Chapter 24 : Everything with Sunlight

"And you must meet Mrs. Davis, Lizzy." Georgiana said as she skipped along a walk that led from the woods near Longbourn, Elizabeth who walked beside her smiled at her companion's story. "Her son is one of our tenants. I do not often stay long when I go visiting, but with her I find that I have stayed longer than I did with the others."

"Is she very interesting then?" Elizabeth asked with an amused smile.

"Oh, yes very interesting. When her husband passed, her son took up the farming. Not long after, the younger Mrs. Davis met with an accident. Her poor children, the eldest was but nine when she died, and there were four of them. Old Mrs. Davis cared for them all after that!"

"She sounds impressive, taking on the rearing of four children at her age. And her poor son, 'tis so very fortunate that his mother is there to help him, and fortunate that she has a friend in you. I should very much like to meet her."

Georgiana blushed at the compliment. "They get by very well now. William says Mr. Davis is one of his best tenants. Of course right after the tragedies, they could hardly work. I understand that Fitzwilliam had to provide for them for some time."

"I am no longer surprised to hear such actions from your brother, it is innate in him I think to be of service to others."

"He has always been kind." Georgiana said feelingly.

"Yes, that I can easily believe now." Elizabeth replied with an earnest smile.

"You shall be the best mistress, Lizzy. I know that Pemberley and its people shall love you!"

Elizabeth laughed at this display of loyalty, She linked her arm with Georgiana's. "Truly, I thank you for your confidence in me, but I daresay that I really shall have quite so much to learn. You and your brother shall have to be very patient with me, in return I promise to strive not to humiliate the family."

The twinkle in Elizabeth's eye told the younger lady that she was being teased, and Georgiana, by now very familiar with Elizabeth's playful ways, laughed merrily.

They continued down the path for some time, Georgiana telling her accounts of some of the other tenants, of her brother's dealings with them, and generally of life in Pemberley. Elizabeth fighting an overwhelming feeling at what awaited her as Mistress of Pemberley, took refuge at the thought that Darcy would be there to guide her. Just as his face crossed her mind, did the very man cross their path. With him was her sister, Lydia.

Darcy smiled at her, making Elizabeth realize that he had probably been watching them for some time before they had been aware of him and Lydia.

"Georgie." Lydia said with a smile as she curtsied to her friend, who curtsied in return. "Charlotte sends her regards, Lizzy."

"Oh, she has come!"

"Yes, they arrived as we were departing from our call on Sir William Lucas." Lydia added "Lady Lucas was beside herself when she found that Mr. Collins accompanied her! For in her letter Charlotte wrote that it would only be she who would be attending the weddings. We left Lady Lucas causing a stir amongst the servants."

Elizabeth grinned at the image her sister presented. "I imagine the immediate preparations of an additional guest was not something Lady Lucas found amusing."

Lydia giggled. Hearing her laugh warmed Elizabeth's heart, for indeed, she prayed numerous times that her sister's youth would provide her with the resilience to cope with her recent experiences. And seeing that it did was all that Elizabeth could ask for.

"I am surprised that Mr. Collins chose to join her." Elizabeth looked with raised eyebrows at Darcy, who stood with a slight smile.

"I am sure his being here is more to escape Lady Catherine's current mood than to actually join us in celebration." Darcy said still holding his smile, he took Elizabeth's hand and raised it to his lips. "But like it or not, we shall hear his congratulations and well wishes tomorrow." He winked at his betrothed.

Elizabeth laughed at him. "I take comfort in knowing that he shall speak more to you than to me, sir."

They all laughed at this, and after a while continued their walk back to Longbourn. Being mindful of the betrothed couple, Georgiana and Lydia walked together, behind them Darcy and Elizabeth lingered.

"And you do not know where Bingley and Miss Bennet have disappeared to?" Darcy hid a smirk.

"Indeed, Georgiana and I have been walking for nearly quarter of an hour before we noticed their absence!"

Darcy chuckled, stopping himself before he could comment on Bingley's intentions.

"Thank you for accompanying Lydia out today."

"Not at all, I had quite an enjoyable time." Darcy leaned down and stole a quick kiss upon her lips, earning him a blush that he thought so becoming on his beloved. Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something but proceeded not to, and instead feigned a haughty expression. Darcy smiled winningly at her—to this neither was she immune. She closed her hand around his, her head resting on his shoulder, his scent surrounding her.

After a while, he continued. "Lydia seems greatly recovered from her ordeal, I am glad of that."

"Yes, indeed. She is almost the same Lydia, yet so different as well."

"She must stop thanking me." Flustered, Darcy looked down.

"Oh, William." Elizabeth kissed his cheek. "Why must she? After all, you and the colonel did rescue her."

"While you stood by watching?"

"When I met you, you could not even distinguish when you were being teased, now 'tis you who are so merciless at it!"

"Only with you, my love."

They smiled at each other, warm and lingering. Ahead of them, Georgiana and Lydia laughed prettily, their arms linked together. The autumn breeze carried the sound, the sound of youth and promise, and of tomorrow.

"Elizabeth."

He stopped and took her hands in his. The fiery leaves of the trees surrounding them rustled in the wind, dancing against the blue of the sky. The contrast of colors reflected themselves in Elizabeth's eyes as her upturned face gazed at Darcy's.

"Tomorrow." He rested his forehead on hers. "Tomorrow you shall be mine, and I shall be yours. You will take my name, and the whole world shall know."

"Yes. Tell me that I am not dreaming. Tell me that it really is so, William."

"It really is so, my love."

Elizabeth touched her lips to Darcy's in a soft, fleeting kiss. He then took Elizabeth's hand and kissed the engagement ring that shone in the daylight.

"Until tomorrow, Miss Elizabeth."

"Until tomorrow, Mr. Darcy."

"You must stop, Jane, truly!" Elizabeth complained laughingly at her sister.

"I am sorry, Lizzy, but I cannot help it!" Her beautiful face still registered the shock and hilarity that her mother's lecture on the marriage bed had brought about in Jane.

"Surely you must have expected that Mama would talk to us."

"Yes! But—but not in such detail!" Jane's hands went to her flaming cheeks as she remembered her mother's words. "I could not bear to look at anything but the floor!"

They caught each other's eyes and once again succumbed to laughter. After a while, Elizabeth wiped at her eyes, then suddenly turning wistful, she took her sister's hands in hers.

"Oh, Jane, how I shall miss you."

"And I you, dear Lizzy."

They were silent for a while, looking about Jane's room where so many things happened, so much memories that they would forever treasure; whispers, cries and indeed, laughter.

"Jane, I am so happy! Only you can understand." Elizabeth's eyes shone.

Jane nodded her head. "It overwhelms me so, Lizzy. Sometimes I cannot breathe from happiness."

A knock on the door interrupted them, without waiting for an answer, it swung open. Mr. Bennet walked in, a knowing smile on his face.

"Well, now. Your insensible mother has been to see you?"

"Papa!" Both sisters remonstrated him.

Chuckling, he sat on the vanity chair and faced them. He was quiet for a while, as if gathering his thoughts. He looked at each daughter, silently thinking what his household would be like without their steady influence. He shook his head, yes everything was about to change—indeed, had already changed. Lydia was a different girl, so was Kitty. And Mary, well, Mary was still Mary. And the constant masculine presence of those two gentlemen, well, it was as if a standard had been set. His other daughters seemed to see what character they should aspire for. And Mr. Bennet could only be thankful for that, despite the recent happenings, he was happy. He looked tenderly at Jane and Elizabeth.

"It is not in my responsibilities as a father, I think, to advise you on marital duties." He raised his hand before either could interrupt. "I have come to tell you that, in my opinion, both the young men you have chosen to be your life's partner, are good men. Of course had I thought otherwise, I would never have given you my blessing. But more so, I perceive the love they have for you, I can grasp the future they plan. Whatsoever it was that your mother said, I shall only add this; trust in them. For they have entrusted their futures in you."

"Papa." Elizabeth bit her lip, fighting back her tears. Mr. Bennet held out his hand and Elizabeth took it. Following, Jane stood and embraced her father.

Mrs. Bennet blinked back tears. She sniffled then turned around to compose herself.

"Mama, you are being melodramatic!" Elizabeth said laughingly.

"You think yourself so wise, Miss Lizzy!" Mrs. Bennet said in a muffled voice, she whirled at her second daughter. "Come back to me on the day your own daughter marries, and then we shall see if your eyes are dry! And not one—but two daughters—mind you!"

"Oh, Mama." Jane went to her mother and embraced her. Elizabeth followed and pressed a kiss to her mother's cheek, taking her hand, she spoke to her with an earnest expression.

"And you shall be there to laugh at me when, indeed, I do cry at your granddaughter's wedding." Then with a mischievous smile, she added, "You may also laugh if it is Mr. Darcy who cries!"

"Lizzy!" Jane laughingly reproached her.

Looking at her two eldest daughters decked out in their wedding gowns, Mrs. Bennet felt so many emotions at once. How beautiful they both looked, how elegant. To be sure, from then on, they must always look elegant. To be married so advantageously! She had never dreamed that both of them would manage it! And married for love too!

Jane, with her beauty and good temper, had always been her hope—but Lizzy! Elizabeth who had always torn and muddied her skirts! Ten thousand a year! Lord bless her, she would faint now just thinking of it! Sitting down to calm her nerves, Mrs. Bennet looked at her daughters again. Jane was the more beautiful, but in Lizzy's countenance was a stunning radiance, one could say that on that day, she equaled her sister in beauty.

"Oh, my girls."

"Mrs. Bennet, do stop your crying, for heaven's sake!" Mr. Bennet had just entered his wife's chambers where Jane and Elizabeth had gone upon their mother's behest. "You have worked for this since Jane was but fifteen!"

"You know not, Mr. Bennet, a mother's sorrow, there is nothing so bad as parting with one's children, one seems so forlorn without them."

"You may console yourself, Mrs. Bennet, with the knowledge that you shall still have three to bear your sorrows."

Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, smiling, before Mr. Bennet continued.

"But I have been waylaid." He looked at each daughter, a little sadly, Elizabeth thought. "I have come to bring you to your carriages, 'tis time."

At that, Mrs. Bennet cried even louder.

As Elizabeth sat inside the carriage that conveyed her to church, to Darcy and her new life, she surveyed the sights outside. Her thoughts turned philosophical. Stages, life was but comprised of stages, and now she bid her old life goodbye. A new stage, and in this one she would be Elizabeth Darcy, wife to Fitzwilliam Darcy. And after that—she smiled whimsically— she would be Elizabeth Darcy, wife to Fitzwilliam Darcy and mother to his children. Her life would never be the same, indeed it had not been the same since she accepted her love for him.

It was a fine autumn morning, not a single cloud marred the azure skies. Inside the old church, friends and family watched as the brides were united with their grooms in the laws of God and man. The walls of the ancient church had stood witness to many a wedding, but on that morning those ancient walls witnessed as well the solemnity of the ceremony as it was felt by each person who attended it. They perceived the emotions of the two pairs who pledged themselves to each other. The knowledge and discovery—for indeed it was a discovery for most to see Mr. Darcy act very much like a man in love—that in front of them stood love matches, added to the poignancy of it all. They observed as Jane and Mr. Bingley smiled joyfully, the latter nearly bouncing on his feet. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were, on the other hand, more subdued, but each could not keep their eyes from the other.

Darcy almost could not believe that they were there at last. When Elizabeth had walked towards him, she took his breath away, stunning and radiant, she smiled at him. He had stood unable to move, unable to breathe. For everything that he had done, for every path he had taken, he thanked God, because all of that led to her. Here was his love, here was his life.

Elizabeth forgot everyone else, in that church stood only Darcy and she. When Darcy said the words that bound him to her;

...I plight thee my troth.

And when she in turn pledged herself to him;

...I give thee my troth.

Elizabeth's whole world opened up and revealed itself the way dawn suddenly bursts forth, filling everything with sunlight.

When Darcy took her hand, slid into her finger the band that would forever declare their joining;

With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship...

Tears slid down Elizabeth's cheeks. Darcy reached out and lovingly brushed them with his fingers.

Now as they walked out of the church amidst cheers and happy greetings, their hands held tight. Darcy bent and kissed Elizabeth's hand, kissed the band that declared her his.

"Mrs. Darcy."

A/N:

The partial wedding lines were taken from The Church of England Common Book of Prayers, which, according to my research, was used in weddings in Jane Austen's time. I personally love the words.

And there you have it, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy! They finally did it! Imagining their wedding made me feel so giddy.;D

Thank you very much for staying with me, one last chapter to go. I hope you like how this story has unfolded. Please let me know what you think. I truly appreciate your reviews, follows and favorites, thank you once again!

Be safe everyone, be calm and read on! :)