Page 154 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands long enough that he grew concerned.

He lifted her chin with a finger. “You need not ever see the diamonds if they disturb you. It was only an idea.”

She nodded. “I…you showed me your grandmother’s ring, and I would like nothing more than to wear it when I become Mrs. Darcy. I am unsure how I feel about the diamonds, but for now, they do not bring me joy except that they led you to finding my grandfather.”

“Understood. That brings me to the second question, or proposal. Given what you have said, I think you will approve.”

Elizabeth was still chuckling halfway through her wedding breakfast. She had been solemn during the wedding ceremony. How could she not be with Fitzwilliam’s earnest eyes before her? But aside from that time when she could think of nothing but their love and their vows to each other before God, the farcical nature of their arrival in Hertfordshire had kept laughter close to the surface for most of the past four-and-twenty hours.

Since she and the Gardiners had reached Longbourn late the previous morning, Aunt Bennet had barely spoken when Elizabeth was in the room. Her aunt had greeted her with a deep curtsy as soon as Elizabeth stepped from the carriage, she had barely whispered to the servants during dinner, and each time they had encountered each other since then, her aunt curtseyed and backed out of the room.

The behavior would have bothered Elizabeth from anyone else, but from Aunt Bennet, she found it to be humorous.

“Still entertained by Mrs. Bennet’s obsequiousness, my dear?”

Elizabeth smiled up at her husband. “I know it makes me petty, and I will speak to her sometime, but for now…” She laughed again.

Fitzwilliam smiled at her and lifted her hand to his lips. “Today, you should laugh as much as you choose. We can make amends with your aunt another day.”

“It did not help when my aunt heard about the number of carriages you and your family brought to Netherfield Park.” She chuckled again.

Fitzwilliam rolled his eyes. “My sister and I arrived in my carriage that you and I will use to travel to Malmesbury in about an hour. My Matlock relations and your grandfather each have a carriage.”

“And the servants’ carriages!”

“You will have to come to terms with what it means to travel in style, Lady Elizabeth. Matthew and Dinah shared a carriage with my aunt’s servants for this short journey, and your grandfather traveled with his valet. It could have been far worse.”

The newly married couple smiled at each other and ignored those circulating around them until they heard a voice beside them.

“Lizzy, might I have a moment of your time?”

“Of course, Uncle Bennet.”

“Darcy, you need not go. I only wished to tell Lizzy…well. Lizzy, I see you are wearing your charm bracelet today. It quite surprised me, given its simplicity.”

“It means a great deal to me, Uncle.”

He nodded, clearly holding back tears.

“I think you know the significance of each charm I added through the years, but I wished to speak to you of the one that started the tradition.”

“My diamond. You said it signified how precious I was to you when I was an infant left to your care. I have never doubted your love for me, Uncle, and I thank you for taking me in.”

“Of course. But you likely know now that it is only cut glass, as I could not afford a real diamond. It was always only a symbol of how valuable you are in my eyes, though, as no diamond could replace you. Now, though, you should know I chose the diamond for your first charm as a symbol of your parents’ important work and of their love for you, as well.”

Elizabeth laid her hand on her uncle’s arm.

“I have already told you all the stories I remember of Susannah and Oliver, and I will write if I think of more, but I thought to tell you that since you have real diamonds now, you may wish to replace your cut glass charm. Perhaps you will not wear the bracelet in London society, but if it had a real diamond, I think it would not be out of place in some situations. I would not be at all offended if you choose to change it out.”

“Thank you, Uncle. I will consider it.”

“You know, Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam said, “I believe one of the diamonds from the red silk reticule would fit your bracelet perfectly, should you choose to wear it. It may be that your parents held it in their hands briefly.”

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. She did not wish for extravagant diamond jewelry or even anything like the hair comb Mr. Wickham had tried to give her, but a single small diamond in her charm bracelet could be just right.

After her uncle walked away, she was arm-in-arm with her husband looking out over the assembled guests at Netherfield Park.

“Elizabeth, I spoke to Matthew and Dinah again. They will return to Gracechurch Street today and will move to Darcy House on the morrow. They both said they will be ready to go to Pemberley when we leave London for Wales. Unless you wish to have Dinah with you in Wales.”