Darcy did manage to creep back to his room in the morning without anybody being the wiser. He readied himself for travel and met the rest of his party for breakfast quite early. He left a note for his not yet awake sister and the group headed south. With Dionysus safe in the Pemberley stable, Darcy was free to travel inside the carriage with his wife. Although he could not touch her as intimately as he might wish, given the location of her aunt and uncle on the opposite bench, he was able to enjoy her delightful conversation and even cradle her in his arms with impunity as she napped.
They spent the night in an inn as they had on the way to Pemberley and set off early in the morning for Hertfordshire. As they neared the village of Meryton, Elizabeth tried to prepare her husband for the spectacle of the Bennet family. Mr. Gardiner could only laugh at her apt descriptions of his sister's histrionics. Darcy assured her that he would give them all the respect due to his in-laws and stroked her hands as she fidgeted nervously.
They arrived in the early afternoon and were welcomed by the surprised housekeeper, Mrs. Hill. Only Mr. Bennet was at home, so she went to fetch him.
"Lizzy, my dear, I am so glad you have come home. I had not expected you quite so soon, but I must admit that you are a sight for sore eyes indeed, although it is my ears that have suffered most without your sensible conversation." Mr. Bennet looked curiously at the tall stranger, but greeted his brother and sister-in-law warmly before awaiting an introduction. His daughter did not keep him waiting long.
"Papa, I need to introduce you to someone quite important in my life. This is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, my husband. Fitzwilliam, my father, Mr. Bennet."
Mr. Bennet looked at her for a moment before he burst into laughter. "That is a good joke Lizzy, but tell me truly, why have you brought this man into my house? You are full young for a suitor."
"I am in earnest, Papa, he is no longer my suitor. I am Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy now." She displayed her wedding ring. "Besides, I am hardly so young as you seem to think. Was Mama not seventeen when you married her?"
He pulled his daughter toward himself so that she was out of reach of the large newcomer and enclosed her in his arms. "Do not be silly my dear, you are not yet of age. Mrs. Bennet and I had her father's consent. If this blackguard has seduced you into a false marriage, he will answer for it."
"No, Papa." Elizabeth wrested herself from his grasp and moved toward her husband. "We were wed in Scotland last week, in a church before God. It is a valid marriage, I swear to you; my husband has the certificate."
"How could you do such a thing?" He demanded of his daughter before rounding upon his brother-in-law. "How could you allow such a travesty to occur under your very nose? I entrusted her to you!" Mr. Bennet was livid but flinched when his daughter stepped in front of him as if to shield Mr. Gardiner from his righteous anger.
"Do not blame my aunt and uncle. I ran away to be wed, there was nothing they could have done to stop us."
"Why would you do this, Lizzy, have I not taught you better? You are the cleverest of all my girls. I might expect an elopement from a silly creature like Kitty or Lydia someday, but you?" He paced for a moment, thinking. "Are you with child?"
"Papa!"
"Tell me, is there any possibility that you are with child?"
Darcy looked as though he wanted to interfere in the interrogation, but he had no idea what to say. Elizabeth blushed and shook her head vehemently, unable to make eye contact with her father.
"You are certain?"
She nodded this time, still without looking up.
"No possibility at all, I see. So the marriage is not yet consummated, then. We can have it annulled."
Darcy tried to speak, but was cut off by his wife.
"Papa, no. That is not what I said." Her entire face flushed deep red.
"If he has ruined you, how can you be sure there will be no child, no proof of your folly?"
"This is no folly, Sir." Darcy found his voice at last and it sounded severe. Not at all the way he had expected to greet his father-in-law for the first time. "Elizabeth is my wife and someday when she does bear my child, it will be cause for great joy."
"And I am not ruined, I am married!" Elizabeth insisted with a stomp of her foot, not caring at the moment how childish she seemed.
"Tell me Lizzy, how do you know then that there is no . . . consequence?"
"I just know. You ought to be aware though, Papa, that Mr. Darcy is my husband in every way." Her emphasis and heightened blush left no doubt as to her meaning.
"Lizzy, please, I give you the choice to leave your false husband and come back home. You are young and were seduced by his lies. If you are certain there is no child, we shall yet find a way to annul your marriage. Nobody ever need know of your little adventure."
"Fitzwilliam has never lied to me and I shall not leave him." She paused for a moment, regarding her father carefully. "I suppose then, that we are not welcome here for the night."
"That man certainly is not."
"Where he is unwelcome, as his wife, I am as well. I shall greet my mother and sisters and we shall be on our way. I can return for my things." Her voice was shaking with emotion.
"No." Mr. Bennet's face had gone white with anger. "If you choose to go with him, you leave now. I will give you some time to gather your belongings, but you will not be permitted to speak to your sisters, I cannot have your scandalous behaviour tainting their reputations."
"I must at least bid them farewell."
"If you choose this man," he spat the word, "over your own family then you are dead to us."
Elizabeth looked as though she might faint and Darcy busied himself tending to her, so Mr. Gardiner spoke up at last. "Brother, I know that this is difficult to accept -"
"You! You allowed this to happen. I will certainly never trust you with any of my daughters again. As long as you support this petulant child against me, you will also be unwelcome in my home."
"Do not be ridiculous."
"Ridiculous?" Thomas Bennet was normally a sedate man, his ire had never been raised so high. "What is ridiculous is sending your child on a holiday with family only to have her come back married to some rake."
Elizabeth had quite recovered from her near swoon and was standing on her own, leaving Darcy free to defend himself. "Perhaps I ought to have waited to marry Elizabeth until we had returned to England and received your permission but I am no rake! At worst I am a coward."
"No, Fitzwilliam." His wife stroked his arm and it made him smile briefly, but he steeled his expression and continued.
"I am a coward." He continued to face Mr. Bennet. "I feared what my family would say about my choice of bride. I feared that their prejudice and excessive concern for rank would tear us apart. I ought to have been strong enough to ignore any disapprobation they might show and court your daughter properly; for that I am sorry. When I think how happy she has made me though, in only one week of being my wife, I have no true regrets about my actions, unwise as they may seem to you."
"I know nothing of your family, nothing of you. I do not even know if you can support my daughter."
"I am the only son and eldest child of a landowner from Derbyshire. Someday I will be master of a prosperous estate, until that day I have an adequate allowance and sufficient investments to -"
"So, your occupation is waiting around for your father to die, and what of my daughter in the meantime?"
"Elizabeth will be mistress of my father's homes. My mother has been gone for many years." Darcy's voice caught in his throat and he was grateful to feel Elizabeth's small fingers intertwine with his own as a show of support.
"What proof do I have that you are who you claim to be? For all I know you could be some labourer who is passing himself off as a gentleman in order to seduce himself a wealthy bride."
"If that were the case, Sir, I am aware that I would have made a poor selection indeed, Elizabeth has informed me of her prospects. However, since I know that I have made the best possible choice in bride," he kissed his wife's hand, "I hope it is clear that money is not what I seek."
"He is telling the truth about his prospects." Mrs. Gardiner attempted to help. "We spent a night at Pemberley on our way south, it is a grand estate indeed."
Mr. Bennet ignored her and turned back to his daughter. "All right Lizzy, you must decide now. Your family or this man?"
"Papa, please!" Tears streamed down her face as she realized the repercussions of the choice he was forcing her to make. "Fitzwilliam is my family now as well."
"I mean it, Lizzy. If you stay married to him, I cannot have the taint of your elopement touch your sisters, you must not see them again."
"If you force me to make such a terrible decision, I suppose that I must choose my husband for I shall not dishonour my marriage vows." She trembled with anger at her father and fear of losing her family. Darcy's strong hand rested supportively at her back.
"Should you rather break with the commandments then and dishonour your father?"
"My father dishonours me!" She threw the accusation at him without fully knowing what she meant.
"Since you have made your decision, you ought to get started gathering your things. Your mother and sisters have gone to call on your Aunt Phillips. They plan to stay for tea." Mr. Bennet looked at the clock and thought for a moment. "You have one half hour to gather what things you need and go."
Elizabeth looked at her father with hollow eyes and nodded before taking her husband's hand and ascending the stairs to the room she had long shared with Jane.
"I am so sorry, Lizzy." Darcy gathered her in his arms the moment they were inside the bedchamber. She wriggled free from his grasp and called for the maid, instructing her to quickly pack only her finest clothing.
Elizabeth did not speak as she gathered up her most treasured possessions, which were few. Before long, she had a trunk packed to take with her to her new life. Darcy carried it down the stairs himself and directed a servant to lash it to the coach. Just before exiting the room, she removed the necklace her father had given her and left it on the bureau. Perhaps Jane would like having it as a keepsake but Elizabeth could not bear to wear it anymore after her father's cruelty.
Soon, they stood outside Longbourn ready to take their leave.
"Goodbye, Papa." Her face was blank but trembling, the tracks of dried tears still visible upon her cheeks. "Please tell Mama and my sisters that I am well and that I love them."
"Do not try to send them letters, Mrs. Darcy. I will accept no post from anyone bearing that name." As he turned away, Elizabeth thought she saw moisture collecting in his eyes as well.
The moment the carriage lurched into motion toward London, Elizabeth burst into tears again. Darcy pulled her into his lap, heedless of their audience, and stroked her back but he had no real idea how to help her through her crisis.
"I cannot believe Papa would act like that! He has always been so loving to me. I know that he has shown a general lack of care at times, but I always fancied myself his favourite"
"You are, Lizzy." Her uncle assured her.
"You mean I was." The correction of his tense brought on a fresh round of tears. "Mama, Jane, Mary, even Kitty and Lydia will wonder what has become of me. He will claim that I was carried off by some brute and I shall never be able to tell them the truth."
"I will write to your mother once some time has passed." Mr. Gardiner promised. Your father is angry at me for the time being, but he will not cut me out completely. You mother would not stand for it given my easy access to fine fabrics." The jest made her smile very little.
"Oh Fitzwilliam," she sobbed against his lapel, "I was so wrong about my father. You could be equally wrong about yours. What shall we do if we are cast out by both our families?"
"I do not believe that will happen, my love, but if it does, we shall not starve, I promise you. Remember, I told you about my inheritance?" He felt her nod against his chest. "It is mine alone, free of any restrictions. We can live upon it if need be, but do not worry so soon. We will see my father yet this evening, and he will welcome us, I am sure of it." What Darcy neglected to say was that his confidence in his father's acceptance was based more on the man's desire for familial harmony and a positive public image than anything else. He certainly did not want to upset his wife further, so he just let her sob against his waistcoat and stroked her back until her body stopped trembling.
Longbourn was an easy distance to town and as it was not the season, there were few other carriages to impede their voyage. The travellers found themselves at a fashionable town-house before the dinner hour. Elizabeth had repaired her appearance and other than her slightly red-rimmed eyes, no evidence remained of her recent upset. With the look of more confidence than they felt, they approached the door and knocked.
"I am sorry, Mr. Darcy is not – Master Fitzwilliam! It is good to see you returned safely, Sir."
"Is my father not at home to callers, Sinclair?"
"No, Sir; he has come to town on some urgent business and hopes to leave quickly without any social engagements. May I announce your guests?"
"My father is not yet acquainted with my party, I shall introduce them myself. Please ask him to join us in the green drawing room." Darcy took Elizabeth's arm in his and led the Gardiners into his second home.
They waited only a few minutes before the senior Mr. Darcy arrived. His resemblance to his son was immediately noticeable. Although one could hardly be mistaken for the other, it was evident where Darcy had inherited his dark, wavy hair and square jaw. Although the older man's hair was sprinkled liberally with silver and lines had formed near his mouth, the shape of his lips was not unfamiliar to Elizabeth, who blushed lightly at the thought. He was only an inch shorter than his son and carried himself with the confident mien of a younger man.
Darcy greeted his father warmly and introduced him to the Gardiners, then paused while the man looked expectantly at Elizabeth. He took a deep breath and ploughed forward. "Father, I am most pleased to introduce you to Elizabeth Darcy, my wife." Elizabeth dropped a curtsey and smiled hopefully at the older gentleman, who was silent for a long moment.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Darcy. Would you be so kind as to excuse me and my son for a moment?" With a glare that brooked no opposition, Mr. Darcy bade his son follow him to his study, which he did after kissing his wife's hand apologetically.
Darcy saw that while his father was clearly upset, he was visibly less volatile than Elizabeth's had been.
"Would you care to explain yourself, son?"
He managed to sum up their courtship quite concisely. "Yes, of course, Sir. I was in Scotland with Richard when we met the Gardiners, who were travelling with their niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth and I spent a good deal of time in each other's company, then were parted for several weeks by our varied destinations. I had gotten to know Elizabeth quite well and found myself thinking of nothing else but her. I had decided that I would have to seek her out upon her return to England because there was nothing I wished more than to marry her. When I chanced to see her again later in our travels, I only fell more deeply in love. Both Richard and the Gardiners tried to convince us of the impossibility of our union. Afraid that she would be lost to me otherwise, I moved to make her my bride immediately. I am sorry if I have disappointed you, Father, but I could not have returned knowing we could never wed."
Mr. Darcy listened to his son's tale with a furrowed brow. "Did you compromise her? Tell me truly, did her uncle force this match?"
"No, in fact her uncle was quite angry. I admit that I did not act honourably in that I spirited her away to be wed in secret. Mr. Gardiner accused me of kidnapping, I am sure that if Elizabeth had not convinced him of her willingness, he would have either run me through or dragged me before a magistrate in Scotland."
"And this girl, she is your wife, truly?" His son only nodded. Mr. Darcy sighed in resignation. "If you wish for an annulment, it could be arranged, even now. Might there be a child?"
"There is no child as of yet, but I have no wish to end my marriage, I love my wife."
Mr. Darcy mumbled something which his son could not make out, although he thought he heard a reference to a "Miss Davis."
"Excuse me Sir?"
He shook his head dismissively at the question. "This Mrs. Darcy of yours, is she unsuitable in some way; why could you not have courted her properly?"
"She is not of our sphere. She has relations in trade."
"Her father?" Mr. Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose as if to stave off a headache as he awaited a response.
"Mr. Bennet is a gentleman of modest estate with four other daughters and no son."
"Well, as she is already your wife, I suppose there is nothing to be done. At least she is a gentleman's daughter and you vouch for her worthiness." He stared at his son for a long moment before rendering his judgement. "I would like to limit our contact with the lesser relations you mentioned. I suppose the Gardiners are among those."
"Yes, Sir; although they are a fine, genteel sort of people and Mrs. Gardiner is the granddaughter of -"
"Never mind, Fitzwilliam. Please see them out and ask Mrs. Darcy to join us here."
"Yes, Sir." Darcy left the room relieved but conflicted.
Darcy directed a servant to retrieve Elizabeth's trunks from the carriage and apologized to the Gardiners that he could not invite them for dinner.
"I understand that your father does not wish to entertain us in his home," Mr. Gardiner admitted, "but I cannot leave without some assurance that he will be kind to Lizzy."
"My father is the model of propriety, but I promise you, Sir, that I will bring Elizabeth to your home or to an inn before I allow her to stay in a place where she would be abused."
Mr. Gardiner had given his niece enough money to hire a hackney to Gracechurch Street while they had been left alone by the Darcys and had secured a promise that she would come to them should her father-in-law prove intolerable in any way.
Once the Gardiners had departed, Darcy led Elizabeth into his father's study, where she was encouraged to take a seat before the man's desk. He welcomed her politely, if not warmly, to the family and asked her about herself. Elizabeth felt as though she was quite on display, but answered all Mr. Darcy's questions as well as she could. He was curious about her father's situation and was surprised to learn that she actually knew quite a bit about Longbourn's acreage, livestock, crops, and tenants, as she had long been her father's only confidante in estate matters. He also inquired about her family, a topic which made her lip quiver in an attempt to hold back tears.
Darcy took his wife's hand and stroked it, the most comfort that he could give her in this particular company. He explained to his father that Mr. Bennet had cast her off in the wake of their elopement and that she had not been able to even bid her sisters farewell.
As practical and stoic a man as Mr. Darcy was, he could not help but be moved by the tears of the young woman who sat before him. In the short time he had spoken with her, she seemed to be both bright and sweet. She was also undeniably beautiful and it was clear that his son was in love, he determined to give the girl a chance despite his reservations.
A servant entered the room to announce that the meal was ready to be served and Darcy took his wife's arm to lead her to the dining room.
The staff at Darcy House turned out to be as efficient as that at Pemberley. On short notice, the cook added a few simple dishes to stretch a meal designed for one into something appropriate for three, if not for a homecoming. Over dinner, Elizabeth was able to talk about her family, sharing amusing anecdotes about her sisters without dwelling on her lack of a future with them.
Mr. Darcy was taken aback to discover that she had already met Georgiana and admonished his son for encouraging his sister to dishonesty, although he was actually quite grateful to have been told such monumental news in person rather than in a letter from a third party. Eventually, the conversation shifted to practical matters, including the living arrangements of the newly-weds
"I do not know what sort of home you had in mind, Fitzwilliam. With the bequest from your uncle, you could purchase a house in town but you are, of course, welcome here. If you desire privacy but prefer the country, the dower house at Pemberley is available, it must only be aired out and perhaps refurnished a bit."
"I had planned to settle the bulk of my inheritance on my wife and future children. Both Elizabeth and I dearly love the country, and although she is unfamiliar with Derbyshire, I have no doubt that before long she will care for it just as I do. We had hoped to stay at Pemberley, Father, unless you have objections. I would miss Georgiana dearly if I could not see her every day, especially after such a prolonged absence as I have just had. In addition, Elizabeth is used to living among sisters and I am sure that she would appreciate the additional companionship as well. They got along quite well when they met two days ago."
"Well, let us speak plainly then. To prevaricate at this point would only cause confusion or unhappiness. Mrs. Darcy, what are your wishes?"
"I thought Pemberley to be a most beautiful place, although I admit, I would like to spend some time in town if possible. I have never seen an opera or Shakespeare performed on the stage."
"And would you be happy living under my roof, or do you desire a home of your own with your new husband?"
She looked uncertainly at Darcy, who smiled and encouraged her to answer honestly. "I have never had a home of my own, so I do not believe that I am in any great need of one. Fitzwilliam was correct when he said that I would enjoy living with Georgiana. Also, I am sorry if I speak out of turn, but I believe my husband would like to remain in the home he has always known to learn from you about management of the estate."
"Is that true, Fitzwilliam?"
"It is, Sir."
"It is decided then, you shall come to live at Pemberley. Did Georgiana tell you that we plan to spend the little season in town?"
"She expressed such a hope when we saw her recently."
"Yes, she has reached the bounds of what Miss Snyder can teach her on the pianoforte, it is time for her to study with a proper music master."
Elizabeth suppressed a laugh at the recollection of Georgiana's similarly voiced thought, instead she only smiled and spoke honestly. "Your daughter is very talented, Sir. She does you credit."
"Thank you, Mrs. Darcy. Do you play?"
"I do, a little."
"Will you favour us with a song this evening, Madam?"
"I am terribly sorry, Sir, but I find myself much fatigued from our journey and the trials of the day. Perhaps I might play for you tomorrow."
"There is no hurry, I suppose. Although I had planned to leave for Pemberley on the morrow. Will you feel equal to travelling then?"
Darcy interjected. "We have been on the road for four full days now, to say nothing of our individual travels beforehand. Perhaps we could remain in town until you return with Georgiana for the little season in a few weeks' time."
"That sounds acceptable. I shall have Mrs. Drummond ready a chamber for Mrs. Darcy to use that one until your new rooms are prepared."
"My new rooms, Sir?"
Mr. Darcy looked at him as though he were stupid, a rare expression for him to turn upon his intelligent son. "You are a married man now and require a different sort of arrangement than you have always had." He considered for a moment. "There is a suite of rooms on the second floor that should be appropriate. The bedrooms connect inside and each have their own dressing rooms." He addressed Elizabeth. "You may decorate the suite as you wish, those particular rooms have not been made over since my own mother was a new bride. You will desire, I am sure, to make your mark and feel comfortable there."
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy."
"Of course, it is your prerogative. Shall I see you two in the morning? I plan to leave directly after an early breakfast."
"I hope to be awake, father, but if not, please carry my best wishes to Georgiana and inform her that she did an excellent job keeping our confidence and she is now free to speak about our marriage with whomever she wishes."
"Goodnight Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Darcy."
Darcy took his wife's arm and, bidding his father goodnight, led her upstairs.
That night, it was her bed that was neglected; he held her in a chaste embrace throughout the night in his own room.