Page 95 of To Go Against Her Heart
“I care little for how I live my life in the future, but I cannot continue as your wife, knowing I was your second choice. Your falsehoods shall deceive me no longer. I have already spoken with my father; I desire a separation. He is now apprised of your past, and you may be assured you shall receive none of my fortune, yet you should be grateful that my dowry has at least cleared all your debts. Trust me—should you even think to oppose this decision or to weave a tale against me, I will expose you to the world, which may well ruin your sister’s life, for my brother would never forgive you for what you have done to me. Be sensible and obey my wishes, and this will be the last time you enter my chamber. I suggest you return to your room, start packing, and prepare to leave this house tomorrow. You have not only lost Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a woman whom you deem far superior to me, but now you have lost me as well. You may indulge your desires among women in taverns, yet be assured that you shall never marry, nor shall any woman of proper character regard you as a gentleman—I shall see to that myself. And I am certain from now on I will haunt your thoughts for the rest of your life, as much as she does,” she cried and held the door for her husband to walk out, and Mr. Harrington had no choice but to leave her room, ultimately facing the consequences of all his selfish actions.
As Mrs. Harrington shut the door, she finally felt something in her heart that gave her peace—a sense ofclosure.
Chapter 39
The sudden disappearance of Miss Bingley from Netherfield, following the engagement party, drew some measure of gossip from the villagers; however, it soon subsided as she was never favored in the neighborhood, and her absence was scarcely felt and conveniently forgotten. It was very easy for them to believe that she had left out of some quarrel with her brother and was never to return. Difficult as it had been, Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Hurst endeavored to look forward to a new beginning, with Jane’s addition to the family promising a happier future. Mrs. Hurst could not help but be moved by the generosity of Jane and Elizabeth, who treated her with respect and warmth, even though she had partnered with her sister in her schemes in the past.
Meanwhile, in Kent, the intelligence of Darcy’s marriage excited the highest degree of wrath from Lady Catherine and shock from Mr. Collins. She dispatched a letter, urging Darcy to reconsider the degradation of marrying so far beneath him, threatening to renounce his ties for life. However, Darcy was unmoved. He had no intention of letting anyone endanger his future with Elizabeth.
He replied with equal firmness, cautioning Lady Catherine to refrain from further interference, and declaring, in terms not to be mistaken, that Elizabeth was to be his wife and the future mistress of Pemberley.
The week before the wedding was filled with frequent meetings between the couples, and Lucas Lodge offered thema welcome retreat from the bustle of Longbourn, which now included the presence of the Gardiners and their children. It soon became their preferred resort, where Charlotte and Richard very willingly agreed to be their chaperones.
As Elizabeth had suspected, Richard and Charlotte soon discovered much to admire in one another, and his partiality was evident in his manner and countenance. Elizabeth hoped that, in time, Charlotte might indeed become a part of their family, and the prospect of becoming related to her dearest friend gave her the highest delight.
“I see that Miss Lucas has spared me and Bingley from Richard’s constant teasing. Lately, he seems to devote all his attention to her,” Darcy observed to Elizabeth, and she smiled.
“I shall dearly miss Charlotte after we leave,” she said with genuine sadness.
“I have invited Sir William’s family to visit Pemberley as well. I trust you shall meet frequently in the future,” Darcy said, fully aware of how difficult it might be for her to part from the home and friends.
“I understand that you are yearning to return to Pemberley, and Georgiana mentioned this is the longest you have been absent from your estate.”
“That is not so; the only thing I long for now is you. You cannot imagine how tormenting it is to leave you and return to Netherfield each day, and I cannot express the envy I bear toward Georgiana,” he exclaimed, drawing a laugh from Elizabeth, for Georgiana had resolved to stay at Longbourn for a few days.
Their conversation was interrupted by Sir William.
“Promise us, Mr. Darcy, that you will not whisk Miss Elizabeth off to Derbyshire forever, but that you will return to Hertfordshire at least once a year. We shall miss herexceedingly, for she is one of the most intelligent women in society.”
“I assure you, we shall be frequent visitors,” Darcy replied, and he once again urged that Sir William’s family accompany the Bennets to Pemberley for Christmas.
The couples took their leave, and Mr. Bingley and Darcy walked with Jane and Elizabeth to Longbourn, while Richard returned to Netherfield. As they walked, Elizabeth noticed that Darcy maintained a considerable distance between himself and the pair walking before them.
“Mr. Darcy, your actions alarm me. Pray, tell me, are you planning to abduct me?” she asked with a false sense of alarm.
“Trust me, I would be lying if that thought had not crossed my mind in the past week,” he said, eliciting another laugh from her.
“I know full well that you shall not be available to spend time with me in the next few days until the wedding.”
“You are not wrong! Why, I still have to pack my trunks, spend time with my cousins, Papa, and Jane—and perhaps you may rest for a few days, and we shall meet directly at the altar.”
“You take much joy in tormenting me, don’t you?” he asked, his eyes fixed on her with a piercing intensity.
“I most sincerely do, and I shall meet you at the chapel in a few days,” she said as they neared Longbourn, quickening her pace toward the house—when, suddenly, Darcy caught her arm and stopped her at the gate. Jane and Mr. Bingley had already entered the house and were out of sight.
Startled by his behavior, Elizabeth turned to Darcy and saw the unmistakable pain in his gaze. Gently but firmly, he held her hand to his chest, and Elizabeth could almost feel his heart beat; in his gaze, she beheld the feelings that resonated in the depth of his heart.
“Fitzwilliam, I apologize, I did not mean to hurt you…”
“You may call me selfish, and perhaps I am; yet I have desired and yearned for your presence every moment of my life. I have been so these past months, and nothing can restrain me from seeking you out—even on the eve of our wedding,” he declared.
Elizabeth could sense that a man like him, with intelligence, status, and wealth, and above all, a noble heart, had surrendered himself to her with his love, and in her heart, she promised she would strive to give him nothing but happiness.
***
At last, the day of the weddings arrived, and Longbourn was alive with bustling activity, and it had been many years since the old house had felt so lively. As Jane and Elizabeth donned their wedding gowns, they felt a sense of disbelief in their current state of happiness. They could not help but realize that they would no longer share a room, nor the daily comforts of companionship, the joys and sorrows, and the mutual support that had bound them together since childhood.
“I do not know how I am to part from all of you, Jane. Not that I am not overjoyed to marry Mr. Darcy—I truly love him—but to be away from you, from Papa, and our home, it has not yet struck me how deeply I shall miss you.”
