Chapter 7

As expected, Mrs. Bennet needed someone else to make the funeral arrangements, as she was usually indisposed. Mr. Darcy worked with Elizabeth's Uncle Phillips to get all the arrangements made properly. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley both served as pallbearers for Mr. Bennet's interment.

Mr. Darcy was finally able to get to the bottom of Mr. Bennet's demise. The apothecary postulated that it had been his heart that gave out. He was found in his bookroom, slumped over his desk with a book in one hand and a glass of port in the other, when Mr. Hill had not found him in his bedroom in the morning.

Mr. Collins was to return to Hunsford and with Mr. Collins' permission, Mr. Darcy took over the management of Longbourn. Lizzy helped him with many of the tasks that she had previously helped her Papa with. With her intimate knowledge of Longbourn and its tenants and with his knowledge of estate management and entail law, they were able to set aside a good amount of funds for his future mother-in-law and her daughters. He also was able to implement changes to the estate that would make it more profitable for Mr. Collins. His weekly letters to Hunsford pleased Mr. Collins enough that he was in no hurry to take over the management of his new estate. Having a free, and knowledgeable steward was more helpful than he could have ever imagined.

Mr. Darcy felt like he had won the battle, but the Victory parade was a long way off. Proper mourning rituals precluded any announcement of their engagement. He even convinced Mr. Collins to keep the knowledge of their engagement from his aunt, Lady Catherine as a stipulation of him tending to Longbourn during the family's mourning period. On one hand, he was happy that he did not have to face the ton, or his family, and he could enjoy his fiancee's attention without the whole world looking on. On the other hand he wanted to shout about his victory from the treetops.

He told Mr. Bingley, and his sister of course, and asked them to keep it to themselves until Elizabeth went into half mourning in three months. At that time, they could begin to plan their nuptials, but they would not be married until six months had elapsed and even then, the wedding would be small and simple. He could not be happier about that. He thought his Lizzy was happy about the smaller wedding too.

Since they were a house in mourning, very few neighbors came to call after the original calls of condolence. Although not entirely proper for a house in mourning, Mr. Bingley would often accompany Mr. Darcy when he called on his fiancee. Since, of course, they needed chaperones when they wandered the paths of Longbourn, his friend and her sister were happy to oblige. Both Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth noticed that their chaperones were rather lax in their duties; not that they minded a bit.

One afternoon during a leisurely stroll through the gardens, they found out that their chaperones needed chaperonage themselves. The two undeclared lovers sprang apart when they were discovered in a secluded part of the garden by the engaged couple. Mr. Bingley whispered something to Miss Bennet, kissed her hand that he was holding, then turned and headed off to the stables. Lizzy came up to her sister and waited for the explanation that was sure to come.

"He has gone off to see our uncle. He has asked for my hand, and I have said yes. We plan to marry once our mourning period is over." Lizzy was so happy for her sister. Later that day she asked Fitzwilliam what he thought of having a double wedding. He was pleased with the idea, so she spoke to her sister that evening.

Mr. Darcy had had their wedding articles drawn up by his solicitor in London and had Elizabeth's uncle, Mr. Phillips review and sign them. The older gentleman's eyebrows had shot up when he read the generous stipulations in the contract, but he said nothing. He was glad to know that his sister-in-law and nieces would be well taken care of.

The time until their wedding seemed to pass very slowly for the two couples. Once they were out of full mourning, they could finally begin planning their wedding in earnest. The first of June was to be the appointed day. They had to remind their mother that she would still be in half mourning for another six months and that it would be inappropriate to have as grand a celebration as she was vying for. Both sisters (and both grooms) preferred a small, quiet celebration.

Unfortunately Mr. Darcy needed to return to Pemberley to oversee the spring planting. He hoped to be gone only one month and would return a week before the wedding with his sister Georgiana and his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Bennet agreed that the couple could write to each other while they were separated. Although they were both enthusiastic correspondents, no letter could ever replace being in the same room with their beloved. Elizabeth kept these letters for the rest of her life.

When Mr. Darcy finally returned to Longbourn, Elizabeth was beside herself with joy. She could barely stand still while she waited for the carriage to stop. She forced herself to wait until her fiance had stepped down from the carriage and had turned to help his sister down. She followed all the proper protocols as she was introduced to Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. She attempted to pay attention to the conversations around her, but it was nearly impossible. She was very happy when her beloved managed to make it so they were the last two to enter the house. Just before they stepped inside, he turned to her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly on the lips. "I have been waiting a month to do that! I hope you can forgive me for my ungentlemanly actions."

"There is nothing to forgive sir. In fact, I think I would never forgive you if you had not behaved so. I have missed you terribly. Tell me that we will never have to spend a month apart ever again!"

Instead of answering her, he tipped her chin up with his fingertips and kissed her soundly again. "One week." was all he said. She was well satisfied with his answer.

That week was a mixture of too fast (too many decisions to argue over with her mother) and too slow (would the day ever come). She no longer cared what color the flowers were or what her mother wanted to serve at the wedding breakfast. She just wanted the wedding to be over and the marriage to commence.

Mr. Darcy tried his best to tolerate his soon to be mother-in-law. He knew that mopping up after a successful campaign took time, but his patience was wearing thin. Having his sister at Netherfield with him helped, but he still would not wait for all the fuss to be over and for him and his bride to quit the field of battle and retreat to some quiet country inn for a little rest and relaxation.