She forced back the tears, refusing to cry in front of Mr Darcy. “Time will tell,” she said softly. She hugged her father tightly, wishing she might never let him go. But all too soon, the carriage pulled up to the door of the church, and it was time to depart. Mr Darcy waited patiently for her to finish saying her goodbyes. Then, he handed her up into the carriage, and she settled on the far side. Her hip bumped against something hard,and she turned to see a bundle of books tied with a bright pink ribbon. And there was a note tucked under the bow.
She slipped it out and read the brief note.
Dearest Lizzy,
We thought you could use some old friends for your journey to your new home. Since we will not be with you, we have each selected a book we thought you would enjoy in our absence. (Do not be angry at us for pulling them out of your trunk. It was Kitty’s idea.)
Well, anyway, we hope you have a pleasant journey and write to us as soon as you arrive at your new home.
With love,
All of your sisters
Elizabeth covered her mouth, but could no longer hold back the tears. She could tell by the handwriting and by the words themselves, as lively and heedless as they were loving, that her youngest sister, Lydia, had penned the note.
She ran her hands over the cover of the first book. There were four of her favourite books, ready to keep her company on what was likely to be the longest carriage ride of her life. Not only because of the distance, but because it would be undertaken in the sole company of her husband, a near-stranger.
She waved to her parents one last time as Mr Darcy prepared to enter the coach. They would head straight for Pemberley. There would be no wedding breakfast, no celebration.
Of course not, for there was nothing about this marriage to celebrate.
Chapter 5
Darcy handed his new wife into the carriage and turned to her parents. “We shall take our leave now,” he said, hearing how stiff and strained his voice was, but unable to summon any measure of charm at such a moment. “I am sure Mrs Darcy will write to you to inform you of our safe arrival at Pemberley. Goodbye, Mrs Bennet, Mr Bennet.”
“Godspeed,” Mr Bennet said.
With a last nod to his new father-in-law and mother-in-law, Darcy turned away to climb into the carriage, only to stop short at the sight of Elizabeth crying silently in the far seat, tears running freely down her face. He froze half in and half out of the carriage, then sat down so they could pull away.
Warily, Darcy settled into his seat. His position reminded him of nothing so much as of a man who has encountered a cornered, wounded animal. The sensation was profoundly uncomfortable, leaving him feeling helpless and ill at ease. It was true, Georgiana had cried a handful of times over the last few years while he had been her guardian. But he had no idea how to comfort a pretty stranger, even if she was now also his wife.
“Are you well, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked warily.
She sniffed and wiped her nose with her handkerchief. “Yes, I am well. Forgive me, these are not tears of sadness.” She picked up a bundle of books tied with a ribbon. “My sisters have left me a gift. I think they thought it would help pass the time.”
That she was not crying out of distress — or, at least, not purely out of distress — was a great relief, as was the knowledge that she would have some sort of occupation to fill her time. He had been dreading the three-day journey to Pemberley, trapped with a woman he barely knew. One could only make so much conversation with a stranger. “I take it you enjoy reading?” he asked. “Will you be able to finish all of them in only three days?”
Elizabeth blushed. “No, certainly not. I am no great reader. I believe my sisters wished to ensure I would have greater freedom of choice. Not that I shall read all the day long, of course,” she added quickly. “I would not want to seem rude in leaving you to your own devices.”
Her concern was admirably kind, if misplaced. “Pray, do not concern yourself on that account. I have a great deal of correspondence I ought to catch up on. And I have the newspapers from the last several days.”
“Excellent,” she said, seeming as relieved as he was that they would not have to make polite conversation for hours on end.
She undid the ribbon and chose one of the books.
Darcy watched his new bride as their carriage pulled away from the church and entered the main road. She waspretty, to be sure, if perhaps not beautiful. She must have sensed him lookingat her, for she turned to him and pinned him with an unwavering stare.
He drew in a quick, surprised breath. How had he never truly looked at her eyes?Theywere stunning — indeed, truly beautiful. Never had he seen so lovely and so expressive a pair of eyes in a woman’s face.
Darcy looked away as the carriage went over a large bump, causing the back axle to groan under the strain. He listened, but the sound was not repeated. It seemed there was no cause for alarm. Perhaps his senses were only heightened after all the stress of planning the wedding so quickly. In all the bustle of obtaining the license and making all the arrangements with Mr Bennet, he had not even begun to come to terms with this marriage to Miss Elizabeth.
You cannot call her that now, Darcy, he thought. What would he call her? Mrs Darcy, or simply Elizabeth, but neither felt right or even possible. He cleared his throat, knowing he should say something to allay her fears and answer any questions she might have.
The words stuck in his throat. Darcy turned to look out the window in silence.
The ripples of disaster from their fateful meeting in the woods seemed to spread out endlessly. Poor Bingley had been badly inconvenienced by his foolish blunder. After such a scandal involving his guest, he could not have had much of a pleasant time in the neighbourhood. He had therefore closed the house and broken the lease. There was no need to have a house in Hertfordshire anymore — not when he could not reasonably expect to enjoy it.
And it had all been because of his troubles. As it was, Bingley and his party had departed for London after he had set off for the church that morning. They had not even met any of the neighbours, save for a few of the gentlemen who had come to call and welcome him to the neighbourhood.
