Elizabeth laughed. “No, my dear. We are to remain at Netherfield one more night and travel in the morning. For that reason, I shall leave my things here, but I will join Mr. Darcy in his room tonight and return in the morning to bathe and dress.”
Her sisters exchanged puzzled looks. Jane asked softly, “Do you not wish to make tonight special?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, tonight will not be our true wedding night. We will share the same chamber only to satisfy appearances. I have no wish to spend my wedding night among company and face them all the next morning. We shall sleep only. When we reach Pemberley, then we will consummate our marriage.”
Jane’s brows rose. “You spoke of this to him? He was not angry or disappointed?”
“This was a forced marriage, Jane. He understands there has been no courtship and that he has twice insulted me. He wishes to make amends, and as a show of good faith, he has agreed to wait two months.”
Mary said quietly, “Lizzy, you are very brave. I would die of embarrassment to speak of such things with a man.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I thought so too, but Mr. Darcy is remarkably easy to speak with, and he has been very charitable about everything.”
Mary shuddered. “Mr. Collins would never have agreed.”
“No, he would not,” Elizabeth said with feeling. “And I am grateful beyond measure that tonight is not my wedding night with him. Did you hear that he and Miss King are to be married next week?”
Jane covered her mouth. “Poor Mary King. She is too young to know what she undertakes.”
Mary protested. “Too young? She is my age, nineteen.”
Jane said gently, “She is too silly and thoughtless to understand what awaits her.”
Elizabeth agreed. “Yes, she is. She has never been in the habit of reasoning things out, though she is capable of it. She is a vain, simple girl, fond of pretty gowns and the attention of men, with no notion of where such flirtations may lead.”
Jane asked hesitantly, “Did Mama ever speak to you about… You know,it?”
Elizabeth smirked. “Mama? Since when have you known her to do anything kind for me? No, Aunt Gardiner took me aside and explained everything regarding…procreation.”
Both sisters stared at her expectantly. “You are not expecting me to share the details, are you?”
They nodded gravely.
Elizabeth sighed. “Very well. We shall discuss it tonight while you help me dress for bed. That way, you may sleep on the knowledge and not blush too fiercely at breakfast.”
Jane covered her mouth, and Mary hid her face. “Is it so dreadful?”
Elizabeth giggled. “It sounds worse than it is. Aunt Maddie says it brings great pleasure. It seems to me that the intimacies of marriage are like anything else, a learned skill. Now come, help me out of this gown.”
Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth ran down the staircase, only to halt abruptly when she saw Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam look up in surprise. She descended the remaining steps decorously. “Forgive me, sir. I was late and hastened my pace so as not to keep you waiting.”
“Never mind, my dear. There is no one here to be scandalized. Miss Bingley remains in her room. It is only the two of us.”
His eyes were alight; he was amused. She grinned back, “Shall we go, sir?”
He offered his arm. “And you, Richard?”
“I am for a ride. I have been inactive all day and must have exercise if I hope to sleep tonight.”
“Very well,” Darcy replied. “We will see you at dinner.”
The newlyweds stepped outside. “Where to, Mrs. Darcy?”
“I had planned to walk to Oakham Mount one last time. I wish to see my favorite tree, where I spent so many hours reading.”
“So that you might not be underfoot at Longbourn?”
“Exactly so. My life has been divided between my father’s study and that old oak tree.” She glanced at him. “I understand from Miss Bingley that Pemberley is very grand. You must have an incomparable library, sir.”
