22. Gracechurch Street—Tuesday, 2 January 1810
Elizabeth not only received a letter telling of Jane’s betrothal to Mr Bingley, she got word that Jane would be traveling to the Gardiner’s house that very day—and, several hours after Elizabeth received that news, Jane herself arrived.
Naturally, the sisters were delighted to be near each other again, but they only had half an hour or so to catch up before they were thoroughly engaged by their young cousins, who had just awakened from their naps or emerged from their lessons.
The sisters exchanged looks that communicated “later,” and then they gave themselves over to the uncomplicated affections of the Gardiner children.
Uncle Edward asked Jane, when he arrived home from his work at the warehouses, if she was in London to complete her trousseau.
“I am, Uncle. And I am also assigned to help Lizzy shop for hers.”
“Your aunt will not be going out to the shops with you,” he responded, “but I have brought home samples and fashion plates, and you can utilise her advice here in the house and then have measurements and fittings in the shops.”
“Oh, Uncle, that is the second best news I have had all year!” Elizabeth said. She really hated spending hours and hours at the shops looking at fabrics and styles.
“Lizzy, it cannot be the second best news this year!” Jane said with a sweet smile. “There’s your engagement, Tommy’s birth, and my engagement—it should be no higher than fourth best news!”
“I am speaking of the year 1810, Jane. Which has only just begun.”
“Oh! I see.”
A knock on the door was followed by the announcement, “Mr Darcy.”
Elizabeth practically leapt to her feet. There had been no arrangement that he would call, but he often came even when they had no plans.
William entered, looking as handsome as he ever had, and he swept over to her and bowed over her hand. “Good afternoon, Elizabeth,” he said in a low voice. He then turned to her uncle, bowing and saying, “Gardiner.” Only then did he spot Jane. “What an unexpected pleasure to see you, Miss Bennet.”
“Good afternoon, Mr Darcy. I was so pleased to hear that you and I will be brother and sister soon.”
“Yes, indeed. If you would prefer, just call me Darcy as your uncle and aunt do.”
“And I am Jane.”
“Allow me to express my sincere wishes for your felicity, Jane.”
“Thank you, sir. And I suppose I should have said congratulations to you.”
Darcy said, “I do not mean to criticise my very good friend, the man who will be your husband, but I find it quite a challenge to decipher his letters. Am I to understand that you will be married on Monday, the twenty-second of January?”
“That is right,” Jane confirmed.
Elizabeth offered tea and rang for service.
While they waited for the arrival of the refreshments, Elizabeth waved William over for a tête-a-tête near the window, where she consulted him about the timing of their London wedding and, three days later, a morning wedding in Hertfordshire.
“Friday afternoon and night will be our wedding night.” She blushed, but it was too important a discussion to stop for missish reasons.
“Can we travel to Hertfordshire on Saturday afternoon and stay at Netherfield Park on Saturday night? Your friend’s estate is far more spacious than Longbourn, and therefore we could possibly have far more space between our room and anyone else’s.
Then Sunday would be for visiting, and we could leave Monday after perhaps an hour of the wedding breakfast, and be back in London by evening. Would that work?”
“I have been torturing myself about how much I had wished to just lock ourselves away for at least two and seventy hours after our wedding, and this wedding so soon after ours will interrupt that. I am not averse to Sunday travelling, if you do not mind it; I am wealthy enough to escape most censure, and of course we could attend morning services before going to Hertfordshire. The other possibility is travelling Monday morning before dawn. The problem with that would be that the earliest travel is iciest, and thus most dangerous.”
He took a step closer to Elizabeth and whispered into her ear, “You do not know what you do to me, to realise that your thoughts had been so similar to my own.”
“If only Jane and Mr Bingley could marry here in London. Maybe share our wedding day, even.”
Elizabeth heard a cough and looked up to see Jane hesitating several yards away. “Lizzy? Darcy?” she said. “May I interrupt?”
“Of course, dearest, what is it?”
“Well, I was just speaking with Uncle, and he pointed out that they could not come to Hertfordshire at that time, and all of a sudden I had a wonderful thought—but feel free to say no, of course; we would not wish to push in where we are not wanted—but what if we got married in a double wedding with you two? Charles has been leasing a house in the same parish as Darcy, so we could get married in the same church…. Or is this rude? Are we stealing your special day? You had the date and the place before we even—”
Elizabeth shot a quick glance at William and saw his approval. She answered, “We would love to have a double wedding. And having two weddings at the same time and place will make it so that weather is less likely to obtrude on the second wedding.”
William said, “It seems to me it would solve several problems. I think it a splendid idea.”
“And you do not feel pressured by our more inept and last-minute planning?”
“Not at all.” William smiled, and Elizabeth could see how truly happy he was. “I have already secured the church for ten in the morning, but I will head over there tomorrow morning to let them know about the additional couple.
Elizabeth threw her arms around Jane and squealed with happiness. Near them, Uncle Edward appeared pleased.
“Who have you invited to a Hertfordshire wedding on the twenty-second?” Uncle asked. “We could help you write corrected invitations.”
“We had not written to anyone because I wished to wait until I talked with Lizzy.”
“That is wonderful! Perhaps we can help with your invitations, even so.”
Darkness was already encroaching, and William decided to leave.
The Gardiner parents had been suffering with interrupted nights, thanks to the newborn, so they went to bed quite early.
“I am certain you are exhausted, too, Jane, having travelled so far today,” Elizabeth suggested as they all said goodnight to one another.
“I am,” Jane said. But as soon as Elizabeth was ready for bed, Jane popped her head into her room and said, “I seem to have recovered from my exhaustion. May I come in?” Of course Elizabeth gave her leave, and Jane scrambled into Elizabeth’s bed, pulled the covers up to her chin, and said, “It is time, little sister. Tell me everything.”
Elizabeth told Jane many, many things, but not everything.
In turn, Jane told her anecdotes about a courtship under the close supervision of their mother—something that Elizabeth was very happy to have missed.
Soon they felt quite caught up. Elizabeth wondered if Jane had held back the same sorts of feelings and actions that she herself had not divulged. But she would not ask.
Let her keep her secrets, because I intend to keep William’s and my most private moments a secret, as well.