A Ride with Mr. Darcy
Page 14
“Nothing can stop us now,” Mr. Darcy said softly, his hand lightly touching hers.
“I’d better tell Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Bennet chuckled, turning out of the room. “She’ll never forgive me for allowing her to stay abed while there are wedding preparations to be made.”
Epilogue
Elizabeth
The force of the cheers would have made Elizabeth step backwards in surprise if it wasn’t for the firm grip her husband had on her arm. Husband, she thought with a sigh. Yes, Darcy was now her husband, now and forever. The smile she gave to the crowd outside the church was not forced or pretend. Her cheeks protested, for she had never before made the muscles work so hard.
She watched Jane and Mr. Bingley—Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, Elizabeth corrected herself joyfully—thread their way through the well-wishers to a waiting carriage. Elizabeth and Darcy followed, toward a second carriage.
“Bless you, Mrs. Darcy!” She heard one person call, and she lifted her bouquet in thanks.
“Happiness to you both!” Another person called. Elizabeth had been a part of the crowd before, calling happy sentiments after the bride and groom, but the experience of receiving such tidings was a bit overwhelming. She clung to Darcy, grateful for his strength and his ability to keep the crowd a step away.
“Mrs. Darcy,” his breath tickled her ear as he leaned down to whisper to her. “I like the sound of that.” Elizabeth looked at him in surprise, for she had not thought that he would attempt to say anything to her amid such a throng of people.
“As do I,” she said, but her words were lost in the clamour.
Darcy shook his head, telling her that he also did not hear her. Emboldened by his own display, she stopped, stood on her toes, reached a hand to his neck and gently pulled his ear close to her lips.
“As do I,” she whispered back. She felt him shiver as her breath touched his skin, and she laughed with satisfaction.
They had reached the carriage, and Darcy helped her into the open-roofed vehicle. The English spring had seemed to celebrate their marriage as well, and the sun shone down upon them. Darcy climbed up beside her, and took a small bag from the coachman.
“What is that?” Elizabeth asked, confused. They had not discussed this when they had talked about the wedding.
Darcy smiled widely and reached into the bag, pulling out a handful of six-pence coins. He threw them into the crowd with a laugh. Elizabeth had heard of rich men doing such things, offering the children in the crowd a treat, telling the world they married for love, not money, but she never thought her own wedding would include such a tradition. She glowed with pleasure, knowing that her husband loved her for herself and nothing more. She laughed as well, enjoying watching Darcy share his good fortune and joy.
“There,” he said, finally sitting down, the bag empty. The coach had begun to move, and the cheers that followed were even more exuberant than before. “That should fix it.”
“Fix what?” Elizabeth asked, still laughing.
“Fix my reputation,” Darcy said, reclaiming her hand into his.
“Reputation?” She asked, confusion working its way into her joy.
“Well, I made quite the terrible first impression here in Meryton,” he explained. “Standing to the side at a public ball when there was more than one lady without a dance partner.”
Elizabeth threw her head back and laughed, remembering the scene all too well.
“And me?” She asked wickedly. “Am I now handsome enough to tempt you, husband?”
Darcy, with no laughter on his face, drew near to her and her heart began to race. He was closer than he had ever before come.
“You are,” he said, coming closer and closer. “By far, the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld.”
He was now but inches away, and Elizabeth breath grew quicker. Gently, he closed the small distance between them and placed his lips upon hers. Elizabeth, surprised and pleased by this new use, closed her eyes and enjoyed her husband’s touch. He broke away with a sigh, and Elizabeth heard enough of the whoops and cheers behind her to note that their first embrace was not unwitnessed. She cleared her throat and touched her hand to her bonnet, making sure it was still in place.
Darcy grinned at her, seeming quite pleased with himself. “Have I embarrassed you, wife?” He asked, his own mischievous quality becoming obvious.
This will not do, Elizabeth thought to herself. He cannot believe me so easily distracted.
The carriage, in the meantime, had taken them away from the church and the crowd, and towards Longbourn, where their wedding breakfast awaited them. Elizabeth made up her mind in an instant, knowing what she must do.
Casually, she set her bouquet upon the seat beside her, and moved ever closer to Mr. Darcy. Just as he had carefully closed the distance between them, she now repeated his movements. His breath, she noted, grew quick just as hers had. And her lips softly met his for their second kiss. Breaking apart, she answered his question.
“No, husband,” she smiled and glanced ahead. They were now approaching the drive at Longbourn. “However, I suspect that we will both be embarrassed if we do not behave, for my sisters delight in teasing and I have withheld fodder for them for far too long.”
Darcy laughed, and sighed in content a moment later. He wrapped his arm about her and pulled her close for a final whisper in her ear: “I am glad you are my wife,” he said and she shivered with delight at hearing him call her his wife.
“It took us long enough,” she said, poking him in the ribs with mock frustration.
“Entirely my fault,” he said, releasing her. “I shall spend my life making it up to you.”
“I cannot let you take all the fault,” she said judiciously. “For I must spend my life making it up to you. If you make it up to me, and I to you—well, I think we may have a happy life indeed!”
Their carriage was coming to a halt. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley’s carriage had already stopped, and Elizabeth saw, with delight, that Jane’s face was bright red. It seemed the newlyweds had spent their carriage ride much as the Darcys had.
Elizabeth looked forward to Jane’s reflections upon it. Though Elizabeth was not scared to move into married life, she was grateful Jane would be going with her. The two couples would share their wedding tour with a long stop in London and then Kent before the Bingleys returned to Netherfield and the Darcys to Pemberley.
“We shall have a happy life, Mrs. Darcy,” Mr. Darcy promised, jumping out of the carriage. He reached up and instead of gently helping her down, he swung her into the air and in a circle before gracefully setting her on her feet. Elizabeth laughed with delight at the unexpected show. Taking her arm, they walked towards the front door.
“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed with a happy sigh. “A happy life indeed.”
THE END
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I hope you enjoyed the story.
About the Author
Anne-Marie Grace loves everything historical. She has been a fan of Pride and Prejudice ever since she was a teenager and has read the book more times than she can count. She loves to dream up alternative scenarios for our dear couple and has recently started putting these ideas to paper. Her only hope is that people would like to read them as much as she loves to come up with them!
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Also by Anne-Marie Grace
Chance Encounters — A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novel
Can a chance encounter lead to a second chance at happiness?
After the disastrous proposal in Kent, Elizabeth wants nothing more than to forget all about Mr. Darcy. She never imagined to see the man again—and certainly not at a London books
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But there is no escape.
Mr. Darcy is shocked to be reunited with the one woman who captured his heart—and rejected his suit. At first, he is nervous to see her again, but he soon realises he has been given a second chance. A chance to make everything right. He wants to fix his previous mistakes and show Elizabeth that he is not the kind of man she believes him to be.
But when a family tragedy pulls Elizabeth back to Hertfordshire, will he ever get the chance to prove himself?
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