Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (39 page)

“I agree.  Perhaps he should be declared incompetent?  I certainly do not wish for a madman to marry my sister.  Excuse me, I will just go to the church and make the regrettable announcement.  I will think of some acceptable excuse on the way.”  Darcy began to move away from the door. 

“Perhaps that he was taken ill and wishes to reschedule?”  Lucas offered.

“No, that means he will be cured, and clearly, the man is lost.”  Darcy paused and crossed his arms as he examined the fuming man.  “I know, weak constitution, he is afraid that he cannot fulfil his role as husband and releases her to find happiness with some more virile man.”

“Take one step and I will run you through!”

“With what, that stickpin in your cravat?  As I said, madman.”  Darcy nodded.  “Close call for Mary, I will send for the men to escort you to Bedlam . . .”

“Darcy . . .”

“What are you doing?”  Fitzwilliam asked from behind Darcy.  “Are you baiting him?  On his wedding day?  For shame!”

“Your sword, Fitzwilliam, give it over!”  De Bourgh demanded.

“This?”  He patted his scabbard.  “Not a chance.” 

“I appreciate that.”  Darcy winked. 

“Well Son,” Lord Matlock pushed past and into the room.  “How are you doing?”  He looked behind him and Layton appeared with a bottle and a glass.  “I see that your brothers have been at work on you.”

“Brothers.”  De Bourgh glared between Lucas, Michael and Darcy.  “Assassins is more like it.  They come to cut up my peace!”

“Peace!”  Michael smiled.  “Your pacing is hardly the act of a man at peace. Rather that of some exotic beast!”

“Ah, well here then, Son.  I bring you an elixir to calm your nerves.”  Lord Matlock took the bottle and poured into the glass held by Layton.  Handing it over, he nodded.  “Drink.”

“What is it?”  De Bourgh asked suspiciously.  “Does Darcy have anything to do with this?”

“I?  What do you take me for?” 

Sniffing it, De Bourgh took a sip then looked up at Lord Matlock with a smile.  “Cognac!”

“The very finest, from before the war.  What better occasion than to toast your pending nuptials and calm your frayed nerves?”

“You make me sound like a woman.”  He said softly.

“Who was talking to his reflection a moment ago?”  Michael laughed.  “Drink up, Brother, then perhaps the Earl might share?”

Lord Matlock cocked a brow at him.  “For a clergyman, you are remarkably tolerant.”

“Would you prefer that I say a sermon?”  He smiled and looked to his brother.  “We have already prayed together for felicity, have we not, Peter?”

“Yes.”  He smiled and relaxed.  “I imagine that Mary has done the same with her sisters.  It is her way.” 

“She has, I found her with all of them before we left the house.  Mary looked very much at peace.”  Darcy stepped back into the room.  “So I think that if you finish that drink, we might depart for the church.”

De Bourgh raised the glass to his lips and then lowered it.  “No, I do not need this.”  He straightened and set it down.  “How do I look?”  Richard advanced and walked around him.

“Shoulders back, sailor!”  He cried.  “Chest out!  Chin up!”  De Bourgh immediately responded.  Richard adjusted his cravat and pulled at his coat, knocking off some invisible dirt.  “Not bad.”

“Very well then.”  De Bourgh said with a determined look in his eye.  “Let us get underway.” 

“LYDIA!”  Kitty threw her arms around her sister. “Oh you look wonderful!”

“Thank you.”  Lydia smiled with relief and hugged her tightly.  “I have missed you.” 

“You have?”  Kitty drew back with surprise.  “Oh!”

“I have, I am so sorry for . . .everything.”  She sighed and looked around at everyone.  “I guess we should probably talk about this later.”

“We can talk all night; you can come in and stay in my chambers if you like.  You are staying at Darcy House, are you not?”

“Yes, we . . .” She stopped when they heard Mrs. Bennet’s voice from the narthex.  “Mama.  Is Mary here yet?  I did not see her when we entered, just Lizzy.”

“She is in a little room near the doorway; Lizzy thought it would be best to have everyone seated before she was seen.”  She added softly, “I think that she wanted to spare Mary Mama’s attention until after the ceremony.”

“I think that was so smart of her.”  Lydia said with admiration.  “Mama went on and on about being left out of the planning and shopping.  She said it was just wrong that she was not included, and was unhappy that the wedding was here.”

“At least she is attending this time.  Did she blame Lizzy?  She always blames her for everything.”  Kitty said quietly.  “She never liked her.”

“No, and she did not like Mary, either.  She told me.”  Lydia sighed.  “I finally got tired of her complaining and said that I do not blame Mary for wanting to marry from Darcy House, everyone who likes her lives there.”

“No!”  Kitty’s hand went to her mouth.  “What did she say?”

“She said that she liked Mary just fine, and I said that she likes Captain de Bourgh, not Mary.  I said that she likes how rich he is, and that everyone in the neighbourhood was going to get tired of hearing her brag of her good fortune in how her daughters married.”

“Lydia!  I thought those things, but I would never say them!” 

Lydia shrugged.  “Maybe I shouldn’t have, but Papa did not seem to mind.  I think that he has spoken to her about today.”

“Do you not like Mama anymore, Lydia?”  Kitty asked as they took their seats.  “You were so close.”

“Oh, I still like her, but now I guess that I understand her a little better.  I just would rather form my own opinions now.”  She bit her lip and looked at Kitty’s gown.  “I really like your dress, it is different.  Is it new?”

Kitty beamed.  “Yes, when we finished the shopping for Mary’s wedding clothes, Lizzy said I could buy a few new things.  I’ll be seventeen in August, so I will be allowed to be out.  I just begged her to let me dress like a woman for today and she said I could dance because Mary and Peter decided they wanted music at the breakfast.  Imagine that!  She lent me this pearl to wear.”  She touched Richard.  “Do you like it?” 

“You look all grown up.  I guess you will marry soon.”  She said softly.  “And then it will just be me.”

“I cannot imagine being married yet.  And after living at Darcy House, I cannot imagine being its mistress at my age and Lizzy was not much older than me when she married.  I am in no hurry to be married at all.  Maybe you should come to Pemberley with us!”

“I . . .no, I think I would be better off at Longbourn and with Jane.”  Lydia watched as Jane advanced down the aisle with Lucas and waved at her.  “We have a lot in common, and I . . .do not really know Lizzy that well.”

“I did not either, not really, but she is wonderful, Lydia.”  Kitty beamed. “Really wonderful!”

“I THOUGHT THAT YOU were with child!  Your father said that you were.”  Mrs. Bennet said when she spotted Elizabeth.

“I . . .” Elizabeth startled and looked at Mr. Bennet, who was regarding her with concern as he watched the colour drain from her face.  She looked to Darcy who was already halfway down the aisle, escorting Georgiana to her seat while the rest of the guests were nearly in place.  “I . . . No, if I had been I would have said something to you.  That is certainly news that would bring joy.”  She quickly turned away as unexpected tears pricked her eyes. 

“Well, I do not know what you are waiting for, Lizzy.  Mr. Darcy needs his heir.”

Elizabeth stiffened.  “Thank you for the reminder, Mama.  I had almost forgotten my duty to him.” 

“Lizzy, she does not mean to be . . .”

“Papa, do not make excuses for her.”  Elizabeth turned to face her mother.  “Come with me, Mama.”

“But I must take my seat!”

“Your seat can wait.”  Elizabeth turned and continued to a far corner, and before her mother could say another word, spoke in a calm, relaxed voice.  “And before this wedding begins, I want to make it perfectly clear to you that as my family is hosting this event, the rules of our household apply.  We do not tolerate rudeness.  If you have no pleasant or thoughtful remark to make on any aspect of this day, the people of our family, the way that we conduct our lives; or our plans for the future, we do not want to hear it.  I will not allow you to ruin the most joyous day in Mary’s life.  She has suffered for years as the unwanted, unnoticed child.  Today she is the bride, she is the bride of an exceptional man, and I would call him that regardless if he was still a lieutenant in the Navy or if he was the crown prince.  You will not say a word against her or him.”

“Lizzy Bennet!”

“My name, madam, is Elizabeth Darcy.”  Her eyes flashed. 

Mrs. Bennet shrank.  “I cannot imagine what you are thinking.  I have been very good.  Your father is pleased with me.”  She lifted her chin. 

“I simply ask that you think before you speak, Mama.”

“Perhaps I should just not say a word the entire day!”  Mrs. Bennet turned on her heel and walked back to the narthex.

“Would that you were capable.”  Elizabeth sighed.

“Lizzy, what on earth?”  Mr. Bennet asked as he saw his wife enter the sanctuary.

“I asked her to behave, Papa.  I asked her to think before she speaks.  I do not want Mary to be hurt, or Fitzwilliam.  Thank you for keeping her from home this morning, Mary appreciated it.”  She looked up at him.  “Did you think I was pregnant?”

“Yes Lizzy.”  He took her hands.  “Were you?”  Seeing Elizabeth’s eyes well up, he pulled her close and hugged her.  “I am so sorry.  I can imagine your mother’s remarks.  I will wait next time until you say something.”  He let go and handed her his handkerchief.  “Mr. Darcy . . .”

“He is positive we will be parents again, soon.”  She sniffed.

“So you will be.”  He looked around the empty room.  “It seems that we are ready.”

“I will go get Mary.”  She smiled.  “She is so very happy, Papa.”

“I know.”  He smiled.  “She just told me.” 

KITTY AND LYDIA looked back down the aisle to see Georgiana walking down on Darcy’s arm, followed by the Gardiners.  Charlotte and Mrs. de Bourgh walked together and it seemed that Bingley had been pressed into service to guide Mrs. Bennet to her seat.  She beamed and gushed over the handsome man calmly walking beside her.  Kitty smiled at him and rolled her eyes a little at her mother.  Bingley saw her smile and his eyes widened in surprise, then hearing Mrs. Bennet exclaim again over the church, he rolled his eyes in return, then crinkled them in a smile as he saw his charge seated.  Bowing, he moved away and took a seat beside Layton and Alicia, and looked again at Kitty.

A signal from the back of the church told the priest that the bride was in place, and he nodded, stepping out before the congregation along with his clerk and de Bourgh.  Michael stood next to his brother and looked him up and down, but saw absolutely no need for any support.  De Bourgh stood ramrod straight, completely composed and with an intensely focussed expression on his face as he gazed down the aisle.  The doors to the sanctuary opened and Mr. Bennet appeared with Mary on his arm.  His expression could best be described as humble.  He gently guided his daughter, and glancing down, saw that not a trace of nervousness was visible. 

“I admire you, Mary.”  He said softly.  “You come to your husband with absolute confidence.  No quaking for you.”

“Look at him, Papa.”  Mary whispered as she felt buoyed by his gaze.  “How could I feel less?”

Behind them, Elizabeth listened and smiled, rejoicing in Mary’s conviction and blessing the man who had the sense to see her potential.  She smiled at Darcy as they passed, and he returned it, taking Georgiana’s hand in his to squeeze in place of his wife’s.  The service began, and Mr. Bennet solemnly placed Mary’s hand into de Bourgh’s, kissed her cheek and officially relinquished his rights to her and took his seat. 

“Steady, Brother.”  Mr. Gardiner leaned forward and whispered.

Mr. Bennet nodded and blinked.  
Just when I have discovered this woman who shares my blood, she is taken away forever
.  He looked to Elizabeth who was smiling at the couple saying their vows.  He glanced across the aisle to see Darcy as he looked from Elizabeth to Mary, and gasped softly.  It was paternal pride that shone from his eyes. 

“Oh, Mr. Bennet.”  Mrs. Bennet sniffed and dabbed her face.  “Imagine Mary making such a match!”  Mr. Bennet turned to regard her, wondering if she was feeling happy for her daughter’s joy.

“I, Peter, take thee, Mary, to my wedded wife . . .”

“How did she attract him?”  Mrs. Bennet wondered.

“ . . . to love, cherish and obey, till death do us part . . .”

“She does seem to like him, look at how she stares in his eyes . . .”

“ . . . with my body I thee worship . . .”

“Oh, I must warn her of tonight!” 

“Those whom God hath put together let no man put asunder.”

Mary tried hard to blink away the tears that filled her eyes and de Bourgh, just as emotional, gripped her hands tighter than before, assuring her that she was no longer alone. 

“ . . . I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together . . .”

“Together.”  De Bourgh whispered as the priest delivered his blessing. 

“ . . . and live together in holy love until your lives’ end.”
⁵

“Peter . . .” Mary squeezed his hands tighter, and that grip is all that kept them from ignoring all of propriety and falling into each other’s arms.  Instead, they stood still and did not hear a word of the Priest’s brief sermon on the duties of man and wife.  They barely let go in time to receive communion, and locked together in their gaze, finally rose to their feet to accept the congratulations of their family and friends. 

“Congratulations.”  Darcy took de Bourgh’s hand and grinned.  “Welcome to the family.”

“I thought I was a member already.”  He laughed and smiled when Mary stepped up and received Darcy’s tight embrace and kiss on her cheek.  “Enough of that, now.”

“Quiet, Brother.  I earned this hug.”  Darcy smiled down at her.  “I am so happy for you, dear.  Despite his questionable look, I think that he just might be a good man.”