What Would Mr. Darcy Do?

Chapter 11

It was resolved between them that Darcy would approach the parson regarding performing the wedding, and Elizabeth would attend to the details of the actual ceremony. The burden of this was much reduced by Mrs. Gardiner, who, as soon as she heard of the revised plan, offered her services in organizing the event. “I shall quite enjoy it, my dear, and you are making it so very simple by keeping things quite small. We need no rehearsal, as we are all quite in practice on weddings, and I am certain that I will need only mention the prospect to your cook, as she is still so offended that Jane’s wedding breakfast is to be held at Netherfield that I am sure she will produce a veritable feast!”

Elizabeth was all gratitude for the assistance, for she had discovered to her chagrin that her early feelings of relief after scheduling the wedding were rapidly being superseded by mounting anxiety and uneasiness, though precisely about what she was not entirely certain. She found herself becoming almost uncivil, and developed a sudden sympathy with Mrs. Bennet’s fits of nerves. She began to feel the chief advantage of the changed wedding date was that it would be done with that much sooner, and was glad to escape from company when it finally came time to retire for the evening.

It was long past midnight when she awoke in panic from a nightmare. She was back at Hunsford with Darcy, only this time, she was the one confessing her love to him, and he was rejecting her in the strongest possible terms, stating his dislike, demeaning her very character, refusing to grant even the smallest degree of warmth. Her devastation was complete… She pressed her hand against her mouth, tears running down her face. It was only a dream, she told herself firmly, but she continued to tremble. She was not accustomed to allowing herself to be vulnerable to the opinions of others; although she had the facility for making friends easily, she could also part with them with much of the same ease, and her wit provided an easy defense against most forms of criticism. Nothing had prepared her for the deep-seated need she felt for Darcy’s affection, and it alarmed her.

She reached for a handkerchief to dry her tears, and as she raised it to her face, discovered it to be the long-cherished one of Darcy’s, reclaimed from its exile in her father’s desk, but never returned to its rightful owner. She found herself clutching it for comfort, much as she had in the days when she was most uncertain of his regard.

Hunsford… how could she ever have justified her behavior that day? She could see now he had come to her that day with this same sense of need and vulnerability, and she had completely failed to recognize it. He had even tried to express it in his own unfortunate way by telling her the great obstacles his feelings had to overcome before he could make her his offer, but his proud words about the inferiority of her own state and her connections blinded her to anything else.

Her words came back to haunt her—From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry. She shuddered to think of the pain she must have caused him. With her newfound insight into the depths of her love for him, she recognized for the first time that, in addition to the misjudgment of him which she had long since acknowledged, she was also guilty of a great cruelty, with her only excuse being a lack of understanding for which she could no longer forgive herself.

And yet he had forgiven her, and even her pitiless words could not keep him from writing that memorable adieu in his letter the next day—I will only add, God bless you. He had changed his manners since then, but, as she had once noted to Wickham, he had never changed in the essentials—his fierce loyalties, his love for his family and his home, his disdain for any sort of deceit, his quick mind, his formidable standards for his own behavior. Love is certainly a humbling experience, she thought. I hope it becomes easier with time.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.”

The familiar words of the wedding service washed over Elizabeth as she stood next to Jane, who was as radiant as any bride could be. She was fully determined to enjoy the occasion, regardless of her earlier frame of mind. She tried to listen thoughtfully, contemplating her own state, but her thoughts kept slipping away. For once she could not blame Darcy for her inattentiveness, since he, for the most part, was looking at no object but the ground. A slight smile of affection came to her lips as she watched him; she knew how greatly he had been dreading standing up in front of this great crowd of people, and she took no offense at his withdrawn behavior, but only wished she could send some comfort to him from across the aisle. Even as she thought this, he raised his eyes to her.

“Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

Bingley’s firm response, “I will,” echoed throughout the church.

Elizabeth’s gaze remained caught by Darcy’s as Jane’s turn came.

“Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will,” responded Jane in a tremulous voice.

Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat as she thought of saying those same words the following day, and all they implied. Darcy’s steadfast gaze comforted her, reminding her he would be with her, and that their separations were coming to an end. She lost herself in contemplation of their future, nearly missing her cues in the ceremony, and was glad when she could finally take Darcy’s arm to follow Jane and Bingley from the altar.

“Well,” said Mrs. Bennet, as soon as the family settled themselves at Longbourn after the wedding breakfast, “what say you to the day? I think everything has passed off uncommonly well, I assure you. As for my dear Jane, I never saw her look in greater beauty.”

“It went very well indeed,” agreed Mrs. Gardiner. “It was a testament to your fine planning, Mrs. Bennet.”

Mrs. Bennet, who was in very great spirits, was not to be suppressed. “Next it shall be your turn, my dear Lizzy! We must begin our planning soon—there is so much we must do!”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, who was feeling uncommonly anxious about the discussion, well aware that her mother would take her news neither well nor with dignity.

“Well, we have not wished to distract you in any way from your planning from Jane’s wedding, knowing how much depended on you,” Elizabeth temporized. “We have been proceeding with our own planning in the meantime, however.”

“Without any input from me? I see no reason you could not have waited!”

Elizabeth cast a helpless look at Mrs. Gardiner. “We could not wait because we plan to marry very soon, in fact, tomorrow,” she said, bracing herself. She wished that Darcy were not present to see the mortifying explosion that was sure to come.

“Nonsense, nonsense! Lizzy, I swear you delight in vexing me! I know you must be teasing me!”

Darcy decided it was time to come to Elizabeth’s rescue. “I assure you she is doing nothing of the sort, madam. We will be married tomorrow; the plans have been set,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument. Elizabeth glanced at him gratefully.

Mrs. Bennet, who was still sufficiently in awe of her future son-in-law to be taken aback, especially when he spoke in such a manner, said weakly, “But… your trousseau, you cannot be married without your trousseau! Oh, Lord! And there are many guests to invite, and planning…”

“We want only the immediate family present, and, as we will be going to London directly after the wedding, I can address the question of a trousseau then,” Elizabeth said placatingly.

“You cannot do that after the wedding! It must be before, it must! Oh, you have no compassion for my nerves, Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet turned to her husband, whose attention was deep in a book, and cried, “Oh! Mr. Bennet, you must help me! Lizzy wants to marry Mr. Darcy tomorrow! You must make her change her mind!”

Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication. “My dear, I thought that you wanted Lizzy to marry Mr. Darcy.”

“You are trying to vex me! I do not want them to marry tomorrow!”

“Well, I cannot see why they should not. I am perfectly at leisure tomorrow.”

“Mr. Bennet! How can you allow this?”

“My dear, it would seem to me that if two young people insist on marrying in a hurry, perhaps it is best not to question too deeply. Now, madam, I shall be in my library where I may be assured of some peace.”

As Mr. Bennet retreated, Georgiana and Kitty were doing their best to stifle giggles, Mary looked disapproving, and Elizabeth was biting her lip in an attempt to disguise a smile. Darcy, less willing to be the subject of this kind of humor, especially in front of his sister, said, “Mrs. Bennet, may I speak with you privately for a moment?” He sent an amused glance to Elizabeth as he ushered her mother out of the room.

“Mrs. Bennet,” he began in a severe manner, every inch the Master of Pemberley. “I fear you may be subject to some misunderstanding on this matter. The decision on the date was mine. I am not a patient man, and your daughter has kept me waiting a very long time, and I have no intention of waiting any longer. The frank truth is that it is tomorrow or Gretna Green. Do I make myself quite clear?”

Looking most flustered, Mrs. Bennet said, “Of course, Mr. Darcy… I am sorry if I… it is only that Lizzy can be so headstrong at times, and I thought… pray forgive me, but I had assumed that you would want a more proper wedding, but you prefer this… of course, as you wish!”

With a gleam in his eye that Elizabeth would have recognized instantly, he responded, “Had your daughter seen fit to accept me last April, matters might have been arranged differently, but, as you say, she can be quite headstrong.”

Mrs. Bennet’s eyes grew wide, and she said faintly, “Last April… Lizzy… I cannot understand…”

“Well, madam, I am glad that we understand one another. Shall we return to the company?”

As Darcy held the door for her, he shot Elizabeth a triumphant look over Mrs. Bennet’s head. “Well, now that we are all in agreement, are there any other matters that must be addressed?”

Mrs. Gardiner, seeing the stunned look on her sister-in-law’s face, determined that the time had come for some soothing of nerves. “My dear Mrs. Bennet, I hope that you will not think this too presumptuous of me, but in my concern for the many demands placed on you this week, I took the liberty of speaking with your cook myself about the wedding breakfast. I know she is most anxious to go over the arrangements with you, and perhaps this would be a good time.” She gently steered Mrs. Bennet from the room.

Elizabeth eyed Darcy with some suspicion, but also with pride for his confident handling of her mother. “What did you say to her?”

He glanced significantly at the corner where Georgiana, Mary, and Kitty sat. “We discussed our points of view.”

Kitty whispered something in Georgiana’s ear, then, with a look which indicated she thought them both spoilsports, said, “I can tell when we are not wanted.” She swept out of the room, followed closely by the other two girls.

Mr. Gardiner also stood and made to join the exodus. “I think it must be time for me to take my leave as well, unless you want a chaperone,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye. Elizabeth, smiling, shook her head, and he departed.

She stared at Darcy expectantly. He said, “I told her that it was tomorrow or Gretna Green.”

“But that is completely ridiculous. You would never elope!”

“You know that, as do I, but I doubt your mother is sensible of it! Also, I gave her something else to worry about as a distraction.”

“What do you mean?”

He smiled teasingly. “I told her you had refused me in April. She may never forgive you.”

“I’m sure she will not!” cried Elizabeth feelingly. “It is a good thing for my safety that we will be departing tomorrow!”

“It is a good thing for my peace of mind, that much is for certain!” He took her hand and pressed a light but lingering kiss in her palm.

Elizabeth, distracted by the exquisite sensation his casual gesture produced in her, attempted to look composed, but Darcy’s observant eyes did not miss her reaction. With a slight smile, he repeated his action, then continued his attention by touching his lips lightly to the sensitive skin inside her wrist. His gaze growing intent, he murmured, “You may have dismissed your uncle too soon, my dearest, for I fear you may have need of a chaperone after all.”

“His question was not if I needed a chaperone; but whether I wanted one,” she said demurely.

His smile grew. “I see we are back to provocative remarks.”

“Is that a complaint, sir?”

“Not at all,” he said, punctuating each word with another kiss inside her captive hand. He turned his attention to her fingers one at a time, never taking his eyes off her. Elizabeth, astonished by the degree of pleasure she was deriving merely from the touch of his lips on her hand, leaned toward him, expectant that he would kiss her, but Darcy, with a glint in his eye, continued his tantalizing exploration until she shivered visibly in response. He moved nearer and finally answered her need by capturing her lips with his own, and, taking advantage of the moment of distraction as his desire met hers, drew her toward him and into his arms.

She said, “Fitzwilliam, if someone walks in…”

“They will be very shocked,” he completed her sentence, his lips exploring the angles of her face. “Elizabeth, my love, tomorrow you will be my wife.”

Torn between anxiety that they would be discovered and her hunger for his touch, she hesitated until at last his mouth met hers again and any remaining rational thought fled her mind. The intoxicating feeling of his hands pressing her close to him made her tremble as she lost herself in the pleasure of his kisses. Fortunately, no one did walk in.