by Zoë Burton
~~~***~~~
Two weeks later, following a whirlwind week of traveling coast to coast for appearances on talk shows and at the White House, Will and his team, as well as the other eleven drivers who had been in competition for the championship, arrived in Las Vegas for the sport’s annual celebration. There was a week of fan interactions, mock game shows, and a burnout contest in the streets. Liz and Jane, there to support their drivers, were sure they had never had so much fun. At the end of the week would be an awards banquet, which was a serious event and required evening wear, but the rest of the week, the Bennet sisters and their men were cramming every activity in that they could.
For Liz and Will, that meant a wedding. They had decided, when they spent Thanksgiving weekend in North Carolina at Coach’s house, that they didn’t want to wait six months or a year to marry. It was impractical for Will to do so. The off-season for the sport was very short—just three months—and during the season, the longest in professional sports, Will was required to travel all over the country for appearances and races. Neither he nor Liz wanted to feel rushed by having a big wedding, and so they decided, the day before they were to leave, to marry while they were in Las Vegas.
To that end, they bought Liz a wedding gown off the rack to take West with them. Will’s banquet tuxedo would serve double duty as his wedding attire. They decided to share their news with Jane and Charles the next evening, when the four of them met at the apartment after flying in separately.
Later, after Will and Liz shared their news, the two couples were relaxing, watching movies and eating pizza. Jane and Liz were in the kitchen, pouring sodas and plating pizza slices while the guys rearranged the furniture for better viewing, when Jane asked Liz her reasons for marrying so far from their family. Liz gave her an honest answer. “If I married at home, Mom would be all over it. The ceremony would reflect her tastes, not mine, and my opinion would not matter. And you know how she would act with all those wealthy drivers and team owners that would attend. I have no desire to feed her dysfunctions, and I want my wedding done my way.”
“But…Las Vegas? Are you going to have Elvis marry you? Good heavens, Liz!”
“No, Elvis is not going to marry us! Geez, Louise, Sis! Las Vegas does have actual ministers, you know. Despite its nickname, God can be found there.” Liz rolled her eyes. “We are going to the Grand Canyon to get married, and a real minister will perform the ceremony. I will have a dress, and Will is going to wear a tux. Hopefully, you’ll be my bridesmaid? Will is asking Charles to stand up with him, which is perfect given how close you two have become.”
“Okay, okay, you’re going to have a real wedding. I’m sorry I doubted you. I didn’t think you’d do something so crazy, but when you told me where you’re marrying, I was shocked. Of course, I’ll be your bridesmaid. Didn’t we always say we’d do that for each other? Besides, I have always wanted to see the Grand Canyon; remember when we were kids and the Longs went there on vacation? And how I begged Daddy to take us for years?”
“We did say we’d stand up with each other; and yes, I do remember Melly’s description of the Canyon. Why do you think I chose that for the wedding site?” Liz laughed and then put her arms around Jane and pulled her in for a hug. “Thanks, Sis. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Lizzy. I’m proud of you, you know.” Jane looked into the living room where Will could be seen, a spot for him and his fiancée claimed on the couch. As Jane had suspected, his eyes were on Liz. He stared at her all the time, like he could not look at her enough. She sighed, and turned back to her sister. “You have finally managed to put Mr. Jerkface out of your mind and move on. Anyone with half an eye can see that Will adores you. You deserve every minute of it.”
“Thanks, Jane.” Pulling away, Liz looked out at Will and smiled. “I love him, too. He’s everything I ever wanted and more.”
~~~***~~~
The two couples flew out to Vegas the next morning, two days before the formal start of the SCRA festivities. They spent that day orienting themselves to the town and the locations of the events, both personal and public, that they were attending, and seeing to final wedding preparations.
Coach, not completely understanding Liz’s refusal to invite her parents to the ceremony, insisted on at least flying her younger sister, Mary, out to Las Vegas. He also worked with the wedding chapel’s planner to pay for the extra helicopters needed to bring all the guests to the Grand Canyon site. The planner didn’t blink an eye at the idea; she had frequently worked with celebrities before and understood that money was no object.
The following morning, bright and early, Liz, her sisters, Will, and his friend met Coach, Georgie, and Mrs. Reynolds, the Darcy’s long-time housekeeper, in the lobby of the hotel in which they were staying. Though they quickly exited the building and ducked into a limo, dressed as they were in their finery, they attracted the interest of many of the tourists in the area, as well as a couple drivers and their families who were out and about. Even in Las Vegas, an entire group of people in formal dresses, including a wedding dress, in public in the early morning hours was a curiosity.
The group got into a limo in front of the hotel which drove them to the airport. There they boarded the helicopters, which took them to the Grand Canyon. Liz, Will, Jane, Charles, Coach, and the minister were in one copter and took off first, so they had a few minutes to prepare for the ceremony before the rest of the party joined them. Georgie, Mrs. Reynolds, Mary Bennet, Liz’s friend, Charlotte Lucas, and the Fitzwilliams—Audra, Henry, and their son Richard—filled the second helicopter after the first had taken off, soon joining the happy couple at their remote location.
The wedding itself proceeded in the manner that all weddings do. The most memorable part for Will was watching Liz walk toward him in her beautiful gown with the splendor of the Grand Canyon all around them. The love shining on her face, and that in her eyes, made everything else seem brighter.
As for Liz, she would never forget Will’s whispered words of love and admiration as she joined him at the end of her processional to the makeshift altar. All of her reservations had long been put to rest, and now, experiencing the feelings she had for him, she had to wonder how she ever thought she was in love before.
When the vows had been spoken, and the minister pronounced them man and wife, Will did not wait for permission to kiss his bride. Wrapping his arms around her, he bent her over his arm and applied his lips to hers. When Liz sighed and allowed her arms to creep up around his neck, he ran his tongue over her lips, seeking entrance and rejoicing inside when she opened for him. As the smooch grew longer, the small audience began to twitter, but Will and Liz never noticed. It was Will’s cousin who broke the spell and brought them back to reality when he began catcalling them, causing the rest of the party to laugh uncontrollably.
After the ceremony, everyone flew back to the airport. To celebrate, Will and Liz had invited the entire party to eat with them at a restaurant on The Strip. Though Will had reserved a private dining room, they were unable to avoid being seen entering, and word spread like wildfire. Most people, media included, left them alone while they ate, but a few felt comfortable enough with Will and his father to just drop on in and find out what was going on. Of course, everyone knew that Will and Liz were engaged, they simply had not expected a wedding so soon, and none of the racing community were invited except Will’s family. All the visitors seemed pleased, heartily congratulating the newly wedded couple.
All that week, at all the events and in all the interviews, Liz was at Will’s side. The media and fans went crazy over the couple’s “elopement,” leading to dozens of requests for interviews and autographs. Social media was buzzing with updates and announcements of Liz and Will sightings. Since they were never apart, someone tagged them with the nickname, “Wiz,” and it stuck, much to their chagrin. In the end, they decided to announce their own comings and goings, with Liz taking over the running of Will’s social media accounts and posting on both hers and
his.
~~~***~~~
The following Monday found the entire SCRA community relaxing, either at home or at a vacation getaway. Will returned to Ohio with his new wife, to help her break the news to her parents and pack her things. She would be moving to North Carolina with Will. They had already begun to search for a new house, with several promising prospects lined up to be viewed.
To have a man sleeping with Liz in the apartment was strange at first for both her and Jane. They had not made a habit of having men overnight for any reason. However, there were definite advantages, especially when light bulbs needed changing or boxes needed to be brought down from high shelves.
“One of us should have married sooner, I think.”
“Oh, Lizzy,” Jane laughed.
“What are you going to do here alone? I know you don’t have to worry about the rent for the rest of the lease, but what about utilities? And companionship? I don’t want you to be alone.” Liz was concerned about her sister. Jane could not afford to keep the place alone, and she was more of an extrovert than Liz was, preferring to have someone at home to talk to.
“Actually, Lizzy, I have a bit of a confession to make.” She looked down, peeking up at her younger sister. “I won’t have to be here alone for long. Charles has proposed.”
Liz clapped her hands before clasping them and holding them to her chest. “Really? And? What did you say?”
“Yes, of course!” The two girls fell into a fit of giggles.
“That’s great! I’m so happy for you! Tell me all about it!” Liz led Jane to the couch, insisting that she relate every detail.
~~~***~~~
When the season began again, Liz Darcy sat atop her husband’s pit box, sending out social media updates as the first and biggest race of the year went green. She and Will had spent a glorious month traveling the world, before returning to North Carolina to choose and purchase a house. She had never been so joyful, and she knew her husband was equally so, because he told her every day that he was, in a hundred different ways.
THE END
Before you go…
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An Excerpt from Matches Made at Netherfield
Charles Bingley quickly shut the door to the closet behind Miss Elizabeth and, with a quick move of his hand, inserted the key in the lock and turned it, before pocketing it once again. Ignoring the rattles of the knob, the banging on the door, and the calls to him from the pair locked inside, he walked away. Before turning the corner that led to the ballroom, he paused, looking back to the small chamber that had been set aside for the use of his family. I did it for your own good, old boy. You would be miserable married to my sister, and Miss Elizabeth is your match in every way that counts. All will be well. With those thoughts running through his mind, he pasted a bright smile on his face and strode back to the ball.
~~~***~~~
Meryton Assembly Hall, six weeks prior
When Fitzwilliam Darcy, along with his friend, Charles Bingley, and Bingley’s family, arrived at the local assembly, dancing was in full swing. Bingley had recently leased an estate in the area and, gregarious gentleman that he was, had almost immediately received an invitation to the town’s monthly assembly ball. No amount of complaining by his sisters or persuasion from his friend would convince him to stay at home that evening. And so, there they all stood, waiting for the town’s overly eager elder statesman to introduce them to all and sundry.
“Mr. Bingley! I am so glad you could come.”
“Thank you, Sir William. I am happy to be here. Allow me to introduce you to my sisters and friends.” Gesturing behind him, he indicated the shorter of the ladies. “This is the eldest of my sisters, Mrs. Reginald Hurst. Beside her is the youngest, Miss Caroline Bingley. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Darcy you met the other day.”
“Indeed.” Sir William, face wreathed in smiles, bowed to the ladies. “It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley. Mr. Darcy, Mr. Hurst, thank you for joining us.”
The ladies curtseyed, returning his salutations, while the gentlemen simply bowed. Introductions complete, Bingley requested to be made known to his new neighbors. Sir William enthusiastically complied.
Darcy followed in the wake of his friends as family by family, they were presented to the residents of the town. Limiting himself to nods of acknowledgment gave him the freedom to allow his mind to wander.
While his thoughts varied, they centered largely on his younger sister, Georgiana. She had remained at home with her new companion rather than visit the Bingleys with him. Darcy was Georgiana’s guardian, along with his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. In the early summer, they had sent her to the sea on holiday in the company of her previous companion, a woman whose references turned out to be falsified and who allowed Georgiana to keep company with an unscrupulous man from Darcy’s past. This man—Darcy could not in good conscience call him a gentleman—had a history with the Darcy family, and not a good one; he convinced young Georgiana that she was in love with him and persuaded her to agree to an elopement. Fortuitously, Darcy had unexpectedly visited. His sister, eager to share her happiness with her only close family, confessed it all. The rake who had engaged her affections was warned off and the companion dismissed. Georgiana had been, and still remained, heartbroken. Her despair weighed heavily on Darcy’s mind, reflecting itself in his demeanor.
Having no desire to dance beyond his obligations to the ladies of his own party, Darcy kept to the edges of the room. He did not ask any of the other ladies in attendance to stand up with him and refused all offers of introduction. He saw no one of beauty or fashion enough to entice him to step beyond his dislike of dancing with strangers. Nor did he engage in conversation with anyone beyond the Bingleys and the Hursts. All this did nothing to recommend him to the neighborhood. It was not long before the entire assemblage decided he was too proud, above his company, and just generally disagreeable.
Bingley, of course, was happily dancing with as many of the young ladies as he could manage. He had been forcibly struck by the beauty of the eldest Miss Bennet, and had, upon being made known to her, asked her to stand up with him. It was during their set that the gentleman noticed his friend standing at the side of the room. Well, he thought, we cannot be having that! Seeing that there would be a wait of a few minutes for their turn to go down the dance, he gestured to his partner and stepped away to speak to his friend.
“Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I see no sense in you standing about in this stupid manner.”
“I shall not. You know I detest dancing when I do not know my partner. I have danced with your sisters already; there is no one else in the room with whom it would not be a punishment to stand up.”
“I would not be as exacting as you are for the world! There are many pretty girls here, some of them uncommonly so.”
Inclining his head toward the eldest Miss Bennet, Darcy replied, “You are dancing with the only handsome lady in the entire room.”
Bingley gave him a look of exasperation. “She is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld, an angel, even; but one of her sisters sits there, behind you, and she is also very pretty. Allow me to ask my partner to introduce you.”
“Which one?” Darcy looked over his shoulder to see the girl in question. He examined her from head to toe until, catching her eye, he turned away again. “She is handsome enough, but I do not care to dance. You should go back to Miss Bennet and quit wasting your time with me.”
Bingley did not reply, instead shaking his head and going back to his dance. In all the years they had been friends, he had never understood Darcy’s reluctance to engage in social activities. With the beautiful Miss Jane Bennet across from him in the set, however, his mind soon turned to much pleasanter topics.
The young lady Darcy had rejected, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, had been close enough to hear every word of their conversation. Ho
w rude, she thought. Everyone knew that it was a gentleman’s duty, when in attendance at a ball, to ask ladies to dance who were not engaged for a set when the gentleman was free. Certainly, Mr. Darcy could see that there were far more ladies present this evening than gentlemen. In truth, the only thing that could have injured him more in Elizabeth’s eyes would have been to denigrate her appearance, for she loved to dance almost as much as she loved to laugh.
It was that very good humor, ever present in her character, which allowed her to push Mr. Darcy to the back of her mind and make light of the incident. She was simply not formed for unhappiness, and so found amusement in first, relating the gentleman’s words with great humor to her friend, Charlotte Lucas, and then, partnering with her sisters for the remaining sets of the evening.
The following morning, as she and her eldest sister, Jane, were having a private discussion of the event, Elizabeth shared the story again.
“I cannot believe he would say such a thing! Are you certain you heard him correctly?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Yes, dear Jane, I did. I was sitting no further away from the pair of them than from here…” she paused and looked around the room, then pointed a finger. “…to that chair by the dressing table. I clearly heard every word.”
“Oh, well…” Jane, who never thought ill of anyone, searched her mind for an acceptable reason that a gentleman such as Mr. Darcy would refuse to dance. “Perhaps he did not feel well, or was weighed down by his concerns.”
“Of course, Jane,” Elizabeth sighed. “I grant you that he may have had a valid reason for his actions that we cannot be aware of. However, in light of his overall behavior, I doubt it. Let us change the subject now…tell me about Mr. Bingley.”
Jane blushed. “He is everything a young man ought to be: charming, good-humored…”