Author's Note: Apologies for the delay in posting this chapter: RL got in the way again. At least it is a little longer than usual. I appreciate all your reviews, and especially those that pick up my mistakes or speculate on what might happen next. I know you are eagerly awaiting the next meeting between Darcy and Mr Bennet, and this chapter gets you a little closer... elag
Chapter 20
Captain Denny was indeed favourably inclined towards a double wedding. He was quick to grasp the advantages that would flow from combining his efforts with someone as influential as Fitzwilliam Darcy: Denny had no connections that would assist him in obtaining a special licence. The same could not be said of Mr Darcy. Denny wanted to give his bride the lavish wedding she dreamed of, but his resources were limited. For Darcy, money would be no object. Denny had no regular abode in London which would give him a claim to the services of any particular church. Mr Darcy had a Mayfair townhouse, so would surely be a regular parishioner at a fashionable church.
Lydia was less enthusiastic about the idea - for all her recently exhibition of maturity and wisdom, she was still young enough to place great significance on being the first of her sisters to wed. She wanted to marry in Meryton, so that all her friends and family would see her on the arm of her handsome groom, dressed in full uniform and as handsome as could be. It would spoil the picture to have the tall and disgustingly handsome Mr Darcy casting Denny into the shade.
Luckily, both Denny and Elizabeth knew how to work on her. Elizabeth assured her that she had no great expectations for her own wedding day, and would happily give Lydia pride of place, both as the first to be actually wed, and as easily the most beautiful of the two sisters at the altar. She mentioned in passing that while neither she nor William wanted a fancy affair, they would of course need to invite William's titled relations, and would Lydia mind so very much if they had an Earl and a Countess at the wedding? (Lydia allowed that she would not.) Denny added strategically placed compliments and reassurances that no one could outshine Lydia in his eyes. He happened to mention that sharing the costs of the wedding would give him a little more to spend on her wedding clothes, for the amount allocated by Mr Bennet would hardly cover the cost of the wedding dress itself.
Before long, Lydia was an enthusiastic supporter of the proposition, and all that remained to be settled was the place and the date. To the gentlemen's surprise, Elizabeth sided with Lydia: she wanted to marry from Longbourn, with her sisters at her side.
"Our mother has thought of little for many years now but securing her daughters' futures. She wants nothing more than for us to marry well and marry happy. Her delight on learning that not only her youngest and liveliest daughter, but the one she always despaired of, have received offers from men of proven mettle and are to be married before the month is out, will be immeasurable. I could not deprive her of the opportunity to play her part. I have at least one parent who will be happy to see me wed."
"Whatever do you mean, Lizzy?" asked Lydia. "Is Papa not happy with your betrothal?"
"That is putting it mildly, Lydia. He has huffed and puffed, but he will not blow my house down. I will marry William, and our father will just have to get used to the idea."
"Well," laughed Lydia, "Mama will be your best ally there! She can always wear Papa down eventually." Dismissing the issue, and turning back to the bridegrooms, she inquired how long it took to purchase the licences. "It does sound terribly romantic, to be married by special licence," she mused.
It was soon agreed that licenses should be obtained as soon as possible - and Darcy's connections would indeed be of some use in facilitating the process - and that the entire party should repair to Hertfordshire where they would then be married as soon as possible.
As a result, the ladies would have only a few more days in town in which to complete any purchases they intended to make for their trousseaux. Elizabeth had given little thought to such practicalities, but Lydia had thought of little else, and reminded her sister of the necessity to equip herself with the things she would need to take up her new role in life. "You will at the very least need some new walking dresses and a ball gown or two. I do not imagine your old wardrobe will be quite up to scratch for Mrs Darcy," she teased. Although embarrassed to have the inferiority of her clothes pointed out in front of William, Elizabeth could not fault her sister's accuracy. While she was never fond of shopping, she recognised the necessity in this case, and accepted her fate with relative good grace.
Darcy offered his carriage and footmen to the ladies, explaining that he and Denny would accomplish their own mission with more ease on horseback. Accordingly, they soon parted company, Denny and Darcy heading for Doctors' Commons and Lydia and Elizabeth for their aunt's recommended modiste, where they spent several hours choosing patterns and fabrics and being measured for gowns. Arriving in the Darcy coach, accompanied by three liveried footmen, ensured them respectful treatment at the establishment, and Lydia's cheerful insouciance made the process much less tedious than it might have been. Elizabeth had never spent a pleasanter afternoon at a dressmaker!
By arrangement, they repaired to Darcy House rather than Gracechurch Street when their business was done. Georgiana was delighted to welcome them, and plied them with refreshments while they waited for the gentlemen to return from their mission. When a dusty Darcy and Denny made their way into the parlour shortly thereafter, they found their ladies engaged in light-hearted tales of the trials and tribulations of clothes shopping.
Elizabeth leapt to her feet and rushed to greet Darcy, pausing just short of throwing herself into his arms and remembering to offer him a polite curtsey instead. Darcy's eyes betrayed the pleasure with which he received this little show of enthusiasm, but he likewise restrained himself to a stately bow, followed by a bow to Georgiana and Lydia and a general greeting to the room. Denny was quick to assure Lydia that they had been successful in their objective, and that the licenses should be ready for collection in two days' time.
"When shall we leave for Meryton, brother," asked Georgiana, "and where shall we stay?"
"Oh, you must stay with us at Longbourn," cried Lydia enthusiastically, "for we always have room for another sister, and you know the gentlemen will have to stay elsewhere for propriety's sake, at least until after the wedding." Struck by this thought, she mused, "What a shame Mr Bingley is no longer at Netherfield Park, for I suppose you will have to stay at the inn in Meryton, and it is not very nice."
"As it happens," her sister responded, "a little birdie told me that Mr Bingley was returning to Netherfield Park today or tomorrow at the latest, and I expect he will be vastly pleased to host the two bridegrooms. He has such happy manners, after all, that. I cannot imagine him not wanting to play a part in his friend's future happiness."
"Is he coming back for Jane, do you think?" Lydia wanted to know.
"That is for him and Jane to work out, Lydia. We must not push either of them - it will be difficult enough for them to bear with Mama's assumptions and expectations."
"I suppose so," said the youngest Bennet, "but it would be such fun to help them along."
"Let us focus on our own weddings first," suggested Elizabeth, "and let Jane decide about her own heart."
Elizabeth soon suggested it was time for she, Lydia and Denny to return to Gracechurch Street, but thought it better that Darcy not join them. Darcy was reluctant to be parted from her, especially knowing her father's opposition to their match, but saw the sense in not further provoking that gentleman by his presence. "You will alert me immediately if there is any problem, won't you," he demanded anxiously. Both Elizabeth and Denny - who had a newfound respect for his future brother having spent the last few hours in his company watching him deal confidently with matters of business in which Denny himself would have felt out of his depth - assured him that they would send a messenger if need arose, and that a man as indolent as Mr Bennet was unlikely to take any action beyond railing against his second daughter and his brother-in-law for having out-manoeuvred him. Darcy, simultaneously experiencing bursts of joy at the knowledge Elizabeth was to finally be his, and a pervasive dread that something might yet occur to snatch her from him, stood at his front door watching in the direction she had gone long after the carriage had turned the corner and taken her from view. It took all Georgiana's ingenuity to convince him to come inside before he caught a chill.
The next morning found Darcy visiting his uncle, the Earl of _. Brother to Lady Catherine de Bourgh and to Darcy's own mother, Stanley Fitzwillliam was a gruff man of middle height and expanding girth, used to giving orders and having them followed. He had two sons and two daughters to dispose of in marriage, but always had an eye to potential alliances, be they political or financial, and so took a keen interest in his nephew's and nieces' marital prospects as well. Darcy knew he had to inform the Earl of his betrothal before he learned it from the newspapers, but faced the task with some trepidation. While he loved Elizabeth Bennet to distraction, he did not fool himself into thinking she brought anything to the marriage that his uncle would think of value: her wit, her kindness, her beauty, her intelligence, the fact that she loved Fitzwilliam Darcy for himself and not for his fortune: while these things made Elizabeth irreplaceable in Darcy's life, none of them would improve his uncle's connections, or even register with the Earl as worthy of weighing in the balance.
As a result, Darcy was uncharacteristically nervous as he followed a footman into his uncle's study.
"Mr Darcy," the footman intoned self-importantly.
"Darcy, my lad, this is an unexpected pleasure," boomed his uncle cheerfully. "Take a seat and tell me what you've been up to. I thought you were still in Derbyshire."
"I have only just returned to town, sir," Darcy replied, "and for the very best of reasons. I am to be married."
"Oho! Are you indeed? Who is the lucky lady?" The Earl had such unshakeable confidence that his Darcy nephew would put His duty to family before all else that it never crossed his mind that the answer might disappoint him. Darcy looked into his uncle's benignly smiling countenance as he carefully enunciated, "Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. She is a wonderful young lady - I am certain you will like her immensely."
"Bennet, you say," mused the Earl in puzzled tones as he wracked his brain to place the name, "of Longbourn? What are her connections?"
"None that you will know, uncle. Her family are not often in town, and do not move in our circles when they are. And before you ask, no, she is not well dowered. It is the lady herself who is of the highest quality, and her attributes and accomplishments which will make her the ideal mistress of Pemberley."
"In other words you are besotted. It is the oldest tale in the world, my boy, and not one that often ends well. Once the shine has worn off your jewel of a bride, you will be left with nothing but an obscure woman with no connections and no money. I had not thought you the sort to fall into such a trap, but I suppose it is a settled thing?"
"It is, uncle. I understand your reservations. Indeed, I expected nothing else. But when you meet Miss Elizabeth I think you will be pleasantly surprised. She is a remarkable young lady, and I know beyond all doubt that she is no fortune hunter. She truly cares for me, and Georgiana loves her. I hope you will come to esteem her, but at the least I ask that you extend her the courtesy she will be due as Mrs Darcy."
"You could have made a famous match, Fitzwilliam. Indeed, everyone expected it of you. You could have enhanced the family name. Instead you choose to let your baser instincts lead you astray. Do you not realise there are other ways to scratch that itch than to marry the chit?"
Darcy sighed. He would take offence on Elizabeth's behalf, but he knew his uncle only spoke the truth as he knew it. The Earl had never met Elizabeth Bennet, but had spent a lifetime in high society, being chased both before and after his own marriage by women more interested in his purse and his power than anything else. Why would he expect Darcy to have fared any better? Still, he could not let the insult pass. "I will thank you to speak with more respect about the lady who will be Mrs Darcy. I understand your thoughts, Uncle, but truly, you are wrong in this case. Miss Elizabeth is the very best of women, and I know for a certainty that she is no fortune hunter. She rejected me once, you know. All my money and connections meant nothing to her in the face of my boorish conduct. I have had to work hard to gain her better opinion, and now that I have it, I would not sacrifice it for the world."
The Earl's eyebrows nearly disappeared under his carefully coiffed fringe. "Oho! So she took you to task for your poor manners, did she? She must have plenty of character to stand up to the famous Darcy scowl. In that case, I absolve her of any fault. But you, my lad: I expected you to have more thought to your family's expectations. Why could you not lose your heart to a lady of money and connections? There are plenty of them out there. But I suppose you are your own man. I suppose you will do as you choose, no matter what I might say about the matter?"
"Indeed I will, Uncle," replied Darcy, with a smile. Clearly the Earl was not inclined to make this more difficult than it need be. "Can I count on your support?"
"You can. I and mine will show your wife all proper courtesy. I will not have this give rise to rumours of any divisions within the family. When do you plan to introduce her to us? I admit I am curious to meet Miss Bennet."
"If you wish to meet Miss Bennet as well, I would be honoured to introduce you to my lady's older sister, but Miss Elizabeth is the second daughter of five. But introductions to any of them will have to wait for a few days yet, I think. Miss Elizabeth is returning to Hertfordshire soon to prepare for our wedding. We plan to marry in her home parish by special licence before the month is out. I hope you and my aunt will be able to make the journey for the wedding - it is but half a day's travel. We have not set the precise date yet, so could make allowance for your availability."
"You don't do things by halves, do you Darcy? You not only want me to accept an unknown woman of no standing into the family, but want me to travel half way across the country to attend the wedding!"
"Not so far as that, uncle," said Darcy, with relief. He could tell by the Earl's tone of frustrated humour that the battle was won, and he would be able to promise Mrs Bennet and the future Mrs Denny an earl at the wedding. For himself, he was vastly relieved to know his marriage would not cause a rift in the family. Oh, there would be a kerfuffle when Aunt Catherine heard the news, but with the Earl's public support for the match, Elizabeth Darcy would be accepted as a member of the Fitzwilliam family, and he and Georgiana would not be estranged from their rather small collection of relatives.
"Are there any dates toward the end of next week that would be impossible for you to attend?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Why such unseemly haste? If it was one of my sons, I would assume the lady was enceinte, but I know you would never get yourself into such a pickle!"
"Indeed not!' huffed Darcy in pretended outrage. "It is simply that we have endured a number of obstacles to our courtship, and are now keen to start our married life without further delay."
"There is more to the tale than you are telling, but I suppose it will wait for some cold evening in Derbyshire over a bottle of your excellent port. If you can avoid next Thursday or Friday, we should be able to make the supreme effort of attending a wedding in Hertfordshire. Thursday night is Lady Ingleton's ball, and I don't think we'll be in any shape to travel on the Friday. Send me the details as soon as they are fixed and I'll do my best to drag a Viscount along as well. That should please her bevy of sisters!"
Darcy laughed, partly at his Uncle's sense of humour and partly in relief. He had anticipated several hours of being reprimanded for his choice before the Earl reconciled himself to the inevitable, but the conversation had been far less difficult than he expected. In fact, his uncle had long since recognised Darcy's strength of character and independence, and was simply grateful that he was at least marrying a gentlewoman, and had not turned up on his doorstep to announce he was engaged to a bookseller's daughter or the pretty daughter of some indigent Catholic nobleman whose family had lost all their property during the Civil War! "Well, be off with you, then. I am sure you have plenty to do if you are to marry next week. You may introduce your young lady and her family to us when the opportunity arises, and you need have no fear that we will refuse the acquaintance."
"I thank you, my lord. I will advise you of the wedding details as soon as they are fixed. Until next week, then." Darcy's parting bow was deep and sincere. Underneath his own reserve and his uncle's gruff geniality was a genuine affection that both men found difficult to express, but felt deeply.
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