Chapter Text
The happiness which this reply produced was such as he had probably never felt before, and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. That is, Mr. Darcy was finally able to take Elizabeth into his arms and claim her lips.
Elizabeth, overcome with happiness, was more than willing to accept Mr. Darcy’s kiss and did so with fervor. As his hands held her at the back of her neck and her waist, she pressed her hands to his chest. Elizabeth could feel Darcy’s heartbeat while hearing her own pound in her ears. She had never felt so many sensations at once, all thrilling her. Darcy, no less affected, deepened the kiss and pulled Elizabeth closer to him.
Pulling back slightly, Mr. Darcy touched his forehead to Elizabeth’s, giving them both a chance to catch their breath. Darcy gazed at Elizabeth’s still closed eyes in wonder, half in disbelief that this moment had actually come to pass.
“Lizzy? Lizzy!” The sound of Jane calling her name finally jarred Elizabeth from her reverie. She had thought of naught else since Mr. Darcy had proposed to her for a second time the day prior. Elizabeth touched her lips slightly with her fingers, and shook her head to attend to the present.
“I am sorry, Jane, I was woolgathering. What were you saying?”
If Jane was not a paradigm of all things virtuous and kind in Elizabeth’s eyes, she would have sworn that Jane smirked.
“I was speaking of our impending weddings and wanted to know your opinion of sharing the day with one another,” Jane said sweetly.
“I think it a wonderful idea!” Elizabeth grinned. “Mama may have a conniption at the loss of hosting two weddings to grand men of the ton, but she will have to make do with just one.”
“Oh do not make fun of Mama!” Jane chided her. “For all her silliness, she does mean well. I have never seen her so happy and relieved now that both of us will be happily settled. Our security has always been her goal, even though her way about it may not have been…ideal.”
“The hedgerows will be empty without us, I dare say,” Elizabeth said cheekily. “Mama will need to choose a new threat to bandy about when she scolds her daughters.”
“Lizzy!” Jane exclaimed with a laugh.
Elizabeth patted her sister’s hand. “You know I am only teasing, dear Jane. I have come to appreciate Mama’s theatrics, as I have seen other ladies’ modes of voicing their displeasure and they were much worse,” she explained, thinking of Lady Catherine’s tirade. At least her mother had good intentions, no matter how embarrassing she could be.
“Yes, well, at least now we can all feel relieved knowing that we are secure but to neither of our detriment,” Jane said. “We are marrying for love,” she said with a wistful smile.
Elizabeth’s cheeks pinked at the thought of her feelings toward Mr. Darcy. Or should she now think of him as Fitzwilliam? That certainly felt more intimate, and they were engaged after all. But would he prefer she still called him Mr. Darcy? He could be quite formal, but after his expression and words the day prior…
“You are doing it again, Lizzy.”
“Oh! I am sorry, I just have a thousand thoughts swirling in my head today. I have so many questions for Mr. Darcy and he must have questions for me. And we have so many things to discuss before the wedding, and-” Elizabeth huffed a sigh. Nothing could be solved until she was able to actually speak with Mr. Darcy. Her head swiveled comically to find the clock in the room. Thank the lord, the polite time for callers was near.
As if summoned from her mind, the two gentlemen were announced and entered the room. Elizabeth stood quickly and her eyes immediately sought Darcy’s. They were deep green today, and already boring into hers. Her breath caught slightly before she smiled prettily at him. Darcy, still not used to receiving such attention from Elizabeth, started at her smile. Recovering quickly, he grinned and raised his eyebrows at her.
Jane welcomed both men into the sitting room, effortlessly allowing Bingley to sit close to her and Darcy to take his place by Elizabeth. Once again, Darcy inwardly berated himself for his misunderstanding of Jane Bennet.
“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said.
“Good morning, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth responded.
Elizabeth’s eyes continued her perusal of Mr. Darcy’s face. She felt as if seeing him truly for the first time. Not necessarily that he had changed, but that she had in her understanding of him. Once, she may have thought his stare arrogant or aloof; now, she could see tenderness in his expression. His eyes were a dark shade of green, she noticed, which had slight wrinkles next to them when he smiled. A small indent appeared in between his eyes when he was serious or concentrating. His nose was strong and straight, and had a sprinkle of freckles on it- probably from being outdoors frequently at Pemberley. Did he frequently ride his horse or take long walks without a hat? His lips, Elizabeth noted with a flush, were fuller than she had thought-
“She did the same to me earlier,” said Jane, laughter in her voice.
“Shall I say something shocking to grab her attention?” Bingley responded with equal mirth.
Elizabeth colored deeply and turned to the other couple in the room. How long had they been speaking to her?
“I apologize for…,” blatantly ogling my handsome fiance and ignoring everyone else in the room? “What were you speaking of?” she asked.
Bingley and Jane exchanged an amused look with one another. “We wished to discuss the idea of a double wedding,” Mr. Bingley explained. “Jane tells me that you, Miss Elizabeth, are happy with the idea. I thought it a great idea myself, so if Darcy concurs, we shall all be in agreement!”
Elizabeth turned back to Mr. Darcy to see his eyes already on her.
“Whatever would make Miss Elizabeth happy,” he answered, without looking away from her. Elizabeth, touched by this, reached over and took his hand in hers.
“Well, now that that is settled,” Bingley said with a wide smile, “perhaps we could take a turn about the garden? We have been gifted with perfect weather today.” And the two of you clearly would like to be alone , Bingley thought to himself wryly.
Elizabeth nearly jumped up at the chance to speak with Mr. Darcy alone. “Yes, Mr. Bingley, what an excellent idea!”
“Oh do call me Charles, Miss Elizabeth. I am to be your brother, afterall,” he said jovially.
“Well then you must call me Lizzy, as my family calls me,” Elizabeth replied. “I have always wished for a brother, you know. For the entail of course, but also for someone to get into trouble with and blame for my wild ways.”
“And yet, you never let the lack of a brother prevent you from doing that anyway,” Jane quipped.
Elizabeth and Bingley both laughed aloud, and Darcy grinned at their easy camaraderie.
—
Once outdoors, the two couples almost immediately split from each other to walk at their own pace. Darcy and Elizabeth, both avid walkers, were quickly out of sight of Bingley and Jane, who were happy to amble slowly.
Elizabeth looked up at Darcy and said, “I am very happy to be able to speak with you, Mr. Darcy.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I fear my mind is too full of questions for you that I can hardly concentrate on anything else. I am surprised you did not tease me for my inattention earlier.”
“I assumed you were overcome by my good looks and charm, and were rendered speechless,” Darcy deadpanned.
Elizabeth, taken off guard by Darcy’s unexpected joke, snorted a laugh. “Oh dear! Now you have another thing to tease me about. I promise I do not often snort when I laugh,” Elizabeth said.
Darcy grinned at her, and replied, “I found it to be quite adorable, actually.” Then, more seriously, “and I like that I can be the reason that you smile and laugh. I feared I might not be someone you could laugh with, Elizabeth.”
“I believe,” Elizabeth said, holding herself closer to Darcy, “that our next 40 years or so will be filled with smiles and laughter. Love tends to cause that, you know.”
“You love me?” Darcy said in a low, intimate voice.
Elizabeth’s brow creased. “Yes, Mr. Darcy, I would not have accepted your proposal if I did not feel the deepest love for you. I am now realizing I did not say as much yesterday.”
Darcy had stopped walking and gently cupped Elizabeth’s cheek in his hand. She closed her eyes, relishing in the feel of his large hand. Without meaning to, she whispered in a sigh, “Fitzwilliam”.
Elizabeth’s eyes snapped open and her face flushed. “I- I apologize if that was too familiar-”
“Please, Elizabeth, do not apologize,” Darcy hurried to say, “I would like it very much if you would call me Fitzwilliam. Hardly anyone calls me that anymore-to most I am Mr. Darcy or just Darcy. I hope- that is, I would want to call you Elizabeth as well. Or Lizzy, if you prefer, as you said to Bingley.”
“I like how you call me Elizabeth,” she said softly, as she grasped his hand with both of hers. Elizabeth thought he might kiss her then, if not for a loud bird squawking above them, effectively breaking the tension.
“You said you have many questions to discuss with me?” Darcy asked, eyebrow raised.
Elizabeth returned her arm to his, and they began walking again. “Oh yes, only about a thousand or so. Although one of them was about calling you by your name, so I will mentally check off that one from the list.”
“And the other 999?”
“Well, we have decided to marry alongside Jane and Charles, but what of after? I know you have a house in London that you spend some time of the year residing at, and of course Pemberley, but which will we go to after the wedding? Will Miss Darcy attend the wedding, and where is she residing?”
Elizabeth took a steadying breath while Darcy looked at her affectionately. He was incredibly grateful to be having this conversation of homes, and family, and the future they would build together. It was just days prior when he had scarce hope that he would be lucky enough to be discussing his wedding with Elizabeth Bennet.
“Where would you prefer? I am sure you can guess that I almost always prefer Pemberley above all else, but if you would like to take time in London then that is what we shall do,” Darcy said.
“I would also much prefer going straight to Pemberley. I wish to become acquainted with the staff, the grounds, the house, everything,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Since my visit with the Gardners, I have considered Pemberley an extension of you. I want nothing more than to know and love the home that has formed you and that you hold so dear,” she said softly.
Elizabeth continued,“I would also very much like to get to know Miss Darcy better. If possible, I would wish her to reside at Pemberley as soon as she can.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Darcy said. “I know that Georgiana longs to get to know you as well, but would be too shy to initiate. I have hoped you two would become friends, as I know she would benefit from your influence. I certainly have,” he said with a grin.
Elizabeth warmed at the term of endearment and compliment. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked on.
“Tell me of Pemberley, Fitzwilliam.”