Chapter 34

F anny was about to launch into effusions about her daughters' matches, the fiancés' wealth, pin money, jewels, and carriages when she saw how Camile was watching her with raised eyebrows. She remembered her lessons and instead wished her two eldest daughters happy with all of the gentility she had learnt during the last almost six months.

"William has gone to speak to Papa," Elizabeth reported.

"As has Richard," Mary added. She was thankful her father would no longer use the opportunity to make fun of either her fiancé or Lizzy's.

Mary had been correct about her Richard, and almost so about Lizzy's William. Bennet granted his consent and blessing for Fitzwilliam to marry his second daughter without delay. He was momentarily melancholy when he thought how no one would ever be able to make the same requests for Jane. Then he recovered when Darcy took his cousin's place before Bennet's desk.

"I have the same request as Richard, except I am asking for Miss Bennet's hand," Darcy petitioned.

"I do have one condition before I am able to look upon your suit with favour," Bennet stated with a deadpan look on his face. He did not miss the way Darcy blanched just a little bit. He was sure this was a man to whom very few would ever say no. "The first editions which used to occupy the two shelves behind me, are, I understand in your library, is that correct?"

‘ Surely, ' Darcy thought, ‘ he would not demand the books back for me to marry Elizabeth? ' Aloud he replied in the affirmative and waited to hear what his future father-in-law was about.

"My condition is that once Lizzy is married to you, I am permitted to come to Pemberley when I am able, and spend time in what my daughters have both told me, is a library to behold," Bennet grinned as he saw Darcy relax. "That way I will be able to visit my old friends and make many more."

"You and anyone else in your family will be welcome to visit us any time," a relieved Darcy responded.

"In that case, you too have my blessing. Although you do not need it due to Lizzy having attained her majority, you have my hearty permission as well," Bennet allowed. "Come, gentlemen, we need to make for the drawing room and make this official." With rather wide grins on their countenances, both of his future sons-in-law followed Bennet out of his study.

By the way Lizzy and Mary were being congratulated by his wife and the younger sisters, current and future, Bennet could tell his announcement was superfluous, but nevertheless he made it official.

"Has either couple discussed when they want to marry?" Fanny asked after her husband's announcement.

"Not yet, Mama, but if you will excuse us for a few minutes, we will retire to the parlour to speak on it," Elizabeth requested. Her mother made no objection and the two newly engaged couples crossed the hallway to the same parlour where William had recently proposed to Elizabeth. Each couple sat on a settee. Unlike before they were betrothed, the man and woman in each couple sat close one to the other, practically touching.

"Lizzy, I know you and Janey used to speak of marrying in a double ceremony if you happened to become engaged to your future fiancés at around the same time. If you would like, Richard and I," Mary looked at her beloved who nodded, "would be happy to share the day with you two, especially as we have both become engaged on the same day."

"Unless Elizabeth has an objection, I do not," Darcy agreed.

"It would be perfect to marry in the same ceremony," Elizabeth enthused. "Now what about the when?"

"For my part I would not like a lengthy engagement," Darcy expressed.

"I am with my cousin," Fitzwilliam added. "Our desires, however, are secondary to what the two of you decide."

Elizabeth and Mary looked at one another. They both nodded. "We have waited long enough, so we have no desire to wait too much longer. What say you all to three weeks so the banns may be called?"

"We do not need that long if Richard and I apply for special licenses," Darcy suggested. His cousin nodded enthusiastic agreement.

"As much as I…we…," Elizabeth looked at Mary who nodded, "would prefer to marry sooner, the last thing we want is for people to have any questions regarding our marrying so quickly after coming out of mourning, and to begin calling it a hurried and patched up affair. Allow the banns to be called and then we can marry the week after the third one is read. It should help that the first one can be called on the morrow." The two men nodded accepting the wisdom of her words. "I will bring the calendar from Papa's desk, then we can decide on a date." Elizabeth was back within a minute with the calendar in hand.

"What of the tenth day of May? It is a Friday. With the morrow being Sunday, it will allow for almost a full three weeks. No, we will need to wait until after the twelfth of May. It is an impossibility that Mr Parker will be able to call banns in your parish by the morrow when he is in Derbyshire," Mary rationalised.

"You forget sister-to-be, like Richard, I attend St George's in London. I will send my courier with a note to the vicar there, on behalf of both of us." With that, Darcy realised something. "We need to send notes to Matlock and Hilldale Houses. It will not do for the family to hear the banns called without foreknowledge." He looked at his fiancée and her sister. "Are we agreed on the second Friday in May?"

"We are," Elizabeth confirmed. "You two may go to Papa's study and write your missives, we will inform Mama what we decided."

Unlike she would have before, Fanny raised no objections to the timing of the wedding. She would plan what her daughters desired in the available time. Eschewing what she would have demanded in the past, she did not feel the need to plan the grandest affair Hertfordshire ever saw. Anything she did would be verified with her daughters, these were their weddings, not hers.

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

"Reggie, Richard has done it," Lady Matlock gushed.

"What has my younger son done now, Elaine?" Lord Matlock returned. He had a good idea of what they were speaking.

Lady Matlock shared the good news with her husband and that the first reading of the banns would be on the morrow. The Countess held up two pages enclosed in her son's letter. "The boys ask that either you or Andrew drop these announcements at the Times of London on Monday. William's courier went on to St George's with requests for the vicar regarding the banns."

"Did I hear that Richard has finally proposed to Miss Mary?" Anne verified.

"He did," Lady Matlock confirmed, "they will marry on the tenth day of May. I assume Lizzy and Mary will marry from Longbourn."

Anne de Bourgh had accepted an invitation to Netherfield Park in March past and had quickly bonded with all of the Bennets, especially Lizzy and Mary. Anne could not have been more pleased that Mary would be the mistress of Rosings Park. Once she had met Lizzy and seen the vibrant wit and intelligence she had, the only regret about her mother Anne had, was she would never see Lizzy run circles around Lady Catherine, and put her in her place without mother being aware of what was occurring. Just the fact that Mary and Lizzy made Richard and William so happy was enough for Anne. That both couples were supremely compatible was an added bonus.

"I am sure my future daughter and niece will come to London to purchase their trousseaus. Anything I can assist with will be my pleasure," Lady Matlock mused.

"I, too, look forward to seeing Lizzy, Mary, and any other of the Bennets who come to Town," Anne stated.

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

The next day the Fitzwilliams and Anne de Bourgh were vastly amused by the pinched looks on many matchmaking mamas and their daughters when the first set of banns for Richard and William were called. So many of them had first set their sights on William, or more correctly Pemberley, and then Richard as soon as word he was the heir to Rosings Park and all the de Bourgh holdings became known in society.

The gnashing of teeth was much louder on Tuesday morning when the two notices were published, announcing the engagements of two extremely eligible bachelors to unknown ladies. Due to the overt approval of Lady Matlock, criticism and complaints were voiced in private. No one wanted to upset the Countess of Matlock and her friends, which included the Duchesses of Bedford and Devonshire, all of the patronesses of Almack's, a slew of countesses, baronesses, and any number of other leaders of the Ton .

A note arrived a few days later letting Ladies Matlock and Hilldale know when the brides would be shopping in London. The latter two would join the shoppers, just in case there were any Doubting Thomases who did not believe the stories of the approbation for the matches bestowed by the family.

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

10 May 1811

The morning of her wedding to William, and Mary's to Richard, Elizabeth had Nellie saddled for herself and rode the old mare to Oakham Mount at the mare's plodding pace well before the sun rose.

Nellie was tied to a low branch so she would be able to graze on the plentiful late spring grass. Elizabeth made her way up to the summit to commune with nature and speak to Janey. As was her wont, she had some wrapped treats in her riding habit's jacket pocket.

Unlike when she had sat on her boulder the day Janey was interred, the oak tree was fully verdant, and there was much birdsong emanating from the branches. The sun was about to break above the horizon, and the fields below were all brimming with spring life, except for the few fallow fields she could see, but even they were covered in grass. It was the perfect spring morning with nary a cloud in the sky, and the wind was not a factor, as there was not even a detectable breeze.

Elizabeth leaned back on her elbows as she watch the sun peak above the horizon, spreading its life giving rays to all in its path. She extracted a still warm roll from the cloth in her pocket, and she took small bites of it until there were only a few crumbs left.

A single cloud was pushed across the sky, it was seemingly glowing with a halo. As she could not feel the wind, and had not seen any clouds when she had seated herself, Elizabeth thought it was Janey making herself known.

"My dearest, most wonderful sister, I am not surprised you came to see me on my wedding day. If only it was a triple wedding today and not just a double one," Elizabeth told her late sister. "Mary and I have become the best of friends and closest of sisters. She has not replaced you as no one ever could. I have never tried to compare how we were and how Mary and I are.

"William is not a perfect man by far, just like I am not a woman who is perfect, but we are ideally matched, and I believe we will have a marriage full of love, felicity, and respect. The same is true for Mary and Richard.

"I have managed to keep all of my promises to you, Janey, and even one I avoided making to you regarding our parents. I am sure you knew what I was doing but you were too good to remark on it. If only you were with us at Longbourn to see how happy Mama and Papa are. Can you believe Mama is increasing for a sixth time? We discussed it as a family. If Mama bears a girl, she will not be named Jane. There was only one you. Mama and Papa do not want the newest Bennet to bear your name and then have to live up to the expectations everyone would have for another Jane. He or she will be measured for who they are.

"Even though you more than likely already know this; Mr Bingley began his half mourning the same day our parents did so. He will eventually move on and open his heart to love, but he needs this year. Just like you will always occupy a corner of my heart, so will you always live in his heart as well.

"After I am married today, I may not speak to you as much, but you have to know you will always be a part of me, and I will never forget you, my Janey. I must away now. As calm as Mama has been, I do not want to imagine her reaction if I am not ready on time. I love you, Janey. "

Before she began her walk down the path, Elizabeth turned back and looked at the sky. The cloud was no longer visible. When she rode back to the stables on Nellie, Elizabeth was excited for what was to come, but at peace.

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

In the front pew, dressed in a mauve gown trimmed with black lace, Fanny Bennet watched two of her daughters say their vows to the men they loved. With Thomas holding her hand, her other hand on the swell of her belly, she looked at all four of her living daughters with pride.

Catherine was Lizzy's maid of honour while Lydia was doing the duty for Mary. William's best man was dear Charles, while the Viscount stood up with his brother. The Longbourn village church was at capacity with a mix of locals and friends of the grooms from London. Across the aisle sat Lord and Lady Matlock with Giana next to them. Fanny would never be able to thank Camile enough for preparing her to meet dukes, duchesses, earls, countesses, and other high ranking members of society, with equanimity. Soon enough, too soon in fact, only two daughters would remain who still bore the name Bennet.

Once Mr Pierce had pronounced them man and wife, the new Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam and Mr and Mrs Darcy did not tarry in the registry as they may have as they were not alone. Due to the large number of guests, Mrs Hurst…Louisa…had volunteered Netherfield Park to host the wedding breakfast. There were two open landaus in front of the church to convey the newly married couples to the celebratory meal.

As they stood and watched the carriages depart, Bennet squeezed his wife's hand. "Not withstanding Him calling Jane home, God has been very good to us, Fanny," Bennet stated as the trailing carriages disappeared from view. Now it was their turn to make the journey to the other estate.

"Two daughters married, and to such men. I agree, Mr Bennet, He has been very good to us of late," Fanny owned as she rubbed the swell in her belly.

"Look at us, Fanny. There have been many changes to all of us, and yet we are thriving. If only Jane was here with us to see it all," Bennet lamented.

"She is with us," Fanny asserted, "of that I am certain."

Just then out of nowhere a gust of wind blew in their faces, then the air was still once again. It seemed Jane approved of the change of her family.