Beginning, Previous Section, Section V, Next Section
St. Louis, the next day
After the rehearsal dinner, which had gone much better than Elizabeth had expected, Jane, Charlotte, Mary, Kitty, and Georgiana all squeezed into Jane's apartment with Elizabeth to stay up late and do single women-ish things. Since this constituted as gossiping, watching sappy movies, and gorging on double-fudge-brownie-chunk-ice cream, Elizabeth had not been too excited (except about the ice cream).
By the time they put in their first movie, Never Been Kissed, a movie Elizabeth had vowed after the first time never to watch again (except for the last two minutes because even she had to admit that part was cute), she was ready to turn in. Waving good night to her bridesmaids, Elizabeth made her way to her room, trying to ignore the jeering from Kitty and Charlotte about why she needed a good night's rest. It was as she was plumping her pillow that she noticed Georgiana standing shyly in the doorway.
"You in or out?" she teased, pulling her covers down.
Ana smiled and stepped in, sitting cautiously on her bed. Elizabeth saw a small rectangular shaped box, which she seemed to unconsciously shift between her hands.
"Are you nervous about something, Ana?" Elizabeth asked with a smile. "I thought I was the one getting married tomorrow."
Georgiana laughed and then held the box out to her. "Elizabeth...I-I've always wanted a sister. Don't get me wrong," she amended quickly, "Will has been the best brother I could have asked for...it's just that I've always wanted someone to share, well, girl things with. I know you didn't ask to be saddled with another little sister, but I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to me. You certainly didn't have to and I've appreciated it more than you will ever know." With this said, the most words Elizabeth had ever heard Ana string together at one time, Georgiana dropped the box onto her lap and breathed a sigh of relief.
Elizabeth smiled and hugged her. "Of course I had to be kind to you, Ana. Besides my sister Jane, you are the sweetest person I've had the chance to meet. I could hardly be mean to you."
Ana lifted an eyebrow, a motion Will would attest Elizabeth had taught her, and chuckled. "Take lessons from Caroline Bingley. I assure you, she finds ways."
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth also laughed. "No, thank you. I think that woman has a death warrant out on me."
After a few moments, Ana gestured to the box in Elizabeth's lap. "Are you going to open it?"
"Georgiana Darcy, you didn't need to get me anything."
Shrugging, Ana looked at the unopened box impatiently. "Too late now."
Smiling at her, Elizabeth carefully opened the velvet box and gasped in surprise. Inside was a delicate gold chain with a beautiful pearl and diamond encrusted cross. It was absolutely gorgeous and she looked up at the younger girl with confusion.
"Did you have a necklace to wear with your wedding dress?" Ana asked anxiously.
"Well, yes-" Elizabeth began.
She was interrupted by Ana's crestfallen "Oh."
Elizabeth poked her in the arm. "If you would let me finish," she teased, "I was going to say that I have one to wear but it is certainly not as beautiful as this one."
Ana's face broke into a smile as she stated, "Good. I was worried you already had one picked out. I had forgotten to give it to you and I was going to let it go. But after I saw your dress, I went back to my jewelry box and pulled this out. It will look absolutely wonderful with the cut of your gown."
Eyebrows furrowed together, Elizabeth processed what she had said. "This is yours? Georgiana, I'm not going to wear your jewelry!"
She was in the process of handing it back when Ana reached out a hand to stop her.
"Elizabeth, please, I want you to. This necklace is not for you to keep anyway. You will wear it tomorrow and keep it safe for me until I need to wear it."
With a questioning look, Elizabeth shrugged and then gave Ana another impulsive hug. The younger girl was all but beaming and Elizabeth noted the similarity in the siblings' smiles. Both of them needed to do it more often. As she was thinking this, Georgiana sobered up and after Elizabeth glanced closely at her face, she realized Ana looked ready to cry.
"Ana? What's the matter?" she asked, slightly alarmed.
"I...I have a confession to make, Elizabeth." She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forged on. "I am the reason you are marrying my brother."
Suppressing her laughter when she saw how serious Ana was, Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue.
"When I heard about Leah, I was devastated. I had-known George and I knew he could not have custody of a baby...and I basically manipulated Will into helping me." Georgiana's face was downcast and her hands were clasped in her lap, as if she was confessing to a serious crime. Elizabeth could not take any more of her submission and touched her on the shoulder. Once Ana was looking her in the face, Elizabeth smiled.
"Ana, I really don't think you can blame yourself for our marriage. We are both mature adults and we know what we are getting ourselves into. I am certain I want to marry Will and he better be darn certain he wants to marry me!" She laughed.
"Oh, he does," Ana immediately reassured her. After a moment of thought, she said, "Why do you want to marry my brother?"
"What?"
"For Leah?"
"Leah?"
"Are you marrying my brother for Leah?"
"Oh, of course. Of course for Leah."
Elizabeth blushed at her answers, but the question had completely caught her off guard. It was now her turn to stare down at her lap, while Ana watched her. If Elizabeth had been looking up, she would have seen the satisfaction on her future sister's face.
"That's what I figured," Ana said, with a noticeably forlorn voice.
Elizabeth looked at her in confusion. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"Oh, no! Of course not, I love Leah! It's just that...well, it would be so nice if you two married each other for love."
"Love?" Elizabeth sputtered.
Ana grinned, "Yeah, you know that feeling most people get married for."
Elizabeth looked like a deer caught in headlights. "But why-why do you want us to love each other?"
Shrugging, she answered. "At least I wouldn't feel so guilty about starting this whole mess."
Elizabeth shook her head, told herself to calm down, and grabbed both of Ana's hands, forcing the girl to look at her face.
"Ana, I am marrying Will because our marriage will benefit Leah, that is true. But I would not marry him just for that if he was not the...the best man I know." Smiling, Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "Will that do?"
Ana thought a moment, an impertinent look crossing her face for just a moment. As she got up and headed for the door, she said softly, "For now." Noticing Elizabeth was in bed, Ana smiled and turned off the light. "Good night. Sleep well, sister." Walking into the hallway, she shut the door on Elizabeth, leaving her to a dark and virtually sleepless night.
Ana, however, placed herself on a couch, went to bed with a smile on her face and slept soundly. It was a good thing she had the talent of reading a person's eyes.
Will had chosen to stay at the house alone. Charles, Richard, and his other groomsmen were intent on having a guy's night out, but Will shrugged them off.
"You guys go do whatever...tomorrow's a big day. I'm going to get some sleep."
"True," Richard announced to the group, "he's got to be ready for tomorrow-"
"Night."
Will glared at Stephen, his eldest cousin and Richard's brother. The Fitzwilliam humor, or what they thought was humor, obviously ran in the family.
"You guys are pretty funny," he muttered, taking their ribbing good-naturedly.
Charles put his arm around his shoulders. "Not even one drink?"
Will laughed. "I think you can all manage without me."
With some laughs, shrugs, and a few poundings on the back, Will was finally left alone. The drive to his house was silent, as he pondered the rest of his night. It was his last night as a single man, the last night of "freedom." Chuckling, Will turned onto his street.
He could still smell Elizabeth. Her perfume-some wonderfully fruity smell-had seemed to permanently seal into the upholstery. It was funny, but the moment he thought her name an image of her immediately took shape in his mind. There were so many sides to his future wife and he found that he liked each and every one.
For starters there was that endearingly forgetful side of Elizabeth, betrayed by the fact that she was at least five minutes late to everything-including church. It was ironic that it didn't bother him. Will was one who expected promptness from every employee or business partner. He would not necessarily be labeled a patient man in that aspect. Yet somehow when Elizabeth came strolling in five minutes late, an apologetic smile on her face, he didn't even think to say anything to her.
There was also that playful side to Elizabeth, shown quite obviously in the way she laughed with people. Her laugh was infectious. Will frowned sadly as he pulled into the driveway and parked in the garage. Elizabeth reminded him of his mother. Anne Darcy had been a wonderful and beautiful woman, always willing to laugh and always willing to lend a helpful hand. All joy in the Darcy house had come directly from her, as his father, like Will himself, was more given to seriousness.
When she had been unexpectedly killed in a car accident his senior year of high school, that joy had been sucked out. George Darcy became even more involved in his business affairs, Will put his mind to his last year of high school and then college and football. Poor Georgiana. The young girl had been left without much to smile about.
Mac greeted Will the moment he opened the door. The monster had been slowly endearing himself, although it was mostly in the way he made Elizabeth smile. Sighing, Will dropped his keys on the table. At least the mutt would make good company tonight. Pouring a drink and loosening his tie, Will sat down in his office to stare into space.
He was marrying Elizabeth tomorrow. The thought should have scared him stiff. No longer would he be able to stay at the office working until all hours of the night or spend the weekend sleeping on his office couch. Instead, he would have a wife to report to and a baby to raise. Will broke out into a grin. It was about time.
Sammy suddenly appeared out of nowhere to jump into his lap and not so politely requested that his stomach be rubbed. Will complied absently, thinking about how wonderful it would be to come home from the office to a wife and child and not an empty house. It had been a long time since he had really felt like part of a family. Oh, it was true he loved Ana greatly, but it had been hard to be her father when all he had wanted to be was her big brother. After the loss of his mother and then, later, his father, something had been missing.
Will smiled again. Tomorrow Elizabeth and Leah-not to mention a mother, father, and three more sisters-would fill that hole. Checking the clock on his mantle, he saw that it was going on one in the morning. Taking a drink, Will suddenly wanted to hear her voice.
Grabbing his cell phone, he dialed in her number. She picked up by the fourth ring.
"Hello?"
"Hi," he said.
Will could almost hear her smile. "Good evening, Will."
"More like good morning, actually. Did I wake you?"
Elizabeth snorted. "Nope. Can't sleep."
Will smiled. "Me neither."
"I just had a lovely chat with your sister."
"Oh, really? And what did she have to say? More embarrassing stories from my childhood?"
Breaking into laughter, Elizabeth said, "No, not quite. I wish." She started giggling.
Will rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "What is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're giggling, sweetheart."
"Ha! I was not. I do not giggle."
Silence broke out until Elizabeth interrupted it by her giggling again.
"What are you thinking about?" he questioned.
"Just about that story Ana told me."
Groaning, Will had to ask. "Which one?"
"Oh, the one with that girl...and the drive-in. What was her name?"
"I don't know! How am I supposed to remember? It was at least ten years ago!"
"Come on..." she teased him. "I bet you remember her name..."
"Oh, fine. It was Maryann," he grumbled.
Will could only imagine the look of satisfaction on Elizabeth's face, probably with a grin similar to the Cheshire Cat as well.
"I have difficulties with two parts of this story. For one, I just cannot imagine you making out with a girl in the backseat of a car." Elizabeth giggled again. "Did you steam up the windows?"
To his utter mortification, Will actually felt himself start to blush.
"For your information, no."
"Oh, that's right. You were interrupted when your father tapped on the window, right?" Will stifled a sigh as his intended broke into peals of laughter again. "This Maryann must have been one special lady if you didn't even notice you had parked next to your own parents!"
"Elizabeth?" he asked, breaking into her laughter.
"Yes?"
"Remind me to kill my sister."
"I'm sorry, Fitz, I can't let you do that. She is the key to my blackmail."
"Very funny," he muttered, not being able to help the smile that graced his face.
"You know, I don't understand why you can't imagine me making out in a car. I was a teenager just like everyone else."
"Proper Fitzwilliam Darcy necking in the backseat? No way. Absolutely no way."
Will grinned. "All right, fine. Believe what you want to believe."
If Elizabeth thought anything of his easy acceptance, she didn't say anything.
"Want to know something scary?"
"Sure."
"We're getting married tomorrow."
"Actually, Elizabeth, it already is tomorrow. We're getting married today."
There was silence as apparently the magnitude of his words hit her.
"You're right. Oh, man. I am so scared. I think I'm going to faint. Seriously. I'm going to faint. Do you know what that means? I don't faint. Ever."
"Elizabeth!" Will said loudly, breaking into her monologue with a grin. "Settle down."
"I can't! How can you be so calm?" Her voice had accusation in it.
Maybe because I desperately want to marry you, he mused to himself. Aloud he stated, "Elizabeth, I can be calm because we both know this is the right decision. Think about Leah."
Those words did seem to have the right effect. Elizabeth took a few calming breaths and seemed to settle down. Leah often had that effect on her.
"Your sister blames herself for our marriage," she blurted out suddenly.
Will sighed, having picked that information up by his sister's actions. "I know. Ana...well, Ana has a problem with blaming everything on herself. Maybe she will tell you about it sometime." He paused as he took another drink. "What did you tell her?"
"That we were two consenting adults and we know what we're getting ourselves into."
"Good. I hope she listened to you."
Elizabeth didn't answer and instead they fell into silence. After a few moments, Will asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm just wondering if we do know what we're getting ourselves into."
It was Will's turn to be silent as he contemplated her words.
"I mean, you've never seen me when I really get up in the morning. It's not pretty. Do you want to deal with that for the rest of your life?"
Will chuckled. "Sweetheart, I'm positive that is the least of our worries."
"Okay, fine. You've never seen me when I'm right down to the wire on a deadline. I get nasty."
"Yeah, well, when something goes wrong in the company or someone does something stupid and I have to fix it, I can get pretty nasty myself."
"You should see me when I come back from a weekend of away games. I get virtually no sleep and I -"
"Elizabeth!" Will hollered to stop her tirade. "This is stupid. We're sitting here having a discussion on who is the worse person to live with."
Elizabeth had stopped and then began to laugh. "You're right. This is stupid."
"Look, there are going to be aspects about each other that we'll just have to get used to."
"Compromise, right?"
"Huh?"
"I don't know. Whenever I hear from married couples they are always talking about compromise."
Will smiled. "You're right. Compromise."
Hearing Elizabeth yawn, he said, "I've got a compromise right now. I'll turn off my phone and you turn off yours and then we'll get a good night's sleep."
"Sounds good to me," Elizabeth said, noticing it was close to two in the morning. She had suddenly noticed just how tired she really was.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Will said softly, with a smile.
"Not until I walk down the aisle, mister!"
"I'll be waiting, Elizabeth. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Elizabeth stared listlessly at her reflection in the beauty shop's mirror, wondering why her mass of hair wasn't as obedient for her as it appeared to be for the hairdresser. Sally seemed to smooth and pull it up far easier than Elizabeth ever had before in her life. As she was pondering this mystery, trying to keep herself from going into cardiac arrest by ignoring thoughts of what she would be doing in four and a half hours, her mother's sharp voice interrupted her mindless musings.
"Elizabeth Grace Bennet! Remove your fingernails from your mouth this minute!"
Glancing down in surprise, she realized she really had been biting her fingernails. Darn it. That was a habit reserved only for her most stressful moments and one she thought had been broken years ago.
"Your sister shelled out forty bucks to give you a manicure...Try not to ruin them already, honey."
"Please do, Lizzy. I had to sew a completely new dress to pay for those nails," Kitty teased next to her, also getting her hair done.
"Sorry," she smiled back.
Unconsciously Elizabeth began to reach up and smooth her hair behind her ears, a habit she had also picked up years before. "Elizabeth!" her mother bellowed and she obediently removed the offending hand.
"Sorry, Mom." Looking up in the mirror, she noticed Sue smiling down at her. "You know, you're not going to be able to yell at me like that for much longer. Soon I'll be a married woman."
"You think that's going to stop me? The only thing different will be your name...I'll have to get used to yelling Elizabeth Grace Darcy."
At that thought, Elizabeth paled and looked forward again. To her family, it seemed as if she had stopped breathing. Finally, Jane gently touched Elizabeth's arm. The human contact seemed to bring her sister back to the real world.
"Are you all right, sweetie?" Jane asked softly, betraying with her eyes the fact that she knew she wasn't.
"Sure I am. I was just thinking what I was going to do about my journalism name. To keep or not to keep it Bennet, that is the question," she lied quickly. Then she shrugged. "Darcy's a pretty good name, right, Ana?" The pretty blonde had been keeping quiet in the corner but smiled at the comment.
Ignoring her sister's look, Elizabeth looked at Sally in her mirror. "Sally, I believe you are a miracle worker. I've never seen my hair look so...decent before."
Sally smiled, used to Elizabeth's criticism about her hair. "Elizabeth, you know that I think you have some of the prettiest hair I've ever had the pleasure to work with."
"Well, only for you. My hair must know when you are styling it and when I am. I swear I will shave my head some day."
Shaking her head and laughing silently, Sally ignored the comment she had heard at least thirty times in her lifetime and sprayed some hold on her twist. "Do you think your new husband will appreciate a balding wife?" Mary quipped, two seats to her left.
"Why not? I can hardly believe he likes me the way I am now. Why not throw a shaved head into the picture?"
"That would be true love indeed," Sally laughed, finally happy with the bride-to-be's hair.
"Yes. Yes, it would," Jane stated, an enigmatic smile pasted on her face, sharing a look with Charlotte.
Before Elizabeth could question her sister or glare at her friend, Sally announced that she was finished. Elizabeth peered into the mirror. Her sisters had truly taken control of her appearance. First they had all gone to a spa, where massage and skin treatment had awaited them. Elizabeth had never been able to relax, as her masseuse Becky had told her numerous times. Next, they had gone to the beauty parlor where three women converged around her and began to apply more make-up than she had ever even known existed. Eyeliner, lip liner, mascara, blush...Elizabeth felt for sure she would end up looking like a circus clown. As she looked at herself now she admitted that she did look sort of pretty...although nothing like the normal, fast-pitch, pony-tailed, relaxed Elizabeth she usually was.
"Well, this is as good as it gets, I suppose," she joked, standing up and thanking Sally.
"Oh, Lizzy, you look quite beautiful as you are well aware," Jane told her, poking a finger into her arm.
"Girls, let us head to the church. T-minus four hours and counting..." Sue Bennet exclaimed, herding the bridesmaids out of the shop. Hearing her mother's words, Elizabeth tripped over a stool.
"Wow, Fitzie. You're looking pretty handsome over there."
Will glared at the image behind him in the mirror as he vainly tried to straighten his bow tie. The image, however, ignored his glare and snorted. "You know I hate that name, Richie," he spit out good naturedly, turning to face his cousin.
"Of course I know. Why do you think I call you that?"
"Very funny. Could you magically become useful and straighten this stupid thing?" Will asked, gesturing to his neck.
Richard snorted once again, but made his way over to his cousin and, with two hands, straightened the offending bow tie. "Aw. Right now I'm feeling very familial."
Will rolled his eyes and batted his cousin away from him. Turning again to the mirror, he nodded happily at his appearance. "Will I embarrass you?" he asked his cousin with a smile.
Richard laughed. "I think there is going to be one happy bride walking down that aisle."
Raising an eyebrow, Will shook his head. "One can hope, cuz. One can hope."
Both were silent for a few moments as they pondered the delicate situation one of them was about to step into. Finally Richard smiled and smacked his cousin on the back. "Everything is going to be fine. Trust me. I am a great reader of relationships."
Will had to laugh. "Oh, really...and when was your last serious relationship? Sophomore year of high school?"
Richard pretended to look affronted. "Let's not bring up Samantha Morton. I think I could have married that girl."
"From what I heard, you did ask."
Looking up from his reverie, Richard grinned sheepishly. "I had to get used to rejection early."
Walking over to his bag, Will pulled out a small cardboard box and handed it to Richard. "For me? Oh, Will, you didn't have to!" he exclaimed in a fake falsetto. Will pretended to sucker punch him and then grinned.
"I need you to be a deliveryman. I can't take this to Elizabeth and I'm afraid to send Charles. Once he sees Jane he'll probably start to drool on it."
"Ah, so I'm the unattached one?"
Will laughed. "Unless you have some designs on one of Elizabeth's sisters." As he saw the thoughtful look on his cousin's face, Will gave him a shove. "Don't even think about it, Richard. Just remember those are my sisters-in-law you're thinking about meddling with."
Richard gave him a salute before he headed out the door and for the room where the bride and bridesmaids were dressing. The thought of walking in and hearing their panicked screams was tempting, but he opted for safety and knocked on the door.
The woman named Charlotte answered the door with narrowed eyes. "What do you want?"
"Message for Miss Elizabeth," he said with a smile.
After carefully looking back and forth behind him, Bond style, Charlotte opened the door wider and called out, "Elizabeth! Message Boy is here."
Smiling wickedly at Richard Charlotte said, "She'll be here momentarily," and walked away. Richard was shaking his head with laughter when Elizabeth came to the door, wide-eyed and frantic, but looking very beautiful.
"What is it? What's the matter? Is he sick? Is he having second thoughts? Is Pastor sick? Is-"
"Whoa, Elizabeth, slow down," Richard chuckled, grabbing her by the arms and giving her a gentle shake. Untucking the package from beneath his arm and side, he handed it to her with a smile. "A package for you, miss." It was a funny thing, but Richard actually saw Elizabeth relax. Her muscles loosened, a smile lit her face, and her eyes lost their frantic edge. "Thank you," she breathed and shut the door.
"No tip?" he asked glumly before making his way back to Will.
That Elizabeth was beaming at the box did not seem apparent to her, but all six women noticed instantly and vacated the room with haste. Elizabeth sat down on the small love seat and opened the box. When she pulled the present out, she smiled. It was a brand new silver cell phone, completely up to date with rather scary-looking technology. As she was staring at the phone, it suddenly rang, causing Elizabeth to jump in surprise. Quickly, she pushed what she assumed was the on button.
"Hello?" she asked tentatively.
"Good afternoon, Elizabeth."
Immediately, Elizabeth smiled wider. "Hello, Will. Thank you for the gift."
"Well, I couldn't have you using a phone when the number was available to Wickham now, could I? This is an extremely private phone number. Right now the man who sold it to me and I are the only two people in the world who know it and I don't plan on revealing it to anyone-even on penalty of death."
"What about the other guy?" she teased.
"He promised he would be silent even through torture."
Elizabeth paused before rushing on. "Will, that was...you are...sweet. Thank you."
There was a silence on the other end before he spoke again. "It was nothing, sweetheart. I wanted to do it." He paused for a moment. "I even programmed it for you already."
"Have I ever told you that technology and I have a mutual hatred for each other?"
Will laughed, the rich tones making butterflies dance in her stomach. "Yes. I know. You're going to love it, though. If you didn't notice, it rings Take Me Out To the Ball Game, it has a baseball game you can play on it when you're bored, and you will be able to get any MLB score you want with just the touch of a button."
"Oh my goodness. I think this might be the best gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you. Again."
Will was obviously not comfortable with her appreciation and she could almost picture his boyish grin as he shrugged the compliment off. "Is Leah there?"
Elizabeth looked down at the baby asleep in the portable crib, curled into what was an uncomfortable position for anyone over the age of three and sucking on her pacifier. "Yes, but napping."
"We're going to file for adoption right away, aren't we?"
"I would tomorrow if it weren't Sunday, Will." Elizabeth knew he was smiling on the other end.
"Okay, then. Well...I guess I'll-you know, see you soon."
"Yeah, Will. In," Elizabeth checked her watch, "about two hours. Um...Good luck."
She heard him snort. "Good luck?"
Not being able to help herself, Elizabeth chuckled as well. "Guess that wasn't the best thing to say. Good bye, Will."
"Bye, Elizabeth. Break a leg."
"Hey!" she protested, but he had already disconnected.
"Ace? Are you ready?"
Her father's soft tones cut through Elizabeth's thoughts and she looked up to see his smiling face. Her father was still a handsome man, his graying hair giving him distinction and his kind smile endearing him to whomever he met. Elizabeth had used to think her dad was the most handsome man in the world. Smiling, she remembered how she had gone around when she was five telling all her friends that her daddy was the "most handsomest daddy in the entire world." How things had changed! Elizabeth was no longer a kid anymore, not allowed to think in such childish terms.
A sudden fear gripped Elizabeth, nearly paralyzing her body. She wasn't ready! In all her childhood dreams she had never imagined her marriage would begin like this-a husband she deeply liked and respected but didn't love and a young child completely dependent on her. Gasping for breath, she suddenly realized she couldn't take one. Holding her chest, she dropped her bouquet on the floor and began to hyperventilate. "Daddy!" she managed.
Within moments her father was at her side, taking her hands in his own and forcing her to look him in the eyes. When her dark eyes finally met a matching pair, her breath seemed to slow and come easier. Smiling when he noticed she had calmed, he put a finger under Elizabeth's chin and tilted her face up.
"You look lovely, Elizabeth," he said quietly, a sad sweetness radiating from his eyes. "I always knew my little girl, my dirty-faced ball of energy, would turn into a beautiful woman. I wonder it's taken me this long to realize it." Thomas smiled sorrowfully. "I must have been trying to forget."
"Oh, daddy," Elizabeth managed, "I don't think I can go through with this!" Pulling her face out of his gentle grip, she stood and began pacing. "This is serious. This is marriage. What was I thinking?"
Thomas grabbed his daughter by the arms and hugged her. "Would you like me to tell what you were thinking?" When he felt her nod into his chest, he continued in her ear, "You weren't thinking about yourself. You were thinking about doing the best for Leah. You were thinking that you have found a man who will protect you, who will share your burdens, and who will challenge your mind. You have found a man to be a father to Leah." And a man who will love you until the day you die. But you haven't realized that yet, have you, Ace? Smiling, Thomas pulled back and looked his beloved daughter in the eyes. "Your heart was telling you other things, as well, Elizabeth...but it's not my place to reveal them." Bending down to pick her flowers off the floor, Thomas said, "Some things you need to figure out for yourself."
Handing her the bouquet, he gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I hope you know that I will always be here for you, Elizabeth. You will always be my little girl."
With those words, he led her to the narthex, where her sisters and friends were already waiting for the ceremony to begin. All commented on how beautiful she looked, Charles kissed her cheek, and Richard chucked her on the chin. Her mother already had tears in her eyes as she kissed both cheeks and whispered, "You are a radiant bride, sweetie." To be honest, most of these actions were completely lost on Elizabeth, who was partly pondering her father's words and partly freezing time in her mind. All of the wedding party had entered before she had even realized it. The Wedding March brought her back to the present.
Before she could begin to panic once again, Elizabeth felt her father's reassuring squeeze. "You're doing the right thing, Ace," he said, before smiling and taking the first step into the church.
Will, as CEO of Darcy Enterprises, had been quite used to formal attire. Tuxedos had been a standard form of dress since he wore his first one at age five. However, today he was feeling a little uncomfortable. Pulling his collar from his neck in a vain effort to stay cool, he grimaced. He hadn't sweat this much since his three-a-day practices in college. Wouldn't that just be wonderful to marry Elizabeth with clammy hands and a sweaty upper lip?
Telling himself to calm down, his heart plainly ignored him and began to palpitate as Mary Bennet and a business partner made their way down the aisle. Eyes focused on the back of the church, aware but not caring of the hundreds of eyes staring at him as if he were an exhibit at the zoo, Will looked for the slightest movement of white. Catching his aunt and uncle's eye, he smiled nervously.
Visions of Elizabeth making it halfway down the aisle, catching sight of him, and sprinting out the back door only made his sweat glands work twice as hard. Taking a deep breath, Will forced happy thoughts into his head...Leah smiling, Ana laughing uninhibited, punching the all-knowing grin off his cousin's face...He really hoped Runaway Bride hadn't been among the chick flicks they had watched the previous evening.
Suddenly, without even acknowledging in his mind the fact that all ten members of the wedding party had processed down the aisle and were standing behind him, the first chords of "The Wedding March" were struck. Instantly alert, he was unaware his smile had grown so large the people in the first few rows were chuckling to themselves at his beaming face.
At the first sight of Elizabeth, his sweating immediately ceased and his heart returned to its normal pattern. The look on Elizabeth's face was a strange mix of fright and confusion. As they made eye contact, a slow smile began to appear and he saw the sudden calm that settled in her eyes. This woman-this beautiful and wonderful woman-is going to be my wife, Will thought with a certain amount of awe. Then it hit him. Right between the eyes. I am in love with her.
Elizabeth had absolutely no clue how it had happened so fast. She was walking down the aisle, feeling incredibly nervous at all the people staring at her, when she had caught sight of her husband-to-be. Will Darcy looked handsome in just about anything, but it was obvious that his tuxedo had transformed him a step beyond his usual good looks. Time paused as she literally stared at him, her father pulling her along, and she prayed that her mouth was not hanging open. If for a few seconds time had been paused, she should have savored them. One minute she had felt the familiar grip of her father's hand in hers and then, suddenly, it was released. Just as quickly, Will's hand had enveloped hers and led her up the steps toward the pastor. Heart beating fast, Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands, trying to sort things out. What am I doing? Just as that thought hit her, she caught Will's eyes.
Something in them melted her. Will had always had those deep, intense dark eyes to die for. Now, for some reason, they seemed even warmer than usual and the smile he gave her was one to compose her erratic nerves. When he squeezed her hand, she felt fully calm. Giving him a smile, and staring at his profile while his attention was focused on the pastor, Elizabeth understood what her dad had told her. I am doing the right thing. How will Leah and I ever thank him for this?
For Elizabeth, the wedding occurred as if she was a third party; it was almost as if she was outside and looking in. Vaguely she listened to Mary sing a song, which must have been a little off tune by the way Will squeezed her hand on the high notes, and her pastor give a very nice sermon. Before she knew it she was facing Will and his warm eyes.
"Fitzwilliam," Pastor Matt said, causing Elizabeth to check her smile and Will to glare at her, "do you take Elizabeth to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her? So long as you both shall live?"
Will smiled and, never taking his eyes of Elizabeth, said, "I do."
"Elizabeth," Pastor Matt continued, turning his questioning toward her. She felt her heart begin to beat loudly and was surprised Will couldn't hear it, "do you take Fitzwilliam to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, honor and keep him, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him? So long as you both shall live?"
Elizabeth knew that she could not hesitate, that she would hurt Will and that people in the church would start to wonder about their hasty wedding. Strangely enough, she felt herself not wanting to hesitate. "I do."
Pastor Matt smiled at them and said, "The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. It is a seal of the vows Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth have made to one another. Bless these rings, O God, that Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, who give them, and who wear them, may ever abide in your peace."
Will turned away from Elizabeth and she actually felt a sense of loss not to have his eyes directly on her face. After he had received the ring from Richard, he turned back to her. "Elizabeth, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."
As he held her hand in his and gently slipped the gold band on her finger, Elizabeth suddenly felt like crying. How could a man this wonderful want to marry her? Here he was pledging his life and his honor to her and she hadn't even told him the truth. There was a simple reason why she did not, of course-once he heard the truth he would want nothing to do with her.
Jane cleared her throat and Elizabeth turned towards her, handing the bouquet over, noticing her eyes were misty and she had a happy smile on her face. Turning to Will, getting trapped in his tender gaze, Elizabeth said to him, "William, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."
Elizabeth held Will's hand in her own, marveling at the strength of it. Will was easily a man of force with his stature and personality, and yet she could not even begin to count the many times he had shown her kindness. Slipping the ring onto his finger, she prayed that she would be able to be the wife Will deserved.
When both rings were in place and Will was absolutely beaming at her, Pastor Matt declared, "In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love, and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Feeling her hand get crushed in what appeared to be Will's excitement, Elizabeth smiled. "Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder." Pastor Matt looked at them with humor in his eyes. "Will, you may kiss your bride!"
With a strangely comforting possessive look in his eyes, Will grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulders, leaned down, and kissed her gently. It was brief, to her relief, but she still felt her face redden. She was definitely not used to him kissing her-although it was far from unpleasant.
"May I now present Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy!"
Smiling at the formal use of his name she knew he hated, Elizabeth turned with Will to face their family and friends. As she looked down at their entwined hands, she knew without a doubt that she had not made a mistake.