“Now then, let us go down. I will ride with you to care for your gown.”
They descended together, and Mr. Bennet handed his elegant daughter into the carriage. As it rolled forward, he looked at her fondly.
“I have missed you, Lizzy, and you have been gone only a week. Your cousin is betrothed to Miss King and will be married next week. I am sorry you suffered at his hand, but he will soon return to Hunsford, and if either of your sisters wishes to remain here, they will be safe.”
“No, Papa, they are both coming with me as planned. Mr. Darcy has invited Mr. Bingley to Pemberley for the summer as a compliment to Jane for serving as my companion.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled. “It seems Mr. Darcy wishes to make you happy, my dear. Is the diamond necklace his wedding gift to you?”
“Yes, Papa. He asked that I wear it for the ceremony.”
“He has claimed you, my dear. You are his now.”
“I will be soon, Papa.”
“Lizzy, I want to tell you about the marriage settlement. It has been signed, and Uncle Phillips has executed it. Mr. Darcy has settled forty thousand pounds in a jointure for your widowhood and thirty thousand-pound dowries for up to two daughters. He has four smaller estates for younger sons.”
Elizabeth was astonished. “So much? I had no idea he was so wealthy.” She looked to Mrs. Gardner. “Aunt Maddie, I am afraid. How will I manage such a life?”
Her father answered her. “You are a lovely, educated woman, Elizabeth. You are intelligent and can debate any man on law or politics. You have spent as much time studying as many young men I know. You will be a good wife for a wealthy man, and you will do it well. If you ever doubt yourself, write to me, and I will answer with a list of facts, properly ordered.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Thank you, Papa. I feel better. I will try to remember that I am worthy.”
The carriage stopped at the church. Mr. Bennet stepped out and handed his daughter down. Together they walked up the nave. Elizabeth did not look to the right nor to the left; her eyes were fixed on the impeccably dressed man waiting for her at the altar, and she saw that he had eyes only for her.
He stood tall and elegant, his unruly dark lock falling over his brow. His eyes shone with happiness, and she smiled back. It did not feel like a forced wedding or the result of a compromise. He had chosen her, and she had chosen him. He had come to rescue her, and she, in turn, would save him from his loneliness.
They were smiling at each other when the rector began in a deep baritone, “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.”
She listened carefully as Mr. Darcy intoned his vows.
“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, honor, and keepher in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both do live?”
His dark eyes were looking at her intently, and she heard his answer, clear and low, in his resonant baritone.
“I will.”
Then the rector turned to her.
“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, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both do live?”
She lifted her eyes to her intended and answered in a clear voice,
“I will.”
The rector then took the ring from Colonel Fitzwilliam and handed it to Mr. Darcy. He gently slid the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand as he spoke his vows.
“With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow.”
The rector then turned to the congregation.
“Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. I pronounce that they be Man and Wife.”
Darcy smiled broadly as he offered his arm and led her to the registry. He signed his name, and she followed with hers. It was the last time she would ever sign asElizabeth Bennet.
She began to realize then the great import of this day. In those few short moments as they had spoken their vows, her entire world had changed, and her life would never be the same. Theenormity of this change made her dizzy, and she clung to his arm a little tighter lest she stumble and fall.
Colonel Fitzwilliam and Jane drew near and added their signatures, then Mr. Darcy led her down the nave and out of the church. She saw no one but him.
