“I am the one who must prove my worth to her. She is everything to me,” Darcy said.
Mr Hansfield chuckled. “Very good, sir. That is just as it ought to be. Now, Mr Darcy, please allow me to inspect the license before the ceremony.”
The certificate was quickly approved, and there remained nothing more to be done until all the guests and participants had arrived. It seemed like an age passed before Miss Bingley entered the church, along with Mr and Mrs Hurst. The Bennets came in next, although Darcy did not miss that Miss Bennet and Mr Collins were not with them. He frowned, wondering what could have caused their absence.
But there was no time. Georgiana hurriedly found her seat in the pews, looking nearly as delighted as Darcy felt. If he was not mistaken, she had mouthed, “Elizabeth is here; it istime!” to him on her way. His heart pounded in anticipation. There was no music, only the sound of the birds chirping outside and the autumn breeze blowing through the open door.
Suddenly, Elizabeth appeared in the doorway. Darcy’s breath caught in his throat. Surely, his love had never looked more stunning than now, as they were about to say their vows. He could hardly take his eyes off her face.
When at last he could focus on anything but her stunning dark eyes and the wealth of love they held, Darcy blinked in surprise. Strangely, Elizabeth was not wearing the gown she had had made for the occasion, but the tartan dress she had purchased in Scotland.
When she arrived at the altar and came to stand beside him, she beamed up at him. He thought his heart would beat out of his chest as he beheld her in all her beauty. As Mr Hansfield began the ceremony, he leant over and whispered to her, so low that no one but themselves would know. “Hello,” he said. “You look beautiful.”
“Good morning,” Elizabeth murmured. “You look very fine yourself.”
“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 between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men…”
As Mr Hansfield spoke the beautiful, time-worn words of the ceremony, Darcy looked out at the guests who had assembled. They had intended to marry only after the banns had been called, and to have invited rather more of their family. The change had involved some sacrifice. Elizabeth’s beloved aunt and uncle in London could not make the journey on so little notice, and Darcy might have wished more of his own family to attend.
In the end, it did not matter. They would be married, and nothing could compare to the blessing of belonging to each other.
Mr Hansfield soon came to the vows, where Darcy and Elizabeth were to pledge their lives to one another forever.
“Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”
Darcy looked deeply into her eyes and did not look away. “I will.”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
Elizabeth gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. “I will.”
The rest of the ceremony sped by. Darcy felt later that he had stood there only for a moment, lost in Elizabeth’s eyes, before they were pronounced man and wife.
The assembled guests clapped and called out congratulations as Darcy led his bride out of the church. The carriage ride back to Meryton seemed to pass as though in a dream. Elizabeth was beside him, now Elizabeth Bennet no more, but now and forever his wife, Elizabeth Darcy. With a small, private smile, she took his hand in hers.
The horses drew up at Netherfield Park all too soon for his taste.
They made their way to the grand salon, where tables had been set out with white linens and the finest place settings the cupboards of Netherfield Park could offer. The room had been decorated with hothouse flowers, making it a garden even in the midst of fall.
The musicians he had hired began to play, and he twirled Elizabeth around, allowing the skirt of tartan to flare out as they made their way to the head table. Their guests filed by the table, offering congratulations and words of joy at their union. Her mother cried, as was only natural, and Mr Bennet approached to shake hands.
“I could not be more pleased that you are the gentleman who won my Lizzy’s heart, sir,” Mr Bennet said, adding with a broad grin, “Take care of him, Lizzy. He is yours now.”
“I shall, sir,” Elizabeth said laughingly.
“Is that a promise, love?” Darcy whispered in her ear to tease her.
Elizabeth looked up at him with wide eyes. “Indeed it is,” she said.
“Good,” he said, and caught up her hand and kissed it, making her blush.
When Bingley came through the line, he was glad to see that he had Georgiana on his arm. Though the two were chatting easily, Darcy had caught the way Bingley looked at Georgiana from time to time, with a softness that did not speak only of friendship.
“I cannot say how happy I am,” Georgiana said earnestly to Elizabeth. “We are well and truly sisters now. Fitz, I think you must be the most brilliant man in England for having found her.”
“Thank you, Georgiana, but I think I can hardly claim credit,” Darcy replied. “Indeed, perhaps I ought to thank you, for it was Elizabeth’s attentions to you, my dear sister, that first showed me that her kindness and generosity of spirit are equal even to her beauty, elegance, and wit.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks coloured, and she leant in closer to his side. “It is almost like a dream — this day. I am afraid I might awaken at any moment and find it has not really happened.”
