Chapter 24
When Elizabeth descended the stairs to the entrance hall where her father and Jane were waiting for her, Bennet’s breath caught.
His daughter’s dress was stunning in its simplicity.
How well she looked in it! Charlotte, the rest of the Bennet sisters, and Georgiana had walked to the church a few minutes before.
“Elizabeth, I have never seen you look prettier. Your William is a very lucky man to become your husband today,” Bennet said when he found his breath again.
“I’m the lucky one, Papa,” Elizabeth insisted.
“You are both lucky, and perfect for one another,” Jane settled the issue. “It is time for us to depart for the church.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hill stood next to the front door and watched the girl they had known from the day she was born leave the house as a Bennet for the final time.
Mrs. Hill wiped tears from her eyes as she watched her Miss Lizzy walk towards the church.
The three Bennets passed the Darcy coach in the drive as it was being loaded with the last of Elizabeth’s trunks.
When the three arrived in the vestibule, Charlotte was waiting for them. She and Jane made sure that Elizabeth’s dress was in order, and then, before giving her friend and stepdaughter a squeeze of the hand, Charlotte lowered the gossamer veil into place and slipped into the church.
Darcy and Richard, standing with Mr. Dudley near the altar, noted Mrs. Bennet’s entrance and her nod to the reverend indicating the bride was present.
Richard was there for his cousin, but he had a hard time tearing his eyes away from the vision that was his fiancée, Mary, in a pale green dress which looked very well on her.
Her hazel eyes were shining as she watched him, reflecting his love back to him.
The vestibule door opened, and Jane Bennet entered, making her way slowly up the aisle. As soon as Jane entered the church, her eyes found Andrew and their eyes locked. Luckily, Jane made it to her place opposite Richard without any of the unwanted effects of not looking where she was going.
Mr. Dudley gave the congregants the signal to stand just as the doors again opened.
Father and daughter entered the church while the doors were closed behind them as Bennet slowly led his second daughter up the aisle.
Darcy’s breath hitched as soon as he saw his beautiful bride.
Her dress was cream with no adornments, but with his Elizabeth filling it there was no need for anything else.
She was wearing the string of pearls he had presented to her as a betrothal gift, along with the matching earbobs.
Elizabeth was without the amber cross she always wore.
After a reminder nudge from a grinning Richard, Darcy walked to meet Elizabeth where she and her father had stopped.
Bennet lifted the veil, kissed his daughter’s cheek, and then after lowering the veil he placed Elizabeth’s hand on Darcy’s arm.
Bennet took his place in the front pew next to his wife while the bride and groom took their places in front of Mr. Dudley.
Dudley gave the signal for the congregation to be seated and then opened the Book of Common Prayer to the service for weddings. “Dearly beloved…”
Before they knew it, the bride and groom had recited their vows and exchanged rings.
The norm was for the groom to present the bride with a ring, but the two had decided they both wanted to give and receive a ring.
It seemed like a dream, but Mr. Dudley was already reciting the final benediction, bringing the service to completion.
All that remained was to sign the register.
The newlyweds signed their names, and Elizabeth paused for a moment as she realised it would be the final time she would sign the name Bennet.
Jane and Richard signed as their witnesses, and it was done.
Once the door closed and the Darcys were alone, they hugged one another as tightly as they could.
“Kiss me, husband,” Elizabeth commanded.
It was the easiest command Darcy had ever complied with.
When their lips met, there was a mutual release of passion and tension as each explored the other’s taste and the wonders which one could discover when restraint is forgotten.
Before they passed the point of no return, and as if by mutual agreement, they drew back, remembering their family were awaiting them on the other side of the door.
Elizabeth did not realise her husband’s hand had been exploring her tresses until she saw a pin or two on the floor.
Following his wife’s instruction, Darcy returned the pins to where they belonged as best he could, and once Elizabeth’s hair was put to rights—or as close to it as possible—Darcy opened the vestry door and led his blushing bride into the church.
While Darcy was being congratulated by his new sisters, aunts, and uncles, Elizabeth was receiving them from her new aunt and uncle, sister, and cousins.
Darcy shook his father-in-law’s hand and Bennet welcomed him as a son.
After the bride and groom changed places and received warm wishes from all, the family turned and started the short walk toward Longbourn.
Elizabeth and Darcy remained outside for a moment while everyone else went in so that the Hills could announce them.
Once Hill had announced the new couple, Matilda was the first to reach Elizabeth. “I wish you and your husband every conceivable joy, Lizzy,” Matilda imparted.
“You too, Matti. It is not too much longer before you will become Mrs. Franklin Lucas,” Elizabeth returned her sentiments in kind.
“Do not forget I will be your step-aunt,” Matilda teased, which earned her a roll of Elizbeth’s eyes.
After about an hour of visiting guests in the drawing room and parlour, the new husband and wife sat with their family in the dining parlour, who insisted they both have some food and drink.
Neither realised how hungry and thirsty they were until they complied.
Once they were revived, the newlyweds spent another hour or so socialising with those who had come to celebrate their nuptials.
Charlotte and Jane accompanied Elizabeth to her childhood bedchamber, where she changed into traveling clothes while Sarah covered the wedding gown and placed it in a small trunk, which she handed to a waiting Darcy footman.
Her husband and family were waiting for her in the entrance hall.
The family followed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to the drive where, following more hugs and good wishes, the couple entered the conveyance.
After final waves, Darcy struck the ceiling with his cane, and they were off.
Soon after Longbourn disappeared from view, the couple fell asleep in one another’s arms.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“If you think the house is quiet now,” Charlotte told her husband, “can you see how it will be in a month when Jane and Mary leave us?” The two were sitting in the study after the guests had departed.
It was especially quiet as the four remaining unmarried Bennet daughters and their new sister were visiting the residents of Netherfield Park.
“At least I have a one-day reprieve before I take Lydia to her school. I have secured reservations at an inn in Oxfordshire for both sides of the journey, so everything is in place,” Bennet reported.
“Yes, I am aware I have a month before Jane and Mary follow Lizzy and depart to their own homes. All I can say is thank God I have you, Charlotte. I will miss them, but I will not be alone.”
“I never imagined we would have such a felicitous marriage. There was never a doubt about our compatibility, but nothing prepared me for the reality. It was something I was sure would never happen, but I believe I have developed tender feelings for you, Thomas,” Charlotte reported.
“My expectations were the same as yours, Charlotte, yet you have caused this old fool to fall in love with you.” Bennet informed his wife.
“Y-you love me, Thomas?” Charlotte was caught unawares.
“I do, Charlotte. You are the best thing that ever happened to me,” Bennet related, reinforcing his point with languid kisses.
“I was afraid to admit it if you did not feel the same, but I have fallen in love with you too,” Charlotte revealed when her husband ceased kissing her.
As married couples tend to do, the two expressed their avowed love in a physical way that night—as a matter of fact, several times.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the coach pulled to stop at Darcy House, the passengers were awake, and had been since the stop to rest the horses more than halfway to London.
Because it was bitterly cold, the servants were lined up to greet the master and new mistress in the large entrance hall inside the house, so no one was forced to stand in the cold.
Darcy handed his wife out of the conveyance, and the two quickly entered to escape the flurries which had just begun. Killion helped them remove their outerwear, then the new mistress addressed the waiting servants.
“My husband and I appreciate the warm welcome you have accorded us on this most special of days. It may take me more time than I would like, but I will learn all of your names, and until I do I ask you to remind me when you can tell I do not know it. Please continue with your duties.” After the new mistress addressed them, the servants returned to their posts except for one.
“Mrs. Darcy, this is Miss éponine Thénardier. She has been hired as your lady’s maid,” Mrs. Killion informed the mistress as her new maid gave her a deep curtsey.
“It is good to meet you, Thénardier. You will find out I am not a demanding mistress; welcome to our service,” Elizabeth stated. “Please have a bath prepared for me.”
“Yes, Madame,” the maid said in perfect but heavily accented English. She curtsied again and left to fulfil her mistress’s charge.
“Is the redecoration of my wife’s chambers complete, Mrs. Killion?” Darcy asked.
“Yes, sir, ready for Mrs. Darcy to view,” Mrs. Killion related proudly.