***
When Darcy returned to the dining area, he found Elizabeth making a concerted effort to talk with some passengers who had gathered around her, inquiring about her ankle and her illness. She still looked tired, and he hoped the other passengers were not causing her too much exertion. As she turned her head and saw Darcy walk in, her heart made a barely noticeable leap, especially when she saw the papers he carried in his hand.
Darcy walked toward her and apologized to those she was conversing with, asking that they forgive him, but he needed to speak with Miss Bennet alone. They gave Elizabeth some reassurances about her health before leaving, turned a curious eye to Darcy, and then departed.
Darcy took a seat across from her. “The captain has said all that is required is for us to sign these.”
Elizabeth took in a slight gasp of air and felt her body shudder as he spoke the words she had assumed she would not hear. Obviously the captain was willing to perform the wedding! She could not look at him, but looked down, eyeing the very formal-looking papers that he spread out in front of her. Words refused to come, and she could not formulate one thought to press her argument against doing this.
Darcy had secured a pen and some ink, and pushed them toward Elizabeth. “The captain is willing to do this, Miss Bennet.”
She looked up at him with weariness flooding her surprised eyes. “As are you?”
He nodded. “It will benefit us both, but primarily yourself.”
“And you will have it annulled once you return to England?”
“Your family and friends need never know. And you will certainly never see any of the other passengers on this ship again, as they will be staying in America. As far as they know, we fell in love on the ship and decided to marry.”
“We hardly have looked like a couple in love, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy cocked his head. “Who is to say what love looks like, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth looked up and met his gaze. She felt as though she was simply entering a business transaction with someone, and yet there was something in his eyes now that had not been there before. She also felt there was a stronger beating of her own heart that she could not ascribe to anything. She took another deep breath as she pondered this man. She wondered if he had ever been in love. Had there ever been a woman who lived up to his impeccable standards?
Darcy’s attention was directed toward the papers. “You sign here.” He gently nudged the pen into her hand while she studied the paper. She looked up at him one last time before signing “Elizabeth Julianne Bennet” and “Hertfordshire” for residence. She slowly pushed the papers toward Darcy.
“Now what?”
Darcy signed his name. “Now we go to the captain.”
“You mean we are to do this at once?” A sense of panic began to rise up within her.
Darcy nodded. “Tonight, Miss Bennet, for the first time on this ship, you will get a good night’s sleep.”
He stood up, came around, and picked her up again. “Shall we go to our wedding?” A reassuring smile swept across his face but quickly disappeared as he looked at the concern on Elizabeth’s.
As he picked her up, he was even more aware of how weak she was, and suddenly wondered if she would look back on this with regret when her mind was free from the effects of the fever. Would she harbour resentment against him for pressing her for a decision when she was feeling so poorly?
When he picked her up and began to carry her, her heart pounded even more fiercely. She was not sure whether the warmth she felt was a result of fever or being held so securely by him. But she knew it was not the fever, but the feel of his arms around her that prevented any rational thought or objection to this course of action to penetrate her mind.
***
The captain was still in his room when Darcy arrived carrying Elizabeth. He was surprised, yet not, to see him return so promptly. He had always known Darcy to be a man to accomplish quickly what he set his mind to do. Usually it was based on sound reason and judgment. He believed his reasoning on this particular occasion was based on something other than rational thinking. Perhaps it was emotion, but that was something which he rarely saw in Darcy, who prided himself on always remaining in control. Although Darcy was trying to appear level-headed, there was something else that was prompting this decision, and Wendell could not quite place what it was.
Could it be love? He could not determine it one way or another, but for some reason, he chose not to fight Darcy about his determination to pursue this course of action. Perhaps it was his own fondness for Miss Bennet and the fact that he saw something between the two of them that neither of them had yet realized was there.
“Darcy, come in. Good day, Miss Bennet. I understand you have not been feeling well and that you turned your ankle today.”
“Yes, Captain, but it is nothing. It shall be back to normal in no time,” she replied weakly.
The captain motioned for them to sit down. Darcy placed Elizabeth in the chair and he stood behind her.
“Miss Bennet, I understand that Mr. Darcy has made a rather peculiar request in this offer of marriage to you.”
“Yes, sir. I realize it must appear odd, but I think we are both of like minds that it will benefit us to pursue this course of action.”
Darcy raised his eyebrows as he heard Elizabeth’s words, which now sounded very much in favour of proceeding with the marriage. Elizabeth, herself, was surprised at how easily they flowed out of her mouth.
“Hmmm,” murmured the captain. “I would wish you to take under advisement to consider all the ramifications of such a marriage before I proceed.”
“I have, sir,” Elizabeth said softly.
“As have I, Captain,” added Darcy quickly.
“Well, then. Let us proceed.” The captain rang a bell and his first mate entered. “Webber, here, shall be witness. Normally I have the bride and groom stand, but in your case, Miss Bennet, seeing as how you are quite unwell, I shall allow you to remain seated.”
The captain looked up at Darcy and raised his eyebrows, as if giving him one last chance to change his mind.
“You may proceed, Captain.”
“Do you have any kind of a ring?”
Darcy suddenly frowned, not having thought of it.
Elizabeth lifted up her hand. “I have this ring I usually wear on my other hand. We can use it.”
She took it off her one finger and handed it to Darcy, who looked down and saw a small ruby stone set in a gold band. He held it in his hand until it was time to place it on her wedding ring finger.
The ceremony was simple. The vows were spoken with little attempt to disguise the fact that they were going to be nullified once Darcy returned to England. When they were pronounced husband and wife, Darcy simply reached for Elizabeth’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.
“Congratulations. You are now married.” The lack of enthusiasm in the captain’s voice was recognized by all in the room, and Elizabeth swallowed hard as she contemplated what this would now mean.
The captain excused the first mate, and the three were left with feelings of awkwardness. “What do we do now?” asked Elizabeth.
The captain looked at the two of them. “If this were a real marriage, you would not have to ask me that question. As it is, we must get word out before rumours begin circulating, especially if you return to his room now. I suggest we make an announcement to those in the dining area later this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Darcy shook his hand but felt a twinge of guilt that he had pressured the captain into doing something that had gone against his conscience because Darcy owned this ship. He was not proud of the fact and hoped Elizabeth would not find out.