A Wife for Mr. Darcy

and when he nodded his head and smiled, she immediately went to Mr. Darcy and showered him with praise. Embarrassed, he asked if a bottle of wine might be opened to celebrate the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were immediately summoned, the Hill sons and Betsy were sent for, and the wine was opened and flowed freely.
    Kitty and Mary offered their congratulations, and a chastened Lydia, who had learned of Mr. Wickham’s true nature from her father, whispered hers as well.
    Not given to displays of emotion, Darcy stood silent. Seeing his discomfort, Lizzy went to him, and when she slipped her hand into his, Darcy gave his bride-to-be a smile that would have melted even the coldest heart, causing her mother to exclaim, “What a match you have made, Lizzy! I think I shall go distracted!”
    Jane and Charles wished the couple joy and asked when they would marry.
    “We have not as yet decided,” Lizzy said, looking at her future life’s partner.
    “Perhaps we have,” Darcy said, correcting her. “With your father’s permission, I would like to speak to you alone.” Mr. Bennet motioned for the couple to go into the library.
    “Close the door, Lizzy,” her father warned her. “Little pitchers have ears and big ones as well.”

    As soon as they were in the room, Darcy swept Lizzy up in his arms and kissed her in such a way that Lizzy decided that she would agree to any date he suggested. Sitting down on the sofa, and with her hands firmly clasped in his, he began. “I have a plan, and I would ask that you not say anything until I have said all.” After giving him a quizzical look, she agreed.
    “I am suggesting that we marry immediately.”
    “What do you mean by immediately?”
    “You have already interrupted me, and I have uttered only one sentence.” After clearing his throat, he continued. “As I was saying, I think we should marry immediately, and after a reception at Longbourn for just a few friends and family, we shall leave for Pemberley with Georgiana.”
    “Just a few friends? Not a wedding breakfast?
    “You do not follow directions very well, do you? Please allow me to continue. Because of the rain this past autumn, Georgie and I were unable to host the harvest dance for our neighbors and tenants. I promised all that I would have the dance in the spring. So what I am proposing is that we marry now, go to Pemberley, and in the spring have the wedding breakfast at my estate. Your family will stay with us, and our friends will stay at the inn at Lambton, at my expense. We shall have marquees and tables out on the lawn, filled to overflowing with food and drink. I will hire musicians from London, and we shall all dance until dawn.” Lizzy sat quietly mulling over the details of his plan. “You may speak now. It is your turn.”
    “I still do not know what you mean by immediately.”
    “This week.”
    Lizzy started laughing. “This week. But I am not prepared. I have no dress.”
    “Did you not tell me yesterday that you had trimmed your favorite dress but chose not to wear it to Jane’s wedding because it was too fancy? And I know of a recently married lady who can lend you her veil.”
    “But we must announce our banns. The only way we could marry now is if you were to buy a special license.” Darcy reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a special license. “As I have said before, you are used to having your way in all things.”
    “Will I get my way this time?”
    “What of my wedding ring?”
    Darcy took a jewel box out of his pocket, and in it were two rings. “The emerald ring belonged to my mother, which my father chose for her because she had green eyes.” Lizzy had to hold back her tears as she looked at a beautiful, delicate, perfectly proportioned emerald set in a gold filigree setting that had once adorned the hand of Lady Anne Darcy. Beside it was a wedding band of woven gold to match the emerald setting that Darcy had commissioned weeks earlier. As he did on those occasions when he was anxious, concerned, or unsure of himself, he placed his hand upon his chin and went back and forth across it with his index finger as he waited for her answer.
    “I agree to your plan,” Lizzy finally said. “Do you have anything else in your coat pockets?”
    “As a matter of fact, I do,” and he took out a thin piece of paper and placed it in her hands. “That is another love letter. I suggest you read it in private and then burn it. I would not have given it to you if you