“Will you and Giana join me after my bath in the morning?” Elizabeth verified.
Much to Giana’s delight, Elizabeth had requested she be her maid of honour. Mary was Jane’s, and Charlotte’s was Maria. For the men, William had Richard standing up withhim, Andrew for David, and Uncle Stephen was doing the honours for Barney.
“She will,” Cilla confirmed. She stepped forward and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Now, get as much sleep as you are able.”
Ellie nodded and Cilla withdrew, pulling the door closed behind her. She could not but marvel at the fact that she was about to watch the daughter she had doubted she would ever see again in the mortal world marry in less than twelve hours. Her belief that Ellie had been alive notwithstanding, Cilla owned she had resigned herself to never seeing Ellie again. God had had other plans.
Rather than feel resentment over all of the things she had missed, Cilla gave thanks for the providence He had bestowed on them when He allowed Ellie to come back to them.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Just as Cilla and Fanny had spoken to Ellie and Jane separately, Wendell and Bennet would walk each daughter up the aisle on his own.
Rather than social position, the three fathers, in consultation with their wives, decided to walk the brides into the church by the brides’ descending age. Hence, when the double inner vestibule doors opened, Sir William entered the nave of the church with Charlotte on his arm. She was wearing a very flattering Madame Chambourg creation. Her veil was constructed of delicate Belgium lace. They were followed by Maria.
As soon as Barney saw his betrothed enter the nave, he grinned from ear to ear, and Uncle Stephen had to restrain him from running down the aisle to claim his bride. The instant Sir William placed Charlotte’s hand on Barney’s arm, Bennet and Jane began the walk with Mary a few steps behind them. Like his younger brother had when he saw his bride, David’seyes locked onto Jane’s, and from that instant, he saw nothing else. Thanks to the sapphire chips sewn into the overlay of Jane’s sky-blue wedding gown, when they were hit by the weak January sun, they cast a kaleidoscope of light all over the sanctuary. Her veil, like her younger sister’s, was made from the same Belgium lace as Charlotte’s.
Even though Darcy thought the wait to see his Ellie had been interminable, she entered the nave on Wendell’s arm. As much as he only wanted to see Ellie, he could not but smile when he saw Giana walking upright and proudly behind Wendell and Ellie. Ellie’s wedding gown was made of a shimmering ivory fabric, and unlike her older sister, the translucent overlay did not have gems sewn into it.
Richard knew better than to try and restrain William when the latter moved into position to receive his bride before she arrived there.
Darcy watched as Wendell lifted the veil and bestowed a kiss on each of Ellie’s cheeks. Then his wait was over, his uncle by marriage placed Ellie’s delicate right hand on his arm. With Giana following, Darcy led Ellie up to stand next to Jane and David who were the centre couple.
Mr Kimble began the part of the liturgy which was common to all three couples. “Dearly beloved…”
The members of the three couples managed to recite their vows as required, but more than that, none of them would remember. Mr Kimble then pronounced Charlotte and Barney man and wife. He was followed by Mr Pierce who did so for the other two couples. There was much cheering in the sanctuary. As there were multiple brides, grooms, and witnesses, the register had been placed on a stand in the back corner of the altar. It did not take long for each to sign it. When it was Elizabeth’s turn to sign the register she signed Elizabeth Bennet-Wendell. From that moment on, and forevermore, she was to be Elizabeth Darcy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After two hours at the wedding breakfast, the three newly married ladies and their maids of honour went up to various chambers at Netherfield Park’s manor house to change. Elizabeth went to the one she had been using at the house.
Before they separated to join their new husbands in their carriage, the three ladies hugged. “Best friends and sisters,” Elizabeth stated.
Jane and Charlotte nodded.
There were many hugs, and not a few kisses with the family members who had come to see the newlyweds off. There were a few tears shed by the three mothers farewelling their daughters.
Soon enough, though not too soon for those departing, they all climbed into their respective coaches, and they were off.
Elizabeth lifted her emerald-green eyes to meet her husband’s deep blue ones. “Whatever else occurs, my life will never again be diverted by some criminal or any other for that matter,” she stated. “We will live together, safe under His protection and guidance.”
“Amen to that, Ellie. Amen to that,” Darcy responded and then proceeded to soundly kiss his bride.
Epilogue
Pemberley, April 1822
“Ellie, you have checked the arrangements for Giana’s wedding over and over again, Everything will be perfect,” Cilla told her daughter.
“I know, Mother, I want to make sure just one more time because this is William’s only sister, and after all, she is marrying my Bennet brother. That is why I must be more than sure everything is as it should be,” Elizabeth responded as her hand rested on her protruding stomach.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth was carrying the fourth child that she and William had been blessed with…so far.
Their first, a son, named Bennet Joseph had been born in February 1813. Like his mother and those family members closely related to the Wendells, he had the birthmark on his back just below his left shoulder. Following the Darcy tradition of using the mother’s maiden name for the heir, both Elizabeth and William, with agreement from her Wendell parents, had agreed that Wendell was not an ideal familiar name, hence, they had named him Bennet. Their eldest was called Ben by all.
Less than a year after Ben, Elizabeth had begun to miss her courses again. However, before she felt the quickening she had felt sharp pains in her belly followed by a considerable amount of bleeding. She had blamed herself and her penchant for walking and riding for the miscarriage, regardless of how many told her she was wrong and assured her it was one of thethings which ladies suffered from time to time. After a month of mourning what would not be and after long conversations with William and then Jane, Elizabeth had thrown off her self-indulgent behaviour and taken up her responsibilities in full once again.
