Author's Note:
Thank you for your continued support and reviews! I've been working long hours and my job is really stressful, so it's been nice to have this outlet :)
Thank you also to the kind reader who pointed out the there were no trains in England in the Regency period. I've updated the reference in chapter four to marbles instead.
Sorry that the word 'okay' slipped through again - I've removed it now!
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Chapter 6 - Longbourn - Union
While most of the Bennet household spent the week of the wedding in high spirits, Mr Bennet grew increasingly gloomy, and Jane and Elizabeth's moods were quite subdued.
The night before the wedding, after Elizabeth escaped a mortifying, but blessedly short, conversation with her mother about what to expect as a wife, the sisters found themselves quite overcome with emotion as they prepared to spend their last night together in their shared bedroom.
"Oh, Jane!" sighed Elizabeth, "What will I do without your companionship?"
Jane sniffled in reponse.
"You must come and stay with Mr Darcy and me," said Elizabeth, "I just might be able to bear to leave you if I think about the walks we'll share at Pemberley."
"Of course I will, Lizzy," said Jane, hesitating slightly, "But… do you think that you and Mr Darcy will often have guests? I would not want to impose on his friends."
Jane did not need to mention Mr Bingley's name to her sister.
"Are you concerned about his presence at the wedding tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am," said Jane, "But mostly because I dread the looks and remarks of others."
"You are no longer in love with him?" Elizabeth asked. Jane, while still extremely pretty, had not yet regained her former bloom since Mr Bingley had left Netherfield, which concerned Elizabeth.
"I don't know," replied Jane, "For how could I continue to love a man with such inconstancy? Yet, he is still the most amiable man of my acquaintance, and I find that I still prefer him to any other."
Elizabeth felt tears prick her eyes. She didn't know how she could forgive Mr Darcy for his role in this, and yet she was to spend the rest of her life with this man. If she did manage to forgive him, for the good of the marriage, then what of Jane? How could she live with herself if she found happiness with the man who was the cause of Jane's sorrow?
"Oh, Lizzy," said Jane, "Please don't feel badly for me. Let us talk of the good things to come for you."
Elizabeth could not bear to tell Jane the truth of her arrangement. Jane was aware of the compromise, as (too) many were, but she seemed to hold out hope that Elizabeth would grow to love her husband (or unconscious already did).
"Well," said Elizabeth, laughing through her tears in an attempt to deflect any scrutiny, "I will be very rich!"
"Oh, Lizzy!" said Jane, her laughter bringing colour to her pale cheeks, "Do be serious!"
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Mr Darcy spent the early hours of the morning vacillating between guilt and pure joy. Joy at the thought of seeing Elizabeth every day, guilt at the knowledge that she was marrying him without love, joy because he would have the opportunity to gradually gain her forgiveness and her love, guilt because he'd stolen a similar opportunity from Bingley and Miss Bennet.
His hands shook with nerves as he stood with Bingley at the altar, waiting for Elizabeth to enter the church. When she came into view as she walked down the aisle, a smile lit up his entire face and scarcely left him for the duration of the service. Elizabeth, shyly smiling back at him, biting her lip, vowing to love and honour him, was more beautiful than anything he could ever recall.
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Elizabeth had felt dazed throughout the service, not quite conceiving the reality of it all. When Mr Darcy placed her hand in his at the conclusion, to lead her out to their awaiting carriage, his touch seemed to wake her up. She felt a tingling warmth travel from her fingers to her shoulder. He looked at her so tenderly, so filled with joy, that it infused her with hope for their future.
As the carriage departed for the wedding breakfast at Longbourn, Mr Darcy reached into his pocket and presented her with a necklace.
Elizabeth gasped slightly, taking it in her hand and examining it. It was beautiful, made of diamonds and emeralds, with an intricate design.
"Thank you, Fitzwilliam," she said, looking back up at him, "It's beautiful."
"It was my mother's," he replied, his voice thick with emotion, "May I?"
Elizabeth nodded, and he took the jewellery, reaching around to place it on her neck. His hands were warm, and Elizabeth tried not to gasp again as his fingers brushed her skin. He secured the clasp and moved backward in his seat, to admire the setting.
"It becomes you very well, Elizabeth," he said, his voice slightly gravelly.
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As the guests were seated at the Longbourn dining table, Mr Darcy was unsurprised to see that Bingley had been placed quite near to Miss Jane Bennet. However, he noticed that while Mr Bingley seemed flushed with pleasure at this turn of events, Miss Bennet seemed embarrassed and reserved. Could he have been wrong about her mercenary aspirations? He could now see the shyness of which Elizabeth had spoken.
Having initially been apprehensive about the family gathering, Mr Darcy found himself enjoying the company of the Bennets. He had had a short conversation with Mr Bennet about geography, and he promised to spend some time examining the man's map collection the next time he visited Longbourn. He appreciated Mrs Bennet's thoughtfulness in placing Georgiana by Miss Mary Bennet, as the two entered almost immediately into an animated conversation on music. Even Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia Bennet were relatively well-behaved as they got better acquainted with Colonel Fitzwilliam.
He felt some trepidation, however, when he heard Bingley asking Miss Jane Bennet about her activities over the past few months.
"Have you been well these three months, Miss Bennet?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I thank you," she replied, "I spent some time with my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London."
"London?" Bingley asked with surprise, "You were? How unlucky that we didn't cross paths!"
Miss Bennet looked down at her plate.
"I wrote to Miss Bingley," she said, almost inaudibly, "And called on her, but I know you must have been busy."
"Caroline?" he asked, looking around. Miss Bingley immediately engaged her sister in conversation, seemingly to avoid his gaze.
Mr Bingley looked confused, then turned to Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy met his eyes, then lowered his own in apology. Thankfully, Mr Bingley then turned around to continue his conversation with Miss Bennet.
"I'm sorry, Miss Bennet," he said, "Had I known you were in London, I would have called on you."
Mr Darcy was terrified to look at Elizabeth, but he turned toward her, hoping she would see the sorrow in his expression.
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Elizabeth could see that Mr Darcy looked embarrassed and remorseful of his actions, so she offered him a sad smile. It would not be proper to discuss the situation now, of course, but his contrition, and Mr Bingley's apology to Jane, gave her some hope that they may be able to overcome this trial.
Miss Bingley, who had successfully avoided an admission of guilt, had nonetheless turned rather red in the face, which did not bode well, as she was likely to contrive a distraction.
"Miss Eliza" she began, seemingly in denial that Elizabeth was now Mrs Darcy, "I'm surprised to see you have not invited the officers of the regiment to your celebration!"
Lydia and Kitty looked up with interest, as did Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana.
"Well," began Elizabeth, "They are pleasant company, but not very close friends."
"Oh," continued Miss Bingley, slyly, "I thought you had a particular friend in Mr Wickham."
Georgiana's spoon clattered onto her plate, and Mr Darcy looked at her with alarm. She looked shaky and pale, and Elizabeth did not know what to make of it. However, she thought it would be best for all involved if she were to change the subject - she could ask her husband for clarity later.
"Not a particularly friend," replied Elizabeth calmly, "But speaking of officers, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I believe you've spent some time stationed abroad? My father has a keen interest in geography, so you must tell him of your travels."
"I would be delighted, Mrs Darcy," he replied, and began to converse with Mr Bennet.
"Georgiana," Elizabeth continued, turning to face her, "I had intended to converse with you about the pianoforte. Perhaps when Mr Darcy and I return to Pemberley, you and I could practice a duet?"
Georgiana nodded smiling. The calamity now forgotten, the conversation continued, and Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy to see him smiling at her with admiration.
Miss Bingley, however, who was not pleased at being thwarted, tried again.
"Miss Eliza," she laughed condescendingly, "Miss Darcy is extremely accomplished at the pianoforte. I don't think a country girl educated at home would be quite capable of playing with her."
"I quite disagree, Miss Bingley," replied Georgiana, softly, yet firmly, "For I've heard Mrs Darcy play and sing, and she does both admirably. In fact, my brother has long told me that the times he has observed her performances have been some of the most pleasurable times of his life."
Elizabeth glanced up at Mr Darcy, smiling and blushing, and found his face mirrored hers. They both turned and smiled gratefully at Georgiana. Elizabeth was still slightly surprised by Georgiana's outburst, and Mr Darcy looked at Georgiana with pride.
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An hour later, the couple were on their way to London, to stay a few weeks at Darcy House. Without the distraction of company, Elizabeth felt awkward and nervous. She was now Mrs Darcy! And she would be alone with her husband for long periods of time. What would they talk about? Would he hold her hand again? Would he kiss her? Maybe not that, given that they were to be friends at most. But she couldn't be sure. And did she want him to kiss her? She realised that despite their agreement, there were still a lot of unknowns, not least of which were her feelings.
Despite the early hour, the excitement of the morning had left Elizabeth feeling quite exhausted, and she found her eyes closing as the rhythm of the carriage lulled her into a relaxed state. As her head began to droop, Mr Darcy moved to sit next to her.
"Elizabeth," he asked, tentatively, "Perhaps you might nap more comfortably if you laid your head on my shoulder?"
"Oh," she said, unsure, "Perhaps I would."
"Now that we're husband and wife, it is perfectly acceptable," he reassured her, "But only if you feel comfortable, of course."
He looked at her with such concern, and she was so tired.
"Thank you, Fitzwilliam," she said, laying her head on his shoulder.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her steady, and she drifted off to sleep.
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Mr Darcy sighed in contentment, looking down at his wife. It was a small step, but it gave him hope for their future. She looked like an angel, and, despite the strain on his neck from twisting down, he thought he could spend the whole carriage ride just watching her.