Falling for Elizabeth Bennet

by Debra-Ann Kummong

  Wickham finally asks, “Darcy, are you sure you want us there? We do not want to be in the way.”

  Darcy puts down his drink and puts his hands on each of their shoulders and says, “You both are welcome, and it will be good for Elizabeth as well. She will need all the family and friends around her who will treat her normally.”

  Richard grins and says, “In that case, Darcy, we will be happy to join your party.”

  Early the next morning, Darcy awakens in the chair next to Elizabeth’s bed to find her awake and watching him. Darcy sits forward and says, “Good morning, sweetheart. Are you well?”

  Elizabeth gives Darcy a tentative smile and says, “Good morning, Husband. I am well. I feel a little sore, and my tongue hurts, but otherwise, I am well.”

  Darcy stands and gives Elizabeth a kiss and asks, “Can I get you anything?” Darcy watches as Elizabeth blushes. “Fitzwilliam, I need a few minutes alone. The maid will assist me.”

  Darcy blushes as he realizes his wife is in need of the chamber pot. Darcy kisses her again and says, “Certainly, love. I will go and change into a new set of clothes. I will rejoin you shortly.”

  About ten minutes later, Darcy returns to Elizabeth’s room to find her once again asleep. Darcy turns to the maid and asks, “Grace, is it not?”

  The maid replies, “Yes, sir.”

  Darcy asks, “Grace, were you able to get Miss Elizabeth to drink the tea that I left with you.”

  Grace replies, “Mr. Darcy, I was able to get her to drink some of it, but I believe that she knew that it was drugged as Miss Elizabeth gave me a funny look.”

  Darcy laughs and says, “It would not surprise me if she did know. Grace, I want to thank you for helping to care for Miss Elizabeth. Would you be willing to continue to take care of Miss Elizabeth? She is being moved to Pulvis Lodge shortly, and I would feel better if she had the same maid during this time. I understand if you do not wish to.”

  Grace replies softly, “Sir, I do not mind caring for Mrs. Darcy.” Grace stops when Darcy jerks in surprise. Grace continues, “Sir, Mrs. Darcy told me yesterday that you were married. I think she just needed to talk when she awoke briefly before you returned after dinner. I am not a gossip, sir, and I have no family. I will not tell anyone, and I want to wish you joy. Miss Elizabeth is a wonderful lady and was one of the nicest of the Bennet sisters.”

  Darcy replies, “Thank you, Grace, for being there for Elizabeth. I trust you to care for Elizabeth, and I trust you not to spread rumors. I will speak to Bingley about borrowing you for the remainder of our visit and will double your wage for the inconvenience.”

  Grace replies, “Sir, I do not need an incentive to hold my tongue. Mr. Bingley is a fare master, and I earn a good wage.”

  Darcy smiles and says, “Grace, I appreciate your honesty, but you have not yet met the rest of the party. My sister, cousin, and friend are all joining Mrs. Darcy and myself. For all you know, we will run you off your feet.”

  Grace grins and says, “No disrespect, sir, but no one could be worse than Miss Bingley. I will have Mrs. Darcy’s belongings ready. What time do we depart?”

  Darcy looks at his timepiece and replies, “If possible, I would like to leave in an hour.”

  Grace nods, and Darcy departs. An hour later, Darcy carries Elizabeth downstairs to the waiting carriage. Richard and Wickham both assist Darcy getting Elizabeth into the carriage. As Darcy is getting ready to depart, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst come up to Darcy, saying, “Mr. Darcy, please let us know if there is anything we can do. We want you to know that we are very happy for you and Miss Elizabeth.”

  Darcy replies, “Thank you, Hurst. We have everything well in hand. I hope we will see each other soon.”

  Mrs. Hurst says, “Mr. Darcy, I hope you will forgive me for what happened. I feel responsible.”

  Darcy replies, “Mrs. Hurst, you are not to blame, and I can assure you that neither Elizabeth nor I blame you. In fact, you are doing us the favor of personally escorting Miss Bingley to her family. That is peace of mind for both of us. I know you are aware that Elizabeth had a spell, and again, I can assure you that this was not your fault either. I had a similar conversation with Elizabeth when I tried to take the blame, and she would not allow it. I look forward to seeing you both when you return. Perhaps once my marriage is known, you will join Elizabeth and I for dinner one night when we are in town.”

  Hurst replies, “Mr. Darcy, it would be a pleasure. I will send word when we have safely delivered Caroline so that you can give Mrs. Darcy the news yourself.”

  Darcy smiles and says, “Thank you, Hurst. I look forward to that letter.”

  The move to Pulvis Lodge goes smoothly, and Darcy manages to get Elizabeth settled in her new chambers when the sleeping draught starts wearing off. He sits on the bed and watches as Elizabeth slowly wakes up and looks around in confusion.

  Darcy says, “Hello, sweetheart. Do not worry and do not be afraid. I have leased Pulvis Lodge for the remainder of our stay. I wanted you to have a place where you could recover in peace and not be afraid of Miss Bingley.”

  Darcy gives Elizabeth a quick kiss. “How are you feeling, love?”

  Elizabeth replies, “I am well now that I know that I am not losing my mind. I was uncertain where I was.”

  Darcy watches in surprise as Elizabeth suddenly starts to cry. Darcy pulls her into his arms. “Shh, sweetheart. Everything is all right. You will be well again. Please do not cry.” Darcy runs his hands up and down Elizabeth’s back in an order to calm her down.

  Finally Elizabeth says, “I am sorry, Fitzwilliam. I continue to cause you problems and cost you money.”

  Darcy lifts her chin until she looks him in the eyes and says, “Elizabeth, you could never cause me problems, and do not worry about money. I do not mind spending it on you. You have yet to even use any of your pin money. Do you think if you rest the remainder of the day that you might be well enough to join us for dinner? Georgie is minding Fitz for you.”

  Elizabeth smiles. “Yes, Fitzwilliam, I would love to come downstairs for dinner.”

  Darcy stands and asks, “Elizabeth, are you up for a visit? Georgie wants to come in and visit with you.”

  Elizabeth replies, “Of course, Fitzwilliam. I would enjoy a visit from Georgie. I will see you later.”

  Darcy enters the study to find Richard and Wickham talking, which pleases Darcy to see the old friendships restored. They stop speaking when they see Darcy. Darcy says, “Apologies. Elizabeth awoke, and I thought you might like to know that she is doing well and plans to join us for dinner this evening.”

  Richard and Wickham both smile, and Richard responds, “Darcy, that is wonderful.”

  Darcy says, “I have a favor to ask of you both. Elizabeth’s spirits are low, and I would like to make tonight’s dinner special and cheer her up.”

  Wickham asks, “What do you have in mind, Darcy? What can we do to help?”

  Darcy briefly tells them his vision and what he thinks they will need.

  Richard says, “Darcy, why do we not include Georgie and Mrs. Annesley? They might be able to help as well.”

  Darcy agrees and gives Richard and Wickham the things he would like them to get, and Darcy goes in search of Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley.

  Later that evening, Darcy enters Elizabeth’s dressing room to collect her for dinner. Darcy is pleased to see that Elizabeth has dressed up for dinner. She is borrowing one of Georgiana’s dresses as Elizabeth would not bring any of her nicer dresses on this visit.

  Darcy crosses over. “You look lovely, sweetheart.” Darcy watches as Elizabeth blushes. She is wearing a white dress embroidered with yellow flowers at the neck and hem, and there is a yellow ribbon that runs under the bust that sets off the stitching, and there are even small yellow wild flowers in her hair. Darcy kisses Elizabeth on the cheek. “Are you ready to go down to dinner?”

  Elizabeth replies, “Yes, Fitzwilliam, I am.” Elizabeth takes Darcy’s arm, and he escorts her down
stairs.

  Darcy watches as Elizabeth looks around Pulvis Lodge and asks, “What do you think of Pulvis Lodge?”

  Elizabeth replies, “It is a nice home, Fitzwilliam. It is a shame that no one lives here. Tomorrow I will have to see what the library is like. The library at Netherfield is somewhat bare.”

  Darcy laughs. “Elizabeth, I would have to agree with you about Bingley’s library. Let me know when you want to explore the library. I will join you.”

  Darcy arrives at the dining room and escorts Elizabeth inside. Darcy watches as his wife’s face registers with shock and her mouth opens in surprise. Elizabeth looks up at Darcy and asks, “What have you done, Fitzwilliam?”

  Darcy replies, “This is for you, sweetheart.”

  Darcy watches as Elizabeth enters the dining room to see yellow roses everywhere. There is yellow-and-white material hanging from the walls. There are even flowers made from material resting on the dinner plates. Elizabeth reaches forward and touches a rose with a gentle finger. She turns back to Darcy and asks, “How did you do this, husband?”

  Silently Richard, Georgiana, Mrs. Annesley, and Wickham come from the shadows and say, “Surprise!”

  Darcy watches as Elizabeth looks at all of them in confusion and starts to cry. Darcy pulls Elizabeth into his arms and starts to soothe her. Darcy feels Elizabeth take a deep breath. He looks down to see Elizabeth looking up at him, and she whispers softly, “Thank you,” and gives him a kiss. Elizabeth turns to the group and says, “Please, excuse me. No one has ever done anything like this for me before. It was a beautiful surprise. Thank you so much.”

  Georgiana comes over and hugs Elizabeth. “Lizzy, you are family and my sister. We love you no matter what. You make William happy.”

  Richard comes over and gives Elizabeth a kiss on the cheek. Darcy watches Wickham look lost. Darcy comes up to Wickham and says, “George, you are family too. If we have not already said so, please call us by our Christian names. I know that Elizabeth would have you call her Lizzy or Elizabeth—whichever you are comfortable with. Please come and greet my wife. I guess we could make you an honorary cousin. What do you think?”

  Wickham laughs and says, “Darcy, I would be honored to be a cousin. Please ask your wife to call me George also.”

  They walk over to where Richard and Georgiana are speaking to Elizabeth. The group stops talking when Wickham draws next to Elizabeth, and she turns and hugs Wickham, giving him a kiss on the cheek in the process, causing Wickham to blush and everyone else to laugh. Darcy turns to his wife and says, “Elizabeth, I have told Wickham that we are making him an honorary cousin and that he should address us by our Christian names.”

  Elizabeth smiles and says, “Of course. That is a wonderful idea. I hope you are all right with being adopted by Fitzwilliam. I have noticed that once he adopts you there is no winning with him.”

  This causes everyone to laugh. Wickham turns to Elizabeth. “You are correct, Lizzy. I remember this of Darcy from when we were children. I am glad that you are feeling better.”

  They sit down for dinner, and Elizabeth asks, “How did you manage to do all this? We only just arrived here today.”

  Darcy replies, “Well, I was worried as your spirits seemed so low with everything that has happened, and I approached Richard and George with my idea, and they suggested that Georgie and Mrs. Annesley help as well. The housekeeper had the material, and a few of the maids helped as well and here you are.”

  Elizabeth smiles. “It is beautiful. Thank you all so much. I will never forget this. I was never able to have anything like this with my own family. I know that my sisters would have done something to brighten my day, but my mother would never allow it. So everyone was made to pretend that nothing happened.”

  Darcy responds, “Elizabeth, I forgot to tell you. Your father and sisters will be visiting you here tomorrow. Your father told your other sisters what happened, and apparently, all your sisters are so upset with your mother at the moment that Mr. Bennet no longer has to lock her in her rooms. Your mother keeps to her rooms to avoid her remaining angry daughters.”

  Chapter 24

  Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana, Richard, and George are in the sitting room with Fitz when Mr. Bennet and his daughters are announced. Darcy and Elizabeth stand and welcome them. Jane comes over and hugs Elizabeth, saying, “Lizzy, you are looking better. How do you feel?”

  Elizabeth looks at Darcy and then Jane, saying, “I am doing better, Janie. Fitzwilliam is taking prodigious good care of me.”

  Darcy watches as the rest of Elizabeth’s sisters come over and hug and greet her. Darcy turns to Mr. Bennet and says, “Good morning, sir. Are you well this morning?”

  Mr. Bennet replies, “Good morning, William. I am well, and I am happy to see Lizzy doing better. I believe the move was a good idea.”

  Suddenly Darcy hears his name and turns to his wife as she asks, “Fitzwilliam, may I tell them about my dinner last night?”

  Darcy flushes in embarrassment. “Elizabeth, if talking about dinner brings you joy, then of course, you may tell our family about it.”

  Mr. Bennet raises a brow at Darcy and then listens to his Lizzy as she describes the dinner that Darcy had arranged for her. When Elizabeth finishes telling her tale, Mr. Bennet says to Darcy, “That was a wonderful thing you and your family did for Lizzy. I am glad Lizzy married you. You are good for each other.”

  Darcy smiles. “Sir, I am the lucky one. Your daughter Elizabeth is one of a kind. In fact, I am thinking of purchasing Pulvis Lodge so that we have our own residence anytime Elizabeth would like to come and visit her family. Mr. Bennet, I am sorry to say this, but your wife will never be welcome in any of our homes. I cannot tell you how hurt Elizabeth was the other day. I do have an incentive for you to visit any of my homes—you may ransack my library and hide away from the world, but I would hope you would join us for dinner.”

  Mr. Bennet laughs and sighs sadly. “Darcy, I understand, and I do not blame you for banning Mrs. Bennet from your homes. That was the first time I ever saw such a reaction from my wife toward Lizzy. I am happy that Lizzy has you to guard her.”

  Darcy tells Mr. Bennet, “Sir, we will be leaving to return to town in three days’ time. We are planning to return just before the wedding and staying for a few days after the ball. I have one request to make of you. Would you ask Jane to box up any mementos that Elizabeth may still have in her room at Longbourn? I would like to present them to Elizabeth at Darcy House so that she always has a piece of her family with her.”

  Mr. Bennet says, “Of course, William. I know Jane will be happy to do so.”

  Darcy turns to watch Elizabeth interact with her sisters. Her eyes are sparkling with laughter and joy as she laughs at something Richard has said. Darcy watches as Elizabeth catches his attention, and she gives him a big beautiful smile. Mr. Bennet watches Darcy observe his Lizzy, saying, “Darcy, that is not a smile I have seen from my daughter in a long time. Thank you for loving her.”

  Darcy nods and then looks at confusion as Elizabeth nods to her left. Darcy looks and lifts his eyebrows in response and says to Mr. Bennet, “Sir, Elizabeth is easy to love. However, I have to wonder if your daughters bewitch all the men that are not from Hertfordshire.”

  Mr. Bennet looks to Darcy and says, “Whatever do you mean, William?”

  Darcy replies, “Sir, first Jane falls for Bingley, I fell for Elizabeth, and unless I miss my guess, your daughter Mary has bewitched my friend Wickham.”

  Mr. Bennet turns and watches Mary and Wickham having a conversation. Darcy notes that even Richard is taken by the Bennet sisters. Darcy looks at Mr. Bennet and says, “Your daughters are wonderful ladies. Even your youngest are good. I have never seen my sister so happy. Notwithstanding your wife, my sister and I feel like we have a family again.”

  Mr. Bennet laughs and says, “You are lucky, William. You only have to live with my Lizzy and your sister. You have the best of the lot. The others are not as quiet, and Mrs
. Bennet—well, the less said the better. As for Mary and Wickham, that is interesting as Mary hardly ever converses with men.”

  Darcy replies, “Please feel free to come and visit us our remaining days here. We would enjoy your visits.”

  Mr. Bennet replies, “It would be our pleasure, William.”

  Three days later, the Darcys and family return to town and settle into a routine. On their first evening back at Darcy House, Darcy escorts Elizabeth to her dressing room. “Sweetheart, I have a little surprise for you.”

  Darcy watches as Elizabeth quirks an eyebrow at him and asks, “What have you done now, Fitzwilliam?”

  Darcy laughs. “I recruited Jane to help me. I asked her to get something for me. Please open the chest on your dressing table.” Elizabeth opens the chest, and Darcy watches as Elizabeth fingers her mementos. Darcy says, “I asked Jane to pack these so that you could have them here or at Pemberley so that you would always have a piece of Longbourn with you.”

  Elizabeth hugs Darcy. “Thank you, husband. I did not think I would have these little treasures again. I know that they are silly, but they have good memories.”

  Darcy kisses her head and leaves. Several days later, Darcy is sitting in his study when Elizabeth enters with a small package in her hand. Darcy stands when she enters. Elizabeth says, “Forgive me for interrupting your work, Fitzwilliam. I wanted to give you something special and took a little time to get it all together.”

  Darcy is confused and says, “Sweetheart, I do not need anything.”

  Elizabeth says, “I know you do not need anything, but you have given me so much, and there is little that I can give you that you cannot buy for yourself. But this is one thing that you had wanted that I could give you. Open this. I hope you like it.”

  Darcy is puzzled and opens the package. Darcy carefully moves the tissue paper inside and sees a picture. It is a drawing of Elizabeth curled up on the chaise lounge, reading a book with Fitz curled up at her feet. Darcy looks up at his wife and asks, “Elizabeth, how did you manage to do this?”