Chapter 26 #5
She was to become an instant grandmamma; her joy was boundless.
She was a little upset Charlotte would not marry out of the Meryton Church where the first banns for her wedding would be read this Sunday but was mollified when she thought about not only travelling to stay at Pemberley, but in the magnificent coach that had just arrived in front of Lucas Lodge.
Not only had the Darcys sent a conveyance, but they had arranged the family’s stays along the way at no expense to the Lucases. Sir William had informed his wife that they would leave on Wednesday, which had them arriving at Pemberley on Saturday a week before the wedding.
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On Wednesday, Sir William, Lady Lucas, Frank, Maria, and young John Lucas all boarded the most comfortable conveyance they had ever seen or ridden in, and started the journey north.
On Saturday morning, as the coach crested the hill and gave them their first glimpse of the snow covered valley below, the five Lucases in the carriage could not believe the view that met them.
They had known the Darcys were wealthy, but nothing prepared them for the view of the manor house that lay before them, and to a person they were shocked.
The house looked palatial to them, it would to anyone who had never seen it, no matter their station and wealth.
“Lizzy is mistress of all of this?” asked a very awed Maria Lucas.
“Yes Maria, and they own three other estates and a house in town as well.” Sir William responded.
“I had no idea. I am so appreciative of Eliza and Mr. Darcy that they are hosting the wedding breakfast here in this magical setting for our Charlotte.” Lady Lucas tried to keep herself regulated as the swells of love for her daughter and their friends created great pressure in her breast and behind her eyes.
Joy like this was a rare gift and she would never forget it.
“Look at the extent of the stables, Papa. They are as big as Longbourn’s. Do you think we will be able to ride?” Frank asked hopefully on his and his brother’s behalf.
“Weather permitting, Son. Charlotte told me in one of her letters the Darcys have sleighs, so mayhap you will be able to ride in one with them.” At the mention of sleighs, Sir William’s eleven-year-old son’s eyes lit up like a thousand candles were reflected in them.
“I cannot wait to see the house where Charlotte will live. She wrote to me it is a very comfortable situation and they will have more than enough servants. Do you suppose she has met her future daughter yet, my soon-to-be niece?” Maria asked hopefully.
“Oh, I get to be an aunt.” She clapped happily, finally starting to believe it was all coming true.
Maria had not allowed herself to believe it so far, she had wanted it all too much, some might say. Her sister had long sacrificed for her, believing she was on the shelf, and this was a just reward.
“You know a Lieutenant in the militia would not be able to provide a fraction of what Charlotte’s betrothed has do you not, Maria?” Sir William looked down at her with an arched brow and a stern frown.
“Yes Papa, I promise I have been cured of chasing men in regimentals. I have talked to Mary and her husband Richard Fitzwilliam, and he did not sugar-coat the life I would have if I was stupid enough to marry an officer with no prospects,” Maria acknowledged, not enjoying reflecting on her foolishness when she had thought a man in a red coat, any man in a red coat would do.
“Then we will have to thank Richard, will we not Sarah.” Sir William smiled at his wife; the relief felt by them both.
“I could not agree more, William. Thank goodness you finally woke up, Maria. Just think how you could have been ruined by the likes of that wastrel Wickham whom Mr. Darcy sent to Marshalsea. You know we were only so worried because we love you and want you happy. We are not like some parents that think any match would suffice. But to answer your question, my dear girl, I assume by now Grace has been introduced to her soon to be Mama,” Lady Lucas predicted.
A little while later the carriage pulled up at one of the entrances to the mansion and a footman lowered the steps. The Lucases were met by Charlotte who showed them into a drawing room where the Darcys, Bennets, and her fiancé and his shy daughter awaited them.
Grace was a pretty-looking girl with light brown hair, not dissimilar to Charlotte’s.
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy welcomed the overawed Lucases as they drank in the elegance and wealth on display.
They knew from the facade of the house there was a lot more to see, but what they had seen so far was beyond impressive.
Charlotte introduced her parents and siblings to her betrothed and his daughter and it was with great relief to Sarah and Sir William that they did not have to pretend to like their daughter’s fiancé.
They had predetermined they would do nothing to stand in Charlotte’s way as her letters offered the happiness they could only hope their daughter would one day find.
They liked Patrick very well, but for Sarah, she was relieved her daughter’s good nature and ability to care for others was not the only value he saw in his fiancée.
It was obvious he loved to look at her demonstrating there was genuine attraction between them. No one missed Grace was holding onto Charlotte’s hand tightly, not her father’s, and although a little shy at first, made her curtseys to each person she was introduced to.
After introductions and sincerely thanking the Darcys for sending the coach and the consideration of arranging the inns along the way, and greeting all of the Bennets, Mrs. Reynolds showed the Lucases to their chambers in the East guest wing of the house.
As they followed the housekeeper to their rooms, the awe among the five arriving members of the Lucas family only deepened.
In their wildest dreams had they never imagined being guests in a house like the one where they were currently being accommodated.
Once they arrived at their chambers, awe transformed to amazement.
Like Charlotte before them, they could not believe the size of their chambers.
Sir William and Lady Lucas had a suite with a shared sitting room, as did their sons Frank and John.
Maria’s room was part of Charlotte’s suite which also had its own sitting room, and Maria, who had never had the luxury of a lady’s maid before, found a maid waiting for her who informed her that she would serve as her lady’s maid while she was at Pemberley.
The Lucases were sure they would never find the drawing room again and be forever lost in the mansion, and were much relieved when they were told there were two footmen on duty that would show them how to get there when they were ready.
After changing out of their travel attire and washing off the dust of the road, they were shown to the very drawing room they had initially received to find the whole Pemberley party awaited them.
Sir William and Lady Lucas gravitated toward their good friends Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and Maria joined the young group that included the Bennet twins, Kitty Bennet, and Georgiana Darcy.
Lady Lucas had always worried Charlotte saw marriage with too much of a clinical and cynical eye, so to see how happy her daughter was warmed her heart and that of her husband’s.
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The Elliot family, led by Sir Everett and Lady Ilene, arrived at Pemberley four days before the wedding.
They had delayed one day as one of their grandchildren was recovering from a fever and their son and daughter-in-law did not want to leave until they knew their young daughter was well and truly on the mend.
The party included Patrick Elliot’s two older brothers and their wives, and his younger still unmarried sister who was to have her come out in the upcoming season. Grace was overjoyed to see her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins again so soon.
It did not take the Elliots long to understand why their son and brother had chosen Charlotte Lucas. They were very well matched and, to the surprise of all considering the speed, clearly in love one with the other.
As important to them all, they were more than gratified to see Charlotte already loved their little Gracie, and in seeing so their final concerns were washed away. Grace would have a mother who saw her as a blessing even before she was her daughter.
Elliot had long regretted his former wife had been the last living member of her family, but now Grace would also get a second pair of grandparents, two more uncles, and another aunt.
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The day before the wedding, Ladies Lucas and Elliot went with Charlotte to look over the parsonage at Kympton.
The house was less than eight miles from Pemberley and was almost the size of Lucas Lodge with a good-sized kitchen garden, and on the glebe lands there was an orchard and other established agricultural plantings.
Charlotte had seen the house a number of times since her fiancé had moved in and other than some minor suggestions, she had changed nothing. Her mother and soon to be mother-in-law had never seen the parsonage before.
Grace held her new mother’s hand as if it was natural, and for her it now was. She decided Charlotte was her mother, and so Charlotte was that in all ways to the pretty little girl.
Glad to have Mama with her, Grace happily chatted with both of her grandmothers as her initial shyness had faded with the proof Charlotte was close by as she met all these new people.
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That night, Charlotte Lucas fell asleep feeling content for possibly the first time. She was marrying the best of men and becoming a wife and mother on the morrow.
Patrick Elliot fell asleep in the parsonage with similar thoughts about his fiancée, and very glad it was the last time he would sleep as a widower in his home, more importantly, was very happy it was the last time he was sleeping in this bed without his Charlotte.
The next morning, the Kympton Church was filled to capacity as Sir William Lucas walked his oldest up the aisle preceded by a playful and happy flower girl in the form of one Miss Grace Elliot.
Anyone who would be so foolish as to call the bride plain on her wedding day would have prevaricated. Charlotte was glowing with joy and looked very pretty indeed. Mr. Beckman officiated, and soon the new Mr. and Mrs. Elliot were signing the registry book.
After a few minutes of privacy, they alighted the curricle the Darcys had gifted them along with two horses, and with Grace sitting between them made their way to Pemberley for the wedding breakfast.