Chapter 38 Nuptials
Jane was the most beautiful bride Elizabeth had ever seen. The small chapel was almost empty, with the bride and groom standing side by side as they pledged their troth to one another.
Elizabeth gloried in Jane’s happiness and escape. Her gentle sister would never again suffer the manipulations she had endured at the hands of her late mother, nor remain subject to the neglect of a father who had shown little interest in managing his household.
And Mr. Bingley was a gentle soul who desired her happiness above all else.
After the marriage lines were entered into the register, the newly married couple stepped out into the warm July morning and were immediately surrounded by their family, who were happily offering congratulations.
Elizabeth remained at the edge of the small gathering, silent, observing the scene rather than joining it.
“Miss Bennet, you appear saddened this morning. Do you miss your sister already?”
Elizabeth turned from her thoughts. “No indeed, Mr. Darcy. I am delighted on Jane’s behalf. To be married to an amiable gentleman who is in love with you is a most fortunate circumstance.”
Georgiana moved closer. “Then why are you sad, Lizzy? You do not look delighted.”
Elizabeth offered a small evasion. “I was thinking of my mother. It has not been many months since we lost her.”
Georgiana took her hand. “Yes, of course. I had forgotten.”
Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth’s other hand and pressed it. “I am sorry for your loss, Miss Bennet. You would naturally wish for her to be here.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Elizabeth looked into his eyes, yet she did not dare speak what lay in her heart.
This happy ending for Jane might never have come about had her mother lived.
Nor would Lydia have been given the chance for reform.
Indeed, they might all have been ruined by now if her mother had survived the dreadful illness that carried her away.
Mr. Bennet turned and looked about the courtyard, and when he saw her, he called out, “Lizzy, come along, my dear. We must return to Longbourn to greet our guests. I expect some of our neighbors have already arrived, and Hill will be in need of us.”
“Yes, sir, I am coming.”
She turned to Mr. Darcy. “Sir, I shall see you and Georgiana at Longbourn.”
“May I come with you, Lizzy? I have not seen Kitty since we were in Kent.”
Elizabeth said, “Of course, if your brother approves.”
They both turned to Mr. Darcy.
“You will comport yourself well, Georgiana?”
“Yes, Fitzwilliam. It is but a short drive; I cannot misbehave very much in the next quarter hour.” Her giggle and mischievous glance softened the impertinence of her words.
He chuckled. “Very well, you little minx. You may go.”
The two young women left him and drew near to Mr. Bennet. Kitty brightened when she saw her friend.
“Georgiana, I am happy to see you again.” They embraced and then followed the others to the carriage.
As they traveled to Longbourn, Bennet, seeing that the two youngest occupants were already engaged in noisy conversation, leaned near to Elizabeth and spoke in a low voice.
“My girl, you have lost your closest friend to another.”
Elizabeth inclined toward her father and replied quietly. “It is well, Papa. I never hoped to see such a happy ending for Jane. Considering what her fate might have been, I am truly glad for her, though I shall miss her.”
He placed his hand over hers. “And what of you, Lizzy? Are you happy?”
“I am, sir.” But then Bennet saw her eyes narrow, and her expression tighten into displeasure. “Considering how matters stood when I spirited Lydia away to my uncle’s house, I am both happy and grateful.”
She deftly turned the conversation to a safer subject.
“Mary informs me that Kitty has been very low in spirits. I wish to keep her here at home, near me. We shall be of use to one another. I will take her with me when I make my visits to the tenants, and I shall instruct her in the management of a household.”
“Very well, Lizzy. Kitty may remain at home with you.”
He placed his hand over hers. “I know you are angry with both your parents, my dear, and I understand. I do not hold it against you.”
Then he withdrew his hand and leaned back against the squabs, turning his gaze to the carriage window until they arrived at Longbourn.
The wedding breakfast proved a pleasant celebration. Though it remained subdued in respect to their recent loss, Jane’s neighbors had come to mark the happy occasion. Charlotte Lucas made herself useful, assisting Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner wherever she could.
When Elizabeth was at last free to sit and enjoy herself, she and Charlotte sat together and shared a plate of dainty crabcakes.
“Lizzy, it seems an age since we last spent any time together. I have been away to London with relatives, hoping to make a match.”
“It has been several months, Charlotte. Have you made any new acquaintances? Is there any gentleman who shows an interest?”
“No, my dear friend. For that reason, I have returned home. I found I missed the country. I would have remained in London, however, had I been courted by an eligible gentleman. And you, Lizzy? I am sorry for your loss.”
“So much has happened in our lives. When Papa was so ill, I had no time for anything else but to nurse him. Those were dark days, Charlotte. I missed your steady influence and your encouragement.”
Charlotte took her hand. “I would have come, Lizzy, but mamma wrote that Longbourn had been placed under quarantine, and you know how severely it affected my father last year. But now we are together again. Do you remain in Hertfordshire or do you return to Kent with Mary?”
“Kitty and I shall remain at home with Papa. I will oversee his household and instruct Kitty as well. She is already seventeen and yet knows very little of managing a house. She was greatly indulged, as was Lydia.”
Charlotte’s eyes brightened with interest. “How is Lydia? Where is she now?”
“My uncle found a very good school for young ladies on the Isle of Wight, and she is studying there.”
Charlotte raised her brows. “How is it that she enjoys the benefit of a gentlewoman’s education when you did not, Lizzy? You have always been the most scholarly of the sisters.”
“It was my uncle’s decision. Since she is so young, he believed she would profit the most from the opportunity.”
Elizabeth suppressed her rising anger. The least deserving of the sisters. She forced her mind to more charitable reflections. She dared not say more about Lydia’s situation, for as much as she trusted Charlotte, she could not risk being overheard.
Her friend appeared satisfied with the explanation. “Yes, I understand. She had the most to gain, for your mother had almost ruined her.”
Elizabeth laughed. “And that is precisely why you are my dearest friend, for you speak the truth without hesitation.”
“Mr. Darcy watches you a great deal, Eliza. His eyes never strayed from you during the wedding ceremony.” Her gaze traveled over Elizabeth’s figure. “You are quite a sight to see. That gown is very becoming on you.”
“How do you know he was watching me? Were you at the wedding?”
“Of course, how could I miss the wedding of one of my dearest friends? We have played together since you were five years old and Jane seven. I slipped into a back pew and let tears of happiness fall without restraint.”
“I am very glad you came, my dear. I was saddened that all our neighbors and friends could not attend the most important event of Jane’s life.”
“It is what it is, Lizzy. All her family was present, and that is what was most important. But what of Mr. Darcy? You turned the subject, my friend. Is there an attachment you are keeping from me?”
“I am not aware of any attachment on his side, Charlotte. His sister, however, is much attached to me.”
Charlotte studied her friend’s face and saw no trace of sentiment there. “Were you much in his company while you were in London?”
Elizabeth considered the question. “We were in company on several occasions; however, Mr. Darcy would never condescend to form an attachment with someone of my circle. Thank you for thinking it possible, my friend, but he is the grandson of an earl and is in possession of a fortune beyond what you or I can imagine. He is destined for a lady of rank and consequence.”
“Do not look now, Eliza, but he watches you with an intensity I have never observed in any gentleman of our acquaintance.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Not even from Mr. Goulding?”
“Do not say such a thing, not even in jest. That man’s very presence is alarming.
Ruth’s cousin works in his kitchens, and says that when he imbibes too freely, he throws empty wine bottles against the walls, overturns chairs, and shouts at whoever happens to be near him.
In fact, four servants left his service to enter that of Mr. Bingley.
More would have done the same if Mr. Bingley had additional positions. ”
The near-betrothal between Mr. Goulding and Jane seemed to hover just beneath the surface, and Elizabeth resolved to change the subject.
“And what of Alexander? Will he return from the Continent soon?”
“He will. My father has sent for him, citing the war. He says Alexander has been away at school and traveling on the Continent long enough. He is to come home and take up the management of the estate.”
“When does he return?” Elizabeth asked.
“In December.”
“He must have grown into a man by now, for he is Jane’s age.”
“Yes. Alexander is now two and twenty. He is old enough to settle down and take charge of the estate, and my father says he must begin to look about him for a wife.”
“Your brother was very handsome when I last saw him,” Elizabeth said. “Yet he was only seventeen then.”
“Yes,” Charlotte replied. “He will return a man and practically a stranger.” Then she took Elizabeth’s hand in her own and drew near enough to whisper in her ear.