AN: Hi Everyone! Life's gotten crazy again, and I'm glad to be finalizing this story. This is the last of the main story. Next week is the epilogue!
Blurb: A what-if story that picks up right in the middle of Elizabeth's visit to Pemberley with her Aunt and Uncle. During the visit, chaos ensues at Pemberley, and maybe our favorite couple, Elizabeth and Darcy, can discover what they want. With the wedding over, how are our dear couple supposed to get together?
Thank You Henya Blackstar, and the other Beta Readers from CritiqueMatch for all of your valuable input and feedback.
Thank You for reading and enjoy! :D
Unexpected Invitations
By: KMarinelli2023
Chapter 7
As the sun neared its peak, the ceremony concluded, those in attendance reconvened back at Pemberley's garden for the wedding luncheon. With the help of Elizabeth and the others, the garden had been pleasantly set up for a cozy luncheon. When the bride and groom arrived at Pemberley, all their guests were waiting for them in the Grand Hall, and Sarah spotted Elizabeth in the crowd.
Making her way through the crowd, Sarah pulled Elizabeth to her. "Miss Bennet, thank you for all of your help. It is greatly appreciated."
"Please, do not worry about it Mrs Miller," Elizabeth said, emphasizing Sarah's new name.
Sarah let out a soft melodic laugh that sounded like a delicate wind chime. "All of this would not have been possible." Sarah held both of Elizabeth's hands and gave them a little squeeze.
"It was Mr Darcy that came to save the day."
"That may be true, but I doubt a man like him would have gone to his lengths if you had shown any less interest in our wedding," Sarah said firmly. "I am forever grateful to you Miss Bennet."
Before Elizabeth could question Sarah any further, she was pulled away by her husband and mother, both of whom wanted her to greet some other relatives. As the newly married couple left the Grand Hall, so did the remaining crowd…leaving Elizabeth alone with her thoughts. Did Sarah know something about Darcy? Did others know anything of her shared private moments?
Or was there a missing piece that was unknown to Elizabeth?
The whisper of fabric gliding over the marble floors hinted at another presence behind Elizabeth. With a slight turn of her head, she found Caroline beside her, her attire as distinctive as ever. "Miss Eliza, the effort you've put into the servant's wedding reception is commendable. It speaks volumes about your nature."
"Thank you, Miss Caroline. But it was only possible with the help of others." Elizabeth turned her gaze towards the distant crowd, all of whom were gathered around the happily married couple.
Caroline matched her direction. "True, you spent an awful amount of time with the staff, worrying about trivial matters."
"Georgiana took a great interest in the wedding as well, and as a talented woman I wanted to learn from her," she said into the distant view. Among the crowd far in the distance, Elizabeth managed to spot Darcy whose arms were linked with Georgiana's.
"Yes Miss Darcy is one of the few talented women of modern society, but she will be soon planning much grander parties in the future. I hope you enjoyed playing with her, as I doubt your paths will cross again."
The crowd around Darcy blurred, while he stood tall in full clarity like the clearest diamonds. Hard, unmoving, and beautiful. She replied wistfully, "Who knows where our paths will cross again, but I hope it will only be a short time till then."
"Mr Darcy is an important man, and this little event has recently taken up too much of his attention; he will need to focus back on his life."
"Yes, Mr Darcy is an important man, and how he spends his summer is up to him. Neither one of us has a say on how he spends his time." A pang of longing struck her–if only she could spend many happy summers with him.
"I've heard on good authority that Darcy needs to focus on his obligations to his family. I wouldn't want you to get hurt by your infatuation," Caroline bit back.
This was not mere infatuation.
This was profound, deeper than any surface emotion.
Elizabeth's thoughts scattered, her mind racing. The sting of Caroline's words felt like a dagger thrust into her heart. With each beat, she felt the pain intensify.
She was falling in love with Darcy.
Was she too late?
Had she buried her feelings, only for Caroline's piercing words to expose the truth? Perhaps she did care for him ever since their first encounter in the garden. Or was it in the library at night?
"I'm sorry. Did you think no one realized your one-sided feelings?"
Caroline's words twisted the dagger deeper, each syllable amplifying the pain.
"I've heard whispers about you and Pemberley. It would be unfortunate if any misconceptions were to spread," Caroline remarked, her tone deceptively gentle.
Elizabeth's gaze remained steady, her chin raised with an air of defiance. "Misconceptions or not, Mr Darcy's affairs are hardly the topic for a wedding luncheon. And it's neither our place to gossip about them, is it?"
"I'm merely looking out for you. It would be a shame for you to be the subject of idle chatter."
Elizabeth's facade was slipping away. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Bingley. But I can assure you, my reputation can withstand a little gossip." With a curt nod, Elizabeth walked forward toward the sunlit garden.
As Elizabeth walked away, she took a deep breath, trying to quell the mix of emotions Caroline's words had stirred. She would not allow Caroline's barbed remarks to shape her perception of herself or Darcy.
Elizabeth grabbed a cup of punch from the staff as she neared the outskirts of the crowd. She took a large unladylike gulp to help calm her nerves. Its sweetness went down smoothly.
"Miss Bennet, a splendid celebration indeed!" Bingley raised his glass with his typical cheery smile.
Elizabeth glanced towards him, her mind elsewhere. "Hmmm? Oh, thank you, Mr Bingley."
"They're off on vacation this autumn," Bingley shared.
"That's…nice."
Bingley shrugged, "Didn't ask. But I'm also traveling to Netherfield this autumn. Alone this time." His tone was unusually earnest.
Elizabeth's gaze still drifting. "That sounds…good."
Bingley nodded along to the music's joyful rhythm.
Seeing someone in the crowd, Elizabeth murmured, "Excuse me, I need to…"
Navigating through the crowd, Elizabeth's thoughts were consumed by the man who had unexpectedly claimed her heart. Distracted, she reached her aunt and uncle, who were in conversation with Mrs Tillman. The joyous hum of conversations melded with the light melody played by the local musicians, the backdrop to children's playful dances.
"Such an emotional wedding," she faintly registered Mrs Tillman's voice as she approached.
"Good afternoon, Mrs Tillman, Aunt, Uncle." Elizabeth curtsied.
"We were just commenting on the wedding ceremony, niece," Mrs Gardiner shared.
Mrs Tillman opened her fan with a flick of her wrist. "So thankful for the Darcy family's help! The family has always been kind to mine, and to think he would save the day for my daughter's wedding."
"A true reflection of the stories you've shared, Mrs Tillman." Her aunt's words drifted into her consciousness.
Despite trying to focus, Elizabeth's heart raced uncomfortably.
Mrs Tillman continued with great enthusiasm, "...he's unlike any other man of his status. Such a good heart. He's always been like that."
Mr Gardiner chimed in, "True men of their word are indeed rare."
Elizabeth felt another pang in her chest. How had she been so blind about him? Yet, her thoughts and feelings seemed to swirl in a haze, not truly settling on the conversation at hand.
Finding no peace or solace from the unspoken man of the hour, Elizabeth once more excused herself. There was no terrace to escape to. Nor any dark corner she could blend into. There was nowhere she could hide.
Her only option of escape was to journey back into the labyrinth of the stone estate. Lost in thought, she managed to make it the way back without any disruptions. She had no end goal in sight. The blur of antique artifacts and nameless faces surrounded her; eventually, she stopped at the end of the twisting corridor. In front were a pair of doors, and didn't see the harm in going in.
The uncharted room was showered with a bright tranquil brilliance, a pleasing companion to her troubled mind. The lush scent of lavender and roses filled the air as the summer sun beamed brightly through the crystal ceiling and walls. A perfect place for refuge, she thought.
Secluding herself in the embrace of the garden, she allowed herself a moment of peace, free from her thoughts. The lingering earthy smell of earth and vegetation filled her. The gentle quietness around her allowed her mind to settle, as the warmth from the sun embraced her.
As she sat there the events of the day replayed in her mind. John and Sarah's wedding, Mr Darcy's actions, Caroline's confrontation, and the unexpected praise from her relatives–all these moments intertwined, creating a whirlwind of emotions within her.
She pondered Mr Darcy's actions, the connection they shared, and the weight of her feelings. She could not deny it further. Her racing heart calmed upon the acceptance of emotion.
But she squeezed her eyes trying to shut out thoughts of doubt. Was she fooling herself?
Looking up at the mosaic glass ceiling, she sunk further into the settee. "Am I too late?" Her voice filled the void.
"Miss Bennet, are you here?" A distant voice called out.
Her heart stilled. It sounded like Darcy. Had he heard her? Her instinct told her to not make a sound, but what if this was the only chance she had left to clear up the air?
"I'm here," she called out. She played with the fabric of her skirt as she awaited for the voice to find her. She needed to summon more courage if she was going to resolve this.
"I saw you wander off and the door was cracked open." He offered her a weak smile that offset his handsome visage. He dressed finely in a sapphire blue overcoat, his starched collar paled in contrast and finished with a silver caveat. "Are you unwell Miss Bennet? Your trip has been filled with quite a lot of excitement."
"Yes, I'm fine. I just needed a moment of quietness."
"If I'm intruding, I can leave." A pale pink colored his cheeks.
Elizabeth studied him, holding her breath. If she told him to leave, she may never get the answers she wanted. But if she asked him to stay, she may not like what he has to say. Unsure of what to do, she opened her mouth but no words fell off her lips.
Darcy's smile fell and a frown briefly appeared, before the stoic face set in. "I can see my presence is unwanted. I will leave you to your contemplation then." Darcy bowed and turned to leave.
With each step he took away, it all came crashing down. She never felt so sure about anything before. She didn't want him to go. And it hit her like a gut punch.
She loved Fitzwilliam Darcy.
It was no infatuation. She was past falling for him. She was utterly and irrevocably in love with him.
And as painful as the late realization was, it brought a small morsel of peace.
Getting up she rushed to him, the beating of her heart drowned out the stillness. She grabbed at him. Not some light touch, but a firm hold on him. Afraid that if he slipped through her fingers, she would drown.
"I was at a loss for words then." Her gaze lingered on his frozen hand.
He challenged her and helped her be the best she could be. He showed growth and the capacity to respect others. Yes, he was serious, but she had seen him smile and laugh. She could help encourage that–if ever given the chance.
"I never imagined I would ever hear you be at a loss for words, Miss Bennet."
"Oddly enough, that was at least the second time today." While her courage was at its peak, she continued, "Please let me speak, for the sake of my peace, I must share my thoughts with you. What you did for Sarah was admirable and you even opened up your home to my family and me. And for preventing Mr Miller from attacking me…" A deep heat spread through her body as rambled on.
Her stomach was a flutter. Where was her elegant and witty self she thought.
Darcy interjected. "Do not think much on the unpleasantness of Mr Miller. I never thought your stay at Pemberley would ever put you in harm's way. That was never my intention."
"I was never harmed. I must thank you and on behalf of the Tillmans and the Gardiners as well. They are very grateful for your assistance these past few days."
"I only need your thanks alone," he replied, "that is all I require. As much as I respect your relatives or the Tillmans, that was not my reasoning for my actions. I am a selfish man Elizabeth, as I only thought of you."
He had done it all for her, and the thought made her stomach flutter, once more.
"You must know, my feelings are the same as last April. You are too kind to not speak honestly and only have to speak one word and I will remain silent forever."
He paused his eyes searching hers, and took a step closer.
"However, if your feelings have changed. My heart must know."
Elizabeth could not believe what she was hearing and tentatively caressed the hand she held onto. "I came in here looking for peace. But even in the beautiful conservatory you have, I hardly found it. That is until you walked in." Elizabeth looked up, meeting his loving gaze.
"What had unsettled you Elizabeth?"
She liked the sound of her name off his lips–melodic and sweet.
"Caroline confronted me earlier and told me that you were supposed to be engaged to your cousin Anne, and–" Elizabeth paused, breaking his gaze. "And she shared, that she heard rumors that I pretended to be the mistress of Pemberley. She's not wrong because I claimed it when Mr Miller tried to threaten us back in the parlor. I knew I shouldn't have but I had to stop him. And I—"
His lips, with the faintest of touch, kissed her hand. She would have thought it never happened if it weren't for the radiating heat that remained.
"When I saw him try to attack you, I was amazed at how well I controlled myself. If it weren't for my staff removing him, I'm afraid I would have turned violent myself. And if Caroline tried to spread such a rumor, I would have done my best to correct it. Let's not waste another breath on either of them, Elizabeth."
"Thank you for everything, Mr Darcy," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding pulse in her ear.
"Please," he implored, his voice a low rumble that resonated through her. "Call me Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth."
"Fitzwilliam." The name tasted sweet on her tongue, like the first summer berry.
His face broke into a radiant girn, the warmth of his smile made her heart flutter.
"Say it again." Dissolving all notions of propriety, he leaned in so his voice grazed her ear.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she met his gaze. "Fitzwilliam." She dragged out each syllable, their faces just a breath apart.
Their lips met in a tentative kiss that held the weight of the hidden hopes and fervent desires. She pulled back, his warm breath mingling with hers. The world around them felt suddenly insignificant, reduced to just the two of them.
"Elizabeth, I love and admire you."
Her eyes shimmered with tears of joy.
Darcy cradled her face. "I wish I could take back my harsh words in April, but know this, I've loved and admired you since that fateful day and I'll continue to devote myself to you."
"I love you too, Fitzwilliam." She smiled, tears spilling down her cheeks.
He pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her to his chest. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down. Stealing another kiss from him.
Darcy eventually pulled back first.
Her mind was a mush. She blankly stared back at him.
"We had better return to the party Elizabeth. Our absence will be noticed soon." Darcy said, a hint of regret in his voice.
Love for Darcy filled her heart to the brim, and to her surprise, he had prosed to her again. Luck, it seemed, was smiling on her. With him by her side, her world felt perfect and peaceful.
The End
AN: Well this is almost over! As I said earlier, next week is just the epilogue. I promise it will be a sweet addition! As always, thank you for reading :)
