Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?” asked the vicar.
Elizabeth, along with all present, said, “We will.”
“Now that Mr Charles Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.”
All intoned, “Amen.”
And that was it. After a few minutes of words and the interchangement of rings, her sister had become one with Mr Bingley and was no longer a Bennet.
Elizabeth’s heart clanged within her chest, a sort of death knell to their childhood and life together.
She wiped a tear as subtly as possible, and smiled as broadly as she could manage.
They recessed, and, though she was walking out with Mr Darcy, she kept her head turned to the guests, nodding and smiling as she walked, assiduously avoiding eye or bodily contact with him. At last, they reached the yard.
Mr Darcy might have attempted to speak with her or to reach out, but she would not know, for she immediately left the wedding party to seek out Charlotte.
“Mrs Slade,” she bellowed at the sight of her dear friend, who was standing with her husband.
“I am so pleased you travelled from London for the occasion!”
“‘Charlotte,’ Eliza. We need not be so formal. And of course, I had to see Jane married.” Charlotte embraced her.
“What news of married life?”
Charlotte stepped back, pulling at the fabric of her gown so Elizbeth might see her rounded belly.
“Charlotte!” exclaimed Elizabeth, throwing her arms about her friend’s shoulders. “Why did you not write to tell me?”
Charlotte threaded her arm through her husband’s, and blushed. “I wanted to be certain that all was well. There was a scare early on.”
Mr Slade kissed Charlotte’s cheek and said, “But the doctors saw to your health, and that of the child, and now all shall be well.”
Charlotte grinned, and Elizbeth thought she had never seen her friend so happy, not even on her wedding day. Elizabeth curtseyed to Mr Slade and he bowed to her. “Mr Slade, how is business?”
He shrugged. “It is fine, but, as I am on a well-needed break from such matters, I shall refrain from offering details of buying, selling, deals, and shipwrecks.”
“Shipwrecks sound exciting,” Elizabeth insisted.
He smiled. “Only in novels. In life they are catastrophes that could impact how your friend and I live our lives.” He kissed Charlotte’s cheek again. “But we do not rely entirely on the sea, and for that we are fortunate.”
Charlotte kissed his cheek this time. “We are very fortunate.”
Elizabeth’s heart swelled. “You two have restored my faith in marriage.”
“Has not this wedding done so for you?” asked Mr Slade.
Charlotte smirked. “Eliza does not count her chickens until she is well and sure the chicks have not only hatched, but have matured and proven themselves worthy of inhabiting the yard.”
Elizabeth began to argue, but thought Charlotte might be right. Even so, she felt compelled to add, “I do believe Jane and Mr Bingley shall be happy. They have had ample time to become certain.”
“Indeed,” said Charlotte. “Speaking of your sister, I believe she and Mr Bingley are departing.”
Elizabeth spun about and saw Jane and Mr Bingley getting into a carriage, and the rest of her family situating themselves in another. “Heavens! I must go. I shall see you at Longbourn momentarily.”
Once seated between her youngest sisters, Elizabeth was overwhelmed by their excited chatter. Mama was overflowing with words and enthusiasm, and even Mary appeared pleased. Papa, however, looked out of the window and covered the ear closest to his wife with a palm, making Elizabeth chuckle.