Chapter 23

Lord Carlisle was buried three days later. The magistrate had ruled the death as accidental, after speaking with Dr. Thomas and the servants of the house. The dead man's wife had been in labour at the time, so he had settled the whole thing without speaking to her. He had heard rumours of Lord Carlisle's abuse of his wife, and his debauched lifestyle, and had to admit that such an ending was fitting for the man. And now there was another Lord Carlisle, his newborn son, delivered the morning after his father's death. The world really did turn in a complete circle. New life came just when death had lifted its hand.

Vincent's closest family members came for the funeral. Elizabeth was not surprised at the sparsity of guests. Despite Vincent's claims of a multitude of comrades, he had very few true friends. Not many people could put up with his truculent personality and vicious propensities.

Elizabeth and Darcy had planned their wedding for exactly one year from now. Elizabeth would stay at Campton Manor with Ethan, and Darcy would return to Pemberley. They agreed that, as difficult as it would be, they must not continue their affair. They needed to wait until they married. It would be dangerous to cause any more gossip.

Vincent's maternal uncle, who was set to be Ethan's trustee until he came of age according to Vincent's will, was relieved that he would be excused the duty when Elizabeth married Darcy. He had had a conference with his niece-in-law's fiancé, and had been impressed by Darcy, gladly turning Ethan's care over to him. He was a little shocked that Elizabeth already planning a wedding so soon after her husband's death, but he had to admit that he could not blame her. Even he knew that Vincent had been a cad. Indeed, his family knew him better than anyone.

Elizabeth had named Freddie and Rosamond Landsdowne and Vincent's uncle as Ethan's godparents. Now that Vincent was gone, Elizabeth had freedoms that she had not known for a year and a half. She and Darcy had decided to marry from Campton Manor, and so, once her year of mourning was over, Elizabeth wrote to the Gardiners and the Bennets to invite them to the wedding.

After her husband's death, Elizabeth had decided to let go of her grudge against her father. After all, Mr. Bennet would not live forever, and Elizabeth did not want him to die still estranged from her. Ever since he had heard of her pregnancy, he had written to her several times, asking for her forgiveness. Elizabeth decided now to give it. After all, if Elizabeth had not been forced to marry Vincent, she never would have met Darcy, and achieved the happiness she now had.

So she had invited the entire Bennet family to her wedding, asking Jane to stand up with her as her maid of honour. Darcy had asked Mr. Bingley to stand up with him as his best man. Elizabeth had always liked the cheerful man, despite his sisters, and was glad to greet him again in happier circumstances.

Caroline Bingley, who also attended the wedding, was a very unhappy woman, however. It seemed that her plan had backfired spectacularly. Instead of Lord Carlisle getting revenge on his wife and sending Darcy fleeing back to London, he had died in a drunken accident, and now Darcy was marrying Caroline's mortal enemy. On top of that, Charles had declared that he would wait no longer, and was going to release her dowry to her so that she could set up her own establishment. It looked now like she would never marry. Caroline could barely summon a sour smile during the service.

Campton Manor house was full of guests who had arrived a few days ago for the wedding. Darcy's relations, the Matlocks, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Viscount Sterling had all come in order to support Darcy. His other aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, had sent increasingly vituperative letters to Darcy, demanding that he marry his cousin Anne, but Darcy had ignored them. He had waited a long time to marry Elizabeth, and nothing would mar his joy. His de Bourgh relations had therefore not come to the wedding, but he could not repine that.

Georgiana had been ecstatic when she heard that her brother was to marry Elizabeth. She had embraced Elizabeth with tears in her eyes when she arrived for the wedding, telling her how happy she was to have her for a sister at last.

"I could tell that Fitzwilliam was fond of you, even in London," she admitted, making Elizabeth blush. "I thought it such a shame that you were already married."

"Now I shall be your sister in truth," said Elizabeth, "and we shall be a family, never to be parted again."

Now Elizabeth stood with her mother and sisters in her bedchamber, putting the finishing touches on her attire. She had been able to choose her own wedding gown this time, and it suited her perfectly. It was a light blue muslin with white trim, embroidered with tiny flowers.

"I wish you could have come to my wedding, Lizzy," said Mary, "but Samuel and I are glad to be here at yours. You look lovely."

"Indeed, you do," agreed Jane.

Elizabeth had lost all of the baby weight, so she was back to her slim self. She knew Darcy found her beautiful, and that was all that mattered. She could not wait for their wedding night. It had been a very long year, of many letters passed back and forth, of what seemed endless waiting. At least she had had the freedom to invite her sisters and aunt and uncle to visit her in Gloucestershire to pass the long months.

"Yes, and now that you are going to marry another rich man, you can finally bring your sisters out in society," said Mrs. Bennet in her strident voice.

"We will, Mama," Lizzy assured her with a beleaguered sigh. This was perhaps the twentieth time Mrs. Bennet had mentioned it since she arrived. Elizabeth did have to admit that Kitty and Lydia were surprisingly well-mannered, making no vulgar or silly scenes. Mary was already happily settled, but Darcy had agreed that they could bring Jane out into society, and then Kitty and Lydia once they were old enough.

Elizabeth was not sure that they would even need to bring Jane out, however. She had noticed how Jane and Mr. Bingley had reacted to each other from their first meeting a few days ago, and felt that they would be perfect together. Now she just had to leave it to the two of them to discover it for themselves. She would have to make sure Jane was invited to Pemberley at the same time as Mr. Bingley soon. She was not above a bit of matchmaking.

First, however, they were going to journey straight to Pemberley after the wedding. Elizabeth did not want to take a wedding trip. She preferred to travel directly to her new home with their son. Campton Manor and the Carlisle townhouse as well as Netherfield belonged to Ethan in trust, but he would be raised at Pemberley, by his true father, even if no one knew the truth of it.

She felt rather sad that Ethan would never know that Darcy was his natural father; but to tell him the truth was impossible. She did not want her son to think less of her or of Darcy. At least Darcy would raise him as his own. He would be Ethan's papa in every way that mattered, at least in the child's point of view.

When Elizabeth left her room, the Bennet ladies departed for the church, while Mr. Bennet waited to escort his favourite daughter. He had tears in his eyes.

"You look lovely, Lizzy," he said.

"Thank you, Papa."

"I do not know how you can ever forgive me. My brother Gardiner told me the truth of your marriage, and I never meant to make you so miserable. I have regretted it ever since you and Carlisle drove away after the wedding."

"Let us speak of it no more," said Elizabeth. "All that matters is that I am happy now."

Mr. Bennet smiled then, and led her to the church.

Darcy stood at the front of the church, waiting for his bride. He was nervous and excited and happy all at once. Colonel Fitzwilliam had clapped him on the back when he had arrived.

"I knew you were in love with Lady Carlisle," he said smugly. "And now I am proven right, even if you would not admit it."

Darcy could not help smiling. "You were right," he agreed.

Now he watched Elizabeth approach on her father's arm, dressed in a lovely light blue muslin gown, carrying a bouquet of lilies of the valley. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And now, she was his.

The last year had been long and torturous. He had not even had the comfort of being in Elizabeth's physical presence, nor in observing his son's first year of life. He had felt the pain bitterly, and he had counted down the weeks until the wedding.

They stood hand in hand and recited their vows, and Darcy could tell by the look in Elizabeth's eyes that she meant every word. He could recall her saying that she had not meant the vows when she spoke them to Carlisle. He knew she meant them now. All the past sorrow of her life was over. He would make sure she was happy the rest of her days.

The wedding breakfast passed slowly for Darcy. He was glad to greet his family and Elizabeth's, but he wanted to be on the road to Pemberley. He watched as Rosamond Landsdowne hugged Elizabeth, and smiled to think that they had such friends.

When it was finally time to leave, Georgiana got into the carriage with Darcy, Elizabeth, and Ethan. Ethan's nurse and the servants would follow in another carriage with the baggage. Elizabeth had been delighted to see Georgiana again, and so Darcy decided to bring his sister to Pemberley with them, rather than staying with relatives for a time.

It was a two-day journey to Pemberley, so they would have to stop at an inn for the night. But Darcy did not mind having his wedding night at an inn. Elizabeth had entered their chamber wearing a translucent nightgown made of silk, and showing more than it hid. It had made him hard just looking at her. "I want you to make love to me, as my husband."

"I would be happy to do so, my love," he replied.

His valet had already dressed him in his nightshirt, so he quickly pulled it off and drew Elizabeth into his arms. "As much as I love this gown, it needs to come off," he said, and she laughed.

Drawing it over her head, she lay down on the bed, waiting for his inspection.

"You have never looked more beautiful to me, my love," he said, "now that you are my wife, mine by law and in our hearts."

She beamed up at him. "Then come, make love to your wife," she said.

He got into the bed next to her, and took her into his arms, kissing her with all the passion he had had bottled up for the last year. Elizabeth responded with abandon, and soon they were both panting, touching each other eagerly. Elizabeth moved onto her back and brought Darcy on top of her.

"Now, make love to your wife."

He entered her slowly, inch by inch, watching her face. She moaned in pleasure. She looked back at him, and found that they both had tears in her eyes. "It is so wonderful to know that you can love me as my husband," she said.

"It is, indeed. At last we are together, my love," said Darcy, starting to thrust.

He made love to her tenderly, and they both felt the emotion and significance of the moment. They climaxed with cries of pleasure, Darcy's warm seed filling her. He then relaxed on top of her, and she held him close. "That was wonderful, husband," she said, her voice clogged with happy tears.

"I am glad I pleased you, wife," he returned, bringing his mouth to hers for a soft kiss. Then he rolled off her and held her in his arms. Tired from an early morning and a day of travel, they both drifted off to sleep.