Author's note: thank you all for your feedback! I seriously appreciate it! The person who pointed out the grammatically errors - you're the real MVP! :D

One person pointed out that I forgot to go back and edit Georgiana's words. Ugh. So I usually write her sentences "normally," then go back and edit them by speaking them out loud. I completely forgot to do that this time because I was just so excited about having two chapters done, so I really appreciate you pointing that out. And as for mentioning that Louisa's baby wasn't mentioned in that chapter, that was actually on purpose. In this time period, it was actually pretty normal for women of higher class to not see their children very often. So if she was visiting with the other ladies, she wouldn't be being interrupted with her infant unless there was a problem.

As for the person who brought up the gender differences in the prayers, thank you! I was copying them over from The Book of Common Prayer so I wouldn't mess things up. I went back and thought I had switched out all of the "hes" for "hers" but I missed a few. So I will fix those.

Several people were concerned about the fact that the baptismal rites said "Catholick" instead of "Catholic" or even Anglican, Protestant, or whatever that particular commenter thought it should be. I also thought it was really interesting that it said "Catholick" instead of Anglican as well, especially because The Book of Common Prayer was compiled in 1549 under the reign of Edward VI and was therefore specifically for the Anglican Church, and not the Catholic Church.

So I did some digging, and it turns out that the phrase "Holy Catholick Church" did NOT refer to the Roman Catholic Church specifically, but in this time period actually meant the universal Christian church as a whole. The word "catholic" in this context was derived from the Greek word "katholikos," which means "universal" or "general." So the question "dost thou believe in… the holy Catholick Church?" basically is asking if you're a Christian.

The Book of Common Prayer is still used by Anglicans (and Episcopalians) today, but it has been revised over the centuries due to changes in language, theology, and worship practices. And interestingly enough, the wording has remained the same today. The Church of England still uses the phrase "the holy catholic Church" in the baptism service.

Chapter 35

The remaining two months of mourning that followed the Emma Jane's baptism and Louisa's churching seemed to drag on endlessly for Elizabeth. With Lydia's departure to a extremely strict boarding school in the remote north, as well as Kitty's removal to Brighton, Netherfield felt lonely and empty once again.

Although she was spending much of her days with Georgiana and Louisa - and of course, Emma Jane was learning new skills every day - Elizabeth still had quite a lot of time to yearn for Darcy's company and wish she could be in discussions with him.

As a result, she wrote long letters to him almost daily, filled with her innermost thoughts, childhood memories, and hopes for the future. His, in turn, introduced her to the new home they would share together.

During the day, she joined Georgiana in her lessons, helped Louisa with managing Netherfield, and played duets with both ladies on the pianoforte. It helped to fill the time and prepare her for the new role she was about to acquire.

After what seemed more like three decades than just three months, the day finally arrived that signaled the end of mourning for Jane's sisters. Darcy had sent word that he would arrive the day following, so Elizabeth carefully packed her the black-dyed garments into a trunk, hoping to not be forced to don them again for quite some time.

Then, on the day of Darcy's scheduled arrival, Elizabeth took special care to bathe and dress herself in the gown she had worn the morning he had asked him to marry her. It was a darker cream color that was light enough to reflect her status as a maiden, but dark enough to bring out her eyes in a way that she knew Darcy especially appreciated.

She set up her camp in the front drawing room, where she could watch the front drive through the window. Georgiana and Louisa took turns keeping her company throughout the day, but Mrs. Annesley and Mr. Hurst regularly came to remind them of their various responsibilities.

At last, Elizabeth heard horse hooves on the pebbles of the front drive.

He was here!

As the carriage crunched across the gravel of Netherfield Park, Mr. Darcy felt a knot of apprehension in his chest loosen at the sight of the familiar estate. It had been three long months at Pemberley, each day stretching longer than the last without Elizabeth's presence.

Now, as June's summer sun shone down on the trees, he returned to the place where his life changed - nay, where his life began again. For it was here at Netherfield that he was reborn; meeting Elizabeth had taught him that pure love and faithful devotion truly did exist in the world.

Stepping down from the carriage, he caught sight of her. Elizabeth stood at the entrance, and he smiled to see that she had discarded her mourning gown in favor of his favorite dress. The warmth of her smile reached her eyes, lighting them up in a way meant only for him.

"Mr. Darcy," she greeted formally, her lips curving slightly in a teasing manner.

"Miss Bennet," he replied, closing the distance between them with determined strides. "Elizabeth," he corrected himself, his voice softening. They were beyond formalities now.

He knew the servants were watching - and probably his sister as well - but he didn't care. Reaching out a hand, he gently stroked her face, then used his other arm to pull her against him. She gave a startled gasp, which he quickly stifled with his lips on hers.

She melted into his kiss, molding her body to fit his frame. Like a dying man in the desert, he drank greedily from her lips, relishing in the feel of once again touching her as he'd dreamed so many nights at Pemberley.

Gasping for breath, Elizabeth pulled away and gave a small laugh. "I was not sure how time at Pemberley would treat you," Elizabeth she said breathlessly, her dancing gaze holding his, "but I see it has not diminished your ardor."

He chuckled. "Nor could it; indeed, it has only grown stronger, fueled by the absence," He clasped both of her hands in his and said fervently, "Elizabeth, these months apart have been agonizing. Please promise me that we can be married soon. The banns were called here, were they not?"

Elizabeth's eyes shimmered with unshed tears - not of sorrow, but of relief. "Yes, and in Lambton as well?"

"Of course. I wouldn't let anything stand in our way."

"Then let us not delay," she replied with a decisive nod, her spirit bolstered by his resolve. "I am eager to see your fine home and extensive grounds. Georgiana tells me that you have not quite done justice to your library with your descriptions."

"Ah, I see. You think to marry me only so you can gain access to my wealth. You are quite the fortune-hunter, Miss Bennet."

She laughed. "Oh, Darcy, how I have missed you."

"And I have 'issed him, as vell! Come, Lizzy, you cannot keep 'y vrother all to yourself!"

Georgiana was standing in the doorway, arms crossed in mock indignation. Darcy and Elizabeth smiled at one another, then followed the young woman into the house, eager to begin the next phase in their relationship.

As it had only been two months since the last of the three banns had been read, Dr. Fields informed them they could marry at any time they wished. Due to the fact that it was violating propriety on all levels to have Darcy residing at Netherfield while Elizabeth was, Mr. Bennet paid a call the following day.

"I know, Lizzy, that you have always dreamed of a lavish wedding filled with lace and ribbons," Mr. Bennet said with a smirk, "but I believe it best to have you two married as quickly as possible. Were my other daughters not already married, I would insist you return to Longbourn so as not to bring our family into disgrace."

"Aren't you forgetting Lydia?" Elizabeth asked.

Mr. Bennet shrugged nonchalantly. "Lydia will mostly likely ruin herself. The headmistress of the school has written to inform me that Lydia has, for the third time, attempted to run away. No, I'm afraid you cannot do more to disgrace your youngest sister than she has done to herself."

Darcy frowned at this display of paternal negligence, but remained silent. Elizabeth sighed and said, "Papa, Lydia is quite brilliant, as you well know. Her skills at math are unparalleled; but you never took the trouble to check her as a child. Forgive me, but I must speak plainly. If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of personally involving yourself rather than passing her on to others, then she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment."

Her father opened his mouth to respond, but Elizabeth held up her hand. "No, I have said all that I must upon the subject. You now need only think on how much you are to blame, although I daresay it will pass soon enough. It always has."

Here Darcy interjected, eager to avoid a confrontation that could potentially derail their matrimonial plans. "Perhaps it's best we get back to discussing the wedding date? I think you made a very valid point, Mr. Bennet, in that it should happen sooner rather than later. Today is Wednesday, and as they say, Friday's child is loving and giving. What better day for a wedding, do you not think?"

Both Bennets seemed to be involved in a contest to see who would blink first, staring hard at one another. Mr. Bennet was the loser; he eyes darted away from Elizabeth's, and he said, "Friday will work. I shall leave it to you, Elizabeth, to inform your mother."

With that, he turned on his heel and marched from the room. Darcy gaped after him, then looked at Elizabeth in confusion. She shook her head. "Papa has always been this way: a stubborn man who wishes to be troubled as little as possible. I didn't always see it until Mama forced Jane to come here on horseback in the rain, and he let her do it because he wanted his peace. It is only luck that made it turn out as well as it did."

Darcy murmured something sympathetic, and she gave him a wan smile. "I still love him, but I am more mindful of the flaws in his character than I was before. I wish he would have taken the time to involve himself in our lives. He could have helped Mama learn about being a gentleman's wife instead of leaving her to figure things out on her own."

Shaking her head once again, she said, "Now, enough of that! There is much to be done if we are to be married in just two days!"

And indeed there was. Elizabeth had not even begun looking at wedding clothes, having been in mourning, but Louisa told her that she would much better purchase her trousseau in London so as to be in the latest style as befitting the wife of Mr. Darcy.

"But you should have a new dress made up here," Louisa said, "for your wedding day. The seamstress seemed quite competent when Georgiana and I were getting her fitted up. I'm sure they can get it made in a day, for the right price."

Louisa had no qualms about leaving her baby in the care of the wet-nurse and nursemaid for the day and escorting Elizabeth to the seamstresses's shop the following morning. Georgiana chose to remain at home and spend the day with her brother, as it would be the last time their family would be just the two of them. Once measurements had been taken and a beautiful length of silk had been chosen, Louisa then helped Elizabeth choose a matching bonnet, gloves, and shoes.

"Now, we need to talk about your nightdresses."

Elizabeth turned a brilliant shade of red, but Louisa refused to allow embarrassment to stand in their way. The married woman gave the seamstress several specific orders, then led an scarlet-faced Elizabeth back to the carriage.

"Trust me," Louisa assured her friend, "you'll thank me later. Now, let's go tell your mother that you're getting married tomorrow."

Elizabeth had been dreading this moment since her engagement. She knew that Mrs. Bennet would be ecstatic at having a son-in-law who was worth ten thousand pounds a year, but with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet still in mourning - as well as the bride and groom's personal preferences - having the wedding so soon would definitely cause a fuss.

In fact, Elizabeth had been avoiding her mother ever since Lydia was sent to school. It hadn't been difficult, as neither Netherfield nor Longbourn had been paying calls. Once Kitty had left for Brighton, the only time Elizabeth saw her mother was at church, and even then their interactions were rather brief.

It was therefore a considerable shock for Elizabeth to have her mother sit quietly on the chair without saying a word in response to the announcement. "Mama? Did you hear me? I said that Mr. Darcy and I are going to marry tomorrow morning. He arranged it with Dr. Fields and Papa yesterday."

"Yes, Lizzy, I heard you."

Mrs. Bennet continued to sit in silence, and Elizabeth exchanged a confused glance with Louisa. "Of course, I know this seems quite sudden, but the banns were called a few months ago. We weren't planning on anything large, since you and Papa are still in mourning."

"Of course," replied Mrs. Bennet quietly.

"Mama, are you… are you unwell?"

"Of course not. Why would you think that?" Mrs. Bennet's voice was sharper this time.

"Oh, no reason. I just thought… that is, I expected you would be happier for me, that's all."

"Of course I'm happy for another daughter to be married. Why wouldn't I be?"

Elizabeth and Louisa exchanged another concerned look, then Elizabeth said, "I'm glad to hear it. I will see you tomorrow, then? At the church?"

Mrs. Bennet merely nodded, and Elizabeth and Louisa stood to take their leave. As they walked towards the door, Elizabeth pulled Hill aside and asked, "Hill, what is wrong with my mother? She doesn't seem like herself."

Hill scowled slightly. "I think she done broke, Miss Lizzy. When Miss Lydia got sent away, she got real quiet-like. She doesn't hardly speak no more, 'specially now that there's no one to talk to. When she tries, the master just yells at her to shut her silly mouth."

Elizabeth pressed her lips together tightly. "I see. Thank you, Hill."

Once in the carriage, Elizabeth was free to express her feelings. "My poor mother! Granted, she's always been an embarrassment to me, and that entire debacle with Mr. Collins was beyond the pale, but she was always so happy! I may have wished for her to be more retiring or less effusive, but I never wished for her to be so repressed, so broken, so miserable. Not like this."

"If only there was something we could do. But I'm afraid your father was right in sending Lydia to school. And it's not like you can cancel your wedding in order to move back home and take care of your mother, now can you?"

"No, definitely not," Elizabeth agreed. "But surely I can do something. I'll just have to think on it."

"Do you think your father will become angry if you interfere?"

Shaking her head, Elizabeth said with a touch of bitterness, "No, as long as it doesn't interrupt his comfort, Papa lets his daughters do whatever they wish."

Fortunately, Elizabeth was not made for bitterness. She put her feelings to the side, resolving to deal with them another day, and focused on her wedding day.

This was it. She was finally marrying the man she loved more than any in the world.

The Meryton chapel stood bathed in the soft light of early morning, its stone walls adorned with clusters of wildflowers gathered from the surrounding countryside. Inside, Elizabeth stood at the modest altar, her heart fluttering nervously beneath the simple silk of her gown.

Mrs. Bennet hadn't made a peep about the lack of lace when she first saw Elizabeth, which caused some momentary alarm. But then Elizabeth saw Darcy, and all other thoughts fled her mind.

There were no grandiose displays or opulent decorations, only the hushed whispers of family and a few close friends gathered to bear witness to their union. Beside her, Darcy stood tall and resolute, his expression a mask of calm determination that belied the whirlwind of emotions churning within him.

There were no grandiose displays or opulent decorations, only the hushed whispers of family and a few close friends gathered to bear witness to their union. As the ceremony began, Dr. Fields's voice, steady and sure, guided them through the sacred rites of marriage, his words a solemn reminder of the commitment they were about to make.

Elizabeth's hands trembled slightly as she exchanged vows with Darcy, her voice soft yet unwavering as she pledged her love and loyalty to him for all eternity. Darcy's eyes never wavered from hers, his own vows a solemn promise to cherish and protect her for as long as he drew breath.

"With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship."

And then, in a moment that seemed to stretch on for eternity, they exchanged rings, the simple bands of gold a tangible symbol of their unbreakable bond. With a final blessing from Dr. Fields, they were pronounced husband and wife, their union sealed with a kiss that spoke volumes of the love and passion they shared.

"Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder."

Communion was blessed, and they both partook. Then it was over. Elizabeth signed her maiden name for the last time before she was escorted by her husband - her husband! - to the back of the church.

As they stepped out of the chapel into the bright sunlight, Elizabeth felt a sense of peace settle over her, a quiet certainty that she was exactly where she was meant to be. Hand in hand, she and Darcy faced the future together, ready to embark on the greatest adventure of all: a life filled with love, laughter, and the promise of endless possibilities.