Just a brief note: I expect to be exceptionally busy the next couple of weeks as we are undergoing a data conversion and merger at work. I may not get to post another chapter for at least two weeks. If I manage to get a day off somewhere in that time, I will see if I can do a chapter or two!

Chapter 29

Mr. Darcy's sudden appearance at Longbourn in the middle of the night was to remain a source of amusement for his father-in-law for many years to come. It was to Mr. Darcy's credit that, recognizing his own imprudence in conducting himself in so flamboyant a manner, he submitted to the inevitable teasing with good humour whenever Mr. Bennet referred to the events of that night, which was quite often. At family gatherings, even some ten years hence, he could not enter a room in search of Elizabeth without his father-in-law remarking, "Come to collect your wife, have you, Darcy?"

And while Mr. Darcy bore it quite well when the event itself was safely in the past, on the night it occurred his plight was not quite so easy. Mr. Bennet was perplexed, then questioning and demanding, then quite angry, in short order.

Mr. Darcy was immediately persuaded to enter the house, Mr. Bennet having convinced him that he was most assuredly not going to collect anything, let alone his daughter, without explaining himself!

"Your wife, sir? Your wife?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"It seems Elizabeth has not informed you..." Darcy began, stopping as he caught sight of the lady in question coming down the stairs.

She took in the sight before her and suppressed the urge to giggle. Both her husband and her father were looking quite wild!

"Oh, dear," she said, most inadequately.

"Papa," she began, "what I meant to tell you earlier, and what you appear to have learned from Mr. Darcy, is that we were married by the curate at Pemberley two days ago."

"I have learned no such thing, Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy merely informed me that he has come to collect his wife. Thank you for illuminating me further as to his wife's identity."

"Mr. Bennet, I know this is most unorthodox..." Darcy began, but Mr. Bennet cut him short.

"Unorthodox? Unorthodox, sir? You carry off a gentleman's daughter to be married without the presence of her family, and you merely term it 'unorthodox?' It is disgraceful, Mr. Darcy. Have you no consideration for my daughter's reputation?"

"Father, Mr. Darcy and I found we were unable to remain..." Elizabeth hesitated. "Unable to remain unmarried, Sir."
"What is the meaning of such a statement, Elizabeth? Were you compromised? Are you..." He gazed pointedly at her midsection in much the same manner as the parson's mother had on their wedding night.

"No, Father!" Elizabeth said defiantly. "Mr. Darcy was and continues to be a gentleman, in the best possible sense of the word."

"Yes, yes," Mr. Bennet answered, somewhat placated. "But a gentleman who, it seems, cannot find sleep without his wife."

"To that offense I plead guilty, Sir," Darcy said simply.

"Well, well, then, sit down, both of you," Mr. Bennet said. Elizabeth bristled, recognizing well his tone of voice. Her father's anger had dissipated, and was rapidly being replaced with his usual desire to have a bit of sport at her expense. At their expense.

"So, what would you have me do now, Darcy? Have you hoist my daughter up behind you on your horse and watch you ride away into the night? Will you allow her to change out of her nightclothes first?"

Darcy was silent.

"And before I allow such an event to take place, perhaps I might do well to demand to see a certificate of marriage. The two of you have been so duplicitous that I find myself disinclined to believe anything you say without impartial confirmation."

Darcy's face reddened, but he controlled his temper.

"I assure you, Sir, I could easily produce such a certificate should you require it."

Mr. Bennet turned to his daughter.

"Elizabeth, you have denied your father the pleasure of handing you over to your husband in church, as is my right and duty. What do you say to that?"

Elizabeth could tolerate her father's sarcasm, but not the wounded look she saw plainly on his face.

Her eyes filled with remorseful tears

"I am sorry, Papa, truly...but believe me, it was for the best."

Darcy wisely remained silent as the father and daughter embraced.

"There, there, my child, dry your tears. I will get over it, I assure you. What of the wedding breakfast? Is it to proceed as scheduled?"

"Whatever you and Mama desire. We are willing to do whatever you ask," Elizabeth said.

"Very well then. I will leave it to you and your husband and Mrs. Bennet. The planning of elaborate parties is your mother's province, not mine. And you would do well, Darcy, to follow my example. Just about any husbandly offense will be overlooked when compensated with the ability to spend large quantities of money on frivolity."

"I do not intend to commit any husbandly offenses, Sir," Mr. Darcy answered.

"Very well put, son. You are learning quickly."

"Thank you, Father," Elizabeth said.

"Yes, yes," Mr. Bennet said impatiently. "Off to bed with you now...oh...that is a problem, is it not?"

The faces of his daughter and son-in-law could not have been redder. Mr. Bennet, it must be noted, took an undue amount of satisfaction at the sight, and hesitated far longer than was necessary before he delivered his pronouncement.

"I fear I cannot allow you to recklessly ride away with my daughter in the dark of night, Mr. Darcy. Should you want to break your own neck, that is fine, but you shall not endanger my daughter!

"I suppose there is nothing for it but for you to share Lizzy's room. She is, after all, your wife, and I've nowhere else to put you! I must say, though, that I eagerly anticipate the scene at breakfast tomorrow morning. I must make sure to awaken early, as I do not want to miss a moment of it!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth whispered as they quietly mounted the stairs to her bedchamber. "What were you thinking?"

"For one thing, Lizzy, I was thinking that you had informed your parents of our marriage as soon as you arrived at Longbourn, as you promised!"

"I intended to, truly I did, Fitzwilliam, but it was so late and our reunion so pleasant...I just could not bear to cause such an uproar tonight! I decided to wait until morning."

"Oh, I see, you did not want to cause an uproar," he said pointedly.

"'Might I remind you that you were not supposed to call at Longbourn until tomorrow at noon! And stop looking at me with those sad eyes, Fitzwilliam Darcy! Did you really have to conduct yourself in such a dramatic manner?"
"Perhaps not," he sighed. "But I found it quite impossible to sleep without you, Lizzy. Are you angry with me?"

Her expression softened at his plaintive question.

"No, I admit I was longing for your presence as well."

"And were you unable to fall asleep?"

"Well, at first, but I do admit I had fallen asleep by the time you knocked on the door! It was quite surprising to be awakened in such a way."

She opened the door to her bedroom, wherein there were two single beds, each clearly designed to accommodate one.

"Should we push them together, perhaps?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, the noise may prove disruptive to the household," he replied, thinking that the last thing he desired at this moment was having to explain himself to Mrs. Bennet!

"I believe we will fit in one bed," he continued, "if we sleep together very, very closely." He smiled when he said it, the prospect not being altogether unpleasant!

"Of course," Elizabeth said, casting a doubtful eye at her husband's long frame and broad shoulders.

The room's only illumination was provided by two candles, so that it was difficult to see the details of the decor. But what Darcy did see was a room that was intriguingly feminine in atmosphere, from the lacy curtains, to the bottles of mysterious potions on the dressing table, to the dried flowers and hair ribbons adorning the mirror.

"So this is where you grew up," he said softly.

"Yes," she replied. "I fear it is a far cry from Pemberley!"

"It is lovely," he said. "It is filled with you, Lizzy."

"It seems my father has given us approval to share this room, Fitzwilliam," she said.

"Yes," he said, "although perhaps he assumed I would be occupying your sister Jane's bed!"

Elizabeth began to unbutton her husband's shirt.

"I am in my nightclothes and you are not. I believe that is a situation that needs to be rectified."

"But I neglected to bring any nightclothes, Lizzy. So if you remove my garments, I will have to sleep with none."

"So it would seem," she agreed, reaching down to unfasten his breeches.

"'Tis only fair, then, that I remove your gown, do you not agree?"

"Yes, indeed," she said. "There is so little room to accommodate the both of us in that one small bed that the less that comes between us, the better."

"You are a woman of uncommon sense, Lizzy," Darcy said, bending down to kiss her, now that literally nothing came between them. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed where she had slept since she was but 5 years old.

It was, to be sure, a very tight fit in the narrow bed, and Mr. Darcy's feet hung over the edge, but it was his nature to make the best of things, and so he did. He had little choice but to lie atop his wife, and she utilized the limited space most efficiently by wrapping her legs around her husband's waist. They made love slowly and quietly, finding it strangely thrilling to be doing so in a location that would have, under usual circumstances, been strictly off limits to them.

"It would have been even more romantic, Fitzwilliam, had you not knocked on the door but placed a ladder against my window instead."

"I will try to remember that for next time. Or perhaps you might wish me to go outside now and...?"

She slapped his bottom playfully.

"Teasing man!"

He rolled over onto his back, taking her with him. They were positioned precariously close to the edge, and he put his hand down to the floor to steady himself as together, they shifted to the center of the bed.

The movement caused her breasts to dangle temptingly near his mouth, and he lifted his head to kiss them. Her delighted moans were most arousing, and he found himself growing erect once again. This time it was Lizzy who took the initiative, remaining atop him as she guided him inside her.

"Oh, God, Lizzy," he cried. She clamped her hand over his mouth to silence him and he responded by opening his mouth to suck on her fingers.

"Hush, my love," she said, as she moved up and down. His hands were cupping her bottom, adding momentum and support to her movements, and it was difficult for her to remain silent as she felt her orgasm beginning. She bit her lips so hard that it was painful, and Darcy turned his head to the side so that his own cries would be muffled by the pillow.
It was miraculous that no one in the house was awakened by the rhythmic scraping of the bed on the wooden floor. The lovers tempered their voices, their words of endearment whispered so softly that no one else would have heard them, even if they had been in the very same room.

Such simple words, "I love you," said by each of them, and repeated many times before they found sleep. Of necessity, they slept with arms and legs entwined, Darcy unwilling to leave the comfort of his wife's embrace to sleep alone in the other bed.

It was the next morning, quite early, when Darcy, still asleep, attempted to stretch, rolling to the other side of the bed. He realized too late that there was no other side of the bed and he fell, with a resounding thud, to the floor.

"Mr. Bennet!" Mrs. Bennet bolted upright in bed. "I distinctly heard a loud crash, coming from Lizzy's room!"

"You had best see to it, Mrs. Bennet. Lizzy may have fallen out of bed, and it would not do for me to intrude upon her while she is still in her nightclothes."

Mrs. Bennet nodded and hastened from the room. Her husband arose moments later, rubbing his hands together gleefully as he headed to the door and peered out into the hallway just as his wife reached Lizzy's room.

He smiled to himself. Let the festivities begin!

Chapter 30

It was fortunate that Darcy had the presence of mind to grab the bedsheet that had fallen to the floor with him, as he wrapped it around his naked form just moments before the door to the room flew open. He was somewhat disoriented at being awakened so abruptly and painfully, and for the moment, had forgotten where he was. With one hand he held the sheet closed around him, while with the other he rubbed his eyes.

Mrs. Bennet screamed. Darcy, wrapped in the sheet, was barely awake. His face was stubbled as he had not shaved since the previous morning, his hair was wild and standing up at odd angles. He truly presented a fearsome sight!

Truth be told, she did not even recognize him as Mr. Darcy, and she slammed the door shut, running down the hallway to her husband, who was standing outside their room with a mischievious grin on his face.

"There is a man! A man in Lizzy's room! You must throttle him, Mr. Bennet, before he murders us all!"

"A man in Lizzy's room? How curious!"
"Yes, yes, and he is wearing nothing but a bedsheet. A very large, tall man wrapped in a bedsheet. Hurry, Mr. Bennet!"

"My dear Mrs. Bennet, if a man were come to murder us, I rather doubt he would be wearing a bedsheet. But let us go together to investigate the matter further, shall we?"

"You must bring something to hit him with, Mr. Bennet. Here, this will do," she said, handing him a large porcelain vase.

"Put that down, Mrs. Bennet. I assure you it will not be needed."

He led his wife to Lizzy's bedchamber and knocked on the door.

"Mr. and Mrs. Darcy?" He raised his eyebrows, pleased with the effect those few words had on his wife.

Mrs. Bennet's hand flew to her mouth. She was uncharacteristically speechless.

It was a thoroughly embarrassed Darcy who came to the door. He had hastily donned his shirt and breeches, and stood in his bare feet.

Mr. Bennet smiled, enjoying the moment far more than was charitable.

"Please come down for breakfast when you are ready, sir. My wife is quite beside herself with curiosity. And you must remember to thank me. Were it not for my intervention, you might well be wearing a vase on your head!"

Darcy heard him placating Mrs. Bennet as they left. "Yes, yes, it is quite proper. Yes, you heard me correctly...I did say Mrs. Darcy."

He would elaborate no further, saying only that he would leave it to his daughter and son-in-law to explain the situation. The ruckus had awakened the others in the household, so that by the time Elizabeth and Darcy, quite properly dressed, came downstairs, it was not only Mr. and Mrs Bennet, but Mary, Kitty, Lydia, three servants, two dogs and a cat who awaited them. All eyes gazed upon them as they descended, but no one moved, except for the smaller and more territorial of the two dogs, who immediately rushed Darcy, nipping at his ankles.

"Tonight we shall remove ourselves to Netherfield," Darcy hissed as they reached the bottom of the stairs. He plucked the offending canine from its perch on his foot.

"Agreed," Elizabeth said fervently.

Predictably, it was Lydia who greeted them first.
"Is it true, Lizzy? Have you eloped? How romantic! But why, then, have you returned to Longbourn? Were I to elope, it would be to somewhere far more interesting than Hertfordshire!"

"What about the wedding?" Kitty asked, pouting. "I so looked forward to being a bridesmaid!"

"It is far better, I believe, that virtue be preserved, but if it is not to be, it is better to marry than to burn," Mary proclaimed. Inexplicably, she smiled when she said it.

"Thank you, Mary," Elizabeth said with a resigned sigh. She glanced at Darcy, who seemed to be bearing up quite well under her sisters' inane statements and questions.

"Lizzy, surely you cannot expect us to forego a wedding entirely," said Mrs. Bennet. "We have invited just about everyone, Lizzy, and we cannot cancel it now! What would everyone say? Why, I was just telling Lady Lucas yesterday that..."

"But we are already married, Mother," Lizzy interrupted.

"Might I propose a compromise?" Darcy asked. "I shall speak to the vicar myself. Perhaps we might have a blessing in church, followed by the wedding breakfast. Would that be agreeable to you, Mrs. Bennet?"

"I suppose so," she said slowly. "Of course Lizzy must wear her wedding dress, and the girls the finery we have assembled for them, and the flowers on the altar..."

"Certainly, Mrs. Bennet. All of that will still be possible," Darcy sighed, realizing how very much it meant to her.

Elizabeth smiled at her husband gratefully. "Thank you," she whispered.

"And of course," Mrs. Bennet went on, "Lizzy will stay here with us until the wedding, and you can stay at Netherfield, Mr. Darcy. It is only proper that Lizzy be married from her own home, and that we accompany her to church."

"No, Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth is already married, and I am her husband. We will stay together at Netherfield. That is one point I will not cede."

Darcy had spoken politely, but with no doubt as to his determination.

Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth to protest, but her husband silenced her.

"Mr. Darcy is right, Mrs. Bennet," he said, gazing at his son-in-law with open admiration. The young man clearly saved his battles for that which was important to him, and it was obvious that what was most important to him was Elizabeth.

"Can I see your ring, Lizzy?" Lydia asked excitedly, but she frowned when she saw the plain gold band. Surely Mr. Darcy, with all his wealth, might have bought a grander ring.

"That was my mother's," Darcy said. "I do have another ring, one which I purchased in London, and I suppose now is as good a time as any to give it to you, Lizzy."

He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small black velvet box. Inside was a delicate gold band encrusted with diamonds and sapphires, and he slid it onto Elizabeth's finger, abutting the first ring.

"It is beautiful, Fitzwilliam, but I hope you will not be angry when I tell you I love the plain one better."

"Do not be foolish, child," her mother exclaimed. "No one prefers a plain gold band to one of diamonds and sapphires!"

Darcy merely smiled and squeezed his wife's hand. Her words had pleased him more than he could ever express.

It had been a harrowing morning, and Darcy gratefully agreed when Elizabeth proposed they go out for a walk together after breakfast. Once they were alone, she questioned him as to why he had presented her with the ring in her family's presence. It was so unlike his usual reticence.

"Lizzy," he said. "I was going to wait until after the wedding to give you that ring. I always planned to use my mother's ring for the ceremony. But I could sense your family's disappointment at being absent for our wedding, and I thought that giving you that ring as they looked on would, in some small way, compensate. I hope you did not mind?"

"Of course not," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "It was most generous of you, Fitzwilliam."

"Do you truly prefer the plain gold band?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, slowly twisting it around her finger. "I think...I think it is because I know your mother wore it. She wore it when she was carrying you inside her, Fitzwilliam."

He put his arm around her shoulders as they walked, so moved he found it difficult to speak. He swallowed hard and said, "Thank you for that, Lizzy. You may wear the newer one on your right hand if you like."

"That will do very well, Fitzwilliam," she said. "Your mother's ring I shall never remove."

The loving communion they felt with each other at that moment soon drove all thoughts of weddings, and flowers, and banquets, and dresses and jewels from their minds. What remained was that which was essential: the deep and abiding love each had for the other.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At almost precisely the same moment that Mrs. Bennet learned of her daughter's marriage, Jane Bingley was receiving similar information from her husband, in a far less dramatic fashion. When he arrived home the previous evening, he could think no further than getting himself and his wife to their bedchamber as expeditously as possible and was disinclined to begin any conversation that would postpone the fulfilment of his desire.

So it was that morning at breakfast that the important disclosure was casually made.

"Where is my brother?" Georgiana asked, with a puzzled frown.

"Perhaps he went to visit his wife at Longbourn," Bingley responded, sipping his coffee.

At that statement, Jane looked up in astonishment.

"His wife?"

"Oh! Of course," Bingley said blandly. "You do not know. Elizabeth and Darcy were married two days ago, at the church in Kympton."

"Whatever for?" Jane asked.

Caroline Bingley answered. "They could not wait, apparently, in the usual manner." Her expression left no doubt as to her meaning.

"I am shocked!" Jane exclaimed. "Do Mama and Papa know?"

"I imagine they do by now," Bingley replied, "as Lizzy spent the night at Longbourn, and Darcy is apparently gone to see her."

"Oh dear, " Jane said. "I do not envy Mr. Darcy when my father takes him to task! And my mother! She has been planning the wedding so enthusiastically!"

"No point to it now," Caroline said.

"Caroline!" Bingley snapped. "I am sure some suitable arrangement will be reached. It is really none of your concern."

"I am so distressed, Charles," Jane said, and her husband placed his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"Do not worry yourself, my love," he said, kissing her forehead. "All will be well."

Alex Clifton stared across the table at them, then hurriedly looked away when Charles regarded him curiously.
"I am sure our wedding will be the highlight of the season, Alex," Caroline said triumphantly.

"Yes, quite," he answered.

"You might exhibit a bit more enthusiasm, Alex," Caroline said petulantly.

I might if there were any love between us, he thought.

He reached for her hand and kissed it.

"I may not show my enthusiasm, Caroline, but I eagerly anticipate our wedding, you may be assured."

She appeared sufficiently satisfied with his statement to resume her monologue about the wedding. Clifton soon withdrew into his thoughts, and her chattering receded into no more than an incessant drone.

"We must visit at Longbourn today, Charles! I must speak to Lizzy," Jane said.

"Of course," Bingley replied. "I will see to the carriage, and we can be there by noon. Will you all accompany us?"

Georgiana eagerly agreed, but Caroline demurred.

"I would rather not, Charles. Quite frankly, I am incapable of being in so boisterous an atmosphere as Longbourn so soon after traveling. I am far too exhausted today."

Charles hesitated. Would it be advisable to leave Caroline and Clifton unchaperoned?

Silly thought. The two appeared nearly indifferent to each other, and there was a house full of servants at Netherfield. No, he need not worry.

"You and Alex may remain at Netherfield then, Caroline. We shall return in time for tea."

Caroline regarded Alex Clifton thoughtfully. He was expressionless.

I should like to see how much enthusiasm I might inspire in him without my brother's restraining presence. I do not know where his passions lie, but perhaps it is time I find out.