She was right: his aunt and uncle would have accepted her and the Bennet family less readily without an incident that endangered their honour forever.
“Lady Matlock never would have accepted me…”
“Neveris such a big word…let us say less easily and plainly.” He knew that a moment of candour would not dispel the reserve she had observed in him at Pemberley.
“You hesitated to marry me because of it,” Elizabeth said, and he shivered in the dark. That woman could read his very thoughts.
“I was too proud,” he admitted.
“I had some prejudices regarding you and your family,” Elizabeth confessed.
“And when you spoke in anger, madam, you cut like a knife.”
“But at least I know how to declare my love…something you will have to learn.”
They laughed together in each other’s arms.
“We shall be married within a week, do you consent?” he said.
“What choice do I have? I long to see Pemberley in autumn.”
“My dearest, we shall leave for Pemberley as soon as we are married, but you shall see autumn only from my chamber. Perhaps winter also—and the spring.”
Chapter 22
The travellers were received in London with triumph, mingled with a few reproaches, for Lord and Lady Matlock had expected them much earlier.
“Where have you been until now?” cried Lord Matlock, yet he belied his remonstrance with warm embraces; even Mr Gardiner he held in his arms for a few moments, his eyes brimming with tears.
“Never shall I be able to repay you for the immense service you have rendered my family,” he said, and Mr Gardiner blushed with pleasure.
“Your lordship, our children are above all things, and we make any sacrifice for them.”
Mary embraced Elizabeth at length, and even this was a significant change, for in the past, a mere kiss performed usually in the air had been a rarity.
“What have you been able to discover?” Darcy interrupted, for he knew that in London the final verdict would be given.
He had explained upon the road to Elizabeth and Mr Gardiner that, in their society part of what must be decided was arranged amongst men in the offices of government or in clubs; yet conversations in the ladies’ drawing-rooms were no less meaningful, in there Lady Matlock might gain significant support from the wife of some official, who needed only to whisper a few words to her husband to turn matters in the right direction.
Elizabeth had smiled at this, for in her own family and circle, it was the same. At times, matters were settled by the ladies and cleverly addressed to the husbands.
“We have reached Lord Liverpool, who has lately become the Regent’s right hand,” said Lord Matlock. Lady Matlock only smiled, for she had, in fact, spoken with Lady Liverpool—but that did not matter anymore, so she let her husband take all the credit.
“Tomorrow Richard arrives in London, and though he is for the present placed in a garrison, he is not under arrest—”
“Robert!” cried Lady Matlock, forgetting in her indignation all protocol. “What arrest? There can be no question of it. Richard will be required to make his declarations here, and then he shall come home.”
There was such assurance in her voice that Elizabeth suspected Lady Matlock would even contrive an escape for him if it became necessary.
“It will not be easy, but matters will settle, especially once they find that Frenchman and his wife,” said Lord Matlock.
Finally, when Mr Gardiner asked permission to withdraw, all accompanied him to the carriage, and even Lady Matlock herself, who conveyed her compliments to Mrs Gardiner.
Elizabeth smiled gently at Darcy, for neither of them had dreamt that their marriage would be regarded with such favour.There was no thought of her returning with Mr Gardiner, as if, until the wedding, her family in London were the Matlocks.
The adventures of the past days were recounted by Darcy and Elizabeth after dinner in Mary’s presence, in the most natural manner.
“We also have taken certain decisions,” Lord Matlock said, after every detail of Richard’s problems had been discussed and rediscussed.
