Lizzy’s ball gown was a hunter green velvet, a truly magnificent Madame Chambourg creation. It was low cut, though not as low as many claimed was the current fashion, with an empire waist and a matching wrap to compliment it. Mary’s gown was as stunning, a creation of deep burgundy velvet with a slightly higher neckline but a more corset-like top and also had a matching wrap.
The wedding dresses were similar in style to Jane’s. Lizzy’s was cream silk with some gold infused thread, the transparent gossamer overlay contained emerald chips with a sprinkle of diamonds, her veil was adorned only with her beloved emeralds. Her sister’s dress was ivory silk with the gold thread. Her overlay had mostly ruby chips with some diamonds sprinkled in and the veil adorned with ruby chips. Each had matching hairpins, Lizzy’s emerald and diamond and Mary’s ruby and diamond tipped. They would sparkle from head to toe as they each would be wearing delicate satin slippers with their preferred gem on the shoe roses.
Thankfully the final fitting was behind them with no adjustments of note to be made to any of the dresses. Jane had been one of the ladies that accompanied the brides. It was still hard for her younger sisters to reconcile themselves to the fact that she no longer lived with them though none begrudged her the happiness that she had found with their brother Richard, but they did miss seeing their oldest sister on a daily basis.
When it was mentioned, Jane shook her head and reminded them they would all be living close by; the ones truly sad would be Mama and Papa and their three sisters. She told them that they each must rotate weeks to write so that the family in Hertfordshire would receive, at the very least, an epistle each week. Mary considered the plan and smiled as she looked at Jane, winking at her as she claimed that she would get to write to Lydia first. Lydia, who had eschewed letter writing before she went to school, was so observant that her letters were now the most detailed of their sisters.
The two couples who had married the previous week would not be able to attend the upcoming grand affair as they were on their wedding trips. Anne Ashby had mixed emotions about missing her cousin’s wedding. On the one hand she would have loved to have been there to support William as he had done for her, but on the other hand she was blissfully happy to be spending time alone with her new husband. Before departing from her wedding breakfast, Anne had extended a family-wide invitation to join her and Ashby at Rosings Park for Easter. It was important to her that now that she was so happy, new memories fill the halls of Rosings Park. Some, like her, would want to replace old ones; others would help her create completely new ones. Both options were most welcome.
The balance of the Lucas family arrived at Bennet House not long after the ladies had returned from shopping. Sir William and Lady Lucas were awed by all they saw within. They, their two sons, and their younger daughter were shown to their chambers by the housekeeper to rest for the hour before dinner.
As Sarah Lucas watched the unpacking of their items and the care of the chambers with all the essentials available in case something had been forgotten, she stared at the vanity and the stunningly beautiful hairpins in a box with her name on it and a note that almost overwhelmed her.“Sarah, I found these and could think of no one who could do these amber pins more justice than you. I hope they match the dress you described, Fanny.’For her husband new cuffs and a lapel pin had been gifted with a white, ivory, and silver design and he too choked up when he considered that Lord and Lady Longbourn held them in such esteem. Lady Lucas felt the complement of being included in the limited number of guests each family could invite to the ball at St James and in all of the pre-wedding activities. Lady Longbourn was her truest friend and she wished that she had realised it much sooner.
It was easy to see that the mistress of the house had so much that required her attention, so Sarah Lucas knew that she would not add to her friend’s burden and demand her time. She hoped that when the festivities were past she would be able to share more time with her hostess at home so that she may both enjoy Fanny Bennet’s friendship and be the friend that she deserved in return. Sarah Lucas ruminated as she and her husband acclimated to their suite which had more room than all of the bedchambers at Lucas Lodge combined. There was a maid for her and a man for him.
‘Every time I think I understand the scope of Bennet’s wealth, something always shows me that I have vastly underestimated it. This house is everything the Bennets deserve for their efforts and generosity displayed in Meryton of late,’ Sir William thought. He gazed at the crystal jars on his wife’s vanity with cremes and lotions, and for him a black onyx shaving station that would be exclusively for his use while there.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The day of the pre-wedding ball, the families of the brides and grooms scheduled long rest periods for the afternoon. All in society knew that balls at St James started very late and never ended before dawn and that one did not leave a ball thrown for them by the Queen early! Ladies Elizabeth and Mary were woken up by their maids, and after a relaxing bath infused with drops of lavender water and orange blossom respectively, they were dressed in their gowns.
Elizabeth’s ensemble was completed with a necklace of diamonds and emeralds that got steadily larger from both sides until they reached the emerald in the centre, which was huge. She had emerald earrings that matched the almost heart-shaped emerald in the centre of her necklace, an emerald bracelet and a tiara covered in diamonds and emeralds. Her Abigail made an exquisite coiffure that allowed the tiara to feature prominently with a number of alluring curls hanging down against her neck in the rear just like a certain gentleman loved.
Mary’s pieces of jewellery were the exact same as Lizzy’s except she wore her preferred rubies and her tiara had a ruby in the centre that matched the one in the necklace.
While Jane, Charlotte, Lady Longbourn, and Lady Gardiner had all seen the dresses, there was a collective gasp and then silent awe when Lizzy and Mary descended to their betrotheds and their respective families waiting for them in the entrance hall. Both William and Hugh watched in awe as Lizzy and Mary came down about ten steps then they rushed up to assist their ladies for the remainder of the descent. As they led their intendeds down, neither could believe that he had won the hand of such a lady.
Given the road he and Elizabeth had travelled, Darcy was especially appreciative of the fact that he was standing next to and sharing the moment with the woman that he loved to distraction and who, against all the odds and misunderstandings, loved him back.
“My Lizzy and Mary,” Lady Longbourn broke the silence, “even were this not a ball in your honour, you would capture the attention of all in attendance.”
“Thank you, Mama.” Mary blushed as she slid her hand into the crook of her beloved’s arm.
Waiting in the hall with Darcy and Birchington were the Fitzwilliam and Rhys-Davies families. Included with the Rhys-Davies family were their two married daughters, one was married to a Marquess and the other an Earl, all of whom had arrived in town the day before the ball.
“Hugh,” the Duke said as he took his soon to be daughter’s hand and bestowed a kiss on it, “I hope that you realise how lucky you are to be marrying this lady.” He winked at Mary then arched a look at his son with the warning plain for all to read.
“As lucky as I am!” All assembled knew to what Darcy referred.
“No matter how we started, I am the lucky one now.” Lizzy squeezed her William’s hand, then bestowed a kiss on his cheek not caring that it was in front of all of the watching party.
“I, of course, know it is you,” Mary teased her Marquess, thereby diverting attention from Elizabeth’s and William’s moment to allow her sister privacy. Everyone laughed, especially her father-in-law who looked at Bennet and grinned.
“Yes, yes, we all know how lucky all of you are, but now is not the time to wax eloquent,” the Earl of Longbourn said as he rolled his eyes. “We need to leave as it would not do to keep royalty waiting.” He nodded for Thatcher and the three waiting footmen to assist them with their outerwear after which they entered the waiting line of carriages and were off. They were required to be at St James an hour before the first guest to drink a toast with the royals. Thereafter the Duke and Duchess, Lord and Lady Longbourn, and the betrothed couples would be part of a receiving line with the royals that the Queen designated to represent the family.
As soon as the carriages came to a stop, a cadre of footmen in royal livery swarmed to open doors, put steps in place, and assist as needed. Having now visited Buckingham House on more than one occasion, the Bennets were prepared for all of the ostentation that would be so obviously on display at St James. The three oldest Bennet sisters had been presented, but the part of the palace that they were in on this night was new to them.
Their guests from Meryton, Aunt and Uncle Phillips, the Lucases, and others would arrive at St James with the rest of the guests. As a gift to her sister, Sarah Lucas and the other Meryton ladies that had made the trip, Fanny had surreptitiously sent a modiste, Madame Yvette Chambourg’s assistant, to Meryton toassistthe dressmaker there and she had made appointments with all of the guests coming causing quite a sensation.
Even more surprises had awaited when they had come to Town for the ball and their final pre-event fittings. It was then that they learned that Fanny had set it all up and that the dresses were gifts from her, which is how she knew what hairpins would be best for Sarah and what bracelet and necklace would be perfect for her sister.
Maria Lucas, who would not be attending the ball but had ample compensation in staying with the younger ladies. She received two new gowns and could not have been more pleased.
The Lord Chamberlain announced everyone in order of precedence which started with the Bedfords and ended with Darcy. It was not lost on the one last announced in this room that he, who had thought himself so high in the company of some of these same people, was the lowest one present. As one, the men genuflected and the ladies made deep curtsies to the royal family currently present which included the Queen, the Regent, his brothers Princes Edward and Adolphus, and Princesses Charlotte, Augusta Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary, and their spouses. The complement of so many of the royals being present was obvious to all who had assembled. On behalf of the family, the Regent greeted his cousins and soon to be cousins, followed by the Fitzwilliams and Gardiners.
The whole of the group was informed that to show their approval of the matches; the Regent would start the first set with Lady Mary while Prince Edward would pair with Lady Elizabeth and they would switch so that each royal would dance with both brides. It was also noted that after a few minutes with each they would leave the dance floor to be replaced by the ladies’ betrotheds. Mary was marrying a Marquess which explained the Regent dancing with her before her older sister.
Both Lizzy and Mary were perfectly poised with regard to the honour they were to receive. Both brides nodded a slight thank you at the Regent before they turned and did the same to his brother, who chuckled as he nodded in return.
