A Most Civil Proposal

by C. P. Odom

  Darcy called again that evening after dinner while Elizabeth was upstairs reading to the children in the nursery. He apologized to the surprised Gardiners for the lack of warning and lateness of the hour, but Mrs. Bennet was instantly aware of the reason for his arrival by the box he held. Any doubt was erased in the next instant when he asked if he might borrow Mr. Gardiner’s study again for a few moments alone with Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth was sent for, and she could see that he was both excited and agitated as he ushered her into the study and closed the door. “I apologize for calling so unexpectedly, Elizabeth,” he said as he handed her the box, “but I was beginning to worry that these would not be completed in time.”

  Elizabeth was as happy to receive a gift as any young lady, and she had been charmed by the way Darcy often called with flowers for her or small gifts for the Gardiner children. However, this was obviously something special, given the expression on his face. She seated herself and carefully untied the ribbon, gasping in surprise when she opened the box, for inside was a string of the most lustrous pearls that she had ever seen. All were carefully sized, with the largest in the middle gradually diminishing in size to the smallest. This was a gift that dwarfed in value everything that she had spent on wedding clothes.

  “They are so beautiful,” she whispered.

  “They were only delivered tonight, and I wanted you to have them in case you wish to wear them with your wedding gown. Please do try them. Georgiana helped with the measurement to make sure they fit, but it is best to be sure.”

  Elizabeth carefully lifted them, unable to see a flaw in any of the gleaming orbs, then looked up at Darcy. “I am most appreciative, sir,” she said with a warm smile, “but these are much too extravagant for a simple country lass.”

  Darcy laughed easily, for they had both come to grips with the many misjudgements and errors they had both made in their earlier association and were now able to view those events as a source of amusement rather than of mortification. He had even learned not to wince whenever she referred to something as “only tolerable,” and she equally could laugh when he asked if he might read her some poetry.

  “You were meant to wear these, Elizabeth, simple country lass or no,” he commented softly after he fastened the pearls around her neck. Mr. Gardiner’s study had no mirror, so she could not verify his compliment, but the look on his face told her all she needed to know.

  “Thank you,” she told him tenderly. “I am very, very fortunate. I shall certainly wear them tomorrow.”

  “Then let us show them to the rest of your family immediately, for it is later than I would have wished.”

  As he turned to lead the way out of the study, he was halted by the touch of Elizabeth’s hand on his arm. When he turned around, she surprised him by putting her arm around his neck and pulling his face down to hers. When their lips touched, she raised up on her toes, tightening her arm around his neck while her other arm slipped around his waist under his coat. She shivered in delight at the exquisite sensation of his lips pressing into hers, her mouth opening slightly as his own kiss deepened. His arms went around her, and she had a sudden realization of his true strength and power as she felt his muscles tense as he fought against the urge to crush her fiercely to him. She was more prepared this time when his tongue probed at her lips, and she shivered again, then she felt him react as she tentatively reached her own tongue to touch his.

  Instinctively, she pressed her body closer to him as their tongues darted and touched in a dance of exploration and discovery, arching herself upward while he pulled her even more firmly against him. His hands moved to the side of her waist, measuring its narrowness, and Elizabeth felt the heat from his touch, even through her clothes. His fingers moved, explored, and she sucked in a breath as she felt one hand slide to her hip and then to her bottom, but she did not pull away. She trembled. No one had ever touched her in such a way, and while some might think her behaviour shameless, she cared not. She kissed her future husband fiercely and nibbled at his lower lip with her small teeth while she moved her hips under the urging of his hand on her bottom.

  Darcy opened his eyes to find hers open also, dark and dancing in delight under her half-closed lids. He lowered his lips to her throat, trailing soft kisses down to her shoulders while her hands moved up his back, exploring how his torso widened towards his shoulders. She dropped her head backward, opening the way for his lips to move to the hollow of her throat. A small moan escaped from her lips, and he felt her shiver again as he moved up her neck and nibbled at her delectable ear lobe. She thrust her hips forward into him as he slipped his tongue into her ear, then planted small kisses across her cheeks, her nose, her chin, and returning to her moist lips, kissing her deeply as his tongue danced and slid over her own.

  When he lifted his mouth from hers, she was gasping for breath; her body almost limp in his grasp. His feelings as he held her close were conflicted. Certainly, he was pleased at the passion she had shown, but he also felt ashamed when he remembered his previous determination to control his urges. He should have simply kissed her back quickly, but instead he had taken advantage of her honest reaction to his gift to take liberties that . . .

  Elizabeth, through half-closed eyes, saw the sudden look of self-disgust on Darcy’s face, felt his hands leave her waist and her bottom, felt him start to pull away from her. She instinctively pulled him back against her, unwilling to be separated from the closeness of his embrace. As he started to speak, preparatory, she knew, to issuing the expected apologies for his unforgivable behaviour, she put one hand up to cover his mouth.

  “No, William. I will not have it,” she said softly but firmly. His eyes widened in surprise and confusion. “We are to be married on the morrow, sir,” she continued softly, putting both arms back around his waist and clasping him to her, “and you did nothing that I did not want you to do. If you are going to castigate yourself for taking liberties, then I shall have to castigate myself for allowing you to take those liberties — for being wanton.”

  “You could never be wanton, Elizabeth,” he groaned in despair.

  “And you could never be less than a gentleman, Fitzwilliam Darcy,” she told him firmly. “But even a gentleman cannot treat his wife like a Vestal Virgin, nor would she want it so. Especially not,” her eyes sparkled with delight as she hugged him tightly, “when it felt so very lovely to me. Now, sir, I repeat: I will not have it.”

  Gradually, Darcy brought his emotions under control, and he could not help but be amused at the manner in which Elizabeth had completely reversed their roles, refusing to let him play the part of shamed and disgraced rascal.

  “Well, perhaps you will at least admit that I was a little premature,” he said with a smile.

  “By less than a day, and I repeat, you did nothing that I did not want you to do. And I started it, and you did warn me!” He had to chuckle at that, and she joined him with her soft, delightful laugh. “Now,” she continued, “I suggest that we join the others before they come looking for us. We do have a wedding to accomplish in less than twelve hours, after which we can resume this . . . conversation . . . in the privacy of our chambers!” Darcy had to laugh at the mischievousness dancing in her eyes and agreed to her proposal, contenting himself with a chaste kiss to her forehead and one last, quick embrace.

  Quickly, Elizabeth tugged her clothes straight, and her hands went to her hair to capture a few errant curls and pin them back into place.

  “My uncle does not seem to have a mirror in here. Does everything look correct?”

  Darcy cocked his head in thought. “You look fine from this side, but please turn around.” She turned around at his request, and then she jumped as he planted a kiss on the back of her neck.

  “William!” she admonished him sternly, though the scolding might have carried more weight if she had been better able to suppress her smile.

  “All correct, dearest,” he told her. “The pearls are lovely, of course, but you are even lovelier.
”

  “William!” she repeated, her cheeks colouring.

  “I believe that you shall have to work harder at learning to receive a compliment, Elizabeth,” he told her, “for you shall be receiving many of them.” His face wore a look of innocence as he repeated her own admonition to Georgiana back to her, and she laughed lightly as she quickly rose to her toes to kiss his cheek.

  “Thank you,” she told him softly. “I shall indeed attempt to improve.”

  As they left the room to join the others, Elizabeth had no further doubts as to whether she could wear one of the daring nightgowns that her aunt had induced her to buy.

  Chapter 23

  Saturday, April 25, 1812

  Fitzwilliam Darcy felt his heart lurch as Miss Elizabeth Bennet stepped through the doors of the church on the arm of her uncle. Her sister preceded her up the aisle to join the party at the front of the church, and Darcy did not have to look to see that Bingley’s eyes were locked on his beloved Jane as he anticipated his own forthcoming wedding.

  This, however, was Darcy’s day, and Jane slipped through a gap in the onlookers to stand to the right side of the Reverend as she waited for her sister to take her place at Darcy’s side. From his own family, Lord and Lady Matlock were in attendance along with two of their sons, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother, Henry, who had hurried north from his ship at anchor at Plymouth at his father’s summons. Darcy did not know him well at all, and he could only attribute his presence to his uncle’s determination to show his approval of this marriage since the earl’s eldest son was unable to attend, being absent in Ireland while travelling to inspect the family properties. Bingley and his two sisters also attended, along with Bingley’s brother, Mr. Hurst. On Elizabeth’s side were her mother and her sisters, along with her Aunt and Uncle Philips, and, of course, her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Her friend, Charlotte Collins, had not come, likely because her husband had forbidden her at the command of Lady Catherine. Nor was Mr. Bennet in attendance, a fact that also was a source of irritation to him, at least for Elizabeth’s sake, though she would not speak of it, smoothly changing the subject whenever her father was mentioned by her mother or sisters.

  Darcy’s irritation was only momentary, since no negative emotion could cloud his mind once Mr. Gardiner led Elizabeth to his left side in front of Reverend Jackson. He felt his heart in his throat as Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled that lovely, impish smile that spoke of merriment and high spirits at a moment that reduced so many brides to tears. She was a vision of loveliness, to his eyes the most lovely and beautiful of women, and the pearls around her neck complemented her pale green dress exquisitely.

  He had to force his eyes away from her as the reverend began the solemn ceremony, heard numerous times before, but which was wondrously new this day, for it was for them and them alone. Elizabeth, despite her earlier smile, was overcome by the fluttery sensation she had heard described as butterflies in the stomach. She was not reluctant, she told herself, not at all, and it was far too late for reservations, but these feelings were undoubtedly common at such a pivotal point in a woman’s life, for from this moment on, she would be defined by her marriage to Fitzwilliam Darcy. She would be Mrs. Darcy, mistress of Pemberley, expected to live up to and perform as society expected from the wife of such a prominent man. How could this realization of such a profound change in her life not lead to the internal disquiet that was only increased by the words of dear Reverend Jackson?

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in Holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which Holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought . . .”

  The familiar words rang in her ears as if she had never heard them before, and Elizabeth could not stop herself from looking away from the reverend and focusing on her groom. She was surprised and pleased to see that the solemn words were evidently striking him in the same way, their familiarity in no way lessening their import. He listened in rapt fascination, his eyes fixed on the reverend. But something seemed to tell him of Elizabeth’s gaze, and his head slowly swivelled until his dark eyes met hers. Elizabeth felt a thrill run down her spine at that moment, for the intensity of his stare was almost a physical thing, drawing her in, forging an invisible bond that none could see but was as strong as the links of an iron chain for all that. Neither knew how long the moment lasted, in which everything else in the world disappeared except the two of them, but they were finally drawn back to the awareness of the ceremony when Reverend Jackson addressed Darcy.

  “Fitzwilliam Darcy, wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

  Darcy’s voice was firm and resolute. “I will.”

  And then it was her turn. “Elizabeth Bennet, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

  Elizabeth’s clear voice was equally firm, though her eyes were again dancing in merriment. “I will.”

  “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

  “I do,” said Mr. Gardiner, and, releasing her hand to the reverend, he stepped back to join the others standing around the bride and groom. Then, as they stood face to face, the reverend took Elizabeth’s hand, placed it in Darcy’s and instructed him to repeat:

  “I, Fitzwilliam, take thee Elizabeth, to my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

  Then the reverend took Darcy’s right hand, giving it to Elizabeth to hold in her smaller hand, while he commanded her to say after him:

  “I, Elizabeth, take thee Fitzwilliam, to my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

  Bingley placed the ring on the Bible held by Reverend Jackson, and the reverend gave the ring to Darcy, who lifted Elizabeth’s left hand and slid it onto her fourth finger. Elizabeth shivered at the significance of the simple action, looking down at the gold band that signified so much. Darcy continued to hold the ring on her finger as he said, his eyes locked on new bride’s and his voice husky with emotion, “With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

  Darcy released her hand, enthralled by the loveliness of her face and the expression in her eyes meant for him alone, as Reverend Jackson then said, “Let us pray. O eternal God, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life; send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

  Reverend Jackson took the right hands of Elizabeth and Darcy, and looking out at the assembly of family and friends, said, “Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”

  The reverend let go of their hands, though they remained clasped together, as he continued, “For as mu
ch as Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth have consented together in Holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

  He concluded with the blessing, “God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.”

  Then the assembly crowded closer, offering their congratulation and best wishes as Darcy raised Elizabeth’s fingers to his lips, kissing them with all the tenderness and love that he felt before turning to greet the well-wishers. Georgiana pressed close, even crowding in front of Mrs. Bennet, as she embraced Elizabeth with tears of joy, and she bestowed a kiss on both of her cheeks before giving way to the bride’s exuberant mother.

  Most surprising of all was Caroline Bingley, who offered her congratulations to both Mr. and Mrs. Darcy in a manner that, if it held any insincerity, at least expressed none that could be discerned.

  It was some while before the marriage party made their way to the vestry to sign their names in the parish registry. As Elizabeth signed ‘Elizabeth Bennet,’ for the very last time, she felt emotion rise in her throat, and she welcomed the strong arm of her husband that was instantly around her. After Darcy signed his name in the last of the formalities, the wedding party exited the church to board their carriages for the trip to the Gardiner’s and the traditional marriage breakfast, though it was approaching noon. And, as Reverend Jackson closed up the church behind them, he did so with all the warmth in his heart for two souls joined in wedlock. He had believed, when first approached by Mr. Gardiner, that the haste of the ceremony betokened some violation of propriety, but after his observations of the couple, he believed that even if propriety had been breached, he had seldom united two souls who came to their union more willingly than did these. He was a well-contented man as he returned home to his own beloved wife and family.