Posted on Saturday, 14 February 2004, at 12:28 p.m.

Mr. Darcy had never been so nervous in his life.

Examinations at Cambridge had been nothing compared to this nerve-racking anticipation and lingering sense of doubt and disbelief that plagued him this morning.

He glanced beside him at Bingley, who was pacing back and forth, occasionally stopping to smile somewhat dreamily, to Colonel Fitzwilliam who was barely managing to stifle his laughter at the state that he and Bingley were in.

Wait until it's your turn, Fitzwilliam, Darcy thought somewhat darkly, throwing an irritated look at his grinning cousin.

He glanced at his pocket watch and swallowed. It was time for him and Bingley to enter the chapel. The ceremony was due to begin.

He had a vague impression of faces on either side of him, hazily noticed that Miss Bingley was striving not to scowl with something approaching amusement, and then everything else faded as he and Bingley reached the front of the chapel and stood before the vicar and he heard music begin and the crowd rustle. And he turned and saw her. He let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding and knew that until that moment, there had always been a small nagging part of him that could not really believe that Elizabeth loved him, was going to marry him.

His Elizabeth, looking more beautiful in a simple white gown than he could ever have imagined, a veil frosting her dark hair, while it left her lovely face unobscured. And all he could think in the one moment before she began walking towards him, on her father's arm, was, thank you. For that moment, he wasn't sure whether he was thanking God or Elizabeth herself. He just knew that he was the luckiest man in the world.

She smiled into his eyes as she reached his side and the rest of the world faded. He didn't see Jane moving to stand beside Bingley, nor the radiance of Bingley's eyes or Jane's blush. He didn't see Mr. Bennet blink back tears when he released his eldest daughters' arms and stepped back to stand beside Mrs. Bennet. He didn't see the joy in Georgiana's eyes as she watched. All he was aware of was Elizabeth, that she was there beside him and they were going to be married.

The dream and hope that had thrilled his soul for months was coming true.

The vicar cleared his throat and began speaking. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of God and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman... and this man and this woman, in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate..."

He had a fleeting memory of Elizabeth in another gown, in a small parsonage, her dark eyes sparkling defiance... ...sparing me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner... the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.

Another, a happier memory, intruded. Elizabeth, glancing somewhat uncertainly up at him, a flush in her cheeks... My feelings are so different... Elizabeth smiling and blushing as he pressed a lingering kiss on her hand... Until tomorrow, Mr. Darcy...

He glanced at Elizabeth again and their eyes met. The smallest of smiles curved her lips, as she returned his glance with a tender look.

"... Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"

The permanence, the solemnity, of the vicar's words reverberated through Mr. Darcy's mind and heart. He thought of all those months of despair, of the varying moments of hope and pain... And he answered with all the certainty he felt, after all the doubts had been put to rest. "I will." His voice was clear, confident.

"Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband... Wilt thou... love, honour and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thou only unto him, as long as ye both shall live?"

Elizabeth's voice was clear and sure. "I will."

Mr. Darcy's breath escaped him in a rush as he heard the words. They seemed to be echoing in his mind. I will. I will. I will...

The vicar moved on to Bingley and Jane but Darcy didn't hear the words, only knew that his heart was pounding from a rush of happiness beyond anything he had ever felt.

Elizabeth glanced up at Mr. Darcy beside her and noticed the look of heartfelt joy dawning in his eyes and expression, and for a fleeting moment, wondered yet again, how she could ever have thought him disagreeable.

And then it was time for the vows.

Mr. Darcy faced Elizabeth, taking her hand in his, and he thought, Now I am truly rich. His voice was quiet, sincere, while memories of the long road they had taken to bring them to this day and this moment rushed through his mind, and he could see that Elizabeth was thinking of it too. "I, Fitzwilliam Darcy, take thee, Elizabeth Bennet, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse..."

Elizabeth's gaze met and held his steadily as she spoke her vows, the love and trust in her gaze causing Mr. Bennet's last vague doubt of Elizabeth's feelings to fade away forever. "I, Elizabeth Bennet, take thee, Fitzwilliam Darcy... for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do part..."
~*~*~

Mr. Darcy had never been so happy in his life.

The ceremony was over and Elizabeth was his. They belonged to one another, for life.

He clasped Bingley's hand warmly, smiling at Bingley's wide grin. He thought again of the fact that Bingley could have been this happy so much sooner had it not been for him and couldn't resist a last, "I'm sorry, Bingley, and I am so glad for you."

Bingley shook his head as he shook Darcy's hand with energy. "Forget it, man. It was well-meant." And then he added with a glance at Jane's radiant face as she hugged Elizabeth, "I do believe we are the luckiest men in Great Britain, Darcy."

Darcy's gaze returned to Elizabeth as he answered. "Indeed we are."

Elizabeth turned back to smile at Mr. Darcy, taking his offered arm. "Have I told you today that I love you, Mr. Darcy?" she asked, her eyes teasing.

His eyes flashed and he smiled at her. "You have now, and I love you too, Mrs. Darcy."

Elizabeth's smile turned thoughtful. "Mrs. Darcy. I believe I like the sound of that."

Mr. Darcy lifted her hand to his lips. "As do I, Mrs. Darcy, as do I."

And he knew as he and Elizabeth both turned to greet Georgiana that he had everything he had ever wanted.