A Most Civil Proposal (38 page)

Elizabeth was similarly affected, but she resolved to put aside her anger now that she had learned what she needed to know. “Let us not allow this to distress us further, Jane,” she said, managing to summon a smile, “for tomorrow is to be your day, and I would not want my troubles to diminish your own joy.”

Jane had one last thought to share on the subject of her father before she would allow a change of topic. “I hope that you understand why I did not ask you to stand up with me tomorrow. I was afraid of Papa’s reaction, and it still pains me, for I had never dreamed of being married without you beside me.”

“You made the correct choice. William and I will be close by, for Papa would never make a scene in public view. We will simply depart for Pemberley immediately afterwards. Now, let us leave this subject and talk of other things. Are you completely packed?”

“Yes,” Jane said, but her smile was wan. “I remember how we talked before your marriage about how nothing would ever be as it was, but I must confess that I did not fully realize it until I came home to our room and all of your belongings were gone. It was even more striking when the time came time to pack up
my
things. I had to make choices about what to take and what to leave behind, and now I know how you felt when you mentioned never again returning to the room we shared.”

She frowned suddenly. “Lydia was quite exasperating. She kept trying to talk me into giving her some of my new gowns even though they would not fit her, and she several times pulled folded dresses out of my trunk in order to look at them in the mirror to see how they would appear on her. I had spent considerable time folding those dresses correctly, and it irritated me to have to do it over again. And Mama simply would not make her stop.”

“No, she would not,” replied Elizabeth sadly, “for we both know that Lydia is her favourite daughter. I am sure that Lydia is unable to stand the fact that she is not the centre of everyone’s attention, and she has said many times how much fun it would be to be married before any of her sisters. And now, with the two of us having made splendid matches, I believe she is feeling jealous.”

“Perhaps so,” said Jane doubtfully. “I will have to give way to your better understanding on this subject. But I know I would not be marrying if it were not for you, Lizzy. You have been the cause of much happiness for both of us.” Now Jane smiled mischievously at her sister. “Or do I not interpret the signs correctly? I saw the way that you and Mr. Darcy looked at each other when you joined us, and you both appeared to be well pleased.”

Elizabeth instantly blushed at this proof that she had not been as successful at disguising the reason that she and Darcy were so late coming downstairs as she had imagined. Jane laughed delightedly at her success at discomfiting her sister, and Elizabeth could not be angry with her on this day and soon joined in.

“I hoped you had not noticed.” This drew another laugh from her sister. As they walked further through the garden in companionable silence, Elizabeth determined on a way to turn the tables.

“Have you given any thought to the advice that Aunt Gardiner gave us the day before my marriage?” she asked, giggling at Jane’s sudden blush.

“I do recommend that you give careful consideration to that rather than what dear Mama tried to warn us of,” Elizabeth continued cheerfully when Jane made no response.

The sisters walked on in silence for several minutes before Jane was able to venture any response to that remark.

“Truly?” she said, her voice so soft and tentative that Elizabeth barely heard her.

“Truly, dearest sister,” smiled Elizabeth.

“You have worn one of those . . . those gowns for your . . . for Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes, Jane, I did, and on our very first night together,” Elizabeth said cheerfully, “and on most nights since then. Though,” she said with the most innocent expression, “our aunt was also correct in estimating my chances of keeping that gown on for very long.”

“Oh,” was all that Jane could say. They walked on further before she ventured, “I
would
like to wear one for Charles, but I do not know if it would please him. And,” she confessed in a low voice, “I worry that I would be too embarrassed to even put one on, much less let Charles see me in it.”

“I think you should trust Aunt Gardiner on this,” Elizabeth encouraged her. “I believe it would please him, Jane; I truly do. And I would further advise you to wear the most daring of your nightgowns on the first night. I remember that one well, and you will look beautiful beyond compare in it.”

Elizabeth’s eyes danced mischievously as she looked over at her sister. “But I must repeat the warning that, no matter what you wear to your husband’s bed, you will not wear it for long! Our mother is quite mistaken in this matter, and our Aunt Gardiner is correct. My husband has said several times that he has come to regard our aunt as one of the most sensible women of his acquaintance!”

Jane had to laugh, and Elizabeth continued, “Plus, there is the further consideration that Bingley has grown quite confident of late.”

“And he did say that he was done with prudence!”

“There, you see?” said Elizabeth delightedly. “You would not want to give a
prudent
signal to a man who is determined to be quite
imprudent!
Trust our Aunt Gardiner, and trust what William says about her!”

Jane smiled and hoped that she could follow her sister’s advice, for she dearly desired to see Charles look at her as Mr. Darcy had looked at Elizabeth earlier!

* * * * *

Wednesday, May 20, 1812

Elizabeth and Darcy arrived with Georgiana at Longbourn Chapel early the next morning, for Elizabeth was anxious to avoid an open confrontation with her father. She had come to the belief that much of his intransigence was due to pride, in much the same way that her own pride had misled her in her evaluation of her husband prior to that memorable evening at the Hunsford Parsonage. Her father prided himself on his insight into other people even as she once had, and he would be even less likely to admit error than she had been, for he had for too long disengaged himself from the world outside his library.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were the next to arrive, having travelled early that morning for the ceremony. Darcy immediately went over to Mr. Gardiner and drew him aside, for Darcy had suggested the previous evening that they invite the Gardiners and their children to Pemberley for Christmas. Elizabeth was pleased to see the easy manner between Darcy and her uncle, and she was easily able to see her uncle’s pleased surprise when he received the invitation. Darcy returned to Elizabeth and Georgiana just as Bingley’s two sisters entered and joined the others at the front of the chapel by the altar. The remainder of the guests arrived after that — Aunt and Uncle Philips, Sir William and Lady Lucas, the Longs, the Gouldings, and others, followed finally by Mrs. Bennet. Bingley, attended by his brother, Mr. Hurst, made their entrance from a side door and came to stand by Reverend Palmer.

Once all were present, the Bennet daughters entered singly. Lydia came first, giggling and irreverent as always, followed by Kitty and then Mary. Finally, Mr. Bennet walked in with Jane on his arm, and Elizabeth saw Darcy’s gaze immediately shift to Bingley. He had told her of the almost physical impact he felt when she entered on the arm of her uncle, and she knew Darcy recognized the same impact on his best friend; she was momentarily enraged that her father’s displeasure had prevented her husband from standing up for him.

Darcy did indeed see and understand how Bingley saw Jane, for Elizabeth’s elder sister truly looked beautiful. But even more, Darcy felt a profound sense of relief and thankfulness that he had been able to atone for his earlier mistakes in separating them. He could only be grateful that his friend would soon be joined in a union that was almost certainly more perfect than his own. For while Bingley and Jane were like two identical coins, laid one on the other in perfect symmetry, he and Elizabeth were like two parts of the same coin — they fitted together to make a whole, but both of them were different in so many ways from each other. He grimaced inwardly, wishing that he had possessed similar insight the previous fall; so much anguish could have been avoided. But then he felt Elizabeth’s elbow dig into his ribs, and he realized that she must have read his mind — or his expression — and was reminding him of her advice:
Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.
He smiled weakly down at her and put his hand over hers on his arm in acceptance of the rebuke.

Mr. Bennet never looked their way during the whole of the service. Elizabeth struggled to keep her distress over her father’s snub from marring the joy she felt in Jane and Bingley achieving what was most assuredly the best of all outcomes, but she was only partially successful.

After the ceremony concluded, family and friends crowded around the newly married couple to congratulate them. Elizabeth was conscious of how her father had quickly withdrawn from the crush of people, so as not to be forced to even make a polite greeting to either of them.

The other guests departed to Longbourn for the wedding breakfast with the men, including Mr. Bennet, walking and the ladies taking the carriages. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Darcy said their goodbyes to the remainder of her family, and Elizabeth believed that Jane, in the excitement, had noticed little of the manner in which her father had snubbed both Darcy and herself. She was certainly in good spirits as she embraced Elizabeth, bubbling with joy and clinging to the arm of her new husband. It was with sadness for what should have been, mixed with relief that it was completed, that Elizabeth made her goodbyes to her mother and sisters and Darcy made his to Bingley. Then, as Bingley and Jane boarded one carriage and her mother and sister boarded the remaining one for the short trip to Longbourn, Darcy handed Georgiana and Elizabeth into his own coach for the trip to Pemberley. It was with decidedly mixed feelings that they bid goodbye to Hertfordshire.

Chapter 27

Saturday, May 23, 1812

“Look, Elizabeth, there is the entrance to Pemberley!” exclaimed Georgiana, leaning forward to point out the window. Elizabeth leaned over to see the lodge amid the trees of Pemberley Wood as the coach turned off the road.

“I cannot see anything but trees,” Elizabeth said. “Where is the house itself?”

“It cannot be seen from here,” answered Darcy. “We have to climb up to the rim of the valley to see across it to the other side where Pemberley House is located. I will have the driver stop there, for the view is excellent.”

“The woods are certainly beautiful, William. I believe that I shall enjoy exploring them very much.”

“I would suggest that you take provisions along if you are determined to walk rather than ride,” teased Darcy. “And I would still suggest that you learn to ride, Mrs. Darcy.”

“I am not a horsewoman, Mr. Darcy. If you desired a horsewoman for a wife, it is your own fault for choosing a simple country girl who is frightened of the beasts!” she teased him back. “I long ago agreed to a truce with my father’s animals — they stay to the stables and the roadways while I stay to the woods and fields.”

Georgiana was still trying to accustom herself to the way in which Elizabeth and her brother would sport with each other, but evidently, Elizabeth’s lively nature was the tonic her brother needed, for he only chuckled and patted her hand in contentment.

The coach continued to climb for some time, with the extensive wood stretching out on either side of the road. Finally, after about half a mile, they reached the top of the ridge, and Darcy called to the driver to pull up. Leaning over to Georgiana’s window and looking out, Elizabeth’s eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground and backed by a ridge of high woody hills, and in front a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned.

“It is completely delightful, William,” Elizabeth said, and Darcy could not hide the pleasure that he took from her artless and sincere compliment. “I am impressed by the way that nature has been left unchanged in everything I can see,” she continued. “The house seems so well placed that it appears to be part of the valley, and I cannot remember ever having seen a place where nature so well complements what has been added.”

“I have always felt more at home here at Pemberley than anywhere else, even in London,” said Georgiana softly. “I know William feels the same way.”

“However, I believe that we must move on, for our arrival appears to have been noticed,” said Darcy, pointing across the valley where the household staff poured out of the entrance to gather on either side of the stair to the door.

“It is always amazing the way they seem to know when someone is approaching,” smiled Georgiana. “It is almost as if they have some kind of signalling system like the semaphore towers that pass messages from the seaports to London.”

Darcy called to the driver to resume, and the coach descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door of Pemberley House. Elizabeth inspected the assembled servants in their various uniforms apprehensively then berated herself, for the staff at Pemberley must be equally as capable and welcoming as in town, and she could have no complaints about her reception there. But she could not help the nervousness she felt as Darcy assisted her down from the coach.