"Lizzy, Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy," Mrs Bennet cried. "Welcome home! Well, I know it is not your home anymore, Lizzy, but you know what I mean."
She fluttered about, making inquiries about their journey, their last two months at Pemberley, and what they would like for dinner, all without pausing to hear answers.
Mr Darcy, who after living with the woman for a month had grown quite accustomed to her, smiled gently and bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Whatever you were already planning for dinner will suit us perfectly, Mrs Bennet."
The three Darcys then greeted Elizabeth's father and youngest sisters. Georgiana had been corresponding with the other girls and they hugged affectionately in their reunion.
"Mama, I feel I must remind you we will be staying at Netherfield," Elizabeth turned back to her mother to say. "We only came to see everyone briefly on our way there, though Mr Darcy and I will return to dine as arranged."
"Yes, of course - but you know, we have plenty of space here, especially with Jane and Mary married and moved out - oh, but Netherfield is so grand, of course you must prefer it, Mr Darcy - and Mr Bingley being your particular friend too. It was very kind of him to invite you there, but you know you could have stayed here."
"I know, Mama, but Mr Bingley wanted me to be his hostess for the duration of our stay. I promise we will see you every day," she smiled.
"Such a handsome and charming man, Mr Bingley is," Mrs Bennet said. "I wonder how he has not yet married. And he does not seem to notice Lydia at all, or even Kitty - if he would prefer even her I would not say nay -"
"Mama, I am right here," Kitty interjected.
"- but nothing has come of his stay. Well, it is not too late; I may see him settled with one of my girls yet."
#
"Charlotte!"
"Eliza!"
The two women embraced.
"I have not seen you in three months," Charlotte said. "I still can hardly believe you are married - and to Mr Darcy! I had a suspicion he liked you last year."
"You were correct," Elizabeth smiled. She glanced across the room at her husband, who was patiently listening to Sir William. "I know the wedding was sudden, but I am very happy. Exceedingly happy. But you must tell me more about Mr White! I am certain you have left information out of your letters."
Charlotte's blush told her more than any of her letters had. "He asked to court me formally a month ago, and to marry him only three days ago," she whispered.
"Charlotte!" Elizabeth barely contained herself from squealing as Lydia or Kitty would. "How exciting! I met him when we arrived at Netherfield yesterday, and he seems quite perfect for you. Serious and intelligent, like my own dashing gentleman."
"Of course I am old enough to consent on my own, but he insisted on speaking with my father, so the whole family knows, and now you."
"And you are happy?"
"Yes! I am quite fond of him. I can scarcely believe it; I was uncertain I would ever marry at all at this point. I would have married him regardless, but I am so pleased to find myself engaged to a man I hold in such esteem."
"You deserve every happiness, my dear friend." Elizabeth squeezed her hands. "And I will get to see you together in two days."
Bingley, now having a temporary hostess, was glad to finally have the opportunity to take his turn entertaining his neighbours who had been constantly inviting him and his friends to their events. Their first party would be dinner with the Bennet and Lucas families.
"I believe we are making the announcement then, if you do not object to using your dinner party for such a spectacle," Charlotte said.
"It would please me very much," Elizabeth replied.
"And then the first banns will be called this Sunday. Mr White wants to return to his family estate, as he has been away for some time, and I certainly have no cause to delay. We decided to marry in three weeks as your two sisters did."
"We will be in London battling my new family and the Ton at large before then, but of course we shall make the trip here to witness your wedding, if you want us to."
"Eliza, that would make my happiness complete."
#
"My Lord, My Lady, it is a pleasure to meet you both," Elizabeth said to her new uncle and aunt with a deep curtsy.
The Earl and Countess of Matlock bowed and curtsied in return. "It is good to finally meet you too, Mrs Darcy," he said. Everyone sat down and the Countess rang for tea. "When did you arrive in Town?"
"Only yesterday, My Lord. We spent ten days visiting my family in Hertfordshire after leaving Pemberley."
"Where is Georgiana?" the Countess asked while looking around.
"You know she does not travel well," Darcy answered for his wife. "She will call on you soon."
"I would have liked to have seen her, but you are correct, she does always require a day or two of rest. A delicate constitution, that girl has," the Earl said.
The Countess eyed Elizabeth up and down. "You certainly look more hardy than her. I hope that means you will bear my nephew a son easily."
"Aunt -" Darcy immediately began, but Elizabeth touched his arm to calm him. "My mother bore five children without mishap," she said.
"All girls, if I recall correctly," the Earl interjected.
"That was the Lord's decision, not my mother's," she answered with a sweet smile.
They could not argue with that.
"It appears you have been shopping already," the Countess said while examining Elizabeth again. She was wearing one of her nicer new morning dresses and her favourites of the family jewels Darcy had presented to her shortly after their wedding. Her outfit embodied a finer and more elegant version of her usual understated beauty. "You look the part, at least. You are making a good start."
"She looks the part because she belongs in our society," Darcy said peevishly.
"We shall hold a ball to introduce you in a couple of weeks," his aunt continued, ignoring him. "I believe you have not been presented at Court?" she added with a frown.
"I will in the new year, My Lady. I need my dress and tutoring."
"Hmph. I suppose that will do."
"Really, Aunt, is the hostility necessary?" Darcy asked. "We are already married. You cannot chase her off."
"Darcy, calm down," his uncle said. "If she cannot handle a little scrutiny here, when it is only us, she will not survive her first dinner party." He looked over at Elizabeth. "We are not offending you, are we?"
"Not at all, My Lord," she smiled.
Indeed, they were not. Elizabeth silently thanked her mother for over twenty years of slights, both subtle and otherwise, that prepared her to gain amusement from the present interview and bear the upcoming months in Town with good humour.
After a little more conversation the Darcys took their leave. As they walked the short distance home, Mr Darcy said to his wife, "I apologise for every uncharitable thought I have ever had about your family. None of them has ever treated me the way these two and Lady Catherine treat you."
"Do not worry about me, Fitzwilliam," she placated while squeezing his arm. "You know how whims and follies divert me. Whenever you are growing angry, I am mentally composing a letter to my father. You should try to see things my way for the sake of your health."
He looked at her for a few moments and shook his head. "You are a wonder," he said. "Every day I find another reason I could only have married you and no one else."
They arrived at home and went directly to their chambers where Elizabeth cheered her husband the best way she knew how.
#
"Caroline, how wonderful to see you again," Bingley said with a wide smile. "How did you enjoy your summer in Bath?"
"Very well, thank you," she replied and kissed her brother's cheek. "And your summer at Netherfield?"
"It was absolutely splendid," he declared.
Bingley had just arrived in London and gone straight to the Hursts' townhouse, where he would again be residing. The Darcys had invited him to stay with them for the next couple months but he wanted to give the newlyweds their space.
"Are you ready for the little season?" he asked cheerfully.
"I suppose." Caroline bit her lip. "Do you truly intend to hand over my dowry if I am not engaged in the next few months?"
"I do. It is high time you had your own establishment, whether through marriage or independence. You know you cannot live with the Hursts or me forever."
"But I am too young to be consigned to spinsterhood like that," she pleaded.
"Then you shall get married! Less eligible women than you get married every day. Have some faith. I am certain you will be fine."
She paced about the room in agitation. After a few minutes she turned to look at him.
"I will marry Mr White. He offered before; surely he will offer again if you speak to him? After all, he spent the entire summer with you."
"Oh, Caroline," Bingley said with true pity in his heart. "He only just married two days ago. It was the reason for my delayed return from Hertfordshire. He married Miss Charlotte Lucas. The announcement should be in the newspapers any day now."
Caroline froze.
He gazed at her sympathetically.
Her breathing became more rapid. Her face flushed.
"Miss Charlotte Lucas," she repeated slowly. "He went from me to Miss Charlotte Lucas."
"They are quite well suited, you know," Bingley offered.
"First Mr Darcy married Eliza Bennet, and then Mr White married Charlotte Lucas."
Her voice shook. Her pitch raised.
"Is there something in the water in Hertfordshire that makes men lose their senses? That makes inferior women appear marriageable? Am I the only person who sees how utterly incomprehensible it all is, that either of those women is in any way preferable to me?"
"Now, Caroline," her brother cut in, "you had your chance with White, and you never had any claim on Darcy."
"It is not fair," she nearly screamed. "How can those useless country girls be married before me? How?"
"You must calm yourself," he took her hands in an attempt to soothe. "Do not panic. You still have time. Perhaps even Mr Johnson will renew his offer."
"I will not marry a tradesman," she ground out. She pulled her hands away and began pacing again. "Besides, he surely has already run off to Hertfordshire by now to marry one of the Miss Longs."
"I will go get Louisa," Bingley said. "I clearly cannot help you myself."
As he left her to her increasing hysteria, he wondered whether he should stay with the Darcys after all.