Chapter 28

On Monday, those staying at Pemberley were all very busy. The ladies travelled to Lambton to speak to the dressmaker about altering a dress. After the engaged couple had shared their plan to wed in just two days with the entire party, Georgiana asked Elizabeth to accompany her upstairs to the mistress's suite. Since Saturday, maids had been working on airing and cleaning the room, and Georgiana had been helping remove some of her mother's things.

As she worked, she had found a gown she thought might do well for Elizabeth's wedding dress. It required only a few minor alterations to make it fit the bride and some other small changes to make it appear more in the fashion of the day. Regardless, it was an exceptionally fine dress, and Elizabeth was delighted at the idea of wearing a dress that had belonged to her husband's mother.

"Georgiana, before I agree to this, perhaps you should ask your brother to ensure he does not mind me wearing one of your mother's gowns."

"Oh, I am certain he will not mind at all. It is a beautiful gown, and I think my mother would have been delighted to see it worn again, especially by the lady who would have been her daughter."

The next morning, Darcy presented an emerald parure to Elizabeth for her to wear during their wedding and encouraged Elizabeth to try the pieces on. She did so hesitantly, first putting on the earrings and then the bracelet.

"William, these jewels are exquisite but are almost too much for me. You will quite spoil me with such gifts."

"Nonsense, Elizabeth. You will lend them grace and elegance, and they will only enhance your own beauty."

She playfully rolled her eyes at him.

Darcy moved to stand behind Elizabeth and offered to help with the clasp of the necklace, which allowed his fingers, and then his lips to caress the spot on the back of her neck. "You are breathtaking, Elizabeth. The emeralds are a perfect complement to your beauty," Darcy whispered, his breath tickling her ear. He remained there several moments, pressing additional kisses to her neck and shoulders.

Elizabeth shivered at his touch, and her knees weakened slightly when he kissed her. Her aunt had spoken to her just that morning about the marriage bed; it had been an awkward conversation, but it only heightened her desire to be wed. Aunt Gardiner had assured her that, given how much Darcy seemed to love her, their marriage bed would be mutually satisfying and that Elizabeth should not hesitate to show her pleasure. It was so different from the conversations she had overheard when her mother and other ladies in Hertfordshire had discussed the act, and while still nervous, she felt more confident about what would take place than she might have had her mother been the one to speak to her.

Later that afternoon,a servant found the master in his study and reported that yet another carriage was arriving unexpectedly. Soon, Elizabeth and Darcy were once again prepared to greet its occupants on the steps, intentionally presenting a united front to whoever was arriving. This time, Darcy recognised the carriage long before it reached the house.

"It is my uncle," he told Elizabeth. "They must have been at Matlock and received the note I sent earlier. I hope he has come to show his approval for the match. I told him in my letter that if he disapproved, he might as well stay home. Of course, I did not mention the date of the wedding when I wrote, so I cannot be certain of his intention."

Elizabeth stood straighter. "You have said you will not allow anyone to disrupt our plans. Does that still hold true?"

He turned to look at her askance. "Of course, my love," he replied.

"Then do not worry, Will, all will be well. You will hold firm, and nothing your uncle says will disrupt our plans. If nothing else, we can sneak out of the house on the morning of the wedding before your uncle is aware and let him join us for breakfast once it is completed. Then we will make our escape to wherever you have decided to take me for several days of privacy."

Darcy looked down at her in deep affection. "I love you," he said before bending to place a light kiss on her lips.

His action served two purposes. One, he just wanted to feel that now-familiar sense of peace that he always felt when he kissed her wash over him. The second purpose was to show whoever was arriving that his mind was irreversibly decided on his course of action.

After the step was set, the earl stepped down from the carriage before turning to help his wife down. Richard followed, grinning widely.

"Well, I suppose Richard was not jesting when he said your mind was made up about this girl. From your letter, I gather we should expect Catherine to arrive in a day or two, and she will not be as easily placated as I," the earl stated.

"She will have to deal with her disappointment then. I will not change my mind, nor will I set Elizabeth aside. Assuming Lady Catherine heard of my engagement from whom I suspect she did, she will arrive exceptionally put out," Darcy replied.

Richard laughed as he ran up the steps to greet his cousin and his intended. "I knew Miss Elizabeth was good for you," he claimed. "I have never seen you so calm and happy when discussing our aunt and her plans for your future."

"Part of it is knowing that Lady Catherine can do nothing to stop the wedding," Darcy said quietly. "It is all arranged—we marry in two days."

His cousin's eyes grew large at this announcement. "Truly?"

The earl arrived a moment later, escorting a remarkably beautiful woman. Given her son's age, Elizabeth guessed she was at least in her fifth decade, but she looked far younger. When the pair reached the younger couple, Elizabeth dropped into a deep curtsey while Darcy bowed in greeting.

"Uncle, Aunt, I am surprised to see you. You are welcome, of course, but your visit was unexpected."

"You did not expect us to arrive soon after your note? Is this lady your intended?" the earl asked, gesturing toward Elizabeth.

"She is. Elizabeth, I would like to present you to my uncle, Lord James Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock, and his wife, my aunt, Lady Eleanor Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Matlock. Uncle, Aunt, I want you to meet the lady who will soon become my wife, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire."

His aunt and uncle raised their eyebrows, recognising their nephew's breach of propriety by not waiting for them to ask to be introduced to the young lady. "Your arrival here is a request for an introduction. Besides, she will be family soon enough. There is no reason to wait on ceremony, is there?" Darcy asked sharply, daring them to counter him.

"Might we enter the house?" the earl asked, his voice showing good humour.

Darcy stepped out of the way and indicated that the others should proceed. The earl and countess entered first. Servants took their outer clothing, and then Darcy led them toward a formal sitting room, one they had not used since their arrival. Unlike the rest of the house, this room was stately and ornate. It was still elegant but not at all comfortable and welcoming like the rooms he had been using for Elizabeth and her family.

Lord and Lady Matlock seemed to be aware that they had been put on warning. "Stop all this foolishness, Darcy. We are not here to stop the wedding but to support it. Richard has been telling us what happened in Hertfordshire, and after receiving a letter from Cathy, well, we thought it best to throw our support behind you and your bride as soon as possible. Now, when is the wedding to be?"

Darcy blinked for a moment at the earl. "You … you are here to support me?" he stammered.

Lady Matlock reached out a hand to pat his knee. "Of course, dear boy. We look upon you quite like another son. I do wish you had written to us sooner, but we understand from Richard that you have had quite the time of it. He told us about the incident with Wickham. I have never understood why George Darcy favoured that boy so much."

The earl interrupted. "Wickham was always something of a wastrel, and I am worried about him intruding on your notice once again. Richard will certainly continue the search, and I believe that was part of his intent in coming here. My son also mentioned Miss Bennet's father's objections to the match. I can understand his objection less than your father's treatment of the steward's son. Is the man a fool? Oh, I do apologise, Miss Bennet."

Elizabeth spoke for the first time since greeting them on the steps. "There is nothing to apologise for, my lord. I have come to a similar realisation. My father has been both short-sighted and foolish. He taught me as if I were his son, using me to lighten his own burden with his estate. I believed he cared for me and appreciated me for myself, but he intended that I would remain with him forever only so I might carry the burden of running the estate, leaving him to his books and sloth." She shook her head sadly at the remembrance.

"Regardless, his indolence in tending to his business will not prevent us from marrying. We have chosen not to wait for my majority, and after speaking with Mr. Harris"—she turned to look at Darcy, and he nodded at her to tell them—"we have determined the best course of action is to purchase a common licence and to marry on Wednesday."

Two of their guests were visibly startled by this news. "Wednesday?" Lady Matlock asked after a moment. "What about the reading of the banns and the like?"

"We spoke with the rector in Kympton yesterday and explained the situation to him. Since Elizabeth's father signed the settlement and a statement giving his permission for her to wed, I was able to purchase a common licence. He agreed to forgo any waiting periods and will conduct the ceremony Wednesday morning."

"I thought Mr. Bennet was unwilling to give his permission." The earl voiced the thought that they all had.

Elizabeth smiled slightly. "My uncles had him sign several documents before we departed the neighbourhood. Among other things, he gave the guardianship of me and my sisters—well, all but Jane, who is of age—to them, and my Uncle Phillips also prepared a marriage settlement and a statement granting permission for William and me to wed. My father did not bother reading the documents and signed them without hesitation. He also signed control of the estate and its income to William, though he and I will run it together from a distance."

The earl grunted. "He is more of a fool than I thought. No one should ever sign a document without reading it thoroughly, regardless of how much you trust the man asking you to sign it." He continued to speak along these lines for several minutes.

Elizabeth could do little else but nod. Darcy, seeing the look in her eyes, turned the conversation to another topic. "You mentioned a letter from Lady Catherine?" Darcy asked.

"It seems she received a letter from your friend's sister—the one who chases after you constantly." Lady Matlock paused, observing her nephew's grimace. "She claims you have been ‘bewitched' by some ‘country mushroom' of no fortune and little beauty. According to Catherine's letter, the girl is high in the belly with the progeny of some militiaman, and she is after you to provide for the child's care. The two claim you have been thoroughly taken in as you would never ‘forsake your duty to your family' otherwise."

Darcy groaned. "Does she remain at Rosings?"

"According to her letter, she was to begin her journey north this morning," Fitzwilliam interjected. "Knowing Lady Catherine, she left no earlier than ten in the morning and will travel for no more than four hours a day. She might arrive within the week. However, in her letters she had commanded that Father put a stop to any engagement."

This time, Darcy rolled his eyes. "Caroline Bingley managed to place a spy within Netherfield. She arranged to have my letters stolen and sent to her instead of to their intended recipients. Bingley is taking her north to Scarborough to see what he can do with her and set her up on her own. For now, I will not attempt to have her punished, so long as she has not already or does not spread any of her vitriol to others."

Lady Matlock scowled. "I will let my friends in town know she is a jealous shrew who has lost out on her intended target and is attempting to discredit the woman who did what she could not. I will take care of Elizabeth's reputation and her entrée into society, do not worry about that. Now, what remains to be done for this wedding?"