by Katie Bright
“I know, I would have shown you the Willow Walk with its cathedral of ice. And if you will stay here until spring, I will show you the bluebell wood,” he smiled.
Elizabeth held her breath.
“My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. Once I told you how much I admired you and loved you. Then I opened my mouth again and put both of my feet in it at once. I won’t make the same mistake again. However, I will say that my feelings for you haven’t changed. I ardently love you and admire you with a passion that knows no bounds. I am incomplete, your being here has made me realise that. I cannot overcome a love for you that runs so deep. But if your feelings are the same as they were all those years ago, then I will say no more, and I will not bother you again.”
Elizabeth took a breath and listened to the tinkling branches about them.
“My feelings have changed. To be perfectly honest they changed a long time ago. I have been in love with you for such a long time, I can barely remember a time when I was not. But it seemed to me that fate kept us apart, I saw the missed opportunities, but I did nothing about them. Probably because I was unsure of your feelings towards me. I was so rude to you that day I never thought that you might still…love me.”
Darcy stepped towards her and took her in his arms.
“I have loved you since the first moment I saw you. One glimpse of your eyes awakened a fire in me that has yet to be put out. Even your rejection only made me love you more. For you would not settle for the bumbling words of a fool who told you he loved you above his own common sense. What has sense to do with love? It lives in the realm of poets and lovers. I was like a dictionary, I knew all the words to speak but without passion behind them, they are just words. I love you Elizabeth Bennet. Will you marry me? Even with all the troubles that life might have in store?”
“I will William Darcy, for better or for worse,” she replied.
“For richer or poorer.”
“Till death us do part.”
And as they kissed the wind swirled around them and the cathedral of ice sounded its bells.
∞ ∞ ∞
Chapter Fifteen
Announcements
Mrs Reynolds could sense that something was between them. Elizabeth could see it in her eyes. As she ate her porridge, she watched her exchange looks with Mr Reynolds who seemed oblivious to the whole thing.
“So, did you have a nice walk then?” she asked as she sat at the kitchen table drinking her cup of tea.
“Yes, thank you,” Elizabeth replied.
“And the ice had formed on the branches?”
“Oh, yes, it was beautiful.”
“Was the snow still deep in places? You took your time getting back.” Mrs Reynolds continued with her enquiry.
“I took Elizabeth up to see the church on the way back,” Darcy added. “She was curious to see it…seeing as she will be married in it when we can set the date.”
Mrs Reynolds almost dropped her cup of tea.
“Oh, that is wonderful,”
“Congratulations,” Mr Reynolds added. “You’re getting a wonderful girl there Master William and she’s getting a fine young man too. So, did he woo you in the Willow Walk?” he asked. “The rascal, I taught him everything he knows,” Mr Reynolds teased.
“Get off with you Bernard,” Mrs Reynolds smiled. “Oh, I am pleased. I was worried he’d end up an old maid or the like.”
“Well there is no chance of that,” Elizabeth replied.
“So, when are you getting married?”
“We don’t know yet,” Darcy replied. “You two are the first to know.”
Mrs Reynolds clutched her hand to her heart.
“Well, I am honoured.”
“Aye, as am I,” Mr Reynolds added. “A toast,” he said lifting his cup of tea. “To the bride and groom to be.”
“The bride and groom to be.”
Elizabeth smiled at Darcy.
“Well I have some calls to make,” she said. “My mother will never forgive me if I don’t phone her straight away.”
“Of course, and I have my own to do as well,” Darcy replied. “You use the telephone in my room.”
“You can use ours over in the house,” Mr Reynolds said. “I’ll come with you lad. I’ve got a nice bottle of whisky just waiting to christen the engagement.”
“Isn’t it a little early in the day for that?” Darcy asked.
“It’s not every day you capture such a beautiful young lady’s heart now is it?”
“No Mr Reynolds, it’s not.”
Mrs Bennet had hardly let Elizabeth get a word in edgeways. So far, she had been on the phone for nearly a quarter of an hour and had said little more than hello. She had learnt in great detail about Mrs Hill and her flu jab, as well as her Aunt Philips’ bargains in the mid-season sale. Lydia had phoned to ask when exactly Elizabeth could be expected, and Wickham wanted to know for how long? Her mother was just starting on her father’s lack of donations for the jumble sale when Elizabeth just decided to blurt it out.
“I’m getting married.”
“And like I said he’s had that jumper since I’ve known him and…what was that you said?” her mother asked.
“Mamma, I’m engaged, I’m getting married. Although we haven’t set a date yet.”
“Who to? This is a bit sudden, how long have you known this man? What’s his name? Where does he live?”
“It’s Fitzwilliam Darcy,” Elizabeth replied.
“Mr Darcy, that snob.”
“Mamma,”
“I’m sorry Lizzy, but I speak as I find,” her mother replied. “When did you see him?”
“I’ve been staying at Pemberley the last few days.”
“Oh, so you’ve shacked up with him then. Well, this is a nice way for your mother to find out, I must say,” she complained. “So, visiting your poor sister was just an excuse for you to visit him was it?”
“It wasn’t like that. I went up to see if I could help.”
“Help with what?”
“Pemberley is in trouble,” she explained.
“Oh, so not only has he got you all starry-eyed, but he hasn’t even got a penny to his name.”
“Mamma, I love him.”
“Really, since when?”
“For a long time now.”
“And you didn’t think to tell your mother?”
“I barely knew myself.”
“How can you be sure now?”
“I just am,” Elizabeth said. “I thought you would be happy for me. For us.”
“I’m your mother, of course, I’m happy for you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I am,” her mother replied. “Oh, wait until Charles tells Caroline, can you imagine her face?”
“Yes Mamma, I can.”
∞ ∞ ∞
Chapter Sixteen
Cracks in the Foundations
The day had been filled with phone calls. Within a few minutes of her hanging up on her mother, the phone started to ring with well wishes and congratulations. It was over an hour before Elizabeth stopped spreading the news of her engagement. And then with the help of Mrs Reynolds, she took her first steps in securing Pemberley for their future.
Everyone had been most helpful, her questions were answered diligently and any concerns she had seemed to have been washed away. The plans now seemed fully formed in her mind and on paper. She had a list of what needed to be done to spring them into action and although it may not save Pemberley overnight, it could in the long run.
Mrs Reynolds had very subtly left them alone for the evening. Even if Mr Reynolds did not seem to get the hint.
“There’s football on tonight,” he said. “The two of you could come over to the house and watch it on our tv.”
“Perhaps they don’t want to watch football,” Mrs Reynolds hinted.
“Nonsense, it’s a derby match between…” he said as he looked at his wife. “But no doubt you’ll be wanting an early night.”
�
�Bernard Reynolds!”
“What?”
“If you don’t know what by now, you never will. We’ll say goodnight.”
And with that, they had left.
“Haven’t you got a tv?” Elizabeth asked Darcy as they headed into his sitting room.
“Not anymore,” he smiled.
“How on earth are we going to entertain ourselves for the entire evening?” she asked as he took her in his arms.
“Well, I have a few ideas,” he said shutting the door behind them.
“Oh, Mr Darcy!”
Elizabeth woke in Darcy’s bed. Her hand roamed across the sheet, but she couldn’t find him. The clock on the bedside table told her it was just gone half past eight. She had slept in. She put on Darcy’s dressing gown and wandered into the sitting room. From the kitchen, she could hear a chaos of pans and muttering and decided to follow the noise.
Darcy was making breakfast standing over the Aga stirring a pan. Whilst on the table was a breakfast tray which he had been busy arranging. He turned to see her standing there and shooed her away.
“Go back to bed, it’s meant to be a surprise,” he said.
“It is, and a nice one,” she said as she stood behind him and put her arms around his waist.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“I did,” she said as she snuggled into him. “What little there was of it.”
He grinned.
“The eggs are nearly done, do you want to take a seat?”
Elizabeth sat down at the table and poured two cups of tea. Darcy spooned the scrambled eggs onto the plate and picked up a fork. He took some and fed it to Elizabeth.
“Hmm, I see I’m marrying a domestic goddess,” she teased. “Lucky for me, because I could burn water.”
Darcy brought another fork as he sat down with her and they started to share the breakfast.
“So, come on then, don’t keep me in suspense Miss Bennet,” he said.
“What about?”
“Your idea to save Pemberley. You wouldn’t tell me last night and you’d promised that you would this morning.”
“Oh yes, after you tried to bribe me with your body,” she grinned.
“Did it work?”
“I’m afraid if you had kept up your interrogation last night, I might have given in,” she teased him.
“So?”
“Alright, being serious for a while. You said that we couldn’t open Pemberley to the public because the whole set up would cost.”
“Yes, it’s not just a matter of opening the doors, you have to have exhibitions, curators, a gift shop, the list goes on,” Darcy replied.
“So, I thought along other lines. When we were up on the roof, I noticed the church in the distance and had an idea. Wedding venues.”
“Wedding venues?”
“Yes, well at least it was half an idea. You see it wouldn’t take much to set us up as a venue, you’d only really be dealing with reception parties and that would be simple enough. However, if we became a licensed wedding venue, then we could hold the service and the reception as well,” Elizabeth explained.
Darcy sat back and took it all in.
“I talked to Charlotte, she’s a registrar now. She’s done nearly as many marriages as her husband and she also conducts civil ceremonies too. She told me that she performs lots of weddings in stately homes and country houses and for some of them it’s their main source of income. I also talked to Mrs Swan in the council, now she says that we can’t use the church because it is a religious building. But we could use the ballroom as one of the rooms, there has to be at least two, one for the ceremony and one to sign the register. But we can apply for more. The wedding dates on which people would marry are reliant on the dates that the local registrar is free. So, they get an idea of dates, come and look us over and then book.”
“Isn’t that going to be expensive?”
“It will cost a couple of thousand for the application and permits. Then there is the drinks license and live entertainment license if people want a band for the reception. I’ve spoken to the insurers and they said it would come under a public liability policy that shouldn’t be too expensive. We could take a wing for us and set up another wing for the bridal party to get ready. Later on, we could convert some of the outbuildings for accommodation. Possibly do a honeymoon cottage somewhere in the grounds.”
Darcy looked overwhelmed.
“I talked to the local board of commerce in Lambton, they think that it would boost trade in the area. There is a bridal shop there as well as a photographer and florist, oh and a cake shop. Mrs Reynolds thinks we could do the catering in the main kitchens, not this little one. If not I’m sure there is a local company who would appreciate the business,” Elizabeth continued. “Oh, and I spoke to the vicar and she said that she would recommend us as a reception venue for anyone who gets married in the church. Mr Reynolds thinks we could even use the carriage somehow, but we haven’t sorted everything out yet.”
Darcy stood up from the table.
“You’ve done all this without asking me?”
“Well, I haven’t done anything, I’ve just spoken to a few people really. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied.
“Something’s wrong, I can tell.”
“You’re not meant to be the one saving me, I’m meant to be the knight on the white charger saving you,” Darcy said.
“Can’t we save each other?” Elizabeth asked.
Darcy remained silent.
“I didn’t mean to take over, I know I drive people mad with organising things all the time. But Jane and Charles thought of doing something similar with Netherfield, so I had a rough idea of what needed doing.”
“What else have you done?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Who else have you spoken to?”
“I spoke to Jane and Charles, they still have a lot of the paperwork left and they offered to send it so I would get a better idea of what we would need. I also spoke to my Uncle Edward,”
“Mr Gardiner?”
“Yes. I have a small inheritance that my grandmother left me. I asked him to look into it for me. I thought it would give us a start.”
“You’re going to loan me money as well.”
“It’s not a loan. We are going to be husband and wife, it’s our money and who cares whose it is as long as we can put it to some use?”
Darcy didn’t reply, he didn’t say anything, he just stood there and looked out of the kitchen window.
“I see, you don’t mind being saved as long as it’s not a woman doing the rescuing.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“It is the twenty-first century Darcy, women got the vote over a hundred years ago. Equality works both ways.”
“This isn’t the same as you paying for lunch Elizabeth,” he replied.
“How? It doesn’t matter the sum, whether it is forty pounds or a thousand. It’s the reason it is given, because I love you and I know that it would kill you to leave this place. I did this all because I care, not as a blow to your male pride,” she explained. “But you see it as one and the same.”
She got up from the kitchen table and headed to the housekeeper’s sitting room and loudly slammed the door behind her.
∞ ∞ ∞
Chapter Seventeen
Georgiana Arrives
Darcy paced back and forth along the end of the drive thinking. How had it suddenly all gone so wrong? One minute they were a couple blissfully in love and the next it was as if a wall had dropped down between them. He watched as a car appeared in the distance. Within a few minutes it had pulled up alongside him, Georgiana got out and gave him a hug.
“Where’s Elizabeth?” she asked.
“Umm,” he started to reply.
“What do you mean ‘umm’?”
“It’s all gone a bit wrong,” he replied before Georgiana pushed him on the arm.
“What have you done
now?” she sighed.
“I opened my mouth very wide and put my two feet right in it.”
Georgiana stood by her car as Darcy related the facts to her in detail. She stood there with her arms crossed as she tapped her foot against the snow.
“So, Elizabeth goes out of her way to do all this for you and you beat your chest and act like a caveman?” she replied.
“Well, not exactly.”
“And where is she now?”
“In the housekeeper’s room, she’s locked the door.”
“So, you did try to get in and apologise?”
“I tried to get in.”
“Darcy!” Georgiana stamped her foot in disbelief. “You do realise everything she’s done for you? For you and me, if we can get this to work, I can come home instead of working in London as a personal assistant to someone who doesn’t even remember my name. Do you know she even got her uncle Mr Philips to look into the shares? It turns out that they may not be the loss we were told they were. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not worth millions, but neither are they worth pennies. Sort this out now, before she packs her bags and heads home to Hertfordshire and out of your life for good.”
Darcy knocked gently at the door, but there was no answer.
“Elizabeth, Elizabeth please will you let me in? We have to talk.”
There was no answer. Darcy tried the handle and to his surprise, the door opened. But even the quickest of glimpses told him the room was empty and that her suitcase was missing. He ran out to the courtyard and looked in the snow frantically, then he spotted her suitcase’s wheel tracks and followed them to the garage.
Elizabeth sat in her car trying to get it to start, with little luck.
“Elizabeth,” Darcy said as he opened the driver’s door.
But she ignored him and turned the key in the ignition once more.
“I’m sorry, I am so desperately sorry. How many times must my pride get in the way of us? I’ve told you before how much I love and admire you. But I haven’t told you how much I appreciate you, I could never take you for granted. And I promise that the stubborn oaf that reacted to all of your hard work will never raise his head again.”