Persistence Prevails, page 18
“Because you have never sought my opinion on the subject, and your father told me not to tell you about it unless you specifically asked me if he had said anything about her in that regard. He did not want his opinion to bias you toward her simply because he liked her. He wanted you to love whom you marry and not marry someone just because he or anyone else thought you should.”
Darcy thought a moment and could understand his father’s reasoning. “I can understand why Father told you that, but it would have made my decision about her easier, had I known. At least it is good to know that Father would be happy with my choice.”
By the time everyone left after one o’clock, all decided it had been one of the best parties in years and many expressed their hopes that Elizabeth would be there again next year.
Once the last of the tenants had gone, Darcy took Elizabeth aside and said, “You do know that you will have to marry me now. They all loved you and are expecting to see you next year and many years thereafter.”
He was astounded when she rather matter-of-factly replied, “Yes, I suppose I will.”
“You will? You mean you will marry me?”
She smiled and touched his face softly with her hand. “Of course I will, if you still want me. This was the other part of you I wanted to see. I have loved Pemberley since I was first here, I have learned to love your staff and now your tenants, I love your sister, and most of all, I am, as I said I would be, hopelessly in love with you. I hope you will not think me presumptuous if I thought you would be happy to know that my Christmas present to you is all my love and my acceptance of your hand.”
He could not help himself. In front of Kitty, Georgiana, Dr. Stewart, Mrs. Reynolds, and all the staff who had come in the ballroom to help clean, he picked her up and whirled her around and around. “This is the greatest Christmas present I will ever have. I love you, Elizabeth Anne Bennet, and I will make you Mrs. Darcy as soon as I can.”
Suddenly he realized everyone was clapping, and somewhat red-faced he set her down. “I assume you all heard. This young lady, Miss Elizabeth Anne Bennet, has agreed to be my wife and your mistress.”
Georgiana and Kitty ran over to them and hugged them. “I knew this was going to happen, when I saw the two of you going around the room talking to the tenants,” said Georgiana. “It was obvious to everyone that this was a precursor of many Christmases to come.”
“Now Georgie will truly be my sister,” said Kitty. “This is as much a Christmas present to me as it is to you, Will.”
Mrs. Reynolds and Dr. Stewart also came to give their congratulations. “Miss Elizabeth,” said Mrs. Reynolds, “I was sure as soon as I saw you walk in the front door several days ago that you were the one. I believe all of the staff expected this to happen, and I know I can speak on behalf of all of them, and particularly my granddaughter Leila, when I say how much we are looking forward to you being Mrs. Darcy.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I have fallen in love not only with Mr. Darcy, but also with Pemberley and it staff and tenants. How could I not accept his proposal?”
“I must confess,” said Dr. Stewart, “when your father told me he hoped you would have the sense to consider courting her and marrying her, I was of the same mind. However, given her background and your attitude the last few years, I decided it was a highly unlikely event. I am so happy I was wrong.”
Darcy made Mrs. Reynolds promise she would tell the staff to tell none of the family about the engagement. They wanted to make an announcement at supper. He then took Elizabeth into his study, opened his safe, and took out a ring case with a beautiful star sapphire and emerald ring. He then went to his knees.
“I want to make it official. Miss Elizabeth Anne Bennet, will you marry me, live with me until death do us part, and take this ring as a token of my love?”
Elizabeth spread her hand and let him slip the ring on her finger. “I will Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, and promise to love you forever. Now, will you please give me my first kiss?”
He stood and took her in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes, but he lifted her off her feet and gave her a gentle kiss. However, she discovered she was not satisfied with that, and pulled herself tightly against him and deepened the kiss. It was the most glorious sensation she had ever had, and she did not want it to end.
Finally, he put her down and they disengaged. “I hope you know what you do to me, Elizabeth. I have never felt like this before, and I want you so badly, it hurts. I hope you do not want a long engagement.”
“I do not, Will, but it is up to my uncle, whom my father has given full guardianship of me. But I cannot believe he will insist on a long engagement. I will also want my father’s blessing, but it is not necessary.
“Where would you like to marry?”
“I do not care. I had always thought I would be married in Meryton, but now that most of my friends are in London, either place is acceptable. Even Pemberley is acceptable, if you would like to have it here.”
“We will talk with my Aunt Helen about it. I know she would like me to marry in London, but it would be good to have it here where the tenants and staff could attend. We will talk about it tonight.”
******
Elizabeth did not wear the ring during the afternoon, but when she came down for dinner, she had on her favorite gown and was wearing not only the ring, but the neckless Darcy gave her which went with the ring. It was Lady Alicia who first noticed the neckless. “That is a beautiful neckless, Lizzie. I do not think I have seen you wear it before.”
Her comment made everyone look at the neckless. “Oh my,” said Lady Matlock, “I believe I recognize that neckless. Is that not Grandmother Darcy’s neckless?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I am told it was, but I was also told it is mine now – along with this matching ring which I am wearing. Are they not a beautiful set?”
“Darcy, you sneaky devil!” exclaimed Col. Fitzwilliam. “When did you propose to her?”
“Long ago, Richard. Her Christmas present to me after all the tenants left was accepting my proposal. I thought it was a highly appropriate time to tell me.”
Congratulations were expressed by everyone, including, to Elizabeth’s surprise, Lord and Lady Gladney. She mentally shook her head, amazed at the fact that just the existence of a forgotten title from the past could make so much difference to someone’s opinion of her.
“May we assume you will want to be married in London?” asked Lady Matlock.
“We thought about it but have decided we would prefer the wedding ceremony to be here, so that all the staff and tenants can attend the ceremony and so the local gentry can also attend the breakfast and ball. It will be mostly a family ceremony and Pemberley can easily house all of the family and friends who we will invite from London and Hertfordshire.”
“But that would involve a great deal of travel by those of us who stay in the city much of the year.”
“Not if we have it in the next month or so. We thought we would send an express to Mr. Gardiner, asking his permission for the engagement and telling him we wish to be married here in January, and requesting an express reply. If he agrees, we will set the date with Mr. Wilkins, the vicar, and have the banns read starting the first Sunday in January after we receive his blessing. Then you will only have to travel from Matlock and Uncle and Aunt Pershing can stay with you or here until the wedding, if they choose. The only people coming from London would be the Gardiners. The Willinghams are at their estate in Lincolnshire and the Carlsons are at Broughton Abbey. We will invite the Denbys or Monttards, but they are in Devonshire for Christmas and may consider it too far to travel in the winter. The Bennets, of course, and Elizabeth’s Aunt and Uncle Phillips would be coming from Hertfordshire. We will invite Aunt Catherine and Anne, but I am absolutely sure they will not come, although I know Anne would like to come.
“Once you decided to marry, you decided not to tarry,” rhymed Dr. Stewart. “I cannot say I am surprised. I believe you have need to be married since you father died, Darcy. I, for one, look forward to a marriage at Pemberley, although, if you waited until spring, it might be more beautiful here.
“It depends what you like, Doctor,” said Elizabeth. “I love the spring, but I believe the newly fallen snow we see around us also makes Pemberley look beautiful. I would be happy to marry on a day such as this.” Then taking Darcy’s arm and moving in close to him, she continued. “Actually, I suspect that the day we marry I will be so happy, I will not care how the day or the environment looks.”
And so, it was decided they would marry at Pemberley. An express was immediately sent to Longbourn, where all the Bennets, Phillips, and Gardiners would be gathered, requesting a blessing on their marriage and inviting them all to Pemberley for the wedding, telling them they would be staying at Pemberley. They planned to marry on January 25, Elizabeth asked Jane to attend her, and Darcy asked Mr. Bennet or Mr. Gardiner to send announcements to the London, Meryton, Lambton, and Derby papers.
Travel delays caused by the snows in Derbyshire delayed their expresses, so their reply from Longbourn, which congratulated them and gave them both Mr. Gardiner’s and Mr. Bennet’s blessings, did not arrive until December 31. Thus, it was not until January 1 that express invitations were sent to family and close friends expressing hopes that all could come to the wedding, and January 5 was the first day the banns were read. Soon, the entire community knew that Mr. Darcy had finally found his Mrs. Darcy. Those who had met her were most pleased with his choice.
Chapter 20: The Wedding
As planned, Elizabeth’s family arrived six days before the wedding, having travelled together in a caravan. The introduction of Elizabeth’s parents and sisters to Darcy’s relatives was somewhat strained, but Elizabeth was quite happy with the way her mother and Lydia acted. She later learned from Jane that her father had admitted to the family that he known his ancestors had been baronets and thus, that there was a possibility he could claim the title. However, he had never attempted to investigate the claim. Like his father and this grandfather, he had, as Judge Darcy had postulated, felt he had neither the wealth nor the desire to hobnob with members of the upper class. However, now that it was out in the open and known by many, he would claim it in case it might help his other daughters marry well. He had also told Mrs. Bennet and Lydia in no uncertain terms how they would act around their soon-to-be upper-class relatives.
It was Mary who was the biggest surprise to Elizabeth. She was dressed in a fine gown and had her hair done in quite a fashionable style, looking more attractive than Elizabeth had ever seen her. In that same conversation with Jane, she learned more of how her father had taken an interest in Mary after she left, and that he had insisted that Jane take charge of her and ensure she looked and acted as if she were a proper gentlewoman. Mary had been so appreciative that her father had noticed her and expressed concern about her looks and demeanor, her resistance to all that Jane had been trying to teach her about being a proper gentlewoman disappeared. Jane discovered that the plain, severe image she had created for herself was a façade to hide how alone and unloved she felt. When Mary finally admitted to herself and Jane how unhappy she was, Jane, in a matter of weeks, had been able to change her into quite an agreeable young woman, both in appearance and demeanor. Mary was still a work in progress, but her self-confidence and demeanor as a gentlewoman were improving daily.
The Gardiners were received with more mixed emotions. Being well known and respected by Lord and Lady Matlock and Lady Alicia, they were accepted with almost open arms by the them, but being merchants, Lord and Lady Gladney and Judge Darcy found it much more difficult to accept them. In their minds, despite the Gardiners’ obvious wealth and sophistication, they were, after all, just merchants and not acceptable as social acquaintances of those of their upper-class status. However, Darcy and Elizabeth were impressed with both the Gardiners’ composure and ability to deal with the prejudice of members of the upper-class. They ignored both obvious and subtle disparagement of their status and were always courteous to the Gladneys and Judge Darcy. Darcy could tell that the Matlocks, Pershings, Lady Alicia, Col. Fitzwilliam, and even Matilda and David Darcy were embarrassed by the attitudes of the Gladneys and Judge Darcy.
During the next four days, other guests appeared to stay at Pemberley and attend the wedding. Lord Weatherstone was the first, closely followed by Sir Ronald and Lady Inez Carlson, and their two children. Not only had Elizabeth grown close to the latter when they lived at Netherfield Park, but Sir Ronald was Darcy’s banker and investment advisor. They were ecstatic when they heard of Elizabeth’s engagement to Darcy and would not have missed the wedding for anything. Also arriving, to the great pleasure of Elizabeth and Darcy, were not only Lord and Lady Willingham, Lord and Lady Vollenbrook, and Lady Penelope, but also Lord and Lady Monttard, Matthew, Mark, and Cynthia Dumont, and Lord and Lady Denby, the latter saying they could not miss Elizabeth’s wedding, given they had come to think of her as another granddaughter when she stayed with them.
The only unpleasant response to their wedding invitations was the letter Darcy received from his aunt, Lady Catherine DeBourgh, in response to the invitation he sent her. The vitriol it contained was so embarrassing, Darcy refused to even let Elizabeth read it when he first received it, although he shared it with Lord and Lady Matlock and Col. Fitzwilliam. Lady Catherine had been adamant, for years, that she and Darcy’s mother had planned that Darcy and her daughter, Anne, would marry. Over those years, she had refused to listen to assurances from both Darcy and Anne, whose health was not good, that they would not. Those who read the letter all agreed it was time to remove Anne from Lady Catherine’s care as soon as possible, and that Lord Matlock, as the head of the Fitzwilliam family, see what could be done about putting her in a home for upper class persons of unstable mind.
******
The carriages and wagons started arriving shortly after 9 o’clock on the morning of January 25rd in preparation for the 10 o’clock wedding. The inner courtyard was filled with carriages of the local gentry who had been invited to the wedding, while the drive up to the house was where the tenants and local merchants, who had been invited, parked their wagons or other means of conveyance. The wedding was held in the ballroom, which, under the direction of Mrs. Gardiner, had been decorated more formally, yet still had a winter theme. The balcony was filled with staff and tenants and the seats on the ballroom floor were filled with the family who was there, the local gentry, and other invited guests, including Mrs. Gardiner’s parents. Everyone agreed, they had never seen the house, and especially the public rooms, decorated more magnificently.
Precisely at 10 o’clock Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam entered from one of the side entrances to the ballroom and went to the dais which had been set up at the end of the ballroom and shortly thereafter, Georgiana started the classical piano piece Elizabeth had chosen for Jane’s entrance and Jane came a down the aisle, looking her serene self, her beauty being a source of amazement to all. Those who had not met Elizabeth could hardly wait to see what Darcy’s bride would be like.
When Georgiana changed to the music chosen to be the bridal march, everyone arose, and 6-year-old LizaJane Gardiner entered the ballroom, scattering flower petals as she came. She was immediately followed by Elizabeth, on the arm of her father, Sir Thomas Bennet. As Darcy watched her come down the stairs into the ballroom and then down aisle, in the gown she, Kitty, and her Aunt Madeleine had designed with help from Madam Tellier, he thought she was the most magnificent creature he had ever seen. Their eyes locked as she processed down the aisle and it was obvious to all that they were witnessing a marriage of two persons who were deeply in love.
Thirty minutes later, Col. Fitzwilliam gave Jane his arm and escorted her up the aisle, followed by Darcy and Elizabeth, glowing in happiness. All agreed, the setting and the bride could not have been more perfect.
The wedding breakfast for the invited guests who had sat on the ballroom floor during the wedding, had been planned and prepared under the direction of Mrs. Bennet and Marcel, and was a fitting conclusion to the morning festivities. Marcel had at first been somewhat incensed when Elizabeth asked him to work with her mother to prepare the breakfast, but he subsequently discovered Mrs. Bennet had several innovative ideas which he and Mrs. Reynolds would not have considered. In the end, he admitted to Darcy and Elizabeth that the wedding breakfast was better than it might have been, had Mrs. Bennet not been involved and that it had been quite pleasant to work with her.
The wedding ball was a magnificent affair, attended by all who had attended the wedding, as well as some local gentry who had not been invited to the wedding, but had been invited to the wedding ball. It was a grand beginning for the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy, and many hoped it was a sign of things to come – that the almost legendary balls and parties at Pemberley which had once been a part of the of the social life in the area would again be a something to which all could look forward. It was universally agreed that the new mistress of Pemberley was a wonderful addition to the social scene in Derbyshire, and, thus, all were thankful that Darcy’s persistence in courting her had prevailed.
The End
About the Author
Don Miller is a retired scientist with a Ph.D. in Mathematical Statistics. He served in the Navy, taught at the university level for a few years, and then worked in the private sector doing scientific research. Besides writing, he is an avid golfer, reader, and computer user, having been the webmaster for his church’s website.
Don has written many Pride and Prejudice variations, all of which are available in the Kindle Bookstore. The others are listed below, with links to their pages in the Kindle Bookstore
