Chapter 33
Not one negative response to an invitation to the double wedding that would be solemnised at Westminster Abby and officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury was received. The wedding ball had been coordinated with the Duchess of Kent, representing Her Majesty the Queen.
A mountain of clothing and all relevant accessories was purchased.
The wedding and the wedding breakfast were planned, verified, then checked again.
The seating for the celebratory meal had been arranged to make sure that acquaintances were seated close one to the other.
The Royals that attended would sit on the raised platform with the brides, grooms, and their parents, though Bennet had teased his wife that it made him the only one being required to sit with company he didn’t prefer at his own daughter’s wedding.
“Object again, Thomas, and I’ll sit you next to the Queen rather than asking so of the Duchess though they are second cousins!” Fanny arched a brow at him.
“If I may offer a bit of advice, Father Bennet?” Richard rested his hand on Bennet’s shoulder. “Concede and retreat slowly,” Richard winked at his mother-in-law who filled the room with delighted laughter.
The days designated for preparation and shopping had flown by.
There had been a few social activities which included a play, one of Lady Elizabeth’s favourites, The Taming of the Shrew, and an opera, but other than that all times of the day were used for organisation and planning.
Darcy did manage to ‘steal’ his betrothed for a walk in the park once or twice and he managed to survive her mother’s displeasure, mostly unscathed, at her daughter not being present.
The Bennets had brought Mr and Mrs Hill and their most valuable kitchen staff to assist Mrs O’Grady and Mr Thatcher with all that would need to occur over the coming days at Bennet House.
The Lord Chamberlain and the Duchess of Kent were consulted to make sure that all current protocols would be observed with respect to the Royal attendance at both the ceremony and the meal after.
Every contingency had been planned for and both locations would be secured by the Royal Guard, a large number of armed guards dressed as footmen, and Richard’s old unit commanded by General Atherton.
With so much to do, the rest of July flew by and before they knew it, it was time to fulfil a promise to their daughter and make the journey to Janet’s Well.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Less than twenty miles away from Janet’s Well at Ashbury, the two brides were meeting with Lady Ashbury and the housekeeper to go over the arrangements one more time, as the first guests would arrive in three days.
Because of Andrew’s close friendship with both grooms, the betrothed gentlemen and the rector who would perform the ritual, Mr Benjamin Harrison, would stay at Sherwood Park, as would the Hilldales.
He had made the introduction that had led to the match between Granville and Lady Sarah after all.
The soon to be brides, the newlywed Fitzwilliams, the Matlocks, the Ashbury family, and friends would stay at Ashbury.
The Jerseys, Bedfords, Longbourns, and some other friends would be hosted at Amberleigh.
Rather than a pre-wedding ball, there would be a dinner for all of the guests two nights before the wedding held at Amberleigh.
Anne felt as if she had taken flight and was soaring on the wings of angels.
For a long period of her life she had not been sure that she would live, never mind find such love, respect, and felicity.
She thought back to when she was in Town to purchase her trousseau and her appointment with Sir Frederick Gillingham.
His pronouncement that she had as much chance as any to bear children had been an indescribable relief to Miss de Bourgh.
She had never discussed her fears with her betrothed, had in fact determined that if it was confirmed that she was incapable of having children that she would release her beloved from the betrothal.
She thanked God daily that she was not required to have that particular conversation with the love of her life or break either of their hearts.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Helen Jacobson was almost bouncing up and down with excitement as the three carriages passed the gate announcing she was again on the property of her childhood.
She was beyond excited to see her papa and Tim.
Her guardians had prepared her well for what she would see when she again saw her father.
She was very well aware that he would not look as she remembered him, but despite their warnings, she had not expected the frail looking man sitting in a bath chair that waited for her with Tim.
Luckily still in the carriage with Lizzy, Lydia, and Darcy, her gasp was not heard by the two in her family she had long missed.
“They are the only two that love you more than we do. They need to see you love them as much as they do you. There will be a time for sadness Helen, but it is not now. We will cry with you all night if that is what you need to do. But for the moment, let them see how happy you are to see them, not the sadness,” Lydia squeezed her sister’s hand.
“Thank you, Lyddie,” Helen squeezed her sister’s hand in return and as soon as the steps were in place and the door was opened, she flew into her brother’s arms. Both were overwhelmed by the emotions of the meeting, as was their father who, with the aid of two footmen, stood and hugged his daughter.
All three Jacobsons were crying while her new family kept a respectful distance.
“It must be hard to see me like this, Helen, my sweet daughter,” her father rasped, each breath a mix between a wheeze and a gasp. “It is why I desired that you remember me as I was.”
“No, Papa,” Helen smiled sadly and straightened up as she met his eyes.
“I am stronger than you think. In that, I am like Mama. She was the strongest lady we knew, and my sister you gifted me reminded me that we have also earned our strength. You did everything that a parent should and could to make sure that Tim and I would not be left alone. I love all my new sisters and am treated like one of the family by everyone, but it would have been far harder for me if I did not have this time to say hello and goodbye to you. If it is for the last time or the last time this season. I wanted to come while the three of us are all still here and to remind Tim that I love him as much as he loves me, and to make sure he knew that there was no need to be upset for needing this time with you. You both have been supportive of me all my days; I wanted the opportunity to offer you mine because my love for you would not allow anything else.” She smiled, her Jacobson men not the only ones crying.
“Helen has the right of it, Papa,” Tim said as he looked at their father while hugging his sister. “I know that there is nothing that can change the inevitable, but this time is necessary; this chance for all three of us to be together.”
“It seems that the children are wiser than the parent,” Mr Jacobson said as he smiled sadly and was helped back into the bath chair. “I am very happy to see you, Helen. It truly is a gift from God that I am still here to be able to hug you again.”
Helen introduced the people that had accompanied her.
Her father was taken to rest and have a tincture to relieve his pain while Helen and Tim showed the guests to their chambers.
The house was smaller than Longbourn’s had been before the renovation, but was very comfortable.
Darcy and Lizzy had their own chamber, but Helen and Lydia would share, as would Georgie and Kitty.
Tiffany, Lily, and Loretta had wanted to come to support Helen, but due to the limited space at the house they would see her again at Ashbury.
Mr Jacobson ate almost nothing besides broths and other liquid nourishment, taking his meals in his room. His son and daughter ate with him privately and the guests were glad they had the opportunity to create these private memories as a family before he went to join his most loved wife in heaven.
During the days, Darcy worked with Tim to answer any questions about estate management and to help him wherever he could, even if it was to confirm that Tim was making decisions that would have positive effects for his estate.
Tim was thinking about the changes made to their small family and those still to come.
He had been asked by everyone to drop the formal appellations and to use their familiar names.
He could see that the Bennets were his sister’s family as much as he was.
As much as he did not want to become master of Janet’s Well, he knew that there was no choice in the matter; he had to make his parents proud of him and be the best master that he could be.
He was brought out of his reverie as he heard Darcy speak.
As they were sitting on horses surveying a field, Darcy turned to the younger man and met his eyes, “Tim, you do realise that when I marry Elizabeth in a fortnight that Helen will be my sister which will make you a brother.
As such, any time that you need help or have questions, please contact me.
You will be gaining a slew of brothers and family in the deal, so while you may feel alone here on the estate, you will never be alone.
Besides myself, there will be a plethora of those willing to assist you as needed.
But I want you to know that you have a man who will very much take his guardianship seriously and will come here to help you, with or without Helen.