467Epilogue
Happy were the thoughts of Mr and Mrs Bennet upon their second daughter's marriage to her upstanding Mr Darcy, of Pemberley in Derbyshire. Mrs Bennet was overjoyed to announce (repeatedly) that attending the festivities had been an Earl, a viscount and multiple attendees from the ton. She lauded her daughter's good fortune in having secured Mr Darcy when she gloated to her sister, Mrs Phillips, and her circle of gossip friends. However, all boasting aside, she was genuinely very happy to see her daughter so well settled.
Mr Darcy could not care one jot for the guest list, for he did not spend a great deal of the day looking at anyone save for his beautiful, beaming wife. Her joy was magnetic, and he could not believe his good fortune in sharing it with her. Elizabeth caught him staring foolishly at her on more than one occasion. The third time he had missed a question from one of their guests, she pulled him aside and whispered close to his ear in a manner that made the hairs on his neck stand on end. It was so intimate to feel her breath on the sensitive spot at the hollow of his ear, and told him everything he did not need to know about the marital felicity that awaited him later that day.
"My love," the feeling in her tone felt like a caress, as soft as the air on his skin. "My face has not materially changed since yesterday - or so I thought when I last passed a looking glass. Have I picked up some dirt on my nose? Or are you just looking for pleasure?"
"Unequivocally the latter." He breathed in a low tone, such that she was the only one close enough to make out his words. "You are radiant in your joy. I cannot bear to look away."
"In that case," she said brazenly. "There will be more than enough time for you to behold me when we depart from the wedding breakfast. For now, I must implore you to converse more attentively with our guests."
He moaned softly, his whole being charged with the heady anticipation of what was to follow, finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of waiting, that evening.
"If your intent was to redirect my focus from your person, I dare say you have not succeeded in your attempt, Elizabeth."
In fact, all that Mr Darcy could now focus on was the all of her that would be revealed to him that day. He had previously managed to retain the iron focus which kept his gaze above her neckline - her carefully selected white, lace-edged neckline - that tickled her décolletage suggestively when her chest moved. He had so far narrowly avoided the temptation of drowning in the view of her generous figure. Allowing himself a singular long look downwards whilst she was smiling at his neck, he was overcome with want for her. He could not stop his traitorous mind from conjuring images of what he was so impatient for. Pressing her hand to regain himself, he subdued his lustful thoughts with difficulty, saving them for a time when he could properly follow through on them. He placed a kiss on her hand and excused himself for the water closet. Away from her closeness and her intoxicating smell, he managed to settle his desire - much to the benefit of all of his family, and all of hers.
The duration of the breakfast felt to both newlyweds as interminable as it was fleeting. Time seemed suspended in an alternative space, where it galloped with the wind in one moment and the next moved at the speed of glass easing towards the bottom of a window frame. The well-wishes from their eclectic mix of guests were gratefully received, for the most part. Mr Darcy felt the need on more than one occasion to physically pull his bride away from some of their male acquaintances who were a little too appreciative of her stunning beauty. In fairness to Mr Darcy, they had very clearly declared before God and all who were present that they belonged to each other. He himself was struggling to water down the fervour of his gaze, but he expected more from those who were not her husband. His cousin Richard still seemed to enjoy teasing him in this manner, for he knew that Elizabeth did hold a partiality for her new cousin's company. He did try to refrain, after his cousin's harsh words at the ball. But perhaps he did laugh a bit more readily at her jokes, and his gaze did linger slightly longer than what was strictly appropriate at Mrs Darcy's delightful form. He was only human.
They were parted for around thirty minutes before their departure, as Jane requested a private audience with her sister to properly say goodbye. The two women shared mournful tears at the loss of their innocence and the end of their intimate closeness.
"I promise I shall write often," Lizzy promised, her voice trembling. "I will share any happiness, no matter how small. And I should wish for you to do the same, dear sister."
This was readily agreed to, with no persuasion needed at all.
"And you are welcome to Pemberley any time you should so wish. Perhaps we may also scheme to invite charming Mr Bingley at the same time, that you might borrow some of the magic of the place to encourage your mutual affections along."
Jane blushed and whispered, "he is so very dear a creature, is he not?"
"I am very glad that you think so, Jane. Any person with eyes can see that he is madly in love with you. I would not be surprised at all if we were to return to Netherfield before the year is out to celebrate another day such as today."
"Do you really think so?"
"I dare say I do."
Jane's answering smile was radiant. Elizabeth extracted a promise from her to look after their younger sisters, and to make sure to spend a little extra time with their father once she departed. Elizabeth's heart was heavy to be leaving her family, but it took only one thought of the happiness that awaited her at Pemberley to quench the dull burn that settled in her heart at their loss.
Georgiana broke the sisterly bubble a short while later, not wanting to miss a few quiet moments alone with her dear friend before she left on her honeymoon. Jane left with the promise to rally the troops for a short farewell outside the front door.
"Mrs Darcy," Georgiana said and curtsied. She savoured the syllables and exaggerated her deference, teasing her friend a little but overjoyed to be able to say those words. "My dear Lizzy, I am so happy I could float away."
"I am sure I know that feeling - especially today, dearest Georgie." It had to be said, Georgiana could feel the happiness fizzing off her friend in giant bubbles of effervescing giddiness.
"Welcome to the family, sister," she said with a great leap into a twirling hug which left them both breathless.
"Becoming a treasured friend of yours has been my greatest wish since almost the moment we met, and becoming your sister surpasses my great joy in having even that wish materialise. You are such a bright and wonderful young woman, Georgie," Elizabeth's words were heavy with the truth they carried.
"The Darcy sisters," Georgiana breathed reverently. "Do you know, there was a time when I thought that that term would never be uttered truthfully again? You truly did save us both, Elizabeth."
"You are as kind as you are bright and wonderful, but let us not be weighed down by solemn events in the past and the resulting affection for each other, no matter how deep and true it is. I wish today to float, so perhaps you may share with me how you have achieved great buoyancy?"
"Well," she said with an air of mischief. "I came to present you with your wedding gift, which might perhaps fill you and my brother with the joy you seek." She paused and, seeing the recognition in her sister's eyes, continued. "Do you think it is an effective token?"
"He will be very touched at the reminder of the thoughtless act which so catalysed our getting to know each other. And I will cherish with great affection the pen that was so instrumental in our early acquaintance. For with it you have brought so much joy and good fortune into my life."
"I believe you know that feeling is mutual," Georgiana countered.
"Yes, I daresay it is," Lizzy agreed. "Georgie, I will miss you whilst we honeymoon for the next few weeks. But I am very much looking forward to your return to Pemberley and the commencement of more adventures."
"I cannot wait," she said with great feeling.
~. ~
Impatience was a feeling shared by both Darcy siblings, and the newest honouree of that particular surname. Mr Darcy was very much of the opinion that the polite hour to which they must remain at their wedding breakfast had very much passed, and he was passed waiting to begin three glorious weeks of relative solitude with his new wife. His wife, he thought warmly, at last she is my wife! As if summoned by his repeated thoughts, or perhaps his overwhelming joy at being able to truthfully call her thus, Elizabeth appeared to his side. He noticed the telltale signs of shed tears at the corner of her eyes, and his heart lurched to see the evidence of what she was sacrificing so they could be together. Not so much so that he would not let her sacrifice her innocence and her family, for he had grown up allowed to be selfish. But he pressed her hand in front of all of her family and gave her a reassuring smile. She shuddered at the intimacy of the innocent gesture.
He held her hand continuously until he had handed her into the carriage, refusing to let go even as they said farewell to her family. Her father crushed his other hand in a vice-like handshake, with a look as if to warn him of the great harm that would befall him if Elizabeth was to ever be unhappy with her choice. He tried to convey that it was a responsibility he did not take lightly, and was broadly understood in his silent communication.
And then, with a dull thud that oozed finality, the carriage door closed and they were finally alone. Mr Darcy wasted no time in ensuring his wife was comfortable. Especially when comfortable for them involved very little space between their bodies, and no space at all between their lips.
Elizabeth pulled back after a time, breathing erratic and chest moving in the overwhelmingly enticing way it had so often when they had been courting. Mr Darcy took advantage of their solitude and the vows they had spoken earlier that day, and permitted a long, hot gaze at her whole person. Lizzy held a palm to his chest to indicate silently that she wanted a moment's break before allowing his amorous attentions to be resumed.
"Our wonderful sister asked me to give you her wedding gift, Fitzwilliam," she offered by way of explanation for her deceleration of their intimate and maddeningly tempting activity. Her voice was thick with desire, and he found it hard to focus on the individual words when he was so tantalisingly close to all he had waited so long for. She felt his attention keenly.
"Mhmn-" he murmured at her collarbone. She waited until she believed she had his attention before placing the small box in his hands and repeating her words.
"What is-" he began, just as she said "open it"
He did so, and then looked at her, confused. She spoke gently, trying to speak through the lump in her throat. She was so emotional, and he was so beautiful.
"I believe this gift was the means of uniting us, through a rather complex series of events which followed its purchase in a small shop in Ramsgate-" her voice trailed off, pensive. Her husband placed a small kiss to her jawline and caressed her gloved arm. She took a deep breath and continued, "Perhaps it will serve as a helpful reminder that what often seems like a failing can sometimes yield infinite happiness. So perhaps it is just as well to not judge a book by its cover, and to allow an occasional lapse in good sense and forward planning."
"I am not certain that those are words to live by. But I do agree with your assessment of the infinite happiness it is responsible for, even if in a roundabout manner."
"You have made me the happiest of women, Mr Darcy."
"And I the happiest of men, Mrs Darcy."
"I will write to her on the morrow, for I fear I will be kept much too busy this evening. We married women have a great deal to contend with, I am sure she will understand."
Suddenly words were no longer necessary, as the couple expressed themselves as eloquently - and non verbally - as a newly married young pair should.
Indeed, a great deal of happiness had sprung from a truly accidental friendship between two young women in the heat of summer.
A/N - Thank you for reading my first full-length story! It's been a really fun experience pushing myself to write something a bit longer. I really hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed imagining a different universe for these two. I'll leave the reviews section open for future fic ideas and things I may have missed. Thanks again for your support
Cheers,
Jelach :)