Before either couple realised it, they heard him intone:
“Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.”
After the vicar gave the final benediction, it was done, they were married and all that was left was the signing of the register.The couples both signed the parish register, each bride penning her former last name for one final time. It was not many minutes later that they exited the vestry and were mobbed by their family with wishes for many years of joy and felicity. After many hugs, kisses, and welcomes to the various families, the two newly married couples followed their relatives back to Ashbury for the wedding breakfast. In the blink of an eye, Harry Smythe had gone from affectively no family to being part of a large and varied one. He knew that his parents were smiling down on him from their heavenly home.
“Your Graces, My Lords, and Ladies, ladies, and gentleman, it is my great honour to announce Lord and Lady Granville, and the Honourable Mr and Mrs Ian Ashby.” Both brides were thrilled when they heard Ashbury’s butler announce them by their married names to the waiting revellers.
As was to be expected, neither couple had very much to eat or drink, so Charlotte, having left the celebration unnoticed, went to request that a hamper with a selection of the wedding feast delights be placed in each of the newlywed’s carriages. Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock hugged her niece, grateful that this time she could actually have a moment with her rather than being required to so quickly let someone else claim her.
“Anne, my dear, your papa would have been so very proud of his little girl today. He loved you so very, very much. I only wish that he had been with us this day to walk you down the aisle himself,” the Countess told Anne as she squeezed her niece’s hand.
“I am sure that he is smiling down on me and that he approves of my husband. He knew what he was doing when he picked Uncle Reggie to act in his stead if he did not live to see this day. They were, after all, great friends,” Anne said. The Countess could not but agree as she wiped the single tear off of Anne’s cheek.
“When do you and your Ian leave for your wedding trip, Anne?” the Countess smiled mischievously as she knew that the wedding breakfast was, at least in part, too long before she had been able to escape with her Reggie the day she married.
“We will leave directly from here for Seaview Cottage. It is very lucky for us that William and Lizzy will not be using it after their wedding. It helps that Lizzy’s family owns a ship for their personal use, so I believe they will not miss the Brighton area,” the glowing bride replied drolly, making her aunt laugh in that rich, sultry tone all turn toward.
“It certainly does not hurt that they own a ship for their personal use.” She kissed her niece’s cheek. “I will let you attend more of your guests so that you might depart even a few minutes sooner, but not before your uncle and I get to hug you again,” she warned Anne, who in return laughed as she promised it would be so. Anne then went to her husband’s side as he had patiently waited, knowing that Lady Elaine was far more a mother figure for his Anne than the lady who had squandered that right.
Two hours later Lady Sarah Smythe said her goodbyes to the guests, then to her brothers and sisters, and lastly her parents. The Earl and his new Countess needed to leave earlier as they headed north to the first inn on the four and a half day’s journey to the Lake District. They would be enjoying the hospitality of a house jointly owned by the Fitzwilliams and the Darcys, which overlooked Lake Windermere, the largest in the lake district, and had a good view of both the small Esthwaite Water and the larger Coniston Water. After the Granville coaches disappeared from view, the maudlin Lord and Lady Ashbury returned to the breakfast with their sons and daughters. They were happy for Sarah, but nonetheless, would miss her. About four minutes later, the empty chair at the table next to her where her daughter had been, was filled when the Countess of Longbourn sat down with Lady Ashbury.
“I have done this once already, am about to do it twice more, and have three more anxious to make a splash with theTon. I am not sure which of us is more to be pitied, but if you want another daughter you can pick any one of mine,” Lady Longbourn teased as she waved at the group of them gathered and Lady Ashbury laughed with her.
“I am not sure which would be harder, losing one or having six to let go,” she said wistfully, taking Fanny’s hand when it was offered. “Any advice?”
“Thomas told me to update the nursery with the idea of spoiling grandchildren more than any of our children were,” Fanny whispered conspiratorially with Lady Ashbury, and it was to the surprise of all that Lady Ashbury’s high, sweet laugh filled the entirety of the hall. Lord Ashbury stood with the men on the other side, then arched a brow at Lord Longbourn in question.
“I believe my wife is telling yours that she has a finite number of months to update the nursery and redecorate for grandchildren,” Bennet offered dryly and the men filled the hall with their deep, pleasing laughs, changing the tone of the affair and helping those still remaining to enjoy the time they could claim with family and friends, old and new.
With the distance to Seaview Cottage a little under fifty miles, Anne and Ian Ashby departed about an hour after the Smythes. The group seeing them off was much larger than the previous couple as Anne had a large extended family contingent present. It took almost a half hour for the farewells that included happy tears, much hugging, and kisses for Anne, handshakes and back slapping for her husband. Eventually the newlyweds were able to escape into the lead carriage, and with a tap on the roof the conveyance was put in motion.
As they stood watching the carriages disappear from view, Darcy applied pressure to his betrothed’s hand; she turned and looked up into his eyes. “Our turn now.” He smiled down at her, his palpable excitement and intensity making her breath hitch.
Lady Elizabeth again looked at the departing carriages and said, “Do you not wish that we were having a small wedding from Longbourn rather than be part of the behemoth that has been planned?”
“You know that I could never deny you anything, my lovely Elizabeth,” he reminded her, his murmur full of infinite love for the woman of his dreams. “If that is your desire, I will claim that it is too hard for me to marry in front of so many and I do not want a huge wedding.” He lifted each of her ungloved hands and kissed them on both the back and the palm. “Say the word and it will be so. As long as I can marry you, Elizabeth, I care not if it is Westminster Abbey or a barn. All I need is you and me, a few of those closest to us, and a member of the clergy.”
Lizzy knew that he meant what he said; that he would take the blame on his shoulders and incur the possible wrath of the royals to protect her and make her happy. ‘I love him all the more for being so willing to do that for me, but it is too late. Mary has agreed and adjusted all her plans to include me, and I will not do this to Mama after all of the work that she has put in for that day; it would be too selfish of me,’ she berated herself for her perceived selfishness.
“No, William. It is not only that I do not want to delay longer, I want to marry you as planned and all will be well. Considering all that has been done to include us when we looked for the most expedient answer the day you proposed, it was very selfish of me to even voice the thought. But it means much to me that you were willing to make such a huge sacrifice for me, no matter the ramifications.”
“You must know that I would lay down my life for you if it were required, my love. There is no sacrifice too great for you and your happiness,” he vowed, the depth of which would be echoed when they said their vows in church, but could not be eclipsed. Not caring who was watching she elevated herself onto her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on his lips.
“You are a very dear man who I love above all, but speak no more of laying down your life for mine or my happiness. I do not want to imagine a world where I am in which you are not. I would neither care to live in such a world nor be happy should I be required to!” Elizabeth reminded him that she loved him as much as he did her. Her father cleared his throat and it was only then that she noticed most of the focus of the farewell party was now on them.
“Have you never seen a woman kiss the man that she was to marry in a matter of days before?” Elizabeth challenged, her head held high and her fine eyes shining. She would never feel embarrassment for showing affection to her William, who for her was a prince among men.
“That is our Lizzy!” someone proclaimed with the smattering of laughter caused by her impertinent glare in response.
As the celebratory meal drew to a close, those invited to the wedding the following week headed for Town while the rest departed for their homes and estates. As it was only about five and twenty miles to travel, the Bennets, Darcys, Fitzwilliams, Rhys-Davies, and De Melvilles politely refused the offer to stay overnight and all left for their townhouses just after one in the afternoon. Once they were in the carriage, Helen was told that Tim would arrive in time for the ball the following week and stay until the day after the wedding so she would see him again much sooner than she had expected. The news, of course, extremely welcome.
Charlotte Collins too was set to have a very enjoyable time in London, or at least as much as was possible when one’s heart is somewhere where they are not, hers resided at a parsonage in Derbyshire. She had ordered a new wardrobe, including, for the first time, many items that would fend off the chills of the Derbyshire winter. There were fur-lined pelisses, coats, gloves and hats, even undergarments designed to keep the nether regions warm.
A minimum of two letters a week now passed between the betrothed couple. When she wrote she kept him updated about Gracie and May Gardiner, who had become quite inseparable. Charlotte had seen her daily and Grace relished the time spent with her Mama, but was always most excited to be with May, who was now her undisputed best friend and would remain so for the rest of their long lives.
Chapter 34
Nothing of consequence was done until after the Sabbath as they had returned to town on Friday evening. Once they reached Bennet House, Charlotte returned to stay with her longest and dearest friend for the few days that Eliza remained a single lady. Saturday was a day to recover from the emotional trip they had just completed, and for the brides-to-be to spend some quiet time with their families and betrotheds. Lord Longbourn joked with them that it was the proverbial calm before the storm. Monday they would be at the modiste for final fittings of their ball and wedding gowns. Before the trip to Surrey, both had ordered a multitude of garments which would be needed when they returned from their wedding trips. It was done with an eye toward the harsher climes of the north from where the grooms hailed. The girls not part of society were excluded from the wedding ball given as it was being held at St James and not at the home of a family member.
