” He brightened then shook his head. “See me falling to my doom!”
“I would gladly nurse you back to health.” She tilted her head and he smiled. “Yes?”
“Could we skip
the rope swinging and go straight to the nursing?”
“Oh my, I have never seen him so happy.” Mrs. De Bourgh dabbed at her eyes then walked over to Mrs. Bennet. “I so look forward to our first grandchildren, Mrs. Bennet.”
“I already am a grandmother.” She said as she looked at Elizabeth and Darcy talking to Audrey and Singleton. “I never see her.”
“Well when Jane and Robert have children you will see them all of the time.” She looked around the room. “And I will be fortunate to have both of my sons’ children nearby.”
“Oh, yes, Charlotte.” Mrs. Bennet saw where Michael and Charlotte were speaking to Jane and Lucas. “What will you all call yourselves?”
“Pardon?”
“Charlotte is Mrs. De Bourgh; you are Mrs. De Bourgh … Lady Matlock!” Mrs. Bennet called. The woman turned to regard her. Elizabeth’s head immediately swivelled to listen. “Is not my daughter a peer now?”
“I am sorry?”
“Well, according to Mr. Collins, the former mistress of Rosings was Lady Catherine de Bourgh, with her now replaced as mistress by my daughter, is she not Lady Mary de Bourgh?”
“The title does not hand down, madam.”
“Well that makes no sense! Mary is now a Lady! Surely Captain de Bourgh is a gentleman!”
“He is, but he is not a Lord, Duke, Earl, Knight or any other title. He is The Honourable Captain Peter de Bourgh. I know it is confusing.” She smiled slightly.
“That is not right.”
“Mrs. Bennet, my sister was Lady Catherine because of her birth, not her marriage, just as Darcy’s mother was a Lady, but her husband was merely a very wealthy landowner.”
By this time Darcy and Elizabeth had joined them. “So Mary is just Mrs. De Bourgh?” She said with disappointment.
“I am afraid so, Mama.” She looked up to Darcy. “I am sure that she does not mind.”
“But how will you distinguish yourselves?” Mrs. Bennet demanded. “Three Mrs. de Bourghs in one village. No, no, it must change …”