“Do you think your father will become angry if you interfere?”
Shaking her head, Elizabeth said with a touch of bitterness, “No, as long as it doesn’t interrupt his comfort, Papa lets his daughters do whatever they wish.”
∞∞∞
Fortunately, Elizabeth was not made for bitterness. She put her feelings to the side, resolving to deal with them another day, and focused on her wedding day.
This was it. She was finally marrying the man she loved more than any in the world.
The soft light of early morning bathed the Meryton chapel, its stone walls adorned with clusters of wildflowers gathered from the surrounding countryside. Inside, Elizabeth stood at the modest altar, her heart fluttering nervously beneath the simple silk of her gown.
Mrs. Bennet hadn’t made a peep about the lack of lace when she saw Elizabeth, which caused some momentary alarm. But then Elizabeth saw Darcy, and all other thoughts fled her mind.
There were no grandiose displays or opulent decorations, only the hushed whispers of family and a few close friends gathered to bear witness to their union. Beside her, Darcy was tall and resolute, his expression a mask of calm determination that belied the whirlwind of emotions churning within him.
As the ceremony began, Dr. Fields’s voice, steady and sure, guided them through the sacred rites of marriage, his words a solemn reminder of the commitment they were about to make.
Elizabeth’s hands trembled as she exchanged vows with Darcy, her voice soft yet unwavering as she pledged her love and loyalty to him for all eternity. Darcy’s eyes never wavered from hers, his own vows a solemn promise to cherish and protect her for as long as he drew breath.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship.”
And then, in a moment that seemed to stretch on for eternity, they exchanged rings, the simple bands of gold a tangible symbol of their unbreakable bond. With a final blessing from Dr. Fields, they were pronounced husband and wife, their union sealed with a kiss that spoke volumes of the love and passion they shared.
“Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.”
Communion was blessed, and they both partook. Then it was over. Elizabeth signed her maiden name for the last time before she was escorted by her husband—her husband!—to the back of the church.
As they stepped out of the chapel into the bright sunlight, a sense of peace settled over Elizabeth, a quiet certainty she had made the right decision. Hand in hand, she and Darcy faced the future together, ready to embark on the greatest adventure of all: a life filled with love, laughter, and the promise of endless possibilities.
Epilogue
Elizabeth Darcy sat at her dressing table in her rooms at Pemberley, taking the pins out of her hair. It was the one-year anniversary of her marriage with Darcy, and Cook had celebrated the occasion with a delicious feast for their dinner.
She had dressed in the gown she’d worn when Darcy proposed to her—and when he returned to Netherfield. The warmth in his eyes when he saw her come down for the meal told her that he remembered it as well.
Lying on the bed was the same nightdress Louisa had convinced her to wear for her wedding night. Although she’d been mortified to wear something that—at the time—had seemed so scandalous, it was now quite modest compared to her normal bedtime attire.
“Will you be needing anything else tonight, Mrs. Darcy?”
“No, thank you. You can be excused for the night; go and find Jamie.”
Elizabeth smiled at Penny, who gave a quick curtsy and left the room. Penny and Jamie had only been in London for a few months before deciding they missed the country. This coincided with Elizabeth needing a lady’s maid due to her new position as Mrs. Darcy, so the pair relocated to Derbyshire. Jamie wasgiven the position as schoolmaster in Lambton, but they shared a small private chamber in the servants’ quarters.
Having Penny and Jamie in residence helped Georgiana and Elizabeth adjust to their new circumstances. Georgiana had not been in the habit of frequenting Lambton, yet Elizabeth was determined for her new sister to be as social as she had been in Meryton.
Their first excursion, however, nearly proved to be disastrous. They had entered the milliner’s shop, and two middle-aged matrons took one look at Georgiana and gasped in horror. One fanned herself, while the other loudly proclaimed her horror at letting such a person in society.
The new Mrs. Darcy had been about to sharpen her tongue on both ladies when a young gentleman stepped forward. “Now, ladies, do you not remember what the Good Book tells us? When the prophet Samuel went to find the next king, he was told very clearly that the Lord looketh not on the countenance, but on the heart. Which, do you think, would He find uglier in this moment?”
The piercing gaze he gave the two women caused them to freeze.
He then stepped forward. “Miss Darcy, I am very happy to see you again. You may not remember me, but we have met once before.”
“I remember,” Georgiana whispered, blinking furiously to hide her tears.
“Sister, will you introduce me?” Elizabeth asked, reaching out and squeezing Georgiana’s hand. “I would like to meet this acquaintance of yours who clearly not only knows God’s word but also lives it.”
She had spoken loud enough for the two ladies to hear, which not only informed them of her identity as Mrs. Darcy, wife of thelargest landowner in the county, but also as a person who would not tolerate mistreatment of any kind.
