Elizabeth was able to escape the crowd of well-wishers. After all, it's not her wedding. It was disturbing enough that someone, especially her best friend would consent to be a wife of revolting, and simpering Mr. Collins. The least she could do was to grant her best friend's wish to stand up with her at her wedding. It was doubtless the most horrible wedding she's ever had the displeasure of attending. It was like watching a carriage rolling off the cliff. Furthermore, she didn't know how he persuaded Mr. Darcy to stand with him. The church felt stifling. He kept his steady gaze on her and so did the groom!
Elizabeth went out the front door of the church and went around the building and reentered in one of the side entrances. She hurried trying to outsmart her mother who is desperately trying to push her toward any living breathing male of marriageable age. She quickly entered her favourite hiding place, the confessional. She tried to quiet and slow her breathing. Then her mother's voice echoed through the sanctuary. "Saint Peter let me in the gate quickly," she whispered.
"Lizzy! Lizzy! Where could that troublesome child be? God forgive me I failed to tie Lizzy to Mr. Collins."
"Thank God! I'd rather die a thousand deaths than be shackled with that toad." Lizzy mumbled.
Mrs. Bennet walked down the aisle just to see if she was hiding in the pews. She stopped near the confessional and said to herself, "If I could just get that child married, my nerves might just survive. She could have been the mistress of Longbourn if she hadn't rejected that man. If only she isn't too picky. I need to get her to face the reality that marriage has nothing to do with love." She huffed and left the building through the front door.
She heard the door close. Breathing a sigh of relief. She relaxed and sat back. Her hair has gotten loose from playing hide and seek with her mother. She pulled her hair pins. Her dark curly locks cascaded down her back. She wrangled it again into submission, which is no easy feat as it is often untamable. She grabbed handfuls at a time and pinned it until it was all put up. Then she looked towards her left shoulder and realised she left a lock of long tresses. She gave up. She'll just let it be. She heard a noise next door, and promptly sat straight and apologised to the priest.
"Father. Thank you for not attracting my mother's attention this way. Before you ask. No, I did not come to make confessions. Besides, doing so could take all day for my sins are many, at least according to my mother. Not being born a boy is my biggest sin, and not being as beautiful as Jane ranks second. Plus, all of my unladylike and impertinent behaviours would make her head spin, but that is for another day. I apologise once more for using this as a hiding place. You know my mother. She is relentless when it comes to men and matrimony. I came here because Mr. Collins wouldn't stop leering at me. As if that weren't enough, Mr. Darcy kept staring at me. No doubt to find fault. It's not enough that I'm not handsome enough to tempt him, but to constantly look for faults is just too much. All I ever wanted is to marry for love. Is that too much to ask? I don't mind if I have to work. Isn't that why God gave us two hands, one to help ourselves and the other to help others? Even if I have to stand behind the plough with my husband I wouldn't regret it, because I have love. Also, I think children should exist because of love. I want to be able to hold my child and give my husband a knowing look that says, "Look what our love made.". Well, Jane and I made that pact of only marrying for the deepest of love, but it looks like hers will come sooner than mine. Mine would probably never happen and that's fine by me as long as Jane is happy. Forgive me for prattling on. I wasn't expecting you to show up. Thank you for listening."
Mr. Darcy's POV
Darcy has had enough of the crowds. The only reason he stood for Mr. Collins is to keep him from changing his mind about marrying Charlotte and going after Elizabeth. She is too good to waste on that toad. Since his duty to his family forbids him from offering for Elizabeth's hand. The least he could do is keep stupid ones away from her. He needs space and silence. The crowd of insipid, vaping females raking his nerves. He had to admit though that of all the places in all of England he's impressed that he found Elizabeth in a tiny insignificant town of Hertfordshire. Who knew! He moved away from the crowd and slowly moved towards the back of the church, but he also must do so quickly to escape Caroline Bingley's notice. He was glad for the wind, because it kept Caroline occupied with keeping her feathers from flying away. He chuckled at the vision of her flying away. He was pleased to find a side door. It's amazing how peaceful it is to be in an empty sanctuary. His peace didn't last long for he heard the door latch moving. He momentarily panicked. Then he saw the confessional. Yes! Just the place. He dashed into the middle door and shut it quietly.
Darcy smiled to himself at his cleverness in avoiding people. He sat back in relief at being alone once more. He was sure that the inhabitants of Hertfordshire would be flocking at Lucas Lodge for the wedding breakfast. He closed his eyes and sat back to regulate his breathing. Not long after that his thoughts wandered towards a lady with beautiful eyes. She looked radiant today. Her green dress hugged the curve of her body in all the right places. Unfortunately, other men had the same appreciation for the beauty before him. Her hair is loosely pinned with pearl embellishments. Her eyes sparkled behind those thick beautiful lashes. Her luscious lips are like red rosebuds. During the ceremony, he caught himself repeating the vows in his head as if he was saying them to Elizabeth.