Mr Darcy's Bride

4. Under the Willow Tree

Lizzie opted for a white light cotton dress, decorated with a green sash that had embroidered small birds with tiny beautiful flowers in their mouth. Never before had she had just a simple dress be so beautiful, but when Mrs Bennett and her sisters forced Lizzie to a Modiste all the way in London after her wedding for a new wardrobe, she gave into the delicate delights.

"Mr Darcy is paying Lizzie, you have your pick of all the finest silks!" She turned to Jane, "oh Jane the lavender is beautiful, do they have the same in a light green, oh where is that modiste gone to now." Mrs Bennett shrilled running out of the room.

"Probably to clear her head of all your shrieking mother," Elizabeth said quietly to Jane, Jane rolled her eyes and looked at her reflection in the mirror smoothing down the gorgeous lavender pleated dress.

"Lizzie I still can't believe it, both of us are married. Oh and to gentlemen who are the greatest friends. I don't think I could find a happier situation in the whole of England. Nay the world!" Jane couldn't stop smiling, grinning like a child who had just been presented with a handful of sweets, it was infectious. Lizzie came to join her in the mirror, resting her head on her sister's shoulder.

"I didn't think it possible, they are the luckiest gentlemen ever to enter Hertfordshire," Lizzie grinned at her sister teasingly and Jane laughed.

"No we are the luckiest dear sister! Such well travelled men could have their pickings at any women in England, the odds were not in our favour, therefore we were lucky." Jane said swishing effortlessly in her dress to see how it moved on her.

"Mr Bingley certainly could have any pick of women in England, but Mr Darcy I do not think so. I was probably the first woman he didn't completely scare away." They roared with laughter thinking of Mr Darcy's perceived pride, how any woman would probably have turned her nose up instantly and never wanted to interact with the gentleman again. But Lizzie found a slight joy in mocking a man of his stature, she was admitted to that now, though slightly regretful of it. He was quite the misunderstood creature.

Lizzie waited in the entrance hall of Pemberley for Mr Darcy to arrive to escort her to the picnic spot. She was fumbling with her bonnet, reminiscing on her earlier encounters with her husband. She was grateful for Mr Darcy's pursuit of her, his quest to change her mind. Or was it his quest to make her happy? To set things right for her family? Perhaps all? Lizzie found herself determined to question him on the matters, for they had not discussed the intimate revelations of his letter since before their wedding.

Mr Darcy sprang down the grand stairs, his face of delight at seeing his wife waiting for him. "My dear wife you look beautiful," he said stopping next to her in the hall, his soft smile and gentle tone made Lizzie blush.

"Thank you sir, it is courtesy of you, it's a new dress from the modiste in London." Lizzie replied.

"No courtesy to me at all, I may have brought it but I could never pick out something so fitting and exquisite for my wife. But we cannot give the dress all the credit for your beauty, for it only exemplifies it." He took her hands and planted a tender kiss on them.

"Mr Darcy when did you become such a romantic?"

"When I met you, my dear Elizabeth," he let go of her hands and placed one lightly on her waist. Lizzie couldn't meet his eyes, her blushing was too intense.

"Shall we depart for our picnic?"

"Yes, but did the chefs not prepare a hamper?" Lizzie enquired as she noticed him empty handed.

"They are setting it up for us as we speak, I have a usual picnic spot with my sister, which I think has a better view of the grounds than anywhere in the house." He guided her waist towards the door and they set off into the warm April sunshine.