Vol 2, Chapter 13 #2
“I think that a fine idea, for the sooner I marry you the happier I will be. You are the only man I would agree to marry Richard. The added benefit is no one will ever have to use my first married name again,” Charlotte agreed.
“Only one more time my love, when you sign the register,” Richard stated as he kissed Charlotte’s hand softly.
“My suggestion is we go break the news to Mama. She is the one that will have to plan for a wedding at the estate in a matter of days!” Elizabeth was amused at the wince both Charlotte and Richard had at the prospect of breaking the news to the Duchess.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Since his return from Pemberley, besides spending as much time as he could in Elizabeth’s company and their ongoing conversations, it had not escaped Darcy’s notice Gigi and Tom seemed to gravitate toward one another.
They would sit and talk for periods of time when his sister was not engaged in an activity with the other young ladies and Tom was not busy with his friends.
Two days previously, Darcy had knocked on Gigi’s bedchamber door in the morning before breaking their fasts.
“Gigi, I have noted that you and Tom seem to get along very well,” Darcy had opened. His sister blushed at the mention of their new cousin.
“We only talk, William, and never without many others around us,” Georgiana said defensively.
“Gigi, please do not misunderstand me. This is in no way censure, quite the opposite. I think Tom to be an exceptionally fine and honourable young man. You know he still has another year at Oxford, do you not?” Darcy had asked.
“Yes, I am well aware of that, William. We have discussed his time at university, and, yes, I am fully aware I am only sixteen and not out yet. If anything progresses between us, it will not be for some years. Tom plans to take a grand tour after Oxford. It is one of the subjects we have canvassed, as is where he would travel with the war precluding the Continent as a destination,” Georgiana replied evenly.
“When did my baby sister grow up so much? It seems what I wanted to say is superfluous. I just did not want you to get your hopes up and then have your heart broken,” Darcy explained, relieved when she smiled at him.
“Your concern is heart-warming William, but remember, try as you may, you will not be able to protect me from every hurt, especially of the heart. I heard Uncle Thomas jest once that it is good for a young lady to be crossed in love at least once. It is not what I desire for myself, but there is always the possibility of unrequited love for any of us. Before you ask, I am not in love with Tom at this point, I simply enjoy his company and find him interesting to talk to. He never talks down to me and is respectful of my points of view, even when they disagree with his.” Georgiana, it seemed, was far more mature and stronger than Darcy had given her the credit of being.
“In that case, Gigi, there is no more for me to say on this subject. Just know you may come to talk to me about anything, and you have Elizabeth to talk to for anything you feel uncomfortable addressing with your old, sometimes unwise, brother.” Darcy had kissed his sister on the forehead.
“When will I have Elizabeth as a sister?” Georgiana asked teasingly.
“All in good time, Gigi, all in good time.”
As Darcy remembered the conversation, he knew he would need to share with Richard their ward no longer needed as much protection as she had in the past, and the days of them trying to coddle her were over.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Although he knew it was not technically needed to request Charlotte’s father’s consent, Richard asked Elizabeth to ask Sir William and Lady Lucas to join them in the small drawing room so he could do just that.
A happy consent and an effusive blessing for the union was granted by the beaming father.
He was not blind, and no one could miss the happiness his daughter had displayed the instant Richard Fitzwilliam had walked into the drawing room earlier.
“I must apologise to both of you,” Lady Lucas stated before the group returned to the other drawing room. “If it were not for my misguided advice, Charlotte would never have felt the need to marry her late husband.”
“Mother, as I will be incandescently happy for the rest of my days, there is nothing to forgive, as long as you correct the advice you have given Maria,” Charlotte’s arched eyebrows proved her expectation, and her mother raised her hands in surrender.
“I suggest we adopt some of the Bennet’s philosophy to only remember the past… ”
“As that remembrance gives you pleasure,” Lady Lucas completed and hugged her daughter and soon to be son.
When the newly betrothed couple announced the news that surprised no one, there was a round of hearty congratulations and well wishes for their future felicity.
“Have you decided on a date for your wedding yet?” Priscilla asked, a stifled noise causing her to glance at her second daughter, finding her trying to hide her amusement behind her hand.
“Out with it, you two. How soon will you marry?” Pricilla asked, her arched eyebrow as powerful an expectation as Charlotte’s.
“We were hoping a few days after Andrew and Jane arrive,” Richard informed the Duchess sheepishly.
Priscilla turned to Lady Rose as they were still within the three-month mourning period for her late husband. “As the last event here was a sad one, I think a wedding is perfect. As it will only be us who are present with the rest of Richard’s family, I see no reason to delay,” Lady Rose granted.
“If that is the case, then I suppose we have less than a sennight to plan. What day are you thinking?” Priscilla asked the betrothed couple.
“Andrew and Jane should arrive no later than Tuesday, what say you to Thursday, the three and twentieth day of May?” Richard asked hopefully.
“You will hear no argument from me against any date to marry you, Richard,” Charlotte smiled at him when she saw he was more directing the question toward herself.
“In that case, Sarah, I am able to return the favour you did for me in helping organise Jane’s wedding while I was away from Longbourn,” Priscilla told her friend. “Let us begin to plan.” With that, the ladies followed the Duchess out of the drawing room to the mistress’s study.
After they had departed, Richard leaned over to his cousin Darcy. “Your turn!” was all he whispered.
The balance of a month and few days until mourning for the late Duke was complete could not pass fast enough for Darcy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Richard’s parents were effusive in their joy when they were informed that their second son had decided to marry.
Lady Elaine was well aware her son had fallen in love with the then Miss Charlotte Lucas at Broadhurst, and like the principals, at the time, she believed it would be a case of unrequited love.
She had noticed something had changed between the two at Rosings Park after the corpulent rector had shuffled off the mortal coil, but she had not commented about it to any besides her husband, who until then had been blissfully unaware of his son’s feelings for the late rector’s wife.
When Richard had canvassed the subject with them at Snowhaven, there had been no wavering in their support for Richard’s decision.
They welcomed Charlotte as a daughter, and soon had gotten their way with her calling them Mother Elaine and Father Reggie.
Lady Elaine was more than happy to be co-opted into the planning for the wedding.
The younger group, however, found much to do outdoors so they would not be volunteered to assist with the preparations for the wedding.
Jane and Andrew arrived at Longfield Meadows the Monday before the wedding, neither overly surprised by the news about Charlotte and Richard. The only question the two had before their arrival was not if, but when. Jane had suggested Saturday, and he Monday. They had both slightly overshot.
The evening of their arrival after dinner, the newlyweds were plied with questions about their wedding trip and how they enjoyed their time on board The Rose. No one pushed them too much when they were short on details about the places they had visited.
“Jane, I have never seen you look happier,” Elizabeth stated as she sat with her sister on a loveseat.