“Good morning, dearest Elizabeth,” he returned, just as quietly. She took his arm, and they began to walk in step towards the church, Elizabeth pausing now and again to offer greetings to friends and neighbours.
It was evident that most were surprised to see him; only Mr Phillips had known of his impending arrival, and he supposed the man had told his wife the night before. What else they might know, he could not determine; but they would all be informed soon enough.
As they neared the church, Sir William stepped forward to greet them. “Good morning, Mr Darcy. What a surprise it is to see you in the area,” he said, with a meaningful glance at the unexpected pair. “When your friend did not return, not even to take his leave, we had not expected to see any of his party again.”
“I met with Miss Elizabeth in April while I was visiting my aunt, and she was staying with Mrs Collins,” Darcy replied, with a slight inclination of his head. “We renewed the acquaintance when Miss Elizabeth was lately in Derbyshire. It was quite an unexpected meeting, but I was pleased to see her again.”
Sir William appeared uncertain how to respond, but said, “Capital—capital!” in a boisterous tone, once more glancing at their linked arms. He offered nothing further, nor did Darcy or Elizabeth add to it, and after a moment, he hurried away to greet another acquaintance, only to be replaced by someone else.
“You are doing well,” Elizabeth murmured to him after several such exchanges. He squeezed her arm in silent acknowledgement, but before more could be said, the bells rang, signalling it was time to enter.
The Bennet pew, along with the one behind it, was overflowing with the addition of the Gardiners, along with Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, so Darcy conducted Elizabeth to a seat just behind, where they might sit together without inconvenience to the rest.
He could feel the eyes of a great many upon him, and he almost smiled to himself as he realised how odd it must seem for him and his sister to have suddenly arrived in the area with little warning. As his attention had been wholly occupied with Elizabeth, and with playing his part as a devoted suitor, he could only assume that Georgiana had been introduced to others as well. She had entered between Mary and Kitty Bennet, with Mrs Annesley following a step or two behind. Already, it seemed the three girls had formed the beginnings of a friendship. He was pleased by this, and recalled Elizabeth briefly mentioning inviting one or more of her sisters to join Georgiana at Pemberley during their wedding journey.
The familiar service passed quickly. Darcy was acutely aware of Elizabeth’s presence beside him, and he could not deny that he sat a little nearer than he strictly ought.
At the conclusion of the prayers, when the congregation had begun to settle in expectation of the final notices, the rector stepped forward once more.
“It is my duty to announce that a marriage is intended to be solemnised between Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Derbyshire, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, of this parish, on Wednesday next, by common license.”
A murmur, low but unmistakable, passed through the church.
He cleared his throat to regain the attention of all present. “I trust the congregation will join me in wishing them every happiness.”
Darcy felt the eyes of nearly everyone in the room turn towards him and Elizabeth. Their curiosity was palpable, and so much attention was fixed upon them that he was keenly aware of every movement. He kept his gaze forward, allowing himself only the briefest inclination of his head when the rector glanced in their direction. Beside him, Elizabeth shifted almost imperceptibly, and he felt her fingers find his hand, their clasp concealed beneath the folds of her skirts.
When the service was concluded, the congregation lingered rather longer than usual, as though reluctant to depart without first satisfying their curiosity. Darcy rose and offered Elizabeth his arm once more, conscious that every movement would now be observed.
As they exited, he paused to thank the rector, who mentioned their appointment on Monday to discuss the particulars of the ceremony.
“I remember you from last autumn, and if Miss Elizabeth has accepted you, she must consider you worthy. It is my hope that you have shown her a different side of yourself than you did before,” the man added in a lowered voice at the close of their brief exchange.
Darcy felt a warmth rise along his neck, brought on as much by the rector’s quiet censure as by the immediate recollection of how well it was deserved.
He nodded in acknowledgment of his words and led Elizabeth outside, where Mrs Bennet was already surrounded by her neighbours, receiving their congratulations with evident satisfaction and responding to them with equal eagerness. Her voice carried across the churchyard in animated tones, rising and falling with a familiarity that suggested the conversation had moved well beyond simple felicitation, into details he had no wish to hear repeated—and which he suspected were already much exaggerated.
Darcy caught only fragments—references to Lydia, to Brighton, to the suddenness of the wedding—but he turned his attention firmly awayfrom them.
Mr Bennet stood apart from his neighbours, making little attempt to join the conversation, while Jane remained beside her mother, listening in silence. Once or twice, Darcy thought she attempted to redirect her mother’s remarks, without much success; and, for his own part, he soon returned his attention to the conversations around him.
Glancing about, he saw at some distance that the Gardiners had already begun escorting the younger girls towards Longbourn, including Georgiana and Mrs Annesley. Though he had wished to speak with his sister, he was grateful that she would be spared the press of congratulations and speculation that would surely come his way.
Many of those who had spoken to him before the service now approached again to offer their felicitations, detaining them at every step.
“Mr Darcy—how very unexpected to see you in Meryton?—”
“Miss Elizabeth—a wedding on Wednesday? How very sudden, but it is a most delightful?—”
“A most fortunate match, indeed—particularly given… recent events concerning Miss Lydia—though I dare say it cannot have been so very serious?—”
Darcy felt Elizabeth’s hand rest more firmly upon his arm as he bowed where required and offered what civility was necessary, although he did not permit himself to be detained long by any one party. It appeared that no one was aware of Lydia’s near ruin, nor was anyone overly surprised to learn that she had behaved in some improper manner at Brighton, prompting her father to return her to the schoolroom.
“I had heard something of her behaviour in Brighton—nothing of consequence, I trust?—”
“Miss Lydia ought to have remained in the schoolroom, and perhaps Miss Kitty as well?—”
“Mrs Bennet must be quite relieved to have matters so happily settled, particularly with her second daughter marrying so well?—”
