“No Mary, not as yet,” Jane replied softly.
“Mama spoke to me the night before my wedding. What she imparted was all true and excellent advice. I will leave it to her to have that talk with the two of you, I would not usurp her pleasure at sharing the moment with you as she did with me. I promise you if you listen to her and apply what she tells you to your marriage, you will not go wrong.
“The only thing I will add is unlike we have heard matrons from the area postulate; the act is not unpleasant and something to beenduredat all. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The act is an extension of your love for each other, and as you both love your fiancés, I am sure you will enjoy and crave your private time with your husbands as much as I do with mine.” Telling her still maiden sisters thus only caused a slight blush on her own cheeks.
“Oh Lizzy, thank you. We were just a little nervous, but to see the way you glowed as you stepped down from the carriage along with what you told us dispels all of that anxiety for me,” Mary sighed in relief as she reached out and took one of Elizabeth’s hands.
“That is true for me as well. I am looking forward to Mama’s talk, and if I look half as happy being with Charles as you do with William then I will indeed be very happy,” Jane offered sincerely.
The sisters hugged each other tightly and left the chamber to join the rest of the family in the drawing room. On entering, Mrs. Darcy went to sit with her husband and by popular request the newlyweds, making sure to omit private information, told everyone about their time at Seaview Cottage.
Elizabeth first informed all who had not been there that ‘cottage’ was a misnomer. The Fitzwilliams had stayed at Seaview Cottage a number of times, and when the Darcys extended the invitation to anyone who would like to, to use the house freely when it was available, the Fitzwilliams related the pleasure they had experienced when they holidayed at the house.
The newly married Darcys, Bingley, and Jane were seated together and conversing. After a few minutes, Jane requested of the Darcys if the Bingleys could stay at Seaview for four weeks following their sojourn of a sennight after their wedding in the newly acquired Bingley Town house on Portman Square.
Permission was immediately and happily granted, and Darcy retired to Bennet’s study to write an express to Mrs. Spencer so she would have the house ready for the Bingley’s arrival in a little more than a sennight.
Conversation then turned to Anne when someone asked what her plans were after the upcoming events. “I will be returning to Rosings Park. Thanks to Uncle Reggie and Cousin Andrew, I now have a very competent steward and any remaining servants that were loyal to Lady Catherine have been weeded out.
“I will, of course, then be joining the family at Pemberley in December as Cousin Lizzy was so generous to invite me, and I hope all of you will join me for Easter this year rather than just William and Richard. I want you to come help me make some positive memories at Rosings Park,” she invited hopefully.
“I think this is a grand idea, Niece. I speak for Aunt Elaine and myself in saying we will join you with pleasure.” The Earl smiled lovingly at his niece. “My suspicion is visiting Rosings Park shall no longer be a chore.”
“Even though my Thomas will not be home until the morrow with the boys, I can tell you with certitude Anne, that the Bennets I can speak for remaining under my roof will be there as well.” Fanny smiled sadly as she scanned the room.
The Darcys and the soon to be married couples also accepted. The Hursts, who had not been sure if the invitation included them, were invited directly by Anne so there was no doubt. Anne then asked for the Gardiner’s direction so she could invite them. Anne sighed in pleasure as the first house party in over a decade was starting to come together and she was revelling in her much-expanded family circle.
“I just knew you would love Seaview Cottage, Lizzy. How many of your visits to Snowhaven did we not hear you lament our estate was so far from the coast?” the Countess teased Elizabeth.
“You are correct, Aunt Elaine. We did a lot of sea bathing so I will be satisfied until we return there next year. William and I have promised one another we would be there for at least two weeks every year.” She smiled lovingly at her husband then again looked at their aunt.
“Uncle Reggie and I are so happy you are now our niece, Lizzy. It has been many years that we have counted your brothers and sisters as nieces and nephews. Now in less than two days I will be able to count a Bennet as a daughter.” Elaine looked at Richard and Mary and could not help but smile.
“No happier than I will be to be your daughter, Aunt Elaine. I will soon go from having three brothers to having seven,” Mary teased her.
“Seven Mary, I count six?” Richard looked at his betrothed in confusion.
“I think you forgot Mr. Hurst. Charles will be my brother, and Mr. Hurst is his brother, so therefore he will be our brother as well.” She looked between them playfully.
“You must all call me Harold then. I am so very touched that you will think of me in such a way, thank you, to all of you,” Hurst cleared his throat as he was overcome with gratitude.
As her husband said this, a tear rolled down Louisa Hurst’s cheek at the complete acceptance given by people who would be justified to never acknowledge them. She again gave thanks to God her life had taken such a good turn. Their truest gift was sharing their Jane with them, but the love and acceptance they offered was a close second.
Andrew Fitzwilliam stood and held his wife Marie’s hand, waiting until he had the attention of the room, which because it was so out of character was not long. “We have an announcement we would like to make. Marie is with child; she felt the quickening yesterday,” Andrew reported joyfully.
The announcement led to a round of hearty congratulations, especially from an overjoyed Countess at the thought of her second grandchild. Soon after the congratulations died down, Hill announced dinner was served.
After dinner and entertainment, the Netherfield Park party returned thither. Bingley had ordered the packing up of his and the Hurst’s belongings to be carted to their respective homes in town on Friday morning so Netherfield Park would be ready for the newly married Fitzwilliams belongings to move in as their own cart departed for London.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As expected, Bennet, Tom, and James arrived in the latter part of the afternoon on Thursday. The Darcys, joined by the Gardiners, Kitty, James, and Tom Bennet dined at Netherfield Park so the two brides would have some peaceful time with their parents before they left Longbourn behind on the morrow.
Fanny Bennet’s talk with Jane and then Mary went as it had with Lizzy, and they were especially receptive after the talk they had had with Lizzy. And like Lizzy, nothing Mrs. Bennet said made her daughters nervous or apprehensive, they were, after all, very educated, intelligent, and informed young women. And they were very much looking forward to the marriage bed armed with the imparted wisdom of both their mother and their married sister.
Later that evening the four Bennets had a nice dinner, after which Mary and Jane entertained their beloved parents with some music. The party who had been dining at Netherfield Park returned before ten o’clock.
Before everyone left for their chambers to sleep, or at least try to due to the anticipation for the double wedding on the morrow, Jane asked Lizzy and Mary to join her in her bedchamber once they arrived upstairs and both stated that they would be in soon.
