Page 43 of An Offer of Marriage (Engaged to Mr Darcy #7)
A BEGINNING IS MADE
E lizabeth was due to present herself at Longbourn very early the next morning to aid in the preparations and, she imagined, help her mother remain calm.
Mrs Bennet had very nearly driven Elizabeth to distraction in the days prior to her own wedding; she could only imagine what she might do to poor Jane who was much less adept at ignoring her mother’s fretting.
Beauregard had awoken her and then discreetly disappeared into the dressing room while Elizabeth extracted herself from the covers.
She was dressed and coiffed and shod in due time and then returned to the bedchamber to retrieve her shawl.
Darcy, also somehow fully dressed, sat awaiting her on the edge of the bed.
“Oh!” She gasped and then laughed. “Forgive me.”
He smiled, still a little sleepily. “Did you forget I was in here?”
“No, but how did you manage to be dressed? ”
He gave a dismissive little wave. “Fields has his ways. I thought you might like me to accompany you to Longbourn.”
“You need not,” she assured him. “I mean to walk, and a morning of ladies’ fripperies and the like is not likely to divert you.”
“I will have the carriage come for me after I see you safely to the door,” he said. “I have some small gifts for your mother and father that I should like to bring to them.”
“Gifts?” She stared at him. “You brought them gifts?”
He winced. “Well…I cannot wholly take the credit. I sent Beauregard to purchase something for your mother—she found a wonderful pair of very soft gloves with pearl buttons—but I did select two books for your father on my own.”
“They will be delighted, I am sure.” Warmth spread into Elizabeth’s chest. “Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.” He shook his head. “Do you have any objection to having me attend you?”
“None at all.”
They set out into the coolness of a summer morn that promised lovely times ahead.
For long moments, neither of them said anything that did not pertain to the path they trod or the day itself.
Elizabeth, however, had a great deal she wished to ask him.
Why he had said he still loved her, for example, and whether it proceeded from truth or a strange inclination which had since passed.
Why he seemed so altered of late and whether he remained angry with her.
Whether he was willing to hear her apology and perhaps even forgive her.
There was so much that needed saying, one hardly knew where to begin, or when.
She thought she might safely conclude that he was not wishing to cast her off, or anything of that sort, but was still uncertain of what response she might receive and so kept silent.
After the wedding , she repeated silently.
For now, we should just enjoy the day and put aside our own cares.
They arrived to find Longbourn still at breakfast, and Bingley with them.
He was seated next to Jane, who was pale and anxious-looking, pushing a spoon around in a bowl of porridge.
There was an empty seat beside her sister; surprisingly, it was Darcy who took it, leaving her the chair beside her father.
She chatted amiably to her father while keeping one eye on Darcy and Jane. She knew not what they spoke of, for their voices were low—in contrast to Kitty’s and Lydia’s voices which were very loud—but she did notice both Jane and Bingley becoming a bit easier.
“I understand that young Bingley has made a purchase offer for a house in Derbyshire,” said Mr Bennet towards the end of the meal.
“Not just yet. I believe he is only going to look at the place,” Elizabeth said.
“No, no, my understanding is that the offer has been made. Is that not so, sir?” Mr Bennet called down the table.As there were relatively few sirs in the house, both Darcy and Bingley looked at him.
“I told Elizabeth about the purchase offer you made,” Mr Bennet said to Bingley. “She thought perhaps you were only investigating the possibility.”
Bingley beamed broadly. “The place has a great deal to recommend it, not the least of which is the proximity of my bride to her sister, and I thought, why delay?”
Jane gave Elizabeth a happy smile, then said, “We have Mr Darcy to thank for finding it, and his steward gave it a very hearty commendation.”
Elizabeth glanced immediately towards her mother, expecting an outpouring of how unfair, how terrible, or something along those lines, but her mother remained quiet for a moment before very reasonably saying, “I do not know how I shall manage, with two daughters so very far off! But I am solaced in the fact that they shall have each other.”
Darcy wiped his mouth with his napkin before addressing her, saying, “I hope it may provide additional solace to you to say not only are you welcome at Pemberley any time you should wish it, but London as well. I daresay my wife would find it very agreeable to have her family enjoy the entertainments of town with her.”
Elizabeth thought the kick of a mouse might have toppled her when he said so…
and also thought she must discuss the wisdom of including her younger sisters in such invitations.
But he was very clearly trying his best to ingratiate himself to his in-lawed family, and she was grateful for it.
When he met her gaze a few seconds later, she offered a small, warm smile to him, and he appeared happy to receive it.
When he was about to leave, as they gathered in the vestibule, Darcy gave his presents to Mr and Mrs Bennet.
“Oh, well now, what is this?” said Mr Bennet with a chuckle, turning the books over in his hands.
Elizabeth could tell he was pleased by Darcy’s selections on his behalf.
Mrs Bennet blushed like a girl and told Darcy it was entirely unnecessary that he should purchase things for her…
but she was donning them even as she said so.
“I must show these to Lady Lucas, directly,” she said, holding her now-gloved hands out to admire them.
“Sir William brought her some the last he was in town, and I could tell immediately they were not as well-made. Sir William believes he knows the best warehouse, but I assure you he does not!If she can but see the stitching on these! But I should be very glad to inform him where he must go next time.”
The carriage came up then, and Elizabeth walked her husband out. Before climbing into the carriage, he bent and kissed her cheek. She did her best not to betray her surprise in front of her family. She stood watching the carriage roll away, the feel of his lips on her cheek still warming her.
Moments later, Mrs Hill poked her head out of the door. “Your mama wishes to know if you intend to be of any use to your sister today or if you mean to stand there all morning.”
Jane’s wedding day behaved just as the wedding day of any two people should: sunny and warm, but not too warm, with a light breeze that restrained itself from becoming an unpleasant wind. The scent of roses was in the air and it was, in short, perfection.
Everything went according to plan, from the vows to the breakfast. The neighbours were congratulatory with just enough jealousy to satisfy Mrs Bennet, and the bride and her bridegroom were nearly incandescent with happiness.
It brought tears to Elizabeth’s eyes nearly every time she looked at them, knowing how they had overcome their own bumps on the path.
She looked then at her husband. Theirs had certainly been far more than a bump, but perhaps they too were successfully navigating themselves around it.
Darcy looked very tired, his eyes already drifting closed as their carriage rolled out of Meryton.
She understood that it was something of a tradition within his circle of friends to stay up all night the night before the wedding, toasting the bridegroom and wishing him well, the idea being that the poor man would likely be too nervous to sleep otherwise.
She knew not how long it had gone with the men the night prior; but she stirred when Darcy crept into the bedchamber and was awake enough to observe the pale streaks of the dawn outside of the window as he sank into bed.
“I enjoyed being in Hertfordshire,” he said with his eyes closed.
“I did, too,” she replied.
A few minutes later he continued, “I had hoped to be awake enough?—”
“We need not speak now,” she said hurriedly. “I know we both want to talk, but maybe later, when we are not so tired.”
“Thank you,” he mumbled and moments later was breathing the deep breaths of sound sleep, and Elizabeth was left to her thoughts.