“Yes, Father,” they replied in unison and stepped to the side.
While Fanny Bennet hugged her daughter, Bennet shook his newest son’s hand. “We know you will take care of her, Son. Have an enjoyable wedding trip and we will see you back here before the wedding next month,” Bennet smiled ambivalently at Darcy. He was sure his Lizzy had married a good man, but at the same time, she had left his protection forever.
“Thank you, Bennet. I look forward to seeing all of you again. Have a pleasant trip taking the twins up to Cambridge on the morrow,” Darcy wished.
As mother and daughter hugged, they shed some goodbye tears. “Lizzy, while I have no doubt you have married the best possible man for you. I will miss you so. A mother is so forlorn when her daughters leave their home. Do enjoy your honeymoon, my Lizzy, and make it as pleasurable in every way as we hope for you both.” As Fanny said the last, she gave her daughter a wink that had the bride blushing furiously.
“Thank you, Mama, I will miss you as well. We will see each other soon for the double wedding and then before you know it, it will be Christmastide and we will all be together at Pemberley,” Lizzy promised.
After Fanny stepped back hugs, kisses, and tears were exchanged with the remaining party. Anne de Bourgh was delighted she was now part of a much larger family circle and squeezed through to be the next to kiss Lizzy and wish her cousin well, shocked into a laugh when Darcy hugged her so hard that he picked her up clear off her feet.
“That is long overdue. I love you dearly as a cousin, Anne, but have had to curtail any demonstration of my cousinly feelings due to others.” He kissed the top of her head as she squealed to be let down to Richard’s laughter.
“That looks like much fun!” Andrew agreed, sweeping Anne up in his arms and hugging her tight as he reiterated Darcy’s sentiments.
Anne was followed by Mary and Kitty, then the Earl, Countess, the Viscount, and his lady wife hugged the bride and groom and said their goodbyes. They were followed by Bingley and the Hursts. That only left Georgiana and Richard. Georgiana looked between the two and then threw herself into her new sister’s arms.
“Have a wonderful time, Lizzy, and make sure you make my brother laugh as much as possible. It is so good to see him back to how he was before our mother passed. I was very young when she passed but Mrs. Reynolds has told me many stories about how he was with Mama.
“I thank you for gifting me with three new sisters that come with you and two more brothers. Our family is so enriched by all of you becoming part of it.” Georgiana hugged Elizabeth ever tighter as she listed her causes for happiness.
“Thank you, Georgie. You took very good care of my William until it was time for him to come find me. I am very happy to have you as another sister. We will see you when we get back and then after the weddings, you and Kitty will join us on the journey back to Pemberley.” Elizabeth pulled back and kissed her sister’s cheek.
“I cannot believe you are the same cousin I visited all those weeks ago when Bingley extended his invitation for me to join you at Netherfield. Who could have envisaged all that has happened since? Best of all, you are fully returned to us all now, William.
“The dark, brooding man has gone forever. Lizzy would never accept that sort of behaviour, which is why she is perfect for you. She is not awed by you and will never back down from telling you when you are wrong. You could have not found a better wife, Cousin.” Darcy and Fitzwilliam shook hands then Darcy found himself enfolded in a bear hug by his cousin who would soon be his brother.
“Thank you, Richard. Believe me when I tell you that I am not sorry to see that version of myself banished forever. You are so right about my Lizzy. I may be far bigger than her, but I would hate to get on her bad side and have that temper turned on me,” Darcy admitted.
“That is a very wise decision. I would willingly ride into battle again rather than face her wrath,” Richard agreed.
Lizzy joined her husband and wrapped her hand around his arm. “Richard, I am not that scary!” she denied.
“Oh yes you are!” Was the simultaneous reply from all of the present party that had known Lizzy for a long time.
“Richard, you know how happy we are you will never have to ride into battle again.” Lizzy smiled sweetly after she had glared at everyone, proving their point.
“I love you too, Lizzy.” Richard hugged his new cousin.
“Have a very enjoyable trip, Brother. I will miss you, but I am so happy to be staying with Kitty and the rest of the Bennets. Thank you for giving me such a family.” Georgiana looked up at him with such joy he thought she might actually be happier than he was, though he could not fully credit the thought.
“The Bennets are such a loving and accepting family, are they not? I am very happy to have my sister back. You have no idea how proud of you I am for the way you stood up to and confronted your demons and have become the very woman you were born to be. You have grown and matured so much Georgie, and it all started after the Bennets came into our lives.
“Would that we had met the Bennets years ago when they were on a visit to Snowhaven, but we cannot change the past. All we can do is look forward with optimism to the future.” Darcy smiled down at his sister.
“Ha! If you had, Lizzy would have beaten you with wooden swords and you would have run away every time she was near so this event could not have occurred,” Andrew ribbed.
“She certainly made you run, Son,” the Earl guffawed as he clapped Andrew on the shoulder when he protested that no one needed to be reminded of that.
Brother and sister hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. The new Mrs. Darcy hugged each one of the party again while her husband did the same. Once the second round of hugs was complete, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy boarded the coach, the largest of the current Darcy equipages, drawn by a matched set of six, started to move up the drive leaving a waving party behind it with not a few tears shed.
Once the coach disappeared from view, those seeing the newlyweds off returned to the wedding breakfast.
Chapter 22
The new Mrs. Darcy was gently shaken awake by her husband. She felt disoriented and could tell the carriage was no longer in motion. “We have arrived, Mrs. Darcy. We are at Darcy House, one of your new homes.” Darcy gazed lovingly at his wife.
“I am so very sorry, William. I did not realise just how tired I was. I did not manage to sleep much last night, for some unfathomable reason I was very excited.” Elizabeth looked up at him playfully.
