The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy (40 page)

***

Such unpleasant tasks completed, Elizabeth could focus on helping Georgiana prepare for her first wedding. They had decided on a cliff-side wedding at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, with a reception at a small restaurant close by. Elizabeth helped make all of the arrangements and helped Georgie pick out her gown on short notice. They found a gauzy white halter-style dress that needed little alteration. Elizabeth wore a sage green dress of similar style and both went barefoot. Darcy and Fletcher were dressed in sand-colored linen suits and white shirts without ties.

“Here, you’ll need these,” Elizabeth said as she gave Georgiana her bouquet.

“Thank you,” Georgiana said. She clutched the flowers and looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth grinned and placed a few flowers in Georgiana’s hair.

“You know, your brother is especially partial to flowers in the hair,” she smiled. Georgiana laughed.

“Somehow, I don’t think it’s the same when it’s me.” Georgie’s hair was twisted down the back and Elizabeth wound stems into the twists and secured them. She stood back to admire her work.

“Beautiful,” Elizabeth said.

“Elizabeth, thank you for everything. I couldn’t have done it without you,” Georgiana said quietly. Elizabeth put her arms around Georgiana and hugged her.

“No thanks needed,” she said, smiling. “I have a lot of experience being a sister,” she laughed.

“I’m glad he found you,” Georgie said.

“Enough about me! It’s your wedding day!” Elizabeth exclaimed. Georgiana laughed and took a deep breath.

“OK, let’s do this,” she said shakily.

They were in a dressing tent on the beach some way down from the lighthouse. Elizabeth stepped out and held the flap open for Georgiana. She found Fletcher’s brother, who was acting as best man, and the ceremony began. Elizabeth watched as Darcy gave his sister away. Georgiana was radiant with joy and she and Fletcher kissed deeply after they exchanged vows.

Darcy hugged Elizabeth tightly after the ceremony, blinking back his tears.

“I can’t believe she’s married,” he said, choked up.

“And you’re still an old maid!” Elizabeth teased.

“She’s been everything to me for so long, I never thought I could give her up,” he said. Elizabeth smiled and put her arms around his waist. She couldn’t quite comprehend the depth of his feelings as she had an overabundance of sisters and parents but she did understand that he had an uncommonly close bond with his sister.

“Ah, well, better to cry now than in front of 500 guests,” he laughed and wiped his eyes. He composed himself and kissed Elizabeth then they rejoined the small party. They made their way to the restaurant and spent the rest of the evening laughing, drinking, dancing, and being in love.

***

They had been engaged for just a few weeks but had not begun to make any concrete wedding plans yet. Every wedding he attended was increasing Darcy’s desire to marry Elizabeth; he was ready, he wanted to settle down and start a family.

“Have you given any thought to when you’d like to get married?” he asked her one evening. She sat on a stool in the kitchen at the center island, flipping through a magazine. She showed him the magazine:
Modern Bride
.

“Of course. Have you?” she smiled. He leaned on his elbows on the counter next to her.

“I’ve thought of little else,” he admitted.

“Are you anxious?” she asked, surprised.

“Not anxious, just ready. I’ve been ready to marry you for almost a year,” he said with a little laugh. “I was ready to marry you before we even left England. I’ve been waiting a long time.”

“I had no idea,” she replied. “I thought you would like some time to get used to the idea,” she smiled. He shook his head and straightened, putting his arms around her.

“I’m well acquainted with the fantasy of calling you Mrs. Darcy,” he said softly.

A shiver literally went down her spine and gooseflesh formed on her arms. It was the first time she had heard anyone say it out loud.

He watched her reaction and smiled. He felt the same way. He dipped his head and kissed her, the hairs on his arms standing as he did. He broke off the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers.

“I want to be married, Lizzy,” he said quietly.

“So do I. Let’s set a date,” she nodded.

“Do you want a big wedding?”

“Not at all,” she answered. He nodded. They quickly drew up a list of people they wanted to have at the wedding, keeping it to the bare essentials. Their guest list was only 75.

“Georgiana had mentioned possibly our getting married while we were in London for their wedding. I initially said no but what do you think?” he asked her.

“Well, all of your family will be there and some of mine, but not all of them.” They calculated they would have to fly about 20 people to London.

“That’s not even the cost of Georgie’s flowers,” he remarked.

“How would Georgie feel about us getting married then?” she asked.

“She suggested it. I think she considers last week’s wedding her true wedding and this one a formalization for show. So I don’t think she’s going to have any problem with it. But what about you? How would you feel about having a small wedding in the face of that circus?”

“I don’t really care. Most of my family and friends will be there only for our wedding. I’m not worried about your family making comparisons.”

“Nor am I,” he smiled. “I admit, I’ve long harbored a desire to be married at Pemberley’s chapel,” he said.

“Then that settles it, I think we should do it.”

They settled on a date just two days after Georgiana’s wedding. Over the next few weeks, Darcy wrote personal notes to select relatives and invited them to his own small wedding at Pemberley, emphasizing that it would be a modest affair for close family and friends.

They hurriedly arranged for Elizabeth to have the last two weeks in May and first three weeks in June off. Catherine de Bourgh agreed only as a personal favor to Darcy but refused to pay Elizabeth while she was off. She was seriously put out that he was not marrying Anne instead but hoped that he would come on board at de Bourgh and Associates after he retired and so did as he asked.

As Darcy was set to retire at the end of April, he did not need to seek permission. However, Judge Boyd had asked him to stay on in a temporary capacity until the position was filled; Darcy agreed on the contingency that he would have all of May and June off, returning on July 1.

He contacted the wedding coordinator retained for Georgiana’s wedding and asked her to coordinate his as well. He and Elizabeth held several quick conference calls with her and both were satisfied that all would be taken care of.

***

“What of your plans to move back to England after your retirement?” Elizabeth asked him. He shrugged.

“I can’t take you away from your family. Everyone I love is here. I always envisioned living there with my family but I realize now that I was just envisioning a family; it doesn’t matter where I am. As long as I’m with you, I’m content.”

She hugged him and kissed his cheek.

“But I don’t want to live here,” he added, pulling her onto his lap and indicating his living room. “I’ve got Caroline out scouting for something out of the city. She gave me this. What do you think?”

Elizabeth held up a brochure.

“Historic Georgian country home, formal gardens, two floors, ballroom
...
” she read. “It’s for sal
e?”

“It was run by a private historical society but they’re running out of funds. They are looking for a purchaser who won’t do anything radical to it and they want it in writing. It’s sort of ‘Pemberley Lite,’ I think.” Darcy explained. “I’ve set up an appointment to see it tomorrow,” he finished. She looked at him and grinned.

“Let’s go see it.”

They drove with the agent to the estate the next day. Darcy and Elizabeth were charmed by the house; despite its size, it felt cozy. She had never dreamed of living in any such place
,
well, ok, maybe dreamed. The thought of maintaining such a place was daunting.

“We’d have to hire a gardener, I think,” she whispered to him. He laughed quietly.

“Yes, we’d have to hire a staff. I think we could manage,” he replied in a low voice.

The historical committee were not at first impressed that a young judge and his soon-to-be wife were interested in purchasing the property. However, one savvy member had Googled Darcy; there was an amusing match to Fitzwilliam Darcy of the prestigious and eminent Darcys of England. She laughed at the coincidence until she matched photos from his judicial website with a photo of him in his racing days.

Darcy and Elizabeth were interviewed by the committee, with Darcy providing his insights on the improvements that should be made without interfering with the character of the home, as well as the maintenance issues. He insisted that it no longer be open to the public and the gift shop be removed; he conceded that it could be made into a utility shed.

They impressed upon him the importance of maintaining the gardens, as they were a highlight of the home. He agreed and discussed the various staff needed.

“Mr. Darcy, are you quite sure you are up to the task?” one elderly committee member asked. The researcher shifted a stack of paper toward the other member, who glanced down at it through his glasses.

“Yes. I am quite experienced in maintaining historical homes. My last residence dates to the fifteenth century; this one is less than 100 years old. This one at least has electricity and plumbing in all wings. The foundations are solid and the heating, while in line for improvement, is at least adequate,” Darcy answered.

The elder committee member looked up at him.

“Am I to understand that this is your home?” he said, indicating the sheets of paper before him. Darcy looked at the paper.

“Pemberley, yes that is my home. Although I have been stateside for several years now. My steward and my housekeeper run Pemberley in my absence. It is open to the public but it is much larger than this; we could not live here and have it open,” he said.

The committee members were clearly delighted that a true, blue-blooded aristocrat from an ancient and noble line was interested in purchasing their property. The deal was quickly concluded and the purchase was approved.

“Mr. Darcy, if I may ask, why do you want to buy this place? You already have an estate and you could have any mansion in San Francisco without any of the maintenance headaches.”

Darcy looked around him and shrugged. He could picture himself here with Elizabeth and their children
,
god he was feeling giddy with the idea of her as his wife
,
and a couple of dogs, celebrating Christmas with Georgie and Fletcher, Bingley and Jane. It would allow Elizabeth to stay close to her family; he wouldn’t be dragging her to England to live in a big, cold house. He didn’t feel homesick anymore.

“It feels like home,” he said simply. Elizabeth squeezed his hand and smiled.

“Lord, look at this place!” Mrs.
Bennet
exclaimed as the car rounded the bend and the lake, with Pemberley standing proudly behind, came into view. Elizabeth smiled and took Darcy’s hand. She turned to look at her parents.

“This is where it all began; this is where we fell in love,” she said. She glanced at Darcy and saw him smile.

“But Lizzy, that was a year ago! You didn’t even introduce us until Thanksgiving!” her mother exclaimed. Elizabeth shrugged.

“We had a rough patch but we came to an understanding,” she grinned. Darcy laughed.

“Fanny, don’t you remember meeting me last April? At the concert in the park?” Darcy said looking into the rearview mirror.

“Well, we weren’t dating then, though,” Elizabeth said. He looked at her.

“We still aren’t dating, love. We’ve never dated. We just decided to be madly in love and jumped in with both feet,” he reminded her. She laughed.

“I
knew
I’d met him before! Tom, you are a devil!” Mrs.
Bennet
exclaimed, swatting her husband. Mr.
Bennet
laughed and tried futilely to defend himself. Instead, he grabbed her and kissed her. Darcy, meanwhile, was kissing the inside of Elizabeth’s wrist and pulling her close to him.

Mrs. Reynolds greeted Darcy and Elizabeth with effusive hugs and kisses and asked Elizabeth how her head was. She met the Bennet
’
s warmly and advised everyone that Georgiana was already in residence. The house was fully staffed now that wedding guests were expected for the next two weeks. A servant took their bags upstairs. Darcy whispered to Elizabeth,

“I’ve asked
Mrs. R.
to put us in separate rooms until our wedding night.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“Shouldn’t you have consulted me in this? I like sleeping with you.”

“Yes, but I’m a traditionalist; I’m saving myself for marriage.”

She laughed at him and hugged him. “OK, we’ll see if we can manage for the next 10 days.”

He smiled and kissed the top of her head; this was going to be difficult.

Lydia, Kitty, and Mary had opted to stay in Darcy’s suite at the Ritz in London. Jane and Bingley would be joining them at Pemberley later in the week. Georgiana was already there, as were the
Fitzwilliam’s
. Dinner that night was a lively affair and Georgiana entertained everyone afterwards at the piano.

Darcy walked Elizabeth to her room at the end of the evening and kissed her chastely at her door.

“Oh, come on, can’t you do better than that?” she said, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him close for a kiss. He obliged, grinning, but pulled away after a moment.

“No, Lizzy, I’m serious.”

“At least come in and tuck me in,” she pouted. He laughed but let himself be led in. She began to undress and he turned away from her. She jumped into bed and pulled the blankets up around her neck.

“All ready,” she said. He turned back to her and smiled at her as she pulled the blanket up to her nose.

He bent down and kissed her forehead.

“Oh, no you don’t,” she laughed, and grabbed him, pulling him onto the bed. He laughed and lay down beside her, his arm draped around her waist.

“Lizzy, I really want to do this. I want to wait until our wedding night, to make it special.”

“Will, our wedding night will be special no matter what,” she said softly.

“I know, but
...”
he trailed off. “For me, anticipation very much adds to the reward,” he said with a mischievous grin. She laughed.

“You are a masochist!” she laughed. “And a sadist,” she then pouted. He laughed. She turned on her side to face him and became serious.

“I wish you would have told me. I wasn’t prepared for it. I feel like I need to say goodbye.” He looked at her curiously.

“Really?” he said. She nodded.

“Yes. I love having you beside me every night. Maybe you could just stay for tonight, then we can start abstaining tomorrow?” she asked. She looked longingly into his eyes and he stirred. He looked around the room and then back to her.

“OK, you talked me into it,” he sighed. She laughed and began to unbutton his shirt. Moments later he was with her under the blankets, holding her familiar form, his fingers tracing curves and dips so well known to him. They made love and he held her afterward. True to his word, the next morning he was back in his own room and he did not seduce her again until their own wedding night. His self-control was admirable.