Vol 2, Chapter 11 #3
“The minute I married your father; you were my daughter. Perhaps, as I met you the day I met him, it may be it was you I loved first, though we will not exactly tell him that. I had to keep him to have you.” She teased.
“You were, and always will be, my first child. I am so proud of you, Jane. I know you will be happy with Andrew; and the love you two share would make it impossible to be otherwise!” Priscilla hugged her daughter tightly as she kissed her forehead.
They hugged for a long while and then Priscilla kissed her daughter again and left her chambers. Her firstborn was leaving the house in but a matter of hours.
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Jane was extremely close to Elizabeth, but as she was also close to Esther and did not want her to feel left out, after asking Elizabeth who thought it was a capital idea, she had requested her younger sister also stand up with her.
Esther never would have felt slighted and would have understood but being so close to Jane for her wedding was a request she was grateful to have the chance to accept.
Little May Gardiner was first up the aisle at the Longbourn church, dropping her rose petals as she had been told to do and rehearsed not a few times.
She was followed by her brother Peter, who had a satin pillow with two rings on it.
The real ones were secure in Richard’s inside jacket pocket as he waited next to the altar with his brother.
Esther walked up the aisle next followed by Elizabeth.
The vestibule doors closed, and the clergyman lifted his hands to signal the congregation to stand.
The doors opened again, and Jane entered on her father’s arm.
Her gown was simple, there was hardly any lace, but oh so elegant and perfect for Jane.
Near the altar, Bennet halted and lifted his daughter’s fine gossamer veil and kissed her cheek.
“You will be a very happy woman, Jane,” he told her, his voice thick with emotion.
Bennet placed his firstborn’s hand on Andrew’s arm and joined his family in their pew as Andrew led his bride up to the altar until they were kneeling before the rector. “Dearly beloved…” the clergyman intoned the rituals of the Church of England from the Book of Common Prayer.
When he asked if anyone objected, there was silence and then each repeated the vows to one another. Andrew placed a gold wedding band on Jane's ring finger and then, bucking tradition, Jane did the same for Andrew.
Once the final benedictions were made, Andrew and Lady Jane Fitzwilliam, Viscount and Viscountess Hilldale, were presented to the congregation amidst raucous cheers.
Jane and her husband accompanied by her two sisters and his brother signed the register in the vestry where Jane signed Bennet as her family name for the last time.
After hugs and kisses, Jane’s sisters and Andrew’s brother left and closed the door. For a few minutes, the couple took advantage of the chance to share kisses which were not forbidden, nor of too short a duration to be satisfying as all had been during their betrothal.
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“Viscount and Viscountess Hilldale,” Hill announced, causing a round of applause and calls of congratulations as the couple entered Longbourn’s ball room where the wedding breakfast was being held.
Jane and Andrew made the rounds, making sure to stop and accept wishes from each guest, saying a few words of thanks for joining them in witness of their special day.
Between Elizabeth, Georgiana, Darcy, and Richard, they made sure the newlyweds sat down from time to time and actually had something to eat and drink.
For good measure, Lady Elaine had them sit with her and her husband and also plied them with food and drink.
After about three hours, and with Elizabeth at her side, Jane made her way to her former bedchamber.
“I am going to miss you so much Jane. It is easier for me as my new brother is such a good man. He really deserves you, sister,” Elizabeth hugged her sister with all of her might.
“Lizzy, I love you, but you have to allow me to breathe,” Jane teased. “Hilldale is not far from Longfield Meadows, and besides, I suspect it will be sooner rather than later that you will be living even closer to me,” Jane intimated slyly as she changed.
“I think I am falling in love with him, Jane. How did you know Andrew was the only man for you?” Elizabeth asked.
“When I thought of the future, I tried to see mine without Andrew in it, and I was not happy with any version in which he was not the most integral part. It was then I knew beyond all doubt. If you can see yourself being happy without William in your future, then he is not the man for you,” Jane imparted the wisdom she had gained and how she had known she had truly fallen in love with the man she wanted to share her future with.
“You have given me much to think on, oh wise one!” Elizabeth gave her sister a playful bow.
Not long after, the family was standing in the drive waving at the retreating form of the large comfortable coach and six horses the bride’s parents had gifted the newlyweds. When the conveyance and outriders were out of sight, the family drifted back into the house to re-join the revellers.