The latter was cautiously optimistic that the changes in his younger sister were real. However, he and his older sister had agreed to be circumspect for some time longer just in case this was another attempt by their younger sister to pull the wool over their eyes. Bingley said that he had been to Scarborough, and so far, to him, the changes looked genuine. More than that, his younger sister had apologised for her past behaviour. Only time would tell.
During the days, the men hunted, rode, or partook in other manly activities while the women worked on the planning for the wedding and the ball to be held before it.
Before the end of July, exuding felicity in their marriage, Charlotte and Jamey arrived at Holder Heights. A few days later, Lady Elaine moved to Hilldale where she would join the Duke and Duchess of Bedford as Marie entered the final stages of her confinement. Matlock remained at Holder Heights to be with Richard. As the two estates were so close, if Marie were not labouring the day of the wedding or had already safely delivered the babe growing in her belly, Lady Elaine and Andrew would be in attendance.
Chapter 30
August 1808
Holder Heights was as full as it had been for many years as the date of Jane’s wedding to Richard approached.
The months of her engagement had flown by with unnerving speed. Now it was the day before the wedding, and Jane had just hadthe talkdelivered by her mamma. Thankfully, nothing Mamma said had frightened her, but rather made her anticipate her wedding night, and any other times she would be intimate with Richard thereafter.
The ball, which had been held this Saturday past, had been enjoyed by all. Jane’s only complaint was that she was not permitted to dance more than three sets with her beloved Richard. She smiled when she thought how happy Lizzy had been dancing the first and supper sets with William. Jane was certain Richard and William would be brothers one day.
It had pleased her greatly that the Gardiners and Phillipses had arrived a few days before the ball so all her sisters would be able to watch her marry as she married Richard. Aside from the Phillipses, the Lucases, Gouldings, Longs, and Pierces represented Meryton.
Even though the ball room at Holder Heights—where the wedding breakfast would be held—was three times larger than the one at Netherfield Park, it still looked full.
Jane smiled as she remembered how much Lizzy had enjoyed the ball. Mamma and Papa had refused to allow her to dance with William more than twice; the reason was Lizzy not being out yet. They had danced the supper set like they did before Charlotte’s and Jamey’s wedding to maximise the time they would be together. For the final set, Lizzy had sat out happily speaking to William.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The night before her wedding, Jane had to fight to sleep—the last time she would sleep alone. She and Richard had discussed it, and they would share a bed whenever possible.
As much as Jane fought against it, Morpheus eventually claimed her. As late as she had fallen asleep, Jane was awake with the light. While her maid fussed around her to make sure she was warm in her dressing gown, the door opened, and Mamma and Lizzy entered.
“I told you we would not need to wake her today,” Elizabeth sang. “Happy birthday sister dearest.”
“Jane, I know you will say you are not hungry, but trust me that you need to eat and drink. It will be some hours before the wedding breakfast, so you will thank me later,” Edith said firmly. “And I echo Lizzy’s happy birthday.”
“Thank you, Mamma and Lizzy. My birthday is of secondary importance today, is it not?” Jane reminded them. “And you have the right of it; I am not hungry.”
Edith and Elizabeth led Jane into the sitting room that the two eldest sisters shared. A tray with plates of pastries, muffins, and rolls sat alongside a steaming pot of hot chocolate.
Regardless of what Jane had said about her need to eat, she took a small nibble of an apple pastry. Before she was done, she had eaten two pastries and a spiced muffin, washed down with two cups of the creamy, delectable hot chocolate. She did not look at Mamma to see the ‘I told you so’ look Jane was sure she would see.
“Jane, we will leave you to bathe, and we will return with Mary later.” Edith gave Jane a kiss on her forehead before leaving the room.
“You are bringing us another brother today,” Elizabeth said before she too left the room.
Jane went about preparing herself for a day she had been dreaming of since even before Richard asked her for the courtship. With pictures of her beloved in her head, Jane made for the bathing room.
When her maid almost had her hair dried from the bath, the door opened and in walked Mamma, Lizzy, and Mary.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Richard Fitzwilliam stood next to Mr Pierce, the same man who had christened Jane. Mr Pierce was not the rector of St Mildred’s in Holder, but due to a request from the Earl of Holder to Mr Clayburn, St Mildred’s parson, he had stepped aside to allow his friend Mr Pierce to conduct the ceremony. Richard still had a hard time realising he had won the love of the woman approaching him as her father walked her up the aisle.
For Mr Christopher Pierce, it was an immeasurable pleasure to conduct the wedding ceremony for his late friend’s and patron’s eldest daughter. It was why he had not delayed in agreeing to travel into Staffordshire to perform the marriage rites. How far they had come from when he feared the sisters were lost to all of them.
From the instant she entered the nave from the vestibule, Fitzwilliam’s eyes had been glued on those of his betrothed’s. He did not notice three-year-old Miss May Gardiner dropping petals as she walked ahead of his bride and her father; he did not see the delicate Belgian lace which made up her veil; he did not see the empire-waisted ivory-coloured gown, he did not see the gossamer overlay with diamond chips sewn into it, nor did he see the matching elbow-length gloves she wore. All he saw was the most wonderful woman in the world as she came closer to him.
William was standing up for Richard. Until Andrew arrived with his mother a half hour ago, it had not been known if he would be present. His wife had not entered her lying-in yet; hence, he had made the short journey to be in the congregation this day. William had his eyes trained on Lizzy walking behind her sister and father. She was always a beauty, but today she looked even better.
Mary was bringing up the rear of the processional. She caught her mother’s eye as she walked and smiled.
Edith could not imagine a prouder mother as she watched her three girls approach the altar. She was one seat from the aisle in the Carrington pew. The seat she left open would soon be filled by her Paul. To her right stood Charlotte and Jamey, and beyond them Kitty, Lydia, and the rest of the Phillipses. Behind her the Gardiners and their three older children were standing. In the front row across the aisle were Elaine, Reggie, Andrew, Anne, Robert, and Anna. Between the invited guests, tenants, staff, and servants, St Mildred’s Church was as full as possible.
