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Mr. Bennet’s consent was given, with one provision; he wanted to see Darcy’s home before the marriage took place. Elizabeth didn’t mind as much as she might have, for she was able to spend nearly all of her time with Mr. Darcy while they waited for Georgiana and Emily to be ready for the three day trip. To her annoyance, however, her mother insisted she be carefully chaperoned, not wanting any scandalous rumors to abound.
Mrs. Bennet had looked to Jane as she said it, as if Jane having twins didn’t explain their only slightly early birth to the satisfaction of all. Elizabeth was a bit frustrated to find she and Mr. Darcy were given less leeway as an engaged couple than they had been in previous weeks. She consoled herself with memories of the kisses they’d exchanged in the garden, the day he’d proposed. Memory was a poor substitute for what she longed for, however, with him sitting near, looking at her with admiration in his eyes.
To compound Elizabeth’s annoyance with her mother, no explanation of the fiction of Mr. Harvey seemed to be clear to Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth had to endure her mother continuing to refer to Mr. Darcy as Mr. Harvey. Mrs. Bennet often spent the better part of her daily visits, which Mr. Darcy continued to avoid, to Elizabeth’s relief, bemoaning the fact that there was no possible way Mr. Harvey had enough money to support a wife after giving up his home to his sister. Sometimes, she still mentioned Mr. Collins, but not nearly as often.
Therefore, Elizabeth was immediately exasperated when Mrs. Bennet stormed into the breakfast parlor earlier than usual one morning, with them all still in attendance. They stood as she entered, and she waved them back down. Yanking out a chair, she flung herself into it in a dramatic fashion.
“I’m glad to find you all together,” she said. “I have news, such news!”
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy, whose face was carefully composed. She hoped he would make some excuse to leave, before her mother embarrassed her too much. If she’d ever been inclined to sadness that Darcy’s home was a three day journey from Netherfield, Mrs. Bennet had long since cured her of the feeling.
“What news is that, Mama?” Jane asked.
“It’s about Lydia,” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed.
Elizabeth’s heart sank. What could her sister have done now? She prayed it wasn’t something scandalous enough to make Mr. Darcy feel less pleased about wedding her. How would Kitty and Mary ever find husbands with Elizabeth and Lydia both tarnished?
“That Captain Carter,” Mrs. Bennet went on, looking about to make sure she had everyone’s attention. “He’s asked Lydia to marry him and she accepted.”
“Oh Mama,” Jane said. She stood and walked to Mrs. Bennet’s chair, kissing her on the cheek. “That’s wonderful news. Isn’t that wonderful news, Lizzy?”
“It is,” Elizabeth said. If her smile was one more of relief than joy, hopefully no one would notice. She glanced at Darcy, catching the amusement in his eyes, and amended her wish. Hopefully no one but her future husband would notice. “How did this happen?”
“Well, he up and appeared at Longbourn and asked Mr. Bennet, and then he asked Lydia,” Mrs. Bennet said. She dabbed at her eyes, though Elizabeth didn’t see any tears. “Such a marvelous thing. I’d half a mind to say no, of course, as he’d been so inconsistent in his affections, but, do you know, he has ten thousand pounds, on top of his pay?”
Elizabeth stared at her, shocked.
“Ten thousand,” Mrs. Bennet repeated. “Such a marvelous man. It’s a relief to know that at least some of my daughters will be cared for.” She cast a glare at Mr. Darcy.
Across the table, Bingley coughed, covering his mouth with his napkin.
“I’m pleased to hear that your youngest daughter’s situation has been so amicably resolved,” Mr. Darcy said.
Elizabeth turned to him, a bit taken aback by the haughtier in his voice. She’d only heard him express himself with such arrogance once before, early in his time at Netherfield, and had almost forgotten the incident. Perhaps that’s what Lady Catherine had seen in him, for she would want someone with that level of arrogance for her precious Rosings. Elizabeth recalled her thought on that other occasion, that it was a good thing Darcy didn’t have much money, or he would become somewhat pompous. She would have to be careful to curb that tendency in him if it began to show itself too often.
Then he smiled at her, and the impression was gone.
“Well, yes,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Quite resolved. Mr. Bennet accepted. Lydia accepted. All that’s left are for the banns to be read and they shall be married. My Lydia, married to an officer, and one who can support her much better than your Mr. Harvey can support you. Oh, what a happy day for Lydia.”
Elizabeth nodded, not trusting her tone should she speak.
True to her mother’s declaration, the banns were read and, soon after, the marriage took place. Darcy and Georgiana left two weeks before the wedding, she clearly eager to leave, him seeming torn. The day after the wedding, Darcy’s carriage arrived to bring Elizabeth and her parents to Derbyshire where Darcy lived, while Kitty and Mary stayed with Jane and Lydia left to go to her new home.
Elizabeth felt somewhat forlorn as she said her goodbyes, partially recanting her earlier thoughts that two or three days might not be far enough away from her mother. She would miss Jane terribly, and Charlie and Thomas. Netherfield had been a happy home for her, and it had consoled her to know Longbourn and her father were so nearby. Traveling to Derbyshire, to a home she’d never seen, was a bit more daunting than she’d anticipated.
Her solace was that she journeyed to Darcy. Even the few weeks they’d been apart had made clear how much she desired him in her life. Though she would never admit such an inane thing, each day had been an agony of minutes, counted down until she could see him again.
Mrs. Bennet complained constantly on the trip, but her complaints had little force. After three days of riding in the most comfortable carriage any of her family had ever ridden in, staying at two excellent inns, and receiving special service both at the inns and from the servants Darcy had sent to escort them, Mrs. Bennet’s complaints came down to concern that Mr. Darcy was spending too much money on the trip and would not have enough to support Elizabeth. She would end such tirades with the statement that it was too bad Elizabeth must marry him anyway.
Elizabeth and her father ignored Mrs. Bennet’s complaints, but Elizabeth could see her father shared some of his wife’s concern. Elizabeth tried not to let them drag her into that worry, for she knew Darcy to be a reasonable, practical man. She only hoped Mr. Darcy’s house was at least as nice as the Hunsford parsonage where her friend Charlotte lived. She didn’t have the skills Charlotte had, but felt she could learn. She would write Charlotte for advice, and become economical and accomplished at practical talents, because she must. Elizabeth didn’t begrudge Georgiana the money Darcy was going to spend on her, but she couldn’t help but wonder what her life would be like.
On the third day of their journey, Elizabeth found herself unable to take her gaze from the passing scenery. According to what the coachman had said before they set out that morning, and if she’d kept proper track of their progress, Darcy’s home should be within a mile or two. She strained to see it around every corner. She longed for her first glimpse of the home she’d committed to, and to be reunited with the man who made this journey into the unknown something more longed for than feared.
They came to a park that was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent. Her mother launched into a babble of words, but Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to pay attention to them. Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired every remarkable spot and point of view.
They gradually ascended for half-a-mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by a large house, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.
They descended the hill, crossed a bridge, and drove to the door. Darcy came out, dressed impeccably, with two footmen flanking him. He helped Elizabeth out of the carriage while the footmen saw to her parents. He raised her hand to his lips, kissing it. Smiling that half smile she’d come to love, he said, “Welcome to Pemberley.”
