Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet disposed of her two most deserving daughters in marriage. Happier still were the daughters and their most deserving husbands, although one might not have known it from Mr. Darcy's demeanour. Never one comfortable in company, he made an attempt to appear easy for the sake of his wife, but the large party that their relations insisted upon made him withdraw into himself. Would that elopement was not looked down upon, he might have suggested that he and Elizabeth flee to Scotland instead of wedding in Hertfordshire.

Thankfully, a wedding is only but a few hours at the beginning of a marriage. As soon as the carriage pulled onto the main road, Mr. Darcy's countenance transformed to one of pure bliss. His new wife noticed and commented upon his improved disposition.

"Can you not guess why it might be so?" he asked her.

"I know that you were not easy among so many people this morning. I daresay you are glad to be away from the crush," his wife answered.

"Perhaps that may be responsible for a portion of my happiness, but the larger part is because I may now be alone with you, dearest Elizabeth."

Elizabeth's cheeks warmed at his words, and she could not meet his eye.

"Do not be embarrassed by my words, dearest. I did not mean them in a lewd way, my love. We have had such little time even to speak since our betrothal became public knowledge. A dozen family members milling about does not create such intimacy as I might like."

Elizabeth, despite still feeling embarrassed, gathered her courage and took her husband's hand, leaning on him. "It has been a long few months," she agreed. "I am glad it is over and that we are wed."

"You are not saddened at leaving your family?" he asked.

"A little, perhaps, but as there is fortune enough to make the expenses of travel unimportant, the distance is not great evil. We shall often be in London — so you promised me — and an easy distance from there to Meryton."

"Indeed," said Darcy as he gathered her in his arms. "And you may have your family as often as you wish to any of our houses."

"Not too often," she replied, "I believe a woman can see her family too frequently or be settled too near them."

"You speak of the Bingleys?"

"I do. I believe they shall not be at Netherfield more than a twelvemonth. Even their easy tempers must have their limits."

"Should that be the case, I shall look for estates for let in Derbyshire or the neighbouring counties," promised Darcy. "How happy it would be for your sister to be within a day's travel."

"Let us speak no more of my family — although I agree with you. Where are we bound?" Elizabeth asked.

"Darcy House," was Darcy's answer. "I thought it best not to spend our first night of marriage in an inn. We shall go to Pemberley in a few days, but there is no hurry to go thither."

Such words again made Elizabeth blush and Darcy apologised yet again, conscious of his bride's innocence. She, however, would not have her husband watch his speech so around her, and decided that she ought not to be miss-ish with her own husband. She leaned further towards him, closing the gap between them with a light kiss.

Darcy's reserve was broken with just this action, and he passionately responded to her advances. His sudden ardour caught her by surprise, but she soon found herself melting into his embrace and enjoying his caresses. With a growing sense of fascination, she explored her new husband's body, her curiosity and desire taking over. She traced her fingers over his broad shoulders and down his back, feeling the strength of his muscles under her touch.

A moment later, she was unsure what had happened, for she was soon seated alone with her husband across the carriage from her, looking out the window with evident disinterest.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

Darcy turned to her, his face softening into a slight smile. "You did nothing wrong, my love. I would not have you think that you did. I just...," he searched for the words to express what he needed to say. "I need to calm myself, lest I be unable to wait until London."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Oh," she replied, "I believe I understand." She was not certain she did, despite the talks that her mother and aunt had given her, but she had some notion that she soon would know. Regardless, all that mattered was that nothing was amiss.

For the rest of the carriage ride, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy merely spoke. Mr Darcy briefed Elizabeth on the background of the various servants she would encounter that evening, before they moved on to discuss the events of the wedding breakfast.

"I did find it curious that Mary danced a great deal," said Mr. Darcy.

"I believe once Mr. Mallory requested her hand for the first, others began to see her as a desirable partner," explained Elizabeth.

"I must say that I like Mr. Mallory much better now that he is not chasing after you, my love," admitted her husband.

Elizabeth frowned slightly. "He was guarding me, dearest. He had to 'chase after me' as you put it."

"Perhaps he did have to be in your company, but Fitzwilliam and Bingley are also in your company often, and they do not look at you in such a manner. No, I am well-pleased to come out the victor, as I am quite certain he was vying for your hand." A moment of doubt crossed Darcy's face before he spoke again. "If you had known he was after your hand, would you have encouraged him?"

"No, I would not have," his wife assured him. "I considered him charming, but I had no feelings for him. Pray, do not make yourself uneasy, my dearest love. You have no cause to be jealous."

"Even so, had I been able to choose your guard, I might have chosen someone like Mr. Garron," said Darcy with a wry smile.

Elizabeth had to laugh at the image. Mr. Garron was a friend of Lord Barlow's who was wider than he was tall and shared Mr. Hurst's affinity for drinking more than he ought. At least, that was the persona he portrayed, but Elizabeth had recently learned that often he only pretended to doze in order to learn what people might say when they thought themselves safe. It was Mr. Garron whose evidence had finally been able to tie Lord Colbert to the attempted murder of the Prime Minister and had revealed the location of several of the higher members of the conspiracy, including Henry Frodsham. Although peers of the realm usually evaded justice because they were tried by peers, such would not help his lordship's case. The members of Parliament did not take kindly to their own being targeted.

The carriage ride was smooth, and they arrived in London with plenty of daylight left. Upon their alighting, they were immediately welcomed by the butler of Darcy House and ushered inside to the foyer, where the entire household staff had congregated. Elizabeth was overwhelmed by the sheer number of servants and doubted she could recall all their names despite Darcy's introductions. Yet, recognising servants by name and treating them as people was important, so she was determined to make the effort.

While the servants hurried off to make the necessary preparations, Elizabeth was struck with a sense of awe at the grandeur of Darcy House. The wealth and luxury of the room were evident in every detail, but there was a subtle, understated elegance that spoke of refined taste. The house was beyond her imagination, and she had to control herself from staring like a fool at everything she saw.

As he watched his new wife's face light up with appreciation for their home, Darcy's heart filled with pride. "Do you approve of it?" he asked.

"I can scarcely think that anyone would not!" she exclaimed. "It is so lovely, William."

Darcy smiled at Elizabeth's use of his given name. "I am glad that you like it. Come, I have ordered the cook to prepare a light meal. If you wish to refresh yourself, it should be ready in a half hour."

Feeling slightly drained from the events of the day, Elizabeth nodded gratefully. Climbing the grand staircase behind her husband, she admired the banister's intricate carvings before arriving at her chambers. The room was beautifully decorated and spacious, featuring a large four-poster bed and a balcony that provided a view of the garden.

"I do hope you like it," said Darcy. "I had to assume your preferences, as the room has not been redone since my parents' wedding."

"It is beautiful," she replied. "I like it very well."

Darcy smiled. "I am glad, yet also do know you have the authority to alter anything according to your preference. You should be comfortable in your chambers. Now, if you excuse me, I shall leave you to freshen up."

A moment later, Sarah appeared with a dinner dress from Elizabeth's trousseaux. The maid carefully laid the exquisite garment on the bed before informing her that the bath was ready. Elizabeth thanked her maid and allowed her to help her undress.

Slipping into the warm water, Elizabeth sighed contentedly. After a day full of emotions, she cherished this moment of peace. The bath was exactly what she needed, and she luxuriated in the feeling of it soothing her tired muscles. Yet, she did not tarry long, for she knew her husband would be waiting for her.

Elizabeth rose to her feet and Sarah draped a towel around her, then helped her prepare for the evening ahead. The dress she had opted for was an ivory silk gown with delicate lace sleeves and a full skirt that flowed gracefully down to the ground. Her figure was flattered by the dress's simple cut, making her feel beautiful.

Upon descending the stairs, Elizabeth was met by Darcy in the drawing room, who was waiting for her dressed in his evening attire. Sitting down to eat, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel the warmth of her husband's admiration as his eyes lingered on her.

A delicious meal was had as the cook prepared a variety of dishes to showcase his culinary skills to the new mistress. The wine was a particular pleasure, as Darcy had specially chosen a fine vintage for the occasion. The conversation naturally progressed from the wedding to more general topics, as they sat enjoying their meal together.

Dessert being served made both parties aware that the meal was drawing to a close. The conversation became slow and filled with awkward silences. They were both reluctant to leave the dinner table before the other, not wanting to seem too eager for what was to follow. Only when the servants arrived to take away the dishes did they stir from their seats. Elizabeth led the way upstairs, and Darcy followed closely behind, his heart racing with anticipation.

Upon reaching the door of Elizabeth's chamber, he requested, "My dearest Elizabeth, may I join you in half an hour? Is that enough time?"

A smile played on Elizabeth's lips as she turned to face her husband. "Half an hour should be more than enough time, my love," she replied, her voice soft and reassuring.

Darcy's cheeks flushed with excitement and gratitude. In this moment, he felt more blessed than ever and was eager for what was ahead. He placed a gentle kiss on his wife's forehead and then made his way to his chambers.

When Elizabeth shut the door behind her, Sarah was laying out a pale blue nightdress for her to wear. Sarah aided her in donning the delicate, nearly sheer garment.

"Sarah," Elizabeth said tentatively, "does it hurt as much as they say?"

Sarah, who had married Mr. Witting only the week before, considered before answering, "I didn't hurt much at all for me. Everyone said it would, but there was just a little blood is all. I think it depends on the person, perhaps."

Elizabeth nodded, grateful for Sarah's reassurance.

"The master loves you, Miss." Sarah caught her mistake and laughed, "I mean, Madam. I do not think you ought to worry overly much."

Elizabeth smiled upon hearing Sarah's kind words. She knew that Darcy loved her deeply, and she loved him in return. Shortly after, Sarah left with a small smile of reassurance.

Elizabeth's heart raced with excitement and nerves as she sat on the edge of the bed. When Elizabeth heard the knock on the door that adjoined the master's and mistress's chambers, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up. As she approached the door, she hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Her husband stood before her, dressed in a simple white nightshirt, his eyes betraying a hint of nervousness. Elizabeth felt a smile light up her face at the sight of him. "Good evening, William," she said softly, stepping aside to let him in.

Darcy walked into the room, closing the door behind him. His eyes wandered over his wife, filled with both wonder and desire, as he admired her beauty. "You look stunning, Elizabeth," he said, his voice low.

"Thank you," she replied, blushing at his words.

Darcy bridged the space and tenderly cupped Elizabeth's cheek. She melted into his touch, savouring the feeling of his warm palm against her skin and letting out a soft sigh. Their lips met, and at first, it was a gentle touch. But as the kiss deepened, Elizabeth's senses were overwhelmed by the taste of his lips and the scent of his cologne. The passion between them was undeniable, and as they broke apart, Elizabeth felt Darcy's strong arms wrap around her, holding her tightly.

"Are you ready, Elizabeth?" Darcy asked with a voice full of tenderness and concern.

As Elizabeth nodded in agreement, excitement and anticipation filled her heart.

"Just tell me if you need me to stop," he whispered, before leading her to the bed.