Chapter Ninety-Nine
The fourth of February dawned clear and bright, with not a cloud in sight; this was regarded as a good omen by everyone.
At the church, walking up the aisle on Mr. Bennet’s arms, the two brides saw nothing but the beaming faces of their grooms waiting for them.
It was not until they were pronounced husband and wife – and husband and wife – that Jane and Elizabeth turned to face the attendees and discovered that the Earl and Countess of Matlock, Anne de Bourgh, the Viscount and Viscountess Worthing had all come to see them wed!
They were doubtless staying at Netherfield, so Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy had surely known, but had kept it secret.
***
The wedding breakfast at Netherfield Park was everything elegant.
Mrs. Hurst had ordered flowers from London hothouses, and everywhere one looked, there were vases overflowing with out-of-season blooms. Confections had been ordered from London as well, and everyone was eager to sample the marchpane that had been shaped into tiny fruits.
Mr. and Mrs. Bingley were to travel to Brighton for a fortnight before taking up their lives at Netherfield. They would be back to Meryton almost before anyone had time to miss them, so their leave-taking was rather less dramatic than that of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.
Elizabeth scarce knew where to turn her attention.
She was excited at the idea of being alone with Mr. Darcy, but that would have to wait.
She found herself quite engrossed in hearing all about Anne’s new life in London and Charlotte’s luxurious life in Derbyshire.
She had eaten almost nothing before the wedding and so she was hungry, but too enraptured by her surprise guests to make a move toward the feast.
Seeing the situation, Mr. Darcy brought her a plate filled with delicacies and insisted that she eat something. “Elizabeth,” and here he paused, savoring his newfound right to call her by her first name. “You must eat, my dear. Darcy House is a full three hours away.”
Mr. Darcy was more than ready to be alone with his bride in his London townhouse.
Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley would head directly to Pemberley in the carriage they had arrived in, so he would have her all to himself in London for as many days as they chose; but he accepted the fact that Elizabeth’s leave-taking would not be swift.
She was saying goodbye to her entire family, and who knew when they would see one another again?
This thought provoked an idea. He murmured to Elizabeth, “Let us invite all the family, yours and mine, to Pemberley for a midsummer celebration. I will send carriages to anyone who cannot manage the journey otherwise, so you will see all your family in just a few months!”