Chapter 39 #2
Unfortunately, the house had been decorated by Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Her style made Miss Caroline Bingley’s décor seem understated.
They had mentioned how long it would take to completely redecorate.
Uncle Gardiner came to look at what was in the house.
He had told them that even though everything Lady Catherine had used in the house was in bad taste, there were many who enjoyed that kind of ostentation, and he was sure he could sell everything and deliver more than enough funds to redecorate and refurnish the house.
As one of his wedding presents, he insisted there would be no commission paid to his company when everything was sold.
After their experience with Anne’s gift, Richard and Mary simply thanked Gardiner for his generosity.
By the time those who had travelled to London returned to Hertfordshire on the first Friday in December, there was only a fortnight left before the triple wedding.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the Wednesday before the wedding, Louisa Bennet realised she had missed her courses, which should have begun almost a sennight previously. Since they had visited her the first time, she had never previously missed one, and they were as predictable as the sun rising in the east.
As excited as she was about the probable meaning, she did not want to say anything to Thomas until she missed at least one more month’s indisposition.
That morning, Louisa rode to visit her aunt at the parsonage in Longbourn village.
Even though the threats posed by William Collins had been forever removed, she did not argue with Thomas when he insisted that if she rode out without him, at least one guard must be with her.
This morning it was Brian Johns who was her escort.
“Welcome, Lulu,” Hildebrand sang as she waited for her niece at the entrance to the parsonage.
“Marriage looks good on you, Aunt,” Louisa commented and then kissed her aunt’s cheek. “It does my heart good to see you so happy. Is Uncle Christopher at home, or is he out calling on parishioners?”
“Yes, my husband is busy with pastoral duties,” Hildebrand replied. “Speaking of felicity in marriage, you are fairly glowing. Is there something to tell?”
Louisa waited until they were alone in the well-appointed sitting room. “I knew you would notice something. I missed my courses,” she confessed. “I pray that means I am with child, but I want to miss one more before I tell Thomas of my suspicions.”
“He is very much aware of everything about you. My nephew may very well ask if there has been a change before a month has passed,” Hildebrand opined.
“I will never dissemble to my husband. If Thomas asks, I will tell him.”
“Is everything ready for the wedding? As it will be so well attended, it is just as well the wedding breakfast is to be held at Netherfield Park. You know if you need it, I am available to help, even though I know with the Bennet sisters as well as the ladies at Netherfield Park you have a surfeit of helpers.” Hildebrand paused as she remembered something she wanted to ask.
“Has Charles begun searching for an estate close to Pemberley yet?”
“William wrote to his steward and asked him to keep an eye open for any available properties in the area. So far, Charles has not mentioned whether he has been told of any prospects.”
For the rest of the visit, they spoke of mundane issues, each one more than content in the joyful promise of their wedded future.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The night before the wedding, Louisa deferred to Maddie to give the talk to the three brides.
It was not because she was close in age to them; rather, it was connected to the fact that all the experience she had gained on the subject was with the sisters’ father.
She was certain it would have been as uncomfortable for them as it would have been for her to discuss things based on that experience.
As it was their final night of living at Longbourn, the five Bennet sisters and Anna talked late into the night, all seated on Jane’s big bed.
It was close to midnight when the three youngest girls returned to their chambers.
Anna really enjoyed being counted as a sister to the Bennet sisters even before it became a fact when Lizzy and William married.
Each of the three youngest girls was a maid of honour to one of the brides.
Kate was to attend Jane, Lydia would stand up for Mary, and Anna was to have the pleasure and honour of attending Lizzy. Hence, they too needed their sleep.
As hard as it was with the anticipation of marrying the man she loved the next morning, once everyone was back in her own chamber, the brides eventually fell asleep dreaming of their respective grooms.
At Netherfield Park, the three grooms had made certain they would not imbibe enough to be in their cups the night before their wedding.
They were only too aware that when they stood before the altar, none of their respective Bennet sisters would be impressed if any of them were suffering from the effects of overindulging.
Even if the men who were standing up with the grooms had it in their minds to ply them with an excess of drink, Lady Elaine, Lady Marie, and Anne would not allow them to do that.
Darcy and Bingley had a Medford twin standing up with him; the elder one with Darcy, while the younger, who was courting Anne de Bourgh, would do the honours for Bingley.
Fitzwilliam’s older brother would be with him.
Thanks to the ladies’ keen eyes and not permitting anything untoward, the grooms and the men attending them were in their beds by the time the clock struck midnight.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The one thing from experience that Louisa did pass onto her stepdaughters, who were to marry that day, was the necessity to eat and drink something before they bathed and dressed.
Even though all three had protested they were not hungry, as soon as each took a bite of some of the offerings on their plates, she discovered how hungry she actually was. By the time they had eaten and enjoyed something warm to drink, each of the brides thanked Louisa for her sage advice.
Once all three had bathed and dried off, they dressed in the gowns which had been created by Madame Chambourg for this very day. The sisters had chosen a similar style of dress, just different colours.
Thanks to the cold of the season, the fabric was silk velvet.
Jane’s dress was a light blue, Mary’s was a tone of burgundy, and Elizabeth chose a light green, which made her eye colour stand out even more than normal.
All three brides had elected to wear a veil and not a wedding bonnet.
Their veils were constructed from a very delicate Belgian lace.
Normally, the Bennets would walk to St Hugh’s in the village, but today, with the cold and a threat of rain, or even some snow, the residents of Longbourn would be taking the Bennet carriages.
When the brides descended the stairs, the younger girls and Lulu were standing with their father.
Off to the side were the Hills and some of the indoor servants.
Mrs Hill’s eyes were suspiciously moist. For many years, Mrs Hill had been a de facto mother to the five Bennet sisters, so it was no surprise to any of the brides that their faithful housekeeper was reacting as a loving mother would on this day.
“You three are the prettiest of brides,” Bennet said, his voice thick with emotion once his three eldest daughters stood before him.
“I cannot but agree with your father,” Louisa added.
The three youngest girls each held her bride’s bouquet. Once they had exclaimed over how lovely the brides looked, they joined Louisa in the smaller carriage and departed for the church. Some of the servants elected to make the short walk while the Hills, steward, and stablemaster rode in a gig.
That left Bennet and his three daughters who were about to marry.
“I want you to know that no father could have wished for better daughters than all of those with whom I was blessed. I have said this before: as much as I never wanted to marry your birthmother, she did gift me with the five of you girls. That is something I have never repined,” he stated as he tried to control the emotion in his voice.
“Soon, you will no longer be mine to protect, but I know each of you is marrying the man who best suits you. Yes, you are leaving this house today, but no matter where you are, you will always be my girls.”
“We love you, Papa,” Jane responded for all three as Lizzy and Mary nodded their agreement. “We could not have wished for a better father than you.”
“All of us will miss you, but we will write, Papa,” Elizabeth vowed.
“And Lulu and I will reply to each one,” Bennet promised. “Come, girls, it is time; it would not do for your betrotheds to think they are being jilted, would it?”
Bennet felt bittersweet as he handed first Jane, then Lizzy, and finally Mary into his conveyance. This was the final time he would do so, with his three eldest daughters still bearing the name Bennet.
They sat in silence, in contemplation, as the carriage transported them the short distance to the church.
Each bride felt the anticipation grow when she saw the three landaus waiting near the church, each with a matched pair of white horses attached.
The tops were up, given the time of the year; however, they were the coaches each pair of newlyweds would travel to Netherfield Park in after the ceremony concluded and the register had been signed.
Bennet handed his daughters out in descending age order.
They entered the vestibule where Lulu was waiting with Kate, Anna, and Lydia.
Also present was Gardiner. Seeing that Bennet only had two arms, he could not walk three brides into the church without leaving one in the vestibule to wait for him.
Hence, Gardiner would have the honour of walking Mary up the aisle towards Fitzwilliam.
Louisa stood before each bride and gently dropped her veil into place. She was very pleased each one had requested she do the honours for them.
As soon as Bennet was ready, with Jane on one arm and Lizzy on the other, Kate and Anna behind their respective bride, Mary ready on Gardiner’s arm and Lydia behind her, Lulu entered the nave of the church and nodded to Mr Pierce, who was standing next to three grooms all suffering from nervous anticipation.
The rector waited until Mrs Bennet reached the Bennet pew and entered.
Maddie, Charlotte, and Phillips were already in the pew, leaving the seat closest to the aisle for Bennet, and one between Lulu and Maddie for Gardiner.
Mr Pierce smiled at his wife and then gave the signal for everyone to stand.
As he did that, the three grooms relaxed, knowing that their respective brides were present, and then focused on the double doors at the rear of the nave, which led to the vestibule and the entrance to the church.
They did not have long to wait, because as soon as the congregants were standing, Mr Pierce nodded to his curate.
He and another man pushed the double doors open.
Darcy’s and Bingley’s eyes locked onto those of his affianced. It did not take long before they had progressed up the aisle enough to give Fitzwilliam a clear view of his beloved Mary. Like the other two grooms, his eyes were fixed on his bride.
The grooms only needed to be prodded gently by the men standing up for them to remember they needed to meet their bride at the head of the aisle.
Bennet lifted the veil on both daughters he had walked towards their grooms, and he kissed first Jane and then Lizzy on the cheek and replaced the veil before placing one of their hands on the waiting man’s arm.
Gardiner handed Mary to Bennet so he could repeat the process for her.
Gardiner and then Bennet entered the pew where their wives were standing and stood next to them.
With the three couples in place, Mr Pierce gave the signal for those attending the church to be seated. Seeing everyone in the congregation doing so, Pierce turned to the couples standing before him. He opened the Book of Common Prayer. “Dearly beloved…”
As had been planned, the parts of the service in common were recited once, but each couple, descending by age of the brides, said their vows separately. All too soon for Bennet, Pierce was reciting the concluding prayer and final benediction.
Louisa leaned over to her husband. “Was this too part of the Collins effect?” She asked.
“No, that executed criminal had no effect on today. If it is all the same to you, I would like to forget about that man and the delusions created by his lying family. There may be others of that name in this kingdom, but none are related to the line which ended with William Collins.” Bennet kissed his wife on the crown of her head as their friends and family cheered for the three newly married couples.