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Darcy awoke early and, not wanting to disturb Elizabeth, drew himself a bath and got dressed.

He realised as he sat down at the table, he’d never so much as made himself a cup of tea in his entire life, nor had he ever shaved himself.

He so wanted to awaken Elizabeth and make love to her again, but today they needed to sort themselves out.

They’d book passage back to England, and then, before the day was through, they’d marry.

Was it possible to do things so quickly in New York?

Her hair wild, eyes half open, Elizabeth opened the bedroom door, dressed only in her chemise, the bedsheet wrapped protectively around her. She pushed up at her auburn mane in a vain attempt to set it to rights. “I must look a sight.”

“ A wonderful sight.” Darcy got up and took her in his arms. She pulled back from him, a mischievous smile on her face.

“ Well, Mr Darcy. Now you’ll have to marry me.”

He laughed. “I suppose I will.”

He could see his life unfolding clearly before him for the first time.

This woman, this headstrong, determined, brilliant, passionate young woman, would be his helpmeet, his lover, his partner for the rest of his life.

He could see them as an old couple, like the Astors on the deck of the Titanic , not able to bear being apart, even if it meant certain death.

“ Whatever are you thinking?” Elizabeth knitted her brows, a look of concern creeping into her eyes.

“ You see it, then. This is what you will have to put up with married to me. I am deliriously happy and then—”

“ And then a thousand thoughts enter your head on how that happiness could be taken from you.” There it was. She was a mind reader too. He kissed her beautiful, smiling lips. Then, kissed her again.

“ All right, Mr Darcy. That’s quite enough. If we continue this way, we’ll never get anything done today.”

“ I don’t mind.” He kissed her again, and then began a trail down her jawline to her neck.

She laughed, then looked at him with a frown. “Do you want me to call you Fitzwilliam, or William, or Will or Willie or … not Fitz, surely.”

He pulled a face. “Surely not.” She smiled. He let go his embrace and entwined his fingers with hers. “Fitzwilliam is so cumbersome, don’t you think?” He led her to the sofa and drew her down next to him.

“ It doesn’t matter. It is your name.”

“ So it is. Georgiana calls me Fitzwilliam, as did my mother and father. I never liked it much. Darcy is best, I think… I like it best.”

“ And I like Lizzy best.”

“ My wonderful Lizzy.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“ And I shall call you Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy only when we quarrel.”

“ Quarrel? We shall never quarrel.”

“ Oh, I’m sure we shall, once we are used to each other… but we shall always make it up… always.”

He took both her hands. She looked so soft and drowsy from sleep, so ready to yield again to him. “I’d like to go back to bed.” He kissed the nape of her neck as he sought the soft pillows of her breasts.

“ Oh, so would I.” She clasped his wandering hands. “But we have much to do today. You must make an honest woman of me.” She stood up and left him on the sofa to gain control of himself. “And I will make an honest man of you.” She threw a smile back his way.

***

While Elizabeth bathed, Darcy took a walk to find the barbershop he had passed off Columbus Circle yesterday.

He returned clean-shaven to a breakfast of tea and the dinner they’d neglected the previous night.

Somehow everything was warm and ready. Weren’t women wonderful?

They could do all these tasks that just eluded men completely.

For a brief moment, he wondered why men ruled the world.

His life had much improved now that he had access to his money.

They left together, a yellow taxicab hired for the day.

In the White Star Line office, they were treated with the utmost care and courtesy by the ticket agent, who trembled a little holding the list of survivors in his hand.

The clerk opened the timetable for the crossings and, spinning it upside down from himself, presented it to Darcy.

He glanced at it and became quite thoughtful. “Could you give us a moment?”

“ Of course.” The clerk excused himself.

“ What’s the matter?”.

“ Nothing, it’s just that…”

Elizabeth squinted at him, and then reared back. “You think I won’t be able to cope with another ocean voyage, is that it?”

“ No, no, that’s not it at all.”

“ What, then?” Her face flushed and her eyes burned fiery. She was correct. They would have their quarrels, but not today.

“ I was thinking that perhaps we could postpone our voyage and complete my original plan to visit Chicago. After all, I would like to see this Marshall Fields store where Mr Selfridge began and learn more about the business since I am to be on the board.”

“ Really?” She cocked her head. “Chicago…. It sounds so exotic, in… an American sort of way.” He watched her ruminate over the idea momentarily. “Oh, but what of my family, and Georgiana? They will want to see us right away, don’t you think?”

“ They know we are safe, and soon they will know that we are married. After all, we are living in a modern age and can send them a wire as to our plans. I don’t think they would begrudge us a short honeymoon.

” Darcy tried to sound certain, but he wasn’t at all.

Truth be told, it wasn’t the lure of Chicago.

It was he who didn’t relish another ocean voyage so soon.

Elizabeth hesitated a moment. “Would you be very disappointed if I said I’d like to go home right away… as soon as possible? I’d like to be back in plenty of time for Jane and Charles’s wedding.”

Darcy was taken aback momentarily. “My word, I’d forgotten about the wedding until just this minute.” He laughed ruefully. “I had a return booking on the Titanic for the first of May just for that purpose.” Elizabeth shuddered as the clerk knocked on the door and came through at Darcy’s request.

“ Have we made a decision, Mr Darcy?”

They had indeed. “We’d like to book first-class passage on the Olympic as soon as possible, or even something on the Cunard line, it is of no consequence which.”

The clerk peered over the top of his glasses at various papers and timetables as he sat down.

“Well, let’s see here… the Ascania, which is a Cunard ship , sailed today and won’t be back for a couple of weeks.

We could book you in first class, let’s see, for the return voyage…

the first week in May.” He ran his finger down the one page and then another.

“That would get you to Southampton by May 8. Okay?”

He gave Darcy a self-satisfied grin. It wasn’t, as it he put it, okay. Elizabeth’s expression told him that it was not okay .

“ What about the Olympic ? Can it get us home sooner?”

The clerk squinted at Darcy and screwed up his face. “Yes, the Olympic leaves the day after tomorrow, but first class is fully booked. You’d have to travel second class.”

Darcy opened his mouth to speak but Elizabeth’s touch on his sleeve stopped him. “I already have a second-class cabin on the Olympic for that day.” She shot a glance at Darcy and then the clerk. “For a Miss Elizabeth Bennet…”

More paper shuffling ensued, and the clerk confirmed her reservation. Raising an eyebrow, he looked askance at Darcy. “Well, sir?”

What was it about these minor officials? Why did this tiny modicum of power give them such a self-righteous attitude? He knew what the ticket agent was thinking… a Miss Bennet and a Mr Darcy, alone on an ocean voyage. He suddenly thought of Wickham.

“ Would it be so terrible to travel second class?” Elizabeth interrupted his thoughts. “We already have the booking.”

“ And there are two beds in the cabin,” the clerk said with a smirk.

The slimy little toad . Of course, he would acquiesce to Elizabeth’s wishes and have the added satisfaction of putting the clerk in his place.

“ Change the booking to Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy. I’ll pay for the extra ticket now.”

“ Oh, no. No charge, sir… You’ve paid already for your return on the Titanic .”

Yes, the Titanic . Darcy swallowed hard and tried to put that night out of his mind. After all, today he was to be married.

***

Elizabeth had waited as Darcy borrowed the city directory and looked up a registrar’s office and two Episcopal churches.

He’d muttered surely one of them would do for a marriage ceremony.

As they settled back in their taxicab, Darcy fiddled in his waistcoat pocket and produced a wedding band.

“Our next stop, Lizzy. Unless you’d like to shop for a trousseau first. After all, it is customary. ”

Elizabeth inspected her outfit. It was one of the two sets of clothes the Red Cross had given her only a few days ago. They were presentable enough, but certainly not elegant. “Are you ashamed to be seen with me?” She teased, but Darcy flinched.

“ Certainly not. How could you say such a thing?” He took her hands in his. “I—”

“ I don’t want to wait, Darcy. I really don’t.”

Darcy nodded, then gave the registrar’s address to the driver. Within half an hour, they left the office—an incomplete marriage license in Darcy’s hand. His jaw was set and his eyes alight. “Damn and blast. Oh, I do beg your pardon, Elizabeth.”

“ Damn and blast, indeed,” she repeated as harshly and nearly burst into a laugh when she saw the expression on his face.

He had to smile back at her. “Why does one need a birth record or naturalization record? We don’t want to live here—”

“ It’s all right. We can try the churches. He said it might be easier there…” She patted his arm.

He let out a deep sigh and shook himself as if he were shaking off all his frustrations. “You’re right, of course. Let’s get something to eat and continue our quest.”