Chapter 15

"W here were you Sunday after church? You disappeared like an angry father was chasing you," Denny jested when Wickham eventually returned to his room past dinner time that night. "If you are hungry, the landlord left a plate with some bread and cheese in the dining parlour."

"It will be my last night in this damned militia," Wickham boasted. "After tomorrow, I will have the means to purchase my discharge from the regiment, and be free of all of the rules that Colonel of yours imposes.

"And where pray tell will you, who does not have two pennies to rub together, get your hands on such a sum as five hundred pounds?" Denny asked rather sceptically.

"I am to marry the Ice Queen on the morrow in the morning. Will you stand up with me? As soon as the clergyman verifies all is legal, and she is not being forced, we will be married," Wickham related with a face splitting grin. Ever since he had left her bedchamber at the inn, he had been ebullient as he imagined all the money he would have to spend as soon as he was given her dowry. At last he was marrying a woman of wealth without the benefit of a settlement to protect her fortune.

He had imagined it would have taken more than some words of flattery and the yarn he had spun. In fact, he had been prepared to compromise her in the dining parlour. This was far better as there was no need for subterfuge at least as far as the vicar was concerned. She would attest to her age, and her willingness to marry him, so from Wickham's point of view, it could not have worked out in a better fashion.

Denny was beyond amazed. He knew Wickham played fast and loose with the truth, but if this was not a fact, a request to stand up with him at the church, to act as a witness, would not have been made.

"This I have to see. I will stand up with you," Denny agreed. "But you must tell me how you managed to melt her heart and gain her agreement."

"It was simple really. I was able to offer her a chance to gain that which she desires most in the world," Wickham replied inscrutably.

Seeing that he was somewhat hungry, especially after bedding that , something he never intended to repeat, Wickham made his way to the dining parlour where he cut some slices of bread and cheese, and along with a glass of wine, he took the meal up to his chamber.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Elizabeth had not slept very much Sunday night. She was ambivalent about what she felt she needed to do on the morrow. On the one hand, she was keen to finally say what she felt she needed to say to her parents. On the other hand, there was a better than good chance she would not again be sleeping in the bed she had shared with Jane for quite some time; the bed she now shared with Mary.

If it came to that, she would be sorry to leave Longbourn. Then again, without Jane's serene presence in the home, it had all changed. Of course, she loved her younger sisters, but it was not the same. There was a hole in her heart, and Elizabeth was not certain, despite her promises to Janey, that organ would ever be made whole again. Given the coming confrontation, because it would be contentious, Elizabeth decided she needed to take a walk just as the dawn began to break. A ramble always cleared her head and assisted her to think clearly. Today of all days she needed to be focused .

Since the Gardiners would return to Gracechurch Street on the morrow, it had to be today. Elizabeth was well aware how fortunate it was to have her aunt and uncle present when she spoke to her parents. That way if either she decided she could not remain at Longbourn and see them every day, or she was banished for what she would say, she would be able to leave with the Gardiners immediately.

Before she had gone to bed the previous night, Elizabeth had spoken to Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward in their bedchamber. They had not attempted to discourage her from her path and had assured her they would support her no matter what the results would be.

Thanks to Mary being a heavier sleeper than Janey, when Elizabeth slipped out of the shared bed, her younger sister hardly stirred.

As she had thousands of times before, once she was dressed in a sturdy walking dress—dyed black of course—and had her walking half-boots laced, Elizabeth made her way downstairs. As she always did, after she buttoned her heavy coat and pulled on her warmest gloves, she made for the kitchens, attracted by the delectable smell of freshly baked rolls and muffins. Cook gave her a winsome smile of welcome and wordlessly handed her a cloth with some warm items wrapped inside. Like the rest of the staff and servants, Cook had been much subdued since Jane had passed away.

Elizabeth struck out from the kitchen door, crossed the kitchen garden, and opened the gate in the low stone wall. Having learnt this lesson years before, she made sure the gate was securely closed to keep the pigs out of the vegetable garden. She had made this mistake only once when she was seven, and after seeing the devastation, not to mention the scoldings from both her father and mother, she never made that error again.

Without planning it would be her destination, Elizabeth found her feet carried her towards Oakham Mount. She had not been back to the summit since the dreadful day her dearest sister's mortal remains had been consigned to the earth. She did not stop walking until she arrived at her boulder. Like she had on that day, she removed her bonnet and gloves, but did not remove her coat. Next, Elizabeth pulled the warm cloth from her deep pocket and slowly unwrapped the treats Cook had given her. There was a muffin which had been baked with slices of apple in it, a roll, and a small apple tart. For the first time that morning, she had a ghost of a smile. Cook was well aware how much she enjoyed baked goods which had apple in them. She would have to bestow her appreciation on the wonderful woman when she returned home.

Here, on the highest spot in the area, with the breeze blowing from the east, Elizabeth felt she was closer to her beloved sister in heaven. "It has been less than a fortnight since you were called home. I know that is no time at all, but how I miss you, Janey. Every minute of every hour of every day I think about you, and what was robbed from you as well as me, from all of us really, that horrendous day we lost you," Elizabeth told the breeze as she began to cry. Her tears were never far from the surface now.

"You see Janey, since you were taken, I have become a watering pot! I, who hardly ever used to cry; now I cannot stop myself. I am sure I do not need to tell you all as I am certain you are watching over us. That being said, I have forgiven Mrs Hurst, and I made sure to show Miss Bingley just how much her presence is not desired." Elizabeth paused as the breeze changed direction, and a stronger gust blew directly into her face.

"Yes, Janey I heard you. I should not have struck the shrew, but I had to do something. She was so callous about your passing, and she was the one who made matters worse." Another stronger gust hit Elizabeth. "I promise Janey, regardless of how frustrated I become with our parents, I will not lift my hand against either of them, and I will remember how you would have acted, and control my anger."

Her assurance must have been believed because the breeze became slight once more, coming out of the east as it had been before. As if she needed a reminder she had promised to open her heart to love after her mourning period, Elizabeth looked up and saw a tall man riding atop a black horse in Netherfield Park's fields, not far from the border with Longbourn and rather close to Oakham Mount. Even without her excellent eyesight, Elizabeth would have known it was Mr Darcy. The way he held himself made it impossible not to identify him.

While she watched him push his horse hard as he galloped across the field, Elizabeth felt a warmth spread through her; one she was not ready to feel yet. However, her hand found the linen square in her pocket and she rubbed the monogram surrounded by the flowers. Thankfully, Mr Darcy had wheeled his horse around and was riding at a more sedate pace in the direction of the manor house.

"Yes, Janey, I remember that particular promise, there was no need for me to see Mr Darcy to recall it. Besides, who knows if Mr Darcy will be the one with whom I fall in love." Like it had earlier, the breeze faded, and then a gust of wind blew in her face. Elizabeth decided not to analyse what it meant .

She ate the treats she had been given. After licking all crumbs from her fingers, Elizabeth put her gloves on again, tied her bonnet in place, and began the walk down the hill towards Longbourn.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Caroline Bingley forced herself to wake early that Monday morning. The night before, she had requested—ordered—the landlord to make sure she was woken no later than eight in the morning. As much as she detested waking before eleven, or better still midday, on this day when all her dreams would be realised, she would not oversleep as she was to meet her fiancé at the church by nine.

How glorious it would be. She, Caroline Maleficent Bingley, the daughter of a tradesman, would be married to the true heir of Pemberley in no more than two hours. She was already forming plans of how she would punish all of the women who had disrespected her because of her roots. She would start by ruining those harpies who had made her life a living hell when she had attended the seminary. How glorious it would be to no longer have to pretend friendships with the Miss Grantleys of the world. Caroline was well aware the lady and her friends snickered about her behind their fans, but she had needed the contacts. No more!

As she had no more money, and she needed to bribe one of the maids to assist her that morning, she had given the girl the least valuable piece of jewellery she owned. That was a piece which belonged to her mother and one she knew that traitor Louisa had always wanted. She felt her revenge on her sister all the keener having to give the piece to a mere servant. The value was likely more than the nothing girl earned in a year, but Caroline had to look her best. A woman only marries the man of her dreams once in her lifetime. More accurately put, the property, the wealth, and the possessions of her dreams.

The maid arrived at the time she said she would, assisted Caroline to bathe, and then after she had been dried off, the girl helped the bride into the best of her burnt orange ensembles. Miss Bingley was sure her fiancé would be greatly impressed by her outfit which was at the zenith of fashion.

Since they had joined the previous night, she had felt pain in her nether regions, but not knowing any better, Miss Bingley thought it was perfectly normal. All she could do was hope their subsequent couplings would be with less pain. She had heard women talk of marital relations being a chore a woman had to bear until she had produced the requisite heir and a spare. Thereafter, the husband could visit his mistresses to slake his needs. It had been so very unpleasant; hence, Caroline was praying she already carried the next heir of Pemberley.

She concentrated on the coaches, jewels, and pin money she would have as she admired herself in the mirror. That, added to the status of being a member of the first circles, made any pain worth enduring.

Seeing the church was only a few minutes away from the inn, Miss Bingley made her way downstairs at a quarter before the hour.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Both dressed in their regimentals, Wickham and Denny stood in the nave of St Alfred's speaking to the rector. "You understand Mr Wickham that unless I am satisfied all is in order, I will not perform the ceremony," the vicar warned.

"The fact I am here waiting, and not pulling my fiancée up the aisle towards the altar should assure you that Miss Bingley comes to marry me of her free will," Wickham drawled.

"Do you have flowers for your bride to hold?" Denny enquired.

"There was no time for such niceties," Wickham claimed as he waived Denny's concern away. "All we both care about is that we will be joined as man and wife, the rest will happen in its time."

Just then the inner vestibule door opened, and an orange monstrosity entered the nave. All three men had to fight their urges to gasp at what they were seeing.

"My love," Wickham stated with a deadpan expression as he advanced to guide his fiancée to the clergyman. "Mr Chambers, allow me to present my fiancée, Miss Caroline Bingley. My dear, the vicar of St Alfred's church, Mr Sydney Chambers."

Denny stood shaking his head. Until the Ice Queen entered the church, he had been sure Wickham was funning him with an elaborate ruse. But here the woman stood, looking as pleased as punch to be there. He knew not what magic spell Wickham cast over the lady but it seemed, in this, the man had spoken the truth.

"Mr Denny, please accompany your friend to the last row of the pews so I may speak to Miss Bingley without prompting from anyone," the vicar requested.

Knowing his prey was well and truly caught, Wickham had no issue at complying with the request .

As soon as the two lieutenants were out of earshot, Mr Chambers began his questioning. "Miss Bingley, in order for me to validate the common license, I must ask you some questions first; do you have any objection to my doing so?" Caroline had been warned by Mr Wickham, Mr Darcy in the new year, they would not be married without answering certain questions. She hid her annoyance at being interrogated by a mere clergyman and nodded her head. "Were you coerced in any way, or compromised into marriage with Mr Wickham?"

"Neither. My fiancé proposed to me, and I accepted him without any reservations," Miss Bingley replied firmly.

Miss Bingley responded without any hesitation, and without thinking of words she may have been coached to say. The vicar detected no doubts in the lady before him. She had no fashion sense, but that was not a reason to deny them a wedding. "My only other question is are you of age?"

Knowing that this was not a time to prevaricate, or her marriage could be invalidated, Miss Bingley replied, "I am four and twenty. I was born in Scarborough on the tenth day of August 1786. Yes, I am of age," Miss Bingley responded.

"In that case, I see no impediment to my marrying you and Mr Wickham. Do you have a middle name or is it just Caroline Bingley?" Chambers enquired.

"My full name is Caroline Maleficent Bingley," she related proudly. She watched as the rector wrote her full name in the space for the name of the bride on the license he held.

"Do you want to walk up the aisle, or should we just begin the ceremony?" the vicar queried.

"The sooner we begin, the sooner I will be married to the man of my dreams," Miss Bingley claimed. She turned her smiling countenance on the two officers and beckoned them to approach.

The ceremony was proceeding as would be expected until the vicar asked Mr Wickham for the ring to be placed on his soon to be wife's finger. Wickham almost panicked, but was rescued by Denny who lent them a ring from his little finger. From there, things proceeded smoothly. When his bride looked at him questioningly regards the lack of a wedding ring, as they were not yet married, Wickham knew he needed to placate her.

"You are aware how I have been cheated?" She gave a curt nod. "In a few short months, you will have your pick of the Darcy jewels."

Caroline Bingley brightened up immediately and was happy when they were pronounced man and wife. When they signed the register, Denny witnessed Wickham's signature, but as she had no maid or matron of honour, Mrs Chambers signed as Miss Bingley's witness as Caroline signed Bingley for a final time.

"What now, Husband?" Mrs Wickham purred.

"To Netherfield Park to present your brother with the proof of our wedding so he will release your dowry for us to live until I gain what is rightfully mine." Wickham used his few remaining pennies to hire a trap to drive them to the estate.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~ ~

Elizabeth was pleased her father was keeping to his new habit of taking his meals in his study. Seeing him during the morning meal would have made her rather nervous, and not put on nerves like her mother's either.

"Mary, please take our sisters upstairs to spend time with the cousins in the nursery, and help keep them all occupied, it is time for me to speak to our parents," Elizabeth requested.

Nodding her understanding, Mary led Kitty and Lydia upstairs. Once she heard a bedchamber door close, Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked at her aunt and uncle who both smiled at her encouragingly. She made the short walk to the study and knocked on the door.

"Enter," Bennet called out.

"Father, I need to have a discussion with both you and Mother. I know she keeps to her chambers, but this is not something we will be able to ignore forever," Elizabeth stated evenly.

Knowing this was inevitable did not make it easier for Bennet. He said nothing, simply nodded and rang for Hill. "Please have Mrs Bennet join us in the study, and Hill," Bennet commanded.

"Yes, Sir," Hill responded stoically.

"Make sure my wife understands her ever receiving an allowance again in the future, depends on her attending me, as soon as humanly possible," Bennet added. Hill bowed and left the room.

An awkward silence descended as father and daughter waited for Fanny Bennet.