Page 45 of Elizabeth’s Choice

He saw the de Bourgh carriage in front of his townhouse and growled, “She must have finally seen the betrothal announcement. I apologise in advance, Elizabeth. I will take care of it.”

“I am sure I can manage your aunt, William,” she responded. “After my mother, how bad can she be?” She grinned and they entered the house together.

Lady Catherine’s displeasure could be heard as she yelled at the butler, “…expected to return? How inept are you at running the house here? You and the housekeeper would never be allowed to work anywhere if I had my way!”

Darcy coughed at the doorway and Lady Catherine immediately turned around, but seeing the petite lady next to her nephew, she resumed her scolding, “And this must be the chit you think you are marrying. I am your nearest relative and will not stand for it! She is related to my parson, for heaven’s sake, and is not qualified to become the mistress of Pemberley!” She glared at Elizabeth, inspecting her dress and spoke directly to her, “You are wearing a dress today, but I was told that you dress like a man and had an employment like a peasant. I know not how you were able to pay to live in your own house, but this is all a farce and you will disgrace the Darcy name if my nephew marries you. Who do you think you are? Any woman who runs around in trousers and takes an occupation belongs in an asylum and you are unfit to be in society. It makes no sense that you have some title and perhaps my foolish nephews Fitzwilliam and Darcy concocted an elaborate story to give you a fake rank. I will not believe it until you show me proof that you are actually in the Order of the Garter. It is simply impossible!”

“Whether you believe it or not, I am Lady Elizabeth of the Order of the Garter. I do not know you and owe you no explanation of myself,” Elizabeth snipped. “You are in Mr. Darcy’s home and I can only surmise that you are Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and if you want proof, you may visit the Prince Regent and ask him yourself. Oh, but wait, when was the last time you had an audience with His Highness? Or with Her Majesty Queen Charlotte? I will ask them tomorrow when I see them at Windsor Palace if they know of your existence.”

Lady Catherine stuttered, “Lies! Cannot… it must be lies!”

“Again, I have no need to explain myself to you nor receive your permission to marry your nephew and I will do as I please.” She took off her gloves and hat and handed them to the butler, “As I will become Mistress of Darcy House in the near future, I will warn you one last time to cease abusing our staff and you may leave the premises. If you do see your brother, please send my regards to Lord Matlock. I am certain he can tell you all there is about me.” She entered the house, leaving the older woman with her jaw to the floor.

Darcy smiled as he bowed to his aunt, “Good day, aunt. Please do not call again until you are ready to apologise to my betrothed and me.” He directed his butler, “Please escort Lady Catherine to her carriage,” and followed after Elizabeth.

He could hear his aunt grumbling as she stomped out of the house and chuckled to himself, knowing that she had never been treated thus in her entire life by anyone before. Elizabeth was a force of nature and he was pleased that she had protected his butler and housekeeper. He saw Elizabeth by the fireplace in the sitting room and grinned, “You handled yourself beautifully, my dear.”

Elizabeth faced him and growled, “She is the most irritating person I have ever met! She was condescending without a single courteous word to me and I cannot believe you are related to her. I am so angry with you right now!”

Darcy asked with furrowed brows, “Why are you angry with me? What did I do wrong?”

“Lady Catherine was being archaic and thick-headed, and you just stood there without saying a single word!” Elizabeth replied.

“She accused you and you defended yourself perfectly,” he stepped closer and gently continued, “It was your argument and for me to intervene as though you were not strong enough to stand up for yourself would defeat that argument, do you not agree?”

Elizabeth sighed, “I only wanted your support, William.”

“And you have it fully and unconditionally, my love, but you have no need for me to rescue you, since from all I have learned about you, you do not need it,” he cradled her cheeks and kissed her lips. “You are utterly capable.”

She finally smiled, “Your logic is so irritating.”

“But you love me for it and I will always be your champion. No matter what life throws at us, we will stand by each other and get through it together,” he kissed her again as he wrapped his arms around her. “I only wish we did not have to wait three months to marry. I am inpatient to become your husband.”

Elizabeth looked up at him as she held him close, “I have a surprise for you. I wanted to wait until tomorrow when we meet with Prince George, but I have been scheming to obtain Ashworth before my birthday. His Highness is to grant me ownership of Ashworth while I make the payment directly to the Robinsons, and as I am now a Lady of the Order of the Garter, I can keep my property under my name, even though I am not of age yet, and it will be fully mine to do with as I wish.”

Darcy exclaimed, “Then we do not have to wait until March to marry? When can we marry?”

“Can we marry from Hertfordshire in one week? I want all the fanfare of being the happiest bride with Georgiana and my family present while I finalise purchasing Ashworth. We were thinking of inviting my parents to Derbyshire for Christmas in any case so can we be wed and then go to Pemberley afterwards?”

“It would give me the greatest pleasure to become your husband in one week, Elizabeth,” he merrily answered. “Your father can lock himself in the library while your mother visits your sister for six months and we shall become our own little family. I cannot believe it! We are getting married in a week!” He lifted her up and spun her around in circles in excitement.

“I never believed I could be so happy, my William,” Elizabeth declared. “I was only a head-strong, obstinate girl who constantly disobeyed and disappointed my parents, but after I met you, I feel like we are destined to be together. Although we had our own heartbreak, we were able to overcome it all and will be happy together.”

“I know I angered you and wounded you before, but I promise to live every day to make you happy, Elizabeth,” Darcy vowed. “I love you with all my heart.”

“If you had not angered me in Brighton, I would not have gone to Oxford where I was able to stop the assassination plot to gain my rank, so even our argument was a blessing in disguise and I am grateful for you. I will never take us for granted. Thank you for loving me with all my eccentricities. I love you, my William. Thank you for allowing me to choose you,” she tiptoed to kiss him reverently.

There was a knock at the door and the housekeeper entered after permission was given. “Pardon my intrusion, Mr. Darcy, Lady Elizabeth, but I am afraid Lady Catherine departed in a rush and forgot her daughter. Miss de Bourgh and Mrs. Jenkinson were taken to the guest bedchamber from exhaustion when they first arrived. What would you like to do?”

Darcy shook his head, “My aunt is the worst…” He turned to Elizabeth and commented, “I apologise for every unkind thought I had about your mother. She is a saint compared to my aunt,” he grinned as she laughed. He directed his housekeeper, “As soon as they are recovered, please arrange to deliver them to Matlock House. My uncle will have to manage his sister and niece, since we have a very important appointment with Queen Charlotte and Prince George tomorrow and must pack to travel to Hertfordshire afterwards. We are getting married in one week!”

Epilogue

After their meeting with the Queen and the Prince at Windsor Palace and introducing Georgiana Darcy who had won the archery contest, Elizabeth and Darcy promptly travelled to Hertfordshire where their wedding plans were announced to the Bennet Family. With the common licence already obtained, Mrs. Bennet could only fret that the wedding breakfast would not be sufficient for the new Lady of the Order of the Garter, but Elizabeth cared naught for any of the wedding plans and enjoyed finally owning her own home in her name.

The ceremony was brief at Meryton Chapel and the breakfast at Ashworth was sumptuous and plenty, with Mrs. Goodwin enduring Mrs. Bennet’s demands with a full smile on her face to see the new mistress and her husband’s complete bliss. Georgiana was at her happiest to gain a sister and Lord and Lady Matlock, along with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Grey attended the celebration, and the citizens of Hertfordshire were in full awe of the connections that Mr. Bennet had never spoken about before.

Mr. Bennet cried when no one was looking, immensely proud of his favourite daughter whom he raised like a son, who would take care of the family and secure his wife’s and daughters’ futures if anything should happen to him. With Darcy as his son-by-law and Bingley close to proposing to Jane, he knew his heart was mending and he looked forward to finally visiting Pemberley, about which he had heard from his dear friend George Darcy for many years prior.