Chapter 19:
Mr Darcy's day could not get any worse. They heard a loud bang of thunder as they treaded to Cheapside in search of his wife. The gentlemen knocked on the Gardiner's door, already drenched from the short walk from the Darcy crested carriage to the entrance of their humble residence. The footman opened the door hesitantly, taking their wet cards, his eyes widening as he saw the name of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Even a lowly footman like him had heard of the illustrious name and he quickly guided them inside, running to his Master and Mistress to deliver the wet card.
To their surprise, they were graciously welcomed in by Mrs. Gardiner who glided towards them with all the warmth and grace of a gentlewoman, inviting them to sit in the drawing room. She made excuses for her husband, who had retired earlier that night, having had a very long day.
Mrs. Gardiner motioned for them to sit down and called for some tea and refreshments. She did not hide her surprise when Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Master of Pemberley, asked about her niece, Elizabeth. He seemed reluctant to call her Miss Elizabeth Bennet and she noted that the Colonel, who was quietly standing the entire time, had a smirk on his face. Mrs. Gardiner could only assume that there was a connection between her hasty appearance and even hastier disappearance.
"I am afraid they are not here Mr. Darcy" she informed them, noting Mr. Darcy's fallen face at the news. He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head, and droplets of water fell on his lap, as he was still wearing his coat and hat and was drenched from top to bottom.
"Do you know where they have gone?" He asked hopefully.
"They have returned to Longbourn, their family home. They should have arrived by supper time for they took an early morning coach" she said, calmly, folding her hands on her laps. She debated whether inquiring more on the subject, for it was all very odd, but she was wise beyond her years and more educated than half the ladies in the ton and so she decided against it. Mr. Darcy admired her quite demeanor and easy understanding and he knew, that without a doubt, Mrs. Gardiner would be a welcomed and cherished addition to any family gathering at Pemberley.
"I thank you" he said, standing up as quickly as he had come, bowing his head slightly and motioning for the other two to follow him out. The Colonel and Mr. Bingley had not uttered a world and simply followed Mr. Darcy into his carriage, where he banged the ceiling with his umbrella and the driver pulled on the horses, their carriage bouncing slightly as it began to move.
All three gentlemen sat silently for a moment, the rain pouring all around them, and it was Mr. Darcy who finally spoke.
"I must ride out tonight" he said, staring out the window.
"Cousin, I do not believe that is wise" said the Colonel, pulling Mr. Darcy's attention to him. They both looked at each other with a love and understanding that only certain family members could have and with a weak smile, Mr. Darcy responded.
"I am thankful for your company but this is the part of the journey that I must do alone. I shall first go to Darcy house and wait for the rain to slow before heading out. If I leave in a few hours, I could be there by morning" he said, letting out a heavy sigh.
The Colonel looked like he wanted to object but said nothing and instead, simply nodded, his lips pursed together.
"I rested on the ride to here from Pemberley, I think I shall make myself more unwell by waiting here till morning" he explained, something he never used to do. Richard smiled, seeing the effects of Elizabeth already so visible on his smitten cousin.
"The Colonel and I shall follow in the morning" said Mr. Bingley, speaking for the first time since they had left the Bingley residence, "I have unfinished business in Netherfields and I shall be glad to open up my home for you both."
Mr Darcy nodded in agreement, giving Mr. Bingley the gratitude and encouragement that he needed.
"Well then, gentleman" he said, as they arrived at Bingley's house, now a smile on his lips, "I shall see you tomorrow."
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Mrs. Bennet was not once to be known for rising early. She did if it was out of necessity, if there was an ulterior motive in her doing so, and so she very gladly adjusted to the expectation that married women breakfast in bed. She had adapted to her rise in status quite well since marrying a gentleman and she relished that her daughters would too climb the social ladder, so to speak.
It was a fine morning and quite unusual for Mrs. Bennet to be up and about, but she could not sleep. She worried about her daughters. She perhaps did not express her concern nor her love in a way that was acceptable to them but she did care for them, all of them. Francesca could see the pain in Jane's eyes and it broke her own heart to know that not only had she been jilted but that she had not found a new love. She knew her beauty could be for naught and Mrs. Bennet was determined to find out more about the Viscount, perhaps he could mend Jane's heart.
Lizzy likewise looked unwell, but Francesca knew she had been traveling and Lizzy was not the daughter whose moods she understood at all. It was not that she did not love her, for she did, but she felt that no matter what she did or say, it was not enough or it was often misunderstood.
After finishing her tea, Mrs. Bennet wrote a letter to her sister, Mrs. Gardiner, in the hopes that she would know about the Viscount. Perhaps Jane should go back to London, thought Mrs. Bennet in deep thought. Francesca called for her maid, changed into her morning dress, donned her matching cap, and went out of her room, eager to see her daughters and assess how they were doing after a good night's sleep.
To her surprise, no one was up that early. The young ladies seemed to be still be upstairs, with the exception of Mary who was in the dinning room, breaking her fast.
"Hmm" said Mrs. Bennet, feeling discomforted in the change in routine. She felt it was too early to speak with her housekeeper and they were not expecting any company to require her to converse much anyways. Mrs. Bennet was still standing at the bottom of the stairs, deciding what to do, when she heard a loud knock on the door. It was too early for deliveries and most certainly too early for morning calls. She hesitated whether to open the door herself but the decision was made for her, for the door burst open and revealed a tall, handsome man, who looked wet and worn from travel, his hat and coat dripping on her floor.
"WHERE IS MY WIFE?!" he bellowed, looking around the room like a primal animal, having been riding the whole night and the adrenaline rushing through him. No one had ever seen Mrs. Bennet speechless and he was certainly the first to see her as such, if only he had noticed her standing there, all dressed and primped, with her mouth wide open, and her hand trembling in fright.
"Mr. Darcy!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet, evidently shocked by his appearance and finally mustering up the courage to speak. There were sounds from above, as others had heard the sudden and terrifying entrance of a man, shouting.
"Where is my wife?" he said again, this time his voice lower but looked around the room, now walking inside and searching hungrily with his eyes. He looked into the drawing room, his head and eyes looking all around, searching, hungrily.
"I….I beg your pardon, Mr. Darcy" stammered Mrs. Bennet, taking a step back and bumping into a wall, feeling now nervous and terrified by the man in front of her. He looked like a savage.
"Where is my wife?!" he asked again, before looking up towards the stairs to see if he saw her. Without waiting for a response he went up the stairs, taking two at a time, leaving a very concerned Mrs. Bennet behind.
"Mr. Bennet!" he heard her shriek, as he came upon a hallway with three rooms.
"ELIZABETH!" he screamed, looking like a man out of a cave. "ELIZABETH!"
Two other young Bennet sisters came out of their rooms, only to shut their doors quickly, having glanced upon the man that they did not recognize as the handsome and composed Mr. Darcy.
"Mr. Darcy?" asked Elizabeth, opening her door tentatively. He did not wait for an invitation and he walked into her room, slamming the door with one hand, while the other reached for her, pulling her close, as he hungrily stared into her face.
"Are you mad?!" she asked, pulling away from her. "What...what on earth are you doing here?"
"I have come to bring you home" he said softly, his chest heaving as he finally caught his breath. He was aware that he looked frightful, his hair wet and disheveled, his clothes worn from traveling, and his boots covered in mud. But she did not notice any of it, all she saw was the love in his eyes, the same warmth that she had seen so many times in their shared private moments in their little cozy room of heaven in Scotland.
"Fitzwilliam" she finally said with emotion, taking a step closer. He placed his hands on her hips, softly caressing her cheek.
"What were you thinking running away?" he said, looking into her eyes and noting that she seemed scared and nervous.
"I..." she stammered, "Did you not read my letter?" she asked hopefully, biting her lip. She could not relive what she wrote nor what she felt at the time.
"I am angry and I am embarrassed but more than that I am furious that you left our home. We declared each other husband and wife" he said, leaning in towards her, removing the few inches that remained between them, "We declared each other as husband and wife in Scotland in front of witnesses, we are married."
Lizzy closed her eyes and turned herself around, pulling away from his embrace.
"I know" she said, holding back a sob. "But we are not married in my eyes."
"Well then" he said, coming closer and hugging her from behind, "We shall have to remedy that at once" he said, giving her a soft kiss on her revealed neck. Lizzy suddenly became aware that she was still wearing her nightgown, her hair was all down and flowing around her, and though he had seen her before in such a state, she blushed crimson, turning around to face him with a smile on her face.
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet" he said, going down on one knee, "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked, pulling a ring from his pocket, waiting for her to nod, as she could not speak from the emotion, and placing it on her finger. "You have bewitched me, body and soul, I...I cannot live without you. I love you."
"I love you, too" she said, grinning widely and allowing herself to smile for the first time in days. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he swung her around, hugging her tight, wishing to never let her go.
