A Most Civil Proposal (32 page)

Chapter 23

Saturday, April 25, 1812

Fitzwilliam Darcy felt his heart lurch as Miss Elizabeth Bennet stepped through the doors of the church on the arm of her uncle. Her sister preceded her up the aisle to join the party at the front of the church, and Darcy did not have to look to see that Bingley’s eyes were locked on his beloved Jane as he anticipated his own forthcoming wedding.

This, however, was Darcy’s day, and Jane slipped through a gap in the onlookers to stand to the right side of the Reverend as she waited for her sister to take her place at Darcy’s side. From his own family, Lord and Lady Matlock were in attendance along with two of their sons, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother, Henry, who had hurried north from his ship at anchor at Plymouth at his father’s summons. Darcy did not know him well at all, and he could only attribute his presence to his uncle’s determination to show his approval of this marriage since the earl’s eldest son was unable to attend, being absent in Ireland while travelling to inspect the family properties. Bingley and his two sisters also attended, along with Bingley’s brother, Mr. Hurst. On Elizabeth’s side were her mother and her sisters, along with her Aunt and Uncle Philips, and, of course, her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Her friend, Charlotte Collins, had not come, likely because her husband had forbidden her at the command of Lady Catherine. Nor was Mr. Bennet in attendance, a fact that also was a source of irritation to him, at least for Elizabeth’s sake, though she would not speak of it, smoothly changing the subject whenever her father was mentioned by her mother or sisters.

Darcy’s irritation was only momentary, since no negative emotion could cloud his mind once Mr. Gardiner led Elizabeth to his left side in front of Reverend Jackson. He felt his heart in his throat as Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled that lovely, impish smile that spoke of merriment and high spirits at a moment that reduced so many brides to tears. She was a vision of loveliness, to his eyes the most lovely and beautiful of women, and the pearls around her neck complemented her pale green dress exquisitely.

He had to force his eyes away from her as the reverend began the solemn ceremony, heard numerous times before, but which was wondrously new this day, for it was for them and them alone. Elizabeth, despite her earlier smile, was overcome by the fluttery sensation she had heard described as butterflies in the stomach. She was not reluctant, she told herself, not at all, and it was far too late for reservations, but these feelings were undoubtedly common at such a pivotal point in a woman’s life, for from this moment on, she would be defined by her marriage to Fitzwilliam Darcy. She would be Mrs. Darcy, mistress of Pemberley, expected to live up to and perform as society expected from the wife of such a prominent man. How could this realization of such a profound change in her life not lead to the internal disquiet that was only increased by the words of dear Reverend Jackson?

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in Holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which Holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought . . .”

The familiar words rang in her ears as if she had never heard them before, and Elizabeth could not stop herself from looking away from the reverend and focusing on her groom. She was surprised and pleased to see that the solemn words were evidently striking him in the same way, their familiarity in no way lessening their import. He listened in rapt fascination, his eyes fixed on the reverend. But something seemed to tell him of Elizabeth’s gaze, and his head slowly swivelled until his dark eyes met hers. Elizabeth felt a thrill run down her spine at that moment, for the intensity of his stare was almost a physical thing, drawing her in, forging an invisible bond that none could see but was as strong as the links of an iron chain for all that. Neither knew how long the moment lasted, in which everything else in the world disappeared except the two of them, but they were finally drawn back to the awareness of the ceremony when Reverend Jackson addressed Darcy.

“Fitzwilliam Darcy, wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

Darcy’s voice was firm and resolute. “I will.”

And then it was her turn. “Elizabeth Bennet, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

Elizabeth’s clear voice was equally firm, though her eyes were again dancing in merriment. “I will.”

“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

“I do,” said Mr. Gardiner, and, releasing her hand to the reverend, he stepped back to join the others standing around the bride and groom. Then, as they stood face to face, the reverend took Elizabeth’s hand, placed it in Darcy’s and instructed him to repeat:

“I, Fitzwilliam, take thee Elizabeth
,
to my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

Then the reverend took Darcy’s right hand, giving it to Elizabeth to hold in her smaller hand, while he commanded her to say after him:

“I, Elizabeth, take thee Fitzwilliam, to my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

Bingley placed the ring on the Bible held by Reverend Jackson, and the reverend gave the ring to Darcy, who lifted Elizabeth’s left hand and slid it onto her fourth finger. Elizabeth shivered at the significance of the simple action, looking down at the gold band that signified so much. Darcy continued to hold the ring on her finger as he said, his eyes locked on new bride’s and his voice husky with emotion, “With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Darcy released her hand, enthralled by the loveliness of her face and the expression in her eyes meant for him alone, as Reverend Jackson then said, “Let us pray. O eternal God, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life; send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Reverend Jackson took the right hands of Elizabeth and Darcy, and looking out at the assembly of family and friends, said, “Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”

The reverend let go of their hands, though they remained clasped together, as he continued,
“
For as much as Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth
have consented together in Holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

He concluded with the blessing, “God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.”

Then the assembly crowded closer, offering their congratulation and best wishes as Darcy raised Elizabeth’s fingers to his lips, kissing them with all the tenderness and love that he felt before turning to greet the well-wishers. Georgiana pressed close, even crowding in front of Mrs. Bennet, as she embraced Elizabeth with tears of joy, and she bestowed a kiss on both of her cheeks before giving way to the bride’s exuberant mother.

Most surprising of all was Caroline Bingley, who offered her congratulations to both Mr. and Mrs. Darcy in a manner that, if it held any insincerity, at least expressed none that could be discerned.

It was some while before the marriage party made their way to the vestry to sign their names in the parish registry. As Elizabeth signed ‘Elizabeth Bennet,’ for the very last time, she felt emotion rise in her throat, and she welcomed the strong arm of her husband that was instantly around her. After Darcy signed his name in the last of the formalities, the wedding party exited the church to board their carriages for the trip to the Gardiner’s and the traditional marriage breakfast, though it was approaching noon. And, as Reverend Jackson closed up the church behind them, he did so with all the warmth in his heart for two souls joined in wedlock. He had believed, when first approached by Mr. Gardiner, that the haste of the ceremony betokened some violation of propriety, but after his observations of the couple, he believed that even if propriety had been breached, he had seldom united two souls who came to their union more willingly than did these. He was a well-contented man as he returned home to his own beloved wife and family.

* * * * *

As they pulled to a halt in front of his house, Darcy looked down at Elizabeth as she leaned against his side, having fallen asleep almost immediately after entering his coach for the short drive from the Gardiner home following the wedding breakfast. She had admitted to him that she had hardly slept at all the night before, succumbing most unexpectedly to an attack of bridal nerves. She had sought Jane out in her own chamber, and the two sisters sat together talking until almost dawn, she had said, both of them conscious that this was the very last time for such a shared experience.

She looks so beautiful
, he thought, but then he smiled. He always thought she looked beautiful.
But she is especially beautiful now, because she is no longer Elizabeth Bennet, but is now Elizabeth Darcy.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Elizabeth.” She murmured something under her breath and burrowed deeper into his chest. “Elizabeth,” he said in a louder voice, “we have arrived.”

Elizabeth opened her eyes and smiled up at him.
My husband
, she thought.
It is real, it has happened, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, and all the vows we exchanged
.

“We have arrived, Elizabeth,” Darcy told her again, once she had her eyes fully open.

“Yes, I see,” she replied as the footman opened the door and folded down the stair. When she sat up, she realized that her hair was fully down around her shoulders. “Mr. Darcy!” she exclaimed, reaching up to discover that her hairpins were completely missing.

Darcy was unrepentant as he held out his hand and opened his fist to disclose the missing pins. “I have wanted to do that for the longest time,” he told her cheerfully.

“What am I going to do with you, sir?” she said sternly, though a smile tugged at her lips. She quickly and expertly wound up her hair in a passable fashion and secured it with the hairpins. Once she was tolerably presentable and had donned her bonnet, he descended and held out his hand to assist her in exiting the coach. Mrs. Taylor and Stevens stood in the open door, beaming as Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm and climbed the entry steps.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Darcy,” said Stevens, giving her a bow. Mrs. Taylor had what looked suspiciously like a tear in her eye as she curtseyed to her new mistress, and much of the rest of the staff was lined up inside the broad entry. Elizabeth was pleased that they all seemed quite happy to greet her as the new Mrs. Darcy, and Mrs. Taylor explained that she would arrange for her to meet the complete staff in the coming days.

The wedding breakfast had taken considerable time, and many toasts were drunk to the future happiness of the newly wedded couple. It was now approaching five o’clock, and Elizabeth wanted to change from her wedding gown to simpler attire before the evening meal. Darcy escorted her up the stairs to her room —
her room!
she thought, in amazement — as the staff dispersed to their duties. Once again, Elizabeth felt her stomach flutter when they came to her chamber door, and she thought again of just how much her life had changed. She would never go back to her dear bedroom at Longbourn; she would never curl up on Jane’s bed as they shared confidences late into the night; she would not hear the amiable chaos of noise that characterized her previous home life at Longbourn. Darcy’s home was quiet and efficient, and the change would be dramatic. She looked up at Darcy as they came to a stop to find him studying her worriedly, and she smiled at his continuing insecurity.

“I was just thinking of all the things that have changed so suddenly, and all the things that used to be a part of my life that will never again be the same,” she said softly. “It is rather overwhelming to think of, but from the look on your face, I see that I must again remind you that I am not disposed to melancholy.”