An Invisible Thread Page 4

  She quickly leaned away from Darcy. “I am so humiliated by my mother and sister’s comments. How can you wish to become part of my family after what you have just heard?” Elizabeth was mortified by the behavior of her family but she also began to feel more than a little frustrated with her new fiancé. She had bristled at the announcements Darcy had made about her trousseau and their other plans. He had never asked her for her opinions and had spoken as if she was not in the room.

  “I am not marrying anyone but you. I love and adore you and I do not give a whit about anyone else’s opinion on the matter. In two weeks we shall be wed. I gave the settlement papers to your father to look over and now I am off to see the vicar of the Meryton Church to see what dates are available for our wedding.”

  Elizabeth could no longer keep her thoughts to herself. She pushed herself out of Darcy’s embrace and said to him with anger in her voice. “Oh, I see. You are deciding where we should be married. You are deciding when we should be married. You have decided that I do not want an elaborate wedding. You have decided that I shall have no trousseau until after our wedding. It seems I am to marry a man who does not take my desires or my wishes or my opinions into consideration. A girl only marries once, Mr. Darcy, and she would like to have some say in the matter.”

  Darcy looked down at the ground for several moments before he said contritely, “You have every right to be upset with me, my love. I have been in complete control of my life and the lives of many others for more than five years. I make many decisions every day that impact hundreds of people and I am not used to consulting with anyone. I believe that this is the first lesson I must learn about taking a wife and especially taking you as my wife. I really want you to be my partner in all things. Tell me you understand and tell me you will help me mend my ways. Let's plan our wedding together, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”

  After considering what Darcy said, Elizabeth felt she understood what prompted him to act without asking her opinions. “Yes, William, I believe I do understand your reasons for acting the way you did. But I, too, want to be a partner in our marriage. Although I am not happy with the idea that our wedding plans were made without consulting me, I am willing to comply. However, if this should ever happen again, you will be Fitzy for a week!” They both laughed and he gave her a quick kiss before heading to the church.

  Darcy asked as he turned to leave. “And, just so I am clear on this, will you tell me whose proposal you refused?”

  “Mr. Collins!” They looked at each other and both began to laugh.

  Dear Aunt and Uncle Gardiner,

  I have very exciting news which I will ask you to share with Jane. I am engaged to be married to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire! I know that this seems rather sudden and I will explain everything to you when you come to Longbourn. The wedding is planned for Monday, October the sixth. I pray you will all be with us as we begin our new life together. Please believe me when I tell you that I am very happy about marrying Mr. Darcy. He is the best of men and I know you will agree with me when you meet him in a few weeks.

  My love to you all,

  Lizzy

  Chapter 5

  In the end, the wedding was planned for a Monday, three weeks hence. The days immediately following their betrothal were hectic. When one item to be done was checked off their list, three more were added. Some of their tasks were enjoyable and some were not. Elizabeth was taken to Meryton’s finest dressmaker and after several heated discussions with her mother, a wedding dress was decided upon. The dress was fancy enough for Mrs. Bennet and simple enough for Elizabeth’s taste. Mrs. Bennet insisted on showing off her future son in-law and therefore Darcy and Elizabeth accompanied her and her sisters to the homes of many of their friends and neighbors. Darcy was as friendly and forthcoming as he could possibly be in the company of complete strangers. They were all slightly in awe of this wealthy man from Derbyshire. As often as possible, Elizabeth went alone with her mother and sisters, giving Darcy a chance to spend time alone to ride and take care of his business dealings.

  Elizabeth soon received an answer to her express to the Gardiners and Jane. Her dearest sister told her that Mr. Bingley had started to call on her daily at Gracechurch Street. Jane informed her that the gentleman who had previously been calling on her decided not to pursue Jane’s hand when he learned she had no dowry. The five Bennet sisters would each inherit one thousand pounds upon the death of their mother. Their small inheritance discouraged any men of limited means to pursue their hands in marriage. Jane was planning to accompany the Gardiners back to Hertfordshire when they came for the wedding. The Gardiners and Jane wrote that they were all very happy for her but they all requested time alone with the bride to-be. They wanted Elizabeth to explain what had occurred so they could better understand how this betrothal had come to be.

  Darcy told Elizabeth that Colonel Fitzwilliam was planning to take a short leave from the war on the Continent and was bringing Georgiana to Netherfield a few days before the ceremony. Elizabeth was not aware if any other members of Darcy’s family would be in attendance.

  The morning of Georgiana and the Colonel’s arrival, Elizabeth and Darcy found a few minutes alone and decided to take a quick walk around the grounds of Longbourn.

  “Are things always so frantic in your home? If this is what you are used to, I hope you will be able to adapt to our quiet life at Pemberley.”

  “It is not always so noisy and my Mama is usually a bit less agitated. The wedding plans have heightened everyone’s nervousness and increased their normal anxieties. Things here will settle down after our wedding.”

  “Our wedding, how many months I have dreamt of those words. My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, I will make you happy. Your spirit and my reserve will balance each other perfectly. We will be the happiest couple in England!” They both laughed joyfully.

  Very quickly, Elizabeth became more serious. “William, I have been doing a lot of thinking these past weeks of our betrothal. I have been reflecting on all that has happened between us since last fall when you first visited Hertfordshire.”

  “Yes, dearest, and have you come to any profound conclusions as a result of all your pondering?” Darcy was teasing Elizabeth and her heart beat more quickly when she realized how much of her future husband’s true nature she had left to discover. Her heart was also beating more quickly because of what she was going to say to Darcy. Words she was finally sure of and words she had been trying to tell him for several days but they had not had an opportunity to be alone.

  “William, my dear William, I know not if you will find what I am about to say is profound but … uh, the thing is..”

  “Elizabeth, is everything all right? Are the wedding plans not going well? Is there anything I can do to ease your distress?”

  Elizabeth stopped and turned to face Darcy. She knew the best way to convey what she wanted to say was to just tell him what was on her mind and in her heart. “William, I love you. I cannot say when I fell in love with you but there it is. I love you most ardently and I am so happy that we will be wed in a few days. William, I love you.”

  “Elizabeth,” Darcy’s voice was but a whisper and there was so much emotion in that one word. He pulled her closer to him. “Are you sure you mean it?”

  “William,” Elizabeth smiled and said, “I do mean it. I love you with all my heart. I am yours completely and forever.”

  “My love,” Darcy released a deep guttural sound. He captured her lips in their most passionate kiss yet. It was several minutes before Darcy slowly broke away from Elizabeth’s lips. He cradled her head in his hand as she leaned into his chest. They stood together with their arms around each other for several more minutes.

  Elizabeth’s voice was very quiet as she looked up at Darcy’s handsome face and asked, “William, why do you call me Elizabeth and not Lizzy?”

  “The answer to that question is very simple. I think Elizabeth is the most beautiful name in the world because it is yours. Sinc
e everyone else seems to call you Lizzy, I prefer to call you Elizabeth. You and your name are very special to me and I do not want to share your name with anyone else. Do you mind that I call you Elizabeth?”

  “No, William, I do not mind, especially since you have explained your reasons. I will ask that you never call me Eliza. It is a name I strongly dislike.” Eventually Elizabeth resumed walking and she turned them both back toward Longbourn. “I must return before my mother sends out a search party. She feels I must be present for every discussion of every detail of our wedding. I know she wants everything to be right but I am getting tired of arguing about how much lace and embellishments I need on my wedding dress. Every day we discuss how many dishes should be served at our wedding breakfast!”

  “You will look magnificent on our wedding day, regardless of what you wear. My eyes will only be on your beautiful face. I hope I will not be too distracted by your beauty and forget to answer the vicar when he asks me if I will take you for my wife.”

  They were both very happy as they returned to Longbourn. His horse was brought to him by a stable boy and he turned to Elizabeth and gave her a quick kiss. “I will bring Georgiana and Richard to see you later this afternoon. Until then, remember, only three more days until our life together can begin!”

  Elizabeth watched him as he rode away. She admired the handsome figure of her future husband as he sat astride his horse. At the end of the drive, as if he could feel her loving gaze on him, Darcy turned and waved to her. She watched him ride away, his tall beaver hat visible for some distance. He headed to Netherfield Park to prepare for the arrival of his sister and cousin from London.

  Elizabeth was looking forward to seeing the Colonel again. He was presently on a short leave from serving on the Continent. She remembered his jovial, easy going personality from her visit to Kent. However, she was quite anxious about meeting her future sister. Darcy spoke so lovingly about Georgiana and last year Miss Bingley had done nothing but praise all of Miss Darcy’s accomplishments. She now knew enough to discount the negative things Wickham had said about Georgiana and looked forward to forming her own opinions. Elizabeth hoped that she and Miss Darcy would become true friends. Eventually they would all be living together at Pemberley. The newlyweds were going to London directly after the wedding breakfast and would spend their first few weeks as a married couple living alone at Darcy House. Georgiana would be staying at Matlock House with her aunt and uncle before joining Elizabeth and Darcy when they traveled to Derbyshire.

  Feelings of inadequacy were slowly seeping into her thoughts as the wedding date rapidly approached. Darcy often reassured her that she was more than prepared to be the mistress of Pemberley. He told her that Mrs. Reynolds had been the housekeeper there for twenty-five years and would help her whenever she needed guidance. Elizabeth wondered if she really was prepared to be Mrs. Darcy. ‘Well,' she said to herself as she entered her childhood home, ‘I’ will soon find out if I have what it takes to be William’s wife. I can only hope that I won't disappoint him.’

  As promised, William arrived in his carriage shortly after lunch accompanied by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy. When they were led into the sitting room by Mrs. Hill, Darcy’s eyes quickly searched the room and found the eyes of his betrothed looking lovingly at him. He quickly walked to her side and took her hand as he led her over to where the Colonel and Georgiana were standing.

  “Miss Elizabeth, please do me the honor of introducing you to my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgie, please meet my fiancee, Miss Elizabeth Bennet”.

  They both curtsied. “Miss Darcy, I have heard so much about you and have long looked forward to meeting you.”

  “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I have also been eager to make your acquaintance. Will has been mentioning you in his letters to me since last autumn and he never mentions any women who are not in our family.”

  Elizabeth looked at Darcy, who was looking down at his boots with a slight blush creeping across his face. “So, your brother has been telling you about me for many months. Miss Darcy, this is very good information to know.” Everyone laughed and Darcy turned to face the rest of the room’s occupants in order to introduce his sister and Colonel Fitzwilliam to the Bennet family.

  After tea was served, Mrs. Bennet suggested that Elizabeth take Mr. Darcy and his sister outside to view Longbourn’s gardens. She had thought to include the Colonel in her invitation but he was currently occupied listening to the inane prattle of Lydia and Kitty. Mrs. Bennett was incapable of denying her youngest daughters any opportunity to expose themselves to potential suitors. This was especially true since the Colonel was in uniform and was the son of a peer.

  Since it was a warm afternoon and they were walking in the shaded gardens close to the house, Elizabeth and Georgiana did not wear their bonnets or gloves. Darcy encouraged Georgiana and Elizabeth to walk together since the garden path was not wide enough to accommodate all three of them. Darcy allowed the two women he loved most in the world to walk far enough ahead so they could speak freely to each other. He was unable to overhear their first conversation together.

  “Miss Darcy, I am so pleased you are here. I long to get to know you better and sincerely hope we will become the closest of sisters.”

  “I feel the same way. I knew Will felt something strongly for you. His letters were full of praise for,” and here she paused and trying to imitate her brother’s deep voice, said, “‘the very intelligent and compassionate Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She loves nature and to be outdoors, she loves to take long walks, reads books on a wide variety of subjects and plays the pianoforte and sings like an angel. She walked three miles over muddy roads to come to Netherfield Park to comfort her sister.’” Both women laughed at Georgiana’s imitation of her brother’s deep voice. “I was hoping then that he would declare himself while he was still in Hertfordshire last autumn. Miss Elizabeth, he is the most wonderful brother in the world. He takes such good care of me and all our staff and our tenants. Pemberley has never had a better master and soon you will be Pemberley’s mistress. And since we are soon to be sisters, please call me Georgiana, or Georgie as Will and Richard do.”

  “Miss Darcy, I mean Georgie, I am in shock to hear what your brother wrote to you almost a year ago. I had no idea of his regard for me until my Easter visit to my friend, Charlotte Collins, in Kent. I am so glad we have had this talk and I look forward to many, many more private discussions after we all arrive at Pemberley. Also, please call me Lizzy as my family does.”

  Elizabeth and Georgiana turned to see where Darcy was walking and allowed him to catch up to them. “Will, Lizzy said you kept your feelings about her to yourself the entire time you were here in Hertfordshire last year. Is that true? You should have declared yourself then. You and Lizzy could have been married for months by now.”

  “Lizzy, is it? I see now that it will be two against one in the Darcy household. And as for why I failed to declare my feelings for Elizabeth last year, I did not feel she would have been receptive to my overtures. I learned in Kent that I was correct in my thinking. Elizabeth and I will be married for the rest of our lives. Waiting a few more months for us to come to understand and love each other was worth the wait.”

  “Yes, brother, I know that you are correct. Now that I have met Lizzy, I am very eager to have her as my sister.”

  “Three days, little one, and Elizabeth will be a Darcy.” Darcy was absolutely thrilled to see the genuine affection already growing between Elizabeth and Georgiana. His heart was bursting with happiness to see the two people he loved most in the world developing a caring relationship.

  “Lizzy, brother, would you mind if I go back into the house? I wish to spend some time getting to know my new family.”

  “Of course, Georgie, we will join you in a few minutes.” Darcy kissed her forehead and she walked back toward the house.

  Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and wrapped it around his arm. They began walking away from the house and the peeping eyes that o
ften appeared in the downstairs windows.

  “Where are you taking me, sir?” Elizabeth said with one eyebrow raised. This quizzical look drove Darcy to madness. Elizabeth looked so appealing to him.

  “I wanted us to have a bit of privacy because I have something to give you.” Darcy released Elizabeth’s hand and reached into his inside coat pocket. He brought out a black velvet pouch from which he took a beautiful ring. The ring featured a large round emerald enhanced with smaller diamonds set around the center stone.

  “Oh, William, it is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. But are you sure you want me to have it?” Elizabeth’s self-doubts were filling her mind at the sight of something so magnificent and, she knew, very valuable. The reality of her marrying a very wealthy man was becoming more and more real to her.

  “I am quite sure, my dear. Elizabeth, this was my grandmother’s engagement ring. Before her death, my dear mother gave it to me to present to the woman that I would someday marry. I could not give it to you before because Georgiana just brought it with her today from Darcy House. There is a matching necklace, earrings and hair combs which will all be yours. There are many other exquisite pieces which will be yours as Mrs. Darcy. Now, may we please stop talking about it and allow me to place my grandmother’s ring upon the finger of my betrothed?”

  Elizabeth raised her left hand and Darcy placed the ring on her third finger. “See, it fits you perfectly. My grandmother had small hands as do you. It is simply a place holder until I place your wedding ring there in a few days.”

  “Oh, William it looks even more exquisite on my hand. Is that a terrible thing for me to say?” They both laughed. “I just love it. I have never owned anything this beautiful. Thank you for this precious gift. I have not missed having an engagement ring but why did you not bring it with you when you came from London? You knew three weeks ago that you were going to ask me to be your wife.”