Chapter 17

The rest of the party departed from Pemberley for London only a few days later. With August coming to an end and the wedding to take place in a little over a month, they spent much of the journey discussing the plans that had already been made and what was left to do.

Upon their return, Elizabeth was introduced to the staff at Darcy House as its future mistress and began planning any changes to her suite that would need to be done before the wedding. The mistress's chambers had not been occupied in many years, so the rooms would need to be cleaned and aired and the bedding changed, along with the curtains. The furniture appeared to be in good shape, and only a few items needed to be changed out based on Elizabeth's preferences.

Elizabeth spent nearly a full day going through Uncle Gardiner's warehouses along with her aunt and Darcy's to select fabrics for the curtains and the bedding in her rooms, along with many other fabrics for dresses that still needed to be created. Elizabeth's dress for the wedding was nearly done—a note from the modiste was delivered on the very day of their arrival from Pemberley requesting Elizabeth come to try on the dress and ensure that all was as it should be. This, along with the rest of her trousseau, had required Elizabeth spend two full days at the modiste being poked and prodded. The end result was quite a few dresses that Elizabeth truly did like, though she hoped she would not have to endure such an event again.

A fortnight after their return to London, Elizabeth had a rare day at home to rest. Her uncle was at his office and Mrs. Gardiner needed to visit several friends she had been neglecting since her return. Elizabeth was not needed to accompany her on this trip and the children were occupied with their nurses and governess.

She sat in a sitting room in the back of the house, reading and waiting for her intended. Darcy would call on her early that afternoon, for he had business with his solicitor that occupied him in the morning.

When the post arrived, the butler brought it directly to her since she was the only one at home. Upon sorting through it, she noted that there was a letter for her, addressed in a somewhat familiar hand. There was another letter for her uncle, though she laid it aside, and stared at the one addressed to her.

"Take these to my uncle, please, but please ensure he sees the one on top. Ask him to come to me when he has read it, or to send for me to come to him, if you will," Elizabeth requested, still staring at her own letter, uncertain and a little worried about what it might contain.

She had not heard from her father in several years. Her mother had never written, though that was of little surprise to her. She had not heard from Jane nor her father after Jane's visit to London several summers before, though she did still keep in touch with her other friends from Hertfordshire. She had only told Charlotte of her coming marriage, and had apologised for not being able to invite her. However, she wondered if somehow, her father knew of it. It seemed odd, and not a little concerning that her father would write to her so close to the wedding date.

Elizabeth knew newspapers rarely printed engagement announcements, and though the connection between Elizabeth and Darcy had been speculated about in the gossip columns since they first met again at her debut, little had been written that overtly mentioned the engagement. She knew this in part because of the letters Darcy received from his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, complaining about the frequent mention of him in company with 'some tart' as she called Elizabeth, though she did not know who the lady was. Despite the confrontation at Pemberley shortly after George Darcy's death, Lady Catherine still attempted to claim Darcy was engaged to his daughter, but all the family merely rolled their eyes at her insinuations before correcting her, yet again.

Slowly, she opened the letter. It contained no greeting, only a few words:

Elizabeth, it is time for you to return home to your family. We expect you to arrive no later than Michaelmas. Sincerely, Thomas Bennet

Darcy was announced into the room only moments later. He must have seen some of what she was feeling in her face, for the greeting seemed to die on his lips and he immediately strode in her direction.

"Fitzwilliam," she breathed, her voice tremulous as she saw her intended standing in front of her.

Immediately, Darcy moved to Elizabeth's side, his worry mounting when he noticed the tracks of the tears on her dear face. Upon realising they were alone, he knew whatever it was must be serious. Quickly, he took the seat beside her, capturing her hand with his own and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "What is it, my darling Elizabeth? What is wrong?" It was then he noticed the letter in her hand. She held it warily, and barely looked from it.

"You have a knack, sir, for arriving at precisely the moment when you are most needed." Elizabeth breathed, causing Darcy to move his arm around her waist to provide comfort.

"May I?" he asked gently as he nodded toward the letter.

Elizabeth only nodded, extending her hand so he could take the piece of paper from her hand. He took it from her, but before he read it, he pressed a light kiss to her cheek. "Whatever it is, we will face it together, my love," he whispered, squeezing her waist slightly as he looked down at the piece of paper now in his own hand. It did not take him long to read the message it contained, and he frowned down at it.

"William," she repeated, sighing heavily as she leaned into him. "My ... my uncle received a letter as well. I assume it also demands my presence at home within the next fortnight. My letter seems to imply I am expected to remain there."

His hands clutched hers firmly. "Will you go? Will you do as your father commands? He has not been much of a father to you in recent years; did not Gardiner say he had practically disowned you?"

Elizabeth scoffed. "There is no 'practically' to it. He told my uncle to take me and never bring me back. Not only that, but when my uncle demanded he sign my guardianship over to him, he agreed without question and told my uncle that I was no longer his daughter or his concern. I have no reason to return, yet ..."

Darcy worried what that "yet" might mean. His mind was already racing for a solution, for a way to protect Elizabeth from her family, should she need it, and also to ensure nothing delayed the wedding. They were scheduled to marry in just over a fortnight; in truth, their banns had already been called both in Derbyshire and in London. There was nothing to prevent their marriage from taking place.

Legally, her father had the right to rescind the authority he had given her uncle to act as her guardian. It did not matter what documents he may have signed, there was little to prevent him from demanding that his daughter come home if he wished it. Of course, Elizabeth could refuse to travel on her own, but if Thomas Bennet were to come to London and force her to return with him, her uncle would not be able to prevent it. However, there were other ways …

Her words interrupted his thoughts. "A significant part of me does not want to go. Thomas Bennet ignored me for more than eight years, ever since he sent me to live here. Uncle made him sign a document surrendering all rights to me, giving me to the Gardiners permanently. While he should not have the right to demand my presence, I know that is not the case. A daughter is the property of a father, just like legally, a wife is the property of a husband. Women have few rights on their own. Regardless, a small part of me feels I ought to go. If there is a possibility of being restored to my father and sisters, I ought to take it, should I not? I have not spoken to them in so long that I cannot understand this sudden demand for me to return now."

Darcy pulled him toward her and embraced her, drawing her to his chest. They both remained silent for several moments, both lost in contemplation. "You have a fortnight before you are expected?" he asked again quietly.

She sniffed. "Yes. I hope that he wants to apologise and restore the relationship, but I cannot help but shake this niggling feeling that it is for another reason. I am concerned he has somehow learned of our engagement and may intend to interfere with or prevent our wedding. I should not think such things, but still ..."

"I have an idea," he murmured, lifting her chin so he could look her in the eyes. "The banns have been read. Your father's summons is a valid reason to move our wedding date forward; we can simply marry on Monday. Then, after a week of honeymooning," he gave her a lascivious grin that made her giggle, "we can go together to Meryton. Perhaps there is a small house there we could lease for a month, longer if we decide to remain. We would be under no obligation to anyone if we did that, and might visit your family and any friends who still remain in the area."

Elizabeth leaned back and gave him a teasing grin. "And if we are already wed when we arrive, Mrs. Bennet, cannot attempt to claim you for Jane. She always preferred my elder sister to me, and were we to arrive unwed, she would try to steal you from me for her 'beautiful' daughter."

Darcy shook his head, smiling tenderly. "I do not think I have ever told you, but you stole my heart nearly from our first meeting, my dear girl. I was intrigued by you the moment I first spoke to you, and I have appreciated your friendship in the years following my father's death. You were young when we first met and became friends that first summer. Then, when I saw you again this Easter, well, I knew you owned my heart for certain then."

"You had mine far longer," she whispered. "You stole my heart when you first rescued me as a girl and you never surrendered it. I was worried you would find someone else and was stunned when you began to court me in earnest this spring. Perhaps I did not quite recognise my feelings for what they were back then, but I thought of you so often in the years we were apart."

"Did you know my father approved of you as my wife? It was not long before he died, and although you were only fourteen at the time, he told me I should consider you when it came time for me to marry. He remembered how you visited the tenants at Pemberley with Mrs. Reynolds during that visit and how interested you were in reading and learning. You were quite forceful in expressing your opinions and debated with me frequently. It was at his recommendation that the Gardiners sent you to school; did you know that? I remember laughing at my father when he said it, but after I saw you as a woman instead of the girl you had been, I was inordinately pleased to recall his words to me."

Elizabeth laughed again. "Four years has also made quite a difference in you, Fitzwilliam. You have changed a great deal as well."

He shook his head, smiling fondly. "Are you concerned about marrying such an old man?"

Smiling lovingly at him, she shook her head and reached up to caress his face. "You are hardly old, sir, at twenty-four, but you are far more serious than the twenty-year-old I first met. I am thankful that I knew you before you became the Master of Pemberley, since I sometimes think you would not have found it as easy to fall in love with me had we met now. I know how much these last years have affected you."

"It would have been far worse had I not had your friendship and that of the Gardiners. Bingley has been a friend, but you and the Gardiners have done far more to help me feel comfortable in my new role. You recognised that large groups of people made me uncomfortable and did not force me into company as he so frequently did. Georgiana benefited from your friendship and I benefited from their advice in raising a much younger sister. I would have been a very different man."

Elizabeth leaned her head against his shoulder. They had had this same conversation numerous times, but at this moment, it reassured her. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her more tightly to him. They remained in this attitude for some minutes. Eventually, he let out a sigh and spoke again. "We have drifted from the primary concern, my dear. What do you say to getting married on Monday? That way, when you return to Hertfordshire, it will be as my wife. Your father will no longer be able to command you, but you will still honour his request to visit."

Elizabeth thought for a moment as she firmed her resolve. "My father has chosen to have little to do with me for the last eight years and, before that, refused to prevent his wife from abusing me. My Uncle Gardiner is more of a father to me than he has been, and that is the relationship I choose to honour. Yes, we will marry on Monday, but then I will allow you to decide if we should venture into Hertfordshire and for how long. My father does not have the right to object to our marriage now and should not be permitted to interfere with it in any way."

For a moment, Darcy also wondered if the Bennets had somehow learned of Elizabeth's pending nuptials and resolved to go to the Gardiners' church and his own as soon as possible. It was unlikely, but he wanted to ensure Mr. Bennet had not sent a letter objecting to the match if he had somehow learnt of it. Mr. Gardiner did have a written document giving him guardianship of Elizabeth and had provided for her for most of the last decade. Her father's lack of involvement in her life should prevent him from interfering, but he wanted to be certain.

"What will your uncle say about this letter?" Darcy asked after they had been silent for several more minutes.

"I believe they will agree with your suggestion of moving the date forward. This way, if I must face my father, I will do so with you at my side. As my husband, you will have the right to speak for me, and my father cannot demand that you return me. The settlement has been signed, and all the legalities have been arranged."

Darcy nodded. "They have been generous in giving us so much time to talk privately. Should we call them in so we can share our plans?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "My uncle should arrive home soon. But for right now, William, we are quite alone. Kiss me," she whispered. "Remind me of your love."

He could not deny her request. He stood, pulling her along with him, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Hers immediately went around his neck, and her fingers toyed with his hair at his nape. For several moments, they merely stared into each other's eyes. "I love you, Elizabeth. I will always love you, and I will not allow anyone to separate us," he whispered, then lowered his lips to hers.

Lightning seemed to shoot through them both, and the kiss lasted several minutes. They had never kissed like this before, and it felt … wonderful. Finally, panting and breathless, they broke apart. Darcy rested his forehead on Elizabeth's as he sought to catch his breath. "I am glad we will not wait, my darling girl. Monday, it seems, cannot come soon enough. Come, let us find your relations before I embarrass myself or thoroughly ruin you."

"Mmm," was all Elizabeth could manage. "Yes, Monday seems very far away."

He laughed lightly, dropping a kiss on her nose before separating from her more fully. "I … I need a moment, my darling. Can … will you go find out if your uncle is home and ask him to come here if he is? Slowly?"

Elizabeth's eyes dropped to his waist and slightly below. Her cheeks coloured when she saw the distension in his breeches. She and her aunt had discussed such things before, and Elizabeth knew in general terms what to expect from the marital bed. On occasion, she had felt this … hardness … against her belly when they kissed, but this was the first time she had seen evidence of it. Instead of frightening her, it only made her look more forward to their wedding and all that would follow.

Darcy caught her gaze as she stood transfixed. "Elizabeth," he groaned, "you must go. Staring at it like that, with that look in your eye, does not help it go away." He nearly laughed as he watched the flush, which had started to fade, begin to deepen at once. He noted that it encompassed not only her cheeks but also her chest and decolletage. That image did not help his condition in the least. "Go, Elizabeth," he commanded.

With a giggle, she flashed him an impertinent smile and hastily departed the room.

Author's Note: We have finally arrived at the summons and ODC have a plan to circumvent any plans the Bennets may have made. Please forgive the bit of ribald humour here at the end; if it offends, as Shakespeare suggested through Puck, pretend it was all a dream. : )