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A quest it was, all right. The driver proved to be a font of information, not the least of which was a thorough knowledge of the eateries in lower Manhattan.

After an interesting lunch of food she had never tasted before, something called spaghetti, which was delicious if difficult to eat, they arrived at a church that was approximately the same denomination as the one they both attended at home.

The front doors were unlocked, so they entered there into the soft darkness of the cathedral.

The sun attempted to peek through the stained glass onto the dark wooden pews.

It reminded her of every church she had ever entered back home. They soon found the rector.

“ I’m afraid that we’ll have to publish the banns before we can proceed. That should only take about three weeks,” said the rector.

“ Three weeks?” Darcy’s voice echoed in the empty nave. Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm as she watched the thundercloud descend on his countenance. Before he could speak, she intervened. “Sir, we are from England. We have just survived the sinking of the Titanic.. .”

The rector jerked back, his mouth gaping in surprise. “My word. God has protected you—”

“ And God would like us to marry as well, so if you please…” Darcy said.

The rector raised his hand and briefly shut his eyes. His pose reminded Elizabeth of the statue she once beheld called The Infant Jesus of Prague . “I’m afraid that is not possible. Surely, you can wait the proper time…”

“ I’m afraid we cannot,” said Darcy. “We leave very shortly for England, and in the name of all that is holy, what possible use is publishing the banns? Who would object to our marriage? We are here alone in a foreign country.”

The rector shook his head, then tilted it to once side. “I am sorry…”

Elizabeth slipped her arm through Darcy’s. The muscles tightened beneath his suit coat. Ignoring him, she whispered to Darcy. “We could try another church…?”

“ I’m afraid you will get the same response from all the churches in the city. Rules are rules, you know. Good day to you.” The rector turned away with quiet steps and made for the sanctuary.

Darcy hardened his expression. Elizabeth knew of his gentlemanly restraint, but this rector was sorely trying his patience. On impulse, she whispered to him, “Ah well. We’ll just have to live in sin a while longer.”

Darcy didn’t appear amused, having been thwarted for the second time in one day. They were both silent as they exited the cathedral and made themselves comfortable in the back of the cab. Darcy sighed.

“ Where to, sir?”

“ I have no idea. The vicar was quite adamant that he could not marry us today… and made it clear we would find no other church in the city that would do so. The banns and all that…”

The driver turned in his seat, wrapping his arm around the seat back. He squinted at Darcy. “If you are not too particular about which church is which, you could try the Unitarians on Lexington Avenue and East 80 th . They are a little off the beaten path religion wise, if you know what I mean.”

Elizabeth didn’t know what he meant, and Darcy looked at her sceptically. “Is that all right with you, my dear?”

“ God works in strange and mysterious ways, don’t you think?” she said, and they drove on.

***

Mr William Sullivan answered the door of the church house when Darcy and Elizabeth called. He seemed singularly nonplussed about identity documents, banns, or even the fact that neither Darcy nor Elizabeth were members of his denomination.

While Mr Sullivan left to find his housekeeper and the groundskeeper for witnesses, Darcy and Elizabeth waited near the nave of the church.

The interior was all white and ivory, its curved ceiling like a bridal veil on a wedding day.

Even the pews were white with their bit of walnut trim.

No stained glass intervened with the morning light streaming through the windows.

The place shone in the April sunlight like the entrance to heaven. They sat in the front pew to wait.

Darcy stared down at their clasped hands. “Are you very disappointed?” He didn’t look at her at first, then raised his gaze to meet hers.

“ Whatever are you talking about?”

“ I thought, perhaps, that you would like to have had a double wedding with your sister and Bingley… dressed in white, me in white tie and tails, your family all about…”

Elizabeth sighed. “I am not shedding any tears for anything today. A month ago, all that pomp and ceremony would have meant the world to me. Today….” She sighed and contemplated her white and shining surroundings, sweeping her eye over all.

“Today, I’m grateful to be alive—that you are alive…

.” She squeezed his hand and swallowed the lump in her throat.

“I feel nothing but gratitude and love and happiness.” Her heart was so full that it threatened to spill again.

The echo of a door shutting cut off anything Darcy had to say, and the two of them stood as Reverend Sullivan appeared from the side of the altar and descended the steps to the floor at the front of the church.

He was followed by a middle-aged woman in a dark dress and white apron, tucking the errant strands of hair that escaped her white cap.

“ This is Mrs O’Brien. She’ll stand as witness.”

Elizabeth took her hand. “Thank you.” Mrs O’Brien beamed, her rosy cheeks colouring.

“ The grace o’ God on ye,” she said in a broad Irish brogue and clasped Elizabeth’s hand momentarily, giving a quick nod to Darcy.

“ Now where is Mr Moretti? I just spoke to him.” Mr Sullivan bounced on his heels.

The boom of a heavy door drew all their attention to the back of the church, where a shortish man, whisps of gray hair fluttering, rushed up the aisle. He sheepishly handed Elizabeth a makeshift bouquet.

“ Dis for a-you... for you a-wedding day. April flowers. Beautiful, no?” Mr Moretti’s accent betrayed his Sicilian origins.

What a lovely thought from the stranger: yellow daffodils, tulips in shades of pink and red, and a cluster of blue goblets Elizabeth had never seen before.

As she touched them, he continued. “Ver-geenea bluebell.” His lips creased into a smile. Virginia bluebells, lovely.

“ Thank you.” She kissed his cheek. He stepped back, abashed, and stood next to the housekeeper.

“ Are we ready?” The Reverend opened his prayer book, and Darcy stepped up next to Elizabeth, squaring his shoulders.

“ I am ready.” He expression told her everything. “More than ready.”

Elizabeth brushed Darcy’s fingers, and the ceremony began.