What Would Mr. Darcy Do?

She found herself clutching it for comfort, much as she had in the days when she was most uncertain of his regard.

Hunsford… how could she ever have justified her behavior that day? She could see now he had come to her that day with this same sense of need and vulnerability, and she had completely failed to recognize it. He had even tried to express it in his own unfortunate way by telling her the great obstacles his feelings had to overcome before he could make her his offer, but his proud words about the inferiority of her own state and her connections blinded her to anything else.

Her words came back to haunt her—From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry. She shuddered to think of the pain she must have caused him. With her newfound insight into the depths of her love for him, she recognized for the first time that, in addition to the misjudgment of him which she had long since acknowledged, she was also guilty of a great cruelty, with her only excuse being a lack of understanding for which she could no longer forgive herself.

And yet he had forgiven her, and even her pitiless words could not keep him from writing that memorable adieu in his letter the next day—I will only add, God bless you. He had changed his manners since then, but, as she had once noted to Wickham, he had never changed in the essentials—his fierce loyalties, his love for his family and his home, his disdain for any sort of deceit, his quick mind, his formidable standards for his own behavior. Love is certainly a humbling experience, she thought. I hope it becomes easier with time.

*   *   *

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.”

The familiar words of the wedding service washed over Elizabeth as she stood next to Jane, who was as radiant as any bride could be. She was fully determined to enjoy the occasion, regardless of her earlier frame of mind. She tried to listen thoughtfully, contemplating her own state, but her thoughts kept slipping away. For once she could not blame Darcy for her inattentiveness, since he, for the most part, was looking at no object but the ground. A slight smile of affection came to her lips as she watched him; she knew how greatly he had been dreading standing up in front of this great crowd of people, and she took no offense at his withdrawn behavior, but only wished she could send some comfort to him from across the aisle. Even as she thought this, he raised his eyes to her.

“Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

Bingley’s firm response, “I will,” echoed throughout the church.

Elizabeth’s gaze remained caught by Darcy’s as Jane’s turn came.

“Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will,” responded Jane in a tremulous voice.

Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat as she thought of saying those same words the following day, and all they implied. Darcy’s steadfast gaze comforted her, reminding her he would be with her, and that their separations were coming to an end. She lost herself in contemplation of their future, nearly missing her cues in the ceremony, and was glad when she could finally take Darcy’s arm to follow Jane and Bingley from the altar.

*   *   *

“Well,” said Mrs. Bennet, as soon as the family settled themselves at Longbourn after the wedding breakfast, “what say you to the day? I think everything has passed off uncommonly well, I assure you. As for my dear Jane, I never saw her look in greater beauty.”

“It went very well indeed,” agreed Mrs. Gardiner. “It was a testament to your fine planning, Mrs. Bennet.”

Mrs. Bennet, who was in very great spirits, was not to be suppressed. “Next it shall be your turn, my dear Lizzy! We must begin our planning soon—there is so much we must do!”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, who was feeling uncommonly anxious about the discussion, well aware that her mother would take her news neither well nor with dignity.

“Well, we have not wished to distract you in any way from your planning from Jane’s wedding, knowing how much depended on you,” Elizabeth temporized. “We have been proceeding with our own planning in the meantime, however.”

“Without any input from me? I see no reason you could not have waited!”

Elizabeth cast a helpless look at Mrs. Gardiner. “We could not wait because we plan to marry very soon, in fact, tomorrow,” she said, bracing herself. She wished that Darcy were not present to see the mortifying explosion that was sure to come.

“Nonsense, nonsense! Lizzy, I swear you delight in vexing me! I know you must be teasing me!”

Darcy decided it was time to come to Elizabeth’s rescue. “I assure you she is doing nothing of the sort, madam. We will be married tomorrow; the plans have been set,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument. Elizabeth glanced at him gratefully.

Mrs. Bennet, who was still sufficiently in awe of her future son-in-law to be taken aback, especially when he spoke in such a manner, said weakly, “But… your trousseau, you cannot be married without your trousseau! Oh, Lord! And there are many guests to invite, and planning…”

“We want only the immediate family present, and, as we will be going to London directly after the wedding, I can address the question of a trousseau then,” Elizabeth said placatingly.

“You cannot do that after the wedding! It must be before, it must! Oh, you have no compassion for my nerves, Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet turned to her husband, whose attention was deep in a book, and cried, “Oh! Mr. Bennet, you must help me! Lizzy wants to marry Mr. Darcy tomorrow! You must make her change her mind!”

Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication. “My dear, I thought that you wanted Lizzy to marry Mr. Darcy.”

“You are trying to vex me! I do not want them to marry tomorrow!”

“Well, I cannot see why they should not. I am perfectly at leisure tomorrow.”

“Mr. Bennet! How can you allow this?”

“My dear, it would seem to me that if two young people insist on marrying in a hurry, perhaps it is best not to question too deeply. Now, madam, I shall be in my library where I may be assured of some peace.”

As Mr. Bennet retreated, Georgiana and Kitty were doing their best to stifle giggles, Mary looked disapproving, and Elizabeth was biting her lip in an attempt to disguise a smile. Darcy, less willing to be the subject of this kind of humor, especially in front of his sister, said, “Mrs. Bennet, may I speak with you privately for a moment?” He sent an amused glance to Elizabeth as he ushered her mother out of the room.

“Mrs. Bennet,” he began in a severe manner, every inch the Master of Pemberley. “I fear you may be subject to some misunderstanding on this matter. The decision on the date was mine. I am not a patient man, and your daughter has kept me waiting a very long time, and I have no intention of waiting any longer. The frank truth is that it is tomorrow or Gretna Green. Do I make myself quite clear?”

Looking most flustered, Mrs. Bennet said, “Of course, Mr. Darcy… I am sorry if I… it is only that Lizzy can be so headstrong at times, and I thought… pray forgive me, but I had assumed that you would want a more proper wedding, but you prefer this… of course, as you wish!”