Chapter 26
Jane was gratified that Mr Paisley Hastings, Longbourn Church’s parson of ten years, did not take it as a slight that he would not perform the nuptials for the oldest Bennet daughter.
He assured her it was equally an honour to assist The Most Reverend Willowmere, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, Archibald Darcy as he performed the rituals.
It was not every day that a parson such as he came to the notice of the head clergyman in the Church of England.
As Jane was dressed by her lady’s maid, she thought back to the information that her mother had imparted the previous night, joining her just after she retired.
“This is your last night as a daughter living under our roof my Jane. Tomorrow your Richard will have the honour, and I dare say pleasure of your protection. He really understands you Jane, and your father and I are filled with happiness that your marriage will be filled with love and respect. Tomorrow night will be your wedding night and I need to talk to you about what to expect in the marriage bed.”
With a blush rising in her cheeks Jane had nodded for her mother to proceed.
“The intimacies of the marriage bed are not something to be feared, especially not with someone who loves you the way that your Richard loves you.
When there is love like the two of you share, the marriage bed will be a wonderful, I dare say pleasurable, experience for both of you.
Anyone that tells you to ‘lie back and tolerate’ the coupling between man and woman has no idea of what they speak.
Do not be afraid to tell him what you like and do not like, and let him know that you want to know the same about him.
Just like you want your marriage to be a true partnership, it is true of the marriage bed.
My wish for you is that you will discover that it is as pleasurable to give as to receive.
Never be ashamed of the relations that you will have with your husband.
A good relationship in the marriage bed will only enhance your marriage as a whole.
“I will not lie to you my dear daughter; there will be some pain and blood the first time when the marriage is consummated.
It is only the first time that this should happen.
The pain will last but a moment as you become a woman in every sense of the word.
Richard cares about you so if you need to stop for a moment, I am sure that he will understand.
He is a man that will never force you to do that which is unacceptable to you.
That is why telling each other what you enjoy, and do not enjoy is so important.
“Never think of your relations with your husband as a chore to be ‘borne’ and they will never be so.
No matter what anyone else may say, both the husband and wife deriving pleasure from the marriage bed is a good thing and in no way makes you wanton.
Even though you are thought of as serene, at heart both you and Richard are passionate people.
I believe with all of my heart that you will both take much pleasure in your marriage, both out of and in the marriage bed.
Never be afraid to be spontaneous and night time is not the only acceptable time for relations with your beloved husband.
Whenever the two of you have privacy and you both desire the same thing, it is never wrong.
I want to reiterate, my dearest Jane. You are of a passionate nature though you are able to contain it far better than most. Never be ashamed of what you share with your husband, which will only deepen in pleasure so long as you are both honest about what pleases you.
I want you to remember that we are who men need to be complete, and they us.
Whatever that means to you both, there will be joys that are only possible with him, and only if there is absolute trust.
“When you are with child, there is no reason to stop having relations with your husband until you feel it is too difficult for you as you near your confinement. In a good and equal, respectful and felicitous marriage, the shared experience of love, passion, and pleasure is very fulfilling. Do you have any questions for me Jane? If you feel the need, I can summon your aunt Maddie to see you and talk to you as well.”
After she calmed down at the thought of the pleasure and experiences that she would start to share with her husband starting on the morrow, Jane shook her head.
“No, Mama, I have no questions. I always love to talk to Aunt Maddie, but your talk was very thorough, so I have no need for more information at this time. Thank you, my dearest Mama, you have helped me relax and I admit I am looking forward to the marriage bed with pleasure and not fear.”
“That is as it should be, my dear, that is as it should be. I am glad, as it bodes well for the happiness I wish for you.” Her Mama had patted her hand then squeezed it.
Mother and daughter hugged, and shared some tears of joy, and after kissing her oldest daughter on both cheeks Lady Longbourn had slipped out of her daughter’s chambers.
Lizzy visited after their Mama had left and tried to pry about what Jane had been told.
Jane just told her that the information was very helpful and to wait her turn.
As if her thoughts had conjured them, her mother and her next oldest sister entered her bedchamber after a perfunctory knock on the door.
“Jane,” exclaimed her sister, “you always look like an angel but today you look truly ethereal. Richard is a very lucky man. I only hope that William can keep him calm until you walk down the aisle,” Lizzy teased her sister into a smile.
“Lizzy has the right of it, Jane,” her mother’s tears held both joy and sadness for the impending departure of her oldest from her household.
“I used to concentrate on the wrong things and talk about your beauty as if that was all you were, but today Jane, you are glowing and look like you will take flight on the wings of love.”
“Papa is waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs. If you are ready, let us descend. Our sisters are waiting to see you before they walk to the church. In just a few hours your family name will no longer be Bennet, but you are marrying a man who will worship the ground that you walk on so I suppose we shall let him because it is what you want,” Elizabeth offered playfully then looked away wistfully as she admitted to herself that the man who loved her would too lay down his own life to protect her as Jane’s Richard would for her.
“I am ready Mama, Lizzy, let us not make Papa wait.” Jane smiled sweetly, and led her mother and closest sister, who was also her best friend, down the stairs.
She truly was a vision to behold as she descended the stairs.
Once she reached the entrance hall, the sunlight shining in from windows and the open front door hit the diamond and sapphire chips in her hair and on her dress.
The effect was to create an explosion of brilliant reflection that played on the walls and ceiling while Jane walked toward her father surrounded by a halo of light.
‘My girls are all grown up, or very nearly so.’ He looked upon his four youngest girls, feeling forlorn that it would not be long before they too would be young ladies themselves and no longer girls.
‘My Jane is much more than just her looks, but today she really looks like the angelic gift from heaven she has always been to us, as though she had a halo of light around her. Today is Jane’s turn, and soon it will be Mary and Lizzy.
It is the way of things I know, but it will not be the same without them.
All the wealth in the world will not replace seeing them each day. ’
“Papa, Papa! Where were you,” Kitty shook him out of his reverie. “We have been trying to get your attention.”
“I am here Kitty. I was wool-gathering.” A single tear escaped his eyes as he blinked away the evidence of his emotions. “A man surrounded by eight such beauties cannot but be moved to tears. Are we ready to walk to the Church?” He offered his arm to his Jane.
Inside the retiring room of Longbourn’s Church, just to the side of the altar, the groom was pacing back and forth while his brother, cousin, and father all tried to help him get his nervous excitement under regulation.
“I do not deserve such a woman. She will tire of me. I love her with all of my heart and would do anything to make her happy, even set her free.” The groom was babbling as his nerves and insecurities got the best of him.
“Son!” The Earl used a commanding voice that had the added benefit of halting the pacing.
Richard shut his mouth making an audible clack and stood to attention as if he was back in the army on the parade ground and had received the order to do so.
“Even a blind man can see that Jane loves you with a fierceness that equals or exceeds your love for her, so enough of this nonsense you are spouting!”
“I love you, brother,” Andrew told him as he put an arm around Richard’s shoulders, “but William here can confirm that Bennet women do nothing unless they want to, and that if they have an opinion that differs, you will know it,” Andrew teased both suitors, one soon to be rewarded by his prayers being answered, and one fervently praying it would be him pacing one day soon.
Darcy chuckled at Andrew’s jest as he thought about the enigma that was Lady Elizabeth Bennet, the woman that he loved and came so close to losing, and those thoughts warmed him like the morning sun.