They then had a discussion about timing and the location of the wedding. The couple decided they would marry in three weeks after the banns were read, and they chose to marry from the Kympton Church, since they had found each other in Derbyshire.
Darcy sent an express to Sir William Lucas and dispatched a coach and attendants to transport the Lucas family to Pemberley when they were ready to make the trip. That saved his friend Elliot the trip to and from Hertfordshire and the dreaded departure from Charlotte’s side.
Once the rest of the party were apprised of the plans, everyone agreed they would stay at Pemberley until the wedding. The Earl of Matlock sent an express to the parson at the living he bestowed in Matlock with a request he come perform the ceremony and was sure it would not be an issue because his parson was a good friend of Elliot’s.
At the same time, Elliot sent an express to his father, Sir Everett Elliot, to share his glad tidings. He requested his father inform the family and join them at Pemberley five days before the wedding. He also requested his mother send the engagement ring his grandmother had bequeathed him so he could present it to his betrothed.
He was sure his father and mother, Lady Ilene, and the rest of his siblings would heartily approve of his Charlotte. He asked his mother to let Grace know she would soon have a mama and asked that someone accompany his daughter back to his house as soon as possible.
His family had started to despair he would ever marry again, yet in the space of but two days that had all changed. As he thought about his Charlotte, he acknowledged he was falling in love with her, but he would wait for her to arrive at the same point before telling her. He had no desire to put pressure on her to make a declaration she was not ready to make yet.
Charlotte Lucas was almost euphoric. Not only was she, one who had decided to go into service rather than be a burden on her family, engaged, she was going to have the joy of being a mother from her first day as Patrick’s wife.
The Darcys had told her their Twelfth Night Ball would double as an engagement ball for herself and her betrothed. Her life had changed so much in the space of days, changing what she saw as a bleak future into an eternity of happiness, respect, and love.
Yes, she had fallen in love with her betrothed. She decided to wait to tell him as she did not want to rush him if he was not yet in love with her. She had not yet met her soon to be daughter, but her heart was already expanding with love of her based on the way her father talked about her.
That night at the ball, Charlotte Lucas felt like a princess. Her maid had given her a delightful coiffure, Elizabeth and Jane’s French lady’s maids had worked magic with her gown, and to top it all off her best friend had lent her some of the Darcy jewels to wear. Charlotte pinched herself to make sure she was not dreaming, things like this did not happen to her, did they?
Her fiancé had warned her some of the local matchmaking mamas may resent her for usurping a position they had coveted for their own daughters ever since his year of mourning was complete, but none of that bothered Charlotte this night. She felt like she was floating among the clouds, and never had she enjoyed dancing as much as she did with her betrothed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Some days later, back in Meryton, Lady Sarah Lucas had all but fainted when her husband had shared the news with her. Like Charlotte, Lady Lucas had believed her oldest was well and truly on the shelf.
Rather she was engaged to the son of a baronet who was a very wealthy man, a landowner, and the father of a young daughter. She had to pinch herself to make sure she was not dreaming.
She was to become an instant grandmamma; her joy was boundless. She was a little upset Charlotte would not marry out of the Meryton Church where the first banns for her wedding would be read this Sunday but was mollified when she thought about not only travelling to stay at Pemberley, but in the magnificent coach that had just arrived in front of Lucas Lodge.
Not only had the Darcys sent a conveyance, but they had arranged the family’s stays along the way at no expense to the Lucases. Sir William had informed his wife that they would leave on Wednesday, which had them arriving at Pemberley on Saturday a week before the wedding.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Wednesday, Sir William, Lady Lucas, Frank, Maria, and young John Lucas all boarded the most comfortable conveyance they had ever seen or ridden in, and started the journey north.
On Saturday morning, as the coach crested the hill and gave them their first glimpse of the snow covered valley below, the five Lucases in the carriage could not believe the view that met them. They had known the Darcys were wealthy, but nothing prepared them for the view of the manor house that lay before them, and to a person they were shocked. The house looked palatial to them, it would to anyone who had never seen it, no matter their station and wealth.
“Lizzy is mistress of all of this?” asked a very awed Maria Lucas.
“Yes Maria, and they own three other estates and a house in town as well.” Sir William responded.
“I had no idea. I am so appreciative of Eliza and Mr. Darcy that they are hosting the wedding breakfast here in this magical setting for our Charlotte.” Lady Lucas tried to keep herself regulated as the swells of love for her daughter and their friends created great pressure in her breast and behind her eyes. Joy like this was a rare gift and she would never forget it.
“Look at the extent of the stables, Papa. They are as big as Longbourn’s. Do you think we will be able to ride?” Frank asked hopefully on his and his brother’s behalf.
“Weather permitting, Son. Charlotte told me in one of her letters the Darcys have sleighs, so mayhap you will be able to ride in one with them.” At the mention of sleighs, Sir William’s eleven-year-old son’s eyes lit up like a thousand candles were reflected in them.
“I cannot wait to see the house where Charlotte will live. She wrote to me it is a very comfortable situation and they will have more than enough servants. Do you suppose she has met her future daughter yet, my soon-to-be niece?” Maria asked hopefully. “Oh, I get to be an aunt.” She clapped happily, finally starting to believe it was all coming true.
Maria had not allowed herself to believe it so far, she had wanted it all too much, some might say. Her sister had long sacrificed for her, believing she was on the shelf, and this was a just reward.
“You know a Lieutenant in the militia would not be able to provide a fraction of what Charlotte’s betrothed has do you not, Maria?” Sir William looked down at her with an arched brow and a stern frown.
“Yes Papa, I promise I have been cured of chasing men in regimentals. I have talked to Mary and her husband Richard Fitzwilliam, and he did not sugar-coat the life I would have if I was stupid enough to marry an officer with no prospects,” Maria acknowledged, not enjoying reflecting on her foolishness when she had thought a man in a red coat, any man in a red coat would do.
“Then we will have to thank Richard, will we not Sarah.” Sir William smiled at his wife; the relief felt by them both.
“I could not agree more, William. Thank goodness you finally woke up, Maria. Just think how you could have been ruined by the likes of that wastrel Wickham whom Mr. Darcy sent to Marshalsea. You know we were only so worried because we love you and want you happy. We are not like some parents that think any match would suffice. But to answer your question, my dear girl, I assume by now Grace has been introduced to her soon to be Mama,” Lady Lucas predicted.
