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Beginning, Previous Section, Section VII
Part Thirty Five ~ Finale- Whom God Hath Joined Together...
On the tenth day after Darcy's departure for London, Bingley and Darcy arrived at Longbourn early. Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane, proposed their all walking out. It was agreed to. Mrs. Bennet was not in the habit of walking; Mary could never spare time; but the remaining five set off together. Bingley and Jane, however, soon allowed the others to outstrip them. They lagged behind, while Elizabeth, Kitty, and Darcy were to entertain each other. Very little was said by either; Kitty was too much afraid of him to talk; Elizabeth was overwhelmed by his presence (not even trusting herself to look at him), and he felt much the same.
They walked towards the Lucases', because Kitty wished to call upon Maria and Charlotte. Both Elizabeth and Darcy were exceedingly relieved when she left them, but walked on in silence quite a distance further, conscious of people along the road and made ever-awkward by the beauty they found in seeing each other by the light of day.
She spoke first, "Thank you for your kindness regarding Lydia."
He glanced at her nervously, "You are very welcome."
She asked, "And Giles' family?"
He said quietly, "They were deeply grieved. I told those who know not of his activities as Watcher that he died avenging the murder of a fellow servant. His daughter and grandson, however, asked for the truth and were most proud of his heroism. They both eagerly look forward to following in his heroic footsteps. Giles' family will be Watchers for generations to come." Elizabeth could see how difficult it had been for Darcy to see their grief. She also thought that there was something else lurking beneath his words, but she did not press him.
They were silent for some time as they continued walking. Elizabeth asked, "How is Georgiana?"
Darcy smiled, "She is very well. She recovered quickly from her ordeal. Her energy for pursuing the study of magic surpasses anything I have ever seen from her before. It is inspiring. She studies and chants all day long!"
Elizabeth asked, "Did you visit with anyone else of our acquaintance while in London?"
Darcy replied, "As you must have surmised, I thought it best to seek assistance from your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. They insisted that I dine with them at Gracechurch Street. All there send their love and greetings." Elizabeth looked at him with a silent smile. He continued, "And I went to visit Sommers." This last statement hung in the air between them.
Elizabeth felt her heart beginning to pound more quickly. Her breathing seemed shallow, and she could feel her hands tremble and grow cold with nervousness. She pressed them against her skirt to conceal the trembling.
Darcy gestured towards a path that led off the road and into a small grove that would afford them a measure of privacy.
There, Elizabeth spied a large rock by the edge of a stream. She walked over to the rock and sat down. She looked around, pleased to see that they were alone at last. Darcy sat next to her and eagerly took her hand, bestowing a kiss there. Feeling how her hand trembled, he enclosed it within his own. Elizabeth looked at him with anticipation.
He stood, then fell to one knee before her. As he looked up at her, Elizabeth concentrated on absorbing every detail so that she could remember this moment for the rest of her life. Reverently, Darcy again kissed her hand. Then he looked up into her eyes and said, "Elizabeth, I love you. You are my first thought when I awaken each day, my last thought as I fall to sleep each night… and you fill my dreams. My feelings and wishes are unchanged from what they were last April… except in how they have grown and deepened. Will you, that is, would you… consent… to become my wife?"
Elizabeth smiled at the heartfelt and vulnerable air which he showed to her and her alone. She replied, "My feelings… Oh! I am ashamed to recall what I said before! My feelings are quite the opposite of what they once were. I want to be your wife more than anything… Yes!"
Elizabeth knew that the expression of heartfelt delight that diffused over his face would live on in her mind's eye forevermore. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and mimicked her words from the night they first met, "Again, something from the jacket!" in a teasing tone. She giggled merrily. Then she fell serious as saw the ring he held between his fingers. It was a ringlet with delicate garnets and diamonds in a pattern of crosses. Unconsciously, her hand went to the diamond and garnet broach she wore over her heart.
Her expression was one of joy mingled with awe as he slipped the ring on her finger. She said, "Your great-grandmother's wedding band…"
He smiled up at her, "I am sure that she would want you to wear it." Then he moved again to sit by her on the rock. She nestled against his side, sliding easily into his embrace. She held her hand up before her and smiled radiantly.
Darcy savored the feel of her in his embrace and marveled that she had accepted him at long last. He held her ringless hand in his own. He ran his other hand up and down her arm and leaned in for a kiss.
She asked, "What did you tell Sommers?"
He replied, "I told Sommers that I intended to ask you to become my wife. As head of the council, he was most concerned. As an old friend of my family, he wishes us the utmost happiness."
Elizabeth felt fear seize her heart. She looked up into Darcy's eyes and asked, "Will he allow you to continue as my Watcher?" She saw that Darcy was touched by her concern. He leaned down and kissed her lightly.
He said, "Sommers said that when a Watcher and a Slayer grow too close for the Watcher to maintain his or her ability to counsel the Slayer impartially, the Council relieves that Watcher." Elizabeth gasped in dismay. He continued, "Too many among them feel that distance is important to the role of Watcher. He added, however, that as we are to be married, a separation cannot be enforced. Whom God joins together, no man may tear asunder… not even the sometimes oddly bureaucratic Council of Watchers. Therefore, Sommers asks that we accept a new Watcher. Though I will be officially relieved of my duties, it is understood that I will assist you both."
She considered his words and asked on a hunch, "Would this new Watcher be someone by the name of Giles?"
Darcy nodded and replied with a faint smile, "His daughter, Dawn. She could also serve as your maid, raising no suspicion as a constant companion. I think you will like her. She is very straight-forward, intelligent, and creative."
She continued, "Have you told Sommers that we will do as he asks?"
Darcy replied, "I had to seek your acceptance first. Were you to refuse me again, I would have been relieved and sent away. While I certainly hoped you would accept me, I would never again presume…" He blushed.
She laughed at this and saw him start. She noted to herself that he had as yet to learn to be laughed at and said, "After my behavior in Kent I am not surprised!" Then, more seriously, "What do you think about what Sommers said?"
Darcy only nodded. She stroked his face and asked, "Are you certain?" Again, he nodded. Elizabeth sighed and chuckled, "Every Slayer's dream… two Watchers… twice the criticism… twice the training… twice the demands. I care not what they say, my love. I will accept Miss Giles as my official Watcher, but I will always think of you as the Watcher given to me by Fate." She spoke with a lump in her throat. She knew it would be difficult for him to step aside and bow to the advice of another Watcher… but that he would do so for her. Though it seemed impossible, it made her love him even more. She smiled at him. She now saw an entirely different man from the proud and unpleasant man he'd first seemed!
Now it was Darcy who laughed. He said, "I am sure you are up to the task of handling us both, my dear. When offended, you apply reproof more effectively than any creature I've ever known."
She laughed wryly and said, "Yes. You know enough of my abilities to believe me capable of anything. The things I said to you in Kent!" She blushed in remembrance.
He asked, "What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behavior to you at the time merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence."
She was, once again, amazed at his generosity towards her. "We should not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that evening," said Elizabeth. "The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved in civility."
A delighted smile played across his face as he leaned in and claimed a kiss. He said, "Indeed!" Then he kissed her again. With a sigh, he said, "I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. Your reproof, so well applied, I shall never forget: "Had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner." Those were your words. You know not how they have tortured me, though it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice."
Blushing, she said, "I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an impression. I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such a way."
He replied, "I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never forget, as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible way that would induce you to accept me."
He felt her shudder next to him as she said, "Oh! Do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it." Then she said, "You must learn some of the philosophy I am trying to reacquire. Remember the past only as it gives you pleasure."
He kissed her cheek and said, "I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind, and I cannot recall my behavior without feeling reproach. I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. I was almost taught to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle and my calling; to think meanly of all the rest of the world and to search for evil."
She stroked his cheek and looked into his eyes. "There is nothing selfish in you, my love."
"Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased." She shivered as he kissed her neck ever so delicately.
She asked, "Had you then persuaded yourself that I would accept you?"
He looked away in embarrassment. "Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you to be wishing, expecting my addresses… even encouraging them."
She considered his words. "My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally, I assure you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might often lead me wrong. How you must have hated me after that evening? To think that my blindness led me immediately into darkness that only you could rescue me from…" Now she was the one to lean in for a kiss. She turned his head and placed a most grateful kiss upon his firm lips. He returned her kiss hungrily.
He sighed, "Hate you! I was angry perhaps at first, but my anger soon began to take a proper direction." Again, she kissed him gratefully. Not only was she grateful for his bravery in coming to her rescue and fighting the demon coven, but she found it quite attractive. Again, she savored his lips.
Then she said, "I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me, when we met at Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?"
He stroked her cheek and said, "I felt nothing but gratitude… once I had recovered from the shock of meeting you whilst improperly attired!"
She smiled and ran a hand down to his chest as she leaned in for another kiss. She started to speak, but blushed, and kissed him again instead. He looked at her, realizing that she was thinking warmly of his appearance and his person. He happily returned her kisses, more and more passionately. Then, after several enjoyable moments, he reluctantly said, "We should continue our walk." He looked at his watch and confirmed, "It is time for us to return to Longbourn."
As they reached the edge of the trees about Longbourn, Elizabeth stopped and turned to Darcy. She pulled him close against her and said, "I'm sorry about the Council's decision." She looked up into his eyes.
He savored the feel of her against him, delighting in the dizzying effect she had on him. He replied, "It matters not. I will always be there, fighting by your side… and loving you." He smiled as she pulled him closer and kissed him.
That evening, Mr. Darcy followed Mr. Bennet into his library and secured his permission to marry his second daughter. Mr. Bennet was quite pleased to grant the petition. He had seen enough of the looks between Elizabeth and Darcy to believe that they would be happy together… and that it would be a good idea for them to marry. Though he would miss both his daughters when they left Longbourn, he looked forward to visiting them quite often.
Of the rest of the family, only Jane was not surprised by the news. She'd known of Darcy's regard for her sister since the Netherfield Ball and had observed her sister's growing affection for the Watcher throughout the entire year. With Jane, Elizabeth was able to share her joy freely. Each of the sisters agreed that they were to become the happiest of women. They even agreed to share a joint ceremony.
Mrs. Bennet was so astonished when Elizabeth informed her of her engagement that she was rendered speechless. Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters. Though their matrimonial state rendered no great change in her own character, Mrs. Bennet was much happier, having accomplished her primary professed goal in having daughters well married.
From that time, Kitty Bennet benefited from spending time in society with her sisters. By proper attention and management, she became less irritable, less ignorant, and less insipid.
The following Spring, the entire Bennet family was grieved to learn of the death of Lydia Wickham. It seemed that she had rescued a neighbor child from a burning building, but had been unable to escape the flames herself. Her death, coming so soon after the reported death of her husband in battle, was much talked of. All of Meryton agreed that Lydia Wickham had been the most unfortunate of women, but also the most heroic.
Mary Bennet was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet's inability to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but she could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own, it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much reluctance.
Charlotte Collins discovered that Mr. Collins' death had given her financial freedom. The wily warlock had stashed back a rather sizable fortune, some of it purloined from the great estate of Rosings he had so obviously coveted. When she finally returned to the Hunsford Parsonage, she was amazed at the amount of coin and jewels secreted in Mr. Collins' bed chamber. Mr. Darcy acted at his wife's request and helped Mrs. Collins arrange her financial affairs around this unexpected boon. Her new-found independence made the widow Collins an eligible prospect. To her very great delight, even eligible enough to attract the second son of an earl. Colonel Fitzwilliam had become enamored of Mrs. Collins' bravery, resourcefulness, and matter of fact manner from the first of their acquaintance. He was quite pleased in his choice of wife when they married the summer following his cousin's marriage. The Fitzwilliams would help the Darcys in their valiant efforts against the forces of darkness many times throughout the years.
Miss Bingley never learned the truth about her parentage. She was mortified, though not surprised, by Darcy's marriage to Elizabeth. She was forever grateful to Elizabeth, though, and kept her secret safe. Her disappointment was lessened greatly when she met the handsome and wealthy son of Darcy's family friend, Mr. Sommers. Young Mr. Sommers wed Miss Bingley within a few months. They eventually settled in California. Their descendants live in that area today, under the Americanized name of Summers. The family was greatly strengthened by Miss Bingley's powerful bloodline.
The Master and Darla were never seen in England again after their battle with Lizzy, the vampire Slayer. They traveled to eastern Europe and the Orient in search of spells and potions to restore The Master's strength. Angelus did not return to England until after Lizzy's death.
The vampire lovers, Spike and Laura, were once seen by the Darcys across a crowded theater in Paris. True to form, Spike blew the Slayer a kiss before beating a strategic retreat. His La La was quickly dissuaded of her unhappiness at his flirting by his unremitting passion for her.
The Darcys were always quite close with the Gardiners. They really loved them and felt the warmest gratitude towards them for bringing Elizabeth into Derbyshire, where their acknowledgment of the passion between them began.
Dawn Giles assumed her post as official Watcher to Lizzy, the vampire Slayer. She learned much from her assistant and their Slayer. An intelligent woman, possessed with warmth and dedication reminiscent of her father, Dawn managed to work with both the Slayer and her husband quite amicably. She became an indispensable part of their household.
The Bingleys lived at Netherfield for a twelvemonth. Living so near to Mrs. Bennet and her Meryton relations was a trial even for a man of his easy disposition and a woman of Jane's gentle goodness. The wishes of both sisters were gratified when he bought an estate in a neighboring county to Derbyshire, within thirty miles of Pemberley.
Pemberley was now Georgiana's home; and the attachment of the sisters was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each other even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth and endeavored to become one of her strongest allies in her battle against the darkness.
Fitzwilliam Darcy continued to improve with the influence of his passionately beloved wife. He even learned to be laughed at, in time. When one knows beyond all doubt that they are loved, respected, and admired, it becomes much easier to bear being the focus of teasing attention. Mrs. Darcy made certain that her husband never again doubted how much he was loved, respected, and admired.
Elizabeth Bennet Darcy, known to some as Lizzy, the vampire Slayer, lived the life of which she'd dreamed-- a life that was strong and vibrant, with a much-loved husband by her side every step of the way. She was the longest lived Slayer in all of history.
The End