“Yes, and while I do like Richard very much, I do not like him nearly as well as I do my own Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said with a playful grin. “You and Richard are certainly well suited to each other, and I have no doubt you will make a wonderful countess. But can you imagine me, having to entertain members of Parliament?” She laughed at herself at the thought. “I would scarcely be able to keep my tongue, and I am quite certain I would offend someone within the first ten minutes. No, it is farbetter for England that I remain a commoner. I can speak my mind without worrying about which noble sensibilities I might trample upon.”
She looked at her sister with a teasing smile. “Of course, I would be the first to admit that a life without the burden of keeping up appearances does have its charm. You and Richard will do well together, Jane.”
Laughing, Elizabeth took her sister’s arm and carefully led her towards the waiting carriage. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still damp, so they moved slowly, lifting their skirts to avoid contact with the wet ground.
The carriage ride was brief, and soon, the four were disembarking from the carriage. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner entered the church first, taking their seats near the front, and Elizabeth beamed when she saw Darcy standing next to his cousin.
“I love you,” she mouthed at him when their eyes met.
“I love you,” he mouthed in reply, his expression full of his love and devotion.
Their attention was diverted when Jane entered, her uncle’s arm linked with hers, followed by Mary. The sight of Jane in her wedding gown, radiant and serene, made Elizabeth’s heart swell with happiness. She could not help but smile, feeling an overwhelming sense of love for her sister and a quiet sense of peace knowing that everything had worked out as it ought to have.
The wedding ceremony proceeded in the time-honoured manner. As Jane and Fitzwilliam exchanged their vows, Elizabeth felt a rush of emotion that threatened to overwhelmher. The memory of her own wedding day, less than a year ago, flashed in her mind—when she had married Darcy in a smallkirknear Coldstream, Scotland, with only Richard Fitzwilliam in attendance. Her eyes filled with tears of happiness as she looked at her dear husband, finding him looking back at her with the same quiet affection that had first drawn her to him. The life they were building together, their child on the way, and all they had overcome filled her with a deep sense of gratitude and hope.
Her breath caught as she saw him subtly nod, a small but reassuring gesture that spoke volumes to her. In that moment, Elizabeth knew how truly blessed she was. The weight of his steady gaze, full of understanding, steadied her, and she returned the look with a smile that reached her eyes.
As the ceremony continued, Elizabeth’s gaze never wavered from Darcy, who gave her a knowing, affectionate smile. The ceremony was filled with such solemnity and joy that time seemed to pause for a moment, as if it recognised the significance of the day—not only for Jane but for Elizabeth as well.
The wedding breakfast was a celebration not only of Jane’s and Richard’s union but of family and love. As Elizabeth and Darcy stood together, watching the newlyweds, her heart swelled with happiness. Life had already brought them so much, but with each passing day, it promised even more.
A little over a fortnight later,Mrs. Bennet left Pemberley with her two youngest daughters and her brother. Mr. Gardiner was reluctantly escorting his sister to the seaside and would ensure that all was in order before returning home to London. He would travel back to Pemberley at the beginning of August to collect his wife and children, who were staying so Mrs. Gardiner could be there for Elizabeth’s confinement.
At first, Mrs. Bennet had not wanted to depart, but the promise of a month in Lyme had quickly won her acquiescence. The more she considered the matter, the more she agreed that it was best for Mrs. Gardiner to be there to assist Elizabeth with the birth, since that lady had experienced it far more recently. In fact, as Mrs. Bennet recalled what a dreadful process her own confinements had been, she felt a month at the seaside was far preferable to waiting on Elizabeth.
The four Gardiner children proved to be much more pleasant houseguests than their aunt had been. Content with the well-stocked nursery and a few maids to attend to their needs, they required little of Elizabeth, allowing her to enjoy some peace. Mrs. Gardiner, too, was a far more restful companion. While Darcy focused on necessary estate business, she encouraged Elizabeth to rest, offering quiet support and providing assistance discreetly, without imposing. Elizabeth found great comfort in her aunt’s gentle presence. One afternoon, as they sat together in the drawing room, Elizabeth sighed, leaning back against the cushions.
“I cannot remember the last time I felt so… at peace,” she said, her voice soft but filled with gratitude.
Mrs. Gardiner glanced at her with a smile. “It is good to have a moment of respite, my dear. You have been through so much these past months. Allow yourself to enjoy this time. It willend soon enough,” she said meaningfully, her gaze drifting to Elizabeth’s distended stomach. “I believe there is not long to go now.”
Elizabeth’s hand instinctively rested on her belly, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Yes, I suppose I cannot put off the inevitable,” she said with a wry smile, her voice tinged with both excitement and nervousness. “It seems as though this little one is determined to arrive on his or her own schedule.”
Mrs. Gardiner chuckled. “They often are. But rest assured, Elizabeth, you will manage just as you always have.”
“I do hope so,” Elizabeth replied, her tone more uncertain than she meant it to be. “It is strange, is it not? This feeling of waiting. It is almost as if life is on pause until… until everything changes.” Her voice trailed off, as she considered all the changes that had taken place in the last months and that would soon occur.
Mrs. Gardiner’s expression softened with understanding. “Change can be daunting, but it is also the most wonderful part of life. You will find, my dear, that this change is one you will embrace with joy, even on the hardest days.”
Elizabeth turned to her aunt, a question lingering in her eyes. “Did you ever feel this way? When you were waiting for your own children?”
Mrs. Gardiner thought for a moment before answering, her gaze growing distant with memory. “Of course, I did. There were moments when I was overwhelmed by the thought of it all. But then there were other moments—small ones— when everything felt just right, and I knew that I had all the support I needed.” She looked at Elizabeth meaningfully. “You have the best kind of support, my dear. Fitzwilliam will be by your side, just as he hasbeen these last months. Even when you were apart, he was in your heart, was he not?”
Elizabeth’s heart warmed at the mention of her husband. “Yes, he has been… incredible,” she said softly, her voice filled with affection. “I sometimes wonder how I could have ever survived without him. He has been my rock through everything.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled gently. “You were not the only one who has struggled, Elizabeth. The path you have both walked has not been an easy one. But look at where you are now. You are both stronger for it.”
Elizabeth nodded, her hand resting on her belly once more. “Yes, I suppose we are. I am beginning to see that everything we have been through has led us to this moment. I only hope that I can be the mother I want to be.”
“You will be,” Mrs. Gardiner said confidently. “I have no doubt about that. You will have all the love in the world to give your little one.”
Just then, the door opened, and Darcy stepped into the room, his eyes instantly going to his wife. A soft smile tugged at his lips when he saw her with her aunt, the two women sharing a quiet moment.
“How is my favourite lady?” he asked as he leant over to lightly kiss her lips, his voice warm and affectionate.
“I am well, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth replied, her smile widening as he came to sit beside her. “We were just discussing the changes that are soon to come.”
Darcy placed a hand on Elizabeth’s, his touch comforting. “Indeed,” he said, “but I think, my love, we are ready for whatever comes. Together.”
