Chapter 31 #2
Lady Matlock did not wait for a curtsy; she pulled her soon-to-be daughter-in-law into a warm hug. “Thank you for loving my son,” she said next to Charlotte’s ear.
“He is very easy to love,” Charlotte responded.
“Anne is waiting for us within, and no, Charlotte is not residing here. She is sleeping at Lucas Lodge. Her parents and brothers will join us at Longbourn for dinner. In that way, you will be able to meet them too,” Fitzwilliam revealed.
“How is Anne?” Matlock asked as they made their way towards the front doors.
“Weak, but she was determined to make this journey,” Fitzwilliam replied. “She refuses to miss our wedding. If Andy and William happen to get married soon, then I am sure Anne will be well pleased.” He looked around. “By the way, where are my brother and cousin?”
“At Longbourn. They wanted to discuss things with Jane and Lizzy’s father before any more time passed,” Matlock related. “There was no date set before, but they may have done so before they arrive here.”
As they had not seen Anne for some time, the Fitzwilliam parents and Gigi were shocked to see how weak and sickly she looked.
No matter how many times they had been told what to expect, when they saw her, it had not prepared them for the reality.
There was no question that Anne was not long for the mortal world.
“I know I am a sight to see, but I am very glad that I am here to see all of you,” Anne managed. She needed to get her breath back before she spoke again. “Andy and William?”
Matlock explained where the two were. Then, he, his wife, his niece, and her companion followed the housekeeper to their suites.
“We will speak once I have changed,” Lady Matlock told Charlotte.
Even though it had not been a request, after everything Richard had told her about his parents, Charlotte was more than happy to come to know them much better, and for them to deepen their acquaintance with her.
While the others were in their chambers, Hilldale and Darcy arrived at Netherfield Park. When they entered the drawing room, the reunion between the two brothers and the cousin was everything warm. Darcy greeted Mrs Charlotte, while Hilldale was introduced to his brother’s affianced.
The newly arrived men were also shocked to see Anne’s state. The latter was very pleased when they informed her of the date for their wedding.
Anne lifted her eyes to the heavens. ‘Please God, give me one more month. I really want to see Andrew and William marry as well. It is your decision, so I place myself in your hands,’ she prayed. ‘Once I have witnessed Andy and William marrying, I will be ready to come to your side.’
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Unfortunately that evening, Anne was not feeling well enough to travel the short three miles to Longbourn. As such, Mrs Annesley remained with her.
Even though they had been prepared to meet them by Charlotte and her betrothed, Sir William and Lady Lucas were awed by their future son-in-law’s parents. Due to this fact, no mention of how he earned his knighthood or his investiture at St James’s Palace crossed Sir William’s lips.
Prior to, and during dinner, it was noted that Mary was not shying away from Johnny Lucas’s attention.
Before Mary had changed her style of dress and hair, even though she had felt attracted to Johnny, she had been too shy to act on it.
She was not doing anything overt, but she was no longer showing disinterest in his overtures.
Jane and Elizabeth looked at Charlotte who displayed a smug smile.
She had told them more than a year past that Johnny had a tendre for Mary, and they had told her she was wrong.
The three were thrilled that come the twentieth of August, Charlotte would be a sister to the Bennet sisters she had viewed as best of friends for many years. They were aware that Andrew, Richard, and William were in anticipation of becoming brothers.
After dinner, when Fanny discussed the subject with her daughters, it was decided they would go to London the day after Charlotte’s wedding.
They would not be able to travel with the Gardiners, who would depart for their own home on the morrow.
That was not an issue because, as had been predicted, Jane and Lizzy would be hosted at Matlock House along with Gigi, Mary, and Kitty.
Either Lady Elaine, Mrs Taylor, or Mrs Annesley would be with one of the couples at all times when they were together.
Jane and Elizabeth invited their mother to join them in Town. She had demurred citing the planning of their wedding as the reason. That was another of many changes in their mother. Rather than forego such an opportunity before, she would have loudly and vociferously demanded she be included.
Fanny had suggested, and her daughters had agreed with alacrity, that their Aunt Maddie be included in their plans for shopping.
Fanny was able to own that Maddie’s ideas about fashion aligned with her daughters’ desires much closer than her own.
With great pleasure, Maddie had agreed to join them.
Regardless of not having a limited budget—each of their respective betrotheds had demanded the right to purchase the clothes they would need for society and the north—Jane and Elizabeth had decided to choose the fabric from Uncle Edward’s warehouse, as it was both the best and far less than purchasing the same bolts from a modiste’s shop would be.
No voice of opposition had been raised.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
St Alfred’s church in Meryton was filled to capacity to see the former Miss Lucas marry for the second time.
Word about the truth of the late Mr Collins’s character had made its way through the area.
Hence, even those who would have liked to catch the wealthy and well-connected Mr Fitzwilliam for themselves whispered not one word about the speed of her marriage since the date of Mr Collins’s death.
Any of those who used to call Charlotte plain had to eat their words on Wednesday morning.
She was glowing with happiness and looked very pretty in a pale pink wedding gown and matching wedding bonnet.
Sir William could not have looked prouder as he walked her up the aisle and placed his eldest daughter’s hand on Fitzwilliam’s arm.
Maria had the honour of standing up with her older sister.
The choice had been much harder for Fitzwilliam, but in the end, his brother had insisted he choose William.
The rector of St Alfred’s conducted the service as was expected, and when he asked if there was anyone who objected, he was met with blissful silence.
He had continued, and soon enough, he announced them man and wife.
If the newly married Fitzwilliams spent longer than normal in the registry, no one begrudged them the time they took.
Also, there were no bawdy comments about the state of their lips made when they returned.
A sumptuous wedding breakfast was enjoyed at Lucas Lodge. Rather than competing, Fanny had assisted her friend to plan and execute the celebratory meal. The two matrons were closer than they had been since they had been girls in pigtails.
Anne de Bourgh could not remember a day she had been happier.
She had felt far stronger the day of the wedding, which had allowed her to attend the church and the breakfast at Lucas Lodge.
When her newly married cousins departed for Fitzwilliam House on Berkeley Square, Anne had stood on Uncle Reggie’s arm among the family to farewell Charlotte and Richard.
With her blessing, Richard had changed the name of the house from de Bourgh House.
For Charlotte Fitzwilliam, this day seemed like something right out of one of her dreams. She had dreamt of escaping her nightmare marriage and ending up with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Other than the fact that her husband was no longer in the army, everything else had come to pass.
Charlotte and Richard Fitzwilliam would arrive back in the area two days before the double wedding.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
So that she would not be alone at Netherfield Park when those travelling to London departed on Friday, Anne was invited to stay at Longbourn, where she would be looked after by Mrs Bennet. Shortly after her arrival at the Bennet estate, Anne was invited to call Mrs Bennet Aunt Fanny.