“He had a small matter to attend to, but it is done,” Papa said, leading them out to the hall and into the parlor. Leaving the door open a crack to wait for their signal to come out, he turned to face Alexandra. “Pray do not punish him too severely. All is well that ends well.”
“Mr. Bennet, you were supposed to wait until after the wedding.” Jaffa looked nervously at Alexandra.
The fiery captain’s fists clenched. “And what’sthatsupposed to mean? What’s he done now?”
Papa took her hand between his own, patting it. “That is not for me to say, but I am of a mind that you will eventually agree that Nicholas acted out of good faith and generosity.”
Alexandra shot Elizabeth a scowl, but Elizabeth could only shrug. She had no idea what her father hinted at, nor what Nick had done.
“The gentlemen are in place, and the clergyman is ready,” the butler signaled.
“I’m gonna kill him,” Alexandra hissed under her breath.
Elizabeth looped her arm through Alexandra’s and marched her forward. “Not until after the wedding, dear.”
CHAPTER 50
Darcy stood in his favorite place in any ballroom, in a corner against the wall where he could better observe the guests. He was not being anti-social, and nobody could accuse him of being reticent, surrounded as he was by Georgiana, Uncle, and Richard.
He watched Elizabeth, his heart swelling with awe that she returned his love. That she meant every word of her vows. The depth of emotion he heard in her voice when she said, “I do,” would forever echo in his memory.
She was truly a marvel. She conversed with the sailors—who Darcy was pleased had shown proper regard for the occasion by arriving washed, shaved, and with their hair cut and smoothed into place—as easily as she did with his aunt and the few other guests Darcy counted among his most intimate friends insociety.
Bingley laughed with Cotton and Bauer. He looked happier than normal—which was significant for a gentleman given to merriment. He would marry Jane the next week and ought to look very pleased, indeed.
Not far from them sat Mrs. Annesley with Miss Kitty and Miss Mary, sipping tea and nibbling on cake. Mrs. Annesley had agreed to stay with the Bennets for an undetermined time. Darcy credited her edifying influence as well as he did Alex’s crew, from whom the Bennet ladies had no desire to draw attention and were therefore pleasantly more subdued than normal. Even Lydia sat quietly, enjoying her plate of food.
Uncle nudged Darcy with his elbow. “I wish your mother were here to see you today. Annie would love to know you exchanged vows with a lady you love as much as she adored her George.”
Darcy’s heart squeezed at the way his uncle still referred to Mother like the little sister she was to him. She would have loved to see the garden she cared for so carefully, her rose bushes which Darcy had maintained as she liked, used as his and Elizabeth’s wedding venue. “She would have loved Elizabeth like a daughter.”
Georgiana added, “As would Papa.” After a pause, she continued, “He would have approved of your other guests, too.”
Richard swallowed the last of his champagne. “He would be shocked to see evidence that his unbending son finally paid him heed.” He raisedan eyebrow at Darcy in that annoying way older relatives did, the one they used when they made a point at your expense.
But Darcy did not mind today. Uncle could chuckle all he wanted, and Georgiana could save her worried glances for another occasion. He nodded, acknowledging Richard’s jab and accepting its truth.
Darcy’s father had always encouraged him to widen his circle. He had considered his father to be too lenient—Wickham was not a good candidate for his generosity—but now Darcy understood him better. Father would have approved of Darcy’s new friends. Of Nick … and, yes, even of Alex.
As if they knew his thoughts had turned in their direction, Nick and Alex left their party to join him at his post against the wall. Elizabeth, too, departed from Jane, leaving her sister in Bingley’s capable, eager company, her eyes fixed on Darcy’s as she closed the distance between them.
Darcy’s post improved significantly when she wrapped her arm around his and stood close enough for the smell of her hair to intoxicate his senses.
“Thank you for the gift you sent, Nick,” Richard said seriously.
As content as Darcy was enveloped in the aroma of Elizabeth’s rosewater, his cousin’s appreciation expressed as it was—in front of Alex—was as sobering as getting caught in the rain. A storm was fast approaching.
Nick looked down at his polished boots, avoidingAlex’s stare. Carefully, without looking up, he replied, “So ye never doubt yer worth in yer lady’s heart.”
Richard, too thick to take a hint (for all that he was the superior, wiser, older one of the bunch), cackled. “And I need a trunk full of Spanish doubloons for that?”
“A trunk!” Alex exclaimed, her eyes shooting daggers between Nick and Richard (who now had the good grace to look sheepish).
“A small trunk. A box, really,” Richard clarified.
Nick shrugged and glanced toward the doors. “It’s blazing hot in here.”
Darcy tried to help. “Stifling. Do you care for a turn—” he began, and was promptly interrupted by his new sister.
