Chapter 35 #2
Bennet was waiting just inside the front door to see his grandson.
As much as he wanted to hold the bonny lad, he deferred to his wife, who he could see was bursting to hold Robert.
He watched as Fanny divested herself of her coat and held out her hands to their son-in-law.
He did not miss the way his wife lit up with pleasure when the babe was placed in her hands.
The four youngest Bennets and Gigi were waiting in the drawing room. As soon as Fanny sat, she was surrounded by four young ladies—three aunts and a cousin—cooing over Robby. Tommy, who at six was beginning to learn how to behave like a gentleman, stood back to wait his turn to greet his nephew.
Darcy and Elizabeth stood watching the tableau, each, without the other knowing, thinking about when they would hold a child of their own.
Maddie also waited her turn to hold her great-nephew. She knew Eddy and Peter were impatient for Tommy to greet his nephew so they could continue the battle they had set up with their toy soldiers in the nursery.
Although they had fought the inclination to be at Longbourn when Jane, Andrew, and Robert arrived, the Fitzwilliam grandparents would arrive at Longbourn to see him later that afternoon.
They would be without Fitzwilliam, Charlotte, and Sarah, who were spending the day at Lucas Lodge with the Lucas grandparents, uncles, and aunt.
Leaving their son with their family, Jane and Andrew made their way up to their chamber to wash and change.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Monday before the ball, Bingley arrived at Longbourn at precisely eleven in the morning. He requested an audience with Mr Bennet. It did not take long before he was shown into the study.
“Bingley, did we not have a conversation about when you may formalise a relationship with Mary?” Bennet asked, more sharply than he had intended.
“That is not why I am here,” Bingley clarified. “I would like to request two sets from Miss Mary for the ball on Wednesday and knowing that at the last ball you did not want me to do so, I felt that I must gain your permission before I approach your daughter.”
Bennet relaxed, pleased that his assumption had been wrong. He could tell that Mary welcomed the attentions from Bingley and that when they reached her next birthday, she would accept a courtship with him. “If Mary agrees, I do not object.”
“Thank you!” Bingley responded excitedly. He extended his hand and shook the one Bennet offered.
Mary agreed to dance the first and supper set with him.
She told Bingley she would not accept anyone for the final two dances.
She felt a twinge of envy that Lizzy was allowed to dance the three significant sets with William.
She had not asked Papa, but Mary suspected he had embargoed Mr Bingley from declaring himself before she turned twenty.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Dancing the three significant sets with William at the pre-wedding ball had been everything Elizabeth had dreamed it would be; in fact, it had been wonderful. Elizabeth had relished each instant in William’s company, especially the last two dances which had been waltzes.
It was the day before their wedding, and Elizabeth was sitting on the flattened part of the boulder she claimed as her own personal seat. The footman was near the head of the path and Mrs Annesley was sitting and enjoying the unseasonably warm day for December.
Elizabeth sensed William’s presence before she heard or saw him.
Thrilling frissons shot through her body when she heard him greet Mrs Annesley in his deep baritone voice.
She turned and saw him striding toward her, causing her breath to catch and heart rate to increase.
It seemed to be a common reaction the first time she saw him on any given day.
As much as he wanted to pull Elizabeth into his arms and thoroughly kiss her, Darcy knew he needed to fight that inclination. She would be his wife in less than a day and then they would be able to kiss and express their love whenever they had privacy.
He stood before her and bestowed lingering kisses on the under wrist of each hand as he took advantage of the gap between her gloves and sleeves. As he kept his body between them and Mrs Annesley, Darcy was certain he would not scandalise the companion.
It took Elizabeth a little while to be able to speak after William drove her mad with desire thanks to the kisses he gifted her. “You look well,” she managed.
“As do you, always. I am marrying you on the morrow,” he growled.
“Yes, you are. Had we not been marrying, I would have insisted we run away to Gretna Green. Thank goodness, that is not necessary.” Elizabeth loosed one of her tinkling laughs.
Then she turned more serious. “After everything I learnt about Harold, I have remembered some things I had not thought about until recently. Do you know he quietly took charge of my papa, which led to changes in his attitude to my Mamma, which in turn resulted in Tommy being born? That was just one example, not to mention the end of the entail.”
“To be honest, it was Hurst who forced me to look at the kind of man I was. What I saw was not pretty, which led me to make changes,” Darcy agreed.
“He had a hand in Charlotte and Richard being together, even Jane and Andrew, not to mention the two of us. I will forever be grateful for the day the Hursts came into our lives. I was a young girl the first time Jane and I met him at Uncle Edward’s office.
Much has changed since then.” Elizabeth leaned her head against William’s broad shoulder.
They sat in this aspect for about ten minutes before Darcy stood and then helped Elizabeth up. With Mrs Annesley following, they made their way towards the head of the path and the waiting footman.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On the morning of her next younger sister’s wedding, Jane Fitzwilliam returned the favour done for her, serving as Lizzy’s matron of honour. Lizzy, then only eighteen, had been her maid of honour the day she married her Andrew.
It was Jane’s turn to walk behind Elizabeth, who looked gorgeous in her shimmering ivory satin, empire-waisted wedding gown.
There was a gossamer overlay which flared to become a three-foot train at the back.
Like Jane had for her own wedding, Elizabeth wore a delicate lace veil.
Her hairpins were tipped with emeralds, which matched her engagement ring, which was temporarily on the fourth finger of her right hand.
Elizabeth was pleased they were marrying at St Hughes Church in Longbourn Village. However, just like it had been for Jane’s and Charlotte’s weddings, the celebratory meal was being held in Netherfield Park’s ballroom.
As soon as both inner vestibule doors opened, Bennet squeezed his second daughter’s hand and began the walk towards her groom.
Darcy was transfixed as soon as he saw his Elizabeth on her father’s arm. She was radiant. He was so lost in watching her as she walked up the aisle toward the altar that Richard, who was standing up with him, had to elbow him to make him move to where he met his bride and Bennet.
After her father lifted her veil, kissed her forehead, and replaced it, he placed Elizabeth’s hand on William’s arm. On her beloved’s arm, she glided up the three marble steps until she was standing next to her groom before Mr Pierce at the altar.
The rector signalled those in attendance to be seated, then opened his well-worn copy of The Book of Common Prayer and began with, “Dearly beloved…”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Two hours after the wedding breakfast commenced, family and close friends stood and waved as the Darcy travelling coach departed for Darcy House in London.
The newly married Elizabeth and William Darcy would be there until after the Sabbath, and on Monday morning, they would depart for Seaview House.
There would be no sea bathing thanks to it being the middle of winter, but at least it was not as cold as the north of the country.
As soon as the conveyance was no longer visible, those who had seen the newlyweds off drifted back into the warmth of the interior of the manor house.
The last two were Louisa and Harold Hurst. They stopped on the veranda and looked out across the park with the dormant grass, leafless trees, and colourless gardens. In a few short months, everything would come roaring back to life.
“You were not overt in what you did, but you, my beloved husband, influenced many of the good things which have occurred in this extended family. You are the best of men, Harold.” Louisa kissed his cheek tenderly.
“All I did was offer people alternate ways of doing things; I did not go out of my way to take charge of their lives,” Hurst insisted.
“And yet, you did, and I love you all the more for it,” Louisa replied.
This time, before they followed the rest back into the house, Hurst took his wife’s beautiful face in his hands and kissed her lips as one in love is wont to do.