For expediency’s sake, Bennet invited both men to join him in his study. “This may seem untoward, but as my daughters and the Gardiners have unreservedly recommended both of you in their letters, I bestow my blessings for both marriages. Had I any doubt about your characters or my daughters’ desires to have you as their husbands, these interviews would have been separate and much longer.” Bennet sat back in his chair; his fingers interlaced over his belly.
“In that case, on behalf of my cousin and myself, I thank you,” Hilldale replied as he bowed his head to his father-in-law-to-be. “Please address me as Hilldale, and he is Darcy.”
“And you may call me Bennet. I do not require that you call me Father; however, I believe my wife will enjoy beingcalled Mother, or Mother Bennet, depending on,” he looked at Hilldale, “how you address your own mother.”
The cousins shook Bennet’s hand.
“We will make for Town in a few days to have our solicitors write the settlement papers. It would be good if Jane and Lizzy were able to join the party,” Hilldale suggested. “They have seen our estates, but this will allow them to become familiar with their houses in London and acquire clothing they need to add to their trousseaus. We will, of course, not sleep in the same house as them, as I suspect they will be hosted at Matlock House.”
“I see no reason to refuse such a trip,” Bennet agreed. “Have you settled on a wedding date yet?”
“We have discussed a double wedding between us, but not a date,” Darcy replied. “Until we had your blessings, we did not want to take that precipitous step. With your leave, we will discuss dates with our betrotheds. Do you have a preference as to when?”
“I do not. I would ask you to have the banns called. That way anyone who thinks it is a patched-up affair will be silenced, given that the notice of your engagements appeared a fortnight past,” Bennet responded.
“We will discuss this with Jane and Lizzy. As soon as we choose a date, we will pass the information on to you and Mother Bennet,” Hilldale said.
Bennet watched the men who would carry away his two eldest daughters leave his study. He could not have wished for better men than the two cousins, and besides, Lizzy had waxed eloquently about the library at Pemberley. He would visit that estate as much as he was able.
Before the men departed for Netherfield Park, the date of the twentieth day of August was setfor the double wedding.
Fanny would have preferred more time to prepare a fête which she imagined would be commensurate with what men like those marrying her two eldest would expect. As it was not what either her daughters or the men they were engaged to desired, Fanny held her peace and said nothing.
It was her daughters’ wedding, so she would not make it all about herself as she would have done in the past.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the coaches carrying those who had proceeded on to Netherfield Park arrived, Lord and Lady Matlock were thrilled to be met by Richard and his betrothed when the lead coach came to a halt.
“Mother and Father, it is my honour and pleasure to present to you the lady I love and intend to marry in a few days, the first Wednesday in August,” Fitzwilliam stated matter-of-factly. “As a reminder, this is Mrs Charlotte née Lucas. Charlotte, you remember my parents, Lord Reginald and Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, who you are to call Mother and Father. That young sprite, no doubt pouting because she did not remain at Longbourn, is our cousin, Georgiana Darcy, who we all call Gigi. The lady with her is her companion, Mrs Annesley.”
Lady Matlock did not wait for a curtsy; she pulled her soon-to-be daughter-in-law into a warm hug. “Thank you for loving my son,” she said next to Charlotte’s ear.
“He is very easy to love,” Charlotte responded.
“Anne is waiting for us within, and no, Charlotte is not residing here. She is sleeping at Lucas Lodge. Her parents and brothers will join us at Longbourn for dinner. In that way, you will be able to meet them too,” Fitzwilliam revealed.
“How is Anne?” Matlock asked as they made their way towards the front doors.
“Weak, but she was determined to make this journey,” Fitzwilliam replied. “She refuses to miss our wedding. If Andy and William happen to get married soon, then I am sure Anne will be well pleased.” He looked around. “By the way, where are my brother and cousin?”
“At Longbourn. They wanted to discuss things with Jane and Lizzy’s father before any more time passed,” Matlock related. “There was no date set before, but they may have done so before they arrive here.”
As they had not seen Anne for some time, the Fitzwilliam parents and Gigi were shocked to see how weak and sickly she looked. No matter how many times they had been told what to expect, when they saw her, it had not prepared them for the reality. There was no question that Anne was not long for the mortal world.
“I know I am a sight to see, but I am very glad that I am here to see all of you,” Anne managed. She needed to get her breath back before she spoke again. “Andy and William?”
Matlock explained where the two were. Then, he, his wife, his niece, and her companion followed the housekeeper to their suites.
“We will speak once I have changed,” Lady Matlock told Charlotte.
Even though it had not been a request, after everything Richard had told her about his parents, Charlotte was more than happy to come to know them much better, and for them to deepen their acquaintance with her.
While the others were in their chambers, Hilldale and Darcy arrived at Netherfield Park. When they entered the drawing room, the reunion between the two brothers and the cousin was everything warm. Darcy greeted Mrs Charlotte, while Hilldale was introduced tohis brother’s affianced.
The newly arrived men were also shocked to see Anne’s state. The latter was very pleased when they informed her of the date for their wedding.
Anne lifted her eyes to the heavens. ‘Please God, give me one more month. I really want to see Andrew and William marry as well. It is your decision, so I place myself in your hands,’ she prayed. ‘Once I have witnessed Andy and William marrying, I will be ready to come to your side.’
