Each in a corner of the alcove, the new wives were soundly kissed by their husbands, and words of love only shared between themselves were offered in this quiet moment before they returned to celebrate with those waiting for them. They had not heard the joyous pealing of the Abbey’s bells until they opened the door that took them back to their waiting families in the nave of the abbey.
There was a flurry of hugs, kisses, and well wishes as the brides were officially welcomed into their new families. Counting Andrew, the Bennet sisters now had four brothers and had added three more sisters to their brood. Two of their new sisters, the Rhys-Davies’ daughters, had children so they instantly gained nieces and nephews and they were already vying for who would teach which one to read, play the pianoforte, and draw.
Lizzy was glowing from the inside out as she stood next to her husband who was talking to his new in-laws while Mary was surrounded by her husband’s family. The Duchess had to catch her tears of happiness with the handkerchief her husband had given her to replace the one he had given her during the ceremony. The absolute joy and love reflected in her son’s eyes as he looked at his wife was all a mother could ask for, and for it to be this extraordinary woman who had won her mother-in-law over long ago.
The newlyweds climbed in their individual open landaus pulled by a matched set of four to take them to Bennet House. Mary, as a Marchioness, was expected to leave the church first and enter into the closest pair. However, she looped her arm with her sister’s as they led their grooms out until they were precisely between both vehicles and in the sight of the crowd kissed her sister’s cheek as she whispered her congratulations to her sister and new brother. The Marquess assisted his wife into the forward conveyance, chuckling at Mary’s smile when she heard Lizzy’s laughter fill the square.
“That was a most precious gift to give the Darcys,” Hugh took his wife’s hand in his.
“It was the gentlest way I could think to switch positions so that we would have the carriage with the white horses,” she shrugged, smiling when he laughed as richly as Lizzy had.
Darcy led Lizzy to theirs, appreciating that Mary had not just stepped ahead of her sister the way many would have, but also kissed her and made her laugh as she walked to the further conveyance. It was not lost on him that his Lizzy although older than Mary was now below her in rank. He had to deeply respect the loving way Mary had switched their positions of precedence.
The crowd waiting for the newlyweds to emerge let out a roar of approval when each husband gave his wife a chaste kiss in their respective conveyance. As the landaus started to move, to the delight of the crowd, both grooms threw coins into the air.
They waved to those that had lined the streets for almost a half a mile from the Abbey toward Mayfair. No wedding solemnised at Westminster Abbey was restricted to theTon, and less so once the Queen had gotten involved.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The wedding breakfast was held in the ball room at Bennet House. Lady Longbourn had truly outdone herself. The dinner at Bedford House the previous night had been a boon for her servants so that they only had to concentrate on the preparations for the celebration after the weddings. The royals were represented by Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth who had requested the task of her mother as she was quite taken with her namesake, Lady Elizabeth Darcy. When the newlywed couples were announced by Thatcher, they made their way over to where the Prince and Princess were seated to make their bows and curtsies and received the well wishes of the whole royal family.
Lady Lucas was sitting with her husband and older son at a table with the Longs and the Gouldings. The Meryton group was collectively reeling. First the ball then the wedding. The dresses that the brides wore for both occasions most probably cost a good portion of all of the three families combined annual income. Now to top it all off they were sitting at a wedding breakfast with the cream of theTon.
Maria Lucas, the Long’s nieces, and the younger girls of the extended Bennet family were sitting together. The group ranged from Mary Faith Darcy at twelve up to almost eighteen. Loretta De Melville, Tiffany Fitzwilliam, and Kitty Bennet would all turn eighteen in the next months and would be coming out during the next season. Lily Gardiner was happy that she was no longer the youngest and was fast becoming good friends with Mary Faith. The young men that included James Gardiner and John Lucas were sitting and talking and they were on their best behaviour so they did not find themselves in the nursery with the youngest children and babes.
Lady Jane Fitzwilliam was pleased to be able to enjoy a wedding breakfast as a guest with her husband, rather than being the focus of the occasion for any except him. Unlike their own, both she and Richard were able to enjoy the sumptuous fare offered at this celebratory meal.
Georgie, Tiffany, and Kitty managed to find a moment with Elizabeth where they admired her wedding ring. It fit perfectly with her betrothal ring with emeralds set in the shining gold band. Georgie reiterated her excitement that she would be staying at Bennet House until her sister and brother returned from their wedding trip.
After the Prince and Princess had taken their leave, the brides went up to their former bedchambers to change.
As soon as she helped her mistress change out of her shimmering wedding gown, her maid walked across the square to Darcy House where all of her mistresses’ belongings were already present. Mary’s belongings too had been moved to Birchington House on Russell Square. The two couples went around the room to thank their guests for helping to celebrate this most special of all days. By design the last people they saw before their families were Charlotte and her betrothed.
“I cannot wait to see you walk down the aisle with the man that you love Charlotte,” Lizzy said as she had hugged her dearest friend outside of her sisters. “Does it not make all the difference to allow yourself to love?”
“Please forget all of that nonsense I spouted about affection in marriage being a matter of chance,” replied an amusedly chagrined lady. “I was so very wrong and am truly grateful I do not have to serve a life sentence for my folly. It is not just a very good and sensible man that I gain, but my daughter Grace, too. I could not love her more if she had been born of my body.”
“The most important thing to me is that you will be loved and happy for the rest of your life. An unintended consequence is that you will be comfortable and secure as well, and more importantly, you will be living so very close to me.” Lizzy hugged her friend again and then moved onto the family as her husband was farewelling his friend and rector, Patrick Elliot.
The newly married ladies hugged their Mama, Papa, and sisters—newly acquired and long loved. The Fitzwilliams, the Phillipses, and the Gardiners were part of the party that waved as the two carriages pulled away from the front of Bennet House. The Darcys would have but walked across the square were it not for the summons to Buckingham House.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mary snuggled up to her husband as they headed toward their townhouse on Russell Square. Birchington House was smaller than Bennet and Bedford Houses, but was by no means small. Like the Darcys, they would stay at the house that night and be awoken very early to be at the dock at the appointed hour around dawn.
When they arrived at the house, the butler and housekeeper were introduced to the new Marchioness of Birchington. They had met her as Lady Mary Bennet when she had accompanied the Duchess and her mother to view the townhouse. Hugh picked her up and carried her over the threshold and she playfully swatted his arm when he put her down, her laugh filling the hall. This was the very best way that she could imagine starting her marriage. She needed a man who would ensure she did not fall back into the version of herself she so disliked being and wanted to grow into the woman she imagined would maybe cause a scandal or ten, so long as it was with her very own marquess in shining armour.
On the mistress’s side of the master suite, Mary’s maid, Reid, was waiting. She wished the new Marchioness happy then proceeded to help her change into one of her new muslin day dresses. The plan was to meet in a drawing room to have some refreshments as they had had no chance to eat at the wedding breakfast. Her husband walked into their sitting room just after Mary did.
“My Lord husband,” she teased with an exaggerated curtsy.
“My Lady wife,” he teased her right back with a bow so low that the late Mr Collins would have been envious. “What would you like to do after we have had something to eat and drink, my Lady Mary, Marchioness of Birchington?”
Before she could answer the housekeeper knocked and directed two maids to place the tea service and a tiered platter with cake, sandwiches, cheese, and biscuits, stating that some of their favourites from the wedding breakfast would be sent over for their repast at dinner.
“I thought we could go get some…’rest,’ husband.” Mary met his eyes, longing to be his wife in every way and begin their married life as one without the requisite wait for the night time most brides suffered through with either anticipation or dread.
The words had hardly left her mouth when Hugh crossed the room in two strides and claimed her mouth to shower her with kisses, none of which were chaste. Her hands went around his waist and she started to rub his back as they pulled each other as close as possible. It did not take long before Mary felt something hard pressing into her belly. She may be a maiden but she knew what his arousal signified. The more they kissed the more their shared ardour intensified. They broke apart and without having to say anything, they both headed toward his bedchamber.
