“Did Mr Bingley attempt to lay responsibility for his sister’s demise at your door?”
“No, Ellie, he did not. It seems he has taken our words to heart and begun to grow up. He pointed the finger first at his sister as it was her own actions which ended her life. After that, he took responsibility on his own shoulders for not attempting to check her much sooner. He owns that givinginto her desires, no matter how unreasonable he knew them to be, was one of his biggest errors.”
“From what you and Richard told me of his past behaviour, it does seem like he has matured quite a lot. Did he apologise for his actions at Netherfield Park?”
“He did, and very sincerely. He has given up his mother’s dream of becoming a landed gentleman and is quite content managing the business his father began. If he had been like this before, we would still be friends.” Darcy was impressed, but not surprised that Ellie did not wilt like a flower without water at the news of Miss Caroline Bingley’s demise. He was aware that his fiancée was a strong woman.
They arrived at the glade, which was a hundred or so yards in from the path through the groves. The pond had not frozen over yet, but the insects, frogs, and other life normally teaming was nowhere to be seen or heard. The waterlilies had lost their leaves and flowers and the parts which would weather the winter could be seen below the surface of the pond. The three benches his late Uncle Lewis had placed around the area stood starkly against the bare trees.
“I can imagine how pretty it is here in the spring and summer with all of the creatures, birds singing from overhead, and the trees fully verdant, the flowers, everything would, I think, make this a magical place,” Elizabeth opined.
“You are not wrong. We will make sure to come visit Melody and Richard in the spring as it was common for us to spend Easter here with him before he married.”
James watched Lizzy and Darcy from across the pond. He used to think no man would be good enough for his sisters, but he had to admit that both Jane and Lizzy had made good choices. He had heard about the library at his future brother’s estate and was greatly looking forward to exploring it. He was not worried about the younger members of their walking party thanks to the four ever vigilant guards who hadaccompanied them.
Soon, the increasing cold convinced the walkers to begin to make their way back to the manor house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
For Lady Catherine, this visit was the first one where she had not felt a great sense of melancholy. Since first Lewis’s, and then the tragedy of Anne’s passing, it had been very hard for her to be at Rosings Park. All of the joy and happiness touched her heart as well, and she was, at long last, years after she lost her daughter, able to feel pleasure in the house once again.
The combined felicity of those already married, including the most recent, Melody and Richard, and the three engaged couples came together to banish any maudlin thoughts she would have otherwise felt.
It was impossible not to feel it with so much palpable happiness in the house.
Like Ellie’s life had been diverted, Lady Catherine owned she had done that same thing with her own life, at least with respect to Rosings Park. The time for that was over.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As time was wont to do, it marched inexorably on. Christmas came and went—greatly enjoyed by all—and then it was New Year’s Eve. All of the children, save May Gardiner who was only eight, were allowed to remain up and greet 1812.
As the triple wedding was on the tenth of the first month of the new year, all those in residence at Rosings Park travelled into Hertfordshire on the second day of January. As she rode in a coach with William, Giana, Miss Weasley, and Mrs Annesley, Elizabeth could not wait for the next eight days to pass.
When the convoy separated in Meryton, the Bennets, Gardiners, and Lucases all turned off towards Longbourn with Lucas Lodge before it. The remainder of the travellers, after allowing the Phillipses to alight at their home, made the turn at the other end of the main street towards NetherfieldPark. As much as she would have wanted it to be otherwise, after Elizabeth and Miss Weasley alighted from the Darcy conveyance, said vehicle departed for Longbourn.
It was not like the brides would not see their respective grooms each day. Fanny would come to Netherfield Park daily to confirm everything was as it should be. She was never alone; William and Jane would always be with her. Barney was not left out because Lady Lucas, with Charlotte in tow, was also a frequent caller at the estate where the wedding breakfast would be held.
Each evening there were family dinners held, rotating between Longbourn, Lucas Lodge, and Netherfield Park.
As long as the weather allowed, a group would ride or walk out each morning. When on horseback, those residing at the various estates would meet near Oakham Mount and then ride together until ending up at one of the three estates to break their fasts.
Before Elizabeth knew it, it was the night prior to her wedding. As she sat watching her maid run the brush through her wavy tresses, the enormity of this, the final night she would be a maiden, hit Elizabeth. She knew she would havethe talksoon, but she had omitted to ask if it would be Mama, Mother, or both of them who would deliver the information she needed to know before marrying William and becoming his wife in all ways.
No sooner was the maid complete than there was a knock on the door and Mother entered, she was alone.
“Ellie, dear, your mama and I discussed who would speak to you. She suggested that it should be me,” Cilla explained. “It was not only that she will be speaking to Jane, but Fanny said that because I had missed so many milestones in your life that this was one I should do alone. You do not object, do you?”
“No, Mother, I do not. I am as pleased it is you alone,just as I would have been if it had been both of my mothers together,” Elizabeth assured her mother.
“Like your father and me, as well as your mama and papa, you, Ellie are making a love match…” Cilla explained all in a manner meant to build her daughter’s confidence, not make her too afraid to enjoy the marriage bed. “…never be afraid to tell William what you do, and do not, enjoy and allow him to do the same. You two will find fulfilment in each other, and I have no doubt that the love between you and William will grow and never wane, just as it has been between your father and me.”
Elizabeth had a good idea of the mechanics of the marriage act from having grown up on a working farm. In addition, she had discovered some information by peeking at some of the forbidden books in Papa’s study. Mother’s information was so much more and made the anticipation grow for being alone with William on the morrow.
“Now Ellie, do you have any questions?” Cilla asked.
“No, thank you, Mother. You have been rather detailed in your information; and you have answered my queries before I needed to make them,” Elizabeth responded. She could not stop herself from blushing during the talk, but Mother had assured her that she too had blushed furiously on the eve of her wedding when her late mother had spoken to her.
“One thing I will leave you with is this. In the morning, you will receive a tray. You need to eat and drink. Trust me; I tell you this from personal experience. Now have a good night’s rest, you do not want to walk up the aisle to William with black rings under your eyes do you?” Cilla jested.
