by Kara Louise
“Thank you, Wendell,” Darcy answered.
“Thank you, Captain,” replied Elizabeth.
The captain looked at Darcy. “If you will follow me, sir, everything is prepared for you.”
Wendell turned and Darcy took Elizabeth’s arm, smiling at her inquisitive glance. “Come, dearest Elizabeth.”
They walked slowly behind the captain, and Elizabeth quickly realized he was leading them to the room that had been theirs the month they had been on the ship. He opened the door and stepped back.
“If you have need of anything, I shall be in my quarters. Your meal will be brought to you in approximately an hour.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Darcy nodded at the gentleman and watched him turn and walk away.
Elizabeth began to take a step into the small room, but Darcy stopped her. “There is one thing I must attend to first, before we walk in,” he told her. Without pausing, he reached down and easily lifted her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Do you remember this is how I first brought you into this room?”
A wide smile passed Elizabeth’s face as she recollected his having to carry her because she had sprained her ankle. “I may have been ill at the time and suffering from a painfully sore ankle, but yes, I do remember.” She looked at his face and gently caressed it with her hand. “Even back then, I enjoyed the feel of being held in your arms.”
Darcy smiled. “Is that a fact?” He stepped into the room and continued to hold her as their eyes were locked together, one to another. “If I had known that,” he said softly, “I would have done it more often!”
They both laughed, suddenly feeling as though they stepped back in time. As they glanced around them, they both had to catch their breath. The little table was covered with a crisp linen tablecloth and scattered rose petals. A shallow crystal dish also held rose petals floating in water. Candles were lit just above the table in wall sconces, and there was a bottle of wine and two goblets set out for them.
“William! How beautiful! Was this your idea?”
“I cannot take credit for all of it. I asked Wendell to make the room look nice as I wanted to bring you back to it. I asked him to have the chef prepare something special and to make the table presentable for our wedding day meal.”
Elizabeth giggled. “I do believe if you had brought me to your room that afternoon and it was in this state, I should never have wanted to leave!”
Darcy, still holding her, walked over to the bed that Elizabeth had slept in, sitting down so she was now seated in his lap. Leaning in to her, he gently kissed her. “You have no idea how much I wanted to kiss you that morning I comforted you and held you like this when Mrs. Trimble passed on. You were so beautiful, even in your distress.”
Elizabeth sighed. She had to admit that her feelings toward Darcy had truly altered after that day. She felt that he sincerely cared for her as she grieved for Mrs. Trimble. He had held her, consoled her, and let her cry against him. Then later that day, they sat at the table and talked about themselves.
The two found themselves gently swaying along with the rhythm of the boat’s rocking. Darcy looked over at the other bed, which had been his on their voyage, and suddenly recalled waking each morning and looking directly over to the sheet that had given Elizabeth her privacy. It was hard for him to believe that this night they would sleep in the same bed and there would be no need for ever hanging another sheet. An involuntary sigh escaped him.
“What are you thinking, William?”
Elizabeth’s voice startled him from his reverie.
“Hmm.” Darcy nestled his head against Elizabeth’s neck. “Truth be told, my dearest, I was contemplating the sheet.”
Elizabeth pulled slightly out from him and asked, “The sheet?”
“Yes. You remember…”
“Of course, but that is what you were just thinking of?”
Darcy nodded his head. “More along the lines of not needing the sheet. Nor a door, nor a room, nor a house ever separating us again.”
Elizabeth smiled and looked around her at the small cabin. “Are we to stay here for the night, then?”
Darcy’s eyes widened. “Here? I should say not! I have something arranged that I trust you will find more pleasantly accommodating. A little more spacious in regards to certain amenities.” He glanced at the bed as he said this and Elizabeth, blushing, turned away.
But a sense of disappointment swept over her and she looked back at Darcy. “I think I would prefer to spend our first night here.”
Darcy looked at her incredulously. “But Elizabeth, certainly you cannot expect us…” He looked at the beds and back to her in exasperation. “I have no intention of sleeping in separate beds after all the time I have waited! These beds are barely wide enough for one person, let alone the both of us!”
“Please, my love?” Her drawn-out plea and her twinkling eyes gave him a moment’s pause to reconsider.
But then, quickly, he answered, “No, Elizabeth. I promise you that you will greatly prefer the plans I have made.”
“You were hoping to spend the night at your townhome, were you not?”
Darcy shook his head, “Our townhome and, as a matter of fact, no, I had something else in mind.”
“And what would that be?”
Darcy shook his head. “I wish it to be a surprise.”
Elizabeth suddenly pulled herself out of Darcy’s lap and stood up, folding her arms in front of her. “Is there any reason, other than your judgment that the beds are too small, that we cannot stay here for the night?”
“That is reason enough for me!”
Darcy stood up and walked over to Elizabeth. A very mischievous look crossed her face and she pulled herself up against her him. “If I recall correctly,” Elizabeth began, “when I awoke that night we had to sleep on the floor, we were not taking up much space together at all!”
Darcy smiled as he recollected waking up to Elizabeth snuggled tightly against him and forcing himself to think of her as Caroline Bingley to ensure his behaviour was kept in check. “Are you saying you wish to sleep on the floor?”
Elizabeth smiled. “If we end up there, so be it. I would merely like to spend our wedding night where we were first married.”
A wide grin spread across Darcy’s face as he battled with Elizabeth’s romantic notions and insistence. He finally relented.
Drawing close to Elizabeth again, he said, “I shall inform the captain that we will be spending the night here and have Durnham bring in our overnight bags.” He leaned down and gave her a tender kiss.
After Darcy returned and they waited for the meal to be brought in, he poured the wine and the two sat at the table, reflecting on their journey to America and their journey back to each other.
The winter sun descended quickly toward the horizon, and soon the room was illuminated solely from the candles. They ate their perfectly prepared meal in the ambiance of a candlelit room, rocking softly to the rhythm of the gentle swells of the Thames River.
Although Darcy hated to leave Elizabeth, he knew it would be only proper for him to give her some privacy to allow her to ready herself for bed. He stepped out of the cabin and walked toward the dining room where he found Durnham and Winston visiting with some of the crew. He stopped and talked with them and then walked out on the deck.
As he walked, he thought back to those times out here when he had struggled about his feelings for Elizabeth. How could he have waited so long to tell her he loved her? He felt a tremor pass through him as he considered that after they departed the ship, he might never have found her again. He closed his eyes at just the thought of that possibility.
His thoughts took him back to Elizabeth, who was now back in their cabin, readying herself for him to come to her, and it was all he could do to not return to the room directly. He walked the deck a couple of times and finally decided he had allowed her sufficient time.
He came t
o their door and lightly knocked. “Elizabeth…”
“Come in,” Elizabeth answered softly.
Just hearing those simple words from Elizabeth’s mouth made Darcy’s heart race and his mouth go dry. He slowly reached down and took the door handle in his hands, giving it a turn. As the door swung open, he looked in; his eyes needed a few moments to adjust to the soft dimness of it. Elizabeth had extinguished most of the candles save a few.
She was still sitting in front of the mirror when he first walked in and saw her. He was rendered speechless as he watched as she unhurriedly stood up and turned around. The gown she wore shimmered and clung to her curves. His eyes took in every inch of her standing before him as well as the back of her from the reflection in the mirror.
He was so captivated by the sight of her, he was torn whether to take those few steps and take her in his arms or stand and watch her from afar.
He was finally able to muster the words, “Elizabeth, you are beautiful.”
She looked down and smiled. As he still seemed incapable of movement, she began walking toward him. She came up to him and wrapped her arms about his waist, looking up at him. He needed no further prompting to take her in his arms.
As his lips came down upon hers, she suddenly felt all apprehensions about the night disappear. She felt right in his arms and he felt so right in hers. Their kiss grew in intensity and soon their passions were ignited beyond abandoning.
At length, Elizabeth noticed that her husband had never closed the door to the room. “Dearest husband, it will not do to have me standing here in this attire and in such a passionate embrace for all the ship’s crew to see. Would you mind closing the door?”
Darcy kept his arms tightly wrapped around Elizabeth as he used his foot to manoeuvre the door closed behind him. It shut with a resounding bang that announced to all that from now until dawn, they were to be left alone, no visitors would be accepted, and no interruptions would be tolerated.
***
The door to the cabin did not open again until almost 9:30 the next morning. For two people who enjoyed rising in the early hours, it was evidence that neither had slept adequately.
They took a leisurely walk arm in arm up on deck and then proceeded to the dining room. The chef in the ship’s galley had prepared a simple morning repast and they enjoyed it while sitting alone at the table Elizabeth had been sitting at when Darcy made his unusual offer of marriage. They both looked around them, knowing it might be the last time they would ever see the ship.
“Must you truly sell the ship, William?” Elizabeth asked in a melancholy manner.
“No, but I believe it to be the best thing to do.”
His hand went to the back of Elizabeth’s neck and kneaded it gently.
Elizabeth sighed contentedly and then said with a touch of resignation, “I shall truly miss it.”
Darcy only nodded and smiled.
When they finished their meal and Durnham and Winston had taken out their bags, Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm as they walked toward the door that brought them back out on deck. Before they reached it, though, they came to a hanging sign that boasted the name of the ship.
“A moment, please,” Darcy said. He called out to one of the crewmen that was working in the dining room and asked if he could assist.
Elizabeth watched curiously as the man helped Darcy remove the sign.
Darcy thanked the man and he turned to Elizabeth, holding out the sign. “A remembrance for you.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Oh! Where should we hang it?”
“I am sure we will find the most suitable place for it!”
They walked out and as Elizabeth began walking toward the carriage, Darcy nudged her away from it. “Come, let us walk a ways along the harbour.”
Always eager for a walk, Elizabeth obliged. They engaged in small talk as they passed several ships. It was but a few moments later that Darcy stopped suddenly. Elizabeth looked at him curiously.
“Shall we go back, then?”
A furtive smile crept across Darcy’s face as he answered, “No.”
At Elizabeth’s questioning glance, he pointed to the ship moored directly in front of them.
Elizabeth turned and gasped when she found herself facing a smaller replica of Pemberley’s Promise . Darcy watched her face as her eyes travelled the length of the ship and fell upon the name engraved upon the front, Pemberley’s Promise II.
She looked at her husband, at the ship, and then back to her husband. “William, what is this?”
“This, my dear, is where I had planned to spend our wedding night.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Elizabeth, your wedding gift from me. Our own ship, with our own private cabin, to be captained by Wendell wherever we wish to go.”
“Our own ship?” Elizabeth’s eyes were wide and sparkled in delight.
Darcy nodded. “Would you like to see it?”
“Oh yes!”
The two walked aboard the ship as Darcy explained to her how he had come to London after she left Netherfield to make the arrangements to purchase this ship and sell the larger one. With Wendell desiring to sail more locally, he did not want the burden of finding another captain for Pemberley’s Promise . So he decided to sell and found this smaller ship, built by the same builder, and knew he had to have it.
As they boarded the ship, Elizabeth was surprised to see Wendell already onboard.
“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. Welcome aboard your new ship, Pemberley’s Promise II.”
Epilogue
After a short voyage onboard Pemberley’s Promise II sailing up and down the coast of England, they went on to their London townhome. Elizabeth was well pleased with it in all its aspects and could not suggest one change she would wish to make in it. She quickly became acquainted with all the staff and they all gave their hearty approval of the woman their master had chosen to marry.
Charles and Jane lived several years at Netherfield until finally a suitable manor was found for them to purchase a mere half hour’s carriage ride from Pemberley. In the years to come, the three Bingley children and four Darcy children grew up to be the closest of cousins.
Georgiana grew in her confidence and beauty, and after she was brought out into society, several men drew her attention and eventually she married the son of an earl who had the sweetest disposition and a respectable fortune that greatly complimented hers.
Kitty married next, a young gentleman from Hertfordshire who owned a small estate. Mary then wed a clergyman and moved south of London.
Lydia found it difficult to settle down with any man. Her wild, impetuous ways were so ingrained within her that, after the episode with Wickham, she pretty much decided she did not want to do the conventional thing and marry. As long as there were soldiers nearby, Lydia was content. She lived with her mother and father at Longbourn for ten years until Mr. Bennet finally died. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia were then put out of Longbourn by the Collinses.
With the unbearable prospect of Mrs. Bennet and Lydia coming to live with either the Bingleys or the Darcys, a joint decision was made to purchase a respectable home for them in the village of Meryton. There, living close to the Phillipses and having the best source of noteworthy gossip right at hand, Mrs. Bennet was quite content. Lydia often left for unexplained periods of time and when she returned, Mrs. Bennet never questioned her whereabouts. But she was always glad to have her back and the two were always in agreement how handsome a man in a red coat was.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh finally did come to accept Elizabeth and apologized to her about a year after the marriage. But it was mainly the machinations of her daughter, Anne, that prompted this when Lady Catherine was quite ill and presumed close to death. Anne could not allow her mother to pass on without making amends, so she pleaded with her cousin to come with his wife to Rosings.
Darcy and Elizabeth agreed to make the visit and when they arrived, they could not believe how gravely ill their aunt was. Despite her condition, she continued to make d
emands and let her strong opinions be known. She did, however, struggle through an apology, which Darcy later reflected must have been the most difficult thing she had ever been required to do.
It was a great surprise, then, that Lady Catherine seemed to recover from her close call with death. Apparently, she had not been as ill as everyone surmised and she lived another five years. Whilst her behaviour did not improve completely, she was very attentive to the things of which she spoke in the presence of her nephew, not wishing to give him any cause to contact their attorney.
Darcy and Elizabeth sailed frequently on Pemberley’s Promise II , making stops in ports around England, Scotland, and Ireland, and then sailing across the Channel to visit different ports in Europe. Sometimes they travelled alone and at other times they brought Charles and Jane, Georgiana and her husband, or some other family members or friends.
Neither forgot the greater ship, Pemberley’s Promise , and on a rare occasion, when they were at the harbour or out at sea, they would see her moored at the dock or elegantly sailing by. She was a beautiful ship and never ceased to cause both Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s hearts to flutter just at the sight of her.
The sign they removed from the grand ship’s dining room was hung on the wall above their bed in Pemberley’s Promise II. It was a constant reminder to them of the vows and promises they made to each other that day while crossing the Atlantic on Pemberley’s Promise.
The End.
Acknowledgments
I must thank a few people who helped me through this journey. First of all, thanks to my Australian friend, Sharni, who I trusted implicitly for advice on each chapter of this book when it was first written. Thanks also to Roya and Mary Anne, who were a great help to me in editing and cleaning up my sentences. Thanks to Philippa from Derbyshire, England, who gave me a beautiful description of that county and what a small village like Lambton may have looked like in the nineteenth century. Thanks to Deb Werksman and Sourcebooks, who took a chance with me and gave me the opportunity to publish this book. Finally, thanks to all who read this story when it was first written and self-published, and encouraged me along the way.