Seven
Longbourn, 1st June 1812
Such a large gathering had rarely been seen in front of Longbourn Church. From each family in the neighbourhood, there was at least one member present, as if people did not believe the double wedding would truly take place and wished to be convinced with their own eyes.
That Mr. Bingley had returned to open Netherfield and was now marrying Jane Bennet was surprising but understandable; however, the announcement of Mr. Darcy’s engagement to Elizabeth Bennet had fallen like a storm. It came just after the news that Mr. Wickham — everyone’s favourite — had left the regiment just before it was ready to move to Brighton for the summer. He left behind a series of debts, which were later paid by Mr. Darcy, a few broken hearts, and a large sum of money missing from Colonel Forster’s house.
It had been believed, however, that Mr. Darcy would never set foot in their small town again, considering how much he had despised his previous visit. And the notion that he could marry Elizabeth Bennet — the young woman he had called tolerable and refused to dance with — was beyond imagination.
Elizabeth’s reasons for marrying such an arrogant, disagreeable man, people could only suspect. With his income of ten thousand a year, owning a most impressive estate in Derbyshire, and being so tall and handsome, no woman would refuse him.
The gentleman’s reasons for proposing to someone so below his situation in life remained a mystery, and until the weddingceremony began, some people still believed it was a farce or a misunderstanding.
In truth, among those who feared that were both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, who had hardly recovered from the shock that Mr. Darcy would become their son-in-law — part of the family of which he was the severest critic.
Yet, the double wedding was completed, and Mrs. Bennet mingled among those in attendance, moving from one son-in-law to another, her nerves bearing the situation remarkably well.
In the large crowd were the Gardiners, Miss Georgiana Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Bingley’s sisters — the only ones who remained separate from everyone else.
Elizabeth watched the entire scene with a smile, her soul filled with pure happiness; not just for her but also for her dear sister Jane and her Mr. Bingley, who were holding hands like they feared they might lose each other again. Elizabeth had no such fears, though she had needed some time to understand that Mr. Darcy was the only man in the world who could be her perfect match.
She saw her father talking to her uncle Gardiner, while Mrs. Gardiner approached her.
“My dear Lizzy, I confess I still do not believe it. You, the mistress of Pemberley? I would never have dreamt that. I barely dared to dream that I would visit Pemberley again one day, and now Mr. Darcy has invited us all to spend the entire summer there.”
“Dearest aunt, you sound almost like Mama!” Elizabeth laughed.
“Well, this time I do feel like your mother. The thought that I shall take a ride around Pemberley Park in a phaeton with white horses is exhilarating.”
“You have an advantage over me, as I have not even seen Pemberley yet.”
“You will — and you will love it.”
“I would love it in any case because it is my husband’s home. My home.”
“You will go to London first, I hear?”
“Yes, Aunt. We shall leave immediately. Then we shall stay in London for a fortnight, to become acquainted with his family. I admit that, after the scandal aroused by Lady Catherine, I have some concerns in meeting Lord and Lady Matlock.”
“They will need some time to accept and love you, but they will, eventually.”
“I hope so. However, Fitzwilliam’s love and Georgiana’s affection are enough for me to be the happiest woman in the world.”
As they spoke, Darcy approached them, and he took his wife’s hand.
“I am sorry to interrupt you, but we should leave now. I would like to arrive in London before dinner. My sister and my cousin will come tomorrow.”
“Yes, we plan to travel all together,” Mrs. Gardiner said.
“I look forward to having dinner together at the end of the week,” Darcy said, while the entire family came to take their farewells.
Half an hour later, while the rest of the guests travelled to Netherfield for a celebratory breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy began their journey to London together.
They sat together on the same bench, and as soon as they left Meryton behind, his arms closed around her, and her hands entwined in his hair as they enjoyed the first kiss of their marriage.
“I still wonder whether this is true or only a dream,” Elizabeth said. “Everything happened so quickly, so unexpectedly! I barely realised when we became engaged, and now we are already married.”
“It might have happened quickly for you, my love, but for me, it was a sweet, long torture. I have been miserable in my love for almost six months, trying to become accustomed to the notion that I should never have what I most desire. Even worse, the arrogant fool that I was assumed that you returned my feelings and that perhaps my departure had disappointed and hurt you. Then I met you in Kent, and finally, my reason became at peace with my heart, only to realise that you despised me — and rightfully so. I tried to prove to you that I was not as bad as you believed me to be, and I slowly improved your opinion of me.”
