Here we go, last few scenes. Remember, if you've been following along, this is probably going to feel rushed, but if some was sitting down adn reading this actively from the start, by now they want the wedding like 20 chapters ago. :) :)
Oh, and I managed to work Lady Catherine in.
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Despite the late period of the season, carriages lined the block for admission to the Matlock Ball to honor the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Practically stripped of all furniture, the town home admitted the top of the social elite along with the Gardiners and the Bingleys in one of the most diverse gatherings Regina Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock, ever had occasion to host.
As the musicians began their warm up, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth stood together in the set with her sister Jane and his cousin Richard. To the attendees, the first set represented a preview of the ceremony tomorrow when Jane and Richard would stand up from Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet in church. But the arrangement brought displeasure to Lady Matlock and she complained such to her husband and eldest son.
"Why is Richard standing up with her sister? He is giving her too much consideration in public."
"Ginny, it is expected. Leave the boy alone." Garland Fitzwilliam, the ninth Earl of Matlock, calmed his wife out of the side of his mouth as he offered nods and smiles to his acquaintances and those deserving of his notice.
"James, why have you not taken your place for the set?" Lady Mallock began to fret as more of the line began to fill.
"She looks rather pretty." James Fitzwilliam, Viscount of Rutherford, made eye contact with a lady ethereally dressed. Kitty Bennet blushed and looked down at the notice. Lady Matlock snorted through her nose and pulled her son's arm to twist him in a different direction.
"That is enough Bennets for now, find another. We will not be a laughingstock, there, see, Lady Susan is waiting." Lady Matlock practically shoved her son in the direction of the fifth daughter of a duke and then broke out her fan to fervently move the air around her person.
The set began, an enthusiastic Scottish country dance with many turns and quicksteps. The suggestion of opening the ball with a song from Scotland was a design of Fitzwilliam Darcy to give a nod to the more romantic beginnings of his marriage. As the dance moves called for the foursome to swap partners and return again, Jane, Richard, Elizabeth, and Fitzwilliam smiled and laughed at their private party within the larger ball. Lady Matlock's careful observation became interrupted when Thomas Bennet, looking quite debonair dressed up formally for the ball, approached her ladyship and bowed low.
"It is my understanding it is customary for members of the family to unite with a set on the dance floor. Could I trouble you for the next set?" Lady Matlock's eyes flicked quickly to find her husband making a similar request of Mrs. Bennet, much to the lady's eternal delight that she shared enthusiastically with anyone in her vicinity. The die was cast, the wedding in the morning. Regina Fitzwilliam had no choice but to play her part increasingly feeling as though she were the one being punished for the scandal.
She accepted Mr. Bennet's offer and then found an acquaintance to pass the time with before her obligation. When they lined up in the set, Lady Matlock frowned to see that her nephew and her son had merely swapped partners, therefore again preserving their party of four in the lines.
The candles burned to nearly the halfway mark and all in attendance reveled and danced at the smartest ball of the year. Without members of the royal family in attendance, the patrons were free to seek relief in their dance and alcohol in their cups. Thankfully, the crowd had turned a bit rowdy when disaster walked through the door bearing the name of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Her brother, Garland Fitzwilliam intercepted his sister, speaking forcefully as she was escorted into the ball by her young niece, Lady Olivia.
"Catherine," he greeted his sister and pecked her cheek. "We had no idea you were visiting London."
"Visiting? I should say not. I came as quickly as a report of this disastrous union reached my ears. Where is Fitzwilliam? Where is that boy?" Lady Catherine tried to look over her brother's shoulder, but standing and neat six inches shorter than him, the squat old lady managed little more than leaning over to look around him, but Garland kept blocking her path.
"Lower your voice, Catty. They are already married. Weeks ago over the anvil. This is merely the stamp of approval we are all bestowing in the name of our family's future." Though he be the junior, Garland Fitzwilliam sounded dearly like their father, and for a moment Lady Catherine felt transported back twenty plus years ago to a similar ball where her father was not happy his daughter Anne had selected an untitled man despite his wealth. Catherine shook her head to cast off the memories of the past.
"Unacceptable. You do not bestow sweets on a misbehaving child. I refuse to participate in the charade. Where is Regina? She will join me in this." Catherine raised her voice as her brother looped his arm in hers and began walking her back toward the door. Over his shoulder he instructed his daughter that he would deal with her after, and Lady Olivia slunk away to disappear in the din.
"I'm afraid my wife is indisposed at the moment, she is dancing with Mrs. Darcy's uncle. She planned the entire affair, I don't believe you'll find an ally there. Go home Catherine, or as it is late go above stairs and take a rest. You know this is your home as well."
Lady Catherine began to scoff more, but a glare from her brother silenced her on the subject. Declaring she took no leave of him, she accepted his offer to go up upstairs and find rest. But she declared she would not be attending the ceremony in the morning.
Although Garland Fitzwilliam did not say such, in his mind he thanked Providence his older sister and her cantankerous mood would not attend the wedding. And she would not stay at the ball and needle him for an alliance between her sickly daughter and James, either.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth missed the entire display of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as they sat out the set before supper on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Elizabeth stood so close to her husband, just another half an inch she would be leaning up against him. But they were under strict instructions not to draw attention to the fact that they were indeed newlyweds, for a semblance of tradition.
"Did you love me before your carriage accident?" Fitzwilliam Darcy closed his eyes as his wife looked up at the stars. When Elizabeth's silence felt it had passed for too long, he opened his eyes to find his wife had turned around to look directly at him. The torches lit on each corner of the balcony danced in the reflection of her eyes and she gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I believe the reason I had a carriage accident is because I loved you, sir."
Elizabeth's answer confused Darcy and he asked her to explain. She shrugged and cast the rules aside as she nestled her cheek against his chest.
"From the minute I left Longbourn, I feared if we never found my sister I would never make things right with you. I agonized most days over our conversations and can recite to you the contents of each with great accuracy."
Fitzwilliam gulped at the stirring passions his wife's proximity began to awaken.
"Yet you cannot recall our time in Scotland at the blacksmith." Fitzwilliam attempted to keep the conversation level. But Elizabeth shook her head against this person, which felt closer to a nuzzle than a negative response.
"No, but I shall remember tomorrow for all of my life." Elizabeth Darcy tilted her head back just as her husband leaned forward and the husband and wife that had gone about things all wrong in the eyes of Society, kissed with all of their love for one another.
The affection was short-lived however, when Lady Matlock burst onto the balcony and separated the two with her sharp exclamation.
"Fitzwilliam! I need you. Your cousin is dancing for a third time with her sister. He is raising expectations!" Lady Matlock fervently waved her hands and her nephew nodded but held up his hand to signal he needed a moment. Lady Matlock scowled but turned around and went back inside as she could not be away from the ballroom for too long.
When Darcy's aunt could no longer be seen, both Mr. and Mrs. Darcy burst out laughing. They kissed once more, no longer caring about the acceptance or stamp of approval any of the evening would see fit to bestow, and Darcy grasped his wife's hands to pull them close to his chest.
"Will you miss this life? All of the gilt and jewels of London? I know what we spoke of when we left Scotland, but now that you have seen it, I would understand if you would be more comfortable splitting our year between Town and the country."
Elizabeth leaned her head to the side to see through the windows the blurry figures laughing and dancing and joking. She also knew despite appearances an undercurrent of jealousy, wrath, and greed coursed through every conversation and interaction.
"I'm afraid I will have to disappoint you, husband. I loved country dances and assemblies, but that is felicity shared between neighbors. What London has to offer is something I confess I never desired. If we should return to town but once a year, I feel I will be more than satisfied."
Her husband agreed as they slowly began to walk back toward the door to reenter the fray.
"One more set, my lady?" Fitzwilliam Darcy offered his wife the charm of a gentleman he mostly kept concealed for the very reason his aunt now complained about his cousin. Elizabeth Darcy giggled, but rewarded her husband's request with a peck upon the tip of his nose before she quickly pulled away.
"And then we can go home?"
"You have the uncanny ability to express my sentiments exactly, Madam."
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Not going to lie, this scene almost felt like a perfect ending to me. BUT, I think what did become the ending and wasn't planned the way it happened, works the best. Can't wait to hear what you all think.
XOXOXO
Elizabeth Ann West
