Chapter 1
I knew for a long time how very arrogant and proud the man seemed to be. I saw him stroll down a country road looking like he was better than all the rest. My sisters agreed with me on how prejudiced this man was and how badly he thought of lower class people.
However, I could not help but think in the back of my mind that this man was a wonderful man, a man with money who would lend to anyone who asked for it. I looked at the man in a rather different way after he paid for Lydia's wedding. I thought that this man had no prejudice, just shyness and bad choices. He made up for them in the end, though.
When he said those words to me, I almost melted. This man was the wonderful man I was bound to marry. And so I did.
Mr. Darcy and I know that we will spend the rest of our lives together. It's so strange, however, when people look at me. Then they look at my husband and make a subtle scowl. But I notice, and so does Mr. Darcy. "Remember, Mrs. Darcy, my love, that nobody will ever say anything that will take me away from you," he tells me. I try not to get perplexed by all the staring and whispering. Many people would not have counted on a rich man of £10,000 a year would marry someone with much less money.
His aunt still does not approve me. When we visit Rosings, she often will interrogate me with questions that are impossible to answer or have a stupid response to make me sound insolent. She is trying to find out one little thing to have proof that I am not allowed in the Darcy family. My husband tries to help by bringing her on another subject to talk about. But it seems everything comes back to me not being worthy of Mr. Darcy's love.
When we would get back home, he would ask me to play the pianoforte. "But, dear, you know that I do not play well, unlike your sister."
"Mrs. Darcy," he says, "You play beautifully. No you may not be as good as Georgiana, but you still play better than most girls."
"Thank you my darling, but please. Can't Georgiana play tonight?" I ask. "I would rather have good music fill the air than my interesting squabble of notes."
"Georgiana is out tonight, Mrs. Darcy. Your music is as beautiful as you are."
"Mr. Darcy, please. I would rather not play tonight. We could have tea and watch the moon tonight instead. We could listen to the crickets and just be together. That would make me completely, perfectly, and incandescently happy." He smiled his smile that makes me feel like I'm on air.
"Yes, Lizzie, we can watch the moon, the stars, and listen to the crickets." I smiled with him.
"It is quite warm today, much warmer than I anticipated, my dear. I will go get ready for a warm night."
"As shall I, Mrs. Darcy. I will have the housekeeper make tea and place it out on the balcony." I smiled and walked out of the room.
I stepped into my bedroom and opened my clothes cupboard. All my nightgowns lay on folded on the floor. But the one I wanted to wear was not there. I closed the door and looked around. Sure enough, the housekeeper had known that it would be warm and laid the nightgown and my shoes on my bed. I changed and pulled my hair into a bun, as it was down and in a braid.
I walked onto the balcony to see that my husband was sitting by a blanket that had tea already on it. I didn't make a sound. I had to be silent in order to surprise him. I stepped up behind him and wrapped my arms around his strong shoulders. It's hard to believe that a rich man who doesn't do much heavy work could be so strong. His smiled and looked up at me. His eyes were like diamonds in the candlelight. "Hello, Mr. Darcy," I said. I sat down next to him.
"Tea, Mrs. Darcy?" I nodded and smiled. He poured a cup of tea for me and then for him. I sipped it, smiling. "You are smiling quite a lot, Lizzie," he said observantly.
"Yes, my love. I love being out of doors. I love being with you, Mr. Darcy. You are my wedded husband and that makes me completely, perfectly, and incandescently happy."
"I am so happy you feel that way." He leaned in and kissed my forehead. And then he kissed my cheek, then my nose and then my other cheek. Then he leaned in even more and kissed my lips. "I feel the same way, Mrs. Darcy."
And we kept there, looking at the moon and the stars. We sipped tea and talked about the rest of our lives. I love Mr. Darcy, my husband, my darling.