Defending Elizabeth Read online

  Darcy nodded and followed her inside. As they walked through the door, they met Mrs. Bennet coming down the stairs.

  "Mr. Darcy! Whatever are you doing here?"

  "My apologies, madam. All will be made clear soon, but at this moment I need to speak with Miss Bennet. Is that possible?"

  "Certainly," said Mrs. Bennet, although she sounded not the slightest bit certain. "Would you like me to sit with the two of you, or...?"

  "I would prefer to speak with Miss Bennet alone. You have my word nothing untoward will happen."

  "I do not know of what you refer, but I cannot imagine my Elizabeth would do anything improper," Mrs. Bennet said, regaining herself a bit.

  "Nor do I, madam."

  "Well then, you may sit in the sitting room and converse. I will be in with tea in a quarter of an hour."

  "That is kind of you."

  He followed Elizabeth into the sitting room and said, "What I will tell you is for your ears alone, so we must be swift."

  "Please. I cannot bear it any longer. Are you engaged to your cousin? I received a letter from your aunt."

  Darcy ran a hand through his hair, tousling it. "I was hoping I would arrive before that letter," he said.

  "Are you?" Elizabeth repeated.

  "I am not, nor shall I ever be."

  Elizabeth audibly sighed in relief. "But your aunt said you were to be married.”

  "My aunt believes she exerts quite a bit more control than she actually does. I do not wish to marry Anne, and she does not wish to marry me. All my aunt can do is voice her opinion, which, as you have seen, she does quite often and very loudly."

  Elizabeth smiled, remembering the dinner at Rosings Park.

  "Indeed, there is only one woman who I hope to take as my wife, and if she will not have me, I do not wish to marry at all." He stepped forward and took her hands. "Please, Miss Bennet, say you will marry me. I love you, most ardently, and I desperately hope you share at least a sliver of the sentiments I have for you."

  Elizabeth just looked at him, hoping to press the memory of this moment into her mind forever. She then answered his question with one of her own.

  "Is it true you convinced Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia?"

  He looked startled, but answered in the affirmative.

  "And do I also have you to thank for reuniting Jane and Bingley?"

  "I did nothing other than tell Bingley the truth of the situation. He made the correct decision entirely on his own."

  "Why would you do all this?"

  "Miss Bennet, you must know I did it for you. I would do anything to prevent you pain."

  Elizabeth blinked the tears out of her eyes.

  "I will," she whispered.

  "You will?"

  "Yes. Oh, yes."

  Darcy resisted the urge to pick her up and twirl her. Instead, he traced the lines of her palms with his thumbs.

  "My dearest Elizabeth. You do not know how happy you make me."

  "But I do, for I feel it myself."

  * * *

  There was just enough time for Darcy to tell Elizabeth the details of his trip to Rosings. She tried to be appropriately horrified by Lady Catherine's actions, but she was so deliriously happy she could not manage such an emotion.

  Exactly fifteen minutes after their conversation began, Mrs. Bennet bustled into the sitting room carrying a plate of tea.

  "Mrs. Bennet, if you will excuse me," Mr. Darcy said. "I must speak with your husband for a moment, and then I will return."

  "What on Earth could he want to speak with your father about?" Mrs. Bennet asked. She looked at Elizabeth for the first time and saw her face tear-stained but brilliant with joy.

  "Did he…are you…?” she asked faintly.

  Elizabeth only smiled at her mother.

  "Pardon me, Mama. I shall return in a moment."

  "What is going on?" Mrs. Bennet yelled at her daughter's retreating back.

  Elizabeth waited outside her study until Darcy exited. He gave her a small smile, and she slipped through the door and closed it.

  Her father stared at her with shock.

  "I did not think you liked him, Lizzy."

  "I do, Papa. I do. I wish to marry him."

  "And there is no compulsion forcing this union?"

  "None but our love for one another."

  "Well, that is reason enough to me. Let us go tell your mother the good news before she suffers from apoplexy."

  Mr. Bennet offered his daughter his arm, and she took it. They walked out the door of the study and towards the only other man Elizabeth Bennet loved.

  Chapter 28

  Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy were married exactly six weeks after his return from Rosings Park. The church was full of well-wishers, although the groom's aunt was noticeably absent from the festivities. Elizabeth did receive a warm letter from Miss Anne de Bourgh, welcoming her to the family. Elizabeth responded immediately, touched by Miss de Bourgh's kind wishes.

  Darcy paced outside the church prior to the service, waiting for his intended. Her carriage arrived moments later, and Elizabeth stepped out. Jane exited behind her to smooth her dress and straighten her bonnet. Mr. Bennet also rode in the carriage. Elizabeth hugged her beloved sister before turning to her father. He escorted her to her bridegroom. Elizabeth kissed her father's cheek before taking Darcy's arm.

  "Darcy, I know you will take good care of her," Mr. Bennet said, with a hitch in his voice.

  "I shall, sir. You have my word."

  Mr. Bennet wiped his eyes quickly, and then escorted Jane into the church.

  "Here we are," Elizabeth whispered.

  "Indeed. You have never looked lovelier."

  She blushed in a way that was befitting a bride and gave him a lovely smile.

  "Let us go. I cannot wait a moment longer to make you my wife."

  They passed through the doors of the church and on to the rest of their lives.

  * * *

  The Bingleys were delighted to host the wedding breakfast. They invited friends and relatives from near and far. Elizabeth and Darcy spent much of their time responding to the well-wishes of those who loved them.

  Mr. John Davis attended the reception, and spent the entire time at Mary Bennet's side. Elizabeth had never seen Mary happier. She suspected another engagement would be announced quite soon. She did not know who would be more thrilled at the prospect--Mary or their mother. Who would have presumed, a year earlier, that all the Bennet girls would either be married or have matrimonial prospects?

  There was one guest neither Elizabeth nor Darcy cared to see, but he was married to Elizabeth's sister, so his invitation was required.

  "Darcy, old chap," said Wickham, sidling up beside him. "Good thing for you I chose the other sister, hmm? You can show your thanks with any sort of gift you feel appropriate."

  Darcy gripped Wickham's arm just above the elbow.

  "This is a joyous day, so I will not ruin it by giving you what you so sorely deserve," he growled. "But if you do anything, ever, to bring my wife shame or grief, you shall rue it."

  "A threat, on your wedding day? Darcy, how very improper."

  "I shall not have it, Wickham. Jest all you like, but watch yourself."

  Darcy released his grip on Wickham's arm, and Wickham, for all his bravado, scurried away to find his wife.

  "What was that?" Elizabeth asked, returning to Darcy's side.

  "I was just coming to an understanding with my new brother by marriage. There is no need to trouble yourself with it."

  He gave her a reassuring kiss on the forehead, and she beamed a smile up at him.

  "I never would have imagined I would be this happy," she whispered.

  "Nor would I. But now we have found this happiness, I do not intend to ever let it go."

  Acknowledgments

  I have such a wonderful team, without whom I would not be able to bring anything to publication. Thanks to Kristin Mitchell, who reads every chapter before anyon
e else, Lindsay from LY Publishing Services, who polished my writing and provided feedback, and Panagiotis Lampidis, who created such a gorgeous cover.

  * * *

  I also have a Winter, without whom I would be lost.

  * * *

  Finally, I have an amazing husband and son, who at least pretend to understand my Jane Austen obsession.

  About the Author

  Rowan Renault is an author and librarian by trade and a dedicated Janeite by choice. She lives in a small town with her husband, son, cat, and way too many books. She would like to drink tea out of dainty tea cups but her general clumsiness reduces her to drinking it out of sturdy mugs.

  For more information:

  www.rowanrenault.com

  [email protected]

  Also by Rowan Renault

  The Caroline Complication

  Mr. Darcy’s Bride