Page 36 of Mr Darcy’s Worth: Three Pride and Prejudice Variations
“I can safely say that your mother loves me as much as you do, though in a completely different way,” he said, joining her in her laughter. “Poor Bingley must feel neglected, as she has not given her affection equally.”
“Do not worry — Charles will be the recipient of my mother’s whole attention from today. In fact, he might have more than he can handle. I pray he and Jane will have some peaceful days to begin their marriage.”
“Netherfield is large enough to provide them with privacy, and the master suite is quite separated from the other rooms,” Darcy replied, and Elizabeth blushed.
“Bingley insisted we should stay for another week, but that was not appealing to a man so deeply in love and so yearning for his new wife,” he answered, kissing her again.
“I am glad we left. I look forward to being alone with you. As much as I love your family, I wish for no other company but yours.”
“So do I, my love.”
“I hope poor, dear Georgiana does not mind that we left her there,” Elizabeth said.
“Not at all. She seemed to enjoy your young sisters’ company.”
“Mary is quite enchanted with Georgiana’s accomplishments. And Lydia and Kitty are behaving so much better since the regiment left Meryton. I am happy that Papa is supervising them more carefully. Mr. Wickham’s deceptive nature was a valuable lesson for all of us.”
“Yes…”
“My love, when you told me of his real betrayal and his attempt to elope with Georgiana, I better understood what a complete fool I had been and the danger we were in. If he attempted to seduce either Lydia or Kitty, neither of them would have had the wisdom to protect themselves. A tragedy could have happened.”
“Wickham had taken the last steps to ruin his life completely. He will never have another chance for an honourable living in England after stealing from and cheating his own colonel. I expect to hear tragic reports about him soon, and I am sorry to imagine how hurt my father would have been.”
“There are people who are given all the chances in the world to take the right path, yet they still choose the wrong one. I am very happy that Mrs. Gilroy took the opportunity you offered her. She is a wise woman and fortunate to have escaped Lady Catherine’s revenge for something she was not guilty of. ”
“The most amusing part is that Lady Catherine, once she found out about our engagement, lost the rest of her reason. Despite being enraged with Geoffrey too for helping me remove the Gilroy family, in her unreasonable search for revenge, she demanded my uncle Matlock’s assistance in removing my responsibilities in regard to Rosings.
Once they consulted a solicitor, she was clearly told that she had no rights over Rosings and that only Anne is allowed to make the decisions.
To make things worse, they discovered among Sir Lewis’s papers a note instructing that if Horace Gilroy died, each of his children would receive one thousand pounds. ”
Elizabeth looked at him, bewildered. “Is it true?”
“Geoffrey just informed me two days ago, when he came for the wedding. Just imagine the Matlock residence shaken by screams and curses, with all the servants witnessing the madness.”
“Dear Lord! What will happen now?”
“I am not sure, and it matters little to me. I hope my uncle Matlock will find a way to keep his sister under good regulation before everyone thinks she has lost her mind.”
“I am afraid to imagine what Lady Catherine said when she heard of our engagement,” Elizabeth said. “Poor Anne must have been exposed to such torment. And poor Charlotte — I wonder whether Lady Catherine might seek revenge against me through them.”
“She must have been furious, but she cannot afford to lose Mr. Collins’s adoration, which is irreplaceable,” Darcy said, rolling his eyes. “I am worried about Anne, but Geoffrey said he would visit them again with his father. If only Anne was not so much under her mother’s influence.”
“How could she be different when she has spent most of her life at Rosings? If Lady Catherine refuses to maintain any connection to you, what will happen to the estate?”
“I am in Sir Lewis’s will, so she cannot remove me. However, I shall not impose my presence on Anne. I shall gladly continue to manage Rosings if Anne asks me to. If not, I shall step away and allow her to decide as she wishes.”
“There are so many responsibilities on your shoulders, my love,” she whispered.
“So many people depend on you, and you must make so many decisions that affect others’ lives.
You are an impressive, admirable man for so many reasons, my dear Mr. Darcy,” she said seriously.
“I know I shall love you more than anyone else could. But I hope to be worthy of being your wife and help you carry the burden of all your duties.”
He embraced her tightly, and she cuddled into his chest. “You do not need to hope, for I have been certain of that for a long while. As for my duties, I shall put them aside for the moment. My only task at present is my beautiful wife and the wedding night waiting for us at home,” he whispered in her ear, making her blush and shiver.
She turned in his arms, and a long kiss left them breathless. Many others followed until the carriage finally stopped at their destination and Elizabeth stepped into her new home and her new house arm in arm with her husband.