Chapter 55 September Weddings
The following morning, Caroline entered the breakfast parlor and found Louisa eating alone.
“Caroline, you cannot have slept much.”
“Very little. I cannot stop thinking about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.” Caroline sat beside her sister. “I thought I would have enough time.”
Louisa waited.
“I knew he was not in love with me. I am not such a fool that I imagined he was. But I thought there might come a day when he would look about him and decide it was time to marry, and I hoped that when he did, he would choose me.”
Caroline pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.
“I have known him for years. I know his sister and the society in which he lives. He has never cared for flirtation, nor have I ever seen him show particular interest in any woman. I thought that was simply his way. He treated every woman as he treated me, and I believed him a man who was simply indifferent to such things. He has always been reserved, even cold at times. I never imagined how much feeling lay beneath.”
“But now you have seen him with Miss Elizabeth.”
“Yes. I have seen who he really is, a man of flesh and blood. A man of restrained passion.”
“Sister, I too have seen the way he looks at her. He scarcely leaves her side, and he touches her often.”
Caroline blew her nose. “He cannot seem to keep away from her. He is always finding some reason to touch her or speak with her. When she is present, there is no one else for him.”
Louisa rose and settled beside her, taking her hand.
“I do not understand what she has that I do not, Louisa. I like Elizabeth, which almost makes it worse. She has never pursued him, and she is kindness itself to everyone around her. If she had been disagreeable, I might at least have had the satisfaction of disliking her.”
Louisa took Caroline’s hand in her own. “And she is beautiful, makes herself useful to her family and neighbors, and seems to be loved by everyone who knows her. I do not see how you can find fault with her.”
“I cannot. I envy her, which is beastly of me.”
Louisa squeezed her hand. “Shall I ask Edwin for the carriage? You may return to London with our cousin Almira, or go back to Scarborough if you cannot bear to watch their growing intimacy.”
Caroline raised tearful eyes to her sister. “My opportunity to attach him is gone, and I do not know how I shall bear it, Louisa. I cannot seem to look away from him. I want to remain near him as long as I can, for I know he will marry her soon.”
Louisa slipped an arm through hers. “Come, my dear. You are weeping. Let us return to your bedchamber before the gentlemen return from their morning ride and find you openly distressed.”
Caroline stood at once. “That would be the ultimate humiliation, Louisa. Let us go.”
* * *
Later that morning, Bingley found Darcy in the library.
“I mean to marry Jane.”
Darcy looked up from his letter. “Yes, I had supposed as much.”
“I would have asked her weeks ago if she had not lost her mother so recently. Four months is not very long, Darcy. I will wait until spring if I must, but it pains me to do so. And then, of course, I worry that if I propose now, I may place her in the position of having to defend her happiness while she is still mourning her mother.”
Darcy set down his pen. “Speak to Mr. Bennet before you speak to Jane. Tell him that, if Miss Bennet accepts you, you would like to marry her quietly in September. If he believes that is too soon, you will have your answer without placing her in any difficulty.”
Bingley considered this. “I believe I will, Darcy. That is very sensible.”
Darcy raised a brow. “Thank you, Charles. I do occasionally manage it.”
Bingley rose and crossed to the door. “I shall go to Longbourn this very morning.”
Darcy picked up his pen again. “An excellent decision, Charles.”
Bingley left to order his horse.
* * *
Mr. Bingley arrived at Longbourn before noon and asked to speak privately with Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Bennet received him in the study and indicated the chair before his desk. Bingley sat, but the speech he had prepared suddenly seemed unnecessarily complicated.
“Sir, I would like your permission to ask Jane to marry me in September. I know four months after her mother's death is not long enough, and I do not want Jane the subject of criticism because I am impatient. If you believe we ought to wait, I shall wait as long as necessary.”
Mr. Bennet regarded him across the desk.
“I believe my eldest daughter will be pleased to hear your wishes. As for September, I see no reason why two people who wish to marry should spend several additional months apart merely to satisfy the denizens of Meryton. I assume you are not proposing a large celebration.”
“No, sir. Jane would dislike that. It would appear disrespectful to her mother’s memory. I want her to have a pleasant wedding with the people she loves around her. Nothing more.”
“Then you have my consent.”
Bingley stood and reached out his hand to Mr. Bennet. “Thank you, sir.”
The two men shook hands, then Mr. Bennet said, “There is still the matter of a wedding breakfast. Longbourn remains a house of mourning, and I will not hold a celebration here when we lost my wife less than six months ago. I think it would be better to have no breakfast at all.”
“Would you allow me to hold the wedding breakfast at Netherfield?”
Mr. Bennet looked back at him.
“It can be as small as you wish, sir. Jane can have her family about her, and there need be no more guests than you consider appropriate. Netherfield is not a house of mourning, and everything can be arranged there without involving Longbourn.”
Mr. Bennet considered this. “If Jane approves, I will not object.”
* * *
Bingley found Jane in the garden.
She was cutting the last of the lavender and laying the stems in a small basket. When she saw him coming toward her, she set down her shears.
“Mr. Bingley. I did not know you were here.”
“I have been speaking with your father. I came to speak to him about you.”
Jane's cheeks colored.
He held out his hand, and she went to him.
“I had a great many things I intended to say when I found you, but I believe I would rather say the important one properly. I love you, Jane. I have loved you for some time now, and I cannot imagine being happier than I am when we are together. Will you marry me?”
Jane’s fingers closed around his.
“Yes, Charles. That is the greatest desire of my heart.”
He laughed with such abandon that he took her by surprise, then drew her into his arms.
“You have made me very happy, Jane.”
“I spoke to your father, and he has given permission to marry in September, if you would like it. Though I offered to wait, he sees no reason for delay. We can have a quiet wedding with only the family present.”
He held her near as he looked down into her eyes.
“Your father does not wish to have a wedding breakfast while Longbourn is still in mourning, so I offered Netherfield. We can celebrate afterward, quietly, with only our closest family.”
“You have thought of everything, sir.”
“I only wish to make you happy, Jane.”
She reached up with her free hand and straightened the edge of his cravat where it had shifted beneath his collar.
“I am so very happy, Charles.”
Bingley caught her hand and kissed it.
“I shall do everything I can to keep you so, Jane, my love.”
She moved closer to him. Bingley bent and kissed her, then kept her hand in his as they went to tell her father.
* * *
Bingley returned to Netherfield and found Darcy in the library.
“She said yes.”
Darcy put aside his book and rose to shake his hand. “Congratulations, Charles.”
“Mr. Bennet consented to everything. Jane and I are to marry in September, and the wedding breakfast will be here with her family in attendance.”
“He agreed to September?”
“Mr. Bennet sees no reason for us to wait. We have not yet chosen the day, but Jane is happy with the arrangement.”
Darcy released his hand and crossed to the window.
Late September with Elizabeth beside him standing before the rector.
Bingley came to stand near him. “I owe you my thanks. I might have spent another month worrying over what Mr. Bennet would say instead of asking him. I find that I have very little patience where Jane is concerned.”
Darcy understood that better than Bingley could know.
He went to the desk and closed the ledger he had left there.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“To Longbourn.”
“Give Miss Elizabeth my regards,” Bingley said, laughing.
Darcy took up his gloves. “I expect to do considerably more than that.”
* * *
Darcy found Elizabeth in the Longbourn garden, gathering rosemary. When she saw him, she left the basket where it stood.
“Bingley tells me that your father has given them permission to marry in September.”
“Yes, he did.”
Darcy reached her and took her hands.
“Your father does not consider four months too little. Let us marry alongside Charles and Jane.”
Elizabeth pressed his hands. “You are thinking we might marry on the same day.”
“Yes, if they are willing. There need only be one wedding and one breakfast rather than two occasions within a few weeks. Bingley has already offered Netherfield for their wedding breakfast.”
“I should like to marry standing beside Jane, but would you?”
Darcy lifted her hand and kissed it. “Very much. It will spare us a delay. Since we are agreed, I shall speak to your father.”
Laughing, she moved nearer. “You had better make a good account of yourself. I am only twenty, and my father may be reluctant to part with me. I have always been his favorite daughter.”
Darcy covered her hand with his. “I will tell him I have no intention of going away without you.”
Elizabeth laughed again.
He bent and kissed her mouth. When he drew back, he remained close to her.
“You make it exceedingly difficult to behave as though I have not already been your husband.”
Her laughter softened.
“Then you had better speak to my father before you forget yourself entirely, sir.”
Darcy kissed her once more. “I will go now.”
* * *
Hill escorted Darcy to Mr. Bennet’s study.
“May I speak with you, sir?”
Mr. Bennet set aside his book and indicated the chair opposite him.
Darcy sat. “I understand that you have given Bingley permission to marry Miss Bennet in September. Elizabeth and I have also discussed marrying late next month, and I have come to ask your permission to marry her.”
Mr. Bennet regarded him, a smile playing about his mouth.
“You have my permission, Mr. Darcy. I am extremely happy for Lizzy, though I cannot pretend to be surprised by your request. I have watched you with her these past months, and I have seen what you have done for this family when we had need of you.”
Darcy inclined his head. “I love her, sir, and I will do everything in my power to make her happy.”
“I believe you will. I also believe my daughter knows her own mind. If Lizzy has chosen you, I am satisfied with her choice.”
Darcy rose. “Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Bennet rose with him and held out his hand. Darcy took it.
“There is one other thing. Since Charles and Miss Bennet are to marry in September, we thought that we might marry on the same day, if they are willing. There would be one quiet wedding and one wedding breakfast at Netherfield rather than two separate occasions.”
Mr. Bennet considered it. “If Jane wishes to share her wedding with Lizzy, I have no objection. I rather think their mother would have liked seeing two of her daughters married on the same day.”
Mr. Bennet held out his hand to his future son-in-law. “Welcome to our family, Darcy.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Bennet straightened and said, “There is another matter upon which you may be able to assist me. You employ a solicitor in London, I believe.”
“I do.”
“I want the Longbourn settlement examined by someone who specializes in conveyances. I have the deeds and the older family papers, but I would prefer a man accustomed to such matters.”
“My solicitor does not specialize in conveyancing, but he will know someone who does. I will write to him today and ask for a recommendation.”
“I would be obliged to you.”
Mr. Bennet rested his hand upon the book on his desk. “I should have had the matter properly examined years ago.”
Darcy said nothing.
Mr. Bennet picked up the book. “I shall do it now.”
* * *
Elizabeth was waiting when Darcy came from the study.
“Your father has given us his permission.”
She slipped her hands into his. “At last.”
Darcy glanced about before bending to kiss her, and then they went in search of Jane.
They met Hill in the hall.
“Do you know where Jane is?”
“In the rose garden, Miss Lizzy. Mr. Bingley arrived a few minutes ago, and Jane has sent for tea.”
“Thank you, Hill.”
They found Jane and Bingley in the courtyard.
Elizabeth embraced her sister. “Jane, Papa has given Fitzwilliam permission to marry me.”
Jane held her close. “What a happy day for both of us.”
“We are to marry in September.”
Jane’s face brightened. “Oh, Lizzy. Then we shall both be married before the month is out.”
“We wondered whether you and Mr. Bingley would mind if we married on the same day. We could have one quiet wedding and share the breakfast at Netherfield.”
Jane looked at Bingley.
“I should like it exceedingly,” he said. “I have always wanted Darcy for a brother. We shall marry two sisters on the same day.”
Jane reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “I should like it too. I cannot imagine anything happier than having you beside me when I marry Charles.”
Bingley said, “Then all that remains is to choose the day.”
After the men left them, Jane and Elizabeth lingered in the garden.
“Lizzy, do you remember how we used to wonder what it would be like when we married and left Longbourn? I never imagined we would do it on the same morning.”
Elizabeth rested her hand on Jane’s arm.
“I could not have wished for anything better, Jane. We will marry together.”
“Together.”