Page 124 of The Engagement at Longbourn

It was a beginning. Mr. Bennet signed the register twice as father of both brides and complained that no man should be required to perform the same emotional duty in duplicate. The Earl signed for Darcy. Mr. Gardiner signed for Elizabeth.

Richard signed with an unnecessarily elaborate flourish that Darcy criticized. “It is a legal register, not a battlefield dispatch.”

“I wished history to remember me.”

“History will struggle to read your name.”

Outside, the churchyard erupted.

People cheered. Lydia had somehow obtained flower petals despite being specifically told no one would throw anything at the brides. She distributed them to children.

“Lydia!” Mrs. Bennet cried.

“La, Mama, it is pretty!”

Petals flew. Jane laughed when a handful landed in Bingley’s hair.

Elizabeth ducked behind Darcy.

“Coward,” he said.

“You are taller. Be useful.”

A petal struck his nose.

Elizabeth laughed. Darcy caught her around the waist before she could move away. The crowd’s noise dimmed in her awareness.

He looked at her. “May I?”

She knew exactly what he meant. “You are my husband.”

“That is not an answer.”

Her teasing softened. “Yes.”

Darcy kissed her in the churchyard. It was not long. It was not improper enough to scandalize anyone beyond Lady Lucas, who claimed afterward not to have looked. But it was unmistakably a kiss between two people who had waited.

When Darcy lifted his head, Elizabeth was smiling.

“Better than the lane?” he asked softly.

“Considerably.”

“Better than the second one?”

She pretended to think.

“Do not be vain.” He kissed her again, quicker.

Behind them Lydia shouted, “La!”

Mrs. Bennet cried, “Lydia, stop staring!”

Richard applauded. The Earl told him to behave.

Bingley, inspired, kissed Jane.

Then everyone cheered again. Mr. Bennet stood on the church step watching his two eldest daughters with their husbands.