LAST CHAPTER! I hope you love it. I will be posting the epilogue tonight, too. I hope you enjoyed Lizzy and Darcy's journey. Thank you for joining me in it.
Chapter 32Lizzy went pale. "What happened to Kitty?"
"Now, dearest, it isn't as bad as you are making it sound," Oakley said to Jane, calmly patting her back. He looked at Lizzy and said, "It appears as though Mr. Wickham discovered my brother's attachment to your sister. In an effort to get revenge for what he calls his unfair treatment, he cornered her at a supper party and attempted to persuade Kitty to elope with him."
Lizzy's eyebrows knit in confusion. "Kitty would never…" she began.
"No, of course not," Oakley assured her. "However, when Kitty made it clear that she was uninterested, he attempted to force her into a hired hack the next day while she was walking home from Meryton. Fortunately, a tenant was passing nearby and heard Kitty's maid crying for help. He intervened, and Mr. Wickham is dead."
Lizzy gasped in horror. "And Kitty?" she asked fearfully.
"Unharmed," Oakley said reassuringly. "And apparently now engaged to my brother."
"What?" Lizzy exclaimed in confusion.
Jane sniffed disdainfully and said, "Apparently Mrs. Long saw the beginning of the encounter and thought Kitty was willingly entering the hack with Mr. Wickham. She immediately went to Meryton to spread the tale of their elopement."
"Well, that is one way to get revenge for Lydia's marriage to Colonel Forster," Lizzy said grimly.
"Fortunately, Colonel Fitzwilliam heard the story almost immediately and swiftly shut it down, claiming it to be impossible because Kitty was engaged to him," Oakley said a bit grimly.
Lizzy bit her lip and sighed. "While I am grateful to your brother for his honorable behavior, I am disappointed that Kitty is being forced into a marriage."
Jane shook her head. "Apparently Kitty had been planning to go to Brighton with Lydia in order to stay closer to the Colonel. She truly likes him, Lizzy."
"I know she does, Jane. I simply wish the choice had not been forced upon her."
"Be assured that my brother will take good care of your sister and treat her respectfully, or he'll answer to me," Oakley said.
"Oh, I am not concerned about that!" Lizzy said, embarrassed her words had been taken in such a way. "I simply mean that it is difficult as women to have so few choices in life. I simply wish Kitty would have had the liberty to accept an offer of marriage herself and not have it thrust upon her."
Oakley nodded and replied, "I believe my brother was planning to return to Meryton after the regiment's summer in Brighton in order to ask your sister to marry him. He was planning on asking for permission to court her while they were at the seaside."
Lizzy smiled at him gratefully. "I must admit, that does alleviate my mind somewhat."
"Poor Kitty!" Jane said sadly. "To have experienced something to dreadful by such a wicked man. Perhaps there was some kind of misunderstanding?"
Lizzy began to laugh. "No, Jane, I'm afraid that for all your goodness, you will never be able to find any in Mr. Wickham. I, for one, am glad he is dead, as it is clear he would never cease his vendetta against Darcy and his loved ones."
Jane looked at her sister in mild shock, but Oakley nodded his head approvingly. "I plan to send a solicitor to Meryton in order to represent the farmer on the chance that the death is called into question. With as few friends as Wickham had, however, and so much evidence of his prior evils, I highly doubt anyone would raise a fuss."
"That is very good of you, husband," Jane said, finally leaving Lizzy's arms and giving Oakley a kiss on his cheek.
"I have your example to guide me," he said, smiling down at her.
Lizzy blushed slightly to be intruding on such a private moment. She cleared her throat, smiling slightly at the kinship she suddenly found with Darcy's coachman, and asked, "Shall we all go inside? Jane, I do believe we have some fashion plates to look at!"
At this interruption, Jane turned her attention to her sister, ushering her inside and into the mistress's private sitting room. Soon, the terror the express had instilled in Jane was washed away with the joy of helping choose items for her sister's wedding trousseau.
The following weeks leading up to Darcy and Lizzy's wedding were filled with visits between Pemberley and Matlock. The days seemed agonizingly slow for Darcy, but to Lizzy, it seemed as if there would never be enough time to complete everything she needed. Between visits to the modiste, meetings with Georgiana about Pemberley, and supporting Jane in her new role, Lizzy had little time for her betrothed.
The day before the wedding finally arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had come to Matlock, bringing with them Kitty and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The newly-engaged couple had plans to wed at the end of the summer when he retired from his duties.
Lydia and Mary also came, bringing along their respective husbands. Lizzy was once again awestruck at the improvements in her youngest sister's behavior. Her liveliness was still present, but she no longer had to be the focus of attention. She even spoke of having made over her dress for the wedding instead of purchasing a new one!
Mr. Collins, too, was much improved. He still tended towards obsequious humility, but he was now adept at stopping himself after one or two sentences, as opposed to rambling on the way he had in the past. He brought along the regrets of Mr. and Mrs. de Bourgh, but as Mrs. de Bourgh was now in the family way, the doctor had insisted she remain at rest in the family wing, with only Mrs. Jenkinson and Miss Johnson to attend her, along with Mrs. Collins from time to time.
"It is most fortunate that she was able to fall with child so quickly into her marriage!" he declared. "What a wonderful olive branch to offer her mother, who has been disconsolate at being in the dower house."
Mary merely raised her eyebrows at this statement, giving Lizzy a slight smile. As they all gathered together in the large dining room at Matlock, Lizzy looked around the room at her beloved family. It had grown so much in over the prior year, and the new additions were just as dear to her as her own sisters.
After dining, they did not participate in the separating of the sexes. Instead, they all moved as one to the large parlor, where they spoke until late into the night, when Mrs. Bennet finally declared that Lizzy must get to bed, "else she will wake with bags under her eyes and Mr. Darcy will refuse to marry her!"
Everyone laughed at that statement, especially Darcy, who kissed Lizzy on the head and declared he would marry her no matter what. Even so, the Pemberley group returned to their home, and the guests and residents of Matlock retired to their beds.
Sleep was a long time in coming, however, as Lizzy's four sisters crowded into her bedroom, the way they had when they were younger. The girls, now women, were determined to make the most of their time together. "After all," Lydia declared, "who knows when we might all see one another again at the same time!"
Lydia then proceeded to give Lizzy advice for her wedding night, which set the rest of the room to blushing. When pressed, however, Jane and Mary admitted that much of what Lydia said was accurate. "And do not believe a word Mama has said!" Lydia declared in conclusion.
Finally, just as the sun was making its appearance over the Peaks in the distance, the five sisters fell asleep together, arms and legs over one another in Lizzy's bed. The maid who entered some hours later to stoke the fire smiled at the sight of such obvious sisterly love.
Mrs. Bennet came in shortly after to wake the girls, clucking and fussing over the state of Lizzy's hair and the lack of lace on her wedding gown. "If only I had taken you to London! You would never have had to settle for such plain dress."
Lizzy merely smiled at Mrs. Bennet, unwilling to reveal that it was Lizzy herself who designed every part of the dress, including the delicate touches of lace that supported instead of overwhelmed the design.
At last, Mrs. Bennet proclaimed Lizzy ready. She ushered the remaining girls out, then spent a few minutes giving Lizzy a lecture of her duties for that night. Lizzy smothered a nervous giggle and nodded her head in the right places, all the while thinking of what Lydia said the most important advice was: "If you like when he kisses you, then just let the kisses take you where you need to go. It's clear he adores you, Lizzy, so he will be kind."
Since Jane and Mary had both strongly supported these words, Lizzy felt it was safe to believe Lydia instead of their mother.
Lizzy's attention was pulled back to the present when her mother patted her cheek and said, "You're a good girl, Lizzy. You have made far more splendid match than I dared hope."
With that backwards compliment, Mrs. Bennet's eyes filled with tears, and she motioned for Lizzy to leave the room.
Lizzy descended the staircase to where her father waited to escort her to the church near Pemberley. The rest of the family entered their carriages, while her father held her back a moment. He looked at his favorite daughter and said gruffly, "Do not think that I don't know everything you have done for your sisters over the years."
Lizzy looked at him in surprise, and he waved his finger at her. "I may be indolent, but I am not a fool. You have done what I would not: you've taken care of your sisters, helping them be in relationships where they have respect. And now you are to marry a man who loves you and you love him. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy."
She blinked away tears as his voice choked on the last words. She gave her father a hug and said, "My home will always be open to you, Papa. Thank you for the freedom you gave me with my sisters and for supporting my education."
Father and daughter climbed into the carriage, and off they went to the church. Darcy looked relieved as she entered the building and walked with her father down the aisle to him. Their gazes held through the entire ceremony, not even looking away when Mrs. Bennet gave a loud sob before her husband put his arm around her.
The vows were spoken, rings were exchanged, the communion was taken, and the clergyman recited the scriptures he had chosen for the occasion. Darcy would never be able to remember what the clergyman actually read; all he could remember was the beauty of the woman before him, who was giving her name and herself into his keeping. It was the utmost sign of devotion that she could give him, and he knew he was secure in her love.
For her part, Lizzy could recite every word that was uttered, because it had been written indelibly in her memory, along with every reaction and emotion that she could read in Darcy's eyes. For those moments, all of the masks were peeled away, and she could see nothing but love and devotion residing behind them. Whatever may come, whatever they would face, they would face it together as one unit utterly devoted to their partner.
Cheers rang out as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy exited the chapel after signing the register. Darcy's smile was so wide, he thought his face might break open. Lizzy laughed for joy. As they settled into the carriage to take them to Pemberley, now their home, they gripped one another's hands tightly.
The wedding breakfast was all Mrs. Bennet could have dreamed of, serving exotic delicacies and being hosted in the finest ballroom in Derbyshire. The room was full of gaiety and merrymaking, celebrating the fervent love of the couple.
Eventually, the partygoers bid their farewells. With the exception of the Bingleys, everyone made their way to Matlock House. Georgiana had attempted to remove themselves as well so Mr. and Mrs. Darcy could have their privacy, but Darcy insisted she remain in her childhood home for the sake of her baby. Bingley finally acquiesced on his wife's behalf, and the two of them disappeared into their rooms, claiming fatigue due to all the festivities while being with child.
Lizzy and Darcy were alone at last. They had been waiting for this moment, to be without chaperones or in company, since she had run to him from Netherfield. They stood at the door outside their rooms, staring at one another, hardly daring to believe that this was real.
Darcy looked down at his wife, wondering how he could bring himself to part from her while they readied for bed. Lizzy looked up at him, chewing on her lower lip uncertainly. Then her eyes brightened, and she said, "Well, husband, I did promise to show you how much I ardently love you after we are married. You'll have to wait half an hour to find out!"
She stood on tiptoe, kissed his lips quickly, then dashed into her rooms, closing the door behind her.
Darcy stood somewhat stunned, then a grin came across his face. He turned and went into his rooms, calling for his valet.
Lizzy heard those calls and smiled to herself. She had been so nervous until she recalled Lydia's advice: to think of how she felt when he kissed her. That brought to mind the memory of their day together the last time they were alone, and she knew exactly how to remove the awkwardness.
Looking around the room, Lizzy was amazed at the beautiful wall coverings and soft rugs. It had clearly been decorated tastefully. Although of an older style, the furnishings were in excellent shape. In one corner, her lady's maid entered from the dressing room and said, "Mrs. Darcy, your bath is ready for you."
Lizzy allowed herself a few luxurious minutes of soaking in the scented water before leaving the tub. She had been gifted several beautiful dressing gowns from Jane as part of her trousseau, and she was eager to see herself in one of them. The maid quickly placed one on her, then Lizzy dismissed her for the night.
Looking in the full-length mirror, Lizzy let out a soft gasp. The nightgown below the robe was practically sheer, made from a fine delicate lace in a dark purple. The dressing gown over it was of the same material in a slightly lighter shade. The two combined set off her features in ways that none of the pale colors of a debutante could.
Hearing the door open behind her, Lizzy turned to face Darcy as he entered the room. His breath caught as he saw his new wife dressed in a way he had never seen her before and had only imagined in his dreams. He walked to her slowly and reverently held out a hand to stroke her cheek.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered as the caress moved from her cheek to her shoulder.
Lizzy's eyes, full of love and promise, looked into his. At that moment, all of their masks fell away. The remainder of the night was spent baring themselves to one another, exposing their bodies and souls in ways they had never done before. Their love transcended time and space, and they become one. The drapes around the bed formed a mask of its own, protecting their sacred union from the intrusion of the world.
As the sun rose over the Derbyshire hillls, Lizzy looked at her sleeping husband. Thank you, God, for helping me see behind his mask.
She then snuggled into him, certain of their future and the enduring love between them.