Page 54 of Losing Lizzy
“It is larger than Brooke’s.” Tears misted Sheffield’s eyes. “I could not accept this, sir. It is too much.”
“You could and you will,” Darcy said in serious tones. “Consider it a repayment for your care of the two people most important in my life. Without you, Elizabeth Anne would not be alive. This was the one gift Elizabeth asked of me when she agreed to be my wife again.”
“I do not know what to say, sir.” Sheffield’s eyes again looked over the deed.
“You have time to read the papers a thousand times if you like. Fowler has asked to remain with the business until the next quarter day, which is Christmas so you will have time to decidewhat you will do with the shop in Brighton. Sell it. Let it out to another.”
“My nephew requires an occupation after his service in the war. He wishes to marry,” Sheffield said. “Perhaps he—”
“Again, you have time to consider what is best for you,” Darcy said with a pat on his friend’s back.
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat then. He reached into the drawer, took out a paper with a drawing of a house upon it. “I hope you do not mind, when Darcy informed me of his gift to you, I sent an express to London to my wife’s brother, Mr. Gardiner. The man knows London like the back of his hand.” Bennet tapped the drawing. “This is a sketch of a house in Town that is available to let with an option to purchase. Gardiner says it is in Picadilly, not many streets removed from the shop of which Darcy spoke. If you are sincere in your wish to marry our Jane, I would have no qualms in investing a portion of her allowance, the rest to be paid, naturally, upon my death, as a down payment on this house. Moreover, her Uncle Gardiner is willing to pay the first three months of the mortgage as a wedding present for you two.”
“You would trust me with Miss Bennet’s future?” Sheffield said in awe.
“I trusted you with the future of my second daughter, and you proved most resourceful,” Mr. Bennet declared. “Miss Bennet is as precious to me as is Elizabeth. She deserves a man who would put her interests above his own—a trait sadly missing from others who wished to claim her hand. Make her happy, Sheffield. Make certain she never regrets giving her heart to you. That is all I ask.”
“I will do my best, sir,” Sheffield said in reverence.
Bennet laughed easily. “I, personally, despise London, but if both Jane and Elizabeth are in residence in the City, I might allow Mrs. Bennet to drag me there more often.”
“How am I to express my gratitude?” Sheffield said in dismay.
“Treat my Jane well. I do not wish to view her ever againdiscounting her worth as a woman,” Bennet said in warning.
“I will do my best, sir.” Sheffield stood suddenly, looking around as if he did not know where he was. He clutched the deed and the drawing within his grasp.
Darcy said in amusement, “I believe Miss Bennet and Elizabeth were in the morning room when I joined Mr. Bennet earlier. If I were you, I would start my search for the lady there.”
* * *
They had traveled to Cambridge on Wednesday, 25 September 1816, so Darcy might call upon the Bishop of Ely’s—Bowyer Sparke—office to apply for the appropriate jurisdiction and submit an allegation, presented under oath, that there were no impediments to a marriage between Elizabeth and him. The allegation required him to supply their names, ages, birthdates, and make a declaration of no need for her father’s permission to marry. Although his doing such was more public than either of them liked, the procedure of purchasing an ordinary license was infinitely better than the public calling of the banns. With the license in hand, on Friday they made their way to Dry Drayton, where he paid Mr. Ruffe a nominal fee and replaced the man in the let room, purchasing a like room for Elizabeth and their child. There they would wait until the day of their wedding.
On Saturday, he called upon the vicar at the Church of St Peter and St Paul and presented his license and explained his month-long occupation of a room atThe Black Bells, claiming to have been in residence for three Sundays, the number of Sundays required for a calling of the banns. Arrangements were made for their service on Wednesday, with the vicar insisting upon Darcy meeting the full residency requirement by staying through Monday, as “he” did not register at the inn until late on Sunday, 8 September 1816. Although Darcy did not approve of the delay, he kept his mouth closed, for the vicar had the right to insist they wait another week, if he so chose. Even if Darcy wished to complain, he would not draw more attention to his marriage to Elizabeth than was necessary.
They married on 2 October 1816, only six weeks short oftheir original wedding day. It was a very simple ceremony with only the vicar and the cleric’s wife and son who stood as witnesses. Darcy had paid the innkeeper’s wife to entertain Elizabeth Anne at the inn during the service, fearing his daughter, as intelligent as ever, would say something to someone at Pemberley that might cause people to question their story of secretly marrying years prior.
“Might we celebrate both days?” Elizabeth asked as she snuggled into his embrace as they crossed Leicestershire and made their way toward Derbyshire and Pemberley. Lizzy Anne was asleep on the opposing bench. “I know it is necessary to maintain the pretense of our August wedding, but I do not want to pretend this one never occurred.”
“I agree.” He trailed a line of kisses from her ear to the indentation of her neck. “One will be the public celebration required to keep Elizabeth Anne safe,” he murmured against her skin. “And the other celebration specifically designed for just us two.”
Elizabeth snaked her arms about his neck. “I fear,” she said, her lips hovering over his, “we may find it difficult until we reach Pemberley for too much to happen between us.” She glanced to their daughter. “Little eyes see it all.”
Darcy smiled easily. “That is why we must steal away our moments when we are granted them. Therefore, do not be offended when I instruct you to cease the chatter and kiss your husband with all the love in your heart.”
Her lips lingered over his. “And will you kiss me with all the love in your heart?”
“Absolutely.” His mouth covered hers. He had returned to all that was important in his life.
It was Friday, the first week of October when Darcy and his new family arrived at Pemberley. Darcy’s mind was too full for conversation as they approached his home. As Elizabeth had shown her enthusiasm for Longbourn, his heart leapt with happiness as their carriage made its way to the top of an eminence for one’s first view of the house. Here, at this point,the wood ceased, and his eyes were immediately filled with the pure splendor of Pemberley House. The windows gleamed in the autumn sun, giving the exterior the look of a magical light.
Elizabeth Anne, who sat upon her mother’s lap, whispered in awe, “It is truly a castle, Papa.”
“No, my darling girl, it is simply your home—for as long as you wish to dwell here, Pemberley is yours to enjoy.”
* * *
1 August 1836, Pemberley House
