Page 61 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)
She knew she was looking her best. Stevens, her new maid, had dressed her hair in an elegant chignon, and her gown, cut in the latest fashion, flattered her figure to perfection. Happy tears welled in her eyes when she heard Fitzwilliam recite his vows, his rich baritone filling the church.
Looking down into her eyes, he spoke solemnly:
“I, Fitzwilliam, take thee, Elizabeth, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
It was now her turn to recite the vows, and Elizabeth too plighted her troth to the only man who held her heart.
Darcy placed his ring on her finger, and then Elizabeth heard his resonant baritone speak the words she had longed to hear.
“With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee worship; and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”
She looked up into his eyes and smiled. He was hers, and she was his. They were now bound forever.
At last, the rector joined their hands and declared: “Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Fitzwilliam bent and kissed her lips.
He smiled into her eyes, his dark lashes framing his dark brown eyes, and his forelock hung over his left brow.
This beautiful man was now her husband. He took her hand and they stepped forward to sign the registry.
Elizabeth signed her name for the last time, and then she watched as he signed his name next to hers.
He grinned at her. He looked so happy. They walked back down the nave, hand in hand.
Darcy did not linger in the courtyard but led Elizabeth to his carriage, handed her in, and followed close behind.
He laughed as he reached over and closed the curtain on her side, then he bent and kissed her very passionately.
A few minutes later, they reached Longbourn, and then they spent the next four hours mingling with Elizabeth’s family and friends. Finally, Darcy leaned in and asked, “Elizabeth, I believe I have forborne long enough. Are you ready to travel on to London?”
She squeezed his hand. “Yes. I am ready.”
“Then say your farewells, darling. I will excuse myself from my family, and then I will change into my travel clothes. Perhaps Jane can help you change your dress. I have sent the other carriage ahead with Reeves and Stevens.”
Darcy turned first to his cousin. “Richard, keep safe in Kent. Do not get shot by smugglers.”
Richard clasped his arm. “We have captured most of them, Darcy. I do not fear for my safety or that of our relations. I hope to visit Pemberley in the summer with Anne, if I can persuade her to marry me. Otherwise, I shall toss her into a carriage and carry her back to Scotland. We may be wed over the anvil at Gretna, as the saying goes.”
Darcy laughed. “So, Cousin Anne is proving contrary against a man whose address is legendary.” Richard joined in the laughter.
“She is,” Richard admitted with a grin. “She claims a woman cannot be happy in marriage. I know not where she acquired such a notion, but I mean to rid her of it. If next you hear of my marriage, do not be surprised if you were not invited. I carry a special license in my pocket in case I catch her in a compliant mood.”
He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Darcy opened it, laughed again, and returned it. “You were not jesting. I wish you all the best, Richard.” He clapped his cousin heartily on the back. “And I thank you for standing with me today. By the way, when do you travel to Scotland?”
Richard drew a breath. “I wish I could leave tomorrow, but there remain some very angry smugglers at large in our part of the country. I must be certain all is in order before I bring Anne and Lady Catherine back.”
Darcy then turned to the Earl and Countess. “Uncle Henry, Aunt Helen, we are leaving. We stop in London tonight and then travel on to Pemberley. Aunt Helen, I leave Georgiana in your protection until spring. Thank you for keeping her in your care during the first months of my marriage.”
While Fitzwilliam bade farewell to his family, Elizabeth sought her own.
She kissed her father and lingered in his embrace.
Then she kissed her mother’s cheek and thanked her for all her efforts with the wedding and the breakfast. When she stood before the Gardiners, she kissed them both and, embracing her uncle, she said, “Uncle Edward, but for your invitation to Ramsgate, I might never have come to know Fitzwilliam as well as I do. This marriage may have never come to pass.” She then kissed each of her married sisters and curtsied to their husbands.
As she turned to remove upstairs to change her dress, Alexander stepped forward.
“Elizabeth, I wish you well in your future life with Mr. Darcy. I apologize for the disrespect I have shown you over the past several months. You must know that I have always loved you; I have loved you since you were five years old, and I fished you out of the pond. You have the most expressive eyes; even then, I saw that you were a kindred spirit. Now that you are married, the part of my heart that I gave to you when we were children will never again belong to me.” He looked down at the floor, then he looked into her eyes again.
“I know that it is all my fault that this wedding was not ours. I threw away our love for money.”
He took her hand and pressed his lips to her gloved knuckles.
“I am leaving tomorrow for London, and then I will sail to the West Indies within the next three weeks.
I plan to remain abroad for at least two years and perhaps longer.
A friend of my father's owns a warehouse there, and I intend to learn how to do for myself without my mother's interference. I intend to learn how to treat a woman of quality as she deserves. Farewell, Elizabeth.”
He turned and walked away before she could reply.
Elizabeth stared after her childhood friend.
She realized with some amazement that she did not feel like crying, and she felt no regret.
Everything was as it should be. Her heart belonged to Fitzwilliam alone, and she was grateful that she regretted nothing, not even the pain of separation Alexander had put her through.
Glancing up, she saw that Charlotte was watching her. She had seen Alexander’s farewell. Beyond her friend stood Fitzwilliam, and he seemed to be searching her face. She smiled at him and walked to his side, then together they made their way upstairs to change.