The Darcys first visit back to Meryton after their marriage was bound to be one of much interest to the townspeople.

.

Meryton had been equally divided in joy and jealousy when Mrs Bennet had done the rounds, her two eldest daughters in tow, to tell anyone who would listen that they were to be married. Any young ladies of the village who had harboured even the slimmest of hope of winning Mr Bingley's affection over Jane after his disappearance to London, had been smart enough to throw that hope to the wind after seeing Mr Bingley return to Netherfield and go directly to Longbourne. While those impending nuptials were not surprising to any, the second announcement was enough to confuse and downright shock a majority of the town. Mr Darcy. Proud, dignified, Mr Darcy of ten thousand a year, was to marry Elizabeth Bennet? Bright, vivacious, essentially dowryless, Lizzy Bennet?

Those who cared for the Bennets, or at least for the two eldest daughters, were fearful that this relationship was not going to end in happiness for Lizzy. They were rather worried that this betrothal was just the beginning of a lifetime of loneliness and bitter disappointment, for those most wise to the world knew that wealth could not buy happiness, especially not for someone like their Lizzy.

Many of their opinions began to change with the news that spread about Mr Wickham, and the debts that were owed to more than half the shopkeepers in Meryton were paid by Mr Darcy with his quiet conversation and sincere attempt to make right what he saw as his own wrong. Similarly, the way that Mr Darcy had conducted himself at all community gatherings upon his return from London with Mr Bingley, swayed many opinions of the man over the course of his betrothal to Lizzy. Despite this, however, people still saw the dour Mr Darcy when in company, for while his inward emotions and his will to try harder had changed, his outward appearance, excepting that his eyes were ever focused on his betrothed, had not yet shown such a great change as to convince those who had known Lizzy her entire life.

As such, when they waved goodbye to the new Mrs Darcy just a few weeks after her betrothal, a number of them felt anxious for the next time they would see Elizabeth Darcy; fearful of whether they would be able to recognise their dear Lizzy without her spark of liveliness if she were to be shrouded with unhappiness. This anxiety devolved over time, for with Elizabeth out of sight, she was likewise often out of mind, unless you spent a large amount of time with Mrs Bennet. However, once it became clear between Mrs Bennet and the Bingley's, both of whose excitement was palpable, that the Darcys were to visit for Easter, the anxiety of the older souls of Meryton once again rose to the surface.

How had the past 5 months of marriage treated Elizabeth? Had the shininess of a wealthy husband and an enormous amount of pin money worn off? Had her husband's indifference, or perhaps his oppression, dulled the spark of their vibrant Lizzy? Or had she flourished?

When the two Darcy carriages, stately and grand but never ostentatious, pulled off the main road and began the final half hour journey through the wilderness of Hertfordshire towards Meryton, Elizabeth and Georgiana were practically bouncing with excitement. Darcy watched on, a smile playing on his lips as his sister and wife both peered excitedly out the same window, their heads close together as they looked at the passing scenery. They had just donned their bonnets once more, having removed them while they travelled, and kept bumping the edges together as they laughed and conversed merrily. Elizabeth was pointing things out to Georgiana, explaining the surrounding towns and the people that lived there, while Georgiana craned her neck to try and catch a glimpse of everything she could.

Darcy wanted nothing more than to put his hands on his wife's waist and pull her securely to his side, to see her upturned face looking at him from beneath her straw bonnet. She was glowing today, dressed in a forest green travelling gown that was decorated with very light green ribbons. The same light green ribbon tied her bonnet beneath her chin, twisting with a few loose curls that framed her face and drawing out an itch in his fingers to twist there as well. He watched as Elizabeth answered Georgiana's constant questions about Meryton and her time growing up in Hertfordshire with absolute delight. Georgiana's previous visit to Meryton had only been for just shy of a week between Jane and Elizabeth's visit to London to shop for their trousseau's, and the wedding itself. They were now to be in Meryton for four weeks of March into April until Easter was over, before going on to London. A large majority of their belongings for their stay in London had preceded them to town, leaving just Georgiana, Elizabeth and Darcy in one carriage, and Georgiana and Elizabeth's maids along with Darcy's valet in the other. Mrs Annesley, Georgiana's companion, was travelling to London with a portion of their other staff to holiday with her family until the Darcys came on to London.

Darcy was still distracted by admiring his wife, reflecting on the happy months they had spent married and the way she and Georgie had bonded as true sisters. Consequently, he did not hear the beginning of Elizabeth's current story. The look of horror on his sister's face drew his attention however, and his grin grew wide as he listened to Elizabeth regale his sister with a story about Kitty and herself getting up to mischief climbing trees in their Sunday best. He chuckled at the continuing look of horror on Georgie's face at the thought of running away from one's parents and ruining a beautiful dress just to climb a tree.

His smile, however, faded rather quickly when Georgie turned to him, a mischievous glint in her eye that had become far more pronounced, and almost ever present, since Elizabeth had come into her life, and said, 'You look very amused over there dear brother, but I do not think you will be laughing when your children are running away from you to climb trees in their best.' Elizabeth laughed brightly and turned to look up at her husband as he rolled his eyes.

'I'm sure they'll be far better behaved than your sister was as a child,' Darcy grinned, winking as his wife, who rolled her eyes in imitation of her husband before reaching up to pat him on the cheek with a soft smile. Darcy covered her hand with his own, holding it to his cheek as he read into her expression. Children. Their children. He turned to kiss her palm and felt her shiver slightly against him. Their eyes met again, and they shared a soft smile, thinking of the day they would be able to call a child theirs. A few moments later Georgiana's cry of excitement, for she had turned to gaze back out the window in order to give them a moment of privacy, broke their moment. They had arrived.

The Darcys had left early enough from their second night's stay on the road to reach Longbourne by mid-afternoon. Consequently, the high street of Meryton was bustling. Jane had written to inform Elizabeth that their Longbourne family would be at Netherfield to dine with the party the day they arrived, and as such they need not stop at Longbourne on their way through Meryton to Netherfield. Elizabeth had exclaimed aloud to her husband as she read that news, thankful for her sister's foresight that neither Georgiana nor Darcy, or Elizabeth for that matter, after three days of travelling, would be ready to deal with the over excited and ridiculous Mrs Bennet after 5 months apart upon their arrival .

So it was that the two Darcy carriages pulled slowly through the town of Meryton, drawing everyone's attention as their drivers navigated the townsfolk. Elizabeth and Georgiana continued to gaze out the same window, Elizabeth pointing out particular shops or places to her sister, waving occasionally to people she knew when she caught a long enough glimpse of them.

Later that day, the gossip was that Miss Darcy seemed a cheerful young lady from their glimpse of her, and Mr Darcy had even smiled, although this was contested by a number of others still clinging to their view of dour Darcy. As for Mrs Darcy, the judgement was still out as none were to be convinced with a few smiles and waves from a window.

The town did not have to wait long to see the Darcys for themselves. The very next morning, Mr and Mrs Darcy rode back into town in their carriage to pay a morning visit to the Lucas' who had Charlotte visiting for the holiday, before making their way into town.

Mr Darcy walked slowly beside his wife, his free hand covering her small one where it held his arm securely, she squeezing his arm in comfort and encouragement beneath the scrutiny, he keeping her close beside him as they conversed. Elizabeth was her usual self, greeting all, embracing those she had missed and asking with a keen interest after their Christmas season and families. Darcy smiled and enquired what he could of those with whom he was familiar, happy to watch his wife interact with those he was not.

It was remarked upon that he smiled often, almost always in his wife's direction, and that he did not once let her out of his sight. He held her close and held her carefully. He was absent minded in his affection, brushing dust from her bonnet or squeezing her hand to gain her attention, showing how naturally it occurred to them.

His hand hovered protectively on her lower back as she led him into the bookstore and the music shop, his caress lasting perhaps just a tiny bit longer than proprietary saw fit. He chuckled aloud when she danced away from him into the ribbon shop to say hello to the shopkeeper Mr James, and smiled indulgently when she pointed out some ribbon's Georgiana would love, promising her a carriage and his cheque book for the next day to bring her sister into town with her.

Over the course of four weeks, Mr Darcy allowed himself to be toted around by Mrs Bennet to an innumerable number of social occasions. He treated his mother-in-law with respect, albeit with limited discussion where he was able to, hiding with his father-in-law when he could not muster the energy to interact any further. Even here he had grown and Mr Bennet came to appreciate his son-in-law in many new ways in those weeks, thoroughly enjoying the man he began to uncover that Elizabeth had told him was there. Further afield, Darcy actively engaged with the men of the town, attending shooting trips, touring properties and offering advice where it was sought. He was also seen involved in conversations that could almost be described as enthusiastic after Sunday services and at other community events.

But what affected the townspeople of Meryton the most was the glow of the new Mrs Darcy whenever she was near her husband. While Lizzy had always exuded vibrancy, energy and kindness, there was something different about the light that sparked into life in her whenever she was seen on her husband's arm, or merely in his presence. One of the Bennet's tenants had been quick to share the moment she had witnessed when the Darcys had visited their farm, further solidifying the change that the town could see Lizzy had brought about in Mr Darcy.

"She's simply perfect Mrs Summers," Elizabeth smiled at the young woman whose babe she was cradling. Elizabeth and Darcy were touring the tenant farms with Mr Bennet and Mary, who had taken over Elizabeth and Jane's work with much energy after their marriages.

Mrs Summers, a woman a few years older than Jane who had worked at Netherfield in Lizzy's youth, smiled brightly at Lizzy before glancing across the garden at the other two children who were running around with ribbons flying high in the air behind them.

"We've so missed you Miss Lizzy," the woman's hand flew to her mouth but Elizabeth waved her away with a smile before she could apologise.

"It's taken me some months to get used to my new title as well!" Elizabeth laughed. They spoke for a while of the prosperity of the farm, of the families of the other tenants and of the health of Mrs Summers after her most recent babe.

Elizabeth was engaged in this conversation when Mr Darcy rounded the home in search of her now that they had inspected the farm and spoken with Mr Summers of anything he needed.

Darcy stopped in his tracks as he saw her. The gardens growing brightly against the modest home of the Summers' framed Elizabeth where she stood holding the newest Summers child who was just shy of 12 weeks old. Elizabeth was swaying gently, rocking the babe in her arms as she conversed with the other woman. Darcy watched as the babe fussed a little and Elizabeth looked down into its face with a soft smile. She rubbed the babe's back gently and spoke quiet words that Darcy could not hear until it settled. He felt his heart swell as he watched her and felt an ache in his heart for a child of their own.

He approached them then, greeting them both and enquiring after Mrs Summers and the babe as he did. He came to Elizabeth's side, resting a hand on the small of her back and tucking her gently into his side as he looked down at the babe in his wife's arms. Elizabeth looked up into his face and smiled softly, feeling the want echo between herself and her husband, who inconspicuously rubbed her back in response.

Some moments later they were recalled to their senses as Mr Bennet and Mary, followed by Mr Summers, approached them. Elizabeth caught the smile on Mrs Summers' face and flushed a little before gently passing the child back to its mother and farewelling the couple.

Others were keen to report on similar encounters they had had with the couple. What did not seem to appear over the four weeks however, was any evidence that their attachment was feigned nor forced. It seemed to all that Mr Darcy was now just a young man who was violently in love with his wife. If they had not seen him for themselves the previous year, none would believe it if they were told Mr Darcy had never once smiled in company in Meryton previously. That such a change could be wrought in merely 5 months of marriage seemed ludicrous to the older townspeople of Meryton, but nonetheless apparent in this particular case.

All they could say was thank goodness for Mrs Darcy.

.

Thanks for reading!

Cillia x