The group of riders returned, broke their fasts with Bennet, and went to change into their church clothes. Once everyone was ready, Fanny led James, Tom, and Georgiana to the church with the Gardiners. Bennet, Elizabeth, and Kitty waited in the entrance hall, joined by Jane and Mary resplendent in the wedding dresses that Madame Chambourg had created for them.
Both were variations of the exquisite gown Lizzy had worn. Jane’s was pale pink and Mary’s ivory. Bennet took a very deep breath as two of his beautiful daughters approached him. Jane took his right arm and Mary his left as Elizabeth and Kitty held their trains, and they walked the short distance to the Church.
Longbourn church’s rector was waiting to conduct the ceremony. Many of those present, who had also been at the Darcys’ wedding, were heard to say the ceremony was just as well done. The ceremony was soon over, and the newly married couples were escorted to the registry to sign the register.
As with so many blushing brides, both Jane and Mary felt just a little sadness as they signed the name Bennet for the final time.
Once the two newlywed the couples emerged from the registry, their waiting family gathered around them to offer congratulations. The rest of the invited guests were waiting for them in Longbourn’s ballroom.
“I have a sister again.” Louisa Hurst looked up into Jane’s eyes, hers filled with tears of joy and sisterly love long missed.
“No, you have a bunch of sisters and brothers now!” Jane told her as she hugged Louisa.
“I have two daughters, at long last.” The Countess wrapped Mary in a second hug.
“I am happy to share Mary with you, Elaine, especially as I finally gain Richard as a son.” Fanny smiled up at Richard and he bent down and kissed her cheek as he had a hundred times before and would a thousand times more.
“Fanny, I am overjoyed you, Thomas, and all of your children are now all family in fact as well as in feeling. What fun we will have during the holidays to celebrate all of our blessings together.” Elaine forced herself to let go of Mary and took Fanny’s arm, holding her close as one always does their dearest friend.
“Here here. I second that thought wholeheartedly,” the Earl professed. “Bennet and I have been like brothers ever since our days at Trinity College. Mary is my daughter now too, and Lizzy, Jane, and Kitty are my nieces and the twins my nephews in fact but have always been daughters and sons of my heart.
“Marie was an only child, so I am sure she likes having gained so many sisters and brothers today. William and Georgie have always been treated like they were our children, and now they are brother and sister to my boys. And Anne, our niece held from us for too long, now will have family visiting her and helping with whatever she needs. What a great day.”
“No need for one of your House of Lords speeches now, Reggie,” Bennet ribbed his friend, “I suggest we all go to the house so we can toast each other’s happiness with champagne.” At Bennet’s suggestion, the party started to make its way toward the house, the newlyweds bringing up the rear.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As they walked Bingley turned to his wife and met her eyes for a moment and once again watched where they were going as he guided her towards the manor house.
“I give thanks to God on High every day that you decided to love me and accept me as your husband. The grace and class all of you have demonstrated in the way you have treated both Louisa and me is unfathomable, and so much more than most other members of theTonwould have done.” He raised his hand to stay Jane’s protestation they had done nothing special. “That is why you and your family are so very special, each of you judge a person by who they are, by their actions rather than arbitrary and capricious societal dictates. For that, I will be forever grateful my dearest wife.”
“You are my one and only. The more I got to know you, the more I fell in love with you and saw I would never be happy unless you were my husband. I love you so very dearly, my Charles,” Jane promised softly, holding his arm slightly tighter to punctuate her words and Bingley in turn drew her closer to his side so they were as close as possible while they walked.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Mary, I am so very glad your parents relented and allowed us to marry without waiting the original six months. You have been my love for many years now. You are the love of my life, my darling wife. My soul’s mate,” Richard spoke quietly to his wife, for while the other couple was a few paces away, the moment was hers alone.
“I feel exactly the same way about you, Richard. And I am so very excited we will be going to the Lake District for our wedding trip. I have always wanted to see it. How long will we be with Lizzy and William at Pemberley on our way home?” Mary inquired.
“As we will be returning there in December, we will rest there for but three days before we make the journey to Netherfield Park. I still cannot fathom that your parents gifted us with the estate,” Richard admitted.
“It will be good to see Pemberley again. And we will see Jane and Charles on their trip from Seaview to Pemberley when they break the trip at Longbourn. When all three of us married Bennet girls are back together, we will have to compare notes to see who is the happiest,” Mary replied teasingly.
“My father was so right, I am beside myself that William and I are finally brothers, and now look at all of the sisters and brothers I have gained.” He gazed out over the group making their way to one of their homes, this time Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The two newlywed couples were announced to the assembled crowd celebrating their nuptials as they entered Longbourn’s ball room. Both brides glowed when they heard themselves being announced with their married title as Mrs., leaving behind the appellation of Miss forever.
About three hours into the celebration, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam changed into travelling attire, and after some tears and many hugs and kisses, departed for their wedding trips.
The Bingleys made for the new Bingley House, two houses down from the Gardiners on Portman Square in Town, and the Fitzwilliams headed north to the first inn of the three and one half day journey to the house owned by the Darcys. It overlooked Lake Windermere, the largest of the lakes, and had a good view of both the small Esthwaite Water and the larger Coniston Water.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After waving goodbye until the carriages were no longer visible, the family returned to the ball room with the Bennet parents bringing up the rear. Fanny had tears in her eyes and her husband knew, as happy as she was for her girls, saying goodbye to three of them as they left home in the last month was not easy. He too felt the loss acutely and understood well what his wife was feeling.
“I know you are forlorn sending Jane and Mary to their new lives with their husbands. We can rejoice all three of our married girls have made love matches, just like we did Fanny. That is a rare thing for any parents and comes with so many joys we will share with them in the future.” He gently pulled her to his side as he wrapped his arms lovingly about her. Bennet looked down at his Fanny with the same love he had since their marriage, love that had only grown deeper with time, and because of their follies had the strength that few experienced.
