“No Lizzy, I am not nervous. If anything, I am in anticipation,” Jane shared.
“First you, then in March—the day after my birthday—a double wedding for Cassie and Richard and Anne and Jamey. The number of us who remain unattached is dwindling,” Elizabeth stated.
“And you, Lizzy, will have a year to prepare for your coming out. TheTonwill be in a frenzy. It is not every day that a previously unknown Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is launched into society,” Jane opined.
“That is what I am dreading most, Jane. At least with everyone who knew and liked me before my position and fortune was known, I know they liked me for myself. In society, I will be like a sardine swimming in shark infested waters; many will only be interested in a connection to my royal grandparents and my wealth,” Elizabeth expressed her worry.
“Never forget, Lizzy, if you and William become more than friends, you have known one another for years before your true status was revealed,” Jane reminded her sister.
Deep down, Elizabeth would have preferred to simply be Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of a country squire. But she would not shirk her duty, and as Jane had reminded her, if she and William became more, he knew her as Lizzy and as not as ‘Princess Elizabeth, incredibly wealthy heiress.’
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Monday morning, Andrew—who had moved to the Red Rooster Inn for the night before his wedding so he would not see his bride beforehand—was joined by the men to break his fast before they made the one-mile trip to the church at Longbourn.
Despite a lack of sleep due to both anticipation and restlessness, at least he had not been alone at the inn. Richard, who was standing up for him, William, and Jamey had joined him in his removal from the rest of the family.
The day was cold, a typical winter day in Hertfordshire. Thankfully, it was mostly clear and there was no snow on the ground. After the wedding breakfast, which would be held at Netherfield Park, the newlyweds would make their way to Hilldale House, on London’s Portman Square, where they would overnight. Then they would depart to Uncle Robert’s Seaview Cottage near Brighton, where they would remain for a month complete.
It would be the first Christmas that Jane would be away from her family, and the only other for Andrew since he missed one while on his grand tour. They had long spent the holidays together with family, but neither could regret missing this year for the reason of being on their wedding trip. It would be the first one they would share as the family that would be created as soon as the rector announced them man and wife.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At Netherfield Park, Jane was in the private sitting room attached to her suite breaking her fast with her sisters, brother, Cassie, Anne, and Georgiana. Excited, Jane could not manage more than tea and toast with strawberry jam, one of her favourites.
Once they were done eating, each of her siblings and friends stood to depart. Tommy came forward first to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Mary then hugged her eldest sister for a long time before bestowing her kiss on Jane’s cheek. Kitty, Lydia, Georgiana, Cassie, and lastly Anne, who gave her friend the longest hug, followed and departed, then it was she and Elizabeth alone.
“Lizzy, you should go dress so you can return and assist Jane,” Fanny shooed her second daughter once she entered the sitting room. “You are standing up with Jane, so you need to be here to help her.”
“Yes, Mama,” Elizabeth gave her mother a kiss on her proffered cheek and then went into her own bedchamber, which was on the other side of the sitting room from Jane’s. That was yet another change for her; since she had turned ten, Elizabeth had shared a suite with Jane, but the previous night had been the last one for them both. When Elizabeth entered her bedchamber, her maid since she turned twelve, Miss Jacqueline Arseneault—Jacqui— welcomed her with a warm smile.
Once Jane completed her bath, her maid dried her hair in front of the fire as she brushed her mistress’s long, blond locks. Once de Chambé helped her into her stays and chemise, Jane asked her to call her mother and Lizzy, if she too was ready, to return to her chambers.
It was but a minute before Fanny and Elizabeth joined Jane to help her with her gown. It was relatively simple, but then again, with Jane’s beauty, she did not need to detract the eye with elaborate gowns.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At the same time Jane was being helped into her gown, an enormous coach arrived at Netherfield Park carrying the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and the Marquess and Marchioness of Birchington. They were shown into the largest drawing room, where they were met by Bennet, the Prince, Lord Holder, Darcy, and Gardiner. Lord Matlock had left to join his son and younger men at the inn.
“Your Royal Highness,” the Duke intoned as he and his son made deep bows and their wives deep curtsies.
“Come now, Bedford, there is no reason to stand on such ceremony; we are cousins after all. How are you Cousin Rose?” the Prince asked.
“I am well, thank you, Cousin Frederick,” the Duchess returned.
“I believe you have met all of the gentlemen here except for Mr. Bennet, the master of this estate,” the Prince said, and the Duke of Bedford confirmed it was so.
“This is Thomas Bennet, who I am sure by now you know from Marie is the adoptive father of my daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Bennet, Lord Sedgwick and Lady Rosamund Rhys-Davies, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, and their son, Lord Sedgwick Junior, Marquess of Birchington. You met the Marchioness the other day.” The Prince performed the needed introductions.
“Will we meet our cousin Elizabeth?” Lady Rose asked hopefully.
“You will, your Grace; however, she is assisting her sister into her wedding gown, I believe,” Bennet stated.
“As your adoptive daughter is our cousin, please call me Bedford, my son Birchington, and I am sure my wife would want you to call her Lady Rose,” the Duke allowed. “There is no need for ‘your Grace.’”
“Now, Cousin, who is thisUncle FreddyMarie was telling us about?” Lady Rose asked with a smile.
“I will explain, but I want to apologise to Lady Marie for my anger-fuelled rebuke. It should have been reserved for her parents, not her. Believe me when I tell you, I understand better than most how one is forced to live with the dictates of parents,” the Prince granted.
