He was reminded that with Pemberley less than an hour away by horseback, his cousin, soon to be his brother, would always assist as needed. The older men were suitably impressed at how quickly Richard had made the transition from military to civilian life. Bennet was happy to see that his son was a hands-on landowner, though given his leadership skills he could see how he could easily transition to the tasks of a landowner.
“‘Tis the season for double weddings,” Richard opined. “I am very happy Anne has found love and felicity. It is still hard for me to accept what that insane harridan of an aunt of ours was willing to do to her own daughter.” Richard’s face darkened, wishing he could call his aunt out as what she had perpetrated was unacceptable treatment of any human being. Even prisoners of war were treated better.
“Do not forget that there will be a third wedding when Charlotte marries Elliot, and remember,allof you that she does not want to be called Mrs Collins if it can be helped,” Darcy informed all men present. “In addition, I have verified with Elliot that he sees no disrespect, only respect for the wishes of a woman, like Anne, who has suffered far more harshly than we would endure. I had heard some of Charlotte’s miseries when she visited Pemberley. When Lizzy happened to be out walking, I would see her sitting and crying thinking that she was alone. When I noticed her suffering, I would not intrude. Please, respect her wishes to call her Charlotte if it is not absolutely necessary to call her by his surname. What I saw horrified me enough to consider offering to pay to get her marriage annulled or at least legally return her name. I almost contacted my cousin Archie, but I have learnt my lesson about interfering in other’s lives.”
The men winced as they considered what would cause Darcy to react so strongly and it was fortunate for the parson that he was reaping what he sowed in hell, or they would have made him wish he was.
“At least none of you behaved as I did,” Darcy was still mortified when he remembered that he had acted in any way similar to his disgraced aunt.
“I cannot imagine you behaving badly?” Birchington said with a frown.
“You do not know the half of it…” Darcy winced then recounted an abbreviated version of his past hypocrisy and behaviour for Hugh.
“The main thing is that you corrected your course, William. Mary has told me that Lizzy will not do that which is abhorrent to her, so the fact that she has accepted you tells me all I need to know,” Birchington nodded at his friend. “Like your Lizzy says, let the past remain where it should, in the past. All any of us can do is regulate ourselves today and make sure that we behave as we should in the future.”
“Elizabeth has shared similar words with me and I have moved on, but every now and again I get maudlin when something reminds me of my past idiocy,” Darcy shared
“Just remember to always make my girls happy, you three, and if I may offer a free piece of advice?” Bennet glanced around and they were all focused on him, even the one who had already claimed his bride. “If circumstances change, for good or bad, be honest with your wives. As some of you know the woman my Fanny was, she changed the day I admitted she was never going to the hedgerows regardless of the entail. It was my fault alone that caused her anxiety every day.
“Son, you were long forgiven for a few months of less than favourable behaviour. My shame lasted years, far too long but Fanny has forgiven me. If I could not forgive myself, I could not have become the husband she deserves. You need to do so,get over it, as they say in our former colonies, and just be the man she deserves. Crying over spilled milk cleaned up days before does no one any good unless it is, of course, done in front of the Queen.” He charged his son and his soon to be sons.
“Yessir!” was heard from all, and with that they went back to asking the bachelors not yet relieved of the title if they needed any advice.
In their sitting room, Jane was asked about her estate and how she was adjusting to life there. The four of them were excited that when they were resident at their estates, they would not be far from one another. The parsonage was the closest to Lizzy followed by Jane at Brookfield, Mary’s new home, the estate of Birchington, was only a little over five and twenty miles east of Pemberley in Nottinghamshire. They hoped that, for their parent’s sake, the three younger sisters, when they married, would live closer to Longbourn.
Jane and Lizzy told Mary that with their parents’ permission, the income from both Bennet Park and Fields would be pooled and used to fund more projects like the school, orphanage, and hospital that had been funded by the Bennet’s foundation near Meryton. Neither of the Bennet girls nor their partners needed the income, so by mutual agreement the clause in Jane’s marriage contract had been changed to reflect that fact.
Both estates’ income had nearly been cut in half as big swaths of the land of each had been annexed to Longbourn after the entail had been broken. Longbourn’s income now exceeded five and twenty thousand pounds a year after the adjustment with all of the added land. Longbourn would be inherited by the first-born grandson, who would have the title Viscount Meryton. The other two estates would go to the first two sons born who did not inherit an estate from his father. Unless the Darcy’s had five sons, none of theirs would have the need as besides Pemberley Darcy owned three other estates.
In preparation for an assault on Bond Street on the morrow, and visits to Madame Chambourg’s which would be closed for two to three days to the general public, the ladies of all of the related houses were in bed relatively early that night after a musical performance of works by Beethoven’s, including Für Elise and Moonlight Sonata. It still took some getting used to for Jane to be so close to Bennet House but not staying there, though she could not repine either the activity in their bed or the man that shared it with her.
Chapter 33
Not one negative response to an invitation to the double wedding that would be solemnised at Westminster Abby and officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury was received. The wedding ball had been coordinated with the Duchess of Kent, representing Her Majesty the Queen.
A mountain of clothing and all relevant accessories was purchased. The wedding and the wedding breakfast were planned, verified, then checked again. The seating for the celebratory meal had been arranged to make sure that acquaintances were seated close one to the other. The Royals that attended would sit on the raised platform with the brides, grooms, and their parents, though Bennet had teased his wife that it made him the only one being required to sit with company he didn’t prefer at his own daughter’s wedding.
“Object again, Thomas, and I’ll sit you next to the Queen rather than asking so of the Duchess though they are second cousins!” Fanny arched a brow at him.
“If I may offer a bit of advice, Father Bennet?” Richard rested his hand on Bennet’s shoulder. “Concede and retreat slowly,” Richard winked at his mother-in-law who filled the room with delighted laughter.
The days designated for preparation and shopping had flown by. There had been a few social activities which included a play, one of Lady Elizabeth’s favourites,The Taming of the Shrew, and an opera, but other than that all times of the day were used for organisation and planning. Darcy did manage to ‘steal’ his betrothed for a walk in the park once or twice and he managed to survive her mother’s displeasure, mostly unscathed, at her daughter not being present. The Bennets had brought Mr and Mrs Hill and their most valuable kitchen staff to assist Mrs O’Grady and Mr Thatcher with all that would need to occur over the coming days at Bennet House.
The Lord Chamberlain and the Duchess of Kent were consulted to make sure that all current protocols would be observed with respect to the Royal attendance at both the ceremony and the meal after. Every contingency had been planned for and both locations would be secured by the Royal Guard, a large number of armed guards dressed as footmen, and Richard’s old unit commanded by General Atherton. With so much to do, the rest of July flew by and before they knew it, it was time to fulfil a promise to their daughter and make the journey to Janet’s Well.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Less than twenty miles away from Janet’s Well at Ashbury, the two brides were meeting with Lady Ashbury and the housekeeper to go over the arrangements one more time, as the first guests would arrive in three days. Because of Andrew’s close friendship with both grooms, the betrothed gentlemen and the rector who would perform the ritual, Mr Benjamin Harrison, would stay at Sherwood Park, as would the Hilldales. He had made the introduction that had led to the match between Granville and Lady Sarah after all. The soon to be brides, the newlywed Fitzwilliams, the Matlocks, the Ashbury family, and friends would stay at Ashbury. The Jerseys, Bedfords, Longbourns, and some other friends would be hosted at Amberleigh. Rather than a pre-wedding ball, there would be a dinner for all of the guests two nights before the wedding held at Amberleigh.
Anne felt as if she had taken flight and was soaring on the wings of angels. For a long period of her life she had not been sure that she would live, never mind find such love, respect, and felicity. She thought back to when she was in Town to purchase her trousseau and her appointment with Sir Frederick Gillingham. His pronouncement that she had as much chance as any to bear children had been an indescribable relief to Miss de Bourgh. She had never discussed her fears with her betrothed, had in fact determined that if it was confirmed that she was incapable of having children that she would release her beloved from the betrothal. She thanked God daily that she was not required to have that particular conversation with the love of her life or break either of their hearts.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Helen Jacobson was almost bouncing up and down with excitement as the three carriages passed the gate announcing she was again on the property of her childhood. She was beyond excited to see her papa and Tim. Her guardians had prepared her well for what she would see when she again saw her father. She was very well aware that he would not look as she remembered him, but despite their warnings, she had not expected the frail looking man sitting in a bath chair that waited for her with Tim. Luckily still in the carriage with Lizzy, Lydia, and Darcy, her gasp was not heard by the two in her family she had long missed.
“They are the only two that love you more than we do. They need to see you love them as much as they do you. There will be a time for sadness Helen, but it is not now. We will cry with you all night if that is what you need to do. But for the moment, let them see how happy you are to see them, not the sadness,” Lydia squeezed her sister’s hand.
“Thank you, Lyddie,” Helen squeezed her sister’s hand in return and as soon as the steps were in place and the door was opened, she flew into her brother’s arms. Both were overwhelmed by the emotions of the meeting, as was their father who, with the aid of two footmen, stood and hugged his daughter. All three Jacobsons were crying while her new family kept a respectful distance.
