Chapter 33:
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had to be informed of the marvelous news that their beautiful Jane was engaged to Viscount Peter Murphy. Mr. Darcy volunteered to accompany the Viscount to Longbourn, a half a day's trip to meet his future in laws. He felt there was a lot to warn him about, in a delicate way, before meeting them.
"I thank you, brother" said Peter, not being able to contain his smile since Jane had accepted his proposal. "Oh my, it is quite late, I shall see you in the morning" he said, now turning to Jane, he reached for ungloved hand and kissed it lightly. Elizabeth had to turn around to hide her blush for she found the scene so romantic and lovely. Mr. Darcy likewise looked away and raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth, both remembering those tender feelings at the beginning of any romantic relationship.
That night Jane stayed up in her bed, not being able to sleep. She tried to close her eyes but sleep would not come. She was thankful when she heard a knock on her door and Lizzy walked in.
"I had a feeling you could not sleep" said Elizabeth, "Nor could I." Jane sat up from her bed, for she had been lying down staring at the beautiful ceiling. "Can I join you?" asked Elizabeth, wrapping herself in a blanket, reminiscing on how things use to be when they were in Longbourn.
"The next few months will be a blur" said Elizabeth, likewise staring at the ceileing.
"You think so?" asked Jane, feeling her chest heave up and down.
"I do" said Lizzy, "In the best way possible" she added, now turning to face her sister.
"I love you, Elizabeth" she said.
"I love you too" said Lizzy. They broke into laughter and stayed up late into the night, talking, laughing, and dreaming of what the future would bring.
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It had been almost a year since Elizabeth had gotten married. Mr. Darcy had wanted to take her on a wedding trip but with Jane's wedding to Viscount Murphy, and then it being too cold to travel, they had to wait almost a year in order to enjoy the summer months.
Lizzie opened her eyes, adjusting her sight. She squinted around the carriage, noticing the ornate wooden details and plush burgundy cushions, searching for an open window. Mr. Darcy noticed her shift beside him and looked at her face with concern, she looked as if she were to be sick.
She clutched her stomach with her hands, bending forward and hugging it tight, feeling that morning's breakfast rise inside her.
"Elizabeth!" said Mr. Darcy, closing the already small distance between them, "Are you unwell?" he added, placing his hand on her knee and rubbing her curved back, for she was still bent forward, holding on to her stomach.
Lizzie opened her mouth to speak but feared that no words could come out, instead something else threatened to.
"Stop the carriage!" said Mr. Darcy, banging on the roof of the carriage with a walking stick. The carriage came to a halt, the horses neighed and a footman jumped out and reached for the handle door, ready to open it for its passengers.
Lizzie burst the door open, apologizing to the footman who she was sure she had just smacked in the face with the door, and was followed by a worried Mr. Darcy, who likewise murmured a quick apology.
Lizzie motioned for Fitzwilliam to stay behind as she found a spot behind the trees to empty the contents of her stomach.
After a few minutes, where she wondered if there was anything left inside, her breakfast that morning at the inn came to an end. She had no eaten out of the ordinary, in fact, the only thing that hadd been appetizing were the cooks hot buns. That was all she had eaten.
"Elizabeth" said Mr. Darcy his voice soft and sweet, but still looking worried. He had planned this wedding trip as a surprise and their journey thus far had gone splendid, she still did not know where they were going and he would hate for her to be sick during their trip.
"Perhaps I ate something that did not sit well with me" said Elizabeth, shrugging her shoulders and giving him a weak smile.
Mr Darcy gave her a look that signified that he did not quite agree but they had been married long enough for him to know that the more he pushed Elizabeth, the the less she conceded so he nodded and offered her his arm.
"Where are we?" She asked looking around, her curious eyes now awake. Her stomach had abated and she seemed now content to look around and see her surroundings.
"We are in Cumberland, a mere hour from Scotland" he said with a smirk.
"We are in Cumberland?!" Asked Lizzie shocked, "This is where...oh my!" she said, now looking around more closely. She searched with her eyes for any familiar clues, this was the place where they escaped! There was something intense and yet freeing about being in the same location but under different circumstances. Her heart was beating fast but she looked around and instead of fear and dread and wet and crunchy leaves, what she now saw was beautiful greenery, blooming trees, a smiling husband, and a sturdy carriage with actual seats and cushions. Different indeed.
"Your surprise was Scotland for our wedding tour?" asked Elizabeth, feeling herself recovered from that fleeting moment of dread.
"Yes, that is part of the surprise" he said.
"This place looks familiar" she said walking slowly, her feet stepping on the green grass. It was summer now, the woods were bright and welcoming. "I wonder if this is near where we stopped on that dreadful night..."
"Oh Elizabeth" he said, hugging her from behind, realizing that she feared those memories still. "I did not bring you here to relive the treacherous parts, but rather what came after" he added, turning her around, his arms still around her.
"That has been the most wonderful part" she said, giving him a soft kiss on his lips, "In fact, I would do it all over again if it would end with being married to you, my dear."
"We did not know how it would end" said Mr. Darcy, giving her a weak smile, "You are so brave—the entire time you were so brave."
"I thank you" said Lizzie, feeling her eyes water. She did not realize how emotional she felt. It was odd, feeling sick, and then feeling emotional, and now feeling as if she were overcome with love.
"Come, my dear" said Mr. Darcy, wiping off her tears with his thumb, "We are an hour away from Scotland and there is yet another surprise."
Lizzie smiled and took his offered arm, looking around once more and with a deep breath and a heartfelt smile, she got into the carriage, this time with eager anticipation at the journey before her.
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"Is it necessary to blindfold me?" asked Lizzie, with pursed lips, "I could just promise to not look."
"I am afraid, I do not know trust you in that regard" teased Mr. Darcy, "You are the most curious person I have ever met, I know you, Elizabeth."
"Yes, you do" said Lizzie, blushing, for he did know her. He knew her in a way that no one else did and that no one else would.
"Can you see anything?" asked Mr. Darcy, waving his hands in front of Lizzie's blindfolded eyes.
"No" said Lizzie, sounding disappointed. Mr. Darcy helped her out of the carriage and then scooped her up in his arms and carrying in, to their appointed destination. Lizzie could feel him going up some stairs and feared for his health, but then she reminded herself that he had fully recuperated, it had been months now and they had spent the chief of it in London, where they rested and were the most reclusive newlyweds the ton had ever seen.
Mr. Darcy put her down softly, still holding on to her hand, as one would to the most beloved being in their life, softly and desperately.
She felt him open a door and then he reached behind her eyes and pulled on the handkerchief, the blindfold coming off.
"Fitzwilliam!" exclaimed Lizzie, a huge smile on her face. "It is our room!" she said, now walking in and looking around. It was exactly as she had remembered it, quiet and quaint, with simple furnishings, one bed and one chair, the decorations with light pastel colors that looked washed out except for the bright sun that precipitated from the window, making it all come alive in some magical way.
Mr. Darcy smiled as he watched Elizabeth walk around the small room with awe, her gloved hands touching the railing of the bed, clearly flooded with the sweetest memories from their time spent here.
"Oh Fitzwilliam" she exclaimed, holding back tears, "This is wonderful!" she said, wrapping her arms around him.
"Yes, my dear, this is wonderful" he said, his words conveying the love and hope he had for their relationship, as he looked around the room and remembered the care and love that grew in this remote room in Scotland.
"I am surprised that this is where you would take your wife, Mr. Darcy" teased Elizabeth, after she had recovered herself from the tears and emotions flooding in her, "The ton shall be shocked to hear that the Mr. Darcy has taken his wife to a tiny inn."
Mr. Darcy laughed, for he was now used to Elizabeth teasing him and he, having never been teased before, loved it.
"They will be even more shocked to hear" he said seriously, "That Mr. Darcy has bought a hospital in this very town and has appointed Miss Murphy to run it."
"Oh!" exclaimed Lizzie, clasping her mouth, "That is marvelous! I would love to see it!"
"You will, but first, there is something else we must do" he said, his voice now low and soft. He reached for her hand and softly took out one glove and kissed the palm of her hand.
"Oh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, a smirk on her face.
Lizzie felt Mr. Darcy pulled her on the bed, where he declared his love for her and amongst soft whispers and the loveliest laughter, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy lived, forever, happily ever after.