Chapter 31
Longbourn was bursting at the seams, with more guests arriving by the minute, as the entire neighborhood celebrated the marriage of Miss Jane Bennet to Mr. Charles Bingley of Netherfield.
Elizabeth, who had stood up with Jane as a bridesmaid at the wedding only an hour previously, was misty eyed with joy at the sight of her dear sister happily married to a kind, honorable gentleman.
“Jane is a glorious bride,” Charlotte Lucas said, staring across the room at the new Mr. and Mrs. Bingley.
The newlyweds were seated at the dining room table enjoying a meal from the lavish buffet set up on sideboards.
As promised, Mrs. Bennet had spent much time and money in making certain that the meal was an impressive one.
Along with oranges and pears, she had arranged for brioches and cakes, omelets and pies, ham and veal, and, of course, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and a variety of spirits.
There was enough food to feed an army, which was just as well; all four and twenty families of the gentry had been invited, and the vast majority were in evidence.
It was not every day that a local lady captured a rich gentleman like Mr. Bingley.
“Yes, she is,” Elizabeth agreed fondly as Charles Bingley said something softly in Jane’s ear, causing the bride to smile and blush. “Oh Charlotte, I have never seen my sister looking so happy.”
“Your mother is obviously thrilled as well,” Charlotte commented, glancing over to where Mrs. Bennet was standing, her face wreathed in smiles, next to Kitty and Lydia.
Charlotte considered the youngest Miss Bennet thoughtfully; Lydia had not been in evidence much in the last week, and there were rumors that she had been confined to an attic room because of her poor behavior.
It seemed unlikely given Mr. Bennet’s general indifference to his children’s activities, but both of the younger Bennets were, at least, acting sedately at the moment.
“She has been longing for a daughter married since Jane was fifteen,” Elizabeth mused, breaking into Charlotte’s thoughts. “This is a truly triumphant day for her.”
“Have you set a date for your own wedding?” Charlotte inquired.
Elizabeth took a sip of hot chocolate and shook her head. “No. There are some family considerations on his side, so we have not yet fixed a date. It will be soon, however. We are very much in love and do not wish to wait long.”
Charlotte Lucas, looking into the beaming countenance of her friend, felt a stab of pain in her heart.
She had longed for marriage for so long, but at seven and twenty, it was unlikely she would ever receive an offer.
That was difficult enough, but now her dear Elizabeth, her closest friend, was going to marry and move away.
“I am absolutely ecstatic for you,” she said, not untruthfully.
She was too good a friend to regret her friend’s happiness.
Elizabeth was intelligent and romantic, and there were few men in the kingdom who would suit her.
Charlotte was not nearly so fastidious. She would appreciate marrying any decent man with a good income.
It was, she mused ruefully, a bitter blow to all the unmarried ladies of the region that four eligible bachelors had appeared in the last few months and three of them had been snatched up by the Bennets.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was the only remaining unattached gentleman, and he, as the second son of an earl, was entirely out of her reach.
“Charlotte?”
“Oh, I am sorry. I was thinking.”
“Well, I have been thinking too. My dear friend, would you be interested in journeying to Pemberley in the late spring to spend a few months with me?”
“Oh! That is very kind of you, but I do not wish to impose.”
“Charlotte, you have long been my closest companion next to Jane. I would treasure time with you.”
Charlotte hesitated and said, “But surely … oh, Eliza, I do not wish to be in the way.”
“Now how could you be in the way? Fitzwilliam, Fitzwilliam!”
To Charlotte’s embarrassment, the master of Pemberley, who had been speaking with Mr. Bennet, marched obediently over to his fiancée, his eyes fixed adoringly on her vibrant face.
“My dear sir, I am begging Charlotte to visit us at Pemberley this summer, and she is fearful that she will be in the way. I depend upon you to assure my friend that Pemberley is large enough that we can find some nook to tuck her into.”
Darcy laughed in a way which quite took Charlotte’s breath away. He had long impressed her as one of the most handsome of men, but in this moment, with his passionate gaze on Elizabeth’s face, he was an Adonis.
“Truly, Miss Lucas,” Darcy said reassuringly as he turned his smile on her, “not only do we have plenty of space for you at Pemberley, you would be doing me a wonderful favor by visiting. As much as I long to spend all my time with Elizabeth, I will find myself extremely busy in spring and summer with the needs of the estate. I will feel far better about fulfilling my duties if Elizabeth had a close friend to bear her company.”
“Well, in that case, so long as my father approves, I can only accept,” Charlotte said. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you, Charlotte,” Elizabeth returned as her eyes met those of her beloved Fitzwilliam.
She would indeed enjoy spending time with Charlotte at Pemberley, but she was also hopeful that her friend would find a husband in Derbyshire.
Charlotte was an intelligent, sensible woman, and as a close friend to the mistress of Pemberley, Miss Lucas might well find a good match if exposed to a different society than her home town.
“Mr. Darcy,” said an oozing voice from the right of the threesome, causing Darcy to stiffen and Elizabeth to smile mischievously.
“Miss Bingley,” she said, turning toward the lady, “it was wonderful that you were able to come to the wedding today.”
“Oh yes, of course! I would not dream of missing such a wonderful occasion, Miss Eliza, and we were only a few minutes late to the ceremony! It is rather a distance from London, you know, and I find rising early quite unsophisticated, though of course I do not mean to complain. Jane is such a lovely bride, is she not?”
“She is indeed,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Yes, a lovely bride. And as Louisa says, Jane will soon have the opportunity of employing a truly skilled mantua maker in London. Anyone so handsome ought to have the appropriate clothing to show off her beauty, do you not agree?”
“Oh yes,” Elizabeth returned merrily, “though I think it likely that Jane would look wonderful in a flour sack, but then I am not an unbiased observer.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Caroline continued, turning her gimlet stare on her true prey, “I do hope your arm is completely recovered?”
“I am well, thank you, Miss Bingley.”
“And dear Miss Darcy? Is she well?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I look forward to seeing her at Netherfield later today.”
“Well, as to that, we will be departing for London after the wedding breakfast, Miss Bingley; we wish to give the newlyweds privacy, after all.”
This provoked a surge of color on Miss Bingley’s cheeks, though Elizabeth was not certain whether it was from embarrassment, enthusiasm, or some mixture of the two.
“Oh, I am so happy to hear that you and Miss Darcy are returning to Town, Mr. Darcy!” Miss Bingley exclaimed a moment later.
“There are a number of parties planned by families spending the Christmas season in London, and of course the Little Theater and Royal Opera are open. You and Miss Darcy are always welcome at the Hursts’ house, where we will be staying. I hope we will see you often!”
“I’m afraid I will be quite unavailable for the next month,” Mr. Darcy returned gravely. “You see, Elizabeth and I are marrying soon, and like your brother and Jane, we will be wishing for privacy.”
Caroline Bingley stared at the master of Pemberley, her mouth drooping open in shock.
“You are ... Miss Elizabeth...,” she finally stuttered.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said joyfully, reaching out to grasp Darcy’s hand in her own. “We are engaged. Is that not wonderful?”
Miss Bingley swallowed convulsively and felt a strong desire to faint. However, many years in finishing school stood her in good stead; she was quite used to donning a societal mask in the face of heartache and broken dreams.
“Yes, yes, of course,” she managed through a constricted throat. “My heartiest congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you,” Darcy returned with a slight bow. “We will be very happy together.”
***
“Dear Elizabeth, I look forward to seeing you soon!” Georgiana exclaimed, embracing the woman who would soon be her sister.
Jane and Bingley had departed for Netherfield and Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, Anne, and Darcy were preparing to leave for London. Their carriage was waiting in front of the house and all that remained were the farewells.
Elizabeth returned Georgiana’s hug fervently. “I will be in London by Friday, and look forward to seeing you and Anne on Saturday or Sunday.”
“You will like Lord and Lady Matlock,” Georgiana said. “They are very kind.”
Richard cast a quick glance around him and then, assured that none of the other Bennets were listening, said quietly, “My parents are indeed fine individuals, but this engagement will be a shock to them. I do not promise that they will greet you with open arms.”
“They had better,” growled Darcy from Elizabeth’s side.
Elizabeth turned a saucy look on her beloved and shook her head reprovingly.
“Now, now, my dear Fitzwilliam, I do urge you to be gentle with your relations. Naturally, they will be startled to learn that you are marrying a country girl with few connections and no dowry. You must be patient with them. Do not worry about me; my courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.”
Darcy lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them, smiling down at her. “I know it does, my dear Elizabeth.”