Chapter 61 Finale
The day dawned fair and clear. Rising early by habit, Darcy almost headed over to Longbourn as usual.
However, as he finished dressing and was about to leave, he remembered Lizzy's request that he would wait to see her until they met in the church later.
The disruption to his new routine set him at loose ends and shook Darcy's confidence for a time.
Since it was so early, he was not sure the Netherfield kitchens would have coffee ready for him. He decided to stand out on the balcony attached to his room and enjoy the morning from there until a more reasonable hour arrived.
The sunrise seemed to have a special brilliance to it as Darcy realized this was his wedding day.
He watched the show in the sky until the morning had fully dawned.
It was only then that he looked down at himself and realized he was properly dressed for an early morning ride, but not for his own wedding.
Shaking his head at his foolishness, Darcy went back in to dress more appropriately for the momentous day.
~o~
The party from Netherfield arrived at the church early, partly at the insistence of the two grooms. Sir Barnaby arrived at nearly the same time with the party from Lucas Lodge, no less ready for his time as a single man to be at an end.
Richard took the opportunity to tease the trio, conveniently forgetting how early he had been for his own wedding.
While Richard had agreed to be best man for both Darcy and Bingley, Sir Barnaby's best man was a cousin of his who had arrived just the evening before along with a few other members of Sir Barnaby's family.
It became a matter some amusement for all the other men when he expressed admiration for Miss Bingley, wondering if she was one of the lovely Bennet ladies who was still unattached.
He was not the least discouraged to learn she was sister to one of the grooms, especially after Bingley promised an introduction during the wedding breakfast.
The trio of couples had decided to take their vows one after the other in the portion of the service where one couple would normally take the vows, while sharing the rest of a single service.
When the time came to start, the three grooms lined up, with the two best men standing slightly to the side.
Everyone in the crowded church turned to watch the brides enter as the music changed.
To avoid having Mr. Bennet make three painful trips up and down the aisle or somehow try to escort all three girls at once, his brothers-in-law decided to assist. At the signal, Bennet entered with Jane on his arm. He escorted her to the front and placed her hand in that of Sir Barnaby.
Next came Mr. Gardiner with Lizzy. He brought her to the front where her father waited. She briefly rested her arm on Bennet's before her father gave her hand to Darcy.
Finally, Mr. Phillips brought Mary to her father so he could officially give her hand to Bingley. It was a lovely solution. Taking a brief second to look away from his bride, Darcy saw many smiles in the congregation as the three older men took their places in the pew next to their wives.
The wedding service began with the standard words, "Dearly beloved...
" Realizing they were surrounded by people who truly were dear to him, Darcy found new meaning in the familiar words.
He was connected now to this incredible group by ties of love, family and friendship.
That would last long after this short service, just as he hoped his marriage would.
Despite the lack of a proper rehearsal, the vows went smoothly for all three couples.
Richard performed his tasks well, not mixing up the rings as he had jokingly threatened to do before the ceremony started.
Jane, Lizzy and Mary officially resigned the name of Bennet and took on their new names in short order.
Far more quickly than Darcy expected, given how important the event was to his life, he found himself standing at the register signing next to his new wife.
~o~
They may not have rehearsed for the wedding, but the party the Friday before did turn out to be just a rehearsal for the wedding breakfast, minus the disruptions caused by Lady Catherine.
The Meryton inn had done good business Thursday night finding space for all the guests of Sir Barnaby who showed up for the event.
Two uncles, three aunts and several cousins in addition to Howard Linton, his best man, were present along with some of his former schoolfellows who were also known to Darcy and Bingley.
The crowd at Longbourn was even larger than it had been the week before.
The garden had been the annex for the earlier party, but now it took center stage.
Refreshment tables and extra seating were scattered through all the grounds.
The "hermitage" had been tamed and freshened up with extra flowering plants ordered in for the occasion.
Both the rosebush that had received Wickham and the damask that had done in Lady Catherine were skillfully pruned to minimize the damage done to them.
All the same, both rosebushes were the subject of much curiosity, especially by the guests who had not been there for the dinner party.
"I hope no one thought it was in poor taste that Jane, Mary and I all carried bouquets made of damask roses," Lizzy said to Darcy as they noticed a group commenting on the notorious rosebush.
"They are just so beautiful and fragrant we could not consider anything else, although Mary did carry her tincture with her and frequently checked to make sure there were no bees in her bouquet.
Even now she is staying in the sitting room. "
Darcy chuckled. "She has good reason to be nervous if she has reacted to their stings before. No, Mrs. Darcy," he savored the name as he spoke it, "I doubt anyone thought much about the flowers. The women holding them were far more beautiful."
Lizzy rolled her eyes at the flattery but could not make a remark in return as a small group of her neighbors approached to offer congratulations. A little while later her mother came up to them.
"Mrs. Darcy! Oh, how well that sounds! I feel so very fortunate. Three daughters married! And all in one single day."
"It certainly is a wonder, Mama," Lizzy replied. "Now you must wait a bit for it to be Kitty's turn."
"Oh, I know she will be fine even if your father insists Sir Phillip must wait a year before he can propose.
And it was so kind of you, Mr. Darcy, to let us have Georgiana here for a time while you two go to Pemberley and to agree that Lady Sheldon can work with the Duchess of Mardale to prepare Lydia and Georgiana to be presented jointly in society.
Imagine the prospects that will open up for Lydia! "
"Yes, Mama, although first Mrs. Damask and Lady Sheldon wish to give Kitty a little more polish so she will be prepared to take her place at Rosings Park should Sir Phillip still wish to marry her after the year is up."
"Still wish to marry her? Of course, he will. That boy is clearly besotted. A little like you were about our Lizzy, eh, Mr. Darcy?"
"And I still am, Mrs. Bennet," he replied with a smile. "Marriage does not change that."
"Oh, I hope not. I hope not for any of my girls. But you are a good man, Mr. Darcy. I expect you will make my Lizzy very happy even if she will be living so far away."
"Derbyshire is not all that far away, Mama," Lizzy said. "Perhaps you can visit us sometime even if Papa cannot."
"Oh, perhaps," her mother said diffidently.
"Well, I must go check on Lady Linton. That sounds lovely as well.
Did you see that her husband's cousin, the one who was best man, has not left Miss Bingley's side since we returned from the church?
Maybe there will be another wedding to celebrate sometime soon. "
"For her sake, I hope so," Lizzy agreed, although her mother bustled off so quickly Darcy did not know whether Mrs. Bennet heard her or took any note of the comment.
The couple continued to circulate among the guests until they thought it was about time they could excuse themselves. Darcy's plan was to spend that night, and perhaps a few more, at Darcy house before heading north to introduce the new Mrs. Darcy to Pemberley.
As they were heading in to speak with Mr. Bennet in preparation for leaving, Richard and Charlotte approached to say their own goodbyes.
Richard spoke first, "We are heading off to Randbrook, but will not make it tonight unless we leave here soon.
My Charlotte and I wanted to wish you joy and thank you again for our time at Darcy House.
After spending the last few nights in a very crowded Lucas Lodge, we can truly appreciate the gift you gave us. "
"You are always welcome to visit," Darcy said, "although I would prefer you wait a week or two."
"No fear. I want to show Lady Rand her new home. Father will be coming along to help transfer control of the house and lands to us."
"That is good. It would be awkward if the servants failed to believe you truly had inherited the title."
"That would have been an interesting joke to try when I was younger, although I doubt anyone would have taken me seriously at it.
Well, though I am sorry Grandfather and my brother are gone, it is nice to be able to provide my wife with a good home right away.
As you know, I was prepared to buy a small estate, but it would have taken time. "
"Do you have any objection if we stop for a day or two on our way to Pemberley?" Darcy asked.
"None at all. I think Charlotte will be pleased to show off her home to her closest friend."
"I certainly will," Charlotte said.
"And I will be glad to return the favor at Pemberley sometime soon," Lizzy told her. "I hope we can always remain close now that we are related by marriage as well as tied by friendship."
"What do you think Bingley and his wife will do?" Richard asked. "I understood Netherfield is only available for lease, not for sale."
"I expect he will be looking for that small estate you originally planned to buy. He took a six-month lease, so he has a little time yet before he has to decide whether to renew or find something else."
"That is true," Richard said, a little distractedly.
His attention was caught by seeing Lizzy's special necklace and earrings.
He gestured at the pendant. "I heard from Will that you told him the shield in that necklace reminded you of all the people who care for you and wish to shield you from harm.
You have no fewer people to do the caring, but I think it is now Will's place to be your shield. "
"I think you are correct, Richard," Lizzy agreed, "although with Lady Catherine gone, there is less need for the shield and more time to enjoy the roses."
Richard looked over at the well-trimmed damask rose. "I suppose you are right," he said thoughtfully. He turned back to them, the contemplative mood shoved aside. "Well, if we both go together, we are more likely to get out of here quickly."
"Yes," Darcy agreed. "One thing I have learned around here is that just because you say goodbye does not mean you will actually be able to leave." He and Lizzy began to walk towards the house, with Richard and Charlotte following.
"We start with Papa," Lizzy said. "And then Richard's father. If he is leaving with Richard and Charlotte, he can help us get away that much faster.
"The campaign has begun," Richard said laughingly as he gestured past the crowd of people to the door. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends..."
"Oh, Richard," said Lizzy and Charlotte in unison, even as Darcy said, "This is not a battle."
"You think not?" asked Richard. "What do you wager that it takes us more than another hour to get out of here?"
Darcy looked at Lizzy. She shook her head in the negative. "Sorry, cousin," he said, "My wife just told me not to take that bet."
"Spoilsport," Richard said to Lizzy, grinning. "Now, let us see how quickly we can get to the study."
Sidestepping the guests and making minimal conversation, the two couples continued their quest to make it into the house as quickly as possible.