Matters at Netherfield seemed calmer when we departed, and Miss Bingley passed a quiet night. Do not disturb yourself overmuch regarding the events there. You and I must step out of the way and allow the Bingley family to heal itself with my dear Jane’s gentle assistance. She has been very wise throughout these events, which is all one would expect of her, and yet I love my sister more as each day marches us closer to the altar. That day, I shall happily transfer myself into your tender care and wisdom.
I miss you dreadfully, my love, more than I dare say here. I pray your next letter will tell me that you will re-join us much sooner than expected.
With all grateful affection,
Your E. B.
Elizabeth decided she was not up to addressing his suggestion of wearing the hairpins for the wedding. She was hopeful that, with Jane and their aunt’s help, they would prevail in furthering Darcy’s proposition. She was quite sure it had never occurred to him that his desire for her to wear the hairpins would not find universal welcome.
***
On the morning of November 18, Darcy received a note from the solicitors with news that the marriage settlement was already drafted, and he was welcome to review it at any time before the final copies were prepared. This visit was executed before eleven o’clock. Darcy was assured by the youngest Steveton that he could be on his way back to Hertfordshire on Monday.
“Monday! I would ask that clerks be paid extra to prepare the documents sooner.”
“Very good, Mr. Darcy. We shall send the copies to you by special courier as soon as they are ready.”
“Thank you, Steveton. I would be delighted to return to Miss Bennet on Saturday. I promised I would.”
Mercifully, the remainder of the week passed without further incident and at Longbourn without the arrival of more gifts from Darcy. Letters continued to pass from Darcy throughout Meryton, and the Royal Post noted a boost in Hertfordshire to London revenues throughout the remainder of November.
***
Due to the incident at Netherfield, Colonel Fitzwilliam privately suggested to Elizabeth that Georgiana would enjoy a change of scene and asked whether it would be an imposition to have her stay at Longbourn for a night or two. The attitude of Caroline Bingley had become what could only be called servile towards Darcy’s sister, and Georgiana longed for escape. Elizabeth remembered the spare bed in Kitty’s room, as well as Georgiana’s avowed desire for a sister. Given the current atmosphere at Longbourn, Elizabeth judged that, if the application to Mrs. Bennet came from Jane rather than herself, the scheme could be accomplished.
And so it was that Georgiana spent three nights at Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet extended every hospitality to the girl, thinking meanly that she scored some vague social victory over Bingley’s sisters with Miss Darcy’s visit. Georgiana’s beautiful performances on the pianoforte filled the house, and by the end of the stay, she was calling Catherine “Kitty,” and Kitty was calling her “Georgie.” The roommates sat upon their small beds until late into the night. They spoke quite candidly of George Wickham, and Kitty was astonished to learn that the proper Georgiana Darcy had nearly eloped with him. Georgiana revealed, on pain of Kitty’s secrecy, what she knew of her brother’s involvement in Lydia’s marriage arrangements. The report made Kitty reflective—quite a new sensation for her—and she came to realise that her favourite sister had behaved dangerously and married badly.
During the day, when she was not practicing at the Bennet instrument with Mary, Georgiana joined Elizabeth for turns in the garden if the weather was fair. It was calming to Elizabeth to have a Darcy with whom to pass the time, and Georgiana was happy to speak of her brother to his betrothed. Thus did Elizabeth learn many of his preferences—for food and drink, colours he preferred in his dress, books he enjoyed enough to return to, and his love of riding and swordplay for exercise— without having to ask the man himself. With Georgiana in the house, Elizabeth’s longing for Darcy was not quite so keen, for she could speak of him openly and often.
Chapter 13
The Final Days
“There’s little of the melancholy element in her, my lord: she is never sad but when she sleeps and not ever sad then, for I have heard my daughter say, she hath often dreamt of unhappiness and waked herself with laughter.”
William Shakespeare
Much Ado about Nothing
The marriage contract arrived at Darcy House late on Saturday afternoon. Murray and the household servants spared no effort to prepare for Darcy’s speedy departure by carriage. However, the arrival of the documents coincided with the first winter storm of the season, and flurries of snow persuaded Darcy to spend another night in London. Beside himself to be thwarted by the weather, he was reminded of words he overheard from Bingley to Elizabeth describing what a fearsome object he was when finding himself with nothing to do, and he owned the truth of it through the long evening.
He sat in his bedroom with Elizabeth’s letters, drinking brandy and jumping up frequently to curse the snowfall. By midnight it had ceased. I could have gone easily. Damn! He consulted Murray one last time, vowing, no matter the morning’s weather, he would ride to Longbourn at sun-up. The carriage could follow. With any luck, he would arrive before matins.
By morning, the snow was melted, but the horse he selected was not the swiftest choice for dirty weather, and when he reached the wayside where a fresh horse from Netherfield awaited him, Darcy realised with annoyance he would be later than he wished. He had written an express to Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet the previous day saying they should expect him to call at Longbourn in the afternoon. Although he would have no time to tidy himself, he determined to slip into the back of the Longbourn chapel even though services were started. He had to see her—his Elizabeth—even if it was only to stare at her back whilst she was at prayer.
Indeed, by the time Darcy entered the little church, the final hymn was just beginning. He stepped inside and scanned the Bennet family pew. Mr. Bennet stood at the aisle, Elizabeth—in a pale green woollen gown and spencer that seemed somewhat familiar— was next to her father and, oddly, Georgiana. He heard the lovely voices of Georgiana and Elizabeth lifted in song above the congregation. The vicar, who would perform the double ceremony in less than a week, met Darcy’s eye and nodded as he sang. When the service ended, the vicar shook Darcy’s hand as he passed to exit the church.
The Bennets turned to leave, and Darcy was clearly visible, watching them. Elizabeth’s heart fluttered, and her inclinations reminded her of the worst excesses of Lydia and Kitty as they squealed and chased officers; it was all she could do to refrain from gleefully giggling and leaping into his arms. She limited herself to a wide smile as Darcy met her gaze with an intense half smile, expressive of emotions one does not usually associate with churches.
Mr. Bennet looked from his daughter to Darcy and was entertained by insinuating himself in front of Elizabeth’s precipitous approach to her betrothed, thus slowing her and reaching Darcy first with an extended hand.
“Aha! You have returned to us, Mr. Darcy. You have had ample time to escape the snares of the Bennet family, so I take it by your appearance that you really do love my girl.” Mr. Bennet turned to see Elizabeth’s reaction. She rolled her eyes and blushed; her father was delighted.
Darcy watched Elizabeth but answered her father. “Mr. Bennet, I have no intention of escaping your daughter. As I am thoroughly and happily ensnared, I believe the opposite might be closer to the truth. You have no idea the effort I have expended to convince her I am worthy. She may wish to escape me.” Darcy paused from smiling at Elizabeth and looked to Mr. Bennet. “Sir, since the weather has improved, may I have your permission to escort Miss Elizabeth to Longbourn?”
“Certainly, sir! Nothing of an improper nature can possibly transpire in the three minutes it takes for the arduous journey from this church to Longbourn house. I shall send our groom back for your horse.” He leaned to Darcy and whispered, “Have Lizzy show you the long way around. It takes five
minutes.”
Elizabeth stepped aside as Georgiana approached and gave Darcy a brief embrace. “I have had a lovely visit at Longbourn, Brother. Kitty will join me at Netherfield now you are returned. I have learned something of what it is to behave like a sister with sisters! See? I have given Lizzy…Elizabeth a gown she admired!”
Darcy happily nodded at Elizabeth over his sister’s head. Ah, this explains why the gown is familiar. Georgiana bought it for herself last Christmas. How well the colour suits Elizabeth.
He extended an arm to his bride-to-be, and they exited. After taking leave of the vicar, Elizabeth turned their steps away from the path taken by the rest of her family. The couple circled the perimeter of the village until they reached the path approaching Longbourn from its western fields.
When they passed behind a hedge, Darcy turned to Elizabeth, and she was on her toes kissing him before he could draw her into an embrace. He gave himself entirely to the feeling of her body pressing against his and was surprised when she struggled away.
“Oh, Mr. Darcy! Fitzwilliam…I should not run at you. What a week it has been. You must never leave again without taking me with you.”
She was so seriously scolding him that he had to laugh. “The next time I leave Hertfordshire, you will be my wife—you may depend upon it— but if you need to kiss me to reassure yourself of this truth, then please do.”
They continued walking and were soon at the south side of Longbourn in the boundary lane behind a hedgerow where they had often met.
Only one room of the house could spy them from this angle, and behind the curtains of his bedroom, Mr. Bennet watched. He was dumbfounded to see Darcy formally draw himself up before Elizabeth and open a small box.
“Dearest Elizabeth, I know you will think it an unnecessary foolishness,” Darcy said earnestly. “But I should have done this weeks ago. This ring should have come to you when I last proposed. I am embarrassed it has taken me three attempts to get a proposal properly stated, but I hope your answer will be the same as for the second attempt. I love you so very dearly, and I am quite certain you are the only woman in the world I could ever be prevailed on to marry.” He smiled plaintively at her.
At first, Elizabeth was shocked at Darcy’s posture and expression, but as he spoke, tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, and a crooked smile formed on her face. He opened the box, revealing the simple emerald ring. She experienced a momentary fear that the box would contain an ostentatious jewel she would be hard put to live up to, but when she saw the modest, brilliantly green stone, her hands went to it immediately.
“Fitzwilliam! My only complaint of your second proposal is for myself, as I did not respond in anything like an articulate or eloquent manner.” Recognising his playful reference to her refusal at Hunsford, she added, “Let me make myself abundantly clear, sir: I love you, and I am honoured to become your wife. My father has always said I must only marry a man I could love and respect, and I never disobey my father.”
Darcy laughed at her. He would not have called Elizabeth an altogether-obedient daughter. He pulled the ring from its box for Elizabeth to see the exquisite workmanship of the band of gold wrought leaves.
“Oh, Fitzwilliam. Was this your mother’s betrothal ring? It is so beautiful, so delicate. It is so— ”
“So like you.”
“It is so perfect, is what I was going to say.”
“It was a ring of my mother’s but not her betrothal ring. I selected this from her jewellery years ago when Georgiana and I sorted the pieces I might keep for a future wife. I did not know I would be adorning a wood nymph that I captured in the fields of Hertfordshire, but I thought it the prettiest piece in my mother’s entire collection.”
Elizabeth held out her right hand, but the ring was slightly too big for her ring finger, and she hastily moved it to her middle finger, which was an exact fit. “Does it matter to you that I shall wear it on a wrong finger? I love it.”
“You may wear it on whatever finger you like, just so you wear it!”
Their eyes met, Elizabeth lifted her face, closed her eyes and parted her lips. Darcy’s hands encircled her waist and he kissed her tenderly. Her arms came to rest upon his shoulders.
Mr. Bennet was still watching. He did not know what he would do if the contact of the lovers became more improper. He feared, given their separation and the looks on their faces in the church, that it would.
When the kiss ended, Elizabeth opened her eyes and held Darcy’s gaze as she took his hands from her waist and placed them at her bosom, stacking them over her heart and holding them there, against her left breast.
“You make my heart race, Fitzwilliam Darcy,” she whispered. Her eyes burned into his. If he asks to meet me privately, I shall say yes. He must know I would say yes.
Darcy’s first thought was of how full and warm the flesh was over her heart, thumping like thunder under his hand. He allowed himself one brief moment of sensation before he carefully, and determinedly, pulled his hands from under hers, but continued holding one as he stepped a pace away.
Mr. Bennet breathed a sigh of relief after his initial shocked distress that it was his Lizzy who had instigated such an intimate moment. He found himself wishing more than ever that he had sired boys.
“Elizabeth…” Darcy continued to meet her gaze. “We must not tempt ourselves. I am well aware of the feelings I stirred before I left, and I should not have been so reckless. In our future life, we must have nothing with which to reproach ourselves.”
Elizabeth’s words stumbled upon each other. “But you must know…I…there is already such feeling…and you have waited so long.” Her eyes were earnest, and Darcy felt himself falling into their darkness and sinking forever. “Fitzwilliam, I will deny you nothing,” she murmured.
Darcy leaned his forehead to hers, mainly to prevent his own swooning. “Darling Elizabeth. Dearest.” After inhaling a deep breath, he tucked her bejewelled hand into the crook of his elbow and they proceeded into the open garden, walking slowly to the house.
This was all to Mr. Bennet’s great relief. He turned from his window.
Elizabeth looked down, trying to recover herself. What have I done? Why did I not wait for him to try me? Have I always been so impulsive? “I am sorry to have suggested any misbehaviour. It is from missing you. I have not been myself with you away.”
Darcy stopped, but she would not look at him. “Elizabeth, I love you all the more for what you have said. But I know myself. Any liberty will lead to too much. I must be honest and not pretend otherwise. You are all that is generous and tempting, believe me. I desire…so much. But I shall not importune your innocence. My wish is that when we…eh…well, I shall just say it…when we consummate our marriage, we shall have all the time in the world. There will be no regrets.”
She nodded. Her eyes fell upon her ring, and she marvelled at it until they reached the house. It made her feel safe—and made the coming wedding more immediate— to be wearing it. She paused when Darcy opened the glass door for her and handed her into the morning room. “Thank you for this, Fitzwilliam. It is beautiful, and I thank you for saving it for me. Me. Of all people.”
They found their way to the drawing room with Darcy vowing silently that he would avoid being alone with her for any extended period before the wedding. He was too easily aroused, and Elizabeth was no longer inclined to stop him.
***
Mrs. Bennet was the first to notice Elizabeth’s ring when the family, including the Darcys and Mr. Bingley, sat down to Sunday dinner. Usually more impressed with size than quality, even she had to admit it was exquisite. “I believe it suits you quite well, Lizzy!” she exclaimed. “And no doubt there will be larger, later, when you are Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth looked at her plate in absolute mortification and hid her hand in her lap.
Mrs. Bennet prattled on, “I daresay, after Lizzy has produced a boy or two, Mr. Darcy, she will barely be able to move for the jewels you will heap upon
her. You ought not judge my girls on what I have done, Mr. Darcy, nor you, Mr. Bingley…”
Seeing that his wife was causing those at the table who were engaged to be married to burst into fierce blushing, Mr. Bennet cleared his throat rather loudly before warning, “Mrs. Bennet…”
Darcy was on Elizabeth’s left and also looked down. He reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. To have been raised by such a mother—my poor dear girl—with never a compliment that does not veil a slight. Perhaps we should have eloped…
Elizabeth pressed his hand in return and moved it to his thigh before he released his grasp.
During the fish course, Mr. Bennet leaned forward and asked Darcy in a low voice whether he and Elizabeth wanted to meet about the marriage settlement with Mrs. Bennet after the meal was completed. Darcy was about to reply in the affirmative when a glance at Elizabeth’s countenance changed his mind.
“Perhaps we should leave the Sabbath unsullied by what is essentially a business matter? Shall I come tomorrow after breakfast instead?”
Mr. Bennet’s eyes twinkled. “That will suit me just as well. As you say, let this last Sunday as a family proceed in relative peace and quiet.” Elizabeth looked from her betrothed to her father and back with a silent expression of thanks.
“Mrs. Bennet, may I assume you will spend tomorrow shopping?” Mr. Bennet asked his wife.
As had become her wont, she stopped chattering as soon as her husband began to speak. “Oh, no, sir! I do believe, according to my lists, everything we need has been ordered. Jane and I are to visit Netherfield in the afternoon to discuss the breakfast one last time, and Lizzy, too, if she wishes, but otherwise, I shall be at home.”
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