After visiting with her mother to learn the present state of affairs regarding the reception, Lizzy hurried to her room and got the chest from under her bed, and after climbing back under the covers, she read the now familiar words:
My dearest Elizabeth,
Even the thankfully few days that remain before our wedding are too many. I do not sleep for thinking of you, imagining you in my arms and in our bed. If you knew my deepest wishes, indeed, if my actions at Netherfield dismayed you, my thoughts would alarm you. But, Elizabeth, how can I stop? Until I met you, I prided myself in having control over the baser instincts that govern most men. Now I find that I cannot control where my imagination roams, and it roams over the delights of your body. The night we wed I will sweep you off your feet and carry you to our bedroom. You will stand before me, and I will undress you. And as my lips find yours, our passion will rise together. A month ago, I wanted you. A week ago, I yearned. Now my only thought is to know you, all of you. Can I make it any clearer? I want you immediately, entirely, completely, irrevocably, so that you will be mine forever.
All my love, Will
After folding the letter and putting it back in the chest, she recalled what Jane had said. “Mr. Darcy will want you to be happy in all things,” and now she had pretty a good idea of what “all things” might include.
Chapter 58
Mrs. Lyle had performed miracles in altering Jane’s wedding dress for Elizabeth. She had worked tirelessly, adding rosettes to the new lace hem, tucking lace into the bodice, shortening the sleeves, and trimming them with tiny rosettes. When Lizzy saw the finished product, it looked like a completely new dress, and she loved it.
What Mrs. Lyle had done for the dress, Mrs. Hill was doing for Lizzy’s hair. “There won’t be a curl out of place today, Miss Lizzy, because I put a pearl pin in each one of your curls. But I left it long in the back,” and she held up a mirror so that Lizzy might see the results.
“It is perfect, Mrs. Hill. Thank you so much.”
When the bride came downstairs, there were oohs and aahs from all the ladies of the house, but from Mr. Bennet, there was silence. He was doing everything he could to keep from crying. He had not shed a tear when Jane had married Bingley because she would be nearby at Netherfield Park, but Lizzy, when she was not in town, would be in faraway Derbyshire. There would be no dropping by to visit the Darcys.
Because the day was so cold, no one was standing outside the church in the hopes of catching a peek at the bride. All were huddled inside trying to keep warm while keeping an eye on the church door.
Lizzy and her father stepped into the vestibule, quickly closing the door behind them. After removing her pelisse, Lizzy took her father’s arm and whispered, “I love you. Nothing has changed.” Oh, but it had, Mr. Bennet knew.
With the exception of Kitty and Lydia, who had not stopped staring at Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was dressed in his regimentals, all eyes were on the bride, and when Elizabeth walked down the aisle, she could hear whispers about how lovely she looked. But it was the look on Mr. Darcy’s face that she wanted to hold forever in her memory. He had gazed at her with such love that she felt as if her heart was growing, and when the time came for him to place the wedding band on her finger, he experienced the same feeling.
After the vicar had pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to be husband and wife, the newlyweds walked down the aisle, and after greeting everyone in the vestibule, they encouraged the shivering group to go to Netherfield immediately, especially Anne de Bourgh, who was dressed from head to toe in a fur coat. It could not possibly have been good for her to be out in such weather.
At Netherfield, everyone was waiting for the bride and groom to come into the drawing room, and when they entered holding hands, they were greeted with a rousing tune by the fiddlers, and Colonel Fitzwilliam led the guests in a round of huzzahs. The same musicians who had played at Jane’s wedding breakfast had been brought back for Lizzy’s celebration because the dancing would go on well into the evening.
The happy couple circulated around the room receiving the congratulations of all, and everything the couple said was met with nods of approval by their guests.
After many toasts, the fiddle player plucked on his strings, a signal that the dancing was to begin. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy led the first dance, a lively jig, but after two more sets, Darcy indicated to Elizabeth and Georgiana that they would need to leave within the hour if they were to arrive at Wick Manor before dark. Both ladies went upstairs to change into their traveling clothes. When Lizzy said good-bye to her sisters and mother, there were tears in her eyes, but when she said good-bye to her father, the tears flowed.
“Be happy, my dear. That is all I ever wanted for all of you,” Mr. Bennet said, patting her hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy got into the carriage, followed by Georgiana, and Mrs. Brotherton, who was carrying Pepper. All burrowed under the fur blankets, and because she was now Mrs. Darcy, Lizzy scooted over to be closer to her husband, but he moved closer still.
Because the driver needed to go slowly in case there were any patches of ice, the journey took much longer than expected. When the party finally turned into the courtyard at Wick Manor, they were met by four men holding lanterns. Once in the house, Mrs. Cower, who had served the family for decades, and Mr. Bendlow, their butler, who had been with the Haydons since he was a boy, were there to greet them.
“Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, on behalf of the Haydon family, may I congratulate you on your marriage and welcome you to Wick Manor. We are delighted to have you visit with us on your wedding day,” Mrs. Cower said. And she then turned her attention to Georgiana. “Is it possible that this young lady is Miss Darcy? I have not seen you in at least two years and how you have grown. Have you come out? Belle of the ball, I am sure.
“Because of the cold, we have lit fires only in your bedrooms as we have found it difficult to keep the public rooms warm. I have arranged for supper to be served upstairs. I have kept it simple, not knowing when you would be here.”
“Mrs. Cower, I believe I can speak for my wife and sister when I say we are more tired than hungry,” Mr. Darcy answered, and they were led to their rooms. As soon as they had eaten, Georgiana and Mrs. Brotherton retired. Mrs. Cower came in immediately after and asked Elizabeth if she should have the maid come in.
“That will not be necessary, Mrs. Cower,” Mr. Darcy answered. “However, we shall have an early start tomorrow, so perhaps some bread and cheese for breakfast.”
“I will see to it. Good night to you both. If you need additional blankets, they can be found in that chest there. I can’t remember when it has been this cold.”
With the housekeeper gone, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy were alone. When Mr. Darcy had told Mrs. Cower that she did not require the assistance of the maid, Lizzy had swallowed hard. Her husband really was going to undress her, and she was so embarrassed by the thought that she did not know where to look.
“It is freezing in here, so let us get ready for bed,” Will said. “Shall we begin by taking down your hair, Mrs. Darcy?” And he led Lizzy to the dressing table. “I have never done this before, but I daresay I can remove pins as well as anyone else.” After pulling out more than a dozen pins, he asked, “How many do you have in there? Just when I think I am done, there is another group hidden in your curls.”
“Let me do it. There are only a few left,” and after Lizzy had found the last one, she picked up the brush and started to brush her hair.
“May I do that?” he asked, taking the brush from her hand. “You do know that whenever you wore your hair down, you were tormenting me.”