XX November 1811
Dear Miss Bennet,
I read your missive with great interest. I thank you for the courtesy as asking for my nephew's hand. I give you my consent and blessing. I suspect you are the kind of woman, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything. (And if he knows what is good for him, nor should Fitzwilliam.)
He is a fine man, those of us who love him know just how much so. That you have seen his true nature proves he has found a very special person as well. I look forward to the day I may welcome you to the family.
Sincerely,
Your future uncle
"That is not at all what I expected," Elizabeth said after reading the short note.
"Why? He did not say anything disrespectful, did he?" Darcy took the letter from her and reviewed its contents.
"No, if anything it comes across as very sincere, brief, but sincere. I guess I expected some subtle poke at the impropriety of my letter or concerns about the speed of our relationship."
"One thing you will discover about my uncle is that there is nothing subtle about him. You will always know exactly where you stand with him."
"Unlike his nephew. So, am I to assume your enigmatic nature at the start of our relationship comes from the Darcy side of the family?"
"Was I enigmatic? I think that a very generous way to say I was unsociable and rude. And if it is a Darcy trait, you shall have to adopt your own air of mystery to be one of us," he teased.
"That is not how it works, Mr. Darcy. But I do love the idea of 'us' – you and me…you, me, and Georgiana…the Darcys. We shall be the Darcys."
"As one Darcy to a soon-to-be Darcy, I think we should kiss to celebrate our engagement." He said quietly, looking over to Kitty.
"We have already kissed to celebrate our engagement. Have you already forgotten? It was by our tree." Elizabeth had kissed him quite thoroughly and he returned the gesture whole-heartedly.
"But ever since then we have not had a moment alone. Miss Katherine is an excellent chaperone, if a little too diligent. I got her some music for the harp; I hope it might distract her." Darcy said, his tone a bit petulant. "Why can we no longer be chaperoned by Bingley and Miss Bennet?"
"In a surprising departure from form, my usually indifferent father has decided we would be a challenge for them to chaperone, they being a couple far more concerned with their own courtship. He suspects they will be too lax. So, we get Kitty. And Jane and Mr. Bingley get Mary."
"What of Miss Lydia? I might prefer her in the role."
"Most assuredly. She would be a horrible but much more agreeable chaperone." Elizabeth was in accordance with her betrothed's perspective on that. She could not see a way around Kitty's scrutiny, so she surrendered for the time being. She beckoned Kitty to join them.
"Hello, Mr. Darcy. How was your trip to town? It was ever so short. Did you get something for the wedding? How was your sister?"
"Hello, Miss Katherine. I did take care of some matters related to the wedding. And my sister is well. In fact, I have something from her for you." He pulled a letter from his jacket pocket. "You said you wished to correspond with her and she was very excited with the idea. She will be here next week, so you will meet soon. She also helped me select some music for you as she plays the harp as well, if you recall. I left it on top of the pianoforte, if you would like to look at it."
Thrilled with these new treasures, Kitty moved to stand but paused. "Are you trying to bribe me? Papa said I should beware of you trying to divert me." She looked at them through narrowed eyes. Then she looked up as if trying to remember something. "Papa said if you did, I should say, 'Better luck next time, Mr. Darcy.' And that he was a young man once, too."
"Kitty, Mr. Darcy would not do anything like that. But if you would like to enjoy your treats, I am sure Lydia could serve as chaperone," Elizabeth offered.
Once more, Kitty was deep in thought. "I am supposed to say, 'Good try, Lizzy'. I think I got that right."
"I believe you did, Kitty." Elizabeth sighed in disappointment. "Did you accomplish everything you needed to while in town?
"I did. The settlement papers are being completed. I met with the Gardiners and dropped off your list of things you needed with your aunt. I notified all the other relevant parties. Our household is quite in a lather seeing that everything is ready for us. A week at Darcy House after the wedding and then on to our wedding trip."
"Oh, where are you going on your trip?" Kitty asked.
"It is a surprise; Elizabeth cannot know just yet. I will just say it will be perfect. Very fitting for us." Darcy grasped Elizabeth's hand lovingly.
"Lizzy, do you not want to wait and have a double wedding with Jane and Mr. Bingley?"
"Mr. Bingley has not even asked for Miss Bennet's hand." Darcy almost whined. He knew Elizabeth loved him, but he also knew she loved her sister. This might be just the thing that could persuade her to delay the ceremony.
"While it seems Mr. Bingley's much prized quickness of thought and action have abandoned him in this instance, we should no more wait for them than they should rush on our behalf. Mr. Bingley and Jane must move at a pace that is comfortable for them. We have seventeen days to go." Elizabeth said determinedly.
Darcy was both relieved that Elizabeth wanted to proceed as planned yet he was disheartened at the same time. Nevertheless, he echoed Elizabeth words. "And seventeen days it shall be." Seventeen days of a scrupulously attentive chaperone. Seventeen days of a wily Mr. Bennet. Seventeen days of being so close to Elizabeth but always being denied. Seventeen days before she took his name. Seventeen days until he took her home. It would be interminable.
He should have talked to his uncle about getting a special license.
~~OJ~~
Darcy spurred Frank on as he held Elizabeth close, "Do not fear Lizzy, we shall make it to Gretna Green before nightfall. It is only a few more miles. I cannot wait to get you to the nearest inn."
Those seventeen days had, indeed, been very long. But now they that were husband and wife - well and truly married - Darcy had whisked his wife away to Scotland just as he had fantasized those seemingly endless days before they wed.
Elizabeth looked back at him, getting into the spirit of his 'elopement.' "I have every confidence in you, Fitzwilliam. I can no longer see the carriage behind us." While Darcy concentrated on the road, Elizabeth ran her hands up and down Darcy's thighs that bracketed her, as she rode astride in front of him. "Perhaps, you could speed up, though."
He growled in her ear; her every touch had the power to inflame his passions. Daring to transfer his attention momentarily, he kissed her neck, trailing his lips down to where it met her shoulder. Noticing Frank started to slow, he tightened the reins and took control again, urging him faster. "Hyah, Frank, all the carrots and bonnets you can eat once we arrive, my friend."
Behind them a carriage did follow at a much slower pace. Inside were a few servants, including Darcy's valet and Mrs. Darcy's newly acquired lady's maid.
"I realize it is a great privilege to be selected to serve the new Mrs. Darcy but is this not peculiar?" the woman asked.
"You have been on staff at Darcy House long enough to know that one should not question the family's behavior. The new mistress will make that house a home. And, peculiar or not, Mr. Darcy is extremely happy. We will all be happier for it. I like Mrs. Darcy very much and I look forward to serving them both for years to come," the valet replied.
"I do not mean Mrs. Darcy. I mean this," she gestured out the window. "I thought we were just going to the Darcy estate near Dumfries. Yet we stopped five miles from the Scottish border, only for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to get on a horse and ride like the devil is at their back. I have never seen a wedding trip like it."
"It is not for us to understand, but I am happy to indulge these hijinks. Mr. Darcy has been far too serious for too long."
They watched as the figures of their master and mistress grew more distant.