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E very moment he couldn’t be with Elizabeth seemed to drag abominably. Now the days seemed to be going faster and faster for Elizabeth, and Darcy could only cling to each moment that he could be with her, whenever she wasn’t in demand to be asked one thing after another.

But he called daily to see her, walking with her in the castle grounds, giving her the support she needed to stay calm in the increasingly febrile atmosphere.

“Is it wrong that I am impatient to be married?” she asked him one day. “Not just that I want to be married to you and begin our lives together, but that I yearn to be away from here?”

Her hand was resting lightly on his arm as they walked in the gardens, and he tightened his arm to bring her hand closer to his side.

“I am sorry I insisted on six weeks,” he admitted. “This could all have been over.”

“You did it out of concern for my reputation, William. I am grateful.” She placed her other hand on his arm too. “I will stop complaining, and will not wish my wedding day gone. I want to remember a perfect day.”

Darcy stopped and turned to her, taking her hands into his. He lifted them to his lips. “Elizabeth, making the day perfect for you is important to me. And after it is over, I want to make the rest of your life as perfect for you as I can.”

Her eyes were huge in her face. “That’s … that’s a pretty big promise, William.” Then her mischievous smile broke through. “You haven’t yet found out how difficult I can be to live with!”

He chuckled. “I am looking forward to discovering it, Elizabeth.”

She sighed and leaned against him. “I love hearing you chuckle like that. It makes me feel all warm and melting inside.”

He bent his head to whisper. “I must remember that.” Then he drew her up. “We had better not make your father uneasy, my dear. There are not so many days to go now.”

She nodded, and they strolled on, walking very close together.

“I am remembering when you first saw me at my ball,” she said quietly. “How courageous you were, to brave Father and ask me for a dance.”

“He would never have permitted it if you hadn’t reasoned with him. I am the most fortunate of men.”

She sighed. “It does bring home to me that in only six months, all one believes impossible might yet happen.”

“I cannot forgive myself, though, that I failed to protect you properly from Wickham — and that you were importuned by that libertine at the Lords reception.”

Her hand tightened on his arm. “I always wish to remember the past only as it gives me pleasure, William, and try to forget the rest. If I had to endure it so my father forgave you the imagined sins of your father, then I would gladly live it over again.”

Darcy shuddered. “Never! I could never bear it if it happened again.”

“It won’t,” she murmured. “Nobody wishes us ill, and once my dowry is no longer mine, then there will be no reason to try to acquire it through me.”

Finally, the day had arrived. Darcy would wish it gone, but he knew he must keep his mind on what needed to be done to make everything perfect for Elizabeth.

Briarwood was barely large enough for all the guests, although Darcy knew there were more at the castle.

This was a much bigger event than he would have wished, and he thought Elizabeth had been inclined over the last few days to wish they had gone to Gretna.

Darcy had laughed. “I hope you don’t wish your father had returned to disdain for all Darcys,” he’d whispered, tucking that curl behind her ear and letting his hand linger along the line of her jaw.

Her breath had hitched, and her eyes dilated as she looked up at him. “I suppose not.” Her voice had been uneven and he stepped back, his own emotions as high as hers.

“Only a few days, dearest one.”

And now it was time. He’d ridden out early, but returned to join his guests for breakfast.

“There you are!” Richard met him in the hall. “You ought not just vanish like that, you know.”

Darcy shrugged. He was very glad his cousin was back early from Spain, and could be spared for this occasion. “I have nothing to do this morning apart from leave all the organisation to you.” He grinned, his mood unaccountably light, and his cousin stared at him.

“I thought you’d be prowling around, trying to prevent anything going wrong.”

Darcy clapped him on the shoulder. “I have decided to devolve all responsibility to you, Richard. Thus I can relax and concentrate on Elizabeth and her wishes.”

His cousin looked uneasy. “I don’t think His Grace will be forgiving if anything happens.”

“So you must make sure it doesn’t.” Darcy turned for the breakfast room before he relented, and turned back.

“Nothing will go wrong today, I am sure of it. It is one benefit of Lancaster being so much further north — Lady Catherine has decided it is too far, and …” he lowered his voice, “Mrs. Bennet is still too indisposed to travel.”

Richard chuckled. “Very well, I will believe you. Let’s have breakfast before you go upstairs to change.”

Darcy turned into the breakfast room. He wished, in a way, that it was a small party; he was not feeling sociable, and wanted to reserve his efforts for the wedding breakfast.

But everyone seemed to understand. Mrs. Bingley was talking quietly to Georgiana, who was his main concern at the moment, and Mr. Bennet nodded at him, and returned his attention to the paper.

His uncle and aunt knew Darcy’s nature as well as they knew that of their own sons, and didn’t try to engage in conversation, and his other cousins had their own spouses to talk to.

The tension in his shoulders relaxed, and he took a sip of his coffee.

“You must eat something, William.” Georgiana looked anxiously over at him.

“So must you,” he answered, looking at her untouched plate. “After all, Elizabeth has asked you to stand up with her, and you will need to leave for the castle soon.”

His sister blushed. “I was so pleased when she asked me, but I’m feeling anxious now, and I almost wish I’d said no.”

Darcy wished he was sitting closer to her. “I’m very happy you didn’t.” He tried to convey his confidence in her. “Elizabeth so much wishes to have your friendship and support.”

“Oh, she does!” Georgiana hastily reassured him. “It is just such a big event.”

“The whole family is supporting you, Georgiana.” Aunt Alice broke in, and Darcy was happy to leave his sister in her hands. She knew much better than he what was required of Georgiana, and he was sure Elizabeth wouldn’t have any onerous tasks for her.

Richard waited for a reasonable time before he leaned over. “Your servant will have your bath ready for you, Darcy. Then it will be time to dress.”

Darcy nodded. It would be better not to have another coffee.

The meal was heavy in his stomach, but he knew he’d had to eat.

He might not have time at the wedding breakfast, as there would be many demands on his conversation.

And Elizabeth. He would have her beside him, and that was all that mattered.