Page 44 of Suddenly Married

"Thank you, Mr. Bingley, but Miss Bingley may call me whatever she wishes. Even if she continues to call me Miss Eliza, it does not change the fact that I am Mrs. Darcy now," Elizabeth replied, smiling at an enraged Caroline, who ignored her for the remainder of the meal.

After dinner came the worst. Elizabeth found herself alone for nearly ten minutes with Caroline and Louisa.

After insinuating that Elizabeth had forced Mr. Darcy into marriage, Caroline had the audacity to say, "Miss Eliza or Mrs. Darcy, it makes no difference to me.

You know, being married to a man does not guarantee happiness or that your husband loves you.

Otherwise, there would not be so many men who prefer the company of another woman to that of their wives. "

"Like Mr. Chapman," added Louisa, describing a woman she knew whose husband spent more time with his mistress than with his wife.

Caroline looked at Elizabeth with mockery, imagining the satisfaction she would feel when Mr. Darcy at last cast off his foolish wife or sent her back to her vulgar family.

"I feel sorry for Mrs. Chapman," said Elizabeth. If her husband did not appear soon, she would excuse herself and retire to her chambers.

At length, the gentlemen rejoined them, and Miss Bingley immediately returned to Mr. Darcy's side to chatter and flirt. Without quite knowing why, Elizabeth acted on instinct and began to look at her husband in a way she knew he could not resist.

Mr. Darcy, irritated by Miss Bingley's attentions, kept his expression neutral. But his spirits lifted when he saw Elizabeth's playful, teasing smile—one he remembered well and loved. His face brightened instantly, and he went to sit beside her, leaving Caroline to speak to herself.

As soon as he reached her, he kissed her hand, and she whispered, "My love, I am a little tired. I shall excuse myself from our guests and go to my room. I shall be waiting for you."

Mr. Darcy could not help but smile. "That is not necessary, darling. We shall excuse ourselves together. I am also fatigued and wish to be with you." His doubts and jealousies vanished at once when he saw that his wife sought his company.

Mr. Darcy rose while Elizabeth took his arm. He addressed their guests: "Today has been a very long day, so my wife and I shall retire to rest. I imagine you are also eager to retire to your rooms after a day of travel."

As he spoke, he stroked Elizabeth's hand, and none could fail to notice the change in his demeanour when she had shown him the smallest sign of affection.

Elizabeth savoured her minor triumph. While her husband addressed the company, she looked directly at Miss Bingley, making it clear that Mr. Darcy was not the sort of man who would seek the company of any woman other than his wife.

"Good evening; I hope you have a restful night," Elizabeth said.

Caroline had never felt so humiliated. Mr. Darcy had not even looked at her, behaving instead like a fool in love with his vulgar wife. That night, she swore she would take her revenge and never again allow Eliza Bennet to laugh in her face.

When Elizabeth reached her chamber, her husband began to kiss her with passion, and she regretted what she had done.

She was still wounded and did not wish to spend the night in his arms. She needed time alone to think and to disentangle her feelings.

Yet she could not now reject him and ask him to leave—not after her own display.

So she allowed him to remain, though she could not give herself wholly, her mind still troubled with the matters they must soon discuss.

Mr. Darcy sensed that something was wrong, and after making love to his wife, he felt more unsettled than before. He was convinced that something—or someone—stood between them, and the thought made him utterly miserable.

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The following day, Georgiana returned from Matlock.

Elizabeth was glad she would no longer have to endure the company of the Bingley sisters alone.

Yet her husband grew increasingly withdrawn.

He left early each morning and returned late, always with the excuse of pressing matters concerning Pemberley.

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Hurst spent much of their time fishing and riding, so they were seldom in the house.

One evening after dinner, Mr. Bingley found an opportunity to speak privately with his friend. Mr. Darcy appeared distant and preoccupied, and Bingley wished to help him.

"Darcy, I think you work too much. You are newly married; you ought not to leave your wife alone all day."

"Elizabeth is very different from the women in our social circle. She is independent and perfectly capable of entertaining herself without my constant company," Mr. Darcy replied, a little curtly.

"I see. Well, you know your wife better than anyone. There is something I wish to share with you, Darcy. Before I travelled, I had the chance to speak with Mrs. Darcy's sister. We were able to clear the air, and I feel at peace…"

"I am glad for you. Bingley, as I have told you before, I do not discuss my wife's family with you or with anyone else."

"Darcy, do not be so narrow-minded…"

"Bingley, you know very well why I must do this."

"No, I do not know, and I do not understand. But I can see you are vexed, so I had better change the subject. Let me tell you how good the fishing was for Hurst and me today."

Mr. Bingley suspected that his friend was unaware of Jane's new circumstances, but he realised it was best not to press the matter. Mr. Darcy could be exceedingly stubborn when compelled to do something against his inclination.

Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst monopolised Georgiana's company, and Elizabeth, to avoid them, kept her distance from her sister-in-law. Fortunately, the Bingleys were to leave the following day, and she could resume spending time with Georgiana and have a serious conversation with her husband.

Mr. Darcy grew more distant from Elizabeth with each passing day.

Since the night they had last been together, he had not sought her company at night.

The last time she saw him in her chamber, he had been looking at the gold heart Jane and Lawrence had sent her.

When she entered, he had stood for a moment as though wishing to ask something, but had left without a word.

Seeking some quiet, Elizabeth sat upon her favourite bench, rereading Mary's letters.

Mary wrote of Roland's ship and many details of a captain's wife's life.

Always so reserved, Mary seemed a different person when speaking of her new existence.

Elizabeth was glad to know she had found a good man who loved her for who she was.

She was absorbed in her letters when she heard a soft voice. "Mrs. Darcy, may we speak?"

Looking up, she saw Georgiana, pale and in tears.

"My dear, is everything well? And you know I prefer you call me Lizzy!" Elizabeth rose to help Georgiana sit beside her.

"Lizzy, do you think you can ever forgive me? I love you as a sister, and though I do not blame you, it pains me that we are so distant."

Elizabeth was perplexed, not knowing what Georgiana meant. "My dear, whatever are you speaking of? I am avoiding Mr. Bingley's sisters, not you."

"I am sorry. I do not deserve your affection."

"Georgiana, what is the matter?"

Saddled by sadness and guilt, Georgiana needed to unburden herself of the anguish she had long carried. She revealed the whole story of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham.

Elizabeth was shocked, though not surprised, having learned what that man had attempted with Lydia. What astonished her was that Mr. Darcy, knowing Mr. Wickham's deceitful nature so well, had never troubled to warn anyone of his true character.

"Georgiana, you have done nothing wrong.

He is a scoundrel who took advantage of your innocence.

Please do not allow him to torment you further.

I know from a good source that he will never again harm another young lady.

My dear, I love you dearly, and please never think I could despise you for a mere youthful error. "

"Oh, Lizzy, you are the best sister."

After speaking with Georgiana for some time, Elizabeth embraced and kissed her, and Georgiana was happy to have reconciled with her dear sister-in-law.

That evening was the Bingleys' last at Pemberley. After dinner, Georgiana delighted them with several pieces at the pianoforte. She had watched Elizabeth for many days and noticed how sad and pale she was. Now that she knew she accepted her with all her faults, she wished only to give her pleasure.

Mr. Darcy had spent the past few days working alongside his tenants, repairing fences to establish the boundaries of some new farms. While working, he had begun to analyse all his interactions with Elizabeth—from the moment he proposed until the last time they had been together.

He felt restless and full of doubts, but what troubled him most was the knowledge that Elizabeth had professed her love for him on very few occasions, the first being when they were to travel to London.

All suggested that she had met, or intended to meet, Lawrence there—and that the man had sent her gifts to Darcy House and even to Pemberley, with notes of an intimate nature.

After Georgiana's performance that night, Elizabeth went to her room. Mr. Darcy retired soon after, deciding to spend the night with his wife.

"Elizabeth, you look so lovely this evening," he said, attempting to kiss her. That night, he longed to be with her, hoping her company might dispel his doubts.

"Mr. Darcy, I am tired. I would rather you sleep in your own bed tonight," was her only reply.

Mr. Darcy immediately withdrew to his chamber, wounded and frustrated by Elizabeth's manner. He slept little, tormented by the thought that their once-promising marriage was crumbling, and that his wife was slipping further and further away from him.

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