Lady Lucas and Maria had just been handed out of their carriage when the Gardiner conveyance halted behind them. By the time Lady Lucas and Maria had assisted Charlotte to alight, Madeline and Mary were assisting Lizzy out of their coach.
“Charlotte, you are gorgeous,” Elizabeth exclaimed when she saw her best friend. Charlotte wore a white gown with a matching bonnet and looked very elegant.
“If I am gorgeous, then I do not know how to describe you, Eliza,” Charlotte returned.
“Rather than argue who is prettier, let us agree both brides are beautiful,” Madeline stated definitively.
Once Elizabeth was no longer visible in the vestibule, Bennet turned and slowly walked to his horse to make his solitary ride back to an empty house. He had always wanted peace and quiet and now he had more than he knew what to do with. He was intelligent enough to know that he was reaping the reward for his lack of backbone.
Each mother kissed her daughter on the cheek, then squeezed the other bride’s hand. The two ladies entered the church nodding to the rector, who signalled the men to take their places.
Maria entered first, followed by Mary. Bingley watched intently as the lady he was courting walked up the aisle and took up her position next to him. Once Mary was in place, the clergyman signalled the congregants to stand.
Sir William entered with Charlotte on his arm. Richard saw no one but his beloved Charlotte. He met her at the end of the aisle and Sir William placed her hand on Richard’s forearm after kissing his daughter’s cheek.
Finally, Gardiner entered with Elizabeth. Her eyes locked onto her groom’s and neither broke contact until Darcy came to meet his Elizabeth, after which Gardiner kissed his eldest daughter’s cheek and placed her hand on Darcy’s forearm.
The rector married Charlotte and Richard first, then repeated the service for Elizabeth and Darcy. The ceremonies seemed to pass in an instant, but soon enough both couples and their attendants were signing the register in the vestry.
When they exited, they were surrounded by family and friends congratulating them. It had been decided they would allow those on the way to Netherfield Park a ten-minute head start before climbing into the open landau that would convey the four newlyweds to the wedding breakfast.
“How do you feel, Mrs. Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth asked while they waited.
“Excited, as I believe you are, Mrs. Darcy,” Charlotte replied.
“Hearing you being called by your new last name gives me an inordinate amount of pleasure, Charlotte,” Richard stated happily.
“Not as much pleasure as I feel when I am called Mrs. Fitzwilliam,” Charlotte responded.
“How do you like being called Mrs. Darcy, my Elizabeth,” Darcy asked.
“It is the perfect name for me, William,” Elizabeth insisted.
With Biggs and Johns on the back bench, the Darcys and Fitzwilliams climbed into the open coach. The wives faced forward, and their husbands sat opposite them. Richard hit the floor with his cane and the driver put his team of matched greys into motion.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr. Nichols graciously allowed his brother-in-law Hill to announce the newlyweds as they entered the ballroom, where their family, friends, and other guests awaited them.
The Hills had attended the church to see their girl recite her vows. Mrs. Hill opened her arms as Elizabeth approached her just outside the ballroom. “Miss Lizzy, I mean Mrs. Darcy, you look very happy,” Mrs. Hill noted as she wiped a tear of joy from her cheek.
“I am, Mrs. Hill, and you may call me Miss Lizzy anytime—when you do, I know it is an endearment,” Elizabeth said, kissing the long-time housekeeper on her cheek.
Richard nodded to Mr. Hill once Elizabeth and Mrs. Hill separated. Mr. Hill opened the doors and in a clear, loud, steady voice announced the two newlywed couples. This led to a sustained round of cheering from those assembled within. As Elizabeth passed Mr. Hill, she reached out and squeezed his hand.
The couples separated, each walking in opposite directions so they would not crowd each other as they greeted their well-wishers. It took about an hour for the two couples to meet where their families were seated.
The four sat, and plates and lemonade appeared in front of them as if by magic. “Giana and I have decided Charlotte and Lizzy are sisters to us both,” Tiffany announced, “Richard and William, that makes you brothers.”
“Do not forget we gained six more sisters and four additional brothers,” Georgiana pointed out. Charlotte was pleased her brothers and sister were included in the number of new siblings.
Both couples ate eagerly. Even though all four had a bite to break their fasts earlier, they were hungry enough to attack their plates with gusto. When their plates were very nearly empty, the couples continued in the direction they had started, so they could say a few words to everyone who had taken the time to help them celebrate their nuptials.
When the four met back at the point where they started their rounds, Elizabeth and Charlotte went to their mothers, informing them they were going to change into travel attire. Darcy tried to control his excitement about being alone with his Elizabeth, which resulted in a faraway look as he watched his wife climb the stairs.
Madeline had placed a suite at Charlotte’s disposal. Lady Lucas and Maria accompanied Charlotte to assist her, while Madeline and Mary assisted Elizabeth.
As Elizabeth was changing, it hit her when she thought of her childhood bedchamber, she no longer thought of it as one she had shared with Jane or the one she had been relegated to when Jane began to lie and manipulate.
