Darcy and Elizabeth entered the house and went to find the others. They found them all in the music room where Georgiana was practicing the piano, or at least pretending to. Darcy said, "Everyone, we have something to tell you."
Georgiana looked at the smiles on their faces and rushed to put her arms around them. "Please tell me. From your smiles it is obviously good news."
"I have asked Elizabeth to be my wife and she has agreed. We want to marry as soon as possible, so I will be going to Derby to get a common license from the bishop. While I am there, I will inform the Matlocks and invite them to come to our wedding. The ceremony should be within a week, here in Lambton. I hope that you all approve."
Georgiana said, "Yes, I certainly do! Oh, I am so happy for both of you. I am surprised only that it happened so quickly. Elizabeth, I am so looking forward to having you as my sister. What can I do to help?"
Jane also put her arms around her sister and added her congratulations. Bingley shook Darcy's hand very vigorously.
Elizabeth said to the two ladies, "Will you both help me pick out which dress I should wear to our wedding? I do not have many, but I do have the new ones we had made in London."
Georgiana said, "Of course I will. Fitzwilliam, as soon as you are married, you had better take Elizabeth to Lambton to increase her wardrobe. I know that you will want to be proud of your wife."
Darcy said. "Better still, you two ladies can take her there today. You have much better taste in ladies' clothing than I do. I have an idea. I have to go to the church to arrange for a date for the ceremony. We could all go to Lambton and you ladies can shop while I make that arrangements. I will go to Derby tomorrow for the license and to see the Matlocks. Bingley, are you willing to go with us? You can either help the ladies shop or come with me to the church."
They all thought that this was a good idea, so they took the carriage to the village. Darcy and Bingley dropped off the ladies at the proper shop and they went to the manse to see the parson. This visit did not take long, so he and Bingley next went to the Burleigh estate to tell Mr. Burleigh of their plans. When they arrived there, he introduced Bingley; then he invited the Burleighs to come to the wedding.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Burleigh were very pleased to hear of the wedding. "Darcy, I am very pleased to hear this. We were all very impressed with Miss Bennet and were horrified to hear that her whole family was left homeless because of the entail. You know that I told her that she could stay in the dower house for as long as she needed to decide on her future? When we heard that you had invited her to come to Pemberley, I had hoped that you would work things out with her. Yes, we will be at your wedding, very happily."
Darcy and Bingley then returned to the shop, to find that the ladies were just about ready to leave. Mrs. Gordon, the owner of the shop, was very pleased to serve the Pemberley ladies and promised to have the dress that the ladies had decided that Elizabeth would wear on her special day finished in time for the wedding. She had not received much business from Miss Darcy in the past, so she planned to fill this order to the best of her ability in hopes that they would continue to patronize her shop in the future. She had been very pleased to provide the several dresses that the ladies had ordered for Elizabeth.
Their return to Pemberley was merry as they had all accomplished what they had wanted. Their good mood continued through dinner and into the evening when the ladies played and sang. Darcy had been watching Elizabeth closely all day to see if her mood remained positive. He was glad to see that it had, so far.
When Georgiana sat at the piano for a final piece before they retired, Darcy went to sit beside Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, I have seen that you have been in a very good mood all day, but I am still worried that the night might bring on your bad memories. Will you be all right? Please promise me that if you begin to feel sad, that you will come to me; just for comfort."
"Fitzwilliam, I have been happy all day, but I do not know how I will be tonight. If I come to you, are you sure that we will be able to control ourselves? When you held me last night, I began to have feelings that I have never felt before. I do not believe that I could say 'no' to you for anything when I feel like that."
Darcy smiled at her words. "I know exactly what you mean. If you come to me, I will try my best to behave as I dream of how wonderful our wedding night will be. I do not want to spoil that special night." Elizabeth blushed when he said this.
When they all went up, they first went to the door of Elizabeth's room. Georgiana said, "Should I wait for you to say 'good-night' or will it be safe to leave you two alone? I saw how you were in the garden this morning."
Darcy smiled at her impertinence. "Elizabeth, we have our very own chaperone! Who gave her that job? Georgie, just look down the hall for a moment." She did turn away and she heard some very happy sighs behind her. "Thank you, Georgie." He then kissed her on her forehead and turned to go to his own room, with a final smile at his betrothed.
"Oh, Lizzy, I am so happy for the both of you." The two ladies hugged and went into their own rooms.
Elizabeth went to bed with a smile on her face, thinking of how happy she was now that her future was assured. She had no doubts that she had made the right decision to accept Mr. Darcy. No negative thoughts or dreams affected her that night, so she stayed in her own bed, enjoying a good night's sleep such as she had not experienced for some time. Darcy's night was not so restful as he started at every noise, even the slightest, hoping that his door would open and she would appear. He woke in the morning holding his pillow in his arms, dreaming of his beloved.
Darcy left for Derby after breakfast. He arrived there in the early afternoon and went straight to the bishop's palace where he made his application for a common license. When informed that it would be ready in the morning, he went to Matlock Manor and asked for his Uncle, the Earl of Matlock.
Darcy was shown in to the Earl's office and was greeted warmly. After exchanging family news, Darcy told him why he was in Derby. The Earl was pleased to hear that his nephew was finally getting married and he approved of his choice of wife, even though he knew about her unfortunate history and the loss of her home to the entail. He had long hoped that Darcy would find a wife, but had hoped that she would have a better background and dowry than Miss Bennet. However, having met the lady, he approved of her and believed that she would make a very good wife for his nephew.
They went to find the Countess and related the good news. She was not pleased to hear that Miss Bennet was staying at Pemberley as she knew that this arrangement was not appropriate. However, since the wedding was scheduled in just a few days, she decided not to make this an issue. The Matlocks quickly decided that they would go to the wedding and that they should bring Georgiana back with them so the newlyweds would enjoy a week of privacy. Darcy wondered if Bingley would want to leave as well, but was not worried about their staying as they had not been married for long and would understand their frequent absences for some private time together. Darcy sent an express to Mrs. Reynolds warning her of their arrival and asking her to arrange for a good dinner with the assistance of Miss Bennet and Georgiana. He also confirmed the date of the wedding and that the wedding breakfast would be held at Pemberley.