An Invisible Thread Page 5

  “I wanted to. I always knew I wanted you to have it. I was afraid if I had the ring with me when I met you on Oakham Mount, I would be presuming too much and tempting fate. I knew that you would not care about not having a ring before the wedding. It is one of the many things I love about you, your total lack of pretension. Most women I know in the ton would probably ask to see the ring before they accepted a proposal. After we happily settled everything between us, I sent Georgiana an express with the good news. I asked her to bring the ring with her when she and Richard came to Hertfordshire for the wedding.”

  Elizabeth could not take her eyes off the beautiful ring which now adorned her finger. She knew she would be lying to herself if she said she was not looking forward to seeing what other treasures would be hers once she was married to this kind, generous man. “William, what about Georgiana? Should not the Darcy jewels go to her? Maybe I could just keep this ring?” The last question was asked with a tease in her voice.

  Darcy laughed. “Have no worries, my love. Georgiana has inherited many beautiful pieces of her own. In my mother’s will, some of her jewels were specifically left to Georgiana and the others were left to the next Mrs. Darcy. Do you feel better about the jewelry now?”

  “Yes, I do. Thank you for easing my mind.” After a short pause Elizabeth said, “William, will you tell me about Pemberley? I know it is a place you and Georgiana dearly love, but I have no idea of what to expect when I see my new home for the first time.”

  Darcy took a moment before he responded. “Home, that is what Pemberley is, home. It is the place where Georgiana and I spent most of our time while growing up. As we each got older, we came to know and love Pemberley over the course of many years. The land around the main house is beautiful. There are extensive formal gardens but also lots of natural landscaping around the estate. There are so many scenic paths for you to discover on your daily walks and I plan to be by your side to show them all to you. Our stables are extensive and I know we can find the horse that best suits you. I only hope you come to love Pemberley as I do.”

  “It sounds so wonderful, William. I am sure I will come to love it as you and Georgiana do.”

  “Come, let us return to the house, my love. I feel certain that your mother will be thrilled to inspect your new acquisition. She will be bragging about it to your Aunt Phillips and Lady Lucas before the sun goes down!” At that comment they looked at each other and began to laugh as they walked back toward Longbourn.

  Chapter 6

  The next day the Gardiners arrived with Jane. They were accompanied on their trip from London by Mr. Bingley, who had left for London the moment he heard of Jane’s whereabouts from Darcy. He had called on Jane every day at the Gardiner’s London residence and Jane informed him of Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding. Jane told him of her planned return to Longbourn for the happy event and he was quite surprised by the news but very happy for his best friend. However eager he was to resume calling on Jane in Hertfordshire, he was apprehensive about how he would be received by the Bennets. Bingley was quite remorseful about his poor behavior following the Netherfield Ball. He was determined to make Jane forgive him for his conduct and to show her and her family that he was worth the effort of them giving him a second chance.

  They all set out from London about the same time. Bingley rode his horse to Netherfield Park while Jane and the Gardiner family rode in their carriage to Longbourn.The Gardiner’s carriage arrived at Longbourn before lunch. Before it came to a complete stop, the Bennet family was all standing outside to welcome them. “Oh, Jane, I have missed you so much and I am so happy you are here!” Elizabeth cried as she embraced her dearest sister.

  “Lizzy, I am glad to be back but I was more than shocked at the news you sent in your express. You, marrying Mr. Darcy in two days! I dare say we have a lot to talk about tonight in our bed chamber!”

  “Yes, Jane we do. I will tell you everything but not until we are alone tonight. Let me greet the rest of the family.” There were hugs and kisses for all the Gardiners and eventually they all entered the house. It was a very happy reunion and everyone was talking and laughing and enjoying being in each other's company.

  The Bennets and their newly arrived family settled in the sitting room after lunch to await their guests from Netherfield Park. As soon as the Darcy carriage was heard on the drive leading to Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet called for tea and refreshments. Those seated in the sitting room were all impatient for the introduction of the Gardiners to the Darcys and Colonel Fitzwilliam to be accomplished. Elizabeth was the most eager to see what Darcy’s reaction to her most beloved aunt and uncle would be. Although he was quite successful in his businesses, her Uncle was in trade and not someone with whom Darcy would ordinarily socialize. Elizabeth felt more nervous about this meeting of the two families than she had been about anything else that had occurred since she accepted Darcy’s proposal.

  After the Darcys and the Colonel had arrived with Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth began to relax. The introductions were made and Darcy and Georgiana greeted the Gardiners as if they were meeting members of the ton. Aunt Gardiner standing near Darcy’s sister and said, “Miss Darcy, I grew up in Lambton and I was fortunate to have toured the grounds of Pemberley several times. I also had the privilege of meeting Lady Anne when she frequented my father’s book shop. Miss Darcy, please allow me to say that you are just as beautiful as your mother.” Aunt Gardiner could not have said anything else that could have thrilled and excited Georgiana more. Lady Anne Darcy had died when Georgiana was still a baby. She loved to hear anything that people who had met her mother had to say.

  When Elizabeth looked over at Darcy, he was having a conversation with Uncle Gardiner about his businesses and several investments they had in common. All of Elizabeth’s worries were for naught. As she looked around the room she thought to herself, ‘this is my family. I love them with all their faults. I know they will help me get through the next few days and will be there to support me in church when I am married. I know I will miss them all when I leave Longbourn.’ She was smiling to herself until she noticed Lydia and Kitty fawning all over Colonel Fitzwilliam as they had the day before. Each was holding onto one of his arms as if they needed his support in order to remain standing.

  Elizabeth stepped over to them and said, “Young ladies, please give our guest the opportunity to use his hands to hold a cup of tea. Colonel, may I offer you a cup?” The Colonel smiled at the two youngest Bennet sisters. He briefly bowed to them and as the Colonel followed Elizabeth toward the tea cart, she looked back at her two silly sisters and saw them stick their tongues out at her. She smiled sweetly at them and went to pour the tea for their guest.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Mrs. Bennet. “How are the wedding plans progressing, Mrs. Bennet? Those who know Darcy best were beginning to doubt that he would ever find the right woman. I can see now that Miss Elizabeth is just the woman to help our dear Darcy overcome his shyness in company.”

  “I thank you for your question. The wedding plans are all in place, Colonel. Our Lizzy is certainly not shy but why Mr. Darcy chose her over my other daughters still astounds me!” Elizabeth was mortified and hurt by her mother’s words. She had often been the object of Mrs. Bennet’s derision. Her mother had always lavished her attention on Jane, the kindest and most beautiful of her daughters and on Lydia, with her vivacious and flirtatious personality. Although the other three daughters suffered from Mrs. Bennets comments, Elizabeth bore the brunt of her mother’s displeasure. Elizabeth was not as beautiful as Jane and Mrs. Bennet disapproved of Elizabeth’s favorite pastimes, reading and walking outdoors. She felt her second daughter was much too smart for her own good. Mrs. Bennet repeatedly told anyone who would listen that Mr. Collins’ was undoubtedly the only proposal of marriage Elizabeth could ever hope to receive. Elizabeth’s outward appearance spoke of her being a self confident woman but listening to her mother’s criticisms for so many years had resulted in Elizabeth being a very insecure woman who w
as prone to self-doubts.

  “Mama!” Jane said with as much scorn in her voice as possible without actually shouting at her mother. “Lizzy is a beautiful, intelligent and caring woman. The fact that Mr. Darcy is clever enough to recognize these attributes in her speaks well of his intelligence as well.”

  “Hear, hear Miss Bennet, I could not agree with you more. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth make a very handsome couple, indeed!” said Mr. Bingley. Bingley walked over to Jane’s side and took her hand and placed it on his arm as he led her toward a quiet corner of the sitting room where they could have a private conversation.

  The remainder of the afternoon passed without too much more embarrassment for Elizabeth due to her family’s poor behavior. Elizabeth accompanied the Darcys, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley as they walked outside toward their waiting carriage. Darcy turned to Elizabeth and kissed her hand while bowing over it. As he rose he looked into her eyes and said, “Only two more days, my little minx.”

  “I can hardly wait to meet you at the altar, my tyrant. You are not the only one ready to be wed.”

  “So, no Gretna Green?”

  Elizabeth laughed while shaking her head. “No, we shall not be off to Scotland in the middle of night although I do wish to travel there one day. Things are happening so quickly and we will be married soon enough. I am still trying to accustom myself to all the changes in my life and…to a new you. Please give me time, sir, I mean William.” She chuckled and Darcy grinned, showing his dimples only to his future wife.

  “I will give you all the time in the world to adjust. I think it will be easier once we are married and spending all our time together.” He kissed her hand again and as he turned toward the carriage his facial features returned to their normal austere expression.

  After preparing for bed that evening, Jane and Elizabeth heard a gentle knock on their door and their Aunt Gardiner slipped into the room. Jane sat beside Elizabeth and took her hand. “Lizzy, I can see that you are very happy with your decision to marry Mr. Darcy. It certainly appears that he is more besotted with you than ever before. I told you when we returned from Netherfield last November that Mr. Darcy cared for you. How did all this come about?”

  “There is so much to tell you both. Almost too much to convey at one time but I will try to summarize the entire affair. After Mr. Darcy and the Bingleys left Netherfield Park, I was sure Mr. Darcy and the Bingley sisters were the reason they left so soon after the Ball. Their purpose was to separate you, Jane, and Mr. Bingley. Everyone knew that you and Mr. Bingley had fallen in love.”

  “I met Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy again in Kent in March while I was visiting Charlotte and Mr. Collins at Hunsford. Darcy and the Colonel were visiting their aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh at Rosings Park, which is quite close to the parsonage.”

  “Every morning, as is my habit, I would take a walk around the beautiful Rosings gardens. A few days after I arrived in Kent, I came across Mr. Darcy while I was walking and he asked if we could walk together. After that, it seemed that no matter which direction I took on my morning walk, Mr. Darcy was there waiting for me. After this happened on five consecutive days, there was no doubt that we were not meeting by chance and Mr. Darcy was seeking me out. While we walked we talked of many things; books we enjoyed, poetry, music, theater and even politics. He was quite surprised I had any idea of the details of the Peninsular War.”

  “Oh Lizzy, it is so romantic. You and Mr. Darcy fell in love while walking through the gardens of Rosings Park.” Jane sighed.

  “No, Jane, there was nothing romantic about our walks. When the Hunsford party was invited for tea or dinner at Rosings, Mr. Darcy treated me with casual indifference except to frequently stare at me in order to find fault.”

  “Lizzy, how can that be?” Aunt Gardiner asked. “I can see that he loves you. I do not understand what happened.”

  “I am getting to that. One night, our party was invited to Rosings for dinner. I could not face another night of Lady Catherine’s insults to me and our family and Mr. Darcy’s unsociable nature. I feigned a headache and stayed back at the parsonage. I was in the sitting room writing a letter when I suddenly looked up and Mr. Darcy was standing there. He told me he loved and admired me.”

  “Such lovely sentiments!” Jane said excitedly.

  “No, my dear sister, it was far from lovely. Before I could say one word he proceeded to tell me that he cared for me despite his better judgement. He wanted to marry me despite the inappropriate behavior of my mother and youngest sisters and my father’s lack of effort to control them. He also mentioned my lack of connections and a dowry.”

  “Poorly done by Mr. Darcy. Lizzy, what did you say? I can only imagine your reaction after the insults he hurled at you and our family.” Aunt Gardiner’s voice conveyed her disappointment at hearing Darcy’s insulting words.

  “Exactly what I said does not matter, but I did not accept his proposal. I suppose he expected me to fall at his feet in gratitude for simply considering me as his wife. I did tell him that he was the last man on earth that I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.”

  “Lizzy, perhaps you were a little too harsh in your rejection?” Jane was always the person who tried to be kind and thoughtful in every situation.

  “I was not finished. I told him how his cruelty forced an honorable man to join the militia because he had no other financial means. ‘Wickham, again’ he said bitterly. I told him we all knew of Wickham’s sad story of the living bestowed by his godfather and denied by Mr. Darcy. I cannot remember all of it but those are the essentials.” Elizabeth left out her feelings of anger toward Darcy regarding his separating Jane and Bingley.

  “But, Lizzy, what happened after that? You now seem so happy together.” Aunt Gardiner knew that could not be the end of the story.

  “The morning after that awful proposal, I went for a walk to try to clear my head of everything that had happened the night before. Mr. Darcy was waiting for me. He approached me and asked me to read a letter which he handed me. I was so surprised that I took the letter from him. He quickly bowed and walked back to Rosings. I learned from Mr. Collins that Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam left for London later that morning.”

  “Did you read the letter? It was not proper for him to write a letter to a woman to whom he was not engaged,” Aunt Gardiner said.

  “Yes, Aunt, I know that, but, as I said, I was very surprised by his handing me a letter and there was something in his face that morning which made me accept it. I put it in my reticule and walked back to the parsonage. After breakfast, I told Charlotte I was a little tired and wished to rest in my room. She heartedly agreed since she could tell I had not slept well the night before, although she had no idea why.” Elizabeth recapped the contents of Darcy’s letter leaving out the part about Jane’s feelings for Bingley but explaining everything about Mr. Wickham and his corrupt ways.

  “Poor Miss Darcy, only fifteen and to be preyed upon by an older man. She considered Mr. Wickham to be a friend and he was only after her dowry.” Jane's compassion could be heard in her voice.

  “Yes, Jane, after reading Darcy’s letter so many times I have practically had it memorized, I realized what a fool I had been. I misjudged a very good, caring man because he insulted me the first time we met at the Meryton Assembly. Darcy and I can laugh about it now but I told him that I probably began to care for him the first night we met. That is why the words of his proposal in Kent were so very hurtful to me.”

  “But how is it that you are now engaged to be married?” Her aunt asked.

  Elizabeth told Aunt Gardiner and Jane about her walk to Oakham Mount and the renewal of Darcy’s proposal. She knew her dearest relatives would never betray her confidence about the necessity for a short betrothal. “I see. Well, Lizzy, you both seem quite content about the turn of events that have led you here. I wish you nothing but happiness in your life with Mr. Darcy.”

  “Thank you, Aunt. You will both see that Darcy is the best of
men! What is happening between you and Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth asked her sister.

  “Oh my, I hardly know what to say. As soon as I saw him again in London I knew I was still in love with him, maybe more than last November. But I am so afraid to open my heart to him again. How can I trust that he will not ride away without letting me know or saying goodbye to me?”

  Aunt Gardiner said, “Jane, you are right to be cautious at this point. If Mr. Bingley continues to call on you, I believe you should open your heart to him. He came back to Hertfordshire and to London to resume your courtship.”

  Elizabeth added, “In two days Darcy will be your brother. I do not think Mr. Bingley would ever do anything to anger the great and powerful Fitzwilliam Darcy!” The three women laughed so hard they fell over onto the bed. Jane again took Elizabeth’s hand and said, “I am so glad you have found happiness. I will miss you more than I can say.”

  “And I will miss you, Jane. When you and Mr. Bingley are married you can buy an estate in Derbyshire and we can be near to each other again.”

  Aunt Gardiner added, “Lizzy, that sounds like a wonderful plan for the future. Please do not forget to invite us to join you all in Derbyshire. Tomorrow is a busy day for everyone, so I think it is time for all of us to get some sleep!” Aunt Gardiner rose and kissed her two nieces before she left the room.

  “Good night, Jane.”

  “Good night, Lizzy. Sweet dreams, my dear sister.”

  Chapter 7

  The following day found all the Bennet sisters walking into Meryton for some last minute shopping before the wedding. Kitty and Lydia ran ahead to look at some new bonnets. Mary and Jane wanted to look for some new books at the booksellers. Elizabeth had no interest in looking for bonnets and she had already packed her favorite books for her trip to London after the wedding. She told her sisters she would wait outside and take a last look at Meryton and its residents.