Page 24 of Raised at Rosings (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse #4)
Chapter Twenty-Three
One year later
Elizabeth could not help smiling ear to ear. While it was not the happiest day of her life, it would have to be counted in the top ten. Her sister Jane was finally getting married to the man she loved. Gazing down the aisle, she saw Jane appear with Uncle Reginald. As they approached the altar, where Mr. Bingley waited patiently, their happy smiles were accompanied by the gentle sounds of organ music and the hushed reverence of the wedding guests.
Even Richard, who stood waiting with him, was happy despite all the attention he was getting from the women in the pews. Elizabeth suspected he would not be single much longer. Now with Jane married, Aunt Judith would focus on her youngest son’s future nuptials while she waited for the babies to begin appearing.
Elizabeth, seated in the front pew of the magnificent London cathedral, could clearly hear the soft tones of her sister and Mr. Bingley exchanging vows. The ceremony itself did not take long and within minutes, Jane was on Mr. Bingley’s arm, walking back down the aisle to sign the wedding registry. She had not realized that she had begun to cry until William pressed a handkerchief into her hand, whispering in her ear, “Do not cry, darling. You know they will be moving close to us once they return from their wedding tour.”
Sniffing, Elizabeth cursed her high emotions and blotted her eyes, whispering back, “It just reminds me of our day not so very long ago. I am so happy she has found a love nearly as perfect as ours.”
“Nearly?” he asked, looking at her with a soft smile and knowing eyes.
Taking the arm that William offered her, Elizabeth replied as they began moving their way through the crush. “As much as I love my sister, it is simply impossible for anyone else to have a love as perfect as ours. She will simply have to settle for nearly perfect.”
“Jane and Bingley look happy enough even if they do not have our perfect love.” Putting his other arm out, William protected Elizabeth from being bowled over by someone in the crowd before adding, “I will admit, if only to you, that I much preferred our wedding to theirs. Having our wedding at the Pemberley chapel allowed us to restrict the number of people in attendance to a much more manageable number.”
“Our wedding was everything that was quaint and I loved it,” grinned Elizabeth.
William’s shoulders shook as he fought a laugh. Guiding her through a side exit, he said, “You really need to stop poking fun at Miss Bingley. One of these days, you are going to get caught out by Jane and you know it will upset her.”
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, Elizabeth felt the tension leave her shoulders as she looked at William. With a happy sigh and a nose wrinkle she knew he adored, Elizabeth declared, “I’m thrilled my wedding forced Miss Bingley’s true spitefulness into the open, revealing her nasty character to Jane and Mr. Bingley. Otherwise, Jane would have been stuck with that harpy instead of having her shipped off to northern Scotland to live with her great aunt.” Sticking her lip out on a pout, Elizabeth added, “At least I did not suggest we send Miss Bingley to stay with Lady Catherine. They would have made the perfect pair, each with an inflated ego, a match made only in the heavens of self-absorption.”
This time William did laugh before crying, “They would have killed each other within a week and you know it.”
“I do not see how that could be considered our problem,” sighed Elizabeth, shaking her head.
William halted their progress down the sidewalk toward the carriages and looked down at her. “What am I going to do with you, Mrs. Darcy?”
Standing on her tiptoes, Elizabeth kissed him on the cheek and whispered, “You shall take us to the wedding breakfast at Matlock House by the long route, that we might steal a few precious moments alone in the carriage before we must once again face the crush of people.”
Darcy looked down at his relatively new bride and shook his head. The urge to sweep her into his arms and carry her away was almost overwhelming. Not only was she strikingly beautiful, with captivating green eyes that hinted at a playful spirit, but her sharp wit left him enchanted. Knowing he could never get away with simply grabbing her face and kissing her breathless, Darcy turned and half sprinted to their carriage, pulling her with him.
Safely inside the carriage, with the shades drawn to shield them from view, he finally kissed her, a gasp escaping his lips as he murmured, “What has you so spirited today?”
With a blush rising on her cheeks, Elizabeth looked up at him and admitted, “Being pregnant with your child has thrown my emotions into chaos.”
With a jolt, Darcy sat up straight, and the word “Pregnant?!” was a breathless whisper escaping his lips. It was not one of his more eloquent comments.
Nodding, Elizabeth’s blush deepened as she explained, “I have suspected for some time, but I did not know until I felt the baby move early this morning.”
Leaning forward, Darcy’s kiss was tender, a slow exploration of Elizabeth’s lips, before he pulled back slightly and murmured, “Why did you not tell me this morning?” His touch still lingered on her, as if he could not let her go, the woman who meant so much to him.
With a shake of her head, Elizabeth replied, “We were all in such a rush that we barely had a moment alone together. Besides, I did not want to detract from Jane’s wedding.”
“I understand.” Despite their elaborate clothes, Darcy pulled Elizabeth close, the rich fabrics rustling as he murmured, “How are you feeling, my love? I mean, besides the fact that your emotions are in an uproar?”
Covering a yawn, Elizabeth said, “Save for an exhaustion I cannot seem to remedy and feelings in somewhat of a tangle, I am quite well.”
“Then close your eyes while we make our way to the wedding breakfast. Conserve your energy.” Settling Elizabeth’s head on his shoulder, Darcy smiled when he heard the happy sigh she made. A quiet hum of contentment vibrated from her as she nestled against him, getting comfortable. He ran his fingers lightly across her back, needing to soothe her in any way he could while being careful to not harm her dress. They would be getting out of the carriage in a matter of minutes, and she could not look disheveled.
While Elizabeth rested, Darcy thought. He contemplated all of the wonderful time he had spent with the woman he loved. It had started out with a kick in his shin, and as much as it had shocked him, it was a kick he deserved. With the passage of time, he grew to admire the woman Elizabeth had become, a journey culminating in the profound realization that she was not just his friend, but the woman he deeply loved.
Their marriage had only been the beginning of another stage of their journey. The tasks at Pemberley were numerous, and they worked together, the weight of responsibility shared as they completed each one, their teamwork drawing them closer. Elizabeth and Georgianna were as close as sisters now and spent much of their time together when he was not available.
It was all he had ever dreamed of and now they would be having a child. They had spoken of children during their three months of engagement, for they both wished for a large family full of love. Their children, starting with the one soon to arrive, would be treasured, and their unique identities cherished and nurtured. Their children would not be ignored, abandoned, or forced into a mold for the sake of appearances.
He was soon to become a father, and with none other than the most admirable woman he had ever known. Realizing Elizabeth had actually nodded off in the last few minutes, Darcy shook her slightly and kissed her forehead. “Darling, we are here. It is time to go to your sister’s wedding breakfast.”
Nodding dreamily, Elizabeth sat upright and smiled at Darcy before whispering, “We will face the hordes together.”
“Yes, together,” replied Darcy with one last brief kiss before he hopped down the carriage and turned back to face Elizabeth. He helped his wife from the carriage, their hands meeting, a spark passing between them as she took his arm, and they entered Matlock House. Elizabeth was everything to him—his wife, the mother of his child, the most wonderful woman, and the prospect of a future together thrilled him beyond measure.