"You have a knack, sir, for arriving at precisely the moment when you are most needed." Elizabeth breathed, causing Darcy to move his arm around her waist to provide comfort.
"May I?" he asked gently as he nodded toward the letter.
Elizabeth only nodded, extending her hand so he could take the piece of paper from her. He took it from her, but before he read it, he pressed a light kiss to her cheek. "Whatever it is, we will face it together, my love," he whispered, squeezing her waist slightly as he looked down at the piece of paper now in his own hand. It did not take him long to read the message it contained, and he frowned down at it.
"William," she repeated, sighing heavily as she leaned into him. "My … my uncle received a letter as well. I assume it also demands my presence at home within the next fortnight."
His hands clutched hers firmly. "Will you go? Will you do as your father commands? He has not been much of a father to you in recent years; did not Gardiner say he had practically disowned you?"
Elizabeth scoffed. "There is no 'practically' to it. He told my uncle to take me and never bring me back. Not only that, but when my uncle demanded he sign my guardianship over to him, he agreed without question and told my uncle that I was no longer his daughter or his concern. Thomas Bennet has ignored me for almost ten years, ever since he sent me to live here, andI do not think he should have the right to suddenly demand my presence. I confess I am a little frightened because I do not obtain my majority for another three years and my letter seems to imply I am expected to remain there."
“If you truly believe that, you cannot possibly go.”
“You are right. I have no reason to return, yet I am concerned what Mr. Bennet will do if I do not comply. After all, just because he made uncle my guardian does not mean he cannot withdraw his consent. But why would he? Why is he suddenly interested enough in me to bring me back to Longbourn? I simply cannot understand it.”
Elizabeth was correct. Legally, her father had the right to rescind the authority he had given her uncle to act as her guardian. It did not matter what documents he may have signed, there was little to prevent him from demanding that his daughter come home if he wished it. Of course, Elizabeth could refuse to travel on her own, but if Thomas Bennet were to come to London and force her to return with him, her uncle could not prevent it.
Darcy would not let that happen. His mind was already racing for a solution to protect Elizabeth from her family, should she need it, and also to ensure nothing delayed the wedding. They were scheduled to marry in just over a fortnight; in truth, their banns had already been called both in Derbyshire and in London. There was nothing to prevent their marriage from taking place earlier than planned.
Her words interrupted his thoughts. "I really do not wish to go. And yet, I am extremely curious as to the reason for the summons to Longbourn. I cannot imagine he wants to apologise and restore our relationship. It is more likely he has somehow learned of our engagement and intends to interfere with or evenprevent our wedding to obtain some material gain in return for permitting us to marry. I should not think such things, but still …"
Darcy embraced her, drawing her to his chest. They both remained silent for several moments, lost in contemplation. "You have a fortnight before you are expected?" he asked again quietly.
She sniffed. "Yes."
"I have an idea," he murmured, lifting her chin so he could look her in the eyes. "The banns have been read. Considering your valid concerns regarding your father's summons, we will simply move our wedding date forward. Let us plan to marry on Monday. Then, after a week of honeymooning," he gave her a lascivious grin that made her giggle, "we shall travel together to Meryton and pay a call on your father. Perhaps there is a small inn, or a cottage, where we can stay while we are there."
Elizabeth leaned back and gave him a teasing grin. "I like the way you think. It would please me greatly if we are already married when we arrive. Mrs. Bennet will be furious that I married before her beautiful darling Jane. Even better, she cannot attempt to claim you for Jane. "
Darcy shook his head, smiling tenderly. "I do not think I have ever told you, but you stole my heart nearly from our first meeting, my dear girl. I was intrigued by you the moment you stood up to my father. You were young when we first met, and I appreciated your friendship in the years following my father's death. When I saw you again this Easter, well, I knew you owned my heart for certain."
"You had mine far longer," she whispered. "You stole my heart when you first rescued me as a girl and never surrendered it. I did not quite recognise my feelings for what they were back then, but I thought of you so often in the years we were apart. I was worried you would find someone else to marry before my come out and I was stunned when you began to court me in earnest this spring."
"Did you know my father approved of you as my wife? It was not long before he died, and although you were only fourteen at the time, he told me I should consider you when it came time for me to marry. He remembered how you visited the tenants at Pemberley with Mrs. Reynolds during that visit and how interested you were in reading and learning. You were quite forceful in expressing your opinions and debated with me frequently. It was at his recommendation that the Gardiners sent you to school; did you know that? I remember laughing at my father when he said it, but after I saw you as a woman instead of the girl you had been, I was inordinately pleased to recall his words to me."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Four years have certainly had their effect on you as well, Fitzwilliam. You have changed quite a bit yourself."
He shook his head, smiling fondly. "Are you concerned about marrying such an old man?"
Smiling lovingly at him, she shook her head and reached up to caress his face. "You are hardly old, sir, at twenty-four, but you are far more serious than the twenty-year-old I first met. I am thankful that I knew you before you became the Master of Pemberley since I sometimes think you would not have found it as easy to fall in love with me had we met now. I know how much these last years have affected you."
"It would have been far worse had I not had your friendship and that of the Gardiners. Bingley has been a friend, but you and the Gardiners have done far more to help me feel comfortable in my new role. You recognised that large groups of people made me uncomfortable and did not force me into company as he so frequently did. Georgiana benefited from your friendship, and I was grateful for their advice in raising a much younger sister. I would have been a very different man if I had not met you."
Elizabeth leaned her head against his shoulder. They had had this same conversation numerous times, but at this moment, it reassured her. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her more tightly to him. They remained in this attitude for some minutes. Eventually, he let out a sigh and spoke again. "We have drifted from the primary concern, my dear. What do you say to getting married on Monday? That way, when you return to Hertfordshire, it will be as my wife. Your father will no longer be able to command you, but you will still honour his request to visit."
Elizabeth thought for a moment as she firmed her resolve. “My Uncle Gardiner is more of a father to me than Mr. Bennet ever was, and that is the relationship I choose to honour. Yes, we will marry on Monday, but then I will allow you to decide if we should venture into Hertfordshire and for how long. My father does not have the right to object to our marriage now and should not be permitted to interfere with it in any way."
For a moment, Darcy also wondered if the Bennets had somehow learned of Elizabeth's pending nuptials and resolved to go to the Gardiners' church and his own as soon as possible. It was unlikely, but he wanted to ensure Mr. Bennet had not sent a letter objecting to the match if he had somehow learnt of it. Mr. Gardiner did have a written document giving him guardianshipof Elizabeth and had provided for her for most of the last decade. Her father's lack of involvement in her life should prevent him from interfering, but he wanted to be certain.
"What will your uncle say about this letter?" Darcy asked after they had been silent for several more minutes.
"I believe they will agree with your suggestion of moving the date forward. This way, if I must face my father, I will do so with you at my side. As my husband, you will have the right to speak for me, and my father cannot demand that you return me. The settlement has been signed, and all the legalities have been arranged."
Darcy nodded. "They have been generous in giving us so much time to talk privately. Should we call them in so we can share our plans?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "My uncle should arrive home soon. But for right now, William, we are quite alone. Kiss me," she whispered. "Remind me of your love."
He could not deny her request. He stood, pulling her along with him, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Hers immediately went around his neck, and her fingers toyed with his hair at his nape. For several moments, they merely stared into each other's eyes. "I love you, Elizabeth. I will always love you, and I will not allow anyone to separate us," he whispered, then lowered his lips to hers.
