He turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand. Something must have drawn the others’ attention to the couple as Darcy heard his cousin lightly chuckle as they stood.
“Well, ladies,” the Colonel declared. “I believe Darcy and I were tasked to attend you to Bond Street to meet my mother and my young cousin. After shopping, will all of you be joining us at Darcy House for tea?”
Mrs Gardiner answered for the group. “My nieces will join Miss Darcy for tea, but I will return home and accompany my husband to Darcy House for dinner. The girls will stay for the afternoon and have already messengered their clothes for dinner tonight.”
The Colonel offered one arm to Miss Bennet and the other to Mrs Gardiner while Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the carriage. They handed the ladies in before entering, with William sitting directly across from his Elizabeth. His long legs occasionally bumped into hers as the carriage jolted, and each time, Darcy grinned at her while Elizabeth blushed and smiled shyly. When they arrived at Bond Street, the gentlemen left the carriage and handed the ladies out. Colonel Fitzwilliam again escorted Jane while Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm as Mrs Gardiner led the way to the modiste, where Lady Matlock and Georgiana had just arrived. After a quick consultation with the other ladies, Lady Matlock informed the Colonel and Darcy when their escort would be required, and the men headed off on their errands.
As they drove away from the ladies, Darcy abruptly chuckled, causing his cousin to ask what was on his mind. “It has occurred to me that my current felicity is due to Lady Catherine’s insistence on having her own way in everything.” He laughed again when he said it out loud.
Richard looked at his cousin with one eyebrow raised. “How is that?” he enquired.
“If Lady Catherine had not expelled Elizabeth from her parson’shome, she would be arriving in London tomorrow. Instead, Elizabeth arrived in London nearly a week ago and landed quite literally on my doorstep, where we were in company with Georgiana for several hours. We understand each other better now, and Elizabeth is learning about my character and, I believe, knows she can trust me. Since we also suspect she has something to do with why Mr Bennet urged a quick wedding and told Elizabeth not to return unwed, she is, in essence, forcing me into a quick marriage with the woman I love more than life itself. If she had not acted, our wedding would likely be several months away instead of tomorrow,” he finished.
Richard laughed with him and asked, “Will you inform our aunt of her role in your current felicity?”
Darcy chuckled in response, but before he could say more, the coach stopped in front of an imposing building where he had an appointment with his solicitor. Nearly as soon as Elizabeth accepted his offer of courtship, he instructed his solicitor to have the settlement drawn up and his will rewritten to include the woman he intended to make his wife. He felt slightly foolish since they were only courting, but he sent his instructions ahead, hoping that Elizabeth would soon accept his hand. Anticipating that at least a portion of their courtship would have been conducted in Meryton and the marriage ultimately occurring in his bride’s home parish, he believed having the documents prepared ahead would save him having to separate from her once they were engaged. Now that they were marrying so soon, he was pleased he had taken such a step, as his solicitor sent word the previous afternoon that the documents were awaiting final review and signatures.
Darcy quickly and carefully reviewed the documents and signed his updated will, which the witnesses signed. Additional copies would be drawn up and sent around for him to sign and place in his safes at both Darcy House and Pemberley, while his solicitor would send a copy to be placed in a vault at Darcy’s primary bank and retain two copies in addition to filing one with the courts, thereby ensuring his final wishes would be carried out in the manner he specified.
Darcy also left with four copies of the settlement papers for him and Mr Gardiner to review and sign after they reviewed them with Elizabethand made any changes to what they contained. He wanted her to know the provisions he made for her, although he wondered if she would think it all too much.
Their business concluded, Darcy and Richard were soon outside the modiste’s shop, waiting for the ladies to complete the final fitting of Elizabeth’s wedding gown. Before long, the entire party returned to Darcy House, although Mrs Gardiner continued to Grace Church Street until she returned with her husband for dinner.
Lady Matlock accompanied them inside before whispering a few words to Darcy, who then spoke to the housekeeper. “Elizabeth,” Lady Matlock said after Darcy nodded, “after tea, would you like to view the rooms you will inhabit as Mrs Darcy?”
Elizabeth coloured slightly but quickly agreed. Speaking softly in a voice intended only for her, William said, “Please make any changes you would like, as the rooms have not been updated in some time. I had them cleaned and aired after you accepted my hand, but there has not been time for any redecorating. However,” his voice dropped lower and became slightly husky, “I do hope you will not need your own chambers and will agree to share mine.”
She coloured brilliantly, but her courage rose, and she maintained eye contact with the man she loved. “I think I would like that, my love,” she whispered, watching his eyes darken, and his breath quicken at her response. She responded similarly.
It was several moments before he spoke. “Elizabeth,” he said, his voice a caress. He reconsidered what he was going to say and took several deep breaths. “I can hardly wait until you are my wife, my love. But for now, let us have tea. I will not accompany you on your tour later, as I am not certain I would sleep at all tonight if I did.” He gave her a meaningful glance and a wink, and she blushed again before accepting a cup of tea from Georgiana.
The group conversed easily over tea for nearly an hour before the ladies accompanied the housekeeper to the family wing, where they reviewed the mistress’s suite. The room was lovely, bright and full of sunshine, and Elizabeth adored it. The drapes, bed curtain, and coverlet were faded and needed replacing, but the chairs and other furniture fit the room well, and the dressing room andbathing rooms were clean, well-appointed, and simply decorated. Only a few changes were required; the mistress’s suite suited Elizabeth perfectly.
Afterwards, the ladies walked through the private sitting room between the master’s and mistress’s suites and noted a few minor changes that could be made to it but found it well-appointed overall. Elizabeth wanted to peek into William’s room but thought better of asking, however dearly she would have loved to see the space.
Following their tour, Lady Matlock returned home to dress for dinner. Georgiana went to her room to prepare, and the housekeeper escorted the Bennet ladies to a room where they could rest and change for dinner. The maid assigned to them assisted Elizabeth and Jane in changing into their dinner attire. She attended to Elizabeth’s hair first, and while Jane’s hair was being finished, Elizabeth sought out the library and a book she had spotted on a previous visit.
Arriving in the library, Elizabeth settled into a chair to read the book of poetry she sought. A short while later, Darcy found her curled up in a chair reading, her slippers on the floor, and her feet tucked underneath her. Something drew her attention, and she noticed William in the doorway watching her, a slight smile on his face. Her answering smile warmed his heart.
“You look very comfortable, my dear,” he said softly, causing her to blush, and she attempted to untuck her feet without revealing them to Darcy. “I believe I will find you here often in the future.”
“I am sorry, William,” she said, glancing down at her shoes on the carpet and thinking about what to do next. “This is a lovely room and very cosy. This may very well be my favourite room in the house.”
“Do not apologise, dearest,” he said, watching her for a moment longer. Her foot peeked out from under her skirt, and the sight of it enthralled him. He forced his attention back to her face and the conversation. “I am glad you are comfortable in Darcy House, and I look forward to spending evenings with you in a similar attitude. Perhaps after we are married, you will allow me to glance at your lovely feet, even hold them in my lap while we both read.” Again, she blushed, but a glance revealed she was smiling at his words.
“Since we will be married tomorrow, might you help me now with putting my slippers back on?” she asked with a look that was somehowdemur in its boldness. He knelt in front of her and picked up her slippers.
“Your feet are so small, love,” he said huskily. She carefully unfolded her legs and placed her feet on the floor before her, lifting one at a time as he gently put the slippers on her feet. Moving slowly and glancing around him, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. Drawing back for a moment, he watched her, eyes still closed. She sighed softly, and he claimed her lips again, this time pouring more of his love into the kiss. A few moments later, they both drew back, needing to breathe.
Darcy helped Elizabeth stand and then reseated them on a settee nearby. Sitting closer than was proper, he held her in his arms and whispered words of love punctuated by light kisses.
“Come now, you two,” Richard said when he entered the library. “We are all gathered in the drawing room, wondering what could keep the two of you.” He winked as he spoke.
Darcy glanced at the clock, arched his brow, and retorted, “Dinner is not for another thirty minutes, Richard. I would be surprised if anyone is in the drawing room now.”
Richard laughed. “You may be right, cousin, but my mother is looking for the pair of you, and I offered to find you. You best be glad it was me and not Georgiana who found the two of you cuddled up like that before you are married.” He looked sternly at his cousin, but it did not last long. “You are besotted, cousin. I never thought I would see the day a mere slip of a girl felled the great Fitzwilliam Darcy.” He laughed heartily at the scowl his cousin directed his way.
Darcy stood and assisted Elizabeth to stand, placing her small hand on his arm and pressing it tightly to his side. Whispering a quick “I love you” into her ear, he smirked at his cousin, brushing past him to lead his intended to the drawing room.
