Chapter 29

Two days later, Pemberley stirred into activity long before the sun graced the morning sky. The kitchen bustled with preparations for the wedding breakfast while numerous maids and footmen diligently executed the directives of Mrs. Reynolds and Lady Matlock, adorning the house with flower arrangements from the hothouses and greenery gathered from the woods the previous days.

Elizabeth's room was abuzz with excitement and bustling activity as she and her sisters prepared for her wedding day. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia flitted around the room, offering opinions on which accessories Elizabeth should wear.

"Perhaps this ribbon would complement your gown, Lizzy," Mary suggested, holding up a delicate yellow ribbon.

Kitty chimed in, "No, no, Lizzy, this lace would look much lovelier with your veil!"

Meanwhile, Lydia, always one to seek adventure, rummaged through the box of jewellery Darcy had gifted his bride. "Oh, Lizzy, you simply must wear these earrings! They are positively divine!"

Amidst the chaos of well-intentioned suggestions, Aunt Gardiner entered the room with a gentle smile. "Girls, girls, let us not overwhelm the bride," she said, her tone calm yet firm. "Jane, Georgiana, please stay. The rest of you, out!" With a gentle wave of her hand, she shooed Mary, Kitty, and Lydia out of the room, leaving a sense of order and tranquillity behind.

Once they were alone, Jane and Georgiana approached Elizabeth, assisting her with her dress and veil. "You look breathtaking, Lizzy," Jane remarked, her eyes shining with sisterly pride.

Georgiana nodded in agreement, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Indeed, you are the picture of elegance and grace. Brother will be so pleased to see you coming down the aisle to him."

With her sisters' support, Elizabeth felt a sense of calm wash over her as she prepared to embark on this new chapter of her life. Their presence was a comforting reminder of the bonds of sisterhood and family accompanying her as she walked down the aisle toward her beloved.

Down the hall,Fitzwilliam engaged in lighthearted, teasing banter with the groom, an attempt to ease the tension that lingered in the air. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Fitzwilliam quipped, "Come now, cousin, you act as though marriage is akin to navigating a treacherous battlefield. I assure you, it is merely a pleasant stroll through the garden of eternal bliss. Besides, my sage advice is only meant to enhance your already profound wisdom. You will thank me for these invaluable nuggets of marital wisdom someday, mark my words!"

"Richard, leave off," the groom implored, his patience wearing thin. "Nothing you have said so far has been helpful. I have received an abundance of advice from three different married men, and I can bear no more. I am fully aware of the importance of tonight, and your jesting is entirely unnecessary."

Darcy knew what his cousin was doing. Instead of nervously pacing, he was able to redirect those anxious emotions into mild aggravation at Fitzwilliam instead. With an exaggerated bow, his cousin excused himself from the room, reminding them that their carriage would soon depart to take them to the church.

A short while later, Darcy found himself joined by his cousin Fitzwilliam, his uncle, and Mr. Phillips. The four gentlemen were the first to embark on their journey to the quaint little village church, where the union of Darcy and Elizabeth was to be solemnised. Darcy sat in the carriage, reflecting on the last few weeks as they listened to the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses' hooves. They seemed to echo the heartbeat of the occasion.

The church held more guests than Darcy might have expected. News of his wedding had spread from Pemberley to Lambton and Kympton. A smattering of tenants, Pemberley's servants, and a few more prominent individuals from each village were in attendance.

This fact gave Darcy a little pause, though his awareness of the audience did not last beyond the moment Elizabeth arrived in the doorway of the chapel. Even the uncle escorting her down the aisle to him was outside his view. From that point on, his entire focus was on Elizabeth.

The ceremony itself passed by in a blur, the weight of the moment rendering them both momentarily lost in the gravity of their commitment. Though they dutifully repeated the required words, the sacred vows exchanged, neither retained much beyond the sensory impressions of the occasion—the warmth of their intertwined hands, the earnest gaze they shared, and the soft murmurs that seemed to hang in the air. There was a silent exchange between the two of them—a mixture of shared joy and a tacit acknowledgement that their lives were forever changed for the better.

After obtaining all the proper signatures in the wedding register, Darcy took Elizabeth by the hand and led her down the aisle. The significance of the moment lingered in the air, a palpable shift in the trajectory of their lives. As they exited the church, a waiting coach stood ready to transport them into the next chapter of their shared journey.

Despite their head start, Elizabeth and Darcy's carriage was the last to arrive back at Pemberley, thanks to Darcy's suggestion that the coachman take the long way. As they stepped out, Elizabeth's cheeks were flushed with the remnants of joy and laughter—and not a few kisses—and her once-pristine hair bore evidence of their occupation. Fitzwilliam, always quick with a teasing remark, couldn't resist a playful jab. "Ah, the last couple to grace us with their presence! Did you take a scenic detour, Darcy?"

Though Elizabeth glanced mischievously at her husband, her cheeks and his still flamed. "Well, Richard, I have not had many opportunities to see the park yet. William thought I deserved to see a few of the sights."

Despite the good-natured ribbing, Darcy shot his cousin a mock glare. "Mind your own affairs, Richard," he said, his tone dry.

Sensing the line between jest and seriousness, Fitzwilliam wisely chose to relent. "Very well, very well. No need to scowl, cousin. You two are the picture of wedded bliss, your tardiness to your own breakfast notwithstanding."

The couple exchanged a knowing smile, silently grateful for the familial understanding that surrounded them. As they made their way into the house, the banter continued a lively reflection of the joy that had filled their hearts during their detour.

The wedding breakfast lasted about an hour before Darcy stood and proclaimed their need to depart. While the cottage they were to stay in was not far, it would take several hours to reach it, and he was anxious to begin their journey.

Once again, Fitzwilliam teased them for their haste. Darcy laughed when Lady Matlock swatted her son and told him to leave his cousin alone. "Should you ever deign to marry and give me grandchildren, you might appreciate his haste. I would not want you along when I was celebrating my wedding either. Now, as I believe your cousin has already said to you more than once today, leave off."

This rebuke was met by a bark of laughter from several of the gentlemen present. The couple took their leave of the party, all of whom intended to remain at Pemberley until the couple returned. It was to be only a short wedding trip, though Darcy had expressed a wish to take Elizabeth on a more extended trip in the spring. But before they could depart, another unexpected visitor arrived.