Vol 2, Chapter 17
As she had with Jane the night before her wedding, Priscilla joined Elizabeth in the chambers of her childhood on this final night she would sleep at Longbourn as a single woman. To open the conversation, she asked, “Are you nervous about the morrow, Lizzy?”
“At some level, I am nervous about the unknown, Mama, but about marrying William, not at all,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “If I am not mistaken, you are here to talk about the unknown, are you not?”
“Yes, Lizzy, I am. You have an advantage of being able to talk to Jane after we part company, and thus the added benefit of hearing how effective my advice was from the only person I have ever given it to,” Priscilla smiled wistfully as she remembered the impertinent little girl who had grown into the accomplished woman sitting on the bed with her.
“Both from living on a farm and the fact that I am sure that you peaked into some of the books your father told you were off limits, it is safe to assume you are aware of the mechanics of the act.” Elizabeth blushed as she nodded.
Her mother had the right of it, for she had, on more than one occasion, read a little of the forbidden books.
“In that case, I will tell you about things no books can truly explain.
“Do not allow anyone in society to ever tell you there is a time and place for you and your husband to be intimate. As long as you are in private and both desire the same, it is never wrong or, as some claim, wanton. On one hand, society tries to dictate what is proper between a man and his wife as on the other it is turning a blind eye to debaucheries and decadent behaviour by both genders.”
“That kind of behaviour was one of the reasons that Papa eschewed Town, was it not?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, it was, Lizzy. When you have a love match like your father and I, or Jane and Andrew, and the rest of the examples you see in our extended family, there is no need to seek succour outside of the marriage. As long as unions among the majority of polite society are business arrangements between wholly incompatible couples, the kind of despicable actions of infidelity will continue unabated.” Priscilla paused as she gathered her thoughts to return to the topic at hand.
“What I was intending to say before we got side-tracked is that what happens between you and William, as long as it is what you both want, will never be wrong.
“There are some who would tell you to ‘lie back and close your eyes and hope your husband is done quickly’ but they could not be further from the truth. The giving and receiving of pleasure are the joy which is found in the marital act. The more you love one another, the more you will want to give pleasure to your mate.”
“How will I know what is pleasurable to William, or for me?” Elizabeth blushed as she enquired because she did understand a little bit of that pleasure.
“If it is something you enjoy, you will know by the way your body reacts, as will William. And soon you will know how to read one another well enough to know you are giving them pleasure. But more importantly, it is the communication you share. Ask him what gives him pleasure, and do not be shy to tell him the same for yourself. Have you two discussed sleeping arrangements?” Priscilla asked her daughter.
“We have, Mama. We want to share a bed, although it is not something done by most in society,” Elizabeth stated, her chin up and ready to be chastised, knowing even if she were, she would not forego the wish she and her William shared.
“As we have discussed, the mores of the Ton are usually an indicator of what not to do more than the other way round. That is a sensible decision, yes, but it is also a good decision. It will increase the intimacy between you, and there is nothing better than cuddling with a beloved partner on a cold winter’s night,” Priscilla smiled.
“Unless you inform people in society, who will know? I am sure William’s servants are as discreet as the rest of ours.
If you canvassed the married couples in our extended family, I think you will find that few, if any, sleep in separate beds. ”
“I love him so much, Mama, that the idea of another night without him after tonight is unthinkable,” Elizabeth stated quietly.
“Then you love him as much as I hoped you did.” Lady Priscilla smiled sweetly at her Lizzy.
“Always talk to one another, and never allow the misunderstandings that you and William had in the beginning to curdle relations between you. And the piece of advice my mother gave me, which I am grateful for even now, is never go to bed angry with one another. You are both strong, intelligent, and sometimes stubborn individuals. There will be times when there are disagreements, and that is normal; no couple, no matter how much in love they are, are without quarrels. It is how you conduct yourselves in a disagreement and afterward that helps strengthen the bonds of love. It is possible to disagree without acrimony.”
“We have promised to do whatever we can to resolve any misunderstandings between us on the spot, so they do not fester and become something that they are not,” Elizabeth relayed.
“We have both seen what that can do and want a relationship without those regrets. Lady Catherine has many regrets, and of them all, she most often regrets not listening to her daughter. It is what led us to have the conversation.”
“If that be the case, then there is nothing more I can impart to you, Lizzy. Do you have any questions of me?” Priscilla asked.
“When I am with child, are we still able to have marital relations?” Elizabeth blushed as she asked.
“When you are with child, there is no reason to stop having relations with your husband until you feel it is too hard or uncomfortable for you as you near your confinement. Remember, it will be a partnership, and like any good and equal partnership, the shared experience of love, passion, and pleasure will be very fulfilling even when you are with child.” Priscilla asked again if there was anything else, and Elizabeth shook her head.
“In that case, I will take my leave of you. You are perfectly matched, Lizzy. I will miss seeing you with us every day, but I know you will be an incredibly happy and well-respected woman.” Priscilla kissed both of Elizabeth’s cheeks and her forehead.
She squeezed her daughter’s hand, stood up, and with a nod as she readied the door, exited.
Jane replaced her mother in Elizabeth’s bedchamber. “Is there anything you want to ask that you did not feel you could ask, Mama?” Jane enquired.
“I do not think so Jane. Mama did say you could tell me how effective her advice was.”
“Without going into details of what transpires between Andrew and me, I can tell you without any equivocation that Mama was spot on with her advice.”
“Thank you, Jane. I wish tomorrow was over and I was William’s wife already. Am I wanton that I lust after him before we are married Jane?”
“No, Lizzy! You are a woman in love with a man who loves her back with equal measure. You never crossed any lines as I am sure that neither you nor William would have done so.” Elizabeth allowed that it was so.
“I would be worried if you did not have feelings of that nature for William.” Jane hugged her sister.
“Jane, there is something about you that I cannot place,” Elizabeth stated suspiciously as she looked her sister up and down.
“I will share a secret with you Lizzy, but I entreat you to tell no one other than your husband,” Jane stated seriously.
“You have my word, other than William I will not breathe a word,” Elizabeth swore.
“I am with child, Lizzy!” Jane beamed as she shared her news.
“Jane, I am so happy for you and Andrew. My brother knows does he not?”
“Lizzy, he practically knew before me! He is so observant when it comes to me, my moods, and my body, that as soon as I missed my first courses, he noted it. During our voyage to London I missed my third monthly courses. We saw an accoucheur in London who confirmed my state,” Jane gushed, a wave of joy emanating from her.
“I should feel the quickening in the next month or so, and as soon as I do, we will inform the family. Mama has been looking at me in a knowing way, so I am sure she suspects, but seems to be waiting for me to broach the subject.”
“That is the best news, Jane! I am so happy for you and my brother! Do you know when you will enter your confinement?” the aunt-to-be asked with a huge smile.
“Next year in April or May, according to the doctor,” Jane revealed. “If you were not about to leave for a month, I would have waited to tell you, Sister dearest, but I suspect I will feel the quickening while you are on your wedding trip.”
The sisters spoke for another hour; and it was after midnight when Elizabeth finally slipped into the arms of Morpheus and dreamt of her William.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy spent the night before his wedding surrounded by his soon-to-be family.
He was about to go from two aunts, an uncle, and three cousins, not counting the Bennets who were cousins by marriage, to a slew of in-laws that included parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and a good number of cousins.
The day of the Darcys and Fitzwilliams being members of a small family were over all because he had the good sense to fall in love with his Elizabeth.
He endured good natured ribbing by Lord Jersey, his son, and son-in-law, as well as Uncle Reggie about how to treat a woman properly. Both Andrew and Richard with their vast matrimonial experience had asked him if he needed any pointers. He had scowled at the brothers who had backed off with grins.