Hello everyone! I am so sorry I have not updated in so long - I have been very busy, but I have not stopped writing! I have been doing my absolute best to write in chronological order, but I have so many chapters for two or three or ten years down the track in our favourite couple's lives. I would love to hear your thoughts on the next couple of chapters, so review please! I would also love to know whether you want me to just post all the chapters I have written, even if they are not in chronological order, and fill in the gaps as I write them?
Love you all, and happy reading!
The third day of the marriage of Mr and Mrs Darcy dawned bright, and Elizabeth awoke as she had on the second; wrapped in the embrace of her husband. The breakfasted together in the dining room, and then Darcy proposed a walk. He knew that they had not left the house for two days together, and that Elizabeth was itching to be outside again.
"Oh, yes please," Elizabeth immediately responded. "I would love a walk. When shall we go?"
"Whenever you wish."
"Have you no business to attend to today?"
"No, no. Mr Gordon is taking care of our affairs for a few days. Surely you could not expect me to be locked in my study and leave you all alone!"
It was said as a tease, but Elizabeth knew he was perfectly serious.
"Of course not," she replied earnestly, taking his hand. "But you will let me help you if I can in any way, like you said at Longbourn?"
Darcy squeezed her hand. "Of course I will. I will always share with you, Elizabeth, I will always be honest with you. No matter how tedious my business is I swear from this day forth," he said dramatically, putting a hand to his heart, "that you will always be a part of it."
She laughed her merry laugh but was immensely pleased. They finished breakfast together and moved to the library, where a footman brought in the paper, and after handing it to Darcy, bowed, and left. Darcy opened it, but found his eyes drawn to Elizabeth, who was still scanning the shelves in search for a book. He was suddenly overwhelmed that she was here with him, and that they were married and happy after a year of anguish and longing. Darcy suddenly put down the paper and walked over to Elizabeth, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She was delighted, and turned in his embrace to hold him back. He held her waist with one hand and her head to his heart with the other, and Elizabeth nestled into him.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Elizabeth pulled away a little, looking at him quizzically. "Whatever for?"
Darcy's expression did not change, and Elizabeth matched the intensity of his gaze.
"For marrying me," he replied, simply.
Elizabeth looked at him in surprise, and then shook her head. "No," she said softly. "Do not say that again."
She saw Darcy about to protest and put a finger to his lips. She continued. "Please, never thank me for marrying you. It is not you who is blessed beyond belief by our union. I am grateful every day, every day since the day we became engaged, that by some miracle I was allowed another chance with you. If you want to thank somebody, thank yourself. I married you because I think that you are the most beautiful man I have ever known, and because I love you, very, very much."
Darcy kissed the finger at his lips, before Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him properly. The pulled apart, and walked to the settee together. Darcy sat and opened the newspaper, and Elizabeth sat next to him with her head on his shoulder, opening one of the books on the side table. They sat in peaceful companionship until Darcy loudly scoffed at the newspaper. Elizabeth turned her head and said, smiling, "What on Earth provoked that response?"
"The society column," Darcy replied disdainfully. "There is a new scandal every week in London."
Elizabeth sat up and looked at the paper in Darcy's hands. "Tell me about it," she said suddenly.
"What do you mean?" He asked, looking at her.
"Tell me about the circle that you have brought me into. I know very little of the people you would know, and I do not want to appear clueless when I meet them," Elizabeth replied resolutely.
Darcy nodded, smiling. "Of course. It will take time, though; there is a great deal of content."
"Start with the society column," said Elizabeth. "Tell me what you scoffed at so, and then go from there."
"Alright," Darcy said. He then proceeded to explain the situation of Lord Barker, who was engaged to young lady number four. His first wife had managed to annul their marriage on the grounds of unsuitable treatment two years after they wed, and after she had given birth to triplets. The second had disappeared about four years into their marriage, leaving her son and daughter with their father. The third wife had passed giving birth to quadruplets – two sets of identical twins, six years into the marriage, before which she had birthed another two children.
"We went to school together, at Eton," Darcy said. "He is almost penniless; he has lost most of his estate. He is two and forty and his betrothed is sixteen."
Elizabeth crinkled her nose and frowned. "She has money?"
"Oh yes, fifty thousand pounds."
"Two and forty, a title, eleven children, and a sixteen-year-old fiancé. Are there many marriages like this?"
"Unfortunately yes, but the lady usually has something to gain from it. For example, Barker's fiancé comes from trade, and he is an Earl, albeit a penniless one."
"How old are his children?"
"They are all of them under twelve."
"Goodness me!"
Darcy shrugged. "Lord Barker's situation itself is uncommon, but very few look at it with the level of peculiarity you believe it deserves."
Filling the hours until luncheon, Darcy educated Elizabeth on the people she should expect to meet. There were a great many, and Elizabeth's head was whirring by the time they exited the library.
"Are you sure you do not want to take a phaeton to the park? It is winter, you know."
"I know it is winter. Hyde Park is not very far from here, is it?"
"Not two miles, but –"
"You are not afraid of a little snow, are you?" Elizabeth asked, impishly.
Darcy grinned at her. "Not in the least."
"Well, then?"
Darcy was still grinning, and offered Elizabeth his arm. Elizabeth took it, and together they left the Darcy town house for Hyde Park.
