Chapter 22
Mr. Darcy jumped off Caesar, tossing the reins to a waiting stable lad, then rushed to his study where he quickly scribbled a note to Elizabeth. Hours had past since he had first set off for Kympton, but he had informed her of his intention to wed her tomorrow. The news that they were indeed getting married in the morning should not cause distress. She only had to show up at the appointed time.
After handing the note to footman to ride fast to the Lambton Inn, Mr. Darcy jogged upstairs eager to wash off the grime of the day. At the top of the steps, he surprised Miss Bingley who was standing on the mezzanine. He grimaced at his very ungentlemanlike behavior of running up the staircase, but Miss Bingley's opinion did not signify any remorse on his part.
"My goodness," she exclaimed. "You are in quite a state! Did your carriage break down?"
"Er, pardon me, I must — I have business to attend to. Excuse me." Without a second thought he hastened down the hall to his room.
He pulled at his cravat while calling for his valet. So flustered at the need to hurry, he could not meet with his senior staff in this state, yet he knew they needed all the time they could get to prepare for his unexpected wedding in the morning.
After a quick bath, and dressed again, he rushed to his study to meet with Mrs. Reynolds, his cook and valet. He could not chance sharing the details with his valet outside of his study. It was imperative his aunt not catch wind of his plans, and he did not know how she had been kept so well informed.
He strode into his study closing the door behind him, speaking before he had even rounded his desk to stand behind it. "I have news that must stay between those in this room. It cannot be divulged to anyone until after tomorrow morning."
He pinned each with his gaze, who all nodded in unison with nearly identical confused expressions. "Miss Elizabeth Bennet and I are to be married tomorrow morning. I will need a wedding breakfast for her family and the Gardiners, the same number as before."
"Sir," Mrs. Reynolds interjected, "your wedding, why can we not share the good news with the staff? I know we all have been waiting for the day to celebrate with good cheer."
"And the staff will celebrate, but not until after I am wed. My aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has been attempting to stop my wedding to Miss Bennet. She wants me to marry her daughter and has been interfering with the Bennets and Mr. Woodforde." He nodded at their gasps. "If you see her or her staff, do not let them on the grounds and inform me immediately."
"Tomorrow? A wedding breakfast? Sir, I cannae work miracles! I keen ye —"
"I understand, but do the best you can under the circumstances. I will approve all expenses, send out for what you need."
The housekeeper and cook exchanged looks of surprised excitement. "Of course, Mr. Darcy," the housekeeper said. "We will do everything in our power. You can count on us to keep it a secret. I do have a question though, your sister knows, of course?"
"No, I will tell her in the morning on the way to the church. Nothing can get out and my sister would not be able to contain her excitement." After shocked glances between the staff, he continued. "I will need the mistress' room readied as well."
Mrs. Reynolds mouth was nearly a perfect circle. "Sir, I will need the girls to help me ready the room. What reason shall I give them as to why we are readying the room?"
He shifted and looked down at his desk, unable to fathom a reason that would alleviate the curiosity of the staff.
"Should I tell them," the housekeeper continued. "it is being aired out so Miss Bennet may arrange the room to her satisfaction before she resides at Pemberley?"
"Yes, that will do perfectly. Thank you. Now, let us get to work. We have much to do and very little time to do it in."
Mr. Darcy ascended the main staircase to speak to Georgiana, but she was not in her room, or the music room, or the library. He finally found her in the sitting room, but she was not alone. How was he going to tell her to be ready to go into town next morning without raising the suspicions of the Bingley sisters?
"Oh, Mr. Darcy! We have eagerly awaiting you." Caroline greeted him from the card table where she sat with the Hursts and Mr. Bingley.
"Yes, you have had a very exciting day," exclaimed Mrs. Hurst.
Mr. Bingley laid down his cards and walked towards him, "You do not look worse for wear though. Lucky that you were not seriously injured."
Georgiana stood from the settee where she had been reading, paling as she hurried to hug her brother. "I was so worried!"
He stood stock still, blinking, then wrapped his arms around his sniffling sister. "Hush, nothing is amiss. What do you think happened?"
Her words were so muffled against his jacket, it was impossible to make anything out. Mrs. Hurst answered his question though, "Why, you were covered in dirt, head to toe Caroline said!"
After a long look at Miss Bingley, he responded. "I had been riding when I received word the parson at Kympton was ill." He drolly added, "The roads are dusty."
Everyone spoke at once, glad that he was fine and not hurt. Mr. Bingley admonished his sister for scaring them all. Georgiana did not leave his side, her arm wrapped around his as she reached up to wipe away her tears.
"This explains why I could not find you earlier," commented Mr. Bingley. "I wanted to ride into town."
Mr. Darcy led Georgiana to the sofa and sat. "Indeed, what business would you have in Lambton?"
"Well, I thought — call on Miss Bennet and — Darcy!" his friend sputtered.
Mr. Darcy grinned at his friend, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I am sorry, Bingley," he said, his tone light and teasing. "But I could not resist. Of course, I would be happy to join you in calling upon the Bennet sisters. In fact, I think it is a brilliant idea."
Mr. Bingley studied him. "You are in quite fine spirits! I can not imagine being covered in dirt could fill you with delight, I know how fastidious you are."
He searched around for some reason, as now Georgiana was even looking up at him in wonder. "Can I not be pleased to finally be home with my sister and good friend after a long day?"
"Friend? What about us?" Mrs. Hurst called out as she walked over from the card table. "Surely, you do not mean that we are not your friends, as well?" She draped herself on a nearby settee, quickly joined by her sister.
"Not at all. But I was discussing the matter with Bingley, therefore I only said friend in the singular. But you are very much my friends."
Louisa looked pleasingly at Caroline, but her sister continued to stare at Pemberley's owner with a forlorn yet desperate expression.
"Let us go first thing in the morning," stated Mr. Darcy turning towards Mr. Bingley, "if you do not mind. I have some important business to attend to after that, and I do not want to be late."
Bingley agreed, and the two men made plans to call upon the Bennet girls early the next morning. Of course, he would inform his friend of the true nature of their calling upon the Bennet girls when the carriages arrived at the church.
"Oh, I should dearly love to call upon sweet Jane as well. Then stop at the shops—"
"How few there be." Interjected Miss Bingley under her breath.
"— the quality of the gloves at the Milliner's quite surpassed my expectations. You would be surprised, Caro, the quality of goods in this town."
Mr. Darcy blinked, this was an unexpected development. But it would work out well, everyone currently residing at Pemberley would be attending his wedding.
Georgiana turned to him, her arm still wrapped around his. "Oh brother, please, I would like to go as well!"
He looked down at his sister with raised eyebrows. "I believe it was understood you would accompany me to call upon Miss Elizabeth."
She squeezed his arm with a smile.
"Since we will have a large party, let us leave earlier at half past seven. I do not want to be late."
All eyes focused on Mr. Darcy, then glances were exchanged among the those on the settee. "Oh, well," said Mr. Bingley. "That is quite early but certainly with your business to attend to, we will be happy to accommodate you."
Murmurs from his sisters shared their agreement, though with less enthusiasm at the decidedly unusual early calling time.
They were then called to supper, which proceeded like other evenings before, except several times they had to repeat questions or statement to Mr. Darcy who seemed to be uncharacteristically distracted.
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The next morning, Mr. Darcy nervously checked his pocket watch as his valet brought him several jackets as options. "Er, no, no the blue one. Yes, that will do."
He had dreamed of Elizabeth being his wife, residing over Pemberley as its mistress, but now that the day had finally arrived, he was more nervous than he had ever been before in his life. After putting on the jacket, he raised his his for the valet to tie his cravat. "Yes, very good."
Mr. Darcy strode out of his bedroom pulling down his jacket sleeves that suddenly felt too tight. Then tugging at his cravat. His valet must have tied it too tight. He trotted down the main staircase and entered the dining room, intent on eating something even though the thought made him ill.
Mr. Bingley was already present, nearly finished with his eggs. "You do not have to show me up so, Darcy. You have won your woman's affections!"
A smile that was more grimace greeted the observation.
"Are you unwell?" Mr. Bingley lowered his tea cup to the table.
"No, no, uh I mean yes, perfectly well. Quite fine."
Mr. Darcy's denial did not have the intended effect as Mr. Bingley raised his eyebrows and stared at his friend who was uncharacteristically nervous.
Georgiana entered the room then, providing a welcome distraction. Mr. Darcy excused himself to check on some things, striding out unaware of the two concerned gazes. He hid in his study pacing, until finally his pocket watch showed it was time to depart.
Mr. Bingley and Georgiana were already gathered in the foyer watching Miss Bingley and the Hursts descending the main staircase. The sisters were decidedly not as their usual best, looking out of sorts at the early hour. They climbed into two carriages, and after speaking in a lowered voice to the driver of the Bingley carriage, Darcy climbed into his carriage with Georgiana already inside.
They were quiet during the five mile ride to Lambton, Darcy full of thoughts on his upcoming nuptials, and Georgiana not quite awake, but when they did not stop at the Inn, she sat up and turned to her brother. "Where are we going? I thought we were to call upon Miss Elizabeth at the inn?"
He shifted on the carriage bench. "I may have prevaricated, but for a good reason. Our aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh has been making trouble, trying to stop my wedding to Miss Elizabeth. So, we are on our way to the church for the wedding." At his sister's slack jawed expression, he chuckled. "I am afraid she is getting information somehow therefore I kept it a secret. Will you forgive me?"
Georgiana squealed with delight and would have launched out of her seat to hug Mr. Darcy, except for the carriage turned that moment onto the church's drive and rolled up next to the small stone church. They descended quickly, Georgiana nearly bouncing with excitement. Two carriages were already parked and the inhabitants presumably already inside the church.
Mr. Bingley leaned his head out the carriage window. "Darcy, this is not the inn?"
A faint sound of sheep bleating reached him but was drowned out by Georgiana clapping her hands and bouncing on her feet. "Come inside! You must come inside!"
He stared at her quizzily as the Bingley sisters leaned forward to also look out the window quite confused. Mr. Darcy cleared his throat, "Yes, please, there is something in the church to see first."
The Bingleys exited their carriage and quietly followed the Darcys into the church. Inside, they were very confused to see the Bennets and Gardiners turn around in the pews on the left side. Then they noticed Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth standing to the side of the doors, a bouquet in her hands. Mrs. Hurst gasped as Caroline Bingley stupidly stared. Georgiana ran to Elizabeth, embracing her in a tight hug before releasing her, still beaming.
The parson, standing on the altar holding a bible, gestured to the right side of the church. "Please, come take your seats so that the wedding may proceed."
Dun, dun, dun, dunnnnnn!