Lord and Lady Matlock seemed to be aware that they had been put on warning. “Stop all this foolishness, Darcy. We are nothere to stop the wedding but to support it. Richard has been telling us what happened in Hertfordshire, and after receiving a letter from Cathy, well, we thought it best to throw our support behind you and your bride as soon as possible. Now, when is the wedding to be?”
Darcy blinked for a moment at the earl. “You … you are here to support me?” he stammered.
Lady Matlock reached out a hand to pat his knee. “Of course, dear boy. We look upon you quite like another son. I do wish you had written to us sooner, but we understand from Richard that you have had quite the time of it. He told us about the incident with Wickham. I have never understood why George Darcy favoured that boy so much.”
The earl interrupted. “Wickham was always something of a wastrel, and I am worried about him intruding on your notice once again. Richard will certainly continue the search, and I believe that was part of his intent in coming here. My son also mentioned Miss Bennet’s father’s objections to the match. I can understand his objection less than your father’s treatment of the steward’s son. Is the man a fool? Oh, I do apologise, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth spoke for the first time since greeting them on the steps. “There is nothing to apologise for, my lord. I have come to a similar realisation. My father has been both short-sighted and foolish. He taught me as if I were his son, using me to lighten his own burden with his estate. I believed he cared for me and appreciated me for myself, but he intended that I would remain with him forever only so I might carry the burden of running the estate, leaving him to his books and sloth.” She shook her head sadly at the remembrance.
“Regardless, his indolence in tending to his business will not prevent us from marrying. We have chosen not to wait for my majority, and after speaking with Mr. Harris”—she turned to look at Darcy, and he nodded at her to tell them—“we have determined the best course of action is to purchase a common licence and to marry on Wednesday.”
Two of their guests were visibly startled by this news. “Wednesday?” Lady Matlock asked after a moment. “What about the reading of the banns and the like?”
“We spoke with the rector in Kympton yesterday and explained the situation to him. Since Elizabeth’s father signed the settlement and a statement giving his permission for her to wed, I was able to purchase a common licence. He agreed to forgo any waiting periods and will conduct the ceremony Wednesday morning.”
“I thought Mr. Bennet was unwilling to give his permission.” The earl voiced the thought that they all had.
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “My uncles had him sign several documents before we departed the neighbourhood. Among other things, he gave the guardianship of me and my sisters—well, all but Jane, who is of age—to them, and my Uncle Phillips also prepared a marriage settlement and a statement granting permission for William and me to wed. My father did not bother reading the documents and signed them without hesitation. He also signed control of the estate and its income to William, though he and I will run it together from a distance.”
The earl grunted. “He is more of a fool than I thought. No one should ever sign a document without reading it thoroughly, regardless of how much you trust the man asking you to sign it.” He continued to speak along these lines for several minutes.
Elizabeth could do little else but nod. Darcy, seeing the look in her eyes, turned the conversation to another topic. “You mentioned a letter from Lady Catherine?” Darcy asked.
“It seems she received a letter from your friend’s sister—the one who chases after you constantly.” Lady Matlock paused, observing her nephew’s grimace. “She claims you have been ‘bewitched’ by some ‘country mushroom’ of no fortune and little beauty. According to Catherine’s letter, the girl is high in the belly with the progeny of some militiaman, and she is after you to provide for the child’s care. The two claim you have been thoroughly taken in as you would never ‘forsake your duty to your family’ otherwise.”
Darcy groaned. “Does she remain at Rosings?”
“According to her letter, she was to begin her journey north this morning,” Fitzwilliam interjected. “Knowing Lady Catherine, she left no earlier than ten in the morning and will travel for no more than four hours a day. She might arrive within the week. However, in her letters she had commanded that Father put a stop to any engagement.”
This time, Darcy rolled his eyes. “Caroline Bingley managed to place a spy within Netherfield. She arranged to have my letters stolen and sent to her instead of to their intended recipients. Bingley is taking her north to Scarborough to see what he can do with her and set her up on her own. For now, I will not attempt to have her punished, so long as she has not already or does not spread any of her vitriol to others.”
Lady Matlock scowled. “I will let my friends in town know she is a jealous shrew who has lost out on her intended target and is attempting to discredit the woman who did what she could not. I will take care of Elizabeth’s reputation and her entrée intosociety, do not worry about that. Now, what remains to be done for this wedding?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Two days later, Pemberley stirred into activity long before the sun graced the morning sky. The kitchen bustled with preparations for the wedding breakfast while numerous maids and footmen diligently executed the directives of Mrs. Reynolds and Lady Matlock, adorning the house with flower arrangements from the hothouses and greenery gathered from the woods the previous days.
Elizabeth’s room was abuzz with excitement and bustling activity as she and her sisters prepared for her wedding day. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia flitted around the room, offering opinions on which accessories Elizabeth should wear.
“Perhaps this ribbon would complement your gown, Lizzy,” Mary suggested, holding up a delicate yellow ribbon.
Kitty chimed in, “No, no, Lizzy, this lace would look much lovelier with your veil!”
Meanwhile, Lydia, always one to seek adventure, rummaged through the box of jewellery Darcy had gifted his bride. “Oh,Lizzy, you simply must wear these earrings! They are positively divine!”
Amidst the chaos of well-intentioned suggestions, Aunt Gardiner entered the room with a gentle smile. “Girls, girls, let us not overwhelm the bride,” she said, her tone calm yet firm. “Jane, Georgiana, please stay. The rest of you, out!” With a gentle wave of her hand, she shooed Mary, Kitty, and Lydia out of the room, leaving a sense of order and tranquillity behind.
Once they were alone, Jane and Georgiana approached Elizabeth, assisting her with her dress and veil. “You look breathtaking, Lizzy,” Jane remarked, her eyes shining with sisterly pride.
Georgiana nodded in agreement, a soft smile gracing her lips. “Indeed, you are the picture of elegance and grace. Brother will be so pleased to see you coming down the aisle to him.”
With her sisters’ support, Elizabeth felt a sense of calm wash over her as she prepared to embark on this new chapter of her life. Their presence was a comforting reminder of the bonds of sisterhood and family accompanying her as she walked down the aisle toward her beloved.
Down the hall,Fitzwilliam engaged in lighthearted, teasing banter with the groom, an attempt to ease the tension that lingered in the air. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Fitzwilliam quipped, “Come now, cousin, you act as though marriage is akin to navigating a treacherous battlefield. I assure you, it is merely a pleasant stroll through the garden of eternalbliss. Besides, my sage advice is only meant to enhance your already profound wisdom. You will thank me for these invaluable nuggets of marital wisdom someday, mark my words!”
“Richard, leave off,” the groom implored, his patience wearing thin. “Nothing you have said so far has been helpful. I have received an abundance of advice from three different married men, and I can bear no more. I am fully aware of the importance of tonight, and your jesting is entirely unnecessary.”
Darcy knew what his cousin was doing. Instead of nervously pacing, he was able to redirect those anxious emotions into mild aggravation at Fitzwilliam instead. With an exaggerated bow, his cousin excused himself from the room, reminding them that their carriage would soon depart to take them to the church.
