Like they had so many times before when they were younger, Jane and Elizabeth fell asleep in the same bed that final night that they would be living in the house where they had been raised.
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In the morning while Mama, Aunt Maddie, and others fussed about, Jane and Elizabeth got dressed in the gowns created by Madame Chambourg, Lady Elaine’s modiste.
Before dressing, they followed the advice, which had been given to them by all of thosematrons who had previously said their vows, to have some food and drink to break their fasts. The spectre of a rumbling belly, or worse, fainting from hunger, in the middle of the ceremony made sure that no matter how nervous they were on this day, Jane and Elizabeth ate and drank as advised.
Jane was dressed in a sky-blue, empire-waisted silk gown with a sheer organza overlay. Her hair was coiffed by Mother’s lady’s maid, who had placed the tiara and the sapphire-tipped pins Andrew had gifted her to hold her hair. She also wore the sapphire engagement ring Andrew had presented her. On this day, it was on her right hand until Andrew slipped the wedding band on the relevant finger of her left hand. There was a set of matching earrings and a necklace which completed the jewellery she was wearing.
Elizabeth’s dress was the same design as Jane’s, except it was in a shade a little lighter than hunter green. Her hairpins were emerald-tipped and her ring, earrings and necklace were all adorned with emeralds with diamonds interspersed. Aunt Maddie’s maid had piled Elizabeth’s raven tresses on top of her head with tendrils hanging down the back and sides.
When they were ready, Fanny adorned Jane with her veil and repeated the process for Lizzy. “I am so very proud of both of you. I know you will have very felicitous, love, and respect-filled marriages.” A tear ran down Fanny’s cheek as she turned and left the bedchamber.
By the time Jane and Elizabeth glided down the stairs, it was only Papa waiting for them. Mama had joined the rest in walking to St Hugh’s Church in the Longbourn Village.
“I do not believe there have been more handsome brides anywhere,” Bennet stated, his voice gruff with emotion.
As they walked, both brides were happy they had settled the question of who would be their maids of honour by deciding that they would stand up for each other. Their soon-to-be brother, Richard, would do the honours for both grooms.
As they stood waiting in the vestibule, Elizabeth leaned over to Jane. “Had you not changed your personal philosophy, it is probable neither of us would be standing here today,” she whispered to Jane.
“You never know what God’s plan is.” It was all Jane said before the inner vestibule doors opened.
As soon as they stepped into the nave of the church, each holding one of her father’s arms, their eyes locked onto those of their beloved grooms, and all other thoughts faded away.
Epilogue
For their wedding trip, Jane and Hilldale could not but choose to rent the house where they had fallen in love, with one another. Hence, they enjoyed six weeks at Lakeshore House near Bowness-on-Windermere. Although Mother and Father offered the couple the use of their house, Jane and Hilldale had refused in favour of the house which held so many memories for them.
Without the author of this narrative revealing any salacious details, the couple did not do very much sightseeing while they were in residence. However, each evening, they sat and took refreshments, looking out over the lake towards Belle Isle on the very same veranda where Hilldale had first seen Jane and Lizzy. It was that day he had heard their conversation, which told him they were not anything like the women of theTonhe had been avoiding.
The more time Jane spent in Andrew’s company, the more she fell in love with him. For that reason, she did not miss interacting with the locals. All she needed was Andrew’s love covering her like a warm blanket.
Hilldale felt the same way; he could not get enough of his wife. Of one thing, he was certain: he and Jane would never be one of those married couples who lived separate lives once there was an heir and a spare. Until the day he was called home, Hilldale swore that he would never break the vows he spoke to Jane the day they married.
They could not but feel grateful to the Gardiners for first insisting that Jane join them and Lizzy, and allowing thempressure-free time to come to know one another. To them, the Gardiners would always have a special place in their hearts.
One of the few times they travelled—with Biggs and Johns manning the footmen’s bench—was to Grasmere. On this day, William Wordsworth was out and about. As a gift to Lizzy, Jane purchased two copies ofA Topographical Description of the Country of the Lakes in the North of England, which the author had originally published anonymously. Mr Wordsworth wrote a short note to Mrs Darcy and added his signature below it in one. The other he dedicated to the person Lady Hilldale requested.
As they would make a stop at Pemberley on their return from the Lakes, Jane would present the one book to Lizzy then.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The aforementioned sister and her husband had travelled south for their honeymoon. Darcy owned a house on a bluff near Brighton, aptly named Seaview Cottage. Although, as Elizabeth pointed out when she saw a house which rivalled Longbourn in size, ‘cottage’ was a misnomer.
The Darcys enjoyed a month at the house, only venturing into Brighton once. On that occasion they both agreed that the Regent’s Pavilion was far too gaudy and ostentatious for them.
Many a day would find the loving couple on the small beach in the very private cove below the house. The seawater reached the cove via a channel which took twists and turns and at some points was too narrow for any sort of boat to pass, making it invisible to those who may be sailing near the entrance. No one would dare approach the point where one could see down to the cove thanks to Thompson and his men ensuring compliance.
Even though Biggs and Johnshad been employed by Jane and Andrew, Darcy had added several former soldiers, sailors, and Royal Marines the pair had recommended. They were employed as footmen, guards, and outriders, among other tasks, under the purview of the ever-faithful Thompson.
On their way home, the Darcys had stopped first at Rosings Park to visit Charlotte and Richard. It was there they had received the news that Anne de Bourgh had gone to her final reward four days after the double wedding.
When Elizabeth and William protested about them not being notified, Richard and Charlotte had informed them that one of Anne’s final wishes had been that neither couple be notified of her passing while on their wedding trips. In addition, she had extracted a promise that she would only be mourned for a month, which was why there had been no black fabric draped on the estate’s gateposts when the Darcys arrived. A few days were spent with their sister and brother in Kent.
The next stop was at Longbourn, where Gigi had remained with her new sisters. During her sojourn at the Bennets’ estate, the three Bennet sisters and Gigi had become as close as sisters by blood. They also spent much time with Maria Lucas, who was now related to them through Charlotte’s marriage to Richard.
Seeing how sad the girls were to be separated, Elizabeth and William, with parental permission, invited the four girls to accompany them to Pemberley. Three of the four accepted with alacrity, while Mary demurred.
