Chapter 13 Matrimony Finalization #4
This time, the pause was longer and not for dramatic effect.
The wait of some two minutes, while rarely resulting in anyone speaking out, was a serious obligation.
When not a peep was heard from amongst the assembly, Reverend Jenney closed the Book of Common Prayer to train his stern gaze on the brides and grooms. Searching each of their faces one by one, he recited the next series of memorized lines.
“I require and charge each of you, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if any of you know of any impediment as to why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it.
For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their matrimony lawful.”
Thankfully, the priest did not drag out the process. With an abrupt change in demeanor, he smiled, flipped the book open, and turned to Bingley and Jane. As the eldest Bennet and the first to become betrothed, they had all agreed it only proper for them to speak their vows first.
Darcy managed to pull his eyes away from Elizabeth after a brief struggle and was somewhat amazed to discover that observing his friend and very-soon-to-be sister declare their solemn promises was profoundly moving.
The mutual expressions of raw devotion were, Darcy knew, a mirror image of the emotions he was feeling.
The display increased the joy in his soul, and he recognized the same had touched Elizabeth when he again beheld her face.
His heart pounded forcefully, and flutters of happiness rushed through his body. At long last, the time had arrived. The sacred words, sweeter than any he had ever heard outside of Elizabeth’s “yes” to his proposal, were now to be uttered.
“Fitzwilliam Alexander James Darcy, wilt thou have this woman, Elizabeth Nicole Bennet, to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health? And, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” he enunciated crisply, eyes fixed on her face. With all my heart and soul, to beyond my life on earth.
“Elizabeth Nicole Bennet, wilt thou have this man, Fitzwilliam Alexander James Darcy, to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him and serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health? And, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” she declared as firmly as he. And then she smiled.
Darcy’s knees nearly buckled.
Addressing Mr. Bennet, the priest asked, “Who giveth these women to be married to these men?”
“I, Thomas Bennet, father of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, do giveth these women to be bound in holy matrimony to these men.”
On cue, Elizabeth released her father’s arm as he turned to his eldest daughter.
After bestowing a kiss to Jane’s right hand, he then placed it upon Reverend Jenney’s right hand and stepped back to Elizabeth’s side.
At a nod from the priest, Mr. Bingley laid his right hand atop Jane’s.
The final vows of bonding were repeated, first by Charles and then by Jane, followed by the ring placement ritual.
Once again, though Darcy had anticipated being frustrated having to wait for Charles and Jane, he was overjoyed.
His sincere affection for his longtime friend meant that his delight in Charles finding his true mate was genuine.
Love was a gift, as he knew better than most, and he truly could not have been happier for his young friend.
Additionally, as with the declaration portion of the ceremony, his heart leaped to unimaginable heights as it was now their turn to take the final vows which would irrevocably bind them forever.
After Elizabeth’s petite hand was laid atop the priest’s, Darcy eagerly covered it with his palm and curled his long fingers over it, loosely clutching.
His penetrating gaze on Elizabeth, he repeated slowly and clearly, “I, Fitzwilliam Alexander James Darcy, take thee, Elizabeth Nicole Bennet, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forth, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance: and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
Glistening tears had formed in Elizabeth’s eyes, her rapid blinks stopping all but one, which escaped the corner of her left eye.
Darcy yearned to wipe it away, for no reason other than to touch her precious face, but he resisted the urge.
Surprisingly, she repeated her vows with only a faint tremor.
“I, Elizabeth Nicole Bennet, take thee, Fitzwilliam Alexander James Darcy, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance: and thereto I plight thee my troth. ”
Eyes never leaving the beauty of her face, Darcy reached into his waistcoat pocket with his left hand and placed the slim band of gold upon the open Book of Common Prayer held by Reverend Jenney.
Covering it with his fingers, the priest closed his eyes for a silent prayer, then handed the ring back to Darcy.
Only then did Darcy release Elizabeth’s right hand, immediately clasping her left. Sliding the narrow band embedded with tiny diamonds halfway onto the fourth finger, he poured all his immense love into his eyes and voice.
“With this ring, I thee wed: with my body I thee worship: and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
Another tear slipped down her cheek and a sob caught in her throat. Darcy squeezed their now-entwined hands, fighting his own emotions. Kneeling beside Charles and Jane before Reverend Jenney at the altar, they bowed their heads and closed their eyes.
“Let us pray. O, Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, these men and these women, whom we bless in thy Name, that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof these rings were given and received are a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
“You may rise,” he said, the couples doing so. Per the ritual, they joined hands once again with the priest—as best they could with so many hands—and kept still as he drew out the final, official proclamation.
“For those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet, and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, have consented together in Holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by the joining of hands: I pronounce that these two couples be man and wife together. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
“God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you all; the Lord mercifully with His favor look upon you all; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen!”
Elizabeth Bennet is now Elizabeth Darcy, my wife! Praise God!
Darcy had, quite literally, never been happier in his entire life, and the urge to whoop and dance with joy was intense.
Glancing at Elizabeth’s face, he saw the same measure of joy in the eyes fixed upon him.
Before they were forced to stop the intimate exchange and join the priest at the Lord’s table for communion, she whispered, “I love you, Husband.”
From that moment onward, all other words barely registered.
The recited Psalms, sacred hymns, and final prayers pierced deeply into his soul, but only because he had memorized them all years ago.
Walking up the aisle with his wife on his arm, Darcy finally felt complete.
As much as he longed to take her into his arms, the last task before exiting the church could not be forgotten.
Near the entryway to the church was a wooden lectern.
Sitting on top and propped at an angle was a large, open book with an ink pot and quill beside.
The necessary information of names, parishes of residence, and date had already been written in the designated blanks by the parish registrar, who stood beside the lectern to ensure each of them signed their names in the proper places.
While seemingly a small thing, viewing their names linked together and knowing it was the last time Elizabeth would ever sign her name as Bennet was profoundly moving.
Stepping aside so Richard and Mary could sign their names as witnesses on each of the two new register entries, Darcy clasped onto Elizabeth’s hand. He leaned a hairbreadth away from her ear and whispered, “Mrs. Darcy, I love you, with all my heart.”
Instinctively, she turned to meet his eyes, her smile radiant. “Could you repeat that?”
He knew what she meant but said instead, “I love you.” He kissed her—brief and chaste, but firm. Then, pulling away, he repeated what she especially wanted to hear and what he knew he would never tire of saying: “Mrs. Darcy.”
A crowd had gathered outside the church, and cheers of congratulations greeted the newly married couples when they stepped beyond the doors.
Rice, grains, and assorted seeds were tossed into the air and showered them.
Laughter abounded, and Lizzy and Jane were frequently waylaid by friendly embraces and congratulatory pats.
The twenty-some feet between the church and the open landau took much time to cover, but eventually, the foursome set off.
Wheeling slowly through the main street of Meryton, the church celebrants trailed behind, children cavorting and ladies waving handkerchiefs, until they reached the last building.
Gradually the ruckus faded into silence, the only sounds that of the clomping horses and metal wheels. The carriages carrying the wedding guests were farther behind, so for the present, they were alone.
For the span of a dozen heartbeats they stared at each other. Then, as if on cue, all four burst into laughter.