Elizabeth’s heart was hammering in her ears. “William,” she gasped.
“Elizabeth, my Elizabeth!” He leant his forehead against hers. “I want you desperately, but we must wait. We must.”
She nodded, unable to speak. Certainly she did not wish any further intimacies to take place in Longbourn’s back garden; but she seemed unable to control her responses. It was well thathewas able to do so!
***
Later that night, Kate helped Elizabeth get ready for bed. “You are a lucky young lady, Miss Elizabeth,” she said.
“You mean because of Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes, indeed! What a fine lady you will be!”
“I wish you would come to Pemberley, Kate. I shall know no one there, and it would be a great comfort to have you with me.”
Kate shook her head. “You will have many servants at your disposal.”
Elizabeth sighed. “But I shall know none of them, Kate.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
On the twenty-fourth of May, at about two in the afternoon, a very fine coach and four rumbled into Meryton. Thanks to Mrs. Bennet, the entire town knew that the Earl and Countess of Matlock were to attend her daughter’s wedding the next day, so there was no mystery as to who was traveling in such style. For those who had doubted Mrs. Bennet’s claims, the coronet with eight strawberry leaves emblazoned on the door of the coach was impossible to mistake.
The coach pulled up to Netherfield Park, and its inhabitants were soon seated comfortably in the drawing room. Mr. Bingley watched his wife with awe; she served tea and cakes to her guests as if she entertained such august visitors regularly.
“I cannot thank you enough for coming,” Mr. Darcy said, for the third time.
“I told you we would,” his aunt replied, frowning at him. “But perhaps you receive so little support from your own mother that you can scarce credit it coming from us,” she added, one aristocratic brow elevated.
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “Not so,” he insisted. “My mother is only absent today because she was not informed of the event.”
“And why was she not so informed, then?” Aunt Eleanor asked, with a touch of querulousness in her voice. “Because we agreed it was better to present her with a fait accompli, if I recall correctly!”
“Perhaps this is not the place, m’dear,” her husband said, hastily.
“Quite right; my sincere apologies for bringing our family troubles into your peaceful drawing room,” the Countess addressed Mrs. Bingley, politely.
“Not at all, my lady,” Mrs. Bingley replied, serenely. “All families have their difficulties.”
“Will we meet the bride today?” the Countess asked.
“My sister is simply waiting for me to send a note, requesting that she come here. She wished to make certain that you were given time to rest and refresh yourselves,” Mrs. Bingley said.
“Very thoughtful; perhaps in about an hour, then,” the Countess said, and then stated that she would repair to her room for a brief rest.
***
Elizabeth received the note from Jane with trembling fingers. “Come at four,” the note said. She had already received permission from her father to take the carriage; evenheunderstood that she could not appear in front of the Earl and Countess of Matlock having walked three miles!
Her mother snatched the note from her nerveless fingers. “I still do not know why they could not come here, instead of sending for you like a servant girl! No, I do not like it at all, Lizzy, and nothing you can say will make any difference.”
Indeed, Elizabeth had attempted to explain several times that it was forherto attendthem, not the other way ‘round, despite Elizabeth being the bride. Of course, what could not be said was that the manners of Mrs. Bennet and the younger Bennet girls would not stand up to close examination; Elizabeth did not, under any circumstances, wish to contemplate her mother or younger sisters in close conversation with the Earl and Countess.
At twenty minutes till the hour, she was ready, carefully dressed by Kate, and with what felt like a thousand pins anchoring her curls to her scalp. She had no jewelry other than a topaz cross, which she wore so as not to feel too…well, too poor.
***
When Elizabeth entered the Netherfield drawing room, William came immediately to her side and offered his arm. She smiled up at him, thanking him with her eyes for this courtesy and support. He presented her proudly to his relatives.
