Elizabeth’s delight upon finding Georgiana and Fitzwilliam in the saloon was gratifying indeed. Darcy did not expect that she would comprehend the significance of Linseagh’s coming too, but he was grateful for both his cousins’—and, by extension, Lord and Lady Matlock’s—choosing to stand by him in the face of Lady Catherine’s opposition. Darcy introduced them and stepped back slightly to allow them to become acquainted.
“Nice of you to join us,” said Bingley wryly, appearing at Darcy’s side.
“We had something to settle in private before we spoke to anybody else,” he replied quietly.
“And pray, what was so important it could not wait?”
“What else?” Fitzwilliam interposed, sidling up to join them. “That thing pressing a hole in his pocket, of course.”
Bingley made a choking sound. Darcy levelled a baleful glare at his cousin, but Fitzwilliam only grinned devilishly and tapped Darcy’s jacket, causing the folded paper in his inside breast pocket to rustle.
“You might as well tell him, Darcy. He must be wondering why you have dragged us all here with you.”
“I am, rather,” Bingley agreed. “Not that you are not all most welcome.”
Darcy did not have time to prevent Fitzwilliam from blurting, “We have come for the wedding.”
The rest of the room quieted, all eyes turned on them in surprise—except Elizabeth’s, which shone with happiness.
“The wedding?” Bingley replied, his smile become somewhat fixed. “How long are you planning to stay?”
“I do not know. What say you, Darcy—a day or two?”
“Adayor two? What—”
“Keep up, Bingley! That is what’s in his pocket. A marriage licence.”
Darcy moved closer to Elizabeth and said quietly, “That is the other thing I brought with me.”
“You are going to marry by licence?” Bingley asked. He looked unduly perturbed. “When?”
“Hopefully, within the week.”
“Upon my word, thatissoon. Jane and I had a November wedding in mind.”
Darcy knew not why this should be relevant. He understood better when Elizabeth addressed her sister, who looked even more disturbed than Bingley.
“You will not mind too much, will you, Jane? It would have been wonderful to stand up together, but Darcy is needed at Pemberley. He cannot keep travelling between here and there to see me. It makes much more sense for me to be there with him. We shall come back for your wedding.”
“Of course,” Jane replied with no conviction at all, and frowning at her sister in a manner that suggested she had more than a few qualms.
“It was very good of you to come all this way for the sake of just a few days, Miss Darcy,” Miss Bingley said.
“I would not have missed my brother’s wedding for the world.” There was a hint of rebuke in Georgiana’s answer that banished the sneer from Miss Bingley’s face, for which Darcy silently congratulated her.
His sister’s delight when he told her of his engagement had been deeply touching. She had perceived his recent sadness, it seemed, and was overjoyed to see him happy at last—and with Elizabeth in particular, who was apparently, ‘by far and away the nicest of all the ladies she had thought might one day be her sister.’ He had not asked who else she had considered to be a contender, but if Miss Bingley was one, she need not have been worried.
“Besides,” Fitzwilliam said, “it will not be a few days for us, will it, Georgiana? Darcy and Miss Elizabeth might be scooting back up to Pemberley, but we three are off to London for a spell. Thought we might take in a few plays, perhaps enjoy a few exhibitions. Whatever takes our fancy while the happy couple enjoy some well-deserved time alone.”
Elizabeth squeezed Darcy’s arm. “That is excessively kind of everyone,” she whispered when he bent closer, “but your sister should not have to leave her home on my account.”
“It is only for a week or so.”
“Even so, it is not necessary.”
“Yes, it is. Unless you wish to share the journey home with her.”
He was diverted to see the blush that danced briefly across her cheeks once she took his meaning, and not a little encouraged when she made no further argument and walked, with a coy smile, to speak to Georgiana.
