Chapter 70

70

C anonbie was one of the prettiest villages she could imagine. Elizabeth leaned out of her bedchamber window, and gazed at the great hills rising to the north in the gathering dusk. It seemed to be getting darker earlier the further north they went, although she was not remotely tired, this final evening as a Bennet.

There was a knock on the bedchamber door, and she turned and smiled at her aunt and sister. "How lovely for your company this evening." She indicated the one chair. "Do take the armchair, Aunt. Jane and I will sit on the bed as there is little room in here."

Aunt laughed. "I am sorry you never had the opportunity to travel far when you were younger, girls. Nearly all inns in Scotland are very small, and there is a need to have as many chambers as possible at the expense of their size!"

Jane smiled serenely. "We started our wedding tour in Bath, Lizzy, and the expensive inns are more commodious. But I can understand why there are no larger ones, here in the areas where there are few travellers who would be willing to pay for the luxury of space."

"Anyway, enough talking of inanities. There is much to be spoken of before we go down to dine, Lizzy. First, Jane and I will help you prepare your apparel for tomorrow, and then Jane will leave you and I to have a conversation about what you might expect tomorrow night."

Heat flooded Elizabeth's face, and she was surprised to see Jane blushing too. "Is it so embarrassing as that for you to blush, even though you have been married for weeks?" She suddenly wondered if she ought to remain a spinster.

"Not at all, Lizzy, dear." Her aunt seemed to know what she was thinking. "And yes, marriage to a man who loves you is well worth some early embarrassment."

Jane nodded. "You are fortunate, Lizzy. I had the disaster of Mama attempting to explain things to me the night before Aunt kindly reassured me on the morning of my wedding, when I was in quite a state."

Elizabeth's hand was in front of her mouth. "What did Mama say? Mary overheard her, but would not tell me."

Jane looked shocked. "She did?" Then she shook her head. "You do not want to know. After you have been married a year, then I might tell you if you wish for some light relief; but suffice it to say, it is not true."

Aunt Gardiner huffed a quiet laugh. "Enough for now. Lizzy, you have been very good in not mentioning any worries about what you will wear tomorrow, so if you do have any concerns, I wanted to tell you that I brought with me a gown I had commissioned for you for your coming of age dinner in May. I think tomorrow will be a good time to wear it instead." She left the room as Jane took her sister's hand.

"Did you really not think about what you will wear tomorrow, Lizzy?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "There was no opportunity to do anything about it, Jane, so there was no purpose in worrying. I will have to tell Aunt, though, when she comes back that I did ask her maid to wash my gown, and now she need to trouble too much to ensure it is dry."

She gasped as her aunt returned to the room, carrying a beautiful satin gown in her favourite dusky rose pink, with ribbon trim in a deeper red.

"Oh, Aunt!" Elizabeth reached out and gently touched it. "That is perfect! Now I can believe that I am indeed tolerable enough to marry Mr. Darcy!"

"Oh, Lizzy!" Jane tried to hide her amusement. "You know very well that he regretted what he said the instant he had uttered it. You must forget it now you are to be married!"

"Not at all!" Elizabeth could hardly hide her happiness. "I shall retrieve the insult to hurl back at him every time his pride overtakes him!"

"Only you, Lizzy; only you." Her aunt shook her head. "Now, you must try this dress on. It ought to fit you, because you have regained some of the weight you lost when you were so ill."

Elizabeth turned to them once she had the gown on. "Aunt, I cannot thank you enough for having the forethought to bring this with you. It is exactly what I might have chosen." She remembered, "Oh, might you tell your maid she need not be too concerned about washing my other gown for tomorrow now I have this one?"

"I've already done that, Lizzy, when I saw Norah carrying it." Aunt placed a few items on the dresser. "These are for tomorrow."

Elizabeth glanced over and saw hairpins, some spare ribbons and other items that might be needed as she dressed. "I thank you for your care, Aunt."

Her aunt embraced her. "And now for the little talk, Lizzy."

"Um, would you have the time to do this after we have dined?" Elizabeth blushed at the thought of listening to her aunt and then having to sit over dinner with Mr. Darcy and the other gentlemen. She blushed again as she caught sight of the knowing smiles of her sister.

"Of course, Lizzy. Though you will not be able to escape it completely, you know. I would not serve you well if I allowed you to remain ignorant."

The day had dawned bright, and she drove the short distance to the little kirk with her aunt and uncle. She knew the service would be much more informal, so Uncle would not give her away, as was required in the Anglican service, but she appreciated that they were trying to give the occasion a sense of importance and not set it to appear a hasty necessity.

She wanted to see William. They had been careful to keep her separate from him this morning, to keep that little tradition. But there had been so little time with him last night, or in the two days of travel here, she hardly felt betrothed any more.

But when they reached the kirk, William was waiting outside, and it was he that assisted her from Uncle's coach.

Aunt looked concerned. "Is anything the matter, Mr. Darcy? We thought you would be waiting with your cousin inside."

"Nothing at all, madam." William smiled down at Elizabeth. "I merely wanted to step along the lane with my bride for a few moments before the ceremony." He lifted his gaze to the Gardiners. "I know it is not traditional, but this is not a traditional ceremony, and I would ask that you precede us into the kirk, and then Elizabeth and I will enter together."

Then they were walking slowly along the lane, her hand on his arm, with his other hand covering hers.

"Elizabeth," he said quietly. "You look absolutely beautiful, certainly the most handsome woman of my acquaintance." He drew a deep breath.

"I am honoured and privileged that you have consented to marry me, and I vow that I will love and cherish you all of my life. It will be my joy to walk beside you all the days of our lives together."

Elizabeth sighed. "I am happy you chose to walk here with me and tell me how you feel. It seems we have had so little time together, and I was wondering if you might have had second thoughts and felt trapped into continuing with this."

He chuckled. "No, dearest Elizabeth. Instead, when we had to be apart, I was wishing away every moment until this day and this time." He lifted his hand, and tucked in the curl that had, as usual, escaped its pin. "I love you, my dear, and I am desolated that it has taken me so long to prove my worth to you. This is my privilege; I will never regret our marriage."

He lifted his head. "And now, I suppose we had better join our families."

"Not just yet, William." Elizabeth turned to face him. "May I have my say?"

He looked down at her. "Of course, dearest. How remiss of me not to ask." His eyes were dancing, and his joy was infectious.

"I only wanted to say that I am so happy you have burst through my difficulties in learning to trust people again; that I return your feelings utterly and completely, and that I share your hopes for our future together."

He dipped his head, and touched her forehead with his lips. "Brava, dear Elizabeth." He lifted his head and tightened his arm on her hand. "Now we may go in for the practical part of the service."