I remember the first day my family and I arrived in England. We were escorted to the country house of Lady Catherine by horse guard and coach after abandoning ours on the outskirts of London. I was only 10 and untrained in the art of defence when my...
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As I looked out of my bedroom window, I could see some white decorations around the tree where Fitz and I had claimed as ours and carved our names into the bark when we were children. On my way down to the tree, I came across every member of the household as well as the families who were standing on either side of the stone steps at the back of the house, indicating that that was the way I should go to find Fitz.
I walked for about two minutes before I saw a pair of figures standing beneath the decorated tree and I noticed one was Fitz and the other was the vicar from the church in town. I'd only met him once during a service a few years ago, so I doubt he would remember my face.
Walking down toward Fitz was like a fairytale. I felt like I was floating high above the clouds and my arms were wings holding me up and not letting me fall. His eyes were gazing at me like he hadn't seen me for some time and all I wanted to do was run at him and jump into his embrace, but that could wait. And by the time I reached Fitz beneath our tree, I could see he had tears at the corners of his eyes and the pulse in his neck was thumping against his skin. "Dearly beloved..." the vicar began as I took a deep breath and swallowed my nervousness. "... we few are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Eve Baasch" He continued as I noticed our families had followed me and were gathered around us. "Mr Darcy, please give me your answer before God" The vicar said to Fitz as he unclasped his hands and took the a pair of rings from Cedric who was standing as though he was the best man. "Fitzwilliam Darcy, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony?" He asked.
Fitz was smiling like a Cheshire Cat as he listened to the vicar, and kept the intense eye contact with me the entire time. There was a cheeky wink in there somewhere too.
The vicar continued. "Wilt thou love her? Comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto her?" He asked.
"I will" Fitz replied simply.
Then the vicar turned his attention to me as I glanced at the rings in Fitz' hands, then at the vicar's face and saw he was smiling as though he recognised me. "Miss Baasch, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband to live together after God's ordinance in the Holy Estate of matrimony?"
I felt like I could burst out laughing at any point without warning, but to keep myself contained, I bit my lower lip as I smiled at Fitz and couldn't wait to finally get my hands on him.
"Wilt thou love him? Comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto him?" The vicar continued.
"I will" I replied simply and started feeling the excitement getting ready to bust. The vicar took one of the rings from Fitz and gave one to me, then indicated that Fitz should place the ring on my finger. So he did.
"With this ring, I thee wed" He said as he slowly slid the beautiful golden wedding band onto the fourth finger of my left hand. I did the same and kept hold of his hands as we were finally allowed to touch each other in this half of the ceremony.
"By the power vested in me, I do now pronounce that they are husband and wife" I WAS THRILLED. "You many now kiss your bride, Mr Darcy" The vicar finished and took a step back from us.
Fitz stepped forward toward me and placed a hand on my chin and another on the small of my back as he drew me in to kiss my lips. I beamed as his lips touched mine and we shared a deep and passionate kiss and behind us, everyone gathered and started applauding and cheering as we were finally married. And when the kiss ended, Fitz and I turned to the crowd and started walking back down the "isle" to where Lady Catherine was standing at the end with a suspicious look on her face.
"I trust you will take care of the cottage a few miles down the trail. I have it all ready for you both. All you have to do now is enjoy your life together" Lady Catherine said and beamed as she finished speaking, then threw her arms out at Fitz and I and we both embraced her at the same time.
"Your father's cottage, Lady Catherine?" I questioned, having realised that we the cottage she was talking about.
"Yes. It's yours now, my dear" She said and handed me the key.
