The next day, Darcy picked up the license and they all went to Pemberley. The Earl and Countess were introduced to the Bingleys and they greeted the ladies very politely. The Countess said, "Miss Bennet, I admit that we were surprised when Darcy told us about your joining our family, but we are pleased with his choice. We know that you two will be good for each other and that you will be very happy." They were pleased to see that the betrothed couple were very much in love, which was obvious from how they greeted each other. Mrs. Reynolds showed the Earl and Countess up to their suite which she had had made ready for them in the family wing.
Dinner was a happy occasion, even though there were only the seven of them. Bingley was not overwhelmed by the significance of the Matlocks and his natural exuberance kept the conversation lively. After dinner, Georgiana and Elizabeth entertained everyone with their prowess on the piano and in song. It was obvious to the Matlocks that their niece was pleased with Darcy's choice and they expected that Elizabeth would be a very good sister to her.
When the Bingleys and the ladies went up, the Earl and Darcy had a final glass of brandy. "Darcy, while I had hoped that you would soon find someone to marry, I had anticipated that she would have good connections. However, we are pleased with Miss Bennet as we are sure that she will make a great wife for you. When you come to town this winter, we will make sure that she is accepted. Our sponsorship will go a long way to make this happen. In a way I envy you as she is a very attractive lady and her liveliness will be an asset for both you and Georgiana. Your Aunt and I assume that there is a history between you two. Would you like to tell me about it?"
Darcy did tell him of his meeting Elizabeth in Hertfordshire and later in Kent, but he did not give all of the details of what happened between them. This story satisfied the Earl that it was not a rushed decision on Darcy's part.
The next day, all the ladies went into Lambton and found that the first dress that Elizabeth had ordered as her wedding dress was ready except for a few final minor adjustments. They had a pleasant time visiting this and several other shops, where they were made very welcome by all the shop owners who were very pleased to have a Countess as a customer.
While the ladies were on their shopping trip, Darcy, Bingley, and the Earl rode to see Burleigh and examined his horses that were fully trained and ready for sale. Darcy knew that Elizabeth had never been much of a rider, but he decided that she should learn as there were so many trails on the Pemberley estate that were best explored on horseback. Burleigh was pleased to sell him, at a reasonable price, a young mare that he assured Darcy was very gentle and would be suitable for Elizabeth as her personal mount. They invited the Burleighs to come for dinner that evening.
Dinner went very well as everyone knew each other and they were all good friends. Again, the ladies showed their skills at the piano, much to everyone's complete enjoyment. The highlight of the evening, and the last piece of music, was a duet that Georgiana and Elizabeth had practiced. Darcy was pleased to see that his sister had overcome her shyness to be able to perform before this group.
The Burleighs left after promising to attend the ceremony and the ladies soon went up together, thus denying Darcy a chance to say a proper good-night to Elizabeth. After he and the Earl had enjoyed a final brandy, they also went up. Darcy could not resist saying a proper and final good-night to his beloved, so he quietly tapped on Elizabeth's door. He slipped into her room and saw that she was already in bed.
He went to the bed and sat down beside her. "Elizabeth, I just had to say good-night to you with no one watching. Just think—this is the last time we will be apart at night. I have not had a chance to ask you how your nights have been. Have you slept well?"
Elizabeth was embarrassed that he came into her room as she was wearing only a light summer night-dress. She pulled up the covers to her neck and held them there. "Fitzwilliam, again you should not be here, but yes, I have been sleeping well. I dream of you and being with you." When she said this, she blushed very becomingly. "Now, before we get into trouble, please give me a kiss and go to your own room. Tomorrow we will not be apart."
He put his arms around her and gave her what she wanted. They had to force themselves to part, as they each wanted to prolong the delights they were experiencing. He left her after again promising her that tomorrow would be different.
In the morning, the ladies helped Elizabeth put on her new gown. Emma dressed her hair in a very becoming style and they were all satisfied that she would make a beautiful bride. The Bingleys rode to the church in one carriage, the Countess and Darcy rode in another, while the Earl and Georgiana accompanied Elizabeth in a third. The Earl had agreed to act to give Elizabeth away and Georgiana had agreed to stand up with her. Mr. Bingley had accepted the duties of best man. Darcy had found his mother's wedding ring and he wanted Elizabeth to wear this as well. He entrusted Bingley with this precious heirloom.
When Darcy and Bingley entered the church, they were surprised to see that it was full. Darcy could not believe that word of his marriage had spread so quickly and that so many of the local residents, tenants, and staff had come to see him wed. He saw Georgiana enter first, but then his eyes were only on his bride. He heard the murmurs of appreciation from the congregation at her beauty. Everyone was smiling at her, but he did not notice. He barely heard the parson's words as all of his attention was on the beauty standing at his side during the ceremony.
At the end of the ceremony, after they had signed the register, the newlyweds went down the aisle arm in arm and were greeted by the crowd gathered outside who wanted to offer their congratulations. The new couple finally made their way to their carriage for the short trip to Pemberley to enjoy the wedding breakfast and more congratulations. Darcy was again surprised at how many people came to the house to wish them well.
The crowd slowly reduced as people made their way home. The Earl and Countess were the last to leave, taking Georgiana with them after Darcy had promised that he and Elizabeth would go to Matlock in a week to pick her up. They had decided they would spend their first week of their marriage quietly at Pemberley. Bingley and Jane knew that they would not see much of them for at least the first couple of days if they began their marriage as enthusiastically as they had. Bingley was looking forward to teasing his new brother about the delights of being married to a beautiful and loving wife. He expected that Elizabeth would be similar in many respects to her sister. When he mentioned these hopes to Jane, she blushed and swatted his arm, telling him to be nice.
When everyone had left, the Bingleys went outside so they would not intrude on what they expected that Darcy wanted to do. Darcy and Elizabeth were finally alone, except for the staff who were cleaning the remains of the wedding breakfast. Darcy said, "Elizabeth, what would you like to do now? It is coming to our usual dinner time, but I am not hungry." He really wanted to carry her up to his room, but he had decided to proceed very slowly with her. "Will you play for me? Something suitable for a wedding, perhaps?"
Elizabeth could see that this was not what he actually wanted and she was grateful that he was not trying to rush her. "Yes, that would be relaxing." They went to the music room and she played several easy pieces while Darcy sat on a sofa watching her. She then went to sit right beside him. "Now what would you really like to do?" she asked quietly, with a smile. She turned her face up to him in an invitation. Darcy did not need any more encouragement and he took her in his arms and kissed her very gently. In spite of his best intentions, their kisses quickly became much more passionate.
She soon decided that she would need to show him that she was ready as she did not want him to become frustrated with her. She broke off his kiss and whispered in his ear, "Fitzwilliam, would you like to carry me upstairs?"
He moaned when he realized what she was saying, "Elizabeth, are you sure? We can wait if you want."
"I want to become your wife in every way. I am ready, but please be gentle."
Darcy needed no further encouragement and he easily picked her up and carried her up the stairs to his room, continuing to kiss her all the way. The maids and footmen who saw this, being well trained and very happy for their master and new mistress, only smiled, averted their eyes, and continued with their work. When Darcy carried Elizabeth into the mistress's room, he said, "Shall I call for Emma to help you?"
"No. Will you help me with my buttons?" He managed, although clumsily, as he did not want to let go of her while he worked at them.
What need we say about happened that evening, night, and the next morning? Darcy proved that he could be patient and gentle, much to her complete satisfaction. He also proved that he had been accumulating such a great passion for her that it needed his repeated energetic efforts to assuage. As much as Elizabeth accepted, and even encouraged, his eager attentions, she could tell from his very enthusiastic responses that she could expect that it would take a very long time before either of them tired of this aspect of their marriage.
Neither the Bingleys nor the staff saw much of them for several days, but they finally emerged smiling to eat a dinner in the small dining room with the Bingleys. They disappeared again soon after, to Bingley's smiles and Jane's blushes. Her husband's repeated fervent but gentle demonstrations of his love and her enthusiastic reception of his attentions convinced Elizabeth that what she felt for him was indeed love of the deepest kind. Her admission of her feelings to him made him positive that he was the luckiest and happiest man in all of England and that he had won the hand of the best and most beautiful lady in the country. The Bingleys noticed his smiles that were even broader than they had been at first, and Bingley could not help but tease his friend about his obvious happiness. "Darcy, if I had not so recently experienced the joys of marriage for myself, I would have said that you were bewitched! I guess the sisters are similar in more ways than one! Are we not the luckiest men alive to have won their hearts?"
The newlyweds roused themselves after their incredible first week together as man and wife when they rode to Matlock to pick up Georgiana. Needless to say, neither of them glanced even once at the scenery they were passing, being too busy showing their love for each other. When they arrived at Matlock, Mrs. Darcy's disheveled appearance when she emerged from the carriage made it very apparent to the Earl, Countess, and Georgiana, that the newlyweds were pleased with each other, to say the least. Whenever the Earl made the slightest suggestion of marital bliss, Elizabeth had the courtesy of blushing, thus confirming his suspicions. Darcy's continuous wide smiles only served to confirmed how pleased he was with his wife. In the carriage on the way back to Pemberley, Darcy had to restrain himself from doing what he really wanted in consideration of his sister's sensibilities. Georgiana seemed to be aware of their unspoken desires as it was obvious from the way they looked at each other all the way home.
Of course, their marriage was not all hearts and roses. With two such stubborn individuals, disagreements occurred from time to time, but their passionate natures quickly resulted in ardent sessions of forgiveness. Elizabeth's bouts of depression became fewer with time before they completely disappeared. She found that the easiest way for her to overcome these times were simply to think of the joys she continued to receive from her husband.
At Pemberley in the months that followed, Georgiana came to realize that her brother's marriage was the best thing that had ever happened to him. His personality and demeanor seemed to change, becoming much more open and friendly. While before, he had rarely smiled, now this was an almost constant occurrence, especially when Elizabeth was anywhere near. While it was more difficult for Georgiana to appreciate, her own shyness slowly disappeared with the excellent example set by her new sister, and by her constant companionship and gentle guidance. When she finally made her debut into society, she proved to be one of the most popular debutantes of the season, with many young gentlemen vying for her attention.
With two such passionate individuals as Darcy and Elizabeth, it can be no surprise that a son was born to them within a year of their marriage. He was followed by a daughter, another son, and finally a second daughter over the next few years. Darcy worried about each delivery, thinking of the problems that his mother had suffered, but Elizabeth proved to be healthy enough to survive each ordeal with no lasting effects. Darcy was especially happy with their brood of four children as he had seen the love that siblings could have for each other even in a family as dysfunctional as the Bennets. He had vowed that his children would not be as alone as he and Georgiana had been while they were growing up. His ardent love for his wife ensured that all his dreams were fulfilled, and to a degree that he could never have imagined. As he had so often dreamt, the halls of Pemberley reverberated with the sounds of running steps and laughter.
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you enjoyed my story, the ninth that I have published on this site. I welcome all comments and suggestions as I am trying to improve my fiction writing. I certainly know that it can stand improvement after having been only a dry and dusty academic for so many years.
If you are interested, I am currently working on another story, tentatively called "Four Lost Years." As with all of my other stories, it is a variation of the Immortal Jane's original P&P, with a twist in the plot. I then try to imagine what might have happened to the major characters after this twist occurred.
Roni