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T he wedding day dawned clear and cold—not a cloud in the sky and with a touch of new frost on the ground.

“I think half the town is out there,” Sheriff Fitzwilliam said, shutting the door to the minister’s office behind him. “And you can thank Charlotte Lucas for that.”

“How so?” Darcy asked.

“I believe she might be the person most responsible for spreading your happy news around the county. Says she saw your interest in the young lady as far back as last September.”

Darcy scoffed.

“Now, you keep in mind what I told you.” The sheriff put a hand on Darcy’s shoulder.

The bridegroom narrowed his eyes at his friend in an expression that was part embarrassment, part exasperation.

Fitzwilliam ignored the scowl and continued. “A good husband should start as he means to go on—with patience and kindness.”

“We’ve had this discussion. You’re beginning to sound like an overprotective mother.”

“Overprotective mothers have good instincts.” He gave Darcy’s arm a solid cuff. “You lived a long time as a bachelor. Life is about to change.”

“I know that. I’m counting on it, truth be told.”

“I bet.” The sheriff’s lips twitched in amusement.

“But it’s just a minor adjustment. Life will return to normal in a couple of weeks. People have been getting married for generations. It’s nothing new.”

“No, but it’s new for you. And it’s sudden.”

Darcy turned to the mirror and adjusted his tie, one more time. “You don’t approve.” It wasn’t a question.

“I don’t not approve. Miss Bennet seems a fine young woman.”

“She is. I have thought this through, you know. My family is happy about the marriage. Georgiana and the girls are quite ready for Elizabeth to live with us at Pemberley.”

“Any concerns I might have are actually for you , not your sister and her daughters. For you”—he repeated—“and for Miss Bennet.”

“Miss Bennet knows what she is getting into.”

“No one really knows what they’re getting into when they marry,” Fitzwilliam said to himself.

"Besides”—Darcy turned around, his most imperious look front and center—“this is the best possible outcome for Elizabeth. She’ll have a home, a family that cares for her—”

“She has those things now.”

“She doesn’t have security. I can give her that.”

“And what will she give you in return?”

Darcy was silent.

“Besides that,” Fitzwilliam said with a quick grin, earning a glare from the bridegroom.

“Show some respect.”

“I have nothing but respect for the lady. She could, perhaps, be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.” He paused. “If you will let her be.” He plucked the platinum wedding band out of its box and held it up, inspecting it. “You aren’t alone anymore. You have a partner now.”

“I know that. It was the whole purpose behind getting married.”

The sheriff sighed and shook his head, but then he changed the subject.

“Caroline Bingley is dressed like she’s in mourning.”

“I don’t care one whit how anyone out there is dressed. Not even Elizabeth. Much to her mother’s chagrin.”

The sound of the organ filtered through the office walls, and the minister poked his head in.

“It’s time.” Reverend Adams opened the door wider, and the music grew louder. “Are you nervous, Mr. Darcy?”

“Not one damn bit.”

Both the minister and the sheriff looked at him, startled.

“Apologies, Reverend,” Darcy said, his cheeks coloring. “Maybe I’m a little more antsy than I thought.”

“Understandable. Shall we go face the music?” The reverend chuckled at his own joke.

With the bridegroom sandwiched between the minister and the best man, the three walked down the hall and into the side door of the sanctuary, assuming their positions at the front of the church.

Waiting.

In the quiet Sunday School room off the main hall at Harvey’s Ridge Methodist Church, Georgiana put the finishing touches on her soon-to-be sister’s hair, using hairpins to secure her mother’s lace veil.

Elizabeth stood, head obediently bent, marveling at how swiftly her life had changed.

Right after her engagement, she found herself experiencing several fits of nerves that rivaled her mother’s.

But as the day of her marriage drew closer, she grew more and more reconciled to her decision to marry Mr. Darcy.

Their families and the community at large considered them a typical engaged couple.

His intense gazes and courtly manners—and her friendly compliance—gave the world the illusion of two happy people in love.

Generally, people wished them well, although Elizabeth heard from Lydia how several young women suggested Elizabeth was luckier than she probably deserved.

Georgiana stepped back and directed Elizabeth’s attention to the mirror they had propped against the wall.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“It’s lovely, Georgiana. Thank you so much for finding it.”

“You have Mrs. Reynolds to thank. She was the one who found it, stored away at Pemberley. I’m just glad it was still in good condition.”

“It’s my ‘something borrowed.’ The dress is ‘new,’ thanks to Uncle Ed and Aunt Madeline.”

“What’s ‘old’?”

“My stockings.”

Georgiana looked her over. “And what’s ‘blue’?”

Elizabeth smiled. “Kitty gave me one of her hair ribbons. It was quite a sacrifice for her. She loves hair ribbons and hasn’t had a new one in quite a while. Jane trimmed my underskirt with it.”

Georgiana reached into her handbag on the table. “I brought a gift for you too.”

“Aww. You didn’t have to get me a gift.”

“I wanted to get you something nice for your wedding, but this gift has a story as well.”

Intrigued, Elizabeth opened the pale green box tied with white ribbon. “It’s perfume, isn’t it?” She lifted the dainty engraved bottle out of its silk-lined package.

Georgiana nodded, her eyes shining.

Elizabeth dabbed some behind her ear and on her wrists, sniffing delicately.“Oh, it smells wonderful! You must tell me the story behind it.”

“Well, my brother came to see me once when I was at boarding school. I was often lonely there, and I guess William wanted to cheer me up, so he took me shopping in Nashville—that’s where my school was.One of the places I wanted to go was a little perfume shop that mixed custom fragrances.”

Elizabeth stifled a giggle, and Georgiana looked at her, a questioning expression in her eyes.

“I’m having trouble imagining your brother in a perfume store.”

Georgiana’s face broke into a smile. “Yes, it does seem out of character, doesn’t it? But I wanted to go, so he took me.

“I was trying the different scents and after I smelled each one, I asked him what he thought. When I came to this one—it’s infused with jasmine by the way—and asked him about it, he hesitated, with this distracted look on his face.

“So, I asked him again, ‘William, how about that one?’ He shook his head and said, ‘No. It’s very nice but not for sisters.’ I said, ‘For who then?’ He just smiled and said, ‘I don’t know yet, but I’ll let you know when I find her.’

“So, I think this scent must belong to you. He’s quite smitten with you, and I’m glad to see it. I didn’t think I would ever see him really happy again.”

Elizabeth was incredulous.The thought of her austere husband-to-be even thinking about something as frivolous as women’s perfume was unimaginable. “Thank you, Georgiana. How on earth did you ever find it again?”

“I wrote to the shop and ordered it, of course.Richard Fitzwilliam went down there and picked it up for me.”

“Sheriff Fitzwilliam?”

“Yes, we were talking about wedding gifts and I mentioned to him that I wasn’t sure I would be able to get it here in time, so he offered.Wasn’t that nice?”

“He must think a lot of you to go that far for a gift.”

Georgiana looked away, her expression somber. “He thinks a lot of William. They’ve been good friends for many years.”

“Oh.”

Her mother plowed through the door with her other daughters trailing behind her.

“Oh, my nerves! I don’t know how I will ever get through this day.

We found Jane’s tortoise shell hair comb.

Poor dear had dropped it right outside the car door.

It’s a wonder someone didn’t step on it!

Are you ready, Lizzy? Your hair looks very nice, by the way.

You’ll never be as beautiful as Jane, but every bride shines on her wedding day. ”

“Why, thank you, Mama. Such high praise!”

“You’re welcome,” her mother said, turning Mary around and smoothing a wrinkle out of the back of her skirt. “Well, we’ll head out to the foyer and wait to be escorted to our seats. Miss Darcy, are you coming too?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Georgiana pressed Elizabeth’s hand with an encouraging smile and quietly exited the room.

Her mother gave Elizabeth one last appraising look. “All right then.Jane, you stay here with Lizzy. Your father will come get you when it’s time.” She bustled out, herding the other girls in front of her.

Elizabeth sighed.

Jane looked concerned. “Lizzy?”

“Yes, I’m fine, to answer the question I know you want to ask.”

Jane reached over and squeezed her hand. “Honey, your hands are like ice. You’re nervous, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but I’m ready.”

Her father stuck his head in the door and smiled at them. “If you’re sure you don’t want to slip out the back door, then it’s time to go.”

Elizabeth drew in a deep breath and headed out to face her destiny.

When asked later, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy would say she remembered very little about her wedding day.

She recalled her mother telling her how pretty her hair looked for a change.

Her sister Jane told her how beautiful her dress was.

Her father teased her that he had to cover her hand with his own to keep hers from shaking when she walked down the aisle.

But of the actual ceremony itself, she had only an impression, an image.

It was the sight of her soon-to-be husband standing at the front of the church, hands clasped in front him, his dark-eyed gaze spearing her from across the room.

His lips curved ever so slightly into a barely perceptible smile.

In that moment, he was larger than life, and her feet propelled her toward him involuntarily.

When she reached the altar, her father leaned over, kissed her cheek, and put her hand in William’s.

His large hand enveloped hers, and she could hardly concentrate on her vows because he kept rubbing slow, rhythmic circles on the back of it.

Somehow, the words were uttered, the promises made, and next thing she knew, she was being kissed as carefully and tenderly as if she were a delicate china cup.

He led her back up the aisle and pushed open the door of the sanctuary, ushering her into the blinding winter sunlight.