Chapter 9

Lying in his bed, thinking of his beloved Elizabeth, he was high in spirit and tranquil. Today was the day that everyone would come to know his Elizabeth as Mrs. Darcy. She was already Mrs. Darcy to him. She was always Mrs. Darcy and would forever be named as such. He was at peace and calm. He looked at his wedding ring. He would only take it off for the blessing. He would gladly be the trendsetter for he knew once she slipped it on today for the second time he would never part from the gold ring that symbolized her love and their fidelity. It was an unending and unbroken circle that symbolized the never ending commitment they shared. He mused about his wife for a long while, then desired and needed her desperately.

He rang for his valet. He wanted to take a ride on his black stallion Eclipse and ride to Longbourn. He knew it was about the time she took her morning walks. He was going to meet her under the oak that they had utilized during the mornings of the week that just past. It was a very old English Oak; a quite massive tree. During the mornings when no one but small animals scurried about he had taken her. He took his husbandry rights and she took the lot he gave. She would give all and he would take as well. She was the one that instigated it most mornings but this morning he would. He knew he would.

After he was mounted on Eclipse, he took him on a brisk run. He ran him hard for the exercise the two travel companions both were in need of. He slowed when he could see the colossal tree from a distance. He waited atop his horse when he did not see his beloved wife at the time he finally made it. He knew it would only be a matter of minutes before he would see her smiling face. He longed to see her sparkling green eyes. He saw the depth of love and acceptance in them each and every time he gazed deeply. When he finally set eyes on her she looked content and jovial so when he dismounted and made his way towards her she ran. Colliding with him and falling with him onto the patches of green grass gave her a great advantage. She was sitting on him when he finally caught his breath.

"Lizzy that was an astonishing greeting? Pray tell, what are you so happy about?" he knew why she was so happy this morning.

"Sir, can't a wife be happy for no reason at all?" She liked to tease him.

"That is my mission in life Lizzy, to see you happy incessantly." He wasn't going to elaborate; he would let her say whatever she wanted. But she didn't reply; she just looked at him with longing in her eyes. He didn't just want her happy; he wanted her satiated with pleasure as well. He began caressing her thighs, and leaned up to kiss her. "I will have you my Lizzy before we go any further with conversation. I have thought of nothing but your smile and your body and how it effects me so..." she attacked his mouth with hunger. They loved passionately demanding everything from the other. When the two lovers were entirely satisfied, they laid in the morning sun soaking in the rays of the new day that had dawned around them. Darcy's large greatcoat was laid on the ground with the two on top. He was playing with her hair when he said "please leave your hair down today, I love to watch the curls bounce when you walk and it is bright with highlights when the sun beams down upon the color. I love to run my hands through these soft long locks and I love to wrap my fingers around the curls; my hands and fingers smell of lavender when they part from them. Please for my sake leave it down today."

"William, my mother would never allow it. Not on my wedding day. I can possibly persuade Polly to style most of it down. But my mother's fit of nerves would be unbearable if I left my hair down this day. It will be down soon enough. The ceremony and wedding breakfast will pass shortly and then we make our way to your bed. I will let my hair down in the then; rather your can take my hair down then my dear husband."

He nuzzled her neck and kissed her. "Oh Lizzy I have to say I will be quite happy when we do not have to pretend any longer. I want to be able to have you everyday all day. I want to be able to touch you without propriety's regulation. I will sorely miss you these next two hours Lizzy."

"William stop, I as well will be missing you dearly. We will be known to the world as Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy shortly and then we will have our freedom. You will see. This wait is burdensome; yet with all of the preparation with dressing it will pass by quickly." She kissed him chastely and he wrapped his arms around her waist and laid her back down as he deepened the kiss.

"Lizzy do you understand how hard it is to let you leave? All I want to do is bury myself in you and feel the caress of your body holding me. I know I have to let you leave and I will see you back down the path to Longbourn but it hurts to let you go." He kissed her again letting his hands unfasten his clothes and then searching under her dress.

"William we must leave; we only have so long before we are wed again and we both need to dress. Ahhh William, please, we must go. Our families…" He entered her swiftly. This coupling was all together different from the first. It was fast and rough and control was invalid. When the two found their releases they simultaneously achieved it. They kissed their way back to the present and knew that they had to be on their way.
"Lizzy, when we get back from the ceremony your coming with me to my bedchamber, guests or not."

"What will they think? That we are behaving like animals. You are shameless my husband. We will be fine William. Now kiss me and take me to my home for the last time."

He helped her up, helped her mount Eclipse, and mounted the steed and sat behind her. He kissed the back of her neck and caressed her body on their short trip. He may be impious at the moment but he wanted her to feel the same licentious and lustful need as he. He absolutely couldn't get enough of this beautiful creature. He wanted to be the object of her desires. He stopped his ministrations upon her person since he was becoming quite aroused and sitting on a horse would not do. They finally came close enough to the house to let Lizzy walk the rest of the way. He kissed her and then watched her walk to the house until she stepped inside. He then spurred Eclipse into another run until he got to Netherfield. He would be with his bride once again shortly. He smiled at the thought. Leaving his horse with the grooms, he set out to ready himself for the day's events. "Soon Elizabeth, soon." He said as he untied his cravat.

With everyone at Netherfield now, including Jilli and his uncle Dr. Francis Darcy and his aunt Emma who had arrived just yesterday, the party was complete. Everyone was waiting in the morning room for the groom. William had yet to speak frankly with his uncle and seeing him was something to adjust to. He looked identical to William's father. He had to keep reminding himself that this world and this life was going to be different in context and in situations; people and work, holidays and every day. Darcy had given leave to the staff to attend the actual wedding but must be back to greet the guests and attend to the actual wedding breakfast. He was happy that they were so delighted and felt privileged that they were allowed to even attend the opulent wedding of their new master. He and Elizabeth did not want something extravagant so it was going to have subtle touches of ornate wealth. Flowers and ribbon and such were enough for the church; Mrs. Bennet, Lady Anne and his aunt took charge of the wedding breakfast a few days ago so it was only some of what Elizabeth and he wanted. He was going to be just as surprised as everyone else if he judged those women correctly.

Once he was dressed and to Job's own admission, was perfect, he went in search of his family. He was making his way down the stairs to the foyer when he encountered Caroline Bingley.

"Miss Bingley, good morning. Do you need something? Should you not be with everyone else in the morning room readying yourself to leave?"

"Good morning Mr. Darcy. I was waiting for you. I hope you do not mind I wanted to say something to you that needed to be said before you married."

"What might that be Miss Bingley? Say your piece, we must be readying ourselves to leave and I will not leave my betrothed waiting for your sake." He continued his was to the bottom of the stairs and stopped once he got to the bottom.

"What I must say will certainly touch your sensibilities; I cannot prevaricate from the truth. I have set my cap on you Mr. Darcy years ago. I have tried my hardest to turn your head. I am saddened that I was not enough to tempt you and I am very angry with you that you did not consider what we could have been to one another."

"I must upset your state of mind again Miss Bingley. I, in no way wanted a relationship with you of all people. My station would certainly tell you that I must marry a woman of gentle birth and indeed you are not." He started walking away from her. He did not want to lose his temper.

"I know about Lady Clara, Annalise and the trysts with that country doxy you are about to marry this morning. I will not stand by and be silent any longer. I will only be silent if you stop this marriage and marry me." Saying it with a sneer she glared at him.

"How dare you! You know nothing of me, my family, or of my engagements!" He was considerately loud enough for the others to come into the foyer for no matter your position in the great house you would have heard him perfectly. Mr. Bingley and the Hurst's were outraged as was his mother Lady Anne. He stepped closer to her and his expression broke no failings of anger. She was frightened by his outburst but didn't show any signs of distress. "I will not have you stand here and justify your want of me being your husband by defiling Miss Elizabeth's name. You are truly a nuisance Miss Bingley. I feel compassion for my friend that he must have you as family. It would be a cruel and intolerable chore to be your brother, let alone your husband." He stepped even closer to her. "As for Lady Clara and my supposed trysts with Elizabeth no one will believe a lowly misfortunate as you. Leave it be Caroline. I do not know what wrong information you have but I am certain that it is nothing to gossip about. You will only be seen as a scandalmonger. I will only tell you that you are no longer welcome in my presence. Grow up Caroline." He left her standing there thought of something then turned back. "As for your attempt of blackmail, I would have never conceded to your demands. Shameful blackmail will not help you to accomplish your suit. I hope you, someday, understand that your case is unbecoming to find a friend, let alone a husband. It will do best to mind your behavior Miss Bingley. You are not to speak to Elizabeth this day. I will not have it. I will not stand here and listen to you any longer with your derogatory remarks of Miss Elizabeth. I love her and only her. She is the most beautiful woman i have ever had the honor to look upon. You will never stand near to her position in life. She has enough to recommend herself to anyone. She does not need your commendation, my own, or anyone else's." He turned, looked to his family, and left her to deal with all that who had witnessed her endeavor to impede his wedding.

He stood silent looking out the long window of the morning room towards Longbourn. He stood there contemplating how he could have handled that untimely episode any differently. To treat people with respect and as human beings, equals if you must was fairly easy, but at every turn she had so much hatred in her heart and mind that he was bound to get angry sometime or another. Her meaning was clear. She was compelled to coerce him into marrying her. How could someone marry a person such as her? He could not fathom a marriage with such a woman. Darcy was so entranced by his thoughts he did not recognize the people coming in the room. He hadn't even heard the yelling that had just happened.

Clearing his voice was Charles. Darcy turned to his friend. He looked embarrassed and contrite. Darcy knew that it was not his friend's fault and he needed to take his shame away somehow. "Charles, please if you have come to apologize, apologize for yourself not her. And since you do not share her thoughts, you have nothing to apologize for. You have nothing to do with this, nor does the Hurst's. You are one of the best men of my intimates. Please do not look so ashamed. I cannot bare it. The disgraced words uttered by your sister are not of your own. I am humbled by your friendship and our camaraderie. I will not have you taking responsibility for her actions."

"I must try to make amends my friend. You deserve none of her angry jealousy. I am not proud that Caroline's actions also reflect on my sister, her husband and me. I stand before you truly embarrassed and utterly humiliated. How am I to face your family Darcy? I can't look any of them in the eyes. She has rattled my mettle enough to have me run like a coward from yours and your family's presence. I am truly sorry. This is not the first time she has courage enough to stand up against you my friend and then to be put so rightly in her place in front of company is what she deserved." He faltered when he looked directly in his friend's eyes. He couldn't continue for he was quite distraught.

"Charles, my family will not judge you. My mother adores you as does my sister. As for the others, they will be quite content with you as a person if you continue to be the same jovial character you have always been. Please Charles, do not let this spoil the day. I know you will do what you must when it comes to Caroline. I will not fault you for your relations. Come, let us leave for the church, I must have my Elizabeth Charles. I dare say chap that you are not far behind with Miss Jane." He smiled at his friend. The blush on his face told Darcy he was correct.

"Thank you Darcy for your kind words; whether I deserve them or not is another matter that we will not analyze at the moment." He paused. "I do care about Miss Jane. I believe myself in love with her Darcy. I believe you are as astute as ever. I will rally the others so that we may be on our way. You will definitely have your Miss Elizabeth this day Darcy."

Annalise was in a new dress that she was very proud of. Her Aunt Georgi helped her practice being a flower girl for the past few days and she thought she was very good at it now. Darcy and Bingley were dressed in a similar beige brown color.

Once at the church he stood at the altar with Charles and the parson, Mr. Jonathon Eldridge. He wasn't nervous, yet he was eager to have this ceremony over with. Charles had calmed considerably and he was grateful that he didn't have a sorrowful friend beside him. He knew Elizabeth would be there soon and this business of keeping their marriage secret would be erased. He smiled when he beheld Miss Jane and the other Bennets come into the church, but of course her focus was on his friend. He had noticed that there were in fact many prominent families from London in presence along with their daughters and sons. "mother's doing." Others he did not recognize at all so it must be family and acquaintances from Elizabeth's family. There was standing room only and he knew that there had to be more than three hundred in attendance. "How did this get so extravagant?" he thought. He waited the twenty minutes for her arrival and when her father and she did not appear, he was fearful that something was wrong. He noted that Caroline was looking smug as always. She was placed in the back of the church with the Hurst's. He knew he had to leave to find his beloved Elizabeth; Caroline was still up to something. There was no other way she would be late or miss their wedding.

Elizabeth was indeed ready for the marriage to become public. Her wedding gown had been pressed and was ready, she was bathed in lavender as always and Polly had adorned her hair with beautiful pearl pins in an elegant and delicate curled style flowing down her back; her mother was very happy that she looked so prim and proper. Jane was dressed to perfection in a dark rose colored gown. Since it was time for everyone to leave for the church they all gathered into the carriages and set out.

Mr. Bennet was riding with Elizabeth in a different carriage altogether. He waited the fifteen minutes before they left. The employees had been given leave to attend the wedding and wedding breakfast because Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth invited them all. Mr. Bennet took his time with Elizabeth in the parlor; he used the time wisely.

"Lizzy my dear, I am sorry that I have been so withdrawn this past week. I was devastated when you told me of your marriage. I didn't want to believe that someone was worthy of you. I didn't want to share and I was being greedy. I have come to respect your Fitzwilliam and his family. Their station in life has not inhibited their beliefs of equality for human beings. I apologize for judging the man before I had even began to know him. You will be with the higher echelons of society my dear, please promise me that you will not forget your papa. I did love you first Lizzy. I am hurting today. I am giving away my favorite daughter. Please tell me I can come visit you at your home Lizzy. I love you. I was just hurting Lizzy, I am not disappointed in you. You have become an intelligent young lady. I am proud of you Lizzy. You will make me a proud grandpa also and Mr. Darcy a proud husband."

Elizabeth had tears in her eyes, as did her father. She embraced her father. "Papa you are welcome to come and stay with me and William whenever you wish. I will never forget you Papa. I love you and I cannot convey the depth of sorrow that hurting you has put on my heart. I take your love with me papa. No one could ever replace you or your love. Write to me always. Promise me papa that you will."

Nodding his head in agreement he just held his daughter and relished that he would only be parted from her by distance. When it was time to go he walked her to the open carriage and helped her up.

"My Lizzy with that gown I will have nowhere to sit beside you." he was teasing his daughter; this was certainly a good sign.

"Oh papa, please, come up I can move the dress most indubitably."

"Your jewels are blinding me Lizzy; maybe we should shroud them with a cloth."

"Oh papa, jewels like to dance in the sunlight. That's where they get their beauty."

"Dancing jewels, should we set them aside and watch for entertainment on the way to the church?

"We can entertain ourselves for sure papa, I feel like I'm in a fairytale papa."

"You should; you look like a beautiful princess me dear Lizzy."

"Thank you."

They were soon on their way, but not ten minutes into the journey the wheel caught and would not move. A man they had not seen from the open carriage came towards them and asked if he could help.

"Thank you Sir, that would be most kind and we would be most obliged. I just need you to push the back of the buggy while I guide the horses." Mr. Bennet had noticed the man did not move. He had recognized him as a tenant of a neighboring farm. "Sir are you going to help or not I must get my daughter to the man she is to marry at the church. Are you not Mr. Whitmore's tenant? Your name I believe is Singleton, is it not? Yes it is. I am Mr. Thomas Bennet and this is my daughter Elizabeth. She is to marry the distinguished gentleman Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. What is the matter son? You look nervous and have lost all color."

He just stared at the two occupants of the open buggy. He looked at Elizabeth mostly for a while and seen the daughter and the father share an almost amused look of cheeky wonder. He knew that they both thought that he was intensely slow; maybe even mentally handicapped.

"Sir, if you would be so accommodating to help me get to my wedding it would be an honor to have you celebrate with us. Please help us. There is no way possible I can help my papa with my current state of dress." She looked at him with a serene peace; even veiled he could see it. It was effective and beneficial to say the least.

"I am sorry ma'am. I understand that I seem out of sorts at the moment. I am fighting a battle in my mind and I feel like I am sorry image of a man."

"Sir, what are trying to say? Are you going to help my daughter and me? That is all we ask. It is quite simple. You will be rewarded if you want it."

The man's conscience got the better of him. "Sir I am sorry. You seem like really nice people. I was paid a handsome sum of money, a roll of bills not coin mind you, to keep your daughter from the church. I do not know the red head lady's name. She just said get the job done. She didn't specify what was to be done. My family certainly needs the money. I dug this hole your wheel is in now. I apologize again. I am so sorry for ruining your day. I am a God fearing man and I just can't seem to be defiant of God's will. Once I saw your daughter Sir, my resolve crumbled. She is too beautiful to be ruined. I apologize and I cannot convey what a dim-witted arse I am. I am sorry Madam for the language. Believe me, please when I say I was only thinking of my family. I will help you."

"Mr. Singleton was this red head lady as tall as you with pretty eyes, a fine figure, ivory skin and pretty teeth? And by chance was she wearing the color orange and feathers somewhere on her person?" Elizabeth was furious she vowed Caroline Bingley would rue the day that she interfered with her marriage.

"Yes ma'am that is her. I promise to give her back every last bit of the money. I apologize profusely. I have paid you an undeserved wrong."

"I myself will give only a warning for your behavior if you help us. I will speak to the lady, her brother, and my new husband. I can only hope that they agree that you can keep what funds she has paid you for listening to your conscience and helping me. But I believe that something must be done with said lady and you going along with it. My father will be in touch. Just get us out of this cavity."

When they were back on the road, Darcy, Samuel, and Charles were on their way as well. They had left the church to check the reason for tardiness. Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth divulged all that transpired between leaving the house, the hole, Mr. Singleton, the money, Caroline, and meeting them on the road. To say the least, all of them where in high dudgeon once the tale had been told. Mr. Bingley vowed to set this straight and Mr. Darcy and both Mr. Bennets were trying to compose themselves for they had reached the church. Bingley and Samuel went to find a footman to find Mr. Singleton down the road and have him wait at Netherfield in the study with him. Mr. Bennet described him and said he was sitting by the road when they had left him. Darcy helped Elizabeth down from the carriage and gave his bride a highly passionate reassuring kiss. He did not care that his best friend and his new brother and his new father were standing there gaping at them in their return to fetch the bride and bridegroom. He needed to let Elizabeth know she was the only one he would ever love and he would always protect her. No matter what other women might have thought up. When the two separated, Charles and Samuel each grabbed Darcy's coat and pulled him into the church. Mr. Bennet was laughing and sought his daughter's arm. He yelled "Soon enough son."They were entering the church when they heard the laughter. Mr. Darcy had only said the carriage wheel was in a hole but that was enough to calm the congregation and for them to find the situation a bit silly. Bingley peered out to the seated family and friends and just looked at his sister with a completely different attitude. She was the only one not laughing at the way the bride had been tardy for her own wedding.

The ceremony was indeed wonderful more so than the first because all of their loved ones where in attendance and the parson Mr. Jonathan Eldridge, stayed in town to celebrate with them at Netherfield because he in fact was acquainted with Thomas Bennet. They had known each other since their days at Cambridge. To Darcy and Elizabeth it was as incredible as the first and it was the only time that Darcy gave up his wedding ring; for it to blessed with Elizabeth's once again. When the rings were presented you could hear a rampant murmur in the church. All were amazed that Mr. Darcy would even consider wearing a ring to acknowledge his marriage. There were several smiles in the congregation when it happened. Annalise was the sweetest child. She accomplish her flower girl job full of dignity and perfectly and Darcy could not be prouder. He really did love that little girl. When she made it to the altar, he picked her up and gave her a kiss. She hugged his neck tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. When he put her down she stood by him and Mr. Bingley. Jane had walked down the aisle and only had eyes for her suitor and him, her. When it was time for Mr. Bennet to give his daughter away he did so with loving honor placing her delicate hand into William's large manly hand to show the world that Elizabeth was this man's for the rest of time. Caroline Bingley was stunned into utter silence. Her dress she had made to marry Mr. Darcy was in fact the same dress that Elizabeth wore. The dress was gorgeous and expensive; one and five thousand pounds was wasted on that one dress and accessories. It took months to make since the materials were ordered from all over the continent. Then she was rejected by Mr. Darcy himself. She didn't want the dress, swore up and down she would destroy the adorned fabric. She had told the modiste the same thing. She would destroy it if she seen it again. Now this little whore had it on and was marrying her man. What really made her shake with envy was that her enemy looked better than her in the dress. The diamonds that laced across her neck sparkled and danced; actually Caroline noticed that she had diamonds everywhere; her neck, her hand, her wrist and her ears! Caroline was so eaten up with jealousy and rage that she was almost in tears and she was already turning red. "My goodness why did Lady Anne insist I come even after this morning; I have had a time trying to tolerate all of this country society" she thought to herself "They have no sense of proper society and now this wench is marrying into one of the most powerful family's in the whole of England. This morning was awfully merciless and now that twit of a man botched keeping her away. Bloody hell! She looks better than me in that bloody dress! Uugghh!" The duration of the ceremony Caroline sat in solitude brooding about her misfortunes. She was in the highest of dudgeon when it was time to depart, so much so she was in tears.

Mrs. Bennet was quite impressed with all that had been planned and executed within the one week planning schedule. Lady Anne had put her at ease and for the past three days they were in constant company along with Darcy's other female family members. At the end of the ceremony Mrs. Bennet was in tears. She had one daughter wed to a powerful and rich man whom adored and obviously loved her dearly; she was happy to see that Elizabeth looked, in her entire appearance, that she felt the same way. Now she could move onto the other two daughters that were out in society since it would be a few years to worry about the other two.

When the happily married couple finally kissed all present were in applause. Darcy this time did not lose control and loosened his grip on his bride accordingly. He escorted her to the open carriage and set off for Netherfield. But he didn't have the driver go straight there. He had him set out for the massive English oak; Darcy had his Cook pack small snacks and a blanket in the carriage that they would take back to Netherfield; the driver was given directions to leave and come back in an hour. He made passionate love to his bride; neither touching the refreshments; they were only packed for the reason to be left at the tree. After an hour the driver did as he was told and came back for them to take them to Netherfield. The many guests did not see them come in. They hurried up the stairs, made their way to his bedchamber and called for Polly and Job. They were presentable in less than fifteen minutes. Polly and Job were left alone when the couple departed. They had a tryst themselves before leaving the room.

The great house of Netherfield was completely packed with people. There absence had only been missed by their most intimate of family and friends; but only smiles were given to acknowledge the escapade. When they were announced there was immediate standing ovation and applause. Darcy embraced Elizabeth and kissed her. He was the happiest of men this day and wanted to let everyone know.

The receiving line had been a long affair. Elizabeth had secretly whispered to William, "I thought this was a going to be a family affair. Between my mama and yours, it certainly is not." She smiled at him to let him know she wasn't angered by their mamas' enthusiasm.

"Indeed my dear, but we will only be with them for a little longer." Once the celebration was underway and the meal had been eaten, which everyone was indeed impressed with the different selections of food, and the wedding cake had been cut, the couple indeed took their leave; to his bedchamber where they stayed for the remainder of the evening and night. They had called for a tray close to eight o'clock and enjoyed themselves by the fire. The remainder of the night was taking pleasure in one another.

The morning dawned a new day and a new life for the couple. They both were excited by the concept of finally being known to the world as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. When they went down to breakfast, fairly late, all were happy to see them. They both noted the absence of Caroline Bingley and the Hurst's. Darcy inquired discreetly to their whereabouts; Charles had sent them away to town. He didn't want Caroline sullying the morning with her wretched attitude.

The couple enjoyed their collation with their families; the Bennets were in attendance as well and it was a lively and happy affair. The day started out wonderful and was about to get absolutely better.

They did not expect to be bombarded with gifts. They in fact were quite surprised by the number of gifts. They had not noticed the numerous gifts that were piled in another room at yesterday's celebration; they were very humbled by the offerings but did not in any way expect or require gifts for their wedding.

"Oh William look at all of this. This is too much we cannot accept all of these."

"We cannot send them back Elizabeth, that is uncouth and offensive. We must accept them. I understand your reservations but this is the polite way of acknowledgment."

"There is too many to bestow thanks upon this day. Can we have them sent to London and bequeath our appreciation and thankfulness while there? I assumed that we were leaving this afternoon for town." She looked at all of the gifts in front of them with gratitude.

"I believe you are correct my cherished wife. How about we let our family give us theirs and then the remainder of the gifts we unwrap whilst in town. There we can send our handwritten thanks to each and everyone. I believe our mamas' have a list of the guests from yesterday. And yes we must depart this afternoon; Georgi's coming out ball is in a week."

Their family members did get the memory of the couple opening the gifts because once they started opening they were never left barehanded. Jane took a ledger and kindly wrote the gift and the family who brought or sent them. That way Elizabeth could write her appreciative missives when she got back to town. Some gifts were quite extravagant; like a crate full of authentic rose petal China from his God parents, while others were from the heart like family recipes and crocheted potholders from her friends the Collin's; Elizabeth and William loved all of them. It took a little over two hours to open the mass of presents, by the time they were done the carriage was packed up with their trunks. They waited another three quarter hour to have the gifts packed up in another buggy.

Mary left with Jane and the Gardiner's. She was excited to be going to town. She was going to have dinner with the Darcy's night after next and she going to meet several people; even some gentleman. Jane seemed infatuated with Mr. Bingley so she thought that she should make the best of the opportunity and find a suitable husband through her acquaintances. She didn't think she was going to be happy going to town but she did want to see what the fuss was all about. Her friends in Hertfordshire were happy she was getting to go. The prospects for marriage in their community were quite dreadful in fact. Her connections now though could have her married in six months and away from her match making mama. She didn't want to settle in marriage she did want the knowledge of love but did not go to town blind and full of false hopes. She wanted someone to share her desires and hobbies as well. She did love the outdoors and she was a devout Christian, but she also loved art and the pianoforte. She love speaking several different languages and she loved to learn; about everything. She craved knowledge. She was much like Lizzy that way. She knew she had to get over being shy. She would have to practice speaking when in company; which was not appealing to her at all; but try she would.

Once in town, Elizabeth and Darcy took to their room and had a mini holiday; one that would last through the evenings and early mornings. Elizabeth didn't want to offend Lady Anne or Georgi's sensibilities staying in bed all day with her new husband. Little did Elizabeth know that they assumed they wouldn't see them at all during the week. Georgi was helping her mother finish details for her coming out party. It would be on the coming Saturday. This night Darcy and Elizabeth were having an intimate dinner with some family, two of Darcy's acquaintances from Cambridge, and a Senor Dominic Alvarez from Madrid Spain.