Chapter 57 The Wedding
The double wedding was fixed for Thursday, September twenty-sixth.
Three weeks before the ceremony, Mr. Bennet took Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia to a modiste in Watford.
Mr. Bennet sat near the window with his gloves across one knee while his daughters considered the fabrics and patterns spread before them.
Lydia carried a length of ice-blue silk to Jane and held it against her.
“Jane, what do you think of this one?”
Jane studied herself in the mirror before looking toward her father.
Mr. Bennet considered the color. “That becomes you very well, Jane. It sets off your sapphire eyes. They are the exact color of your mother’s.”
She turned to the clerk. “I will take this one.”
While the modiste set the blue silk aside, Elizabeth lifted a length of jonquil silk and held it against her gown.
Mr. Bennet studied her for several moments. “I prefer that to the cream, Lizzy.”
Lydia came to stand beside Elizabeth. “So do I, Lizzy. The cream was pretty, but this suits your coloring much better.”
Elizabeth looked at her reflection once more. “Then the jonquil it shall be.”
The three sisters pored over the patterns, then carried their choices to their father. Mr. Bennet gave each pattern his full attention as Jane and Elizabeth explained their choices.
“I am no judge of such things, but I am certain you will both look beautiful on your wedding day.”
Elizabeth smiled at Lydia. “Thank you for helping me, Liddie. You have such a good eye for color and style. I believe this will be the prettiest dress I have ever worn.”
* * *
Two days later, Caroline came to Longbourn to settle the arrangements for the wedding breakfast. Darcy arrived on horseback some minutes before Charles's carriage brought Caroline to the house.
Elizabeth met Darcy in the entrance hall.
He took her hand and bent over it. “Good morning, Elizabeth.”
“Good morning, Fitzwilliam.”
His thumb passed once across her fingers before he released them and followed her into the drawing room.
When Charles and Caroline arrived, Caroline opened the papers she had brought with her.
“I have settled most of the breakfast, but I wanted each of you to have something you particularly like. Jane, what would you choose?”
“Thinly sliced cold roast beef with mustard, please. I have always liked it that way.”
Charles took Jane’s hand where it rested beside him. “Then you shall have it.”
Caroline made a note. “And you, Elizabeth?”
“Lobster patties, if they are not too troublesome.”
“Not at all. Lobster patties it shall be.”
Darcy spoke then. “I know you did not ask my preference, but there is one thing I should like. The lemon pudding you served at dinner was excellent.”
Caroline caught his eye. “Then you shall have it, sir, with my compliments.”
She showed Jane and Elizabeth the rest of her plans, including the menu and the rooms where tables would be arranged. Several more would be placed in the formal gardens if the fine weather continued.
By the time everything was settled, the tea tray had arrived. After tea, Bingley and Caroline prepared to leave. Jane and Elizabeth accompanied them to the entrance hall.
When Elizabeth returned to the drawing room, Mr. Darcy was waiting for her.
She sat beside him and reached beneath the neckline of her gown. Her amber cross appeared first as she drew out the long gold chain, followed by her wedding ring.
“I want to give this back to you so that you can put it on my finger when we marry.”
Darcy looked at her before reaching for the chain. He worked the clasp loose and carefully slipped the ring free.
He held it in his palm, then reached inside his coat for his billfold. From a small pocket, he took a plain gold band and placed it beside hers.
Elizabeth touched his ring with the tip of one finger. “You kept yours.”
“I carry it with me always.”
Her fingers moved over the two rings lying together in his palm.
“When I take my vows, I want the same ring and the same husband.”
Darcy closed his hand around the rings and drew her nearer. “You shall have both.”
He bent his head and kissed her slowly. Elizabeth slipped her fingers into the curls at the nape of his neck.
When they parted, Darcy placed both rings together in the small pocket of his billfold. Elizabeth watched him close it and return it to the inside of his coat.
* * *
Thursday morning was clear and mild when Mr. Bennet entered the drawing room and found his two eldest daughters waiting for him.
He stopped inside the doorway and looked at them, both dressed in their new gowns.
Jane went to him and slipped her hand through his arm. “We are ready, Papa.”
He covered her hand with his before looking at Elizabeth. “You are both very beautiful.”
Elizabeth crossed the room and kissed his cheek.
The neighboring families were already gathered when they reached the church. Their Sunday clothes filled the pews with color, and the low conversation faded as Mr. Bennet entered with one daughter on each arm.
As she walked up the nave on her father’s arm, Elizabeth saw Charles first, with Mr. Hurst standing at his side. His attention was fixed upon Jane.
Then Elizabeth looked at Fitzwilliam.
He stood beside Mr. Fernside, dressed in dark blue. His handsome cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, stood next to him. Elizabeth felt her heart stutter. She was too happy for words. His eyes remained on her as she came up the nave, and when she reached him, he held out his hand.
Fitzwilliam closed both hands around hers before taking his place beside her.
Mr. Bennet went to the Bennet pew where his daughters and Miss Georgiana sat together.
Mr. Fernside opened the prayer book.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony.”
Jane and Charles were married first.
Elizabeth listened as her sister repeated the vows in her sweet, clear voice. Charles never took his eyes from Jane, and when she promised to love, cherish, and obey him, his fingers tightened around hers.
Tears gathered in Elizabeth's eyes. Jane glanced toward her after Mr. Bingley slipped the ring on her finger, her own eyes bright, and smiled.
Then Fitzwilliam took Elizabeth’s hand.
She looked up at him as they made their promises. She would always remember his low, resonant voice as he said, “I will.”
Elizabeth spoke with equal certainty when her turn came.
She watched as Fitzwilliam reached into his coat and took out the gold band Elizabeth had returned to him.
He placed it upon her finger.
“With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow.”
Elizabeth looked down at the familiar ring resting once more upon her finger.
Fitzwilliam's thumb passed gently across her knuckles before his hand closed around hers.
Mr. Fernside completed the service and pronounced the two couples husband and wife.
The registers were brought out. Jane and Charles signed first, and then Elizabeth took the pen and wrote her name.
Elizabeth Bennet.
She set down the pen, and Fitzwilliam signed beneath her.
Mr. Hurst, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mary added their names as witnesses. When everything was complete, they left the church together.
Outside, in the courtyard, smiling neighbors gathered around the newly married couples with congratulations. Elizabeth laughed as she accepted their good wishes and clever quips.
Kitty and Georgiana were approaching arm in arm when Steven Goulding joined them.
“It has been a happy day for your family, Miss Kitty. I hope there will be another such day before too long.”
He held Kitty's gaze, and color rose into her cheeks. “I look forward to that day, Mr. Goulding.”
Before going to congratulate the newlyweds, he flashed her a smile.
Mary approached with Alexander beside her, his hand briefly at her back as they passed through the gathering around the church door. Mary kissed Elizabeth and held her for a moment.
“I am so happy for you, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Mary.”
Alexander shook Fitzwilliam's hand before taking Elizabeth's and raising it to his lips.
“My very best wishes, Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth saw Lydia beside her father, wiping tears from her cheeks, and held out her arms.
Lydia went to her sister and returned the embrace.
Mr. Bennet reached Elizabeth as she and Fitzwilliam made their way toward the carriage. He kissed her cheek and took both her hands.
“You are going to be a very happy woman, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth smiled through her tears. “I am happy, Papa.”
Fitzwilliam offered Elizabeth his arm. She placed her hand upon it, and they continued toward the waiting carriage.
* * *
The carriage had scarcely left the church before Fitzwilliam reached for Elizabeth.
He drew her against him and kissed her. Elizabeth slipped her hands carefully onto his shoulders and returned the kiss. When his arm tightened around her waist, she drew back enough to look at him.
“We must take care, sir. Our neighbors will know what we have been doing if you arrive with a creased cravat and I with a crushed gown.”
Fitzwilliam smoothed his hand gently over the jonquil silk at her waist. “I would rather forgo the breakfast entirely and take you directly to Darcy House.”
Elizabeth laughed as she touched his cheek before looking down at the gold band upon her finger.
“I have missed wearing it, sir.”
Fitzwilliam lifted her hand and kissed the ring before pressing her fingers against his lips.
Elizabeth rested her head against his shoulder, and his arm settled around her as the carriage continued toward Netherfield.
* * *
The wedding breakfast filled Netherfield with neighbors and friends. The tables held everything Caroline had promised, including the lobster patties Elizabeth had requested and the lemon pudding Fitzwilliam favored.
His relations had come from London for the wedding. Colonel Fitzwilliam stood with his elder brother, Phillip, Viscount Stafford, while Lord and Lady Matlock spoke with the neighboring families.