Page 74 of The Widower of Pemberley

She thought she knew the principal facts, but she was not certain. She glanced at Mr. Darcy, who looked about steadily and in an unembarrassed manner, except that his colour was high.

Hecertainly knew precisely what was involved in a wedding night.

From the corner of her eye, she saw that the younger unmarried women in the room, such as her sisters, Maria Lucas, and Georgiana had a keenly interested look.

Mr. Darcy said, “There will be ample time during the course of the night for significant conversations to occur.”

Lydia and Kitty tittered in a way that Elizabeth found terribly embarrassing.

Then Mr. Bingley broke the awkwardness by raising his wine glass. “A toast to Mr. and Mrs. Darcy!”

She was Mrs. Darcy.

“As for lodgings for the night, Miss Elizabeth—” Mr. Bingley stopped and grinned sheepishly at everyone. “I mean Mrs. Darcy. You are most welcome to join Darcy in his rooms at Netherfield—that will be a surprise for Caroline and Louisa.” He started laughing. “Amidst the activity of the day I had completely forgotten my sisters. They have received no message about what has transpired here. It would be such a surprise to them if you come and we introduce you to them all as Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth grimaced, and she looked at Mr. Darcy to see what he thought. A similar unhappy expression adorned his face.

“I suppose,” Mr. Bingley continued, “it might be awkward tomorrow round the breakfast table while we wait for Darcy and the colonel to return from their rendezvous.”

Elizabeth shivered.

Even though Mr. Darcy had said that he did not mean to fight Mr. Wickham, she was terrified of the morning. What would he really do when he saw his enemy?

“That sounds awkward indeed,” Elizabeth replied with a forced smile, “and an amusing surprise that I would happily avoid.”

“You will both stay here,” Mrs. Bennet said. “It will be no problem if Mr. Darcy and you both spend the night in your bedroom! Why, to begin one’s married life in their girlhood room seems like a very good omen!”

Elizabeth baulked at the thought of doingthat, whateverthatincluded, in her bedroom.

So odd, so wrong.

And her papa’s chamber was just below hers, and Elizabeth had gained the impression thatthatoften involved a great deal of noise.

Mr. Darcy said calmly, “It is hardly of great importance as I do not think I shall sleep much. I shall need to leave two hours before dawn to ride to the appointed meeting place.”

“Oh, you do notsleepon your wedding night.” Mrs. Bennet giggled. “Youknow that. You have been married before.”

Elizabeth’s face burned, and she wished to sink through the floor, down into the ground, and then deeper and deeper until no one would be able to find the bones.

In a slightly awed and almost whispered voice, Georgiana asked, “Mrs. Bennet, whatexactlydo you do on a wedding night?”

It was her mother’s turn to look a little embarrassed, but after a few seconds of appearing tongue-tied, she cheerfully replied, “That is for you to learn about whenyoumarry. By then my Lizzy will be well qualified to tell you everything that you should know. You must be so happy to have gained such a sister.”

“I am!” Georgiana agreed. “I could not love Lizzy better if we had grown up together.”

Elizabeth smiled warmly at the girl, though the embarrassment of the conversation still scorched her face.

In the end, Emily and Georgiana could not stifle their yawns any longer, so the Netherfield party, with the exception of Mr. Darcy, made their farewells.

Mr. Collins walked over to Lucas Lodge with Sir William and his family when they departed, so that there would be room for Mr. Darcy’s valet and Colonel Fitzwilliam to have guest rooms without making any of Elizabeth’s sisters bed together or forcing one of the servants to sleep on the floor.

Elizabeth and Charlotte embraced before Charlotte left. Elizabeth watched her friend walk away on the arm of Mr. Collins, listening to his conversation with more appearance of interest than Elizabeth had imagined anyone could muster.

Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam remained in the drawing room whilst Mrs. Bennet called Elizabeth upstairs to explain the secrets of the wedding night.

The conversation that followed was the most exquisitely embarrassing of Elizabeth’s life, though it did provide some information of interest, and more than a little reason for anxiety, even though Elizabeth had been correct in thinking herself to be informed of the principal facts.

When she returned to the drawing room, Elizabeth found her husband—how odd to give a man that title—sitting in the dim light with his legs crossed and an unreadable expression on his face as he stared at the fire, while Colonel Fitzwilliam read a newspaper by candlelight.