“Before another living being, yes. Recall, if you will, that was also before I was assured of your hand. Now that I have won it, I would like to revisit that most delightful incident as frequently as possible. But you had asked when you were first secure of my admiration, which was long before that. As you have first put the question, I shall ask you. When did you begin to think of me as more than a troublesome intruder upon your day?”
She paused in the road and smiled up at him. “I cannot pinpoint the spot or the hour, but perhaps I might say that I knew I was forever lost when you rescued me from myself.”
“The balloon,” he smiled. “A moment I shall forever treasure in my fondest memories. For myself, I believe it was when I first opened my eyes.” Darcy kissed her hand and resumed walking, his best friend and the lover of his heart close at his side.
It may easily be guessed that in short order, Elizabeth was not the only Bennet sister with happy news to share with her family. All Mrs Bennet’s predictions of hedgerows and starvation were now supplanted by visions of carriages, jewels, and other wealthy men for her remaining daughters. When the happy mother, at last, prevailed on her husband to send her with her two eldest daughters to London to shop for their wedding trousseaux, Elizabeth had the pleasure of meeting her future sister, Miss Georgiana, at Darcy House. The girl was everything her brother had represented, and within a very few moments, a hesitant alliance was forged between the two which was only to strengthen through the years.
Among the others she met in the house, Elizabeth also made the acquaintance of one Mr Henry Wilson, who was presently studying under a Mr Hodges from Pemberley to take over the duties of a butler. Darcy’s sly smile when he introduced them, she returned with an equally conspiratorial expression as she wished Mr Wilson well in his new post of polishing silver rather than boots.
On the third day of the Bennet family’s stay in London, the party were all invited to the home of Mrs Jennings for dinner. Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley were pleased to escort them, and that good lady was full of effusions when she found proof with her own eyes that two girls in whom she had taken an interest had already secured, without her assistance, two exceedingly eligible matches. There was, however, a bit of disquiet in her eye whenever she looked upon Elizabeth seated beside Mr Darcy.
The whole of the evening, her gaze flicked in their direction until Mrs Bennet became convinced that Mrs Jennings nursed something of a matron’s fascination with her future son-in-law. This much was, of course, untrue, but the usually ebullient Mrs Jennings was rendered discreet.
There was one point near the end of the evening when she approached the engaged couple with a question about whether Mr Darcy liked thinly sliced ham and punch, but his response was so perfectly civil, so absent of any hint of suspicion, that she let thematter drop. In future years, never once did the typically garrulous woman imply any impropriety in the courtship of Mr and Mrs Darcy.
Happy for all Mrs Bennet’s maternal feelings was the day she saw her two eldest daughters sign the registry and mount lavish carriages for their new homes. Elizabeth kissed both her parents, her aunt and remaining sisters, then joyously consigned herself into the keeping of her new husband. As he settled her inside with warm rugs and hot bricks for her feet, she nestled close under his arm and knew, at last, real comfort.
“So,” she murmured after a few moments of sweet distraction, “thisis how you behave when you rideinsidethe carriage with a lady. Upon my word, sir, it is a very good thing you did not do so three months ago.”
“Indeed,” he agreed, “for we would have missed all the sights.” Then he pulled her close and proceeded to divert her most pleasurably for the whole of the distance to London.
Darcy retired early to his chambers. No book was necessary on this, the most auspicious of nights, but he had asked Wilson to unlock the cabinets and send up a brandy. The drink, for him, was rather more sentimental than desired, but he carried it with him when he knocked on the door to his new bride’s chambers. She had just sent her maid away and answered it herself… and it was a very good thing she was alone in the room, for Darcy would not have wished for his reaction to be witnessed by others.
Her silken hair tumbled round her shoulders, thick and dark and luxuriant. Those sparkling eyes lit and roved freely over his informal attire, and he felt flushed from head to foot. Her figure… by heaven, she was perfection; the lines of her body fell precisely where he had imagined they might, and he could not find the words even to bid her a good evening, or tell her how lovely she was, or how delighted he was that she was his own.
“Is that a brandy? I thought you had sworn off drinking that.”
He held it aloft. “I confess, it has a propensity to leave me defenceless and heedless of the rest of the world. Since you so obligingly rescued me on the last occasion, I felt secure in your comfort, should I choose to surrender myself to your power. However,” he smiled and set it aside, “I believe the only fine wine I shall ever desire is here.”
“I do hope so, William. Oh! I have a gift for you.”
She turned from him, and he was left to mourn his empty hands, which had a moment ago caressed satin hips. “Is my beautiful wife not gift enough?”
“I think when you open it, you will understand. I thought first of purchasing you a copy ofAs You Like It, but you already own several. This was my next best idea.”
He lifted the lid of a dark parcel and chuckled. “Shoes?”
“They are specifically made for dancing, or so I am told, and are guaranteed not to injure your toes. I am rather hoping you will give me a few more lessons in the waltz.”
“I am not certain which of us was the master and which was the pupil, but I shall endeavour to please. Since you are in the mood for giving gifts, I have a small little trifle that I had intended to give you later. Do you see that box on the mantel?”
He brought it to her, and she very carefully opened it. A moment later, she dangled a silver tag from one fingertip. “My own pass to Vauxhall?”
“It holds no value. It was one of the remnants from this last summer, and the park officials sold it to me for a pittance. The tags for ‘12 have not yet been minted. The true worth is on the back.”
She turned it over and read the engraving.
Elizabeth Darcy
A day I will cherish
As long as I live
She clasped it in her hand, and her eyes glistened. “Thank you, William.”
He took it from her hand and laid it gently on the mantel again, and as he did so, he felt her warm arms slide round him. He turned and drew her head to his shoulder, then simply remained there, at peace and at one with her.
“In truth, I pray we shall have many more such days to cherish. I would have you at my side for all life’s adventures, and I hope they shall be many,” he whispered into her hair.
