Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters. But the joy of the happy couples exceeded that of Mrs. Bennet to such a degree as to make it almost negligible. Indeed, Elizabeth did not sleep at all the night before due to excited anticipation. She then spent several excited hours in dressing herself for the day. Elizabeth might have saved herself the trouble, for Darcy took no more notice of her costume than to note—quite happily—that she wore his gift from the day before. His attention was completely centered on the sparkle in her lively eyes and the smile of happiness that she wore.

Elizabeth noticed considerably more than this. She saw the lovely flower arrangements that adorned the Church—Jane had arranged them the day before. She took note of the genuine happy expression on the face of Georgiana Darcy. And then she looked at Darcy himself.

He was dressed in green, with gold threading on his waistcoat. When she got close enough, Elizabeth took note that he wore a coat in the exact color of the green in his eyes. An elegant silk neckcloth was tied at his neck in an elaborate fall of loops and knots. His mouth was set firmly in a line that gave many the impression that he took no joy in being there, but this impression was belied by the smile in his eyes. Eyes that were trained firmly on Elizabeth. And when he took her hand in his, Elizabeth could feel a slight tremor that he was trying desperately to control.

All of these things Elizabeth saw, but her observations were limited to the visual, for there had been a loud roaring in her ears since the moment that she stepped into the church on her father's arm. Indeed she would have missed her part in the ceremony had not Jane, who was standing by her side, given her a light touch to remind her.

Then quite suddenly—at least to Elizabeth and her highly questionable observations—Darcy had turned to her and was offering her his arm and escorting her out of the church, their first walk as husband and wife. It was then that Elizabeth regained her ability to hear. For she quite clearly heard the words that Darcy whispered to her.

"Come, Mrs. Darcy. We have a celebration to attend to."

Mrs. Darcy sounded almost as good coming from his lips as did Lizzy.

"Yes, husband. We cannot keep our guests waiting."

This caused his firmly set mouth to break into the first grin of the day.

"So we should abandon my plan of jumping in the carriage and making a mad dash for London before anyone notices we are gone?"

"Yes," she smiled up at him ruefully, "I cannot leave Jane to suffer the solicitude of our neighbors on her own. And yet…" she hesitated, looking back at her parents who were now exiting behind them. "I do not think anyone will notice if we take our time getting back home. Perhaps we might take the long way there?"

He winked conspiratorially at her, then handed her into the carriage before having a few whispered words with the coachman, then climbing in after her.

It had been far too long since he'd gotten to kiss her, and now there was no thought of propriety to keep him from thoroughly enjoying the company of his wife.

OoOoOo

It was over an hour before the newlyweds made their reluctant way back to Longbourn. The family and their guests were just starting to sit down to the wedding breakfast when they finally noticed the conspicuous absence of one of the couples. There was just enough time for the new Mrs. Bingley to begin to worry that something horrid had befallen them on their journey when Darcy led his blushing bride into the room. And in all the excitement of offering them congratulations, everyone quite forgot to ask them what had taken them so long on the road.

This suited the couple just fine.

The wedding breakfast passed in a flurry of excitement. Mrs. Bennet was fairly glowing in the glory of her two new sons-in-law, and entertained half of the table with a thorough explanation of all the wealth the new Mrs. Darcy would be privileged with. The other half of the table was under the subduing power of Mr. Bennet, who was already feeling the loss of his beloved second daughter. And half way in between these two poles sat the happy couples—one sharing their joy with the world and one blissfully ignorant that they even sat in a crowded room.

All too soon for her father, Mr. Darcy stood and declared that they must be off if they hoped to reach London that day. Then after many tearful—on the part of those remaining behind—and joyful—on the part of those traveling away—goodbyes, Mr. Darcy and his new wife took the road to London, promising to join Georgiana at Pemberley within a fortnight.

The Darcys then spent half the trip to London kissing behind closed curtains before Elizabeth fell asleep in his arms, now able to enjoy the sleep that had eluded her the night before.

OoOoOo

"Lizzy! We are here, love."

Her eyes fluttered open to see Darcy gently shaking her awake.

"Oh! I am sorry that I slept for so long. I did not mean to."

"It is quite alright," he responded, his eyes twinkling down at her. "I enjoyed the pleasure of watching you sleep without feeling even mildly guilty about it."

"You watched me sleep?"

"Yes, it was quite enjoyable."

"You are quite odd."

"And yet you love me still."

"But Fitz, that is why I love you in the first place."

"Come, I want to show you our house."

"Our house… that has a lovely ring to it."

"Yes," he replied, hurrying her out of the coach. "Come."

He held an expression remarkably similar to that of a child who had just been given a present to open, so strong was his desire to share this with her. And as she smiled at his joy he took her arm and gave her a tour of the magnificent house. Though it was fittingly smaller than Pemberley, Darcy's London home still displayed all the wealth and elegance of that great estate. And Elizabeth was glad that she was to be introduced to her role as mistress in the smaller of his homes, as otherwise she might have spent her fist evening as Mrs. Darcy hiding in fear in the maid's closet.

Their arrival in London had been so late in the evening that they only had time for a lite meal before Darcy escorted her to her dressing room and delivered her into the keeping of the young maid he had hired for her, a sweet-tempered yet quiet girl named Fanny. Elizabeth had never had her own ladies maid before, as she and her sisters had all shared the services of Sarah, but she expected Darcy would scoff were she to suggest that she share a maid with Georgiana. Thus it was quite a new experience for her to be so doted upon. But Fanny was a kind girl, and so Lizzy submitted to her ministrations with minimal protest—only reminding Fanny several times that she could call her Elizabeth.